☜ bullet with your name ☞, busy. aaron x max. oh damn.

[DEATH CAB FOR COTI !?]

the world was forever broken and there was no recovering from the major blow to the precious little planet. adam had met hopefuls who talked about how they could repair this world and fix the damage they’ve done as a race of humans but that was a bold-face lie. people were never meant to live like god’s and comfort wasn’t supposed to be an option for them. that was the reason their homes were destroyed, their cities practically leveled, and every resource was almost left in ruins. call him cynical but there was honestly no light at the end of this tunnel and that was the absolute truth. adam carefully rethought his last sentiment right then. there as a small fracture of light in his rather pathetic and boring existence but that had to deal with the man that had kept him company ever since kansas. the two of them hadn’t gotten along well at first but they simply understood each other and the need to stay close in order to survive. in this new world order, this was a dog eat dog lifestyle and there was no escaping the torture in this life. casting a stony glare over at xavier, he felt his stoic features relax into a peaceful resolve around the other male but he’d never admit that. it would give a power to the other male and with the way butted heads – it was best to not give each other ammunition. as two of them continued to walk down the desolate street through the countryside, the sky overhead burned with a burning orange color. in some way, it looked like fire had taken to the clouds but that seemed very much impossible. despite what he thought it was up there, he heard the sound of thunder sound in the distance and sighed heavily at what that meant for the two of them.

”it’s going to fucking rain.” he yelled as he kicked an abandoned car next him and felt every bit of urgency surge through him. typically rain wasn’t something very common out in these parts but when it rained in this new world it would rain for days. often delaying travel times up to a week at best and with that he wanted to do nothing but simply crush something. ”we have to find shelter or we’re going to get hit hard.” he said as paused for a moment searching out a place. it was then that he spotted a small cottage, not too big but barely visible in the clearing. with that he pointed to the building and nudge the other man. ”over there.” he said as he started running towards the building, without even waiting for the other to give him permission. he could feel the other chasing after him though and even if the coast was clear he knew the other would give him a downright yelling at.

[SOMEBUSY THAT I USED TO KNOW]

i got survivalism

nothing was as it once was. the planet on which they lived on was used up and pissed off, and humanity? self destructed and turned on itself. both had fallen apart under the disease that was greed, mass consumption, and pushing the limits of both earth and man to the extreme. the planet had finally had enough of the abuse that mankind had inflicted upon it and fought back, turning against the creatures that inhabited it with floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes, drought or rains so heavy that they lasted for months on end. plants stopped growing, as if the ground beneath them was drain of any nutrients to keep them alive and thriving. animals that relied on vegetation began to died, which caused a horrific chain reaction across the food supply, and then society slowly crumbled, falling apart in the wake of the global catastrophe that shook them to their core. governments were toppled, leaders killed, rebellion and all out war took over, till a sort of peace finally settled amongst the survivors once the smoke cleared. but there really was no peace, no safety, and no place to call home. they were all nomads now, traveling on their own like xavier who had grown up with just his mother and father for company till they both died, or in packs. packs were dangerous because they had more weapons and man power, more food and supplies. which was why xavier had always traveled on his own because they couldn't be trusted not to turn on their own, steering clear of those areas where packs normally gathered, and refusing to take on anyone that wanted to join him. well until adam came into his life. for whatever reason he could not send him away, or maybe it he just couldn't get rid of him no matter how hard he had tried.

