Satellite

Chapter 25 - Difference

     (Y/N) sat on a couch with a soldier and carefully wrapped some cloth around their bleeding hand.

      The smell of beans cooked with vegetables and rice filled the radio station and was a welcomed scent by its occupants. After so long of not having a proper meal, the stew made by the quiet woman named Vivian using what was gathered at the market was not wasted in the slightest.

      Soldiers who were on guard duty were busy on watch while the ones who weren't were gathered in the main room to eat their share of the meal. Along with (Y/N) and Dell, Rockman who was the most eager to eat, Vivian who was the cook, and the two other male survivors who stood more off to the side, away from the group.

      (Y/N) learned their names were Mack and Luke. Mack was the older of the two, probably nearing his 30s, and was quite burly. While Luke was closer to her age and skinnier as well. She had recognized him as the young man who lost his grandfather during the initial rise at the hospital.

       It made it hard for her and Dell to be around him. Or any of the three survivors for that matter.

       Mack and Luke were always giving them distasteful looks, likely still putting blame on them for being 'accomplices'. Vivian was coming around but her quiet nature was hard to get past. They weren't sure if she shared the same opinions of the nurses or not.

      The only people not present were the soldiers who were on guard duty of course, but also Wes who wanted to get some rest in and said he'll eat later. So Dell put a bowl aside for him.

      Cheng was on watch as well while the captain only wanted to finish his food before heading right back out. So he didn't stick around for too long.

      (Y/N) had already finished her bowl and held back from getting a second so she focused her time on helping a soldier who cut their hand pretty bad working on the fence. They were out of bandages so she had to use what was available. A ratty old shirt.

"Might I say, woman," Rockman spoke and tapped his spoon against his bowl as he looked over to Vivian with a grin. "I ain't never had a bowl of beans quite like this. Truly phenomenal."

      The quiet woman gave him a small smile for his appreciation. (Y/N) took her eyes away from the patient to look at the two.

"I'm surprised you aren't the main chef of this merry little band. They could use a fine woman such as yourself to fill up their war-torn bellies." The old man continued his praises but (Y/N) could tell that they were more than simple praises. 'Jeez, Rockman...'

      Drake had chosen to stand rather than sit with the group and was positioned at a window to keep eyes on the yard. But even that obviously flirtatious comment from Rockman made the sergeant glance over with a questioning look.

      The lady on the receiving end of the praises looked like she didn't know how to take them. She awkwardly held her spoon in her bowl and kept her eyes down, not liking this much attention on her. "Uh... t-thank you."

"Anytime, sweetheart." The hippie spoke. He was old enough to be the woman's father.

      (Y/N) cleared her throat to get his attention after seeing how uncomfortable Vivian was. She knew how much of a... flirt he could be.

      The old man turned his attention toward her, clearly not picking up on his own behavior.

"Do you have any stories you can tell us?" The nurse asked as a way to keep him busy. "Maybe the one about the sasquatch?"

"Sasquatch?" One of the soldiers questioned in confusion.

"Ahhh, that old tale?" Rockman chuckled. "I told you that story since you and Kelly were in diapers."