Hollow Heroes [Open to all]

A grin spreading over her face when she spied more eye activity and a grin Kitty gave a low squeaky and then laughed when she was drawn closer to Kurt reaching to caress her previously ear teasing fingertips down along his tail giving.

"I am all for sleeping in all day... or... at least staying in this bed." She agrees living up to her name and a light purr in her voice stretching against him in those arms enjoying the warmth and still in this position blocking the sunlight. "we dont even have to simply sleep..." teasing with the words now.

But it was true unless she was called out to go on a scavenging mission that might require access to places she needed to phase into to open then no she was not really required. Lockheed by now was probably having had something to eat and flow to a vantage spot to watch walker activity. A way to watch for mobs, he would return if there was a large movement and sound alarms.

But even as Mikko became more at ease and even optimistic about this, Wade could not. Before, it had been a playground for them. A place to get his next blow job. But now with the instruments strewn about, and seeing Mikko strapped to that table.... it brought back memories that he was i]not[/i] ready to relive....



"Let me get this shit straight... you strapped her to this table, claiming she will be fine... but you fail to mentally prepare her for what you're about to do?! I think jabbing that shit in her back without warning would have caused a damaging reaction... you claim to be so fucking self righteous, but you don't give two shits about her!!!"



Yes, he was fuming and angry and shaking, and fucking determined to stop this! He moved closer, pushing Bruce away from her and flipped the table before angrily working on the straps... "No, you may NOT continue!! If she agreed to your little experiment, FINE. If she wanted to help you make a vaccine, FINE! But you can't go sticking shit in people without their consent.... and yes... THAT CAME OUT WRONG, BUT OH SO RIGHT!"



~*~*~*~*~*



Raphael had not ventured far. Hearing the screaming, he rushed back to the lab, seeing a very pissed off, and naked Wade. Still, it wouldn't detour him from assisting if needed. Though, he did question why Mikko had been strapped down if it was obvious that it upset her boyfriend so much... had she agreed to it?



He certainly wasn't going to be a part of a prisoner situation, but he would interject if things got out of hand. Though, it looked like he and Bruce needed to talk. He never would have agreed to bring Mikko here if he knew it would turn into her being treated like a lab rat.....

Seeing the emotion on Daryl's features, Carl felt his heart completely drop. It pounded and hammered against his chest, the erratic rhythm almost defining.His grip on the fence became tighter, to the point of the metal cutting into his chapped fingers. He searched Daryl's features, hoping to find the answer because he was hesitating, perhaps to steady his voice, or to spare him a moment longer. Something terrible had happened. Someone they loved was gone....


"Daryl?? ..."And he wouldn't ask what was wrong, or who he had found. Negan's taunting echoed in his head... no... it wasn't true, it couldn't be true....



Daryl noticed Erica hanging back, and was inwardly glad. Being close in age and the fact that she had lost parents, maybe... just maybe she would be able to get through to him when his world fell apart, and the seconds were counting down.


Not liking having the gate between them, and needing to be closer to try and comfort, Daryl slipped through the gate, feeling his own heart beat wildly as Carl shifted to look at him, and despite all the boy had been through, as hard as the world had made him and how it had stripped him of his childhood.... he could see a child in this moment. One searching for reassurance, to know that his world would spin on.... but it wouldn't... not the same.....



He struggled, trying to find the words. How did you deliver this kind of news to a kid?



The anticipation was only making it worse. Carl's bottom lip quivered and he finally released the fence, paying no mind to his bloody hand....



"Daryl.... where's my dad??" His tone already cracking beneath the weight of heartache and recognition. He spared a glance out towards the tree line, praying (something he never did) that he would see his father come limping out... "Is he hurt? We need to go get..." And he was cut off by a heartbroken shake of Daryl's head, and in that moment, his worst fears were confirmed...



Shaking his own head, knowing but unwilling to accept it, the teen took a staggering step back, almost tripping over his own feet. His legs felt like jello, feet like led....