he glanced over at the other male, adam was....different to say the least. not that different was a bad thing, at least xavier could trust him not to literally stab him in the back or smother him in his sleep, which was another reason he really didn't mind that they traveled together. but these random outbursts, the unnecessarily dramatic reactions to things such as rain, or his completely reckless attitude that would get them both killed, it made xavier question his own sanity for letting adam stay with him. it was lonely though, to keep moving with no real destination and no one to share the journey. he knew what it was like to be truly alone, to know that you had nothing but what you wore and what was strapped on your back, to have no one. so despite adam's ability to get under his skin and push his buttons, xavier knew that it was better then what he once had. xavier had already paused to take in their surroundings, turning his head slowly to the left and then right allowing his eyes to sweep the area as adam kicked the shit out an abandoned car. "keep it down." he demanded, his annoyance at his partner's raised voice and rukus with the shell of a vehicle noticeable, even to adam hopefully. he looked in the direction that adam had suggested and nodded. "looks good, you go...adam!" he steadied his shot gun in his hands and began in the direction that his partner had nodded. "you're going to get the both of us fucking killed you idiot." he said through gritted teeth as the sky grew darker making it increasingly difficult to see. there was a deep rumble and then the gentle pitter patter of raindrops as they splashed against the earth and them, and that's when xavier heard it, the roar of the storm and he caught up to adam quickly, shoving his companion into the building other inhabitants be damned as the sky opened up and a sheet of water crashed down upon the earth. "fucking rain." he shook the drops from his curls and then let his eyes sweep the area. "i think we're alone, but better safe then sorry." he nodded to the left.

tagged: coti with adam | word count: what is counting | notes: woohoo boy with guns xD

cassie at atf & caution.

[DEATH CAB FOR COTI !?]

there was no getting used to this lifestyle and it was such a traumatizing thing to believe that a few years before, everything had been quite fine and so very different. back before the world spiraled out of control, adam lived quite a privileged life and never saw a day where he went without. whenever he spoke of need or wanted something as his own, the man had people that would cater to him, feeding his gluttony to the utmost satisfaction. even his future was full of promise, especially when everyone expected the man to follow in his father’s footsteps. known as one of the most influential businessman of his decade and one of the world’s greatest humanitarians – it didn’t take him long to shred the picture perfect image when the world fell apart. in fact his father was the first one who started the whole every man for himself mentality, even going as far as to turning his own flesh and blood away. it hurt to know your father didn’t care about your safety in this new world order and to be thrown out of his home was much worse. thankfully, the man didn’t have long to feel guilty for himself and learned to adapt to the ways of the broken world. it was this rebellion, this decree of social order that allowed him to meet xavier and develop some sort of relationship with him, which was funny considering it took them ages to trust one another.

given the circumstances though, would anyone expect anything less from the two of them? with a world fallen through and people killing each other to fight over the remaining resources, adam didn’t give his trust out to many people anymore but he was happy that xavier would never turn on him. even when the thought in the back of his head was telling him what if – the other always talked the voice down. the other wouldn’t betray him in such a manner, especially after he’d saved him so many times. like any partnership, they might not have been the greatest but they worked well together and underneath all their angst, there was emotions that adam couldn’t deny. it was clear that he found the other attractive and insanely handsome and when the night got quite and the cool air grew cold it was the other that he found comfort in. running in the direction of the little rundown cottage, the other found himself standing in a rather appropriate shelter from the rain. drenched in what little bit of the storm they were caught in, adam smiled as he sat down his gun and pulled the wet cotton from his skin. only to end up laugh it is sunk back against his skin. ”i’m not going to get us killed, you simply have terrible instincts.” he smiled at the other one as moved back over to the door and locked the latch. turning around and examining their find, they’d gotten extremely lucky. there appeared to be a fireplace with a bit of dry wood next to it, one bed, tables, and a few other things they’d be able to use until the storm passed in a couple of days. ”we’ve got lucky with this place? we could even start a fire.” he said calmly, while he began to peel his wet clothes from his thin form. the longer they stood in them – the more of a chance the two of them could catch a cold and that was the last thing they needed. besides with a temporary safe-house the two could use this chance to simply be alone in a way that was rare for them. ”do you know how to start a fire?” he asked the other, hoping the other still had a arsenal of tricks they could use.

