Bittersweet [Rozumbrad]

[Chris]

"Working in the factories," Chris answered, something easy, consistent as an answer. "Sorta supplies, I guess. Cutting, lifting--" The whole drug assembly line, he would have said, but he wasn't an idiot, and he was sure Rozumbrad wasn't either. "Some runs, but nothing big. Nothing like I used to. Usually just... work inside." He frowned. "I don't usually like it inside." Another look to the other with a slight sniffle. "You..?"

[Rozumbrad]

"I've been doing whatever I'm sent to do," Rozumbrad said. "All sorts of stuff for the boss."

"It's certainly bulked you up," he added, to keep trying to cheer Chris up.

[Chris]

"Yeah?" He glanced down to his form. "I didn't notice, really. I'm not too bulky, am I?" There was a tenseness before, again, he found himself close to the other. "I can't believe you're really here. I thought... I really thought you hated me or something. Or left me for good. Or something."

[Rozumbrad]

"You look good," Rozumbrad assured him.

"I can't believe you're here either," he said. "I really thought you were dead."

[Chris]

Chris found himself pressing even more against the other. "I wish I wasn't so hungry... I wish I could properly greet you, but it hurts so much, Brad. I'm so hungry..."

There were a lot of sensations like that, but that one was heightened too much, almost...

"You really think I look good? Yeah?"

[Rozumbrad]

"You always have," Rozumbrad said. "There's stuff to eat back at the base. I have a better place now."

[Chris]

"Better place? And that's where we're going?" The cat asked somewhat curiously.

[Rozumbrad]

"Yep," Rozumbrad answered. "I've got a place in the headquarters now. So I can be reached easier. There should be plenty of food around there."

[Chris]

"You moved up through the ranks..." And he paused, then frowning deeply. "I should have seen you. How did they keep you from me for so long?" A soft question.

[Rozumbrad]

"I've been busy," Rozumbrad admitted. "I have a place there, but a lot of jobs take me elsewhere in the city."

[Chris]

"So for all these years we were so close..." He rubbed at his eyes a little. "It's not too far yeah? I feel disoriented." Strange how overwhelming emotions coupled with hunger could do that to a person... very strange rather.

[Rozumbrad]

"Not far," Rozumbrad said. "In the main building. On the same floor as the Boss," he added, proudly.

[Chris]

"... the... same as Mac-Daddy?" he asked softly. It was just a moment, a glimmer of the old Chris, the one who adored everyone and everything, who loved his family so much, the one who wasn't marred by tragedy, the one who was far too juvenile despite being older than some of them.

[Rozumbrad]

Rozumbrad nodded. "So I can find us some good food," he said.

[Chris]

"Food... would be... really good." He shuffled faster, pressing closer to the other's side, fatigue settling in as it mixed with a bit of his temper though he was trying to stifle it.

[Rozumbrad]

"Why didn't you just get food from there yourself?" Rozumbrad asked.

Chris never used to get so hungry and tired. The years had not been kind to him.

[Chris]

The cat hesitated a little bit before shifting.

"Because I don't deserve it unless I'm given permission to get food, like if Fangor or Banshee take me. The rest, I deserve to find my own." He frowned further before closing his eyes. "Don't deserve it. I can't believe I didn't see through that bitch's ruse."

[Rozumbrad]

"I don't think anyone saw it coming," Rozumbrad muttered.

He would have to have words with Fangor next time he saw him.

[Chris]

"So wasn't just me?" He asked, almost desperately. "Because, because just... shit, you know I loved her. God. I'm thankful that the Doctor was right there or I'd be dead, and Banshee and Fangor, too." The idea of a warped perception didn't occur as the building came into view.

"Food?"

[Rozumbrad]

"Food," Rozumbrad confirmed.

He knew Fangor was behind it. He had been told as much. Certainly he suspected the Doctor had some influence. He probably told Fangor how to slit his throat without killing him.

[Chris]

He gripped Rozumbrad's arm as he tried to tug the other fast and faster to the building, a whine and whimper merging together to form a sound of patheticism.

[Rozumbrad]

Rozumbrad followed along. He must be very hungry.

"This way," he said, once they were inside.

[Chris]

Chris nodded his head more eagerly, that time more submissive, the anger subsiding in juvenile want and need. "I'm so hungry, Braddy..." he murmured, a slight whine.

[Rozumbrad]

"How about some nice steak?" Rozumbrad asked as they entered the building. "That always fills you up."

[Chris]

"Steak?" His eyes widened, ears perking up immediately. "Real steak or in the can?" He'd eat just about anything by that point.

[Rozumbrad]

"As in still bloody from the cow," Rozumbrad said, steering Chris towards the way up.

[Chris]

"Where? Where??" He practically leapt forth before grabbing Rozumbrad's hand with a hard yank. "I'm so hungry. Come on, please. I haven't eaten for three days!"

[Rozumbrad]

"I'll take you to my room and get some," Rozumbrad said. "That way no one else can try and take it."

[Chris]

"Come onnnnnnnn," he begged, salivating from the corners of his lips as he tugged again. "Come onnnnn, you're going too slow. I'm so hungry I could die!"

[Rozumbrad]

Rozumbrad turned them down a hallway, stopping at a hole in the wall.

"Here," he said. "Wait in there, I'll be back quickly."

He trotted down the hall further, hearing in the direction of the food supplies.