Chapter Text
“Ssssss--”
“Shit!” Geoff immediately kicked off from the ground, tucking and rolling across the grass to his right, hitting a tree almost instantly. As he dazedly got to his feet, his ears registered the increased hissing of the Creeper. He was in no shape to move for at least a few seconds, seconds that the mob could easily use to end him. He leaned against the tree, closing his eyes and praying he had enough health to survive the explosion.
The hissing was right in his ear before it stopped abruptly, a noise of surprise and irritation after, clearly made by the Creeper itself. Geoff peeked open one eye, cursing the bright light of the sun before venturing to open the other. The Creeper was slowly backtracking, its eyes narrowed. It looked odd, and Geoff shook his head once to clear it before leaning forward, curious and confused. Why didn't the Creeper explode? Were there now non-suicidal Creepers? That would be great for Geoff, bad for the entire sentience part.
That's when he realized that he wasn't having issues with his sight; the Creeper's proportions WERE all wrong, because it wasn't a Creeper at all. It was a human dressed in a Creeper's pelt! He was reaching into a bag at his waist, making angry sounds as he apparently couldn't find what he was looking for. Sensing Geoff's eyes, his head jerked up, those bright blue eyes hitting Geoff's, confirming the man's thoughts. That was not a Creeper at all. But what the hell was it doing out in the wilderness, dressed and acting like the green mob?
It was freaky, first of all, and sad, secondly. Was he from a Village where a Zombie Siege had won? Regardless of wherever it came from, it was backing away fast, a low, angry sizzle emanating from his throat at Geoff's curious eyes. Geoff cleared his throat, the creature tensing and freezing in place, wary.
“Hello, there.” The words echoed through the dense wood, having spoken a touch too loudly for comfort. The Creeper-Boy flinched, eyes darting around as though expecting other humans to bolt from the trees and attack. When none did, he turned his gaze back on Geoff, squatting down to balance on his hands as well as his feet.
“Can you speak?” Geoff persisted. “I won't harm you.”
The boy's brow furrowed, attempting to make sense of the noises. Geoff didn't move; partly because he didn't know what the boy had in that bag of his, and also because his headache wasn't going away anytime soon, so it was far more comfortable under the shake of the oak, rather than attempting to venture into the sunlight.
The sun's rays began to angle down, the sky just barely reddening before the Creeper began to straighten. Geoff followed suit, warily watching his hands, his own resting on the hilt of the diamond sword.
“Gavin.” Geoff jumped when he heard the word. He spoke! The word was very low and sibilant, a clear accent from the Creepers sinking in his tone.
“Gavin?” Geoff repeated, pointing at the boy. “Is that your name?”
The boy rubbed at his nose, leaving gunpowder residue there from his hands. Geoff idly wondered if he carried TNT around to emulate the Creepers. He nodded. “Gavin.” He paused, clearly thinking for a moment before making an irritated hiss, then pointed to Geoff.
Geoff frowned, wondering what the Creeper-- Gavin, wanted, but it hit him so quickly after the confusion that he felt rather stupid. “Geoff. My name is Geoff.”
Gavin tilted his head. There were too many syllables, too quickly for him to follow, Geoff guessed. So, he said again, more slowly, “Geoff.” He pointed to himself. “Geoff.”
Gavin stared hard, then nodded once. “Geoff.”
The elder hesitated. Should he invite the boy to his home? Attempt to civilise him? Or should he allow him to roam free? He absently reached in his bag, pulling out some meat and taking a bite. Gavin perked up immediately, inching closer and locking his gaze on the meat. Geoff watched him sidle nearer, taking the opportunity to look at him more closely.
The boy was painfully thin, and he was dirty. Incredibly dirty. His hair stuck up in odd ways, matted, and his chin and upper lip were dusted with light fuzz, making Geoff guess his age to be in the lower twenties. When Gavin stopped moving, about three feet away, Geoff slowly held out his hand with the food, offering. Before his arm was even fully extended, Gavin leapt for it, snatching it and scurrying back a few feet, eating ravenously.
That cinched it. Geoff had taken care of kids in his time, helping Villagers and the like, and this made his chest ache. This boy needed proper care, and he'd be damned if he wasn't going to do it.
