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Gordon bent over to sit down, his joints cracked and the metal of the HEV suit squeaked. He felt stiff.
He felt Barney sit beside him, the man let out a huff, groaning as he relaxed his body.
"Uh..." Barney spoke, "Takin a breather, Doc?" Gordon heard the smile in Barney's voice.
Gordon lifted his hands, cracking his knuckles and stretching his tendons. "I wouldn't exactly call this, 'taking a breather'. More like, 'collecting my thoughts after killing, I don't know...30 soldiers?" He sighed and looked forward, thinking of how to put into words what he currently felt. "I don't know how I'm doing this at this point. It's all instinct. Self-preservation."
Barney reached a hand out, rubbing Gordon's shoulder. "I'm just glad you're here, Gord. Dunno what I'd do if I lost you again. Those 20 years were...I don't know. Different, I guess. Without you everything seemed a 'lil bleaker." He craned his neck, looking up at the desolate sky. "What happened to ya, anyway? Feel like we haven't really gotten the chance to just sit down and talk, you 'n me. I really owe ya that beer, ay?" He chuckled to himself quietly.
Gordon didn't really know what to say. He didn't really know what happened, himself. The last thing he remembers was seeing that damn suited man on that damn tram, walking through that portal, and then being placed 20 years in the future in god knows where with god knows who. Seeing Barney, the only familiar face in a crowd of random people, was such a relief, Gordon thought he'd cry right then and there. He looked down at his feet, kicking a few times. "I don't know." Was all he managed to say. Barney didn't question him further, he knew it was a sensitive topic.
"I miss it, you know?" Barney sighed, scooting his hand closer to Gