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He didn't know his life would turn out like this.
He is used to Akuma attacks, but not the one he's in right now.
He certainly wasn't prepared to find out his boyfriend somehow became a part of the infected.
Somehow, with the reasoning that his feelings for Marc are still there, and had never attacked him.
When Nathaniel finally finds Marc a year after the apocalypse started, he has sworn never to let Marc go ever again.
Marc had tried many times to convince him to let him go back to Dupont so he could help the remaining survivors but stated they could try to still see each other.
But Nathaniel still didn't want that and wouldn't let him go, writing down claims that Marc could get hurt, become infected like him, or die. Going down that discussion path and Marc finds out that Nathaniel never forgave himself and mentally beat himself up every day for losing him.
With many options not working and with Nathaniel in that condition, it seems like there are no other options left. With time given to think about it, Marc had made his choice.
"Okay, I'll stay with you."
He knows that Nathaniel is stuck with an expressionless look, but not his actions. Hearing that, he jumped up and hugged Marc, with some strands of his hair wrapping around them. Marc is going to have to learn how to get used to this and the new situation.
I just hope that they'll be fine without me.
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In the beginning, it was confusing, but he was also learning.
Marc learned that after becoming infected, Nathaniel became a recluse. He never felt the urge to attack unless he was in danger or to protect others. Marc did scold him a bit for attacking Kim since he thought Marc was in danger at that time.
For the recluse part, Nathaniel stayed in one of the homes that became abandoned by its previous residents when the apocalypse started. He never leaves it except at night when he has to find food, clothing, and other survival resources. Marc was confused at that part and asked why would he need to do that when the infected don't really need those to survive, and since Nathaniel can't talk due to reasons he refuses to tell, he wrote down the answer in Marc's writing journal.
What he wrote was: Finding you. Staying with me.
Marc was able to make that message out as Nathaniel wants him to stay with him, so he goes out at night when there are no survivors and fewer infected around to gather enough supplies for Marc to live on. He also finds out that Nathaniel had been looking for him for months. Marc could remember rarely leaving Dupont except if he was forced to get supplies and Nathaniel doesn't go near there to avoid getting killed by the remaining survivors.
So Marc in that store with Kim was his chance.
When Marc asked how he sleeps, Nathaniel wrote down explaining that the infected don't sleep, with the reasoning why they don't see them at night just because they don't like the cold. They lose their body temperature when they turn, which explains why Nathaniel is always wearing that black trenchcoat and gloves. They could sleep if they want to but Nathaniel doesn't see a reason for it. Now with the explanation, the dark circles under his eyes made sense and had Marc worried for him.
It was hard for Marc to sleep for the first few weeks there, due to the lack of sedatives and sleeping at Dupont for a year. Nathaniel offered him that mattress and he doesn't mind laying down on the floor next to him (He's also very long and tall so of course it won't work!). There were times that Marc would wake up from nightmares with tears on his face, trying not to cry. A habit he developed while at Dupont. With Nathaniel laying next to him but not sleeping, reached out to him and held him close.
Marc didn't want to talk about those nightmares, Nathaniel knew that and lets him cry it out.
But yeah, with occasional nightmares still going on, it wasn't bad for him.
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This night is just like some other nights he had.
Recovering from another nightmare, Nathaniel holds him close until he calms down. He usually tries to fall back asleep after that, but this time he couldn't.
Nathaniel notices it and wanted to know why. Marc knew that.
"You know that back in Dupont, when I wouldn't stop screaming and crying and how they kept dosing me with sedatives until I fell asleep?" Marc asks and Nathaniel nodded. "Well, I got used to those sedatives, and now that I don't have them anymore, it's hard to sleep without them."
He stopped for a bit. "I know you want to help, but we'll just have to wait until it wears off."
He laid back down with Nathaniel watching him. Trying to go back to sleep, he didn't see Nathaniel looking at the curtain-covered window, giving him an idea. He feels Nathaniel picking him up bridal-style and getting up, Marc still covered with the blanket. He got confused when Nathaniel walked out of the house with him. It was dark out and no street lights were on so Marc couldn't really tell where they were going. He just hears the sounds of Nathaniel walking and jumping around and some movements from his hair.
After a while of walking and jumping, the movements stopped. Marc looks up to him with confusion, wanting to know where they are. It's still dark but he can still see the silhouette of Nathaniel's head looking up. Looking up too, what he sees is what he considered beautiful.
A starry night sky.
It's been a long time since he had last seen one. Before the apocalypse, when he couldn't sleep, he would often go out to his balcony and look at the sky. It was always quiet and gave him peace.
With memories slowly starting to come back, he then remembers that he had mentioned to Nathaniel a few times that he often stays up late looking at the stars when he's stressed and couldn't sleep.
He still remembered that?
He grabs the sleeve of the trenchcoat and tugs it, meaning that he wants to be put down. Nathaniel did that with Marc still holding on to his sleeve, and now wrapping one of his arms around it, pulling himself closer to him.
"I didn't know you still remember that when I told you I couldn't sleep. Thank you."
Nathaniel didn't talk or move as usual, but instead, had strands of hair moving and laying themselves down on Marc's shoulder. He didn't know many affectionate actions as a human and he still doesn't know some now.
But that's okay, Marc will teach him.