Operator (A Hat Films Fanfic)

-Two-

When I woke up, my nose and ears stung with the cold. Burrowing lower into the pile of blankets America had dug out last night, I pulled her closer to me and buried my face into her hair and neck. I guessed that the cold front I had heard about a few days ago had passed through, and the gentle pattering of rain made a sound so familiar and normal you wouldn't think we had been threatened to be shot over Trott's shit wagon last night.

I could feel the cold seeping through the walls from where my back was turned to it, knowing that we probably wouldn't see heat for a while. On the bright side, I had someone to share her warmth with me and we were close to the start of summer. America stirred and turned around in my arms to nuzzle her head into my chest, muttering, "Please tell me the alarm clock's working..."

I didn't even have to raise my head to look, but I did anyway. The screen, normally flashing green numbers, was black and lifeless. "Sorry 'merica," I sighed, pulling her closer, "no power."

She groaned and sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Looks like I'm going on a run this morning," she said, staring out towards her window and grimacing at the weather, "Will you go check on Mary for me while I'm gone?"

"Sure... I can do that..." I muttered, realizing she wasn't going to invite me along; I guess I was more useful here to start moving the food into a more secure location and out of their living room anyway, but I felt my instincts to protect her starting to kick in. "When will you be back?" I asked, absently running my hand down her bare shoulder and along her spine.

America relaxed at the touch, and I positioned myself to sit behind her and get a better angle. "I shouldn't take more than an hour," she practically moaned as my hands worked the knots in her shoulders. She had a small torso and upper body, leaving all her muscle for her legs; this meant she was terrible at lifting but an amazingly strong runner. My hands nearly fit across her entire back, which was bent forward as if she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. I didn't blame her; with the kind of knowledge she had on how to deal with an EMP, it was no wonder she didn't go insane with everything she had to plan and prepare for.

She let this go on for another couple of minutes, and then sat up straight and batted my hands away. "Alex, stop, you're going to make me fall back asleep," she said, smiling dreamily. Quickly throwing the blankets off, she dashed through the chilly room to her closet, pulling on a pair of tight running shorts and then a long sleeved shirt. "Don't smirk at me like that," she reproached as I fell back against the headboard and put my hands behind my head.

"Just enjoying the free show," I muttered, trying to keep the smile on her face to stay there even a second longer.

She rolled her eyes, but I was successful in my endeavor and she started to giggle lightly at my comment. Stooping over to grab my pile of clothes on her floor, she playfully threw them at me. "Don't let my brother catch you naked in my bed, got it?" she threatened, looking back towards her door, "He already knows you're here, let's not make it any worse."

"Alright America, I promise," I smirked, throwing an arm over my tired eyes as she left the room.

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After doing what I was told and going to see our neighbor who was a lot less hysterical than the night before and healing well, I met up with Trott and Ross who were just sitting on the latter's front steps and looking a little dazed. Ross' flat bordered the complex, the brick wall that enclosed us butting up against the east side of the building. The flats were more like boat houses, four stories each with two rooms a floor; there were five different flats in each building, and seven buildings in total that formed a crude circle with a small green space surrounded by a drive that branched out into car parks. I wouldn't call it a gated community, but now the idea that we had walls to protect us, as short as they are, helped to assuage some of my fears towards looting.