Never Close Your Eyes

Z Talk 🐊 (2)

With the stage cleared from everything, except for a chair that was easy to pick up and go with, the lights were dimmed to hide the large white screen that was placed behind the host.

It had been a hot minute since the last Z Talk had been broadcasted, and the hostess felt on nerves. Tonight would be no different from the last couple Z Talks, where deleted scenes would be played to help fill in memories.

It pleased the hostess to think of the fans still enjoying what she could provide to the fan group. Grinning as the lights went on, the crowd stayed silent to see the next steps—having a feeling of familiarity.

"Good (morning/evening), my lovely family. Long time, no see, am I right? Thank you for your patience and returning back to something that is as ancient as dinosaurs." Author grinned at the people who shared one thing in common: their love for this TV show.

"Tonight, we'll be showing another deleted scene from your favorite show, Z Nation. This scene takes place between Full Metal Zombie and Home Sweet Zombie."

| • |

This night was no different from the rest. The campfire was built on broken twigs, dried leaves and a cheating tool, matches. Charlie watched with admiration as the people he loved surrounded the fire.

At the end of the day, when the zombies aren't as big of a threat, everyone got to relax into their real personalities. Not the fronts they put up to save their skin, on a day-to-day bases.

Their next destination was a ways out, but Charlie tried to make it mandatory to have a little fun here and there as to not make the others think survival mode was the only mode to be in.

Life was more than weapons on your person 24/7; life was about adventure, exploiting, living. Tonight, campfire stories was lined up for a night of relaxation.

(Y/N) went first, giggling about a small elementary school crush she use to have. Mack having to ask her a thousand-and-one questions as to why he never got told. Addy having to settle her boyfriend down before he got a little too heated over something so trivial now.

(Y/N) merely laughed harder than before at how the two bickered over it; as if marriage was designated in their personalities. 10K only watched the (H/C) with silent words never leaving his mouth and studious eyes.

Never taking away the picture he framed in his head of her leaning back against the log she sat on, kicking her legs from the ground they didn't touch.

The two sat across from each other with the fire being their only wall, but when their eyes made eye contact, it felt like nothing could separate their souls.

The twinge they felt was strong, but ignored due to their lack of knowledge about the other, the overprotective brother and the fact it was the apocalypse. Who has time for feelings?

Murphy enjoyed the company, forgetting about the mission and the changes in his own body. Yet, he found himself closed off from the rest; from the ones that could block out the apocalypse from their minds for a couple hours of enjoyment.

He felt security within himself, but still enjoyed the company he received from the others—even if Charlie forced him at times.

Doc drowned himself in the feelings of being part of a family; a family that never gave up on each other and never departed unless it was a must. He never had this growing up or in his adulthood, so to be part of something like this was joyous. To hear more laughs that was similar to the memories already made so he'd never forget who was who.

The snickering of laughs and the conversation never died down, even as the night began to grow restless. (Y/N) and 10K made eye contact as she released the first yawn of the night, starting to ease down the serotonin.

She smiled one last time at him before excusing herself to the tent. As the night dwindled down to an end, Mack and 10K found themselves to be the last two men standing. Or well, sitting on top of the fallen tree, in this case.

They sat facing each other with the dying fire as a dwindling wall between them, slowing fading away as the loving feelings went with it.

"She looks at you the way our parents use to look at each other." Mack commented, moving the coals of burnt wood around.

10K stayed silent at the comment, not knowing how to speak on his behalf. Was he suppose to thank Mack for pointing that out, or be worried?

He knew their parents must be decent if (Y/N) was even nicer before the apocalypse. No doubt she was a firecracker, though.

"When I lost her yesterday, I almost lost my cool. But you kept yours. You were collective about it."

"Panicking wouldn't have saved her or Addy." 10K knew how to keep his cool in certain situations, but he almost lost it when Cassandra seemed like she wouldn't help them out if that.

"You don't like me—"

"No shit." Mack snorted the insulting, knowing it wasn't a complete lie.

"—but I wouldn't hurt her, like you think I am."

Mack crossed his arms over his chest, the stick poking from underneath his crossed arms.

"How old around you?"

"20."

"She turns 18 soon. You're 20-years-old and I know exactly what runs through your head. And in this world, it's a lot harder to find someone your age. She's a fling, 10K. Once someone else pretty, just not prettier, comes around, you'll be done with (Y/N)." He sounded so sure of himself that it almost convinced 10K that he felt wrong, but he knew better.

10K knew himself and he somewhat knew what he felt. Whatever it was, it wasn't just sexual.

"You don't know that. She's not a object, she's a person."

Mack snorted again, straightening his back, "Damn straight she's not an object, but think about it, 10K. Just leave her alone. Go for Cassandra, if you're wanting affection."

"Cassandra is only my friend."

"Does Cassandra know that?"

10K really thought about it. Sure, he has caught Cassandra staring at him the way he stares at (Y/N), but he thought she knew he couldn't feel the same way about her. It was only a theory in his head anyway.

"Yes."

Mack rolled his eyes at how naive 10K was being. Quietly, he rose from the log he had taken from (Y/N)after she had left. 10K did the same, not trusting the situation.

"Leave (Y/N) out of your fantasy. She's too fragile to fall in love with someone that could leave her or not reciprocate how she feels. She needs stability, 10K or she freaks out. You can't do that."

'None of us can.' 10K thought, thinking Mack was babying his sister too much. He kept his mouth shut, though.

He couldn't start a fight with (Y/N)'s brother and risk asking everyone up. It was easier to let Mack think he won whatever kind of conversation this was.

One thing he was going to do was try it with Cassandra, try to reciprocate how she felt.

| • |

Here's a little PSA, it didn't work. Didn't even last 12-hours before YN was back on his mind with no remorse. He realized the difference between how he felt for YN and how he felt for Cassandra.

One love couldn't compare to the other.