And you decided whether you saw beauty or destruction

Laughter is the best cure for stress

(Apocalypse)

This one's for my best friend, "arRosz". Sorry, she gets VIP treatment, house rules.

It wasn't that Connor had never imagined the apocalypse; just that he had never thought he'd live through it, much less guide a group of teens into safety. It started just with him and Zoe, their mom had gone off to find their dad, who had been on his office when the outbreak happened, after four days with no word from her, and too many close encounters with both zombies and raiders, Connor decided to move both him and his sister away from there.

Zoe had been quiet as Connor packed as many provisions as they could carry, and searched the house for any usable weapons, only moving to unlock the gun safe and give Connor the remaining pistol and ammo they had, while he nicked the old baseball bat, he never asked how she knew the combination, simply took the gun and guided her outside.

They had been wandering aimlessly from make-shift shelter to another for half a month when Zoe got sick; that lead to Connor crossing paths with Evan Hansen for the second time in his life. After a whole ordeal in which Evan ended up saving Connor's, and indirectly Zoe's lives, Connor felt like he was indebted to the guy, not to mention that he gave them a direction to go to.

So when, in one of their trips to change locations they saw a recognizable pair of people in need of help, Connor just had to save them. Thus how he added Jared Kleinman and Alana Beck to their group.

As it happened, Jared's plan to get to the pier backfired, and he had gotten in trouble with the group he had joined after parting ways with Evan. Alana had found him looking lost in a park, and saved him from almost getting mauled by a zombie, since then they had stuck together.

Connor had no clue how or when or why he had become the leader of their band of teens, couldn't remember it ever being a thing they talked about, it just was a silent decision; now here he was.

After what had to be at least half a year, they had finally made it to the port, completely battered and bruised, with close to no supplies, muscles moving automatically out of habit with no energy behind them, but ready to speed to a full sprint when adrenaline hit. Zoe saw the base, and one of the soldiers saw them, they probably didn't pose a threat, four teens that looked ready to drop any minute, the soldier took them in.

They were lead into a wide space, there was a decent amount of people already there, the soldier explained that they had to go through a check to make sure they weren't infected before they could take them to the main base; a waiting area of sorts.

Connor collapsed into the floor, surrounded by survivors. One by one, the rest of their make-shift group joined him on the ground, completely exhausted; the soldier that carried them to the waiting area smiled sympathetically.

Now that he's somewhere 'safe', Connor allows himself to relax somewhat, glancing around at the other people who are also waiting to get out of here. This means he's the first one to see him, but Connor's gotten used to seeing Evan Hansen everywhere, Jared is the one to confirm that other is really there.

It happens in a blur, Jared calls Evan's name, Evan's startled were he's leaning over a pillar, but then his eyes fall on Jared and both boys are moving. Evan hits Jared in the head, only to pull him into a hug moments later, Connor watches from where he's frozen in the floor, Jared tugs Evan to them, and Connor feels his heart rate raising.

The months alone have changed Evan, he looks more mature, like he fits his body better, he's won a bit of muscle, probably from running, and he has a few scars going for him. His hair is unevenly cut, but short; though longer than Connor remember it being, but he has that same energy he had when he saved Connor's ass, and when he gave him free ammo, and when they said goodbye, Connor doesn't know what to make of it.

He's fantasized about meeting Evan again, had become almost obsessed with the notion, it kept him going, but actually doing it is even better. He gets to stare all he wants as Jared, Alana, and Zoe take turns to tell how they got there, Evan trades his own story, about treading the subway lines until he got to his destination, about the runs for provisions, about hiding from humans more than he did from zombies.

Lake blue eyes fall on Connor, and he can't help but return the gaze, Evan stars talking about their meeting, apparently having been asked by Jared, Connor needs to stop spacing out, so he adds commentary on the story.
"So that's why you saved my ass"
"You being with Alana also helped"

Jared nudges her by the shoulder.

"See, you're the favorite"

Evan blinks at them.
"Wouldn't Zoe be the favorite?"

Zoe makes the best dead-pan expression.

"No it's definitely Alana"

And for whatever reason, maybe relief piled upon the ridiculousness of the conversation, Connor starts laughing uncontrollably, Evan is the first to join him, and then they're all laughing, like they weren't still fighting for their lives just this morning.