"I'm sorry, Carl..." Daryl's voice was low and unsteady, but sincere. His heart also ached. He had lost his best friend, his brother... and seeing Carl like this was too much. He reached to pull the boy into a hug, but he jerked away...


Carl's body was shaking, tears now uncontrollable. He took another step back, putting even more distance between him and comfort, but his legs finally gave and he dropped to his knees. He wanted to run, wanted to run away from it all. Maybe if he distanced himself, it would hurt less..... but he couldn't move... his body shook, the tears streaming down the undamaged side of his face...



"NOOOO...." He screamed in heartache, looking at Daryl as if he could fix this somehow, as if he could reset time... go back out there and come out with a different result.....



...but he couldn't. This was their world. He would lose everyone, his dad had told him that. This was reality and the price for surviving....

Maggie Greene wrote:

Maggie continued kissing him, stopping right at his boxers then moving back up his stomach. Back over his sides. Her fingers grazed his inner thigh as she moved up his body.

She peeked out from the blanket with a smile and leaned up to catch his lips in a kiss.

You worry too much. She told him. Her fingers inching up the leg of his boxers.

Glenn was enjoying every second of this. Being with her had always been the perfect medicine. Though, he did worry for her, but as long as they kept this light, she should be okay. He certainly wouldn't let her do anything that would further injure herself....



He hummed softly as she left a trail of kisses along his stomach, feeling her fingers playing dangerously close, then her lips found his and he kissed her deeply, having to fight back the tears. While he was out there, he thought all of this was over. He thought his life would come to an end at the hands of Negan. And when he survived, he feared that Maggie had not...


It was as if fate was always trying to keep them apart, but they always fought it, and always found each other, despite all odds...



"You're worth worrying for..." He told her in between meaningful kisses, his fingers gently caressing her face....



Then, the heart wrenching screams from outside managed to trespass beyond the walls.The voice familiar, and it quickly sunk in what was going on.....



"Daryl's back..." He told his Love, his heart breaking.  He knew what he needed to. He needed to be there for Carl, and he knew Maggie would want to, too. But she was supposed to be on bed rest. Though, deep down, he knew that there was nothing he could do to keep her in this room when one of their own needed comforting.....



"I'll go...."

When Mikko was flipped back around She was thankful and helped him finish taking off her straps. Once free she quickly leaped in Wade's arms and rewarded him with a barrage of kisses to his face. She then slipped down and grabbed a sheet to wrap around herself while her man told Bruce what was what!

Bruce didn't stop Wade from freeing Mikko. It would have been pointless. And with Raph watching on things would have just gotten messy and his lovey morgue would have been ruined. He slammed the tool he was holding down on the tray in annoyance.

Yes, because you are so innocent. Sometimes you have to sacrifice one to save everyone else. She got bite, Wade! Some how she lived, And now we have a unique opportunity. It's not my fault you got so attached.

Bruce then turned to Raph. You should have been watching her.

Awwwww He was too sweet. She started to nibble at his neck and right before her fingers reached him she too heard the screams.

Maggie was quick to sit up and went into defensive mode. She getting off the bed when Glenn said that Daryl must have been back. That's when the heart wrenching realization hit her. Carl must have just found out about his dad.

I'm going too. And this time she wasn't going to be stopped.

She got up and pushing any pain or discomfort aside, quickly changed her cloths and slipped on her slippers then waited for Glenn.

For a moment, staring blankly at the two Erica was back when her father passed. The screaming campsite and people rushing everywhere and or dead,the tint of blood in the air, and he falling back to keep the horde of hunger back for them to get away.

She had put an arrow through his eyes unable to handle the sounds of his screams.


Like Carls scream now but her hands did not raise her bow in the intent to put one through his head, instead they moved, as she did towards Daryl carefully extracting the sling and Judith in once slipping her into the mans hold, he needed her as much as she needed soothing that cry of her brother...


Erica would not let Carl pull away from her, she got closer, knelt and hugged him. Saying nothing. It was pointless.

