What do vegan zombies eat?

[faceguy]

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?

Comments

[faceguy]

Is it... actually working?

Leo lets out a laugh, more disbelieving than anything. The pile of burning bodies around them is an absolute horror show, sure, but he feels momentary triumph that this insane plan actually worked.

He doesn't slow down, throwing out more globs of flaming hand sanitizer, trying to catch more zombies on fire and send them, stumbling, back into the group. Maybe this will be enough! Maybe they can clear the way!

[thepurpleone]

He'd laugh too if he didn't feel like he could cry just as easily, but they're still out here with burning bodies, and he won't allow himself to celebrate just yet. Donnie's too exhausted to expend the effort anyway, so he's more than willing to let Leo handle things. The least he can do is trip up any zombies that get too close.

Slowly but surely, space begins to open up amidst the lumbering, groaning pyres. Donnie points with his tech-bō, the mines just barely visible past the haze of smoke.

[faceguy]

There it is! They're going to make it!

Still holding tight on Donnie's arm, Leo starts to haul them both that direction, still knocking aside any zombie that gets too close. They can do this - they're going to make it inside and then everything will be okay!

If they can just make it a few more steps...!

[thepurpleone]

They can make it, they can make it..!

Donnie pushes on with Leo's help, leaving the burning masses in their wake. He hopes the entire city doesn't burn down from walking torches but hopefully they're slow enough that they'll burn out before they get anywhere that might catch fire.

There's a few stragglers still at and within the entrance itself, but it's far more manageable than the numbers that had been amassed prior.

They're almost there, and Donnie's not letting anything else stand between them. He pulls away from Leo as he sucks in a breath, preparing for a final push through as he grips his tech-bō. Looking to Leo, Donnie gives him a nod, readying himself to move when his brother does.

[faceguy]

Donnie pulls away, but they’re close now. At the look, Leo nods back, pulling out his second sword again. Just one more push - just one more and they’ll be there!

He’s exhausted, but he gives Donnie a smile anyway. They’re gonna be just fine - he’ll make sure of it.

And with that, he starts taking out the last of the stragglers between them and the door. Time to move!

[thepurpleone]

It's not the most Leo-esque smile but it's still encouraging enough that Donnie summons up his own. They've got this.

His arms are aching, his everything, really, but he moves to keep up with Leo and help clear and keep back anything trying to come from behind. Comparatively it's a much easier fight for how sparse the numbers are, but Donnie knows it's not wise to linger.

Leo's swords make short work of the ones in their path, and soon there's nothing blocking them from getting inside. The dark depths have never been so welcoming!

[faceguy]

Leo practically throws himself through the entrance to the mines, back into the dark. He wants to collapse, but he can’t yet - not until Donnie is safe, and not until both of them are past the barrier deeper down the tunnel.

“Dee, come on!” he calls, putting away a sword again so he can reach for his brother.

[thepurpleone]

Donnie nearly falls again, feeling his legs want to give, but he keeps propelling himself forward, throwing a hand out to grab Leo's once they enter the tunnel. He refuses to look back, and while he can barely see anything ahead of them, he trusts his brother to know where they're going from here.

Maybe finally they can rest.

[faceguy]

Getting back to the barrier is mostly uneventful, but Leo stays quiet for it anyway. Once they reach it, he climbs up the pile of crates and boards and extends a hand to help Donnie if he needs it.

Once they’re on the other side, Leo stops so he can look Donnie over - not that he can really see anything, in the dark.

“Sorry for kicking you,” he says. Then, “Are you okay?”

[thepurpleone]

Crates..? Oh. Donnie supposes it makes sense to barricade the entrance when the zombies have found some interest in it. He puts his staff down on one of them just to free up his hands so he can get over them, but at this point he's not turning down any assistance from Leo.

Once on the other side, he drops his forehead against his brother's shoulder with an exhausted sigh.

"'sokay. Would've probably kicked you too." He's trying to be funny, but at the same time he would've started lashing out wildly too if he hadn't been so scared of giving the things extra handholds.

The 'mmf' in response isn't exactly reassuring but how can anyone say they're okay after all that?

[faceguy]

Leo lets out a little laugh at that response, hooking an arm around Donnie so he doesn't fall over. It not as surprising as it might have been a few months ago that Donnie has decided to collapse against him like this, but Leo doesn't mind being leaned on.

"Well, in that case, I'm not sorry," he says. It's maybe a little less joking than it should be, but hey, siblings.

It's not a reassuring response, but he's at least responding, so Leo can work with that. They should probably go deeper in the tunnel, but Leo's exhausted, and the idea of moving some more is daunting.

He holds onto Donnie and lowers them until they're both sat down against the mine shaft wall, sighing as he leans his head back.

"Let's just... chill a second," he suggests.

[thepurpleone]

A ghost of a smirk flits across his lips at that response.

It's probably safer but Donnie doubts he has it in him to go anothet step. He's grateful when Leo starts settling them down to sit, eyes already closing as he too lets out a sigh.

"Yeah...just a sec," he agrees, even though he knows the chance of them getting back up immediately is slim.