revivalproject | What do vegan zombies eat?

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What do vegan zombies eat?

WHO: Leo and YOU
WHERE: all around Temba
WHAT: zombie invasion
WHEN: zombie invasion
WARNINGS: zombie invasion (...likely some gore and violence)

A: Early Invasion

In a way, Leo is almost... relieved. Okay, so that's a weird thing to feel when there are literally undead monsters walking around, but the thing is, zombies are a simple problem. He doesn't have to worry about zombies betraying him, or debating him about innocent until proven guilty, or any other moral quandaries. Zombies want brains. Leo doesn't want his brain to get eaten. This math is simple.

And while it's more than a little disconcerting now to be suddenly cut off from his powers, it doesn't slow down Leo that much. Well, maybe in the literal sense, now that he can no longer teleport, but for actual fighting, Leo has always depended more on his swords and his martial arts than his magic. So cutting zombies down isn't really an issue for him, especially when they're the slow, shambling kind.

It is, however, pretty gross. Leo cringes as he brushes some rotting flesh bits off his arm.

He's here because he heard someone calling for help, or because he saw someone fighting the good fight. Either way, he's here to help!

(And also look for Donnie, because of course they got separated again. But hey, kill two birds with one stone!)

"Need a little help?" he calls out, approaching. "These guys are a little too awake, huh? Never heard that phrase about sleeping when your dead."

B: Late Invasion (cw: tied up zombie brother)

Leo shouldn't be out here. He should be sheltering in the mines, like everyone else.

But here he is, moving with ninja speed and stealth toward one of the abandoned houses. He has a rope slung over his shoulder, and casts furtive glances around to see if he's being followed.

He's pretty good at catching when he is being followed, but with all these zombies around, it's possible to avoid his detection and see what he's up to.

Which is, admittedly, pretty suspicious. What is he doing?

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It's not really to Leo's liking either, but as they hunker down in the shadow of a building to look out at the road ahead, he finally speaks up again. This isn't really a conversation he wants to have back in the mines, so he does it now.

"You... really don't think I've totally lost it?"

Given the whole, keeping their zombie not-brother tied to a bed and all.

Holding a conversation seems like the last thing they want to be doing out here, which is why Donnie looks a bit surprised. He looks at Leo, brow pinching before he shakes his head.

"No. Not totally." A smile flickers across his lips, lost with a sigh. "Look, there is nothing about this situation that's not going to have some effect on a person's sanity. There are literally people out there trying to eat us. Choosing to try and preserve family- even undead ones, that's... probably more thought put into it than how others might be handling things. I'm not going to say they're wrong if they decide they have to lop off the head of someone they know, but we're all dealing with completely illogical issues here. The only 'rules' there's ever been about zombies are derived from fictional sources. Therefore no one can say that keeping zombie family members locked up means you've gone crazy."

Leo stares at him as he delivers this answer. It’s not the answer he was expecting at all, and yet…

He quickly has to stifle a laugh, slapping a palm over his hand and letting out a snort instead. It’s entirely a laugh born from fondness, though!

“That was so eggheaded that I know you meant it,” he says once he has control of himself again. He smiles, though, to hopefully soften the blow of it. “Thanks, though.”

Naturally such a response calls for an appropriately affronted reaction, a gasp escaping him. His scowl is difficult to hold when Leo smiles though.

Comforting people isn't his specialty, but he's the only one here. Facts are all Donnie can think of to refute Leo's doubts, and he's glad that, for all that Leo may think of it, the approach has worked. His own smile is a begrudging one as he nudges his brother's shoulder with a fist.

It did work, at least in making Leo feel like he’s accepted, crazy or not. As long as his family doesn’t think less of him, he can deal with anything else.

He grins at the nudge, giving Donnie one back. But now they really do need to get moving, so he doesn’t say anything more. They just need to get back to the mines before anything tries to munch on them.

Right. Ditch zombie town. Or try to. He has no idea what the state of any of the city between them and their destination may be, but once it looks clear, Donnie gives Leo another nod and then starts to creep towards the next building. At least when it comes to the two of them, they know how to be quiet when they need to be.

