fallon-and-victor

[fallon-and-victor]

isla-and-sage‌:

Some people were going to nice and inviting to the new people that turned up out of the blue.  Other people wouldn’t do the same. It was risky letting people in because you were never going to know what peoples intentions were going to be. Sage knew people would judge them. People were going to try and work them from the first second they stepped foot into this little place.  “She wouldn’t, huh?” Sage was trying to work Fallon out with Victor’s little comments too.  Something about the girl interested him. She came across as blunt and straight to the point. Sage could be like that too. He didn’t like letting people in. He preferred being in charge. Sage took charge of where Isla and him were going. He didn’t want them to end up staying somewhere that was going to put them in a dangerous sitituation. This place seemed good.  Sage nodded, grabbing some wood. “After you, Vic. I’ll grab all of these pieces of wood.”

Isla could see that it was going to be hard to get to know Fallon. She didn’t seem to want the newcomers under her wing. Isla got it. It was probably annoying to teach all the new people. People were going to build bonds and friendships. It would hurt even more when something went terribly wrong. Isla would hate making friends only to have them running away from her again. Isla’s friends were all gone. She didn’t have anyone but Sage left. It’s one of the reasons that the two of them were so close. She’d be lost without him. Sage kept them both on the right track. Isla watched as Fallon started to move towards the boys. Victor seemed to be the person that could keep the other brunette girl sane. He seemed really sweet. Victor’s smile was one of the first things Isla noticed upon approaching the gates of this place. He welcomed them both with a grin. She wanted to get to know him some more when she was done with the gardening and chores. Still, Isla kept gardening. She didn’t want the other women making comments about her being lazy or unable to do the chore. Isla was going to do it. She was going a better job than expected. Isla was very hard-working. She was born strong-willed and strong-minded. She wouldn’t let people down. Isla’s gaze moved to Sage and the others as the other brunette approached them. She was keeping a watchful eye from afar. That’s when she noticed Sage to starting to wave. Isla waved back at him. He was checking if she was alright. Typical Sage.

Victor carried the wood towards camp. He appreciated Sage’s help. If Sage was always going to be this helpful, then Victor would love to have him around. He was one of the younger men, so he often was responsible for the harder tasks around camp - like chopping wood to keep the fires going. It would be nice to have another young, strong man around to help him. Victor became concerned at the look on Fallon’s face as they moved closer to camp. She looked to be worried or anxious. Victor wasn’t sure why. She was only gardening. “Hey, Fallon. Everything OK?” he asked her. 

Fallon nodded at Victor and she moved to his side. Her hands wrapped around his arm and she leaned against him. Victor was grounding for Fallon. She sometimes needed to remember that she had him - someone who wouldn’t let her down in this hard time, to remember that she was OK. Victor would try and talk to her later, but at the moment he didn’t want to focus on Fallon. “What about you Isla?” he asked, “Everything OK with you?” Victor wanted these new comers to feel welcome at the camp. He knew that they could all use the help. 

After a short pause, Fallon looked at Sage and saw that he had carried far more wood than Victor had. “Victor,” she said, “He’s put in far more work than you have,” with a grin. Victor was surprised by Fallon’s teasing. She smiled rarely and even more rarely made a joke or grinned like that. He was happy to see her smiling, but also didn’t love that it was at his expense. “Hey now -” he started, pretending to be angry, “I think it was a team effort.” Fallon’s smile faded, but she looked to Sage and waited for his reply - more engaged in the conversation than she normally would be. 

[fallon-and-victor]

isla-and-sage‌:

Sage listened to what Victor was saying to him. He understood that Fallon and Victor were friends out of survival. It seemed like they stuck together for strengths in numbers. He nodded. “She’s strong-minded, Vic. You need to have that sort of mind-set though. It’s hard to survive.” Sage could see why Fallon put up a cold front to others. She didn’t want to be taking more people underneath her wings. It was hard knowing you couldn’t look after everyone in the world. He could feel Fallon’s pain. “Yeah? She seems to like you. I don’t know if that’s as more than friends but she’s got a special place in her heart for you.” It seemed like Fallon and Victor were close enough to borderline being romantic. However, it didn’t seem like they’d done more than the ordinary friendly kind of things. “It’s hard, Vic. I feel the same. I feel bad knowing that I couldn’t save everyone around me. What can I do though? I have to put Isla and me first.”

