Fallout: Fury Blood

Chapter 99: A Light Shining In Darkness

*WARNING*
Themes of drug abuse and suicide. Sexual content.

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This time, Danse found himself awakening in Kelly's arms, a dim recollection coming to him of how exactly he got there. Shame struck him thereafter, the same internal maelstrom of embarrassment and humiliation he felt every time he succumbed to his demons before Kelly, only for her to then have to pick up the broken pieces of him... but he wasn't complaining about where he'd ended up this time...

Breasts. The aroma of battle infused with her feminine scent washed over him with powerful effect, of which he had come to know and love as uniquely her. Her slim body was warm and sprawled beneath his, arms draped over his back and a single leg curled and hooked up over the back of his thigh, as if to keep him locked to her indefinitely. And further rousing him was the sight and feel of her supple mounds pillowing his daze, of which he also knew and loved as uniquely her. He was granted a rich eyeful beneath the broken zipper of her suit, and immediately felt the pull in his loins.

Definitely wasn't complaining in the least.

But instead of heeding his virile desires, Danse paid scrutinous regard to Kelly's state. Her suntanned skin was a waxen, ashen hue, damp with perspiration. Her breath feathered in and out swiftly, and a small indent of strain marred her brow. He placed his hand to her slick forehead and felt the heat on her skin. She was burning up.

"Damn it," he cursed himself. The withdrawals had her in their clutches. He should have been more prepared for this, should have been up through the night to watch over her, waiting for her to go downhill so he could tend to her needs, not fumbling around in the nest of his own troubles. She shouldn't have gone out after him last night, the cold had been wretched and she was in too fragile a state to exert and expose herself like that.

Wasting no time, Danse lifted himself off her and covered her again with the open bedroll that had been placed atop him, his movement waking her in the process.

"Danse?" Kelly fretted groggily, immediately sensing that something was wrong.

"It's alright," he soothed as sturdily as he could. "You're burning up, but I'm going to take care of you."

Confusion tugged on her brow. "But I'm cold." She pulled the blanket of the bedroll up to her chin with pale fingers, teeth clattering while her limbs tucked up into a tight ball around her. "Freezing."

Concerned, Danse rubbed her vigorously with his hands to heat her up, then wordlessly moved to the back of the cave to fetch her some cleansed water, a Firefruit, and leftover meat from last night. After placing it within her reach, his next task was to kick-start the fire back to life. Outwardly, he was stoic and methodical. Inwardly, he was fuming. It had gone out in the night, slowly fading out of precious existence while they had canoodled. He should have been awake to keep it alive. Should have had better control over his demons. But luckily, he had scavenged enough dry kindling and firewood from willowy trees nearby to relight it with his flip lighter, and within no time, an ashy curl of smoke lifted before a growth of orange embers.

He nursed the fire with his breath as Kelly could be heard nibbling on food and gulping mouthfuls of water. No doubt she was thirsty, and she must be famished just as much. But she was hardly eating enough to support her recovery...

Suddenly, she was retching up clear fluid onto the cave floor, half the contents of her water bottle drained, but wasted.

Danse abandoned the fire and rushed to comfort her, trying his best to hold her hair back from her face and rub a supportive circle on her back. After a few minutes, she was only dry retching, her hand squeezing violently into his knee as she leant on him for support. She felt like fragile glass in his hold.