by Misty Vixen
On the one hand, he wanted them to get along, because he genuinely enjoyed Cait’s company, and also thought she would be an amazing friend to have. Not just because of her personality and temperament, but also because she was so skilled and knowledgeable.
On the other hand...he really liked this whole ‘having two hot girlfriends that he fucked on a regular basis’ thing, and it would be really fucking awesome if he could up that to three. Even if she wasn’t his girlfriend and instead a friend with benefits, still: fucking awesome.
He didn’t let the thoughts of the three women he’d had amazing sex with, and likely would again tonight, distract him as he thoroughly searched the campgrounds. It took the entire length of the day and partially into the night, but they were motivated. They all wanted this to be done before they went to bed. Or, at the very least, he knew he wanted all the other structures thoroughly searched and locked down. They could deal with the main office in their own time.
They dedicated about six solid hours to searching the cabins. They poked through each and every one of them, carefully, slowly, methodically. To varying degrees, they were all very apt at searching by this point, as they’d all had a decent amount of practice over the years. The landscape was littered with hundreds of thousands of buildings, millions all over the world really, and something like ninety percent of them, probably more, were abandoned. Supplies and materials meant for over nine billion people now was left for maybe ten percent of that number. Probably less. He honestly had no idea how many humans or inhumans were still alive.
He chatted with the women as he searched all the rooms, in the attics, in the basements, in the closets and all the little hidden spaces that people had created or discovered over the decades. Almost all of the cabins were identical. They seemed to come in two varieties. The first was clearly meant for either couples or single people, with just a single bedroom and a very small basement. These were single story. The other seemed to be meant for families or larger groups. They had two decent-sized bedrooms, a full basement and attic space, two stories, and a bit more room to spare. Even as he was searching them, David began to imagine what it might be like to have other people around. Groups, families, friends…
A community.
He still wasn’t sure where he stood on that idea. On the one hand, it seemed like a great idea. On the other hand, it seemed like a lot of responsibility. Was he up to the task? Were the others? Did they even fully want this? Evelyn seemed interested in the notion of building a community. He went around and around on it all day.
After thoroughly searching the cabins, they took an extended lunch break and went over their findings. It wasn’t terribly impressive. Mostly it was some clothes, a lot of which were too ripped up, torn, or otherwise ruined to be of much use. He knew there were other uses for clothes, even ruined ones, so they stored them in a box in the basement for the moment. There were some blankets, and other bedding supplies, and they managed to get together three single-wide mattresses and a bit of lumber to begin their project of building his and Evelyn’s bed.
He really liked that idea.
Not just because he’d be banging the fuck out of her in that bed, and it would be appropriately sized not just for sex with her, but for threesomes or even foursomes, but also because it was something they were doing together. Something they were both going to use, to share, and they were going to build it together.
That appealed to him tremendously, and he got the idea that it did to her as well.
They found a few bullets that looked like they would still work scattered about, a combat knife, some silverware, a bit of food that was still good, half of an old medical kit that would still be useful, and, most significantly, a pistol that had been hidden away at the top of a closet. It was a revolver and though it was unloaded, and there was no ammo for it, it looked to be in great condition. After lunch, they began to tackle the task of hunting through this building that they now called home. They started with the ground floor and found pretty much more of the same over the course of an hour and a half: nothing really special.
At that point they decided to split up: April and Cait opted to search the basement, as it was going to be a bit of a chore, and Evelyn and David decided to get to work on at least beginning to assemble their customized bed.
It was a good experience, and he spent about forty five minutes helping her get the frame put together.
And then he kept getting handsy and kissy and she ended up shooing him downstairs, because she was more interested in work than sex at the moment.
And so he joined the others downstairs.
Cait had opened up what windows she could down there, (there were four small windows built high into the ceiling and, with a bit of cleaning and then opening, they let in sunshine and fresh air), and April had pulled out a pair of electric lanterns that still worked and they lit the place up. Which was good, because it was a little miserable.
David had never liked basements.
Well, that wasn’t true. He actually really liked basements like the one he’d been living in up until very recently. Ones that were finished, and reasonably clean. This basement was bare concrete and packed with boxes and furniture and other crap, and there could be anything lurking among all that stuff. Like spiders. Fuck, he hated spiders. But it was good being down there with April and Cait. For awhile, as he sorted through boxes, he listened to the two women talk to each other. Mostly they talked about their backgrounds, how they’d grown up, why they were here. It was nice listening to them talk, relaxing.
It was something he could get used to.
David had spent a lot of time alone, and a lot of time with strangers or people that he never got to know, or actively didn’t like. But he liked Evelyn, he liked April and Cait. A lot. And not just for the obvious reason that they let him stick his cock in them without protection. Their personalities blended pretty well. He loved talking with them, working with them, just being around them, honestly. And they seemed to enjoy him as well.
