Don't jump too far

Homesick

The corridors narrowed as they ran faster and faster. "Stop. We can't get past. Do you have the gun" out of breath, Nigel took the gun from 18. He froze and slowly looked up to a crack in the ceiling which revealed moonlight and the glisten of stars. Softly, he sighed.

"We best get going. Come on. We're almost out". He dragged his feet begrudgingly across the halls, kicking at pieces of broken turret. "Do you have a home?" He shoved open a door, walking through. 18 shook their head and nervously gripped their arm.

"I'd love to have one. I suppose you think that too. You probably never had one. Tell you what," pushing a panel past, he looked at her softly, "When you leave, you can start a new life somewhere."

18 shook their head and had the look of concern in their eyes. They gripped Nigel's arm and shook it gently. Curiously, he looked at them with a soft, reassuring look.
"I can't go with you. I'm sorry but I don't know what's out there. I could be judged for who I am like with my appearance, my eyes for example. They might judge my personality." His voice in almost a whisper, slurring his words slightly as tears welled in his midnight black eyes.

18 whimpered, slowly putting their arms around his shoulders. Nigel hung his head. "I... I just don't know what to do. It's too much stress." Softly, 18 hugged him, looking up at him with a reassuring smile.
"If you could speak, it would mean the world to me. No rush obviously."
18 just simply looked away, slightly uncomfortable. They gripped their arm nervously and looked at him, shaking their head gently.
"I guess not. I understand. We best find a way out of here."

18 looked through a crack in the ceiling, crystal tears welling up in their eyes. Suddenly, they grabbed Nigel's wrist, dragging him to an exit, the tears running down their cheeks, not looking at him, they just looked ahead of them. Nigel flinched and jerked his head to look at them "What are you doing?" He asked in panic.

18 said nothing nor looked at him but firmly kept a grip on his wrist, marching to the exit down the hallway. In their other hand, they kept a grip on the paint gun. Nigel looked at them in confusion and panic yet didn't question them. "Can I at least take citranium? Only a few cans..." he nervously gripped the back of his neck. Suddenly, they both jolted to a stop and 18 just gave a simple nod and pointed to a duffle bag Nigel packed full of them in case he had to evacuate.
"Oh. That's where it went. Huh." Without hesitation, he grabbed the bag and slung it over his shoulder, 18 continuing to drag him.

The silence was almost deafening to Nigel. All that could be heard was their footsteps. He softly hummed to himself to break the silence. It felt like hours they were continuously trekking without breaks. Eventually, they reached a vault. 18 took a glance at Nigel before attempting to open it.
"Woah woah 18 you might not wanna do that!" They didn't respond. The vault door handle screeched as it turned, only inches away from opening.

Nigel gawked in disbelief, surprised they could even attempt to open it with minimal success let alone almost fully opening it. Suddenly, the latches unlocked, opening the vault door.