[We Are Legion]

Ballad of the Walking Wounded

*SLAM!*

Frank's front door was busted open faster than a tin of food in the apocalypse, a surprisingly small amount of commotion followed the echo
"His dad dips for work super early", Julie said, now through tears, her arm looking super bad now. Running through the bush, carrying a body at light speed, probably isn't good for open stab wounds,
"Joey, you fix up Susie", He pulled out a first aid kit, ripping off the legion mask,
"You can do it right?", his face was raw. I'd never seen him in such pain. I just nodded, to be honest, I had just as little composure as he did.
Unmasking Susie hurt, her face beaded with sweat with an almost sooty look,
"Joey?", she coughed,
"Oh thank god", I tried hard not to cry, "Susie, never do that to me again",
Her laugh was really relaxing, she's so much stronger than I imagined,
"Did, did the bullet go straight through?", her leggings were more torn than usual and coated in dry blood, the wound still looking fresh. But only on one side,
"No, wait, that's bad isn't it?",
"It's not great, you have to get the bullet out then apply pressure",
I knew a bit about this part from the movies Susie and I used to watch in the past, she's probably seen a few more than me. She sat up against Franks dresser as I clutched the tweezers, my hands still shaking. More from the entire night than just this moment, Susie cried out in pain, wincing through tears as I shuffled through the torn flesh, waiting for a noise of validation.
chink, that's it isn't it? Yes!
One last cry came from the bullets departure, a standard, boring, 9mm bronze bullet.
"huh.", I felt calm, "Susie, are you OK?", her smile was crooked but genuine,
"I am now, dummy", I smiled too.

Julie's scream pierced the happiness,
"shit, Shit!", Frank exclaimed, sprinting out of the room. What? You can't just do that.
"Damn it, I'll get him", Susie stood weakly,
"You aren't stopping me, tonight has Julie and Frank beat up just as much as me, you're the only real survivor, Joey", she seemed hardened. I forgot my retort almost immediately. Her hobble was dangerous but it wasn't my problem anymore, Julie's scream came from an accidental alcohol spill, the bandages on completely on her arm,
"Julie, I'm here", she ripped off her mask to reveal her dulled down eyes and gritty hair,
"Yeah I know Joey, and I'm glad for it", she gestured me to sit down and help with the patch up, maybe Frank kinda sucked at medical stuff. The job wasn't to hard,
"Tonight's been one hell of a time, hasn't it?", Julie sighed,
"Yeah, no shit", I joked, "You think we'll be able to get back up?",
Julie nodded. I always thought she knew what she wanted, it was part of her charm, but right now I couldn't be more wrong.
"Frank, he was insane, I've never seen him like that", Julie said,
"I knew there was something to him, he doesn't seem like the most stable person", I replied,
"This time, I think you're right, it won't stop me from trying to see the good in him",
"Julie he has you under his thumb. You're someone else around him",
"If you're implying I'm going to snap one day I can assure you I'll be fine", she took a deep breath as I finished the bandaging,
"I'm sorry I called you insecure back at my place, and that you couldn't hold a job",
"Julie, I know you didn't mean it, plus. You weren't wrong",
"Hey, don't say that, I know you can do anything if you apply yourself, you're a capable guy"
"Well, as a capable guy, I'll be watching out for you and Susie from now on", Julie's glare made me change my words,
"Frank doesn't need me, he took care of himself pretty well",
"I know but, he needs the mental support, he can dish out a hit but he can't take one",
That summarized him surprisingly well actually, a glass cannon shooting lead bullets.
"Julie, I", I wanted to say it, I wanted to say it so bad. But I couldn't.
"I'm glad you're my friend", a familiar bashful smile returned, giving me a free hug.

"You guys need to clear out", Frank was back in action, but his grit seemed absent from his regular self.
"What? Why?", Julie asked,
"I need to process tonight, we stuffed up bad and people got hurt, I'm not letting it happen again",
I wondered how Julie and Susie would hide their injuries at home, and if Julie's mom even knew if we were part of the scene,
"Frank that's not fair, we can help",
"NO!", Frank sighed, he was trying really hard I can give him that,
"I can't put anyone in any danger, if I do it myself I can assure your safety, you understand babe?", they exchanged a peck before we left, leaving Frank with parting pleasantries.
"You guys stay safe OK?", I told the girls, "Call if there's trouble", they nodded before we went our respective ways. It almost felt musical walking home in the direction of the sun, like I was listening to a ballad of the walking wounded.