Shawn
"Out of the question kid simple as that."
Shawn looked at the man with pleading eye's, he was just denied the chance at finding the bandits who murdered the only two people he cared about in his life. Shawn did not know what to think now, this man had stayed here an comforted him for the last ten minutes and yet he could so simply deny his request to kill those bandits who killed his dad and his uncle! Shawn could feel his anger growing at the man, it wasn't fair, none of this was fair! Shawn bent down and picked the Colt up off the ground and began to raise it but was shocked when Nero turned on him and grabbed his wrist hard enough it cracked painfully. With one simple move Shawns arm was twisted sideways, screaming in pain he dropped the gun as it fell back to the cold snowy ground, the man then kicked the gun away so Shawn could not try to obtain it again. Feeling the grip release Shawn quickly backed away and tripped over his own feet falling to the ground backwards. The man looked at him, his eye's were almost scary now as he glared at him, feeling the tears run down his face again Shawn screamed at the man:
"If your that strong then why won't you help me! Those men deserve to die not to live! Not after what they did!"
The man stared at Shawn with icy cool eye's, Shawn quickly looked away not wanting to look into those eye's anymore, this man had changed almost instantly into someone who was now frightening.
"Do you truly believe its that easy kid? Do you really think that you would be any kind of avenger for your Father and your uncle, you would die long before you ever achieved that dream. Do you even know what its like to point a gun at a man and shoot him? Do you know what its even like to watch a persons life slip away as their eye's turn into a milky glaze, as they take their last breath? I can see by just looking at you that you have no chance even with my help to kill these men who took their lives, and your anger will change nothing, weakness can not be hidden or can you make it goes away with a gun."[b]
Shawn felt hurt by the words, hurt that he knew it was the truth about him. He didn't know what it was like to kill anyone not even what they call Walkers. When they had come to the park it was with the intention that Shawn would not have to face what the world had become. He truly did not know how bad the world had become, he had never even truly seen a Walker up close, or did he know how to kill one if he had to. He was weak and that was something not even he could deny, closing his eye's he sniffled feeling the mixed emotions inside him. He wanted so bad for their deaths to mean something, but he would have rather died with them then run and lose them both out of his life. With tears streaming down his face Shawn spoke again:
[b]"Its not fair, its just not fair..."
"Nothing is fair kid, none of this hell is fair, and most of all its not fair that a kid should have to suffer so much in the world. But the thing is you have to understand that you will never find closure if you run off half cocked with anger, you will only die and their sacrifice would have been for nothing. This world is no longer the one in which you lived your life kid, now its nothing more then dangers both human and the dead alike, its bloody out there, outside of this park. Those men would think nothing of killing you, age doesn't matter anymore, its survival of the fittest, and that is the mentality you will have adjust to."
Nero
Nero did not like being as crucial as he was being, in fact he knew his words were stinging this kid and it was hurting him even more. But this kid had a tough road ahead of him now, he did not know what the world had become, for this whole year he stayed within the borders of these lands while his father and uncle did all the work. Nero knew the mentality, they wanted to keep him safe, but they never gave any thought to the fact that one day they might die, and then this kid would be all on his own. Nero was critical but this boy had to understand this wasn't a day at the beach with calm ocean and nice warm breeze, it was a cold an bitter ice box and if you weren't careful you would die just as easily as you would live. Nero turned his back on the kid, he was angry and he was weak but he would not try that stunt with the gun again, that he was certain at least in the long run.
"I wish none of this had happened, I wish that this all would just go away and things would go back to the way they were..."
Nero heard the young boy began to cry again but more quietly now, sighing Nero lost the critical look in his eye's as he turned and walked back over to the boy, kneeling down he put his hand on his chin and lifted his head to look him in the eye.
"So do all who live to see such times kid but that is not for them to decide. What is left for us to decide is what we do with the time we are given. Remember this well kid, they gave up their lives because you were more important to them then their own lives, you can die and make it for nothing, or you can take that gift and make their sacrifice worth it.
Nero slowly removed his hand from the kids chin and turned from him, simple words would not erase the pain he was feeling or make him understand the future he now had to come to terms with. There are some battles you just can't fight, battle that those individuals alone have to face if they are ever going to become strong enough to overcome adversity. However for Nero it was time to see if this truck worked, if it did he would take it as far as it could go and then deal with anything else afterwards, however he only took another couple steps when the kid spoke again.
"Teach me then..."
Nero turned as he peered at the kid questioningly returning to face him he spoke:
"Teach you what?"
"Teach me how to survive to get stronger, I can't face this alone and if I do then I will die, your words harsh as they are make me see that. You have been out there, i can see it because of the way you have not even a shred of fear. Teach me."
Nero had not expected that from this kid, guess he sort of over looked that fact that this might happen if he pressed harder then he should. Nero looked at the kid and didn't truly know if this was a good idea even in the least. He would not make it far as he was, and Nero had a tough road ahead traveling into the heart of Washington. An if it was like the other big cities it would be crawling with Walkers, and this kid would be nothing more then a liability to him. Then again if Nero could toughen him up, he could in fact turn out to be an ally as well as someone to travel with. Nero did not like the idea either way, one mistake in Washington and he could wind up dead with this kid. Nero sighed as he looked at the sky for a short time before drawing his attention back to the kid.
"Whats your name?"
"Shawn.. Shawn Brighton..."
"Well Shawn my name is Nero we need to move, iv spent to much time here as it is, let me see if I can get this truck started."
Nero still thought it was a bad idea, but no one deserved to be alone in this hell hole, and maybe just maybe he could do something good before he finally meant his end. He did not fool himself into believing he could live forever, but in some ways even death scared him.