It's just us, now.

Fifteen.

Days into the Apocalypse : 16

The next morning, Don, Jon, and Malachi were left to sleep in once everyone else had already woken up. By the afternoon had come around was when they'd woken up, with Dick gently shaking Don awake first and leaving his boyfriend to do the rest for him.

Don groaned, using his foot to kick at Jon's leg, "It's, like, twelve thirty. Apparently we have to eat or whatever."

"Food?"Malachi said, face squished into Don's side, the topic seeming to wake him almost fully, "Where?"

"Kitchen upstairs."Don answered, he elaborated, "It's where me and the D-Gang usually live."

"Let's go."Jon sighed, dragging himself off the couch alongside Malachi and Jon. They climbed the ladder up to the floor above, greeted with the sight of Uni cooking at the stove with Ashlie looking over his shoulder.

"Hey, guys."Nick greeted, sitting at the counter and turning head to look at them, "Ashlie and Uni are arguing about how to cook potatoes."

"Potatoes and sausage?"Jon guessed with a raised brow.

"Yep."Davis confirmed with a sigh as Uni insisted they kept the lid over the pan while Ashlie argues about removing it.

"You'll love it, kid."Don bent down, whispering to the boy, "...Even if those two idiots break the stove trying to cook it."

Malachi laughed into his hands as Jon snickered.

"Hey, Jon."Nick caught his attention, cocking his head to the side towards the hallway and saying, "Can we talk for a minute?"

"Sure."Jon shrugged, giving Don a quick look before shooting his gaze down to Malachi. Jon was very reluctant to lose sight of Malachi after not seeing him in a long time, but he knew he could trust the boy with Don.

"Hey, kid, let's go meet the others for real this time."Don suggested, leading Malachi over to speak with everyone. When Dashlie began to gush over his painted nails rather dramatically, Jon followed Nick out into the hallway.

Nick nudged Jon into the bathroom and leaned against the bathroom door as Jon sat on top of the porcelain tub. Jon let out a sigh, hands leaned against the tub as he spoke, "We haven't done a bathroom talk a while, that's how I know it's a serious conversation. Last time we had one it was about if we'd have to move apartments or not cause of our crazy neighbor."

"Yeah, that must've been about two months ago."Nick recalled, arms crossed in front of him as he slouched forward, "But, seriously, we gotta talk about what I heard, what we all heard, back at the circus."

Jon frowned, "Right."

"He called you a lab rat. And he mentioned scientists. I..."Nick cut himself off, running a hand over his face with a deep sigh, "I know that your appearance wasn't natural, I've known that, and you only ever said it was something medical that happened when you were a kid."

"Nick..."Jon looked up, reaching a hand up to pull at a curl of his hair nervously, "Listen. I-..it's complicated, alright?"

"It wouldn't be if you explained it to me."Nick suggested, "You don't have to tell me everything, alright? You can trust me, Jon, I'm just worried."

"Nick."Jon broached, Nick looked up again, "You've noticed how I've never been sick as long as you've known me. Nothing at all, no sniffles, no cold, no sore throats, and not even any allergies. I've never even gotten food poisoning, even when I ate the same crap you did."