Kurt Rolled them both over so he was on top of her, pinning her down, but not with his full weight. He then used his tail to pulled the covers over them covering their heads. Don't have to sleep, huh? What do you have in mind? Build a blanket fort?! He asked excitedly before he attacked Kitty's sides with merciless tickles.

It was the sudden, horrific scream that turned Kurt's blood cold that stopped all the playfulness. He sat up and in a small puff of black smoke, had moved himself to his cloths.

Sounds like Someone's in trouble! He pulled his clothing on as what could be going on played through his mind.

"eeeek!" Kitty squeaked in surprise and caught and pinned not prepared for the covering or the tickling - half temped to phase through the bed and away from it but recalling as she wriggled and squirmed and giggled that the bed was not big enough underneath to warrant escaping the soft tickling fingers under there... and there was a delicious ness to the sweet torment.

"Oh hahaha - Kurt - hehehe yes! blanke ehehehehet and pillooow forrrrte."

Then the sound cut through the play and she froze when he did. Blinking and once her blue furry elf had poofed away rolled to her dresser pulling out and on the x men uniform she kept pulling it on and zipping the front up in practiced ease, but she could not here Lockheed sounding an alarm. "I don't think it is a horde - Lockheed is supposed to be on watch. He normally does not miss anything." But none the less she was suited and ready for action. "Coming?"

Once they were both dressed he gave Kitty a quick nod and headed out. He opened the door for her, which always felt weird considering she didn't actually need the door open to leave a room, but always a gentleman he was.

Pretty sure it came from the back outside. He could have teleported them there, but he hadn't been in that area. He would be sure to go over the the place top and bottom as soon as he got a chance in case he needed to get somewhere fast.

If not a horde, then I wonder what. Maybe nothing is wrong? Maybe just some kid got hurt. But it was best to check it out anyway. In case.

Daryl did not take it personally when Carl pulled away. He got it. He understood completely. Though, he knew that look all too well. The teen wanted to run. Wanted to distance himself from anything that could hurt him ever again. Wanted to completely break down without anyone seeing. Wanted to remain strong, but it was impossible to do that when you still cared about people....



He could relate to Carl, so gave the boy his space, though, he was there if the course of emotions changed and he needed someone...


When Erica approached and passed over Judith, he silently took her, knowing he needed the little one as much as she needed him. He would help raise her, because it was not fair to expect a grieving teenager to take on this burden alone. He knew, there would be help. No doubt Glenn and Maggie, though, he was unaware that Maggie was expecting a little one of her own....


He did his best to comfort the little one, whom seemed to pick up on her big brother's despair, as Erica moved toward Carl.....

"Its possible." Kitty nods. "We can't watch all of them twenty four hours a day though we try to be vigilant - hence why Lockheed is on watch most of his time here - the quicker we clear any on coming hordes before they can congregate against the fenceing the better. and more of them piled up blocking streets and allies off keeping others back even more."

Of course that had been going on before Lockheed got here but his better than human eye sight worked better in low light or too bright light conditions that happened on snowy winter days like these and thus it had become his task when they had reached this place, as much as medical care fell to Lilo and Stitch.

She smiles and presses a kiss to Kurts cheek on the way out the door. "Thanks, come on dont bother locking or closing." taking his hand to tug him along.

The need to run was still there, tugging at him, willing him to find his feet..... he still needed to run, to be away from the people he loved, the ones he cared about, because it was inevitable. They would ALL leave him. They would all die,and he would be left alone. Curling back to sit on the snow covered ground, arms folded and resting on his knees, sparing the world of seeing his tears... hoping to muffle the sound of his sobs....


Then he felt something envelop him... arms, hugging and comforting....



He wanted to push away, to shove and lash out, but there was only a tinge of resistance. As much as he wanted to pull away, to shove past the person that cared enough to brave his emotions, he couldn't. The faint struggles quickly subsided and his arms wrapped around, not yet realizing who had him, face buried against her shoulder as he sobbed, no longer caring to be strong...


He had little time to grieve the death of his mother, but his father... he had always been his rock. His compass and strength. Now, that felt completely hopeless and lost....

