[IC] Atomic Rain (Fallout)

[Nekoholic]

"Hey, don't worry about repaying us, okay?" Basil said, ignoring Jace's earlier statement. He smiled softly, then looked back to focus instead of putting away his belongings. "Just focus on getting better. It didn't even require very much of our supplies, anyhow. Besides, I want to feel as if I helped at least one person today, considering that everything else fell apart." He then pulled his pack back onto his back.
"Well, does that mean everyone is ready to go then?" Leith questioned, straightening up.

[NinjaButterfly]

"Let's go," Jace said as he picked up his pack and tossed it onto his shoulder. Without waiting for anyone else, he started walking off towards the nearest town. At least the trip wouldn't be completely out of their way because they were low on supplies and could get a little of what they needed in town. Usually he scavenged each vault they went into but hadn't been able to do so with the two vultures tagging along with them since they took everything that wasn't bolted to the floor. Now they didn't have much to trade and little to no caps left, so they were going to have to do something more to get what they needed for the next leg of their journey.
Awhile down the road, Jace turned his head enough to look in Basil's direction, who hadn't spoken to him since their departure. He really was upset with him, and he didn't know why; shouldn't Jace be the one still mad at him? Why did he feel worried in the first place, when he wasn't the one at fault for anything?
He sighed softly and came to a halt, waiting as Basil got closer. Once he walked past him, he grabbed him by the arm to stop him. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked softly before looking up at him again.
Kaye saw that they had stopped and stopped as well. "Do you want us to wait, or...?"
"This won't take long. Keep going; we will catch up."
She didn't know if she could really trust them, feeling as if they were going to give them the slip the moment they turned their backs, but she did as she was told and started walking once more. "Don't take too long or we will double back."
Once they were out of earshot, Jace sighed softly. He looked off to the side. "I just wanted you to know...that I'm sorry. I was an idiot and I could have gotten us killed. I just lost my head when our mission's end was right in front of us, then it was gone again, teasing us." He sighed softly.

[Nekoholic]

Basil was quiet for a moment, but then sighed softly and, without saying a word, just wrapped his arms around Jace and pulled him close. He was warm, and real. It was as if he just needed to take a minute to make sure that he was, that he was still there by his side, even after everything that had happened and that he'd put him through, intentionally or not.
But after a brief moment, he drew back and stared at the ground, folding his arms over his chest self-consciously. "Look, I'm just...I'm sorry, for everything. You weren't the only one who lost their head back there." He started to walk after the rest of the group, albeit slowly. "I know that this has all been a mess. Actually, it was just impulsive of me to do in general. What about when we do find a G.E.C.K., you know? I have no idea how complicated they could potentially be; when you read about them, it sounds as if there's an absolute miracle with the simple press of the button, but that could just be a fable. When it comes down to it, it's like that Brotherhood woman said. I very likely don't have the proper know-how to fully utilize one of these things or, worst case scenario, I could just outright break it. I've only ever worked with the most simplistic of water purifiers, a mere mockery of the likes of Project Purity. I sometimes doubt that I can actually do this, and...I just lash out because of these insecurities, especially after you...you came out here to protect me because you think that I can do something, and you're the last person that I want to disappoint because you've put your own life on the line countless times for the sake of this. For the sake of mere possibilities. There hasn't been a single certainty with this entire mission."
He paused, clasping his hands behind his back. "We weren't prepared for this, yet you believed in me. You always have. No matter how stupid I really am or how many mistakes I make." He smiled. "Why, though? I've never been able to answer that question of mine, but...I never really focused on it, either. It's just a personal one, so I discarded it in favor of other pursuits. More scientific ones because, if there's one thing that you can depend on with science, it's that there is an answer somewhere, even if you never do actually find it. But people. They never do make sense and they're a constantly changing variable, at that. Nothing is certain for long." He turned back to Jace, finally meeting his eyes.

