Don't Be Scared

S.1 E.13 ~ Doctor of the Dead (Ch. 106)

10K is the black sheep of the group, he always will be, but he's the sheep that's going to protect us no matter what.

"You trust him with your life. He won't let you down." I heard Cassandra whisper the unspoken promise in my ear when she felt my head return to her shoulder.

Blood gushing from an unknown body rushed to both my ears, then a hard slap of limps falling to the ground echoed throughout the door filled corridor. I finally released the breath I had been holding since death gripped my shoulders like I could bring the human back out of him.

I gasped audibly as the burning sensation of oxygen flooded back through my nostrils.

"Let's go find Merch." Murphy's voice was deep and sinister; more sinister than I had ever heard him speak.

Did.. Did Murphy just kill the Zs? I leaned my head back against whatever part of 10K was directly behind my head, trying my best to relax under the circumstances. 

My eyes were still shut as I spoke to him, not caring if he actually cared what I had to say or if he was listening, "Thank you."

Clapping of feet told me someone was already walking away from the disaster of this room. More than likely, it was Murphy leaving first.

"I'll take her." 10K spoke up from behind me as whatever I was against disappeared from my touch.

Not fighting with him this time, I happily helped him grab Cassandra like his newly wedded bride. Not feeling even the slightest bit of anger come bubbling into my chest. I caught up to walk behind Warren and Doc, who were speaking about Merch and Murphy's greeting.

Murphy was pretending to be leader as he led us down the hallway he didn't even have knowledge about.

* No One's P.O.V *

10K held the dead weight of Cassandra's overly exhausted body in his arms, tightly, as his eyes stayed focused on the teenager ahead of him. He wanted to ignore the fact that his best friend was dying right in front him.

He'd prefer to watch (Y/N) walk with her right, then her left, then her right again steps before having to look down at Cassandra's drooping eyes. He didn't want to face reality just yet. He wasn't ready to lose someone else he cared deeply for.

"I can't do it." Cassandra quietly cried out in pain, "Stop."

Every stride that 10K made was another painful, outburst from her infection; it was another quiet intake of breath she'd have to hide from (Y/N) and 10K. She knew how 10K felt about (Y/N), but the issue was, she was in love with him.

Not as a brother, but as a lover. Yet, she could never let herself tell him how she felt; she didn't have the guts to hurt (Y/N) like that. Not after everything the two had been through together; not after all the tears (Y/N) had let her see, not after allowing (Y/N) to see how vulnerable she could be.

"I can carry you. You're going to be okay." 10K blindly misinterpreted the cry for help, unknowing he brought much of the anguish she was going through. 

10K loves Cassandra as a big sister, so, naturally, he'd move mountains for her if it was needed. Like right now. He thought she just needed a little reassurance that she wasn't holding the team back nor was she making him tired.

The break (Y/N) allowed him to have gave him more energy.

"I'm gonna get us killed." Cassandra tried to make her point valid in a short sentence, but 10K needed more than five words to be convinced it was even relevant.

He refused to lose another person whom loved him. He refused to watch her die like he had to do with his pa.

"Please, Tommy." Cassandra whispered his name, knowing the effect the single word had on him.

She let her head fall against his shoulder, another wave of exhaustion washing over her like a tidal wave. Her whole body tried to relax, but every nerve in her form felt like it was burning. Sweating became more and more prominent than it had done moments ago.

She knew death was about to be her new blanket. She knew there was nothing else to do since they had tried every homemade remedy Doc and (Y/N) could think about. She was dying. An ugly fact no one was ready to claim as the truth.

"Okay." 10K caved at the call of his real name, knowing she'd only use it if she was deathly serious.

10K told Cassandra his name, because he felt comfortable with her; he felt like he was at his old home whenever they'd confined in one another. Siblings knew each other's names. As carefully as he could, he dropped to his knees and sat Cassandra against the floor and let her prop her back against the closest wall.

"Just don't tell anybody my name, alright?"

Cassandra couldn't help the small, but weak, smile on her pale face.

"I won't. When are you going to tell (Y/N)?"

She could read the boy better than he could ever read himself. Maybe that's why they'd never be able to be a good couple; he was a book she could always know the answers too. There'd be no mysterious nor puzzles.

She knew him well enough to know he had eyes only on one member of the team; the one person who was everything 10K needed, or would ever need.

"When you're all better." He promised, halfheartedly meaning it.

He thought about talking to (Y/N) about certain topics, but she never seemed to want to have a deep conversation with anybody. She was just making it in the apocalypse without getting in touch with her feelings.

|| She wants to be loved with an honest tongue, devoted heart, and exclusive eyes ||