Chapter Text
The showers in the bunker are far from ideal. The water is tinged brown, the smell is atrocious, and various insects are the permanent residents. Ines can't believe that out of all the animals on Earth, cockroaches, rats and spiders were the ones that had to survive the apocalypse.
The first night that they had stayed at the bunker, she'd thought she was truly desensitized to just about everything; in the space of a mere few days, she'd come across countless dead bodies, seen people being killed in front of her, and had come close to joining the deceased on far too many occasions. Hell- she's literally living through the end of the world. It felt like nothing could get a reaction from her.
She was numb.
Yet, when a spider had crawled over her left foot whilst she was showering, she screamed. Her panic was so loud, that she only had seconds to wrap a towel around herself before Laura whipped back the curtain in alarm. That was a few days ago, and she wasn't looking forward to encountering the insects again. But the feeling of being clean whilst trapped in a filthy bunker is too good to miss, so Ines tries to forget about her past experience as she waits in-line alongside a couple of her fellow passengers.
"Sylvie, why did you shave your head?" She asks casually, looking over at the woman to her left. Sylvie had come to breakfast the previous morning with a lot less hair than usual, but no-one had really felt the need to question her choice of hairstyle straight away. Everyone's priorities were elsewhere.
The older woman shrugs as she begins to reply.
"I did it so that I won't have to worry about my hair whilst I'm in here. Saves the hastle."
Laura, who's also waiting for the next vacant shower stall, lets out a puff of air from her nose in amusement. "That makes sense, the three-in-one shower gel here is awful."
Her and Sylvie laugh lightly, whilst Ines scrunches up her nose at the mention of the substance. It was green, slimy, and smelt like bleach- far from the luxuries she was used to.
"I don't get what's three-in-one about it anyway," Laura continues. "Shampoo and body-wash I can understand, but conditioner is out of the question! My hair has never been so dry."
Ines nods in agreement, fiddling with the ends of her own hair.
"Maybe it can be also used as toothpaste." Sylvie says, grinning slightly despite her typical matter-of-fact tone.
"I'll pass thanks." Laura laughs, pulling a face of disgust shared by the younger woman.
They stand in content silence for a little while, trying not to focus too closely on their unsanitary surroundings, before one of the soldiers finally exits a stall. Ines watches him saunter towards them in just a towel, smirking at the women as he passes. Anxiety rises in her stomach as she feels his eyes bore into her chest and her behind, craning his head to get a better look as he walks out the bathroom. It makes her feel worthless. Weak. Threatened.
"Maybe I should the same..."
The two older women jump, having previously been lost in their own thoughts. They look at Ines in confusion, their brows furrowed.
"Maybe if I shave my head, the men in here would stop looking at me."
Sylvie's mouth drops open, but she can't find the right words to say immediately.
"You don't need to do that." She eventually speaks, but she's not sure if it'll be any help.
"I know, but-"
"Listen." Laura commands, clearly fighting back a sudden wave of anger.
Although Ines didn't always appreciate it, the older woman was fiercely committed to protecting her. She had immediately recognised the girl as vulnerable, and the way Terenzio looked at her made Laura sick to her stomach. Here in the bunker, it was only going to get worst- for all three of the women- but especially Ines.
"I'll protect you from those perverts. If any of them dare try something, tell me. Okay?" She places a firm yet protective pair of hands on the younger woman's shoulders.
"I will. Thanks."
Her voice is full with genuine gratitude.
Satisfied by Ines's reply, Laura promptly grabs a towel from the rack and enters the vacant cubicle. The squeaking of a rusted handle and the steady patter of water soon follows. The pair shuffle on their feet awkwardly for a minute, not knowing how to carry on the conversation. Ines passes time by studying the paintwork on the opposite wall and notices that it's mostly all peeled away. Maybe her role within this bunker could be to be the decorator- this place certainly needs one.
"So... are you saying my shaved head is ugly?" Sylvie finally pipes up, raising her eyebrows playfully.
Ines gasps, her hand darting up to cover her mouth at the realisation of what she had implied earlier. The idea of herself with a shaved head is almost painful, but Sylvie?
"No! No, not at all."
Sylvie grins slightly at the younger woman's flustered response.
"It's okay, I was joking."
Ines relaxes slightly at this, and lets her lips form a soft smile. But she still has a point to prove. "No I swear, it suits you so much. You look really nice."
They make eye contact for a second before the older woman starts looking back and forth awkwardly. Ines struggles to tell under the dingy, artificial lighting, but she's fairly certain she saw a flush of crimson creep onto Sylvie's cheeks as she gives her a small, cautious smile.
"Do you really think so?"
"Yeah." Ines shrugs. "Why would I lie?"
Before Sylvie has an opportunity to respond, a piercing scream interrupts them. They both whip their heads around to face the stall Laura is showering in.
"There's a cockroach!" She yells from inside, her voice straining with panic. "It landed on my shoulder!" It's evident to the duo that she's still trying to escape the insect, due the way the curtain is rustling. They shoot eachother amused looks, their faces taught as they try not to laugh.
"Hello?!"
"I told you insects are fucking scary!" Ines yells in response, causing her and Sylvie to finally lose control of their giggles.
"It's not funny!" Laura shouts, but she eventually finds humour in the situation, and chuckles to herself as the water continues to splash down. It's ridiculous what they're still scared of considering they've gone through so much.
The trio continues to laugh heartily. For a moment, it feels like they aren't in a dire, helpless situation, and that all is good in the world. That everything is just normal- with the worst things that they could come across being a few bugs. Ines sighs as her giggles reduce and reminds herself to savour this moment.