Shavian held a crew-cut shirt up to Elliott. “We can put this on you, then a nice thick button-up. It should keep you warm enough, and it will protect your skin from scrapes. We know how you hate scrapes.” She was reminded of her job at the Dry Otter. It seemed to be years ago, not three days, when everything was normal and the shambling undead weren’t everywhere.
Elliott nodded and took the shirt from her, looking it over. “Oh, okay.” She could tell this wasn’t his thing. But he was being nice and playing along for her.
“It’s really the best we’re going to find.” She pursed her lips and dragged hangers down the rack with that familiar metal-on-metal rasp. It was soothing and therapeutic to her. “These racks are more picked over than an after Labor Day clearance sale.”
“Well, it’s not really about fashion,” Elliott said, wandering to a rack of sports jackets. Because of their lack of functionally and durability, that section was left virtually untouched. She slowly turned to him.
“I know all you’ve ever warn is t-shirts and jeans, but don’t you go balking at fashion,” Shavian said, not pleased. She pulled the pile of clothing she’d picked for herself. “I’m going try these on, don’t go too far. There are other people wondering about.” Elliott nodded, looking hurt from her comment.
“Okay.”
In the changing room, Shavian growled and pulled off her sweater, tossing it the ground. It felt heavier with the blood and dirt and made a hefty thump as it hit carpet. She wrinkled her nose; it used to be one of her favorites.
Not even the miracle of dry cleaning will fix that.
She was starting to unbutton her ripped up jeans when she heard it.
Pop, Pop, Pop
She stopped and tipped her head to the side. “That sounded like gun fire,” she said softly. Then another round of shots were fired.
What the hell was going on out there?
Pushing the door open, she walked onto the floor. “Elliott! Are you hearing that?”
“Yeah it sounded like…” he started to say before trailing off to stare at her.
“Like gunshots, am I right? You don’t think the demons are already attacking? That would mean they are coming out during the day now.” She ran out of the shop and looked over the balcony trying to find where the noise was coming from. “Elliott, say something!”
“I-I didn’t know you had a tiger striped bra,” he said meekly, sounding a little shell-shocked.
“What does my…? Wait, how would you know…” She looked down and felt the blush shoot into her cheeks. Dashing into the store she grabbed the first thing that would fit, jerking on an orange and blue pin stripped button up. She did up the buttons with a growl. “You could have said something.”
“You didn’t know?”
“The gun shots seemed to be more important.” She finished the buttons and tugged the shirt straight. It was way too big for her; she had to look like she was wearing a bag. She didn’t get much time to contemplate it as shouting started up with more gunfire. “What the hell is going on out there?”
Elliott was already looking down from the balcony. “Shavian, it’s the military. We’re saved!” He started to make for the stairs. With a frown she turned and walked slowly towards the balcony. Gunshots, military… something wasn’t adding up.
She crouched down, using the railing to obscure herself. Elliott wasn’t wrong, it was the military, but they had one of the mall guards pinned to the floor, putting them in cuffs. Not good. She looked over to see Elliott starting to hurry down the steps. Very not good. “Shit,” she squeaked and dashed after him. Her posture remembered from high school track, she streaked after him. As he reached the first floor she jumped the last five steps feeling her knees protest as she tried to keep herself on her feet. Elliott was starting to raise his hand and with no time to explain she body tackled him into the restroom hallway.
Elliott tried to get up in protest, she could hear the clop of boots and he wasn’t being quiet. “Elliott, shut up!” she hissed.
“Shavian, they can keep us safe.”
“No Elliott,” she said, trying to get him to stop, but he wouldn’t. The boots were getting closer. They were going to get caught unless she did something.
Elliott tried to get up again, and he was stronger than she.
As he raised his head, she pressed her lips to his, causing him to go still at last.
As the military men ran passed, she pressed deeper into the kiss.