[NinjaButterfly]

Jace's eyes widened when Basil suddenly hugged him and was so caught off guard, he couldn't do anything more than stand there tensely. His heart hammered so hard in his chest that he feared Basil was going to feel it as well. He found it difficult to swallow due to the lump that had formed in his throat and was tempted to rub at it to make the feeling go away, but refrained from doing so. Out of the worry of ruining the moment, he was afraid of even twitch a muscle because he didn't want the moment to end. Of course good things never lasted long as Basil eventually pulled away from him.
While Basil spoke, he stared down at him, listening intently to every word he said. His heart was still trying to beat its way out of his chest even as they begun to walk. Basil never was one to talk about his feelings and this was the most he'd ever heard him speak of the subject. When he finished speaking and looked up to stare at him, he could have sworn his rapid heartbeat stopped beating altogether in that instant.
"Basil..." he paused a moment to think on what he was going to say instead of blurting out the first thing that came to mind like he usually did. "I may not know much about this technology, but I know there ain't many people left in the world who knows how to work a G.E.C.K. I also know...if there is anyone who can do it, I know you are one of those people; I believe that with all my being. You may not have the immediate knowledge, but I know you can figure it out because you are one of the smartest persons that I know. Your brain isn't the only thing that is going to make this work, but your willpower and passion to get this job done is going to make this mission successful. The entirety of my faith is with you until this is finished.
"There is one thing that you got wrong, though..." He smiled softly. "I didn't come out here to protect you for the sake of the mission...I came out here to protect you because I cannot bear the thought of losing you. I could honestly care less about the G.E.C.K. if it had been for anyone else. Call me selfish if you want, but I could care less about anyone else left in this wasted world. The reason I go through with your crazy plans, though, is because you believe in what you are doing and I believe in you no matter what you do. This is what you want to accomplish in your life and I want to help you make your dreams a reality. I've never bailed on you before and I'm not bailing on you now. Until I take my last breath...you are my sole mission whether you like it or not."

[Nekoholic]

Basil remained silent for a long moment, but finally asked, "What if you were to wake up one day and realize that I'm not the person you knew? That I just...changed overnight? And that I look like Basil, and I talk like Basil, and I generally act like Basil, but there's just something...off that you can't quite put your finger on and it really, really bothers you, and...what if you come to realize someday that I've changed to the point that I'm just an entirely different person? Would you still accept me? Would you still want to protect me like you do today?"

[NinjaButterfly]

Jace furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, not knowing what exactly he meant and didn't know how to respond at first. His throat suddenly became as dry as sandpaper and couldn't form enough saliva to alleviate the discomfort. The question bothered him enough as it was, but it bothered him even more that he couldn't conjure up a proper response. He cleared his throat and stared straight ahead as he spoke.
"To be honest, I'm not sure how to respond to that question when I'm not certain what exactly you mean. You would still be you, though, despite how much you would have changed. You would have the same mind, the same heart, spirit, will...you would still be you." He fell into a short silence before turning back to look at him. "Basil...I'm not the smartest man, but I can tell something is bothering you. If you're trying to tell me something, then you can tell me without saying it in codes. You're not a terminal that needs to be hacked. I can help you if you just let me know how."

[Nekoholic]

Basil wished that he could claim that was enough to make him feel better, to satisfy him, but it wasn't because Jace had outright admitted that he didn't entirely understand what he was talking about. And why would he? If he had known, he probably wouldn't be here right now.
Sighing, he turned back around and said, "It's nothing." He then started walking after the others again. "We should regroup, though. Before they get worried and come back."

[NinjaButterfly]

Jace watched as he walked away from him. For some reason his silence on the subject bothered him even more than the unusual question itself. He couldn't shake the feeling that he'd somehow disappointed him with his answer or answered it wrong altogether, but what else was he supposed to say?
Since Basil was much shorter than Jace was, he was able to catch up with him with ease in only a few strides. As he walked by his side for a moment, he suddenly grabbed him by the shoulder to stop him from going any father. For awhile he stared down at him and he couldn't think of any form of response despite his efforts. He then closed his eyes before doing something he hadn't prepared to do and was scared of the outcome afterwards. Without hesitation, he bent down and kissed Basil softly. It wasn't a simple peck on the lips but it wasn't filled with lust, either...a simple kiss. When he finally pulled back, only then did he open his eyes to stare down at him. "You are exactly who you are meant to be." He closed his eyes again, afraid to see the rejection riddled in Basil's eyes before beginning to walk off once more.