Glenn wanted to argue... wanted to remind her that she was on bed rest, but knew his words would fall on deaf ears. Carl was hurting. He had lost his father and needed them to be there. Aside from Michonne, Maggie was probably the only other person that even stood a chance to get through to the youth.



Once Maggie was off of him, he painfully pushed up and moved over to search the drawers for clothes that would fit, not caring as long as he was covered in order to go outside. Quickly pulling on a black long sleeved shirt and a pair of khaki colored pants, he slid into some boots, then grabbed a blanket, draping it over Maggie's shoulders. Even though she was fully dressed, she needed the extra warmth....

Maggie looked back and gave Glenn a worried and sad smile when he covered her with the blanket. Then once they were both ready, she took his hand, made sure she had her room key, and headed out.

They walked as fast as they could to where Carl was. Both of them sick and injured. Being out in the cold wasn't ideal. But there was no way either of them would let Carl grieve alone.

They made it to the back of the building and walked slowly to Daryl and Carl. Maggie was silent but allowed her tears to fall. Even if she tried to hold back and act strong, she would have failed. Once she reached Carl she sat on the cold ground and reached a hand out, grabbing and squeezing Carl's shoulder.

Erica seemed to have things handled at the moment. But Maggie wanted Carl to know that she was here if he needed her.

Glenn pushed his pain aside, something he was good at, fingers interlocking with Maggie's and giving a gentle squeeze as they headed to the back of the mall. He kept fussing with her blanket, making sure it stayed up and around her shoulders, concerned for her health... wishing she didn't have to brave the elements, but new she had to. There was no stopping her....


Finally reaching outside, Glenn could not mentally prepare himself for the sight of Carl, completely broken. It was a sight rarely seen, and completely shattered his heart, causing warm tears to burn at the backs of his eyes....



As they drew closer, he couldn't contain the silent tears and released Maggie's hand so she could sit, and take Carl's. He also sat, close to Maggie and Carl, giving the teen's knee a gentle squeeze, silently conveying they were there, and would continue to be there for him. He was not alone in this....

Through all the sadness and sounds of tears and cries. a calmness seemed to settle over the small group. Just like in the woods with Love, the snow stopped falling around the group and the wind came to a sudden stop. Maggie looked over to see a blinding light flash, like a large camera had gone off.

Then a woman stood there. She wore a long black dress, a hood covered her head, her face white and painted. Darkness where her eyes would be.

The woman looked over at Daryl and spoke to him, since he was the one that was in the woods with Love.

I thought it best to bring him here myself. I don't care for the demon very much. She said matter of factly.

I'm looking for Carl. I have a Rick here who would like to speak to him.

Her voice was soft but like an echo. as if there was more then just her speaking. She then reached out and and another flash and Rick was standing there. looking a bit younger. Clean, shaven, Dressed in a button down shirt and jeans. He wasn't ghostly or transparent as you would see in movies. He looked just as alive as any of them.

He walked up to the group, his boots clicking against the ground as he walked. Then he waited for Carl to look up.

Kurt let Kitty take his hand and drag him off. The woman could drag him off anywhere and he would follow. Little did he know there was a lot of crazy stuff going on outside that would cause him to question a lot of things that he would rather not question.

they made it outside, but when they got out there everything seemed quiet. Waaaaaaay Too quiet.

Something feels...Off. Kurt whispered to Kitty.

Erica said nothing, just held Carl and he could  not shake her, a hand cupping back of his head one rubbing shoulders.

then she noted that others had come and... she felt like an intruder again, not a part of this group and their grief, witness to something she should not be and had no business being in.

Especially considering it was she whom silenced her fathers deaths screams. Gently put her mother to sleep with a newly aquired knowledge of poisonous plants and herbs. Then learning the truth of what her body had paid for with her grandmother, an awful truth of what abuses those men had visited upon Ida, she had beaten the older woman head in with a rock. The only way she could end her suffering.

This felt diferent and sacred and Erica felt unclean and unworthy to share in it all. Especially with the woman and man so close. She shifts so Carl can see them, Daryl and Judith and see the strange being... the apparition of... whom she guessed was his father, Rick, politely beginning the draw back and away for this. But slowly so Carl did not have to let her go if he didn't want to.