[SOMEBUSY THAT I USED TO KNOW]

i got survivalism

xavier had learnt a long time ago that trust wasn't simply given, that it was earned, and that most people would make you regret placing it in them the first chance they got. even before the planet had turned on its inhabitants and in turn mankind on itself, xavier knew too much about betrayal and how self preservation was more important then helping others. not that he agreed, in fact he wished that he could help more people survive, but that would mean he would have to trust them and it was hard enough some days to trust adam. but he did trust the other male, although he couldn't be entirely sure why considering that adam had a talent for stepping into situations that could prove dangerous and to be totally blunt, deadly for the both of them. his recklessness was a constant source of arguments and tense moments between them occurred more frequently the longer they traveled together. xavier didn't want to admit it, not to adam and certainly not to himself, but the reason that things got so tense and heated between them when adam threw caution to the wind, risked his safety and practically asked for trouble to follow him around, was because xavier cared about the other male too much. he had been alone for so long, lost his family and friends, those few precious people that he loved and would have died for were gone, stolen from him during raids, evacuations, starvation, illness, and death, that now that he had let someone else in, cared about another living soul, xavier was scared of losing him too. he hadn't meant for it to happen, to find himself in this situation, but god it was lonely out there in a world where you really didn't know whether today was going to be your last. human interaction was necessary, having someone to watch your back actual meant that you could rest, laugh, not have to carry the burden of survival all on your own. it was nice having someone to talk to, to rely on, to know they also had your back and be there when things got tough.

xavier rolled his eyes. "right, my instincts are terrible. i think you're conveniently forgetting what happened back in denver." he smirked a little at the memory, which wasn't a pleasant one considering he ended up with a bullet lodged in his shoulder, and adam had a gun to his head for twenty minutes before xavier had managed to put a bullet in the head of the groups leader. after that they sort of all fall apart, unsure of what to do without someone to tell them, letting adam and him go free. and that had all happened because adam had walked into what seemed like an abandoned grocery store with hopes of finding something left behind that they could eat, telling xavier that he was being too suspicious. xavier looked around the room, checking for potential rooms, hidden panels, booby traps or anything else that might seem out of place. but his inspection stopped as adam pulled his wet shirt over his head, a lump in xavier's throat formed instantly and there was a tightening in the pit of his stomach, and he had to force himself to look away. "of course i know how to start a fire rich boy." he teased, hoping that would ease some of the tension that was setting into his shoulders and lungs, his heart suddenly racing and it had nothing to do with the running or the possibility of this cottage being a trap. he secured the front door and then walked over to the fireplace, setting his shotgun down on the mantle and crouched down in front of the hearth, shivering slightly from his soaking clothes. he glanced behind him at adam, a smirk on his lips. "watch and learn." matches and lighters were a thing of the past, anyone that had either of those had used up their supplies ages ago, so the use of flint was a skill to be mastered and luckily for the both of them xavier had learnt how to use a flint when he was ten and his step-dad was into his camping kick. he picked up the two pieces of flint and inspected them, looking for the best angle to create a spark.

tagged: coti with adam | word count: what is counting | notes: woohoo boy with guns xD

cassie at atf & caution.

[DEATH CAB FOR COTI !?]

the world had went to hell in a hand basket and to deny that would be the stupidest thing a person could do. once a person looked around them with their tiresome eyes, they’d realize the world that was once their home was so far gone and nothing but a distant memory. reflecting back on his own life, the same one where his parents spoiled him – adam realized that he didn’t have a care in the world and thought it would always be that way. the young man smirked at the thought now and couldn’t believe that he’d been that idiotic to think that everything would settle down in that smooth transition. when the first events of destruction plagued their world, tons of people thought it was something that would be smoothed over with the passing of time but that hadn’t been the case at all. slowly things started to unravel at the seams and despite how everyone came together in a ditch effort to fix their world, the trouble was too much for them to face on their own and now their fate rested in the hands of some higher power. adam smirked at that thought and rolled his eyes. there was no saving them and they’d made the terrible decisions that brought them to this point. all he could do now was count his loses and then move on like he was unaffected by the turmoil that was ravaging his life. from losing his parents and older brother, adam was forced to grow up quick and though he could still be childish, the other was coming into his own with xavier beside him. even better was that he wasn’t alone and the two of them shared even more than a partnership. there was emotions between the two of them and where one was flawed, the other seriously smoothed over the defect.

