the last city

Chapter 4: a reforged bond

In the aftermath of the raid, the rebel bunker buzzed with a mix of relief and trepidation. Victory had come at a cost, and they had to tend to the wounded while still reeling from the horrors they had witnessed.

Lyra, her hands deft and precise, carefully sutured Thorne's lacerated arm, her lips pressed firmly into a thin line of concentration. Her voice was soothing as she spoke to him, attempting to take his mind off the pain, 'Just a little more, Thorne. You're doing great.'

Thorne winced with each stitch but met Lyra's gaze with a brave smile. 'Thanks, Lyra. We did it,' he whispered, his voice a hoarse testament to the ordeal they had endured.

Nearby, Ember held Orion close, whispering words of comfort into his ear. Orion, his autism making him particularly vulnerable to sensory overload, had been deeply affected by the chaos and violence of the raid. He clung to Ember like a frightened child, his body trembling and his eyes wide with fear.

Ember rocked him gently, her voice a soft melody that washed over him. 'It's okay, Orion. You're safe now,' she murmured, her heart aching for the boy who had already endured so much.

Orion let out a low whine, his eyes fixed on a spot in the distance. It was the way he communicated, a language of sounds and gestures that only the people who knew him best could understand.

'Orion, would you like your bottle?' Ember asked, her voice gentle.

He nodded slightly, his gaze still distant.

Ember reached for the bottle she had stashed in her bag. It was a baby bottle, its pastel colors and cartoon characters a stark contrast to the grim surroundings. She filled it with warm milk and handed it to Orion, who immediately latched onto the nipple and began to suck greedily.

As Orion drank, his body slowly began to relax. His whines subsided into a soft gurgle, and his eyes closed in contentment. The baby bottle was a comfort object, a tether to his happier days before the raiders had torn him from his life.

Thorne watched Orion from the corner of his eye, a pang of guilt washing over him. Before the kidnapping, they had been dating. Orion's autism had made their relationship challenging at times, but Thorne had come to love his unique way of seeing the world. He had always been patient and understanding with Orion, but the raid had exposed his limitations.

As he watched Orion being cared for by others, Thorne felt a wave of inadequacy. He should have been the one comforting him, protecting him. But in the chaos of the raid, he had failed.

'I'm sorry, Orion,' Thorne whispered, his voice barely audible. 'I'm so sorry.'

Orion didn't respond, lost in his thoughts and the comfort of his bottle.

Ember looked up at Thorne, her eyes holding a mix of sympathy and understanding. 'He knows you're here, Thorne,' she said softly. 'He can hear you.'

Thorne nodded, his eyes still fixed on Orion. He knew that Orion understood him, even if he couldn't always express himself clearly.

As Orion finished his milk, Ember took the bottle from him and burped him gently. Orion's eyes opened, and he gazed up at Thorne with a faint flicker of recognition. His lips parted slightly as if he were trying to say something.

Thorne leaned closer, his heart pounding with anticipation. 'What is it, Orion?' he asked, his voice trembling.

Orion looked at Thorne for a long moment, his eyes conveying a depth of emotion that belied his limited speech. Then, he let out a soft groan, a sound that could mean many things.

Ember smiled. 'He's saying 'I love you,'' she translated.

Tears of joy and relief welled up in Thorne's eyes. 'I love you too, Orion,' he whispered, his voice choked with emotion.

In that moment, amidst the chaos and aftermath of the raid, a bond between them was reforged, a bond that would transcend the horrors they had endured. Orion, the autistic boy who had been taken from his home, and Thorne, the rebel who had failed to protect him, found solace in their love for each other, a love that would sustain them through the long and arduous path that lay ahead.

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