She had passed Lilo and Stitch and - giant turtle on the way and Kitty had assured her islander friend with quick words that they would see what it was and call her if needed.

flicked her finger against her nose - Lilo responded in kind.a friendly gesture between the two whom had had to rely on each other for months before coming here. It was their 'I'll be back' without words. Their little companions had become good friends too. And she would she wanted to hear more about them giant turtles.

Tugging Kurt along with her gently all the way.

Kitty nods at Kurts words drawing closer to him and a door watching... feeling the unnatural quiet. "Yes... and I don't think this requires X men help..." she whispers they were close enough to see the strange scene - but Kitty stopped them there... to hear... unsure of what to make of everything.

Gambit wrote:

Gambit finally left his room after a much needed shower and hair cut and shave. He made it to one of the stores and switched out of his torn cloths and got some new ones. Of course they were pretty much the same style he had been wearing including his beloved trench coat. But at least he didn't look like a homeless person now. Now he looked like a well to do homeless person!

He saw Bebop with the two kids and gave the girls his most charming smile. Then looked at Bebop.

Hands full today, eh? He said in a thick cajun accent.

Bebop sighed and nodded. It was going well until Toad attacked Mel again.

Gambit raised a brow at that and shook his head. I don't believe Toad was invited here. I'll keep a look out.

He then turned to Lydia was looking oh so sad. He bowed to her and introduced himself. Why so sad petite princesse? He asked then reached behind Lydia'd ear and "magically" pulled a card from behind it. Ta-da!

Lydia smiled at Gambit's magic trick.

"I'm not sad...just got a bit confused is all. I'm okay now."

She just needed to find the right moment, and then she was going to go off looking for Toad. She wondered where he possibly could be. The mall was huge! He could honestly be anywhere. Lydia would have to be extra extra sneaky about it, so nobody would know she was looking for him. She could do that, right?

Gambit gave Lydia a pouty face. Well if a large pig was carrying me around I would be confused too.

Then there was a loud scream from outside the building. Gambit went into instant alert mode. He didn't rush outside like the others though. Instead he and Bebop quickly went to Bebop's room. Gambit stood in the open door way and listened.

I don't hear anything else. He told the small group.

Bebop set Lydia down on the couch and told both girls to stay there. He looked out his window and didn't see any threat. Maybe some kids where just fighting and someone got hurt. Not every scream means trouble. I think we're ok.

Gambit agreed and steeped into the room letting the door close behind him.

Bebop clapped his hands together loudly and rubbed them together. uh....Gambit, right? Can you do a brother a solid? Mel wants to go out in the snow. Lydia would like a nap....

Gambit grinned and waved Bebop's question away. Say no more my tubby friend. I would be happy to keep an eye on her while you're gone.

Thanks. I owe you one. You ok with that, Lydia?

" Please let that scream be nothing." The teen said a little nervous there were no alarms so that meant it was fine right? Instead of focusing on the scream she tried to focus on playing in the snow with Bebop.

" Yeah I wanna play in the snow." She agreed going to him trying to get excited again. Once she got outside maybe just the snow would ease her mind again and distract it from reality.

The scream nearly brought her into panic mode, but with Bebop and Gambit there she was able to calm herself down. Once she was in Bebop's room she wasn't nearly as scared anymore.

"Okiedokie!" Lydia replied, smiling. This was okay. There was still plenty of opportunities to go looking for Toad. She just had to wait for one to come to her.

Bebop motioned for Mel to follow. We'll be back later. Watch her, man. You'll have your hair in bows before you know it. He then left with Mel and headed to the front of the building to throw snowballs at the girl's head.

With them gone, Gambit took a seat on the couch. yooooooooou are up to something. I can tell. I see the gears working. I lived in a mansion with lots of kids. I know when someone is waiting to do something...So what is it? You going to stalk a cute boy? Waiting to sneak off to find Batman's secret secrets? I'm in. Lets do it!