Isla didn’t know why Fallon was being so up-front about tending the gardens. She could handle this and other chores. She was hard working. It was hard to survive out here without learning loads of different skills. “It is the truth, Fallon. You’ll see how hard-working Sage and I are.” Following Sage made Isla become a stronger person. She could do more than she thought. Sage taught her how to do everything. He was good at mentoring. “We’re not affecting you. We’re here to survive like everybody else.” Isla and Sage were not going to other two friends. Fallon and Victor seemed to make a good team. She wouldn’t want to step in between that.  “Sage is all I have too. I get it, okay? You have to put yourselves first.” Isla understood that. Everyone else would do the same thing too. “We’re part of the community too from this point. We’ve both got our different strengths too. You’ll see.”

Victor nodded. Fallon was difficult to understand, but she was only trying to survive - as they all were. He wasn’t sure that Fallon wanted to save anyone else. He felt that she was only looking out for herself. Him, too - but he was a special case. Fallon didn’t give a crap about other people, not really, she only used them to further her own chances of survival. “She wouldn’t like us talking about her,” Victor said after a pause, “so maybe if you want to know anything else - ask her, alright? I don’t want to get on her bad side by talking to you about her.” Victor wasn’t afraid of Fallon, but he was afraid of losing her. She was one of his strongest connections in that world and Fallon could hold a grudge better than anyone he ever knew. “Let’s take this wood back to the camp.” 

Fallon didn’t want to be responsible for Isla and Sage, if they were hard working or not. She didn’t want that responsibility but she could see that people were already grouping them in some way. The other women looked to expect Fallon to help Isla. She didn’t want to care about Isla and Sage, because even if she did use others to further her own chances, she also didn’t want to become attached to the newcomers only to have them ripped out of her life as so many others were in the past. In reality, Fallon had horrible anxiety about it all. She wasn’t like Victor who could make the best of any situation and take things one day at a time. Fallon was constantly thinking about all of the different possibilities. She was constantly aware that her chances of surviving were pretty slim. “Damn, where is Victor?” Fallon always looked for him when she became anxious or started thinking too much. Then, she saw Victor and Sage headed towards them with the wood they had chopped. Thank God. Fallon immediately moved towards them. 

[fallon-and-victor]

isla-and-sage‌:

Being out in the world with Isla meant Sage had to become both physically and mentally strong. He was more than willing to help cut some trees. It seemed like an easy enough thing to do. Sage’s frustration would be allowed to come out in that time. It also distracted his mind a little. Sage needed to focus on something other than the zombies out there. “Really? Is that all?” Maybe this place would be good for Isla and Sage. He wanted it to be. He needed people around him for strength in numbers. He didn’t want to have to fight people off with his own little sister. Sage didn’t mind being in the front to fight. He just didn’t want Isla to have to do the same thing. “Is she your girlfriend, Victor?” He was interested to know. It seemed like they were very close. 

Isla approached the group of other women that were tending to the gardens. She wanted to help in whatever way she could. It was hard out here. She didn’t mind taking over somebody’s shift. “Yes? I know how to farm and tend to the plants. I’ve been doing the same things with Sage.” Isla’s skills were good. She knew what she was doing. She was not going to kill any of the crops. This place was all about surviving. She wasn’t going to let down the other women gardening. “You’ll realise that I’m good at this, Fallon.” Isla started to water the plants that were nearly ripe. “Sage and I can be trusted. We’re here for the same reason as you. We’re all survivors.”

Sage asked if Fallon was Victor’s girlfriend. Victor shook his head no. “No, like I said before, we sort of ran into each other randomly and stuck together for strength in numbers,” he explained, “Fallon was,” he paused, unsure of the word, “detached,” he decided, “back then, too. She’s warmed up to me a bit since then, probably since I’ve been useful to her. I’d be lying if I hadn’t thought about the possibility of her being my girlfriend.” He shrugged. “Fallon is hard to read, even for me sometimes. Earlier on I thought that she might be interested in more, because she would cuddle up to me or hold my hand, but I think we’ve both sort of realized that going that route wouldn’t be a good idea with the state of the world right now,” he explained. “I truly believe she keeps people at a distance so that she won’t have to experience the pain of losing someone again. She even does it with me and I’m all she has right now.” 

Fallon was surprised. She felt sorry for being rash with Isla. Fallon nodded at the other woman’s words. “I truly wonder why you keep repeating that,” she said, “Surely you wouldn’t have to keep reminding yourself if it was the truth.” Fallon was suspicious of everyone around her. Sage and Isla were no exception. “I don’t mind what you and Sage do so long as it doesn’t affect Victor or myself.” Fallon didn’t want to be looped into a group with the newcomers. That wouldn’t look good for them if Sage or Isla did something wrong. “It’s not personal. It’s survival, Isla. I’m sure you can understand that. He and this community are all I have left.” 

