In The Wake of Chaos // B.E apocalypse A.U

I Got You

Lennon's breath caught in her throat, the familiarity of the embrace anchoring her in a way nothing else could. A soft kiss was placed on the back of her neck, a promise whispered into the still night air.

"I got you."

Billie.

The sound of her voice only made Lennon's tears come faster, more uncontrollable. She couldn't stop. She didn't want to stop. The weight in her chest was unbearable, and Billie, as always, was there. She didn't ask questions or try to fix anything—she simply held her. She had watched the scene unfold from the window, having faith that the only thing keeping her sane wouldn't end her own life. Her faith had been strong tonight, because here she was holding her and she was still breathing. The gentle stroke of Billie's hand through her hair, the way she shifted her to sit against her chest, made the world feel a little less broken. Billie whispered softly, her words like a balm against the rawness of Lennon's pain.

"I know it's hard. But please, just stick it out with me. I promise you, I will put my life on the line to keep you safe. Always. Nothing's going to hurt you if I have anything to do with it. I know I tell you sometimes I won't be there, but that's because this new world is so unpredictable, Len. Things are going to happen that we don't like, and unfortunately, we just have to live with it until we can't anymore."

Billie's kiss on her temple sent a wave of warmth through Lennon, though it didn't fully ease the ache in her heart. But it helped. A little.

"I'm so scared. This isn't fair." Lennon's voice was barely more than a whisper, cracked and raw.

"I know, baby. We'll find somewhere safe. I'll get you somewhere safe. If it's the last thing I do." Billie's arms tightened around her, and she continued to whisper sweet nothings in her ear, rocking her gently as they both stared up at the sky, finding comfort in the quiet chaos of the world.

⸻

The morning light filtered through the broken blinds, a soft glow that touched the edges of the room. Lennon stirred, slowly waking up, her body warm and secure in Billie's arms. She stretched, feeling the lingering weight of last night's conversation settle deep in her chest. The emotional fog seemed to have lifted, replaced by acceptance. She felt nothing. Whatever would happen, would happen. She couldn't control it anymore.

She took a breath, exhaling slowly as she glanced around the room. Adam and Cassie were in quiet conversation, their voices low, but steady. "Good morning," Lennon said, her voice hoarse but steady.

They turned to her, smiling. "Morning, how'd you sleep?" Cassie asked with a caring smile, her eyes filled with concern, though she didn't push for more.

"Good," Lennon lied, not wanting to worry them. She didn't want to burden anyone else with her inner turmoil.

Behind them, there was a groan, and they all turned to see Billie sitting up slowly, stretching her back with a pained wince. "Fuck, my back hurts," she grumbled, and when her eyes landed on Lennon, they softened. "Good morning, guys," Billie said, walking over to sit on the floor next to them.

Lennon's chest tightened a little as Billie settled beside her. Last night was truly the most vulnerable she would allow herself to be around Billie. Or so she thought. Things could get worse from here, they definitely weren't getting better.

They began discussing their next move, where they'd go and how they'd get there. Adam stepped outside for a moment to retrieve the paper map, and when he returned, he spread it out before them. He drew a line across the map, showing the route they were going to take. The goal was to head south, toward somewhere warmer.

"Considering we're in California, it's definitely going to take a long time, but it's doable," Adam said, his tone pragmatic.

Lennon leaned back, listening to the three of them make plans. The conversation flowed naturally, with each of them taking turns talking about the best way to approach the journey—stopping at gas stations, hitting a few stores along the way, finding places to sleep, making sure they had enough ammo. The usual planning. It all felt so routine, despite the life-or-death stakes of it all.

Lennon felt a gentle squeeze on her hand, and she turned to her right to see Billie already smiling at her. A small, tired smile tugged at her lips as she gave her a weak but genuine smile in return.

"Alright then, it's settled. We'll leave tomorrow morning, get gas and hit up a store, then get on the road, drive as far as we can before needing gas or getting tired. I suggest we take today and just rest. Not much we can do anyway," Cass said, standing up and stretching, her tone filled with the quiet determination that had become second nature to them all.

Adam followed her outside for a moment, likely to take a breath of fresh air or scout the surroundings. Billie's gaze lingered on Lennon, and a soft, almost unreadable expression passed across her face. She turned to Lennon and softly said, "Come here."

Lennon hesitated for a brief moment, the weight of the world still clinging to her like a heavy fog. But she couldn't deny the pull to Billie, the only person left who made her feel something other than numbness. She scooted closer, and Billie gently cupped her face with one hand, her thumb tracing a slow, calming path over Lennon's skin. Without saying a word, Billie leaned in and placed a soft kiss on Lennon's lips.

The kiss was gentle, sweet, and full of unspoken affection—an attempt to anchor them both in a world that constantly threatened to tear them apart. The moment was brief, but it was everything Lennon needed at that moment. When they pulled away, Billie's gaze softened, though her heart clenched at the sight of the emptiness in Lennon's eyes.

The spark that had once been there—the glimmer of hope, the fire of defiance—was dimming. Billie could see it clearly now. She didn't know how long it had been fading, but it had been happening for a while. She could only hope that someday, when they were safe, she could restore it.

Billie pressed their foreheads together, the gesture intimate and grounding. She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the weight of the world pressing against them both. "Do you trust me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, a thread of vulnerability woven into the words.

Lennon hesitated, but only for a second. She nodded slowly, the motion small but certain. "Yes."

Billie breathed out a shaky breath, a tightness in her chest that hadn't been there before. She pulled Lennon closer, hugging her tightly, as though trying to press all the reassurance she could into the fragile form of the woman in her arms. "I'm worried about you," she admitted softly, her voice rough, the weight of her words more than just the fear for their survival.

Lennon didn't respond. She simply held on tighter, the vulnerability in her touch matching the quiet ache in her heart. She didn't have the strength to say anything back, but she didn't need to. The silence between them spoke volumes.

They stayed like that for a long time, the world outside temporarily forgotten as they clung to each other. The rhythmic sound of their breathing, the steady beat of their hearts, was the only thing that grounded them. There was nothing more that could be said, not in this moment. It was enough just to be there together.

But eventually, the front door creaked open, a soft sound that pulled them back to reality. Slowly, reluctantly, they pulled apart. The moment they shared felt too fragile to hold onto, like a thread about to snap under too much pressure.

Lennon's eyes were downcast, her defeated posture clear even without the words. The light that once shone in her eyes seemed so far away now. Billie could feel it—she could feel the weight of the despair in the air. Lennon was breaking, piece by piece, with each passing day. Billie had always fought for survival, but now it was different. She wasn't just fighting to stay alive anymore. She had more to protect now.

She had Lennon to worry about. Not in the way she already worried about her. She worried one day she'd wake up and find her dead. And that terrified her.

Billie's heart clenched, a sense of helplessness creeping in. She knew the world was a dangerous place, and she had to protect them both. But seeing Lennon like this—so far gone, so lost—made her realize that keeping them both safe in this world, in this life, wasn't just about battling the dead. It was about battling the fear, the invisible battles that no one else could see.

She had always known that surviving the apocalypse meant more than just staying alive. But now she understood that it was also about holding onto each other, not letting go no matter how hard it got. And with Lennon slipping further away, Billie couldn't help but wonder if they could truly find refuge before it was too late.

"We depressed music!" Or whatever dj Khalid said.

~2362 words~