"Shit!"
Gene slammed the gate door shut, just as a Zombie crashed into it. If he hadn't closed it any sooner, that Zombie would have gotten in and ripped both him and Zane to shreds. Breathing heavily, he looked over at the younger male with him.
Gene and Zane had been friends ever since they lived together on Lovers' Lane, and had only been dating for a week now. Ironically, this whole mess, which tore families apart and made people suffer, had brought them together. Both of them hoped with everything they had in the apocalypse that this same mess wouldn't rip them apart.
Zane had always been busting Gene out of trouble, especially back in high school. That black haired boyfriend of his had done all sorts of crazy and stupid things, from spray painting public property to overcooking a pie. Even so, Zane loved him.
Gene had his fair share of helping Zane out, too. He had had to makeup for Zane's awful cooking, and help him out with math whenever they would pay the bills. While he was a hundred percent sure Zane didn't start the Zombie apocalypse, he sure as hell hadn't done much to help since it started.
"I could say the same for you." Zane huffed, latching onto Gene in a tight hug.
"Now that's believable-- me starting this whole mess." Gene said in return, lifting him up by his waist. "But I didn't."
"I miss the others... especially Aphmau..." He sighed, burying his face into the fabric of Gene's shirt. "Do you think they made it out?"
"We can only hope, baby." He frowned, patting him on the back as he set him down.
"Yeah... you're right..." He nodded, his voice barely above a whisper.
"We have to keep pushing on, for them." He said confidently, walking further into the new hideout.
"...... Right..." He whispered, following behind him.
~~~~
"Is it just me, or is it cold in here?"
Gene paused in his tracks, turning on his flashlight. He shined it in all directions of the dark, abandoned room for any Zombies. He gave Zane a small glance, wondering why he had asked such a question. If anything it was hot. It always had been overwhelmingly heated during the days of the Zombie apocalypse, and nighttime wasn't any cooler.
"It's just you.." Gene answered slowly, shining the light at a bulletin board. "People still had hopes of finding their families..."
Zane hummed in response, slowing down even more behind him. He was getting distracted by a lot of things, especially the items of past luxury scattered about. He knew they couldn't carry useless junk like that with them, but it still would have been nice to have some enjoyment.
"Zane, look out!" Gene yelled, grabbing onto his arm and pulling him out of the way as a Zombie nearly pounced on him.
Zane squeezed his eye shut as Gene's gun went off, the Zombie falling to the ground with a broken open head. It was odd, how Zane heard gunshots every day and night now, but still hadn't gotten used to the sounds.
"Irene, Zane, pay more attention!" Gene growled at him, bumping him roughly.
"... Sorry..." Zane meekly apologized, rubbing his arms.
The two walked in silence for the next minute or so. Zane didn't know why, but he was starting to feel sick.. he didn't want to tell Gene that, though... he already had enough to worry about as it was.
"Dammit Zane, I ain't mad at you..." Gene sighed heavily, looking over his shoulder at him. "I just can't risk you getting killed, or becoming one of those things..."
"Mm..." He hummed in a monotone sense, blinking slowly.
"Oh, look..." He trailed off, handing Zane a plush pony. "It's Pinkie Cake, your favorite.."
"I guess it is..." He groaned, swiping some dust off the toy.
"Hey, are you okay? You look kinda sick back there..." He pointed out, already doing a checkup on Zane.
"Maybe that wound is infected." He suggested, continuing when Gene looked at him. "The one from when that dog bit me."
"Maybe..." He trailed off, his voice hinting that he wasn't anywhere near convinced. "Can you walk?"
"Yeah. A little wobbly, but I'll manage." He said with a nod, not wanting to bother him more.
"Alright... if you need to take a rest, just let me know." He said, turning around and walking again.
They continued to walk in silence, an uneasy pit forming in Zane's stomach. His legs were beyond exhausted at this point, and his knees would occasionally shake under his weight. He felt light headed, not to mention cold. He was already rubbing his arms, trying to warm them up, but to no avail.
"It smells awful in here." Gene complained, gagging a bit. "Is Zenix around?"
"Are we sure our dog wasn't following us this entire time, and just farted?" Zane joked, cracking a smile.
"Clover..." He trailed off, remembering the little dog.
"She was beautiful!" He whined, dramatically pitching his voice.
"Yeah, she was... a perfect little pooch..." He sighed, nodding.
"Hey, a truck... maybe it still works?" He said suddenly, seeing the vehicle up ahead.
"Maybe..." He shrugged, heading for it.
Zane was looking around as Gene checked out the truck. He couldn't help but roll his eye every time Gene made a comment on the truck, but looked back when he heard an engine start. He saw Gene sitting on the driver's side, looking at him with a smirk.
"Get in, babe." Gene commanded, smirking with pride.
"Well that was fast.." Zane murmured, but got in the passenger seat anyway. "So... where to now?"
"I don't know." He shrugged, starting to drive. "We'll just follow the road, I guess."
"As long as we're together." He said with a smile, resting into the seat.
"Time to run over some Zombies!" Gene cheered, heading for one with the car.
"No no no--" Zane started, gripping the seat and letting out yelps as the car went over the Zombie, the breaking limbs causing the vehicle to jump a bit.
"See? An effective way to kill Zombies." He said, using a know-it-all voice.
"I fucking hate you." He groaned, shaking his head.