[fallon-and-victor]

isla-and-sage‌:

Sage was not surprised to see the difference in people around him. It was hard to stay alive. Sage couldn’t imagine not having someone with him. He wouldn’t be able to survive alone. Losing Isla is something that he feared more than anything. She was all that Sage had left. Hopefully being in this camp with other humans meant they were going to be more protected. Isla and Sage weren’t scared of hard work. The two of them were more than willing to pick up extra shifts if it kept them in this place. It would also be nice for them to make friends here too. Isla listened to Victor’s instructions. “Is she tending the gardens? I’ll go and find my way there.” With that, Isla left to go and find the other women. Sage was left standing there with the male. “That sounds like something I’d be good at.” Sage was strong. He preferred doing a chore where he could get his aggression out as and when he wanted. He sick of this world being against him. “So, how long have you been here?”

Sage stayed with Victor and Victor was happy for that. The wood was usually hard work so it was nice to have some help. The older men were mostly too old to chop the wood, so it fell on Victor and the other younger people. None of the women were strong enough with the limited amount of food available. “How long?” Victor repeated, “Only about a month or so,” he explained, “but it’s been good so far. It’s a good place.” He shrugged, “I’ve been with Fallon a little longer. We wandered together for a while before we were able to find this camp of survivors.” Victor tried to keep a positive mind with everything that was going on. He knew it wouldn’t help if he was down all the time. 

Fallon watched as Isla approached the farm. She wasn’t sure what Isla was doing, but figured the girl wanted to help in some way. She likely didn’t want to be kicked out of the camp. “Do you know anything about farming?” Fallon asked her. Fallon usually didn’t speak much, except with Victor, but she felt the need to talk to this girl. Fallon didn’t care if the two new people stayed or left, but they could be useful while they were there. “If you don’t know anything, you’re better off leaving it alone. We don’t need you killing off a plant by mistake.” 

[fallon-and-victor]

isla-and-sage‌:

Isla and Sage protected each other because they were all each other had left. Sage wouldn’t let anything happen to Isla. He’d fight humans, zombies or creatures to make sure she stayed alive. Isla was strong. She didn’t mind kicking zombie ass. She was pretty good with her fighting skills. However, Sage was better. He knew more about fighting. He was not the best behaved adult.  Sage and Isla listened as Fallon stated that her and Victor were family but not blood related. Sage nodded, understanding. They’d probably found each other out there and were close now. Isla thought that it was nice to see people come together to help protect each other nowadays. Then, Fallon cracked a smile. It was the first smile that Sage and Isla saw from the brunette. Fallon only seemed to smile at Victor at the moment. Sage made a quick mental note of that. Fallon was tough to crack. Sage wanted to know where to put his things. He didn’t have much. Food, water, some health kits, a couple of knives and a gun. He and Isla didn’t mind sharing. Sage dropped his backpack into his head. “Alright, we’ll find somewhere to go throw our things.” Sage didn’t want to take anyone elses space. He knew this place was going to be crammed. Fallon left to get to work. Isla looked to see Victor smiling. He was cute looking and nice to them. “Yeah? She’s one tough cookie, isn’t it?” Sage snorted - listening to the conversation happening. “She’s got to be! It’s hell out there.”

Victor had to agree. Fallon was the way that she was because of what she was living at the present moment. Victor didn’t have a clue what had happened to her before they met. She could have been through hell and back for all he knew. However, now she had Victor and he would try his best to make sure nothing horrible happened to her again. “You could go help Fallon if you wanted,” he offered to Isla, “The women usually spend most of the day tending to the crops or cooking for everyone. I know it’s so prehistoric at this day and age but it just sort of works for the camp.” He shrugged. Then, Victor turned to Sage, “I need to chop some wood for fires. Do you want to help me with that?” Victor could put Sage to work. It would help to make them seem useful. 

[fallon-and-victor]

isla-and-sage‌:

Sage was here to help as much as possible. He was strong and willing to do any of the tasks. Sage didn’t care. It was nice enough for this group of people to let him. He wouldn’t disappoint. Isla didn’t mind doing the tasks. She would help whether possible. However, she knew Sage would take the harder tasks. He was like that. He didn’t want Isla feeling too under pressure.  “We’ll ask! It’s the most we can do.” Sage didn’t even mind getting started on the tasks tonight. He needed a distraction. It was good to be doing something. Sage didn’t want to think about world turning to ruins around them. It was horrible thinking about how bad everything was going. Isla looked to the other girl. She seemed like she knew what she was talking about. Isla didn’t want to something wrong and get them kicked out of this place. She was ready to be useful. Sage laugh at Victor’s comment. “She’s honest! I like that. She’s laying down the rules for us.” Sage liked that Fallon was in control. She was telling the best way to get the elders to like them. “We’re siblings. I’m two years older then Isla.” Unfortunately, they didn’t have any family left. Sage promised to never leave Isla’s side while all of this was happening. He couldn’t. Isla was all he had left. Isla looked back to Victor again. “Are you related too, Victor? Or are you friends?” Sage rolled his eyes at his sisters friendliness. “Where do we need to drop our things, Fallon?”