looking over at the other man – adam had to count his blessings for this one. it wasn’t often that he got the chance to be thankful for something and without xavier he’d be like a majority of their population by now. as the other brought up the old story of denver – the man couldn’t help but sneer and roll his eyes. the man was never going to let him live that down and he didn’t blame him, especially since he nearly got them both killed. licking his lips and running a hand through his soggy hair, the other shrugged his shoulders. “denver was a fluke that shouldn’t have ever happened, i’m going to need you to fail one time so that i can end up saving you and i we can call it even.” he teased the other as he watched the maneuver around the room and the fireplace to build a fire. watching as the other told him to watch and learn, adam did just that and watched him as he piced up two pieces of black rock that he glided against each other. soon the other got a small fire going and thankfully the last resident that lived here had a good stash of wood going. ”look at you go mr. fire starter.” with that he moved over to the other and kneeled behind him and brought his hands around him and smiled. ”that’s really cool talent that you have.” adam said as the other wanted the man to settle down with him. with this weather that would knowingly last for days, they deserved a break and much needed one at that.

[SOMEBUSY THAT I USED TO KNOW]

i got survivalism

adam was confusing. well, maybe it wasn't that he was confusing so much as that he stirred up confusing feelings for xavier. there was never one predominant emotion involved when dealing with his companion, instead he was faced with a constant stream of conflicting emotions that made it difficult for xavier to do anything more then just throw his hands up in frustration, shake his head annoyance, sigh in exasperation and defeat, or draw in a shaky breath of relief. he cared about this man, deeper then he was willing to admit out loud, in what way though xavier was still unsure of. before everything went to hell, in a life that seemed as if it almost didn't exist, as if it was possibly just a dream he experienced to torment him when things seemed hopeless and at their worst, xavier had a string of girlfriends, women who were fun and good time but nothing more. he had been serious about caroline, his girlfriend from high school who managed to break his heart, the consequences of that relationship led him to not trust his emotions, to mistrust his feelings because he had been so dead wrong about her. trust. it always came back to trust with xavier. not just trusting other people, that was hard enough in a world where everyone was just simply looking out for themselves but he didn't know if he could completely trust himself. especially now when he was utterly alone, lonely, afraid that this was it, that there would never be anything else but this endless journey of pain, hunger, struggling to survive, never knowing if anything was going to be okay or normal again. and then he met adam, a couple of strays that had nothing to offer each other but some companionship and protection, and without wanting to or planning it, xavier found himself attached and...and he wasn't sure what. and that's what he didn't trust about his feelings towards adam, he couldn't categorize, couldn't compartmentalize it and put it in box with it's proper label.

his eyes narrowed in concentration but he couldn't help the laugh that escaped his lips. "fluke? nice try." he smirked a little, even though the memory of the moment when xavier was sure that he was going to lose the only person on the planet that he cared about was a truly horrible one. it was after denver that he began to notice every little thing about his companion, his friend, his...whatever they were. there were moments when xavier wanted to ring his neck, to punch his lights out, and leave him behind. and then they would share these little spaces in time when adam would reach out and touch him, sometimes it was just a simple gesture like his hand on his shoulder, and other times....xavier found himself holding his breath, a he thought about those other times. he struck the flint against the other and a spark leapt forward, not enough to catch the dry wood and kindling, but it was a promise that they would have a fire tonight. "you're never going to get that chance, cause i don't take risks. or have you forgotten." the rocks struck again and this time a flame burst from the kindling, drawing a genuine smile to xavier's usually almost frowning lips. his eyes slipped closed as he felt adam's strong arms encircle him, and without thinking his head fell back to rest against adam's shoulder. "just one of many talents you reap the benefits of." he teased, his blue green eyes sliding open as he lifted his head, a shiver going through him. "better get out of these wet clothes. wouldn't want to get sick." he really hoped that he wasn't being completely obvious, not that he knew where this was all leading. all xavier knew was that he wanted to be near adam tonight, that he needed him.

tagged: coti with adam | word count: what is counting | notes: woohoo boys with guns xD

cassie at atf & caution.

