The Emo Mafia

•But who are you fighting for•

Once the final bullet is fired everything becomes silent, not a single sound other than the chirping crickets. Everyone can breathe a little easier now knowing that against all odds, they actually won. But they can't celebrate right now, the wounded men have to be taken back to the house to get cleaned up and bandaged.

Andy and Gabe get Joe off the ground and take him to get immediate medical attention, followed by the other wounded men and the extra back up Patrick had brought along. Since the war seemed to be over, no one believed there was a point in standing out in the street anymore. They won so it was time to go back home, get drunk, and punch each other in the face until everybody passed out by five a.m..

"You did great, Red." Pete compliments, giving Patrick a sincere smile in appreciation. He drops his AK to the ground because it's empty, he had plenty more at home to replace it if need be and still had his pistol in the waist of his pants just in case.

Patrick smiles back. "Thanks. First and, hopefully, last time I'll ever have to do that."

"But what if I need you to do it again at some point?"

"I'm ride or die, I'll always back you up."

Pete's face splits into a huge smile that would be creepy to anyone else, but to Patrick it just means he's happy to know he will always have his support. "Let's go home, Princess." He says, wrapping an arm around Patrick's shoulders as they walk in the opposite direction towards the house.

"Hey, how'd that tattoo turn out?" Pete suddenly asks, and Patrick starts to wonder how Pete knew about that before he realized.

"That tattoo was your idea, wasn't it?"

"Of course it was! It was such a me thing to do."

"I figured as much," Patrick deadpans. "I haven't actually had the chance to look at it because you called right when Andy finished."

"Did it hurt?" Pete asks, already knowing the answer judging by the smirk gracing his lips.

"Yes it fucking hurt. Still does."

"Well, I had Andy do one for me a couple days ago." Pete halts his steps then retracts his arm from around Patrick's shoulders to lift the back of his shirt. On the skin of his left shoulder blade was a brightly colored tattoo of what could only be described as zombie cupcakes, each with different colored icing. There were three of them, two on the bottom and one above. Below them was a ribbon-like banner with the words 'Stump-Wentz' written on it in, what looked like, sloppy cursive. It was done really well, Andy's work was great. But Patrick couldn't help wondering why it had to be zombie cupcakes of all things with both of their names.

"You should have the same one." Pete says after letting his shirt fall back to the way it was previously.

Patrick pauses, staring wide eyed at the man before him. "You're telling me I have your name along with zombie cupcakes on my shoulder for the rest of my life?"

Pete does nothing but laugh at Patrick's reaction before answering. "Yeah, wanna know why?" The fed gives him a look that said 'duh, asshole'. "'Cause, sometime in the future, that's the name our kids will have."

Patrick's expression softens. He lets his gun hang from the strap on his shoulder, Pete's words making him want to involuntarily drop everything. "You... you want to have kids with me?" He asks softly.

Pete takes a step closer to the other man and cups his face in his palms, looking him directly in his bright eyes. "'Course I do, Red. Never in my life have have I been more sure." He presses their foreheads together, gently swiping the pads of his thumbs over Patrick's cheeks.

"I love you." Patrick says, and before Pete can say it back Patrick closes the small gap between them, connecting their lips in a sweet kiss. Pete reciprocates wholeheartedly.

Once they break apart the two smile at each other, standing in the middle of the empty street surrounded by dead bodies as if they were stranded in a post-apocalyptic ghost town. But the only thing they could see was each other. They begin to walk again, Pete's arm is back around his lover's shoulders and together they head back home.

"Hey Pete!"

They both stop and turn around to face the unfamiliar voice that erupted from behind them. Patrick looks at the man quizzically, glancing at Pete hoping he could shed some light on who the stranger was. But Pete's facial expression showed slight recognition, the red beanie and dark clothes were a dead give away. His jaw tightened and he instinctively pushes Patrick behind him with one arm and placing his other hand on the pistol in the waist of the back of his pants. He doesn't draw it just yet, in case the man is unarmed. He's too far away to tell for sure.

"This is for Josh." He raises his arm and Pete automatically yanks the pistol out and aims at the last remaining man standing several feet away.

Then two gunshots go off, and both men collapse.

***

"Hey Joe, how ya feelin'" Travis asks as he brings his friend a glass of water and a sandwich.

Joe simply shrugs, immediately reaching out for the sandwich and taking a huge bite. Trav puts the glass of water down on the table Joe is currently sitting upon. "I could be better." Joe answers, with a mouth full of lunch meat, lettuce, and bread.

"Well you're doin' better now than you were an hour ago. We almost lost you, man."

Joe swallows the chewed food in his mouth. "I've survived worse."

Trav, chuckles at how true his statement is. "Yeah, we all have." He claps Joe on the shoulder before leaving the room and Joe is left in the basement with Andy and the doctors. Joe couldn't remember their names but he believed the one who patched him up was named Ray or something like that. He's seen these guys a million times but couldn't remember a single name if his life depended on it.

"SHIT!"

Joe pauses mid-bite to glance around the room, seeing if anyone else heard what he did. They all were also looking around to make sure. It sounded like Gabe, and it was confirmed when he came running down the stairs repeatedly saying the same word.

"Shit, shit, shitshitshit." When Gabe finally reached the bottom, the whole room turned to face him awaiting some kind of explanation.

What Gabe does is hold up his phone, Joe could see that Patrick was on the other end, and says three words that makes everyone's hearts stop.

"Pete went down."