Victor nodded when he heard that the two of them were siblings. That made sense to him as he had thought there was a resemblance between them. He was happy they were able to stick together throughout what hell was going on around them. Victor wasn’t quite sure where his family were and if they were OK or not. He had Fallon and that was it. “We’re family,” Fallon answered for Victor, “Maybe not by blood like the two of you, but Victor is all I have now.” Fallon looked at Victor and smiled softly. She only really smiled at him. At the question, Fallon shrugged. “You put them wherever you want to,” she told him, “I’m not the one to ask.” Fallon wasn’t in charge of anything and she refused to take responsibility for these two new people. They were nice, but she didn’t want to jeopardize the place that she and Victor had at the camp for them. Victor didn’t like Fallon’s answer, however. “What Fallon means is that you can put your things wherever you would like to until we figure out a more permanent place,” he explained. “That’s what I said,” Fallon complained, “More or less. I have to get back to work now.” With that, Fallon left the three of them to go back to farming with the other women. Victor was left with a sheepish smile on his lips. “She warms up after a while,” he offered. 

[fallon-and-victor]

isla-and-sage‌:

Isla and Sage were here for safety away from the apocalyptic scenes happening not so far away. Sage knew that they needed to join a group of humans. It was hard to find shelter and food. People stole from whatever stores they could find. It was the only way to survive from this shit. Isla didn’t look away from the brunette on the other side of the gate. He seemed trustworthy. Sage and Isla listened to an older woman’s order. A couple of days would be better than none. Isla and Sage were keen to help out with chores. Sage pulled Isla inside the gate with him. Isla watched Victor introduce himself to the two of them. He seemed to be the most welcoming here. “Hi. I’m Isla. This is Sage.” Isla knew Sage could be more stern at times. He could be moody. Sage nodded back at Fallon. She seemed to be the one that was more in charge of them both. Sage could tell. “So, want us to help with anything? We’ll do anything.”

Victor nodded at the introduction. “Well, it’s nice to meet you both. Glad you made it here safe.” He was happy to have a few more younger people at the camp. He thought that he and Fallon could become friends with him. “Oh, I’m sure there is something you could help with. You can ask one of the elders.” Fallon nodded next to Victor - “You should make yourself useful,” she told them, “They are more likely to let you stay then.” Victor knew Fallon meant well, but she had a way of coming off a bit distant and like she couldn’t give a fuck about other people. “Fallon can be a little brash,” he admitted to the new pair, “But she does have a point. It would be good to make yourselves seem useful.” He wasn’t sure there was enough food for two more people. “So, how do you two know each other?” he asked.

[fallon-and-victor]

isla-and-sage‌:

Isla and Sage went from one city to the next in a search to find human beings. Sage wanted to find a group of people to stick with. It made for better odds. Sage and Isla were strong enough to cope. Sage being the stronger out the two. He didn’t mind being front and centre if that meant protecting Isla from danger. Sage and Isla didn’t have anyone else. It had been the two of them for so long. They were siblings. Sage was three years older than Isla. They were very close.

Sage noticed the group of people running towards the other side of the gate. Sage’s hand tightened on his little sisters. This was not going to be how he died. He worked too hard for them to find other human beings. It was time to talk. Everybody was looking right at them. He watched the gates opening in front of them. His free hand wrapped around the bottom of the gun that was in his holster. He didn’t raise it. He didn’t need too.

Sage was ready to act if someone was to turn on them. He was here to survive. Sage would not deal with bull-shit. His priority was to protect Isla and himself. Sage noticed a brunette girl standing among a group of men with guns at them. He looked her right in the eyes. She seemed to have a lot of control in here. “We’re looking for a safe place to go. We’re not infected.”

Isla looked from one person to the next. It was good to see new faces again. These people were human. She couldn’t remember seeing another humans face aside from Sage’s in a couple of months. It was scary to be so alone out here. It’s at that point that she noticed an innocent looking face among the others. That guy didn’t look as intense as the others. She smiled at him - trying to convey that they weren’t bad people. “Please? All we want to do is survive.”