[DEATH CAB FOR COTI !?]

he wished that he would have been born fifty years ahead of his time. if that would have been the case, then he would have missed all this nonsense and could have simply lived his life. then again, what fun would that have been? there was so many things that he could wish never happened to him and that he didn’t have to live through this travesty but what would that other life be like? adam didn’t like to think about it and strangely enough, he managed to tune all those thoughts out each time the consideration crossed his mind. the boy needed to be here with xavier because that was what his life had planned for him. though they argued over the silliest things and they liked to think they didn’t need each other, the two of them fit each other like a glove. something that he’d ultimately laugh at, especially at the end of the day but that was just him being a foolish right about now. the things he felt for the other male, were things that he never thought he could ever feel. xavier didn’t know about these feelings but when the sun went down and it was just them alone, he was pretty sure the other knew from his actions just how much he cared for the boy. by night they might have been lovers but during the day, they were each other’s protector, best friend, and their own worst enemy. even with the best laid plans they’d always run into trouble together but fate would always bring them back together again.

glaring at the other as he said that the incident in denver wasn’t a fluke, adam wanted to reach over and shove him into the floor. he refrained though because the other was making them a fire and the last thing he wanted to do was make the other mad, so that he wouldn’t do it. for now he’d let xavier have his littler victory and he’s wait for that moment when he failed, opening him up to copious sarcastic comments about them being even and how bad the other was at something. ”you think that now but around me, you tend to get a little reckless. just a little, admit it.” he said with a smile that was as warm as it was kind. it was a rarity that didn’t happen often with him and with that he lowered his stare to the floor as the others head fell against his shoulder. ”thank god i found you or i would have froze to death by now.” he said as the other suggested they get out of their clothes and with that he couldn’t help but chuckle. it was these moments, even with the world falling apart around them that he couldn’t get enough of xavier. helping the other up, he nodded with approval. from there his fingers came to the others shirt and he slowly unbuttoned his ragged button up shirt, revealing glimpses of the others skin in a somewhat sensual manner. ”yes let’s.”

[SOMEBUSY THAT I USED TO KNOW]

i got survivalism

both men knew exactly what buttons to push to get the other going, those little things that would send the other into a fuming rage or smoldering want, and that scared xavier just a little bit. he liked to think that he was complex, hard to read and figure out because that meant that he was less vulnerable out in a world where it seemed that you were made out of stone and had no emotions was an advantage. but adam had figured him out a little too easily on day one, knowing what to do and say to create that attachment between them, so that xavier couldn't leave him behind even if he wanted to. he hadn't been looking for a partner or companion, he didn't need that extra weight or someone else to worry about, which he knew would inevitably happen because it was in his nature to care too much. what he hadn't expected though was this need that he felt for adam. not just the need for him to be safe and out of harms reach, but to be near him, close to him, to feel his hands on him and his own hands against him. he had never felt this way before and it was so startling at first that he had been tempted on more then one occasion in the beginning to slip away in the middle of the night, had almost actually succeeded once but then he looked back, taking a moment to steal one more glance and he cursed himself for being such a coward. adam didn't know the effect he had on him, well xavier liked to pretend that he didn't, but it quickly because very clear that the taller blond boy did, but it wasn't his fault that he stirred things up inside xavier that he didn't understand at first. as they continued to move from city to city and state to state it became more and more clear that xavier's feelings were shared by adam, that neither one of them were comfortable with labeling it just yet, but it was intense and real, on occasion painful, but mostly maddening.