“Gavin?” The boy looked up, curious even as he continued to eat messily. “Will you come with me?” He asked as he pantomimed what he meant. When the boy's brows furrowed in confusion, Geoff attempted to mime it in a different way, making walking motions with his fingers and then pointing to himself, then Gavin, pointing towards the town he lived in. He repeated it and the question a few more times before the boy lit up in understanding.
“Geoff Gavin go?” He asked, clearly hoping it was the correct words to use. Geoff was mildly taken aback. He was either a quick learner, or knew more than he seemed.
“Yes. Gavin and Geoff go to town. Yes?” He cocked his head, making it more obviously a question.
Gavin thought it over as he licked his fingers clean, frowning when he realized there was no more food. He eyed Geoff's bag, making eating motions and pointing. Geoff caught on quickly. “I don't have any more,” he showed him the almost empty bag, minus a few ores. “More in town, though. Food in town.”
Gavin was suspicious, eyes narrowed, but walked warily closer, making motions for Geoff to lead on. Geoff took a few steps, watching if the boy would follow, and when he was satisfied that he would, he kept walking, checking on Gavin every once in a while.
The sun set and the moon began to rise before the lights of Achievement City came into view. Geoff held out his hand to Gavin, indicating for the boy to hold it. Gavin was perplexed as to why, holding up his own hand before himself and tilting his head. Geoff bit his lip, trying to think of how to explain it, and after about five minutes of miming that it would stop him from being hit with arrows, Gavin finally moved closer. Rather than taking his hand, though, he grabbed onto Geoff's arm, the cloth armor seeming far more safe than the hand. Geoff frowned, but took it as a victory for the day and led him into town.
It was quiet but for the baaing of the sheep and the random chicken clucking, but soon, they were before his own monolithic home. He pressed the button, motioning for Gavin to go inside, but Gavin stubbornly scowled, holding tighter. Geoff sighed. This was going to be difficult to explain.
He was spared the effort, though, when he heard Ray's voice. “Hey-oh!” He called back in greeting, Gavin immediately shrinking behind Geoff one hand very quickly diving into his pouch and pulling out a small sharpened stick.
Geoff put his arm around Gavin, murmuring gently and pushing down Gavin's hand, pointing his the bag the knife came from. Gavin shook his head, too scared to even think of replacing the weapon. By this time, though, Ray had come close enough to see the Creeper pelt, and notched an arrow to the bow, raising it.
Gavin's hackles rose, tensing his back and lowering himself slowly, a low hiss audible. Geoff spun to see what Gavin was so scared about, only to see Ray jerking his head to the side.
“Shhh, just move real slow Geoff, I can get him before he explodes.”
“No!” Geoff answered sharply, making the younger man flinch back involuntarily, the arrow and bow dropped to his side, though he kept it taut. Geoff stepped protectively in front of Gavin. “Put the bow away, Ray, this isn't a Creeper. It's a boy.”
Ray's eyebrows rose doubtfully, but hey, Geoff was the one next to the thing, he could explode if he wanted to. “If you say so, man.” He put the arrow away, holding the bow casually by his side. Geoff, though appeased, was still worried. Ray was the quickest on the draw and the deadliest shot, so the sight of the bow still in Ray's hand wasn't comforting. Nor did Gavin calm down, though he was less ruffled. His fingers held tightly onto the wooden knife, the hissing having subsided entirely, though he was still afraid.
“Alright, what did you find, Geoff?” Ray took a few steps nearer, wanting to see Geoff's haul, but Gavin's loud hiss echoed in the square, making Ray freeze in place. He didn't raise the bow, but looked questioningly to Geoff.
Geoff sighed again. “He's scared, Ray. Wouldn't you be in this situation?”
“Iunno, I've never dressed and acted like a Creeper. Why, actually, is he?” Ray put the bow away, finally, and Gavin relaxed visibly, though he clung to Geoff still.
“I don't know. I just found him in the woods. I thought I was gonna be blown to shit, but then it turned out to be this kid. Luckily for me, I think he ran out of TNT,” Geoff said, moving to lace his arm with Gavin's. This startled the boy, and he went to pull away before he caught sight of Ray again, choosing instead to pull closer.
“Weird.” Ray shook his head. “Alright, want me to get everybody else?”
“No need.” Ryan's voice answered from behind Ray as he emerged from the shadows.
“Fucking dicks, Ryan, could you NOT do that?” Michael snapped as he walked out of his own home, followed by Jack from his own.