[Nekoholic]

Basil stood there, stunned, before he finally caught up to Jace and grabbed him by the wrist, stopping him. He then blurted out, "See, that's the issue, Jace! With...with all of this! With us!" He released him, stepping back. He clenched his fists, staring at the ground as if it'd personally offended him. "I'm not...I'm not who you think I am. And because of that, I'm not going to take something that was his, especially not after I've taken far too much as it is. I'm sorry."

As Kyle Lewis stared down at his son, the only thoughts that ran through his head were, "It's my fault. I should have done better. I promised, dammit, I promised!" His fourteen-year-old son, who currently lay unconscious in his bed, as he had for many weeks now, with only the uneven, weak rise-and-fall of his chest to indicate that he was even alive. In pain. Dying. There was nothing that he could do. Doc Thurston couldn't do anything, either. He was too far gone. It'd been a direct hit to his frail body. It'd been enough to kill a grown man in perfect health and shape. It was a miracle that he'd even lasted this long.
"Dad?"
He flinched, looking down to see that Basil had woke.
"Yes, Basil? Is there anything that I can get you?"
"Yeah...stop scowling so much. It's going to be permanent if you do it much more."
Kyle was silent for a moment, then chuckled. "Worry about yourself, Basil. Please."
"When is Jace coming? He told me that he was coming today."
"That was...yesterday, actually, but you weren't feeling well, remember? So he decided not to bother you. He should be coming again today, though; he comes every day, even when you don't ask him to, you know."
"Really?"
"Yeah, he's...he's a good boy. I'm glad that you have a friend like him."
"Me, too."

[NinjaButterfly]

Jace was kicking himself in the rear as he sprinted down the streets of the town, weaving through the crowds in his mad haste. He was late for his visit with Basil as he always had a set time to visit him and was afraid he would think he had forgotten about him. In his failing health, Basil's mind sometimes slipped and forgot certain details about something or conversations, so Jace had given him a specific time that he would show up everyday to visit him so he'd never forget. His obligation to get there on time was a small part of his responsibilities and yet he couldn't even get that right.
It hadn't been his fault that he was late, though. A few of the town's kid's decided to get the jump on him just outside the general store while he was buying some gumdrops for Basil. Although Jace was one to never pass up a fight, he actually tried to avoid this one because of the time, but there was no chance of escape he went straight through the group. He'd been beaten pretty badly and still managed escape quickly, but had wasted too much time. Now he sprinted down the road to Basil's home as if he would die himself if he didn't get there fast enough.
With each passing day, Jace felt that he was that much closer to losing his best and only friend he'd ever had. Now that he was late, he felt as if he was going to lose him in those last ten minutes and waste away the last moments of his friend's life. If only he had been there with him that day like he'd promised, then none of this would have happened! He could have pulled him to safety before suffering too much damage. But he had failed him just as he'd failed everyone else he'd ever known.
He skidded to a halt just outside the small house's door, panting for breath. Jace wanted to calm down a bit before going inside and getting Basil more anxious than he already was. What did Basil ever see in him, anyways? Why did he insist on sticking around when he was nothing but trouble, the useless kid of even more useless parents who had the potential of becoming the town's next drunk to carry on the legacy of the Colkin's family name?
Once his pulse returned close to normal, he rapped his bruised knuckles on the door and waited, head lowered.

[Nekoholic]

Upon hearing the knock, Kyle excused himself from Basil's side and opened the door. He smiled upon seeing Jace, automatically moving to give him space to come inside. "He's awake today--and he remembered that you were supposed to come, too. He's been looking forward to it." He sighed, closing the door before he came a bit closer to Jace and whispered, "He's...there's little more that we can do to prolong the inevitable, Jace. I've...I've accepted this. I just wanted you to know, so that we can both prepare. I'm the only biological family that he has left and you're his closest friend, so I thought that, only if you'd like, of course, that we could prepare together."