That doesn't really negate the fact that there are still zombies milling about, and around the next corner they see them, maybe half a score mindlessly shuffling along the main road.

Ah, of course they couldn't make a clean break for the mines. Leo tuts under his breath, already drawing his swords before he glances at Donnie.

He doesn't speak, but the question is clear: are they fighting through this?

Donnie doesn't look all that thrilled by the prospect, but he still slips out his tech-bō though he doesn't extend it just yet. He's still glad one of the first things he'd ever did with it here was work out a manual override to at least have it available as a staff if nothing else once a storm came through.

He looks at Leo before looking back at the way before them, clearly trying to work out if there's a less crowded way to take, but who was to say the next street over wouldn't be just as filled? His hand slips into his pack, fingering one of the flares Tony had given him. No, maybe not just yet. That might just get them more company. He sucks in a breath, looking to Leo before nodding as he holds down the button on his staff, pulling one end out and then the other to its full length. They can take them. They're faster and the things are scattered.

Leo nods back, getting a cocky little grin on his face. This is a tense situation, sure... but Leo's never really been against fighting. It's probably the one thing he's actually good at.

Even if he doesn't have his portals... Well, that's fine. He can work around it.

He gives Donnie one more little smug toss of his head, and then he's off, out into the street. He runs out and swirls, cutting two zombies down at once. He didn't get their brains, but without legs it's hard to walk. The heads can come after.

It's somewhat confidence inspiring, and Donnie can't help but grin back. He makes sure his bag's closed and strap cinched as snug as possible, and once Leo's moving in to attack, he follows suit.

His staff his a blur as he spins it and swings a broad arc to send another zombie flying as it had started moving in, instantly attracted by the sudden movement. Staves aren't much good for cutting anyone down but at least decaying bodies are more brittle than healthy, living ones. Another zombie's face caves in as his staff smashes into it, fingers still spasming even as the body falls over.

It's easy to fall back into a familiar rhythm, fighting alongside Donnie. Fighting with Cayde had been fun for sure - the man had lots of moves that Leo wants to learn - but fighting with his family is an easy and familiar dance, even without his powers. Leo barely has to look at Donnie to know how he's going to move, where he's going to swing next. He weaves around his brother's staff work and cuts down more zombies, chopping off a head when Donnie knocks one down without crushing it's face - though he's doing enough of that on his own that Leo mostly leaves him to it.

And he's still himself, so it's probably no surprise to Donnie when he cuts one zombie down with a taunt of, "Looks like you zombies just can't get ahead!"

When it comes to decapitations, Leo's definitely better suited. With him working closely, Donnie switches up his own tactics, his strikes precise as he fends off flailing limbs, quick to knock in a kneecap or render limbs useless so his brother can pick up where he leaves off.

His groan is almost as loud as the zombies then, even though hearing Leo still dropping terrible wisecracks despite the situation is a good sign of normality. At least it looks like they're thinning them out. The downside is that all the commotion is drawing others towards their position.

It is, and that’s why they can’t linger in one spot. They have to advance.

Leo takes out another, focused on clearing a path. Once some ground is gained, he’s quick to move Donnie ahead.

“No matter what,” he shouts over the noise, “keep going towards the mines!”

"I don't think I like that ultimatum," Donnie says over his shoulder even as he's urged forward. He keeps on the offensive, doing what he can to clear the way.

Distraction, they need a distraction-

Blinking as he remembers something, he lashes out to push another zombie back before thrusting a hand into his bag to pull out one of the flares Tony had given him. He fumbles a bit. The lighter- Oh!

"Leo!" he shouts, shoving the flare towards him. "There should be a lighter in your jacket pocket!"

“Huh-!?”

It takes him a moment to process what Donnie is even handing him, not very familiar with flares. But his brain catches up, and he doesn’t bother asking where Donnie got this or what he means to do; he’s the faceman, after all. Quick on his feet!