they could either work together in perfect harmony, as if reading each other's minds, acting and reacting as one which was a pleasant surprise considering that they hadn't trained together except for a handful of stolen moments. and then there were those other moments when they were at each other's throats, fighting and feeling the sting of their words a little too much. it was a dysfunctional functioning relationship, partnership, whatever. all that xavier knew was that he didn't want to go on without adam by his side, watching his back and holding him when he needed it. this was a cold and lonely world, filled with people willing to do whatever it took not only to survive but to get ahead, to have more power, and make damn sure that they weren't victims. xavier tried to act as if he was just as cold, but adam saw right through that facade and made the simplest request, to not be something that he wasn't, at least not with him because if they were going to travel together then they had to trust one another, and there could be no trust without honesty. there were times when that honesty could make things uncomfortable, made xavier feel far too vulnerable in a world that found what made you weak and then used it against you. it worked for them though because xavier knew that adam wasn't going to turn on him, turn the tables on him sure, but never use it against him when it mattered. he glanced up at him over his shoulder, a small smirk on his face. "fine." he sighed softly in defeat. "there are times when we're together that i can behave recklessly...but just a little." his smirk spread suggestively, as if hinting that this was one of those moments. adam read him, saw what he wanted and needed in his eyes, read what was left unsaid in between the lines. adam helps him to his feet, xavier's breath grows shallow as the other male unbuttons his shirt has seen better days, it feels like a trail of fire where adam's knuckles and fingertips brushing against his cold, damp skin. "i'm feeling warmer already." his voice soft and low as he busies his hands with the belt that encircles adam's slender waist, the fire growing stronger behind him in the hearth.

tagged: coti with adam | word count: what is counting | notes: unf naked aaron and max

cassie at atf & caution.

[DEATH CAB FOR COTI !?]

fire could be described in a million different ways but it was up to the person describing the word to pinpoint how it was to be used. strangely though – most people saw fire as something that destroyed everything in its path and would never give most a break. even in this world, adam had seen fire do things that he would never be able to erase from his memory and that traumatized him. from watching it spread like a wild animal, flames consumed national monuments, homes, and even people. everything that the red embers touched instantly became scorched and there was no fixing the damage from the terrible element. thankfully though fire could be used to describe passion or someone’s will. that was exactly what came from him when he was around xavier. the other pushed him to think clearly and to be a better version of himself. hopefully, he’d always follow that advice and something told him that as long as the other was around then he had nothing to worry about. besides it wasn’t like they both hadn’t tried to leave each other before. adam had been awake that one night when the other had tried leaving him but he never mentioned it because the other didn’t need a hassle, especially with the fear that ran through their veins. in this world it wasn’t good to care about someone else and to allow such emotion to plague you meant that you had a bigger chance of crashing and failing. so whatever this was – was unnatural for the two of them and both were scared to actually admit that they were perfect for each other in the end.

working in perfect harmony, the two men were determined to have a calm night in this little abandoned shack. from what adam had seen of this place, no one was here or had been in quite some time. this was good because that meant they wouldn’t be interrupted, nor were there be any confrontations with any other travelers that were roaming about these parts. besides to be walking in this massive downpour wasn’t a good idea, especially because the weather was much like that of a flood. for months it wouldn’t rain and when it did, things could get messy. they were probably fine here in this house but to be quiet certain was almost damn near impossible. with that peace of mind washing over him, it was only expected that the two men would take advantage of the calm lull the heavy downpour brought and with the warmth of a fire going, adam knew what he wanted to indulge in while he could. “i like it when you get reckless, xavier. it makes you seem a little more human.” he said with a wink as he caught onto the others suggestive behavior. as the two of them faced each other in that moment, adam liked the feel of his flesh upon the others flesh. yes it might only be his knuckles but that didn’t matter. soon they’d both be rather bare in quite some time. “good to hear.” spoke the boy softly, while he slid the other out of his shirt and watched it fall to the floor in a crumpled mess. the other was messing with his belt at that moment and with that he felt a familiar lust come forth as the two of them stared at each other and with that the younger boy leaned forward and kissed the other on the lips, wanting nothing more than to enjoy this while he could.