Fallon believed the younger man that all they were looking for was safety. She knew that she and Victor had been in the same place a few months ago. But, Fallon didn’t like the girl looking at Victor and trying to plead with him. It wasn’t Victor’s choice. It wasn’t Fallon’s either. Everyone in the group needed to decide. One of the older woman spoke, “Let them in,” she ordered, “They can stay for a few days while we figure out if we have enough resources for them to stay at the camp. We have to close the gate for the safety of us all.” Fallon agreed with that. She stepped back so that the gate could be closed. Once the gate was closed, Victor took Fallon’s arm and pulled her over to the two new people. “Hi,” he greeted them, “I’m Victor. This is Fallon.” Fallon nodded at the two of them. She wasn’t the best at talking to people that weren’t Victor. “Hi.” 

[fallon-and-victor]

Victor’s friendly and charming way had earned him the love and adoration of everyone in the camp of survivors. He was a bit of a hero to them. He was constantly supporting everyone and spreading positivity. Fallon was the opposite. She rarely spoke to anyone but Victor. There were a select few older people that she didn’t mind speaking to. Fallon mainly kept to herself. Everything about their lives was fleeting. She refused to become attached and break her own heart when she inevitably had to say goodbye to the people of the camp by choice or by fate. 

That day was a normal day at the camp. Fallon farmed with some of the other women and Victor played with the children so that the adults could get work done. Everyone worked together to provide food and shelter. Their camp was equipped with a tall, wooden fence and many small buildings made from wood and whatever else was available. 

When Fallon took a break to drink water, Victor approached her and sat next to her on the ground. “Don’t work too hard,” he teased, reaching over to move a stray hair out of her face. Fallon smiled softly. “I’ll work as hard as I need to to survive,” she told him. 

Victor was happy to hear that. When he had first met Fallon she had been ready to accept death. There hadn’t been much fight left in her. “I’m happy to hear that,” he replied, before pressing a kiss to the middle of her forehead. 

Suddenly, a cry broke through the camp. “There is someone at the gate!” one man shouted, “A younger man and woman!” 

Fallon stood immediately and she grabbed her gun from a near by table. She would protect her home and Victor. The two of them hurried to the gate where a crowd had gathered. The gate opened to reveal two people - a man and woman. Fallon held up her gun and pointed it at them. She was flanked by a few men that also had guns. “State your business here.” Victor stood at her side. 

[fallon-and-victor]

Ride or Die

4 months ago 

“Put your fuckin’ hands up!” 

Victor did as he was told. “I’m not infected,” he insisted, “Please. There is no reason to hurt me.” 

The woman who stood before him was tall with dark features, beautiful albeit covered in dirt and dried blood. She held what looked like a shot gun and Victor didn’t know if he should be terrified or proud of her. “

What are you doing here?” she asked him. 

“The same as you,” Victor answered. “I’m looking for something to eat.”  They were in an abandoned gas station. There wasn’t much that hadn’t already been looted. Fallon nodded at him and she put her gun back in the holster that was attached to her leg. Victor sighed in relief. He held out his hand to her. “I’m Victor.” 

Fallon looked at his hand but didn’t take it. “Fallon,” she replied. Her affect was flat and her energy was low. She looked exhausted. 

“Let’s stick together,” Victor offered. “I could help you. I haven’t seen a human in a really long time.” 

Fallon nodded. She was indifferent. It didn’t matter to her whether she had someone with her or not. “Can I tell you something?” she asked him, then went on without waiting for an answer, “I don’t really have much fight left in me. If something happens, you should leave me -” 

Victor cut her off. “No! I won’t do anything like that.” 

Fallon was upset that he had interrupted her. “You don’t even know me!” she shouted at him. 

“But I want to,” Victor insisted, “and I can’t do that if you’re dead.” 

Fallon was surprised. She was silent and then after a pause said, “Fine.” 

In the following months, Fallon and Victor traveled together. They shared abandoned hotel rooms and any food they found. Fallon slowly learned to appreciate Victor. She learned how to rely on someone else. 

The two of them stumbled upon a camp of survivors about one month ago. The camp welcomed them with open arms. Fallon was wary of the camp people but Victor was so happy to find other humans. She was OK with the others as long as she still always had Victor. He was the only thing she could rely on. 

“I really don’t know what I would do without you,” Fallon admitted to Victor one night as they settled down to sleep. “Promise you’ll never let anything separate us.”

Victor nodded as he looked at her from his pillow. “I promise, Fallon. You’re my ride or die.” 

Fallon smiled at him. She rarely smiled. Only at Victor.