Clutching the flare in his left hand, he frantically pats down his pockets with his right until he feels something inside. He fishes around until he pulls out the lighter, dancing back from the encroaching zombies as he flicks at it to produce the flame.

“Alright - fire in the hole!”

He’s always wanted to say that, and he does now as he lights the flare.

The light sparks blue, as does the fire that starts guttering at the end of it. Donnie can't help for a smile- Tony had mentioned he could set off blue and purple flares to try getting Leo to the university.

But now's not the time to admire colors. Donnie barely catches the teeth of another zombie between his staff. "Throw it!" he hisses, shoving back as he reattempts their exit strategy. The flare might not draw off the ones already on them, but it might at least divert some of the others coming.

Why is it blue? Aren’t flares usually red or orange? Maybe green?

Is this… a flare for Leo?

He doesn’t have time to think over it. At Donnie’s behest, he throws it as hard as he can, over the heads of the zombies, trying to draw them toward the new point of interest.

It seems to work, as some of the encroaching zombies find the light more interesting.

Donnie's not holding his breath to make sure it works, already pushing forward once he knocks another zombie down. He can at least see a slight break between the roaming undead now that some have started to go after the light. The less he has to swing his weapon, the better. He can feel himself flagging, but running on adrenaline has never been a very reliable fuel.

Maybe, maybe the way will be clear to the mines once they get past here...

Right, time to move. Leo stops thinking about the flare and hurries after Donnie, cutting down any zombies that get too close.

They have to be getting close now, right? It’s not that far of a walk…

It wouldn't have been so bad if there weren't moving roadblocks. ...who...also were inclined to eat you.

There's finally some familiar landmarks, the fog having made everything more difficult to tell things apart. "Almost...there..." Donnie says, spirits lifting a bit at the prospect of them both finally being able to be somewhere safe.

His heart feels like it plummets then as he sees them, moving masses ahead, practically clogging the way to the mine entrance.

"-oh come on..!"

Crap. Crap crap crap.

Leo grits his teeth, glancing at Donnie. Donnie’s tired, he knows - not that Leo is doing much better himself, but he can handle this. He can - he has to.

Leo steps in front of Donnie, swords gripped tight in his hands.

“I’m gonna cut a path for you, okay? Just keep moving.”

Donnie looks like he'd protest that, but he knows he's not fooling anyone. Leo can literally cut a path for them. The least he can do is make sure nothing fills in the spaces or goes for his brother's back.

"Okay," he says, his own grip tightening around his staff as they come upon the next batch of zombies.

Leo's glad Donnie doesn't give him any push back; that makes this easier.

He starts literally cutting his way through the crowd of zombies, his swords moving as fast as they can. Which is pretty fast; even his physical abilities have gotten an upgrade since the Shredder. But without his powers, he's limited in his ability to crowd control. They will get overwhelmed, eventually.

At least the zombies aren't very smart, and don't have much thought behind their tactics past trying to bite. That's about all Leo has going for him right now, as he makes his slow slow way forward.

Why are there so many here? Do they know..? Donnie's starting to have second thoughts about trying to get into the mines as he wonders if they've just gotten into them already. It's a worrying possibility, but where else do they have to go?

He tries to keep close enough behind Leo without being in the way, using his staff to fend off whatever tries closing the gap between them or coming in from the side. This is absolutely the worst!

Feeling something yank at his hood, Donnie turns to swing his staff about, knocking another zombie back with a sickening crunch. He yelps as his feet trip over the fallen bodies Leo's already cut down, sprawling onto his back. Another zombie all but falls after him, and he brings up his arm to catch its hungry maw, and he's all the more thankful that Tony had the foresight to equip him with his armor's bracers.

Leo is also very grateful for the armor Donnie has, even if he doesn’t know its origins. He just assumes Donnie fashioned it for himself at some point while they were apart.

At the yell, Leo looks back, calling out Donnie’s name as he hurries over to help him up. But without his focus on the road in front of them, more zombies push in to fill up the gap.

“Get off him!” he shouts, cutting back the zombies that flood in between the two of them, trying to get at Donnie while he’s down. He has to hurry - he has to protect his brother!

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