The End of Days

[36]

"Liam!-"

"LIAAAAM!"

Freds voice came through over the crowed of soldiers swarming the gates. People stared and stepped back at his screams of bloody murder as he shoved his way through.

"Hi!" Liam crouched down as a small girl jumped in his arms. He held her tight, stroking at the blond space buns she wore.

"You look sad."

Liam smirked, "I'm fine. Told you I'd be back, huh?"

She didn't play along, seeming to catch something subtle on his face. Little fingers grazed the skin below his eye as if to brush away the tears that had already came and left. Liam nearly broke all over again.

"Hey. You guys do alright?" Liam asked, Fred shuffling up. He kept a few steps back as Liam reached for him.

"When are you going? After this?" He opened his mouth to speak, watching them and those sad fucking looks they had. He knew what was best for them but the thought of being on the road again, fighting and struggling an-

Liam was exhausted. All he wanted was to go home, he wasn't sure how to make that happen.

"Liam, let's go drop these off alright?" Jack stepped in for him, gesturing to their weapons before addressing the kids, "He'll come hunt you down later okay?"

The kids didn't look satisfied at that but weren't looking to disagree with a man that terrifying. Liam said some quick goodbyes, making sure the kids got back to their carers before they left.

"Liam, chill."

"I'm fine." He snapped, jerking out of the hold on him. Jack stepped up, excusing the gaurd from the door. "Just a bit longer, keep it together alright?"

He popped in some digits, 37483. It beeped green and soon it opened to the armory where Jack began to put them away half assed.

"Come on. Let's go get you wasted."

—

Avery heard the news apperantly because later that night she appeared at his table, drowning him in pity and a hug. "You done good, boy." She bumped Jack's fist before reaching for a beer to join.

He drank through their traded war stories of lost comrades as if they were in their 70's, reminiscing about the glory days. Shot after shot and soon enough, the alcoholic began to do the trick.

"I'll walk you back, you can barely stand."

"I'm fine." He huffed. Jack scoffed a bit, "You say that a lot you know. Hey..you good?"

I'm fine, that was the first response lingering on the tip of his tongue. Jack wasn't the first to say something like that. First in a long time maybe but not the first.

He grimaced, picking up his pace. "I should spend the night." Jack was the one to stop that time.

Jack shut the door behind them, kicking off his combat boots. Liam tossed his heavy jacket, rubbing tiredly at his buzzed hair which grew back slowly but surely. He hated thinking about it, brought back a lot of fucked up memories he much rather forget.

"..so? Is this what I think it is?"

Liam shrugged, watching Jack quitely. He felt at the metal fingers that were merely for display. Jack had different ones, some he wore on runs to help shoot and others just for existing. Liam stepped close, their  lips grazing.

"Your grieving, man. I get it believe me but this won't change anything."

"I don't need a councilor, just stop. I just want to forget."