chain reaction { roadkill day 2 }

"Nanette, I'll take credit for the mutt you killed."

Revan had decided as we turned away from the carcass of the remaining mutt. What the fuck? What credit was he taking? Fucking missing twice?

"-At least I have the excuse of never training. What's yours? Dazzled by the company you keep?"

Then he had the audacity to call her dazzled.

Dazzled?

Dazzled?!

Dazzled by the fucking Buffon whose head was growing larger with each passing second?

I was furious, my blood had been roaring in my ears as I took in Revan's words, at the way he had chuckled to himself at a joke that's punchline failed to land. I had misread the brooding giant from Eleven. I had brought him into my fold thinking that he would be a silent wall of flesh. But instead I got this- this boy with words that so easily slipped under my skin causing me to struggle with reining in my anger.

I had almost punched him in the face right then and there, but instead had decided to approach Flynn, where I sat now waiting for him to accept my bandages.

”You know I am an expert at this?" I nod. I had assumed no less. He says that I too probably knew the basics for first aid being a career and all. First aid was no stranger to me. I had taken classes when I had first found out that mum was ill. I had made sure that I would be prepared if and when an emergency might happen.

I'd also learnt CPR one summer break when I had taken up life saving for a season. I had never thought that I might need it, until one day when a kid had gotten caught in a rip. We had raced out there and when we had brought him to sure he wasn't breathing having swallowed too much ocean water. I had conducted mouth to mouth whilst my partner had begun the compressions. In that moment, as we worked, I had felt the world around me disappear until the boy began coughing up water, spitting it out into the sandy earth beside him.

He had lived.

But I don't say this to Flynn, just giving him a cheeky grin, "yeah, though swinging swords and fists are the best parts."

Then Revan approaches, handing Flynn a revolver and bullets. I don't look at him, waiting Flynn begins to work. But I can feel him looking at me, "You want to explore Nanette?" I bite my lip, my anger resurfacing. He had to be fucking hiding me, right? Surely? Why the hell would I want to do anything with him? Why- "Or you going to sit there with a spear you can barely use."

Nope.

He had done it now.

Ripping my arm from Flynn hands I round on the boy from Eleven

And I slap Revan Antilles right across the face.

Hard.

"What the fuck is your problem? Do you want to fight me? I'll fucking show you just how useless I am with this spear." The growl comes from deep in my throat. My head pounded from radiation and the fumes of perfume I had inhaled. My armed burner and I was already so tired. Tired and hungry and thirsty and I had no intention of putting up with Revan's bullshit.

"Just stay away from me Eleven. Stay away or I'll fucking gut you like the shark in my training session."

I hated that I needed him. Needed the shield his body provided. The bait he might be when time came. I hated that he drove me insane. That he knew just the right way to get under my skin.

"Stay away."