Crow's Nest

03: That's Rough, Buddy

Hinata glared at the stranger's back as he trailed him through the house, thinly restraining the urge to stab him in the back with his machete. Honestly, what a conceited jerk. He'd helped him out and all he could do was insult him?

He tried to size him up as they walked, but it was like staring at a blank sheet of paper. He was about 17 centimeters taller, so Hinata guessed he was older, maybe eighteen, though it was monumentally hard to guess his age. He had an angular, sharp face, straight black hair, narrow blue-gray eyes, and the slight beginnings of a five o'clock shadow on his chin, but he had one of those faces that was both old and young.

He moved through the house with practiced tension, as if expecting an attack at any second. His eyes were so sharp and focused, Hinata was almost unnerved whenever they glanced his way. Maybe that was just the way snipers acted? It would make sense since they were supposedly laser-focused. Then again, this guy didn't really strike Hinata as a super-serious sniper—well, maybe super-serious, but not like a killing machine or anything.

"Why are you following me around?" the boy eventually demanded, seemingly growing annoyed by his persistent presence. He spun on his heel and jabbed a finger into Hinata's chest with a glare. "Sure, you helped, whatever: now get lost before I shoot you in the leg and leave you for the corpses."

"That's no way to talk to your savior," Hinata scolded patronizingly. "Besides, would you really shoot someone right after they helped you? Surely you have some morals left."

"You know, it's funny, but they all seem to disappear when annoying redheaded midgets show up," he responded sarcastically, returning to his task of sweeping the house and leaving Hinata steaming behind him. Still, he followed after him resolutely as he took to the stairs.

"You're seriously irritating. Just because I stepped on your little ego by helping you out, you're now threatening to kill me and denying that I helped you?" Hinata clicked his tongue when the sniper ignored him and quickened his pace. "Hey, you could at least tell me your name."

"Why do you even want to know?" the boy responded irately, shooting him another sharp glance. He pulled out a pistol from the holster around his waist and Hinata flinched, though he didn't aim it his way. "If you're going to insist on sticking around, get a weapon and help me clear this place; otherwise, get out."

Hinata muttered obscenities under his breath as they reached the first floor, drawing a small Zev Glock 17 from his backpack and loading the chamber. "Fine, because I'm not leaving here until I get a scrap of decency from you, stranger who refuses to tell me his name."

"Fine, alright?! It's Kageyama Tobio! Not shut up and focus."

"Thank you," Hianta said with satisfaction, taking the other side of the doorway Kageyama was poised to enter. "Now, was that so— Ooh." He paused as the door was pushed open and a zombie came stumbling through, clawing and growling. Hinata kicked it in the back of the knee reflexively, shooting it in the skull when it went down. "Oh, sorry. Hope that wasn't someone you knew."

"I will seriously shoot you," Kageyama scoffed as he stepped over the fallen corpse, quickly scanning the room before progressing down the hallway. Hinata followed behind him with a smug smile, feeling a hint of self-satisfaction as they stopped outside the next door.

Kageyama kept one finger poised over the trigger of his pistol as he kicked it open, but this one was clear. His shoulders didn't relax, however, expression remaining stoic as he headed for the stairs again. Hinata raised an eyebrow questioningly as he trailed behind him. "You sure are serious, aren't you? You're gonna get wrinkles if you always frown like that."