“Do what?” Ryan laughed.
“Do the whole freaky sadistic Ryan appears from the fucking shadows maneuver,” Michael snorted. Ryan just shrugged, moving around Geoff to stand with the other three. Gavin made a small whimpering noise, shrinking behind Geoff, peeking out from under Geoff's arm to look at the assembled men. Geoff was glad that he was larger than Gavin, mostly to make him feel safe, but also to actually keep him out of range of weapons.
“Well, first off,” Geoff spoke up, the others silencing themselves and looking to him. “This isn't a Creeper, if you haven't noticed.”
Michael opened his mouth to make a snarky comment, but Jack elbowed him, and the lad stayed silent. Geoff waited to see if he was going to follow through with the intent, but Michael just shook his head.
“Secondly, his name is Gavin, and he's hungry as dicks.” Ray perked up, heading to his house without any prompting and returned with bread, meat, and some apples.
“I didn't know what he'd eat, so I brought out a bunch of stuff,” Ray grinned. “Gotta be nice, be hospitable and shit.”
Geoff turned to look at Gavin, motioning to the food. “Go ahead. You can have any of it.” Gavin's eyes flicked between Ray and Geoff, Geoff pointing to the food and Gavin a few more times before Gavin inched out from Geoff's shadow. Ray didn't move a muscle, not speaking either. He could see how taut Gavin's nerves were, and he sympathized. He had been raised most of his life in a miniscule village before finding Geoff, so he understood the awe the boy had with all the light and buildings of the city. Instead, Ray just offered a gentle smile, offering the food.
Gavin licked his lips nervously as he slowly made his way to Ray, checking back with Geoff a few times before he actually reached Ray. He reached out, hands shaking, as he took the meat. As soon as he realized Ray wasn't going to hurt him, he relaxed a bit and straightened more from the half crouch. Ray smiled more brightly, glad to see the boy warming up even the smallest bit.
“Hello.” Gavin flinched down, clutching the meat to his chest and staring up at Ray with big eyes. His jaw worked as he swallowed the hiss that was threatening to escape, finally answering with a halting, “H—ell—o.”
Ray's grin grew. Behind Gavin, Geoff puffed up, pleased with Ray's casual acceptance. Michael, Ryan, and Jack were talking amongst themselves quietly, looking over to the boy every once in a while. Ray pointed to himself. “Ray!” Pointing to Gavin, he said, “Gavin?”
Gavin listened, his anxiety easing a bit, and he finally straightened to his full height. The Creeper pelt no longer dragged on the ground, masking most of his body. Ray could see the boy properly, and saw one of his own age. It was actually pretty exciting, he wouldn't be the one Geoff fretted over because of his age anymore. Well, there was Michael, but he had kind of pushed the whole Mogar thing, so Geoff had stopped trying to help him beyond the common comrade assistance.
Gavin chewed on the meat, eyeing Ray up and down. “Ray.” Ray's returning smile was infectious, and a small smile graced Gavin's lips. After a few calm moments of companionship, Gavin eased back towards Geoff, though this time, he didn't hide behind him. Geoff smiled too, more gruffly than Ray, but just as warmly.
“I'm sure he's tired, so I think I'm gonna hit the hay. I'll tussle out a bath with him tomorrow. Want to help, Ray? He doesn't seem too afraid of you.” Ray nodded in agreement.
“Well, when I wake up with a slashed throat I'll know who to thank,” Michael muttered a bit too loudly, prompting a frown from Jack and a deeper one from Geoff.
“Shut up, Michael. Just go back to bed.” Michael huffed at Geoff, but made no answer, heading back to his own home. Jack and Ryan did the same, waving their good nights to everyone. Ray was the last, nibbling on an apple himself and waved as Geoff and Gavin went into Geoff's house.
Ray climbed up to sit on his roof, feet dangling over the edge and looking up into the sky. The moon was bright, thankfully, or he might have shot Gavin on sight, missing Geoff's darker colors entirely. He was glad he hadn't, he mused as he laid back on the dirt. The idea of Gavin forced into a back made him laugh. That was going to be one hell of a fight, and goddamn if he was going to miss it the next day.
Eventually, he wandered back into his own home, putting on some meat to cook overnight to pacify Gavin, and finally, he too slept.