Chapter 28: Cue in the Vertical Village pt 2

“It looks like an old mall food court,” Trigger said, smiling slightly. It was clear she was trying not to enjoy something about this place.

“What's a mall?” Cue asked, looking up at the same time Trigger looked down. They stared into each other's eyes for a moment before Cue shyly turned away blushing.

Trigger cleared her throat and looked away. “Legend says hundreds of people would gather there and shop and eat. That's what my grandma told me anyway.”

Daniel showed them to an opening in the wall where he handed them each a plate and moved them to the next section. Here,  they were given a piece of meat, and in the next they were given a baked potato. Finally at the end they were served any herbs and spices they wanted, and a roll of tough bread.

They sat down together to eat, but to avoid suspicion, Trigger packed up a third plate for Gunner to ‘eat’ later. She told him to stand guard and then took Cue’s hand in hers at the table, giving Pete a pointed look.

Cue sat down but kept her plant tucked under one arm possessively, giving a look around the room that said she was just daring someone to take her good tasting plant away.

“Please, eat,” Pete said, smiling broadly as he took his first bite of food.

Cue dug in with abandon, grabbing the piece of meat and devouring it messily. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had meat,” she says with a smile.

Both Trigger and Pete laugh affectionately, and then give each other a dirty look.

“So, how long have you been wandering?” Daniel asked.

“Blunt much?” Trigger said, raising a red eyebrow.

“I like to be to the point, always, no point in beating around the bush in this day and age.”

“I think it’s been a week for me,” Cue said around a mouthful of bread. She leaned her head on Trigger’s shoulder and looked up at her expectantly.

“About five months,” Trigger said, as if they had to pull the knowledge out of her.

“A long time to not have settled. You must be so tired,” Daniel said sympathetically.

“Arent we all?” Trigger asked, ripping a chunk of meat off with her teeth.

“How do you have meat?” Cue asked, excited.

“We breed animals. Mostly cows. We were lucky to come upon a herd several years ago.” Daniel smiled, squeezing his son’s shoulder. They both smiled identical smiles.

It made Trigger’s skin crawl.

Sensing the tension, Gunner returned and laid a hand on each of the women’s shoulders in a possessive ownership kind of way.

“About that room?” Trigger asked, cocking her head to the side.

Cue only yawned and leaned her head on Gunner’s strong arm.

“Of course, right away!” Daniel said brightly, getting up from the table. “Pete, why don't you go get some supplies for our new friends?”

Pete frowned but nodded, getting up and walking away with his shoulders slumped.

Cue yawned again, stretching, before grabbing her plant. And sagging on her feet.

Gunner and Trigger exchanged a look and Gunner nodded, picking Cue up like a child. She curled up in his arms and laid a hand on his chest, clutching his poncho. Automatically, Gunner raised his core temperature to warm her, and Cue closed her eyes and sighed.

“Thank you, we are very tired,” Trigger said, nodding towards Cue.

“She’s quite young, isn’t she?” Daniel asked.

Trigger didn't like his wistful tone.

“She is a woman, not a child. She has not been around people for a long time, she is innocent in ways I can't comprehend and braver than a full grown man.” Trigger sets her hands on the table and leans over, looking Daniel in the eyes. “I’ll say this only once more before I start punching people; she is mine, and no one, including you, shall have her.”

Daniel’s eyes darken and narrowed as he stared at Trigger, the emotion a mere flicker before his smile brightened his eyes again. “I know that, I only envy her innocence in all of this.”

“She’s a killer, don’t let her fool you.”

Daniel nods and sucks his teeth before leading them up a few levels to an empty apartment. He unlocked the door and handed them a key, then walked away without another word.

Trigger stood there and watched him even as Gunner entered the apartment and sat on a couch, still holding Cue. Triggered sighed, her eyes narrowed suspiciously, but entered the apartment and locked the door.

The apartment was dusty, but you could see where someone's belongings had been hurriedly removed from surfaces. There were two bedrooms, a living room, and bathroom that had a bucket where the toilet had once been.

Trigger came around the couch set in the middle of the room and sat on the back of it, laying her hand on Gunner’s shoulder. “I don’t like this,” she said grimly.

Gunner grunted in agreement, looking up at her as she removed his helmet and shemaugh so she could stroke his face and look into his glowing blue eyes. She leaned down and kissed his sealed mouth gently.

“We can’t stay here, with a Doctor or not. Maybe we could steal him and go hide somewhere else?” she asked, musing as she ran her fingers up and down his cheek affectionately.

Gunner grunted again.

“Maybe you should lay her down?” Trigger asked.

Gunner growled, holding her a little closer.

“Why don’t we all lay down?” she asked instead.

He agreed coming to his feet, but before they could take a step there was a knock on the door. Quickly, Gunner went to the bedroom and laid Cue to bed, then put his helmet back on while Trigger opened the door.

It was the doctor, with a silver tray of tea items that trembled with his every breath.

“I brought a gift of apology,” he said nervously. “mint tea.”