There were a lot of things to value in the miserable, gut-wrenching world that they all lived in. Food, clean water, shelter, medicine, heat. A lot of basic, primal comforts that many people often weren’t afforded. And he valued all of those, and appreciated them when he got them. But honestly, what he thought he might value the most were the connections he sometimes made with others. He valued...trusting, and being trusted. He valued conversation. Obviously he valued sex, but also everything else that went with intimacy.
Holding hands, cuddling up together beneath a blanket, falling asleep and waking up together, just being around someone you were deeply intimate with.
This day of calm searching and sorting with these three women now in his life was really helping underline these things. And he was happy. He let himself be happy. There weren’t enough opportunities for happiness and contentment nowadays. Maybe that was a good motivator for making this place his own, their own, making it safe and secure, a haven against the cold and the dark. David wanted to cultivate happiness and security, not just for himself, but for those he cared about. Honestly, for good people.
There were too many good people suffering out there.
The hours drifted by as they searched through the basement. A lot of the stuff was garbage. Either it amounted to essentially useless junk, or it was so broken or old that it had been rendered useless. There were some decent finds, though. There was a fair amount of clothing secreted away down there, and blankets and sheets that, after a good wash, could be plenty useful. The furniture could be redistributed to the cabins, if they did indeed go ahead and let a few people stay with them in the campgrounds.
There was an axe in surprisingly good condition, which they’d use to chop firewood, as well as a small backpack packed with some canned food and basic medical supplies that looked old, like it had been there for months at least, probably longer. Cait had confirmed that she hadn’t put it there, and none of the people she knew had used this as a hiding spot, so
ultimately they’d decided to take it because the person who had put it there was probably dead or long gone. They didn’t manage to sort through it all, but they got through most of it.
Eventually the sunlight began to fade. That was something David really hated about the winter: how quickly darkness came on. The cold sucked, but the fact that it started getting dark at like five in the afternoon kind of just sucked the life out of him. It was why he tended to go to bed early and wake up at the crack of dawn: he wanted to get as much daylight as possible. Not just for the practical reality that it was harder and more dangerous to do things at night, but because it was better for his psychological health.
“All right, all we have left to do down here is that corner,” Cait said after they had decided to call it quits for now. “And honestly, we can wrap that up after dinner. Then tomorrow maybe we can finish off this building.”
“Sounds good to me,” April said. She looked exhausted, though.
“You doing okay?” David asked.
“Yeah...I’m really tired though.” She yawned, then swayed a little, then sat down suddenly.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Cait asked, taking a step forward.
April looked up at her, then at David. She looked...sheepish, embarrassed almost. “I’m okay, really. I’m just...a little anemic.”
“What’s that mean?” David asked.
“Not enough iron in my blood,” she replied. “Basically it means that it’s easier for me to get worn out, and sometimes I’m dizzy.”
“You didn’t mention this before,” David said.
“I know. I’m sorry. I...didn’t want to worry you. It’s not a big deal or anything. I just...you know, I was already causing enough problems as it was. And...” she hesitated, now anxiously rubbing one of her arms, looking at the floor.
“And what?” David asked. He walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. “You can tell me, April.”
She swallowed. “It’s kind of a sore spot, because I’ve been basically abandoned before because of it. People are...stupid. I don’t tell anyone because they either think that they’ll catch it, which is literally impossible, or they think I’ll drag them down. Which everyone already thinks because I’m so skinny and have such low stamina that they’re looking for any excuse to cut me loose. And, I know you and Evelyn aren’t going to just, you know, abandon me, but I still-it’s hard, okay? It’s hard to talk about it after being paranoid for so long.”
“April, I’m sorry,” David said, and then he pulled her head gently against him. He ran his hand up and down the back of her neck. “I understand. It’s okay. What do we do about it?”
“Not much,” she replied, and she sounded better now, calmer. She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him to her and resting her head firmly against his stomach. “I really just need rest and food more often than most people. If I can find them, I take iron supplements. Those help. But they’re harder to find nowadays.” She paused, then looked up at him. “It’s really not a big deal. Like, don’t worry, I’ll really be okay. It’s pretty light as far as anemia goes.”
“Okay,” he replied. “I wish you’d have mentioned it earlier, but I get it. Come on. Let’s get upstairs and I’ll get dinner started...” he hesitated, considering something. “Is there anything you can be eating to help?”
“Yeah, some things. Leafy greens, like spinach. I hate that stuff, though. Ugh. Meat is good. Venison is probably the best we’re gonna get around here, so keep an eye out for that. Beans too. Like kidney beans and black beans, those are good. And orange juice. It helps me absorb iron that I eat,” she explained.
“Okay. I’ll make some black beans today. Actually...I’ve seen deer around recently. Maybe I could go hunting. I know how to skin and clean and prepare meat,” David replied.
“I could help with that,” Cait said.
“That’d be great, actually. I love venison. It tastes amazing. Black beans and venison for dinner would be so good.”
“Then I’ll make it happen,” David replied.
She got to her feet and took his hand, smiling at him. “Thank you, David. For helping me, and being patient with me.”
