The End of Days

[32]

Avery chatted the whole way, asking every question from how he'd been to what happened at the highschool to how he found his way to Sanctuary after the rescue gone sideways. Liam tried to keep up both with the conversation and her movements. She had the place memorized to a T.

"Aw shit, these the kids?!" She grinned, bounding for the two eerily quiet children tucked in the back as all the others played. Liam stopped her before she could get too close, giving her a look.

"W- sorry, forgot. I got this, man." She reassured, mellowing enough that he dropped his hold on her arm.

"This is Avery, she's a friend." He told them. Their eyes slid to her, gazes lingering. "She's like Mac." Paige said although the thought didn't seem to bring her comfort exactly.

"Yeah, she is." He told her, saddened as well.

Paige accepted the handshake slowly, he was glad when the Avery stopped at Fred. Her arms crossed over her chest, lending the boy a little wink. Fred huffed but seemed annoyed rather than panicked. Progress, honestly.

"These kids are adorable man." She told him, smiling. "Nice to meet you guys. Liam's your friend too, right? You like him? He's pretty cool huh?"

"What did she say?" Paige looked to him. He shook his head, he'd told her not to talk fast. "She asked if you like me." He explained. "And that you're very mature for your age." Liam knew she would appreciate his version a bit more. The grin she gave Avery said he was right.

"Very much!" She made a dramatic enough gesture that Avery caught on, laughing. "You got you some fans, huh?" She slapped at his shoulder amused.

"Alright, come on. You guys look over this place." Liam insisted, nodding for the doors. Fred was the first to stand. "Kids are stupid." He grumbled.

One of the toddlers nearly rammed into the boys leg as if to prove his point but Liam managed to catch him in time, turning him a different direction before setting him loose. Fred gestured wildly and Liam nodded in understanding.

"Y'all ready?" Jack asked where he'd been waiting near the doors. Liam hadn't mentioned much about them getting shaken down but Jack knew enough.

It was obvious he was trying to keep his distance which Liam was grateful for, he was more concerned about the kids now than he had been since he'd known them.

"Yeah, man." Jack was the first to step out, then the kids with Avery and him in tow.

Avery paused as the radio at her side sounded. "Everett needs me, something about those circus freaks." She explained to Jack who was already stepping up. "Does he need me up there, I can get someone to cover for me here."

"He only mentioned me man, sorry." She shrugged, turning her back on the big guy as he seemed to bite his tongue. "Liam, it's been a fucking trip boy." She laughed, pulling him in for a hug.

He wrapped his arms around her also, appreciating the embrace. The last time they'd done that was that night at school when they were going to find Carlos. That felt like a lifetime ago.

"Not to brag but I'm a pretty big deal 'round here. Uh..I don't know how much I'm gonna be around, I've got a lot on my shoulders with this new promotion an- but I'm free tonight! You and me, we gettin wasted bro!"

"I've got kids!" He tried to call after her but she was already jogging off, "Make it happen, man!" She demanded with a big smile, not long before she was out of sight. She hadn't changed a bit, had she?

"What'd you think?"

"It's nice." Liam said, dropping his bags by the door.
The kids took a slow look around, not sure what to do with themselves. "Go check it out, I'll be right here." He told them.