It was dark outside when he returned. To be more specific, it was the early morning. The rain had patterned on an entire day. At around three AM, she would hear a quiet knock at the door.
He was standing in the doorway. He looked terrible. His shoulders were slumped, and he was soaking wet, shaking in the gloom. He had several cuts and bruises across his body, one crossing over his eye. He looked exhausted and pale, and he folded his arms uncertainly. “Hey Nas.”
Her eyes widened and she opened the door for him. She went back inside, expecting him to follow, and got her med kit. "Come in quick. It's warm in here.. Let me help," she said, her voice worried.
He looked in the house in surprise, his head tilting. "What? No, I need... I need to get back out there," he said, his voice shaking. "I just didn't want you to be up and waiting. I'm sorry I was late."
She looked at him, her brows furrowing. "What..? But you're hurt. Don't apologize.. I just want you to be okay. I want you to stay."
His brows were furrowed and he shook his head, saying nothing for a moment. “The Northern Colonies were wiped out,” he said after a moment. “I couldn’t... I didn’t get to them in time.”
He looked down at her, something like clarity in his eyes. "They're all dying out there, Nas. We lost Alder today. Alder."
He watched her for a moment before shaking his head. "You're sorry? Nas, you're the one person... the only person keeping me going. You never need to apologize."
"I'm sad you have to experience that," she said quietly. "And I'm scared that you're not going to be okay if you go back out.."
She leaned into his touch slightly. "But.. You've already got scrapes and bruises all over, and it's freezing out."
"I'll be okay," he repeated. "I'll come back to you. I need to move the mice, though. Find a place for them."
He hesitated. "They're a handful, Nas. Besides, I gotta find a new place anyway. At least somewhere to drop off my stuff."