[NinjaButterfly]

Tears pricked Jace's eyes upon hearing that and he clenched his hands into fists to stop them from trembling. God, he never wanted to have to go through this; he hadn't even cried at his own mother's funeral, but he was crying over a friend who wasn't even gone, yet. How was he going to cope when he was truly gone? Basil was the only person he'd ever had that cared in the slightest for him and now he was leaving him alone in this world...it wasn't fair.
He nodded his head slowly. "Of course," he whispered, not able to speak any more loudly. He remained silent for a minute. "How...how much longer do you think he has, sir?"

[Nekoholic]

Kyle sighed and said, "A week, at the most. The medications are just losing their effect, and for the last few nights that he has been awake to take them himself, Basil has been refusing them. Jace, I know that he likely does not discuss it with you, but he's aware, more so than we have allowed ourselves to even be. He knows that his condition is...um, worsening, and he insists that he doesn't want the medication anymore because it only makes him feel more poor, and..." He rubbed at the lump in his throat, gritting his teeth before he finally continued, "And he insists that it's a waste. A waste of supplies that others could use, instead. And...it's what he consciously decided for himself, and I know the truth, and as much as I hate it, I'm going to abide by his wishes to the best of my capabilities. And according to him, doing nothing is the best course of action at this point. He's...always been smart. I should have known that I couldn't hide anything from him, especially not something like, like this." He gestured frantically with one hand, then clenched it into a tight fist, his knuckles becoming white from the pressure of bone against skin. "I'm...I'm sorry, Jace. Um...I'll leave you two alone for the next hour or so. I just...wanted you to know, um, what you needed to know."

[NinjaButterfly]

The only thing Jace could bring himself to do at the moment was nod his head. "Thank you for letting me know, sir."
He took a deep breath and held it in for as long as he could before slowly releasing it, trying to regain his composure before walking into the bedroom. He couldn't believe this was actually happening. As the oldest of the two, Jace believed he would have been the one to die first and considering how reckless he was, he thought he would have died in a careless fashion well before Basil's days had ended. If he was given the chance, Jace would trade places with him in a heartbeat. Basil was a kindred soul who would never hurt a fly and if anyone deserved to be in his place, it was Jace. The good always died too young. Life was cruel like that, and he never could figure out why.
He rapped his knuckles on the door once before peeking his head inside the room. "Basil?" When he noticed his appearance, he walked into the room and made his way over to the bed. With difficulty, he managed to plaster a fake smile onto his expression. "I'm sorry I'm late. I got held back a bit." A short silence fell over them as he reached into a pant's pocket and pulled out a pack of gumdrops that had a small bow wrapped around it that was made out of a thinly cut piece of old blue fabric. "I got these for you. Thought I might surprise you with it."

[Nekoholic]

Basil smiled when he saw the candy, accepting it with a weak hand. "Thank you, Jace. It means a lot." They were even his favorite flavor; he wondered how much they cost him, when he struggled to even have enough for himself... He then cleared his throat, staring at Jace for a long moment, he looked more nervous than the first time they'd gone out beyond the town's walls together. "Hey, Jace, could you do me a favor? It's just a little one. Will only take a second, I swear."

[NinjaButterfly]

"Of course...anything," Jace said quickly, almost before Basil even finished the statement. "What do you need, buddy?"

[Nekoholic]

Basil's smile widened just a little bit, and then he said, "Please, tell me that I appear awful today. I feel that if we just put it out in the open, then you'll finally look at me. And like, not just above my nose or to the side of my face, but actually at me."

[NinjaButterfly]

Jace actually chuckled slightly at that though the statement still left him sad. He swallowed hard before managing to look him directly in the eye, smirking. "I didn't want to say anything, but you're too beautiful to look at. You're like the Helen of Troy that my mother told me about once. She was a goddess who was too beautiful to be looked at directly. One look at her beauty could sink an entire fleet of ships. That is who you are."

[Nekoholic]

Basil snickered at that remark, not having expected something like that from Jace. He then fell silent, but eventually said, "I...I did have something serious to ask of you, though. If you'll hear me out."

[NinjaButterfly]

Jace grew somber at that and nodded his head, moving a bit closer to his bedside. "Hit me with it. I've taken worse punches." He doubted that was true...