“You’re welcome, April.” He kissed her forehead, and they headed upstairs. Cait followed.
They tracked down Evelyn and found her in the process of finishing up with the basic construction of the wooden frame of their new, custom-made bed. Several tools lay scattered around her on the floor.
“Wow...that looks great,” David said. And it did. Better than when he’d left.
“Thanks, babe. I want to sand it down before finishing it up. I found a little battery-powered hand-sander in a closet, but we’ll need some batteries. You know how hard those are to come by,” she replied.
“What about those electric lanterns downstairs?” he asked.
“Those were actually solar powered,” April replied.
“You know, we might be able to get our hands on a little portable solar charging unit,” Cait said. “They’re rare, but if you can find one, you can hook a lot of stuff up to it.”
“Any idea where to get one?” Evelyn asked.
“I’d have to think about it, maybe ask around. I’ll let you know.”
“Thank you. So how’s it going downstairs?”
They brought her up to speed on the situation with April, and ultimately she wished them luck on their hunt for some venison. David kissed them both, then grabbed a rifle and a pistol, and headed back out into the wilderness with Cait.
CHAPTER FIVE
“You surprise me,” Cait said about a minute after they left the campgrounds.
“Why?” he replied, looking at the sky. There should have been just enough daylight left to hunt...provided they found and successfully killed a deer quickly.
“You’re a real sweetheart. I think a lot of people would have been annoyed with April and, at best, polite about her fears. But you are patient, and kind, and you really mean it. I can read people well. I can tell when people are bluffing usually, when people are lying, when people are actually pissed or irritated but they’re trying to hide it. You were a little frustrated, but not that much. I think you were only frustrated because you were worried about her, not annoyed that she’d hid something from you or irritated with the fact that now you have something else to worry about. You actually care about her.”
“Of course I do. Is it really that surprising?”
“Yes, David,” she replied. He looked at her. “I’m not taking a shot at you or anything. I’m not surprised that you, specifically, care about April. It’s just that it’s a unique situation. A lot of people are selfish. The world is brutal, cold, uncaring. A lot of people tend to reflect that. They either don’t care about the suffering of others, or they care more about their own suffering, or potential suffering. People are selfish, it’s just who we are. And that’s not even factoring in the fact that most people have a hard time empathizing with inhumans. I’ve seen a lot of racism over the years. Fuck, don’t even get me started on wraiths and how poorly they’re treated...” she hesitated, then a different look came over her face.
“I’m sorry, this is a huge change in topic and tone, but would you fuck a wraith?” she asked.
“I, uh...I mean, yeah. If there was mutual attraction there, yeah.”
“Wow. See, that’s what I mean. Most guys wouldn’t admit to that. But, I mean, just...yeah. That kind of altruism and patience and kindness, it’s rare. That’s what I’m saying. And it’s nice. It’s...a very attractive quality, I must admit.”
“Is that why you’re fucking me?” he asked.
She snorted. “What? I mean, no. You...said that like you can’t figure out why we’re hooking up,” she murmured, looking at him suddenly.
“I mean, yeah. I can’t.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. You’re obviously way out of my league, Cait. In more ways than one.”
“It’s not a mystery, David. I’m having sex with
you because I’m sexually attracted to you. I mean, that’s how we got started. We bumped into each other, I thought you were really cute, and we had chemistry. I mean, right?”
“Oh yeah, I feel like we have chemistry. It’s just that...normally women who are this attractive wouldn’t bother with me.”
“What are you talking about? You’re fit. You’re brave. You’re cute.”
“Guys like me are everywhere now, and most of them are fitter and more attractive and braver. I guess...I feel like you’re with me because of random chance. If we’d never met-”
“Well of course we’d never have hooked up if we never met!” Cait replied, sounding mildly annoyed and surprised. “Can’t hook up if you never meet.”
“I mean...” he sighed, looking for the right words. “You didn’t seek me out.”
“What the fuck? Yes I did. What the hell do you call today? I literally sought you out. For sex. I wanted to have sex with you. What’s this about?” she asked suddenly, stopping.
He stopped too. “I...” He considered it. What the fuck was he hung up on? “You know, I don’t fucking know. I don’t know what the fuck I’m going on about. I guess it feels like...the best way I can put it, is it kind of feels like you fucked me because I was the only guy you happened to stumble on that night. You didn’t choose me, you know? You didn’t fuck me for me, you fucked me because I was the only one around...wow, that was rude, wasn’t it?”
“Kind of,” she said, crossing her arms.
“I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to insult you. I’m just...I’m trying to figure out what the fuck my problem is.”
She sighed. “It’s okay, I get it.” Cait stepped closer to him suddenly and took his hands. “David. The first time we had sex, yes, it was pretty random. We bumped into each other by chance. But I chose to have sex with you. You know, I could have not. I could have just brought you to that cabin and left you there.”
“It was already late and how far away was the next place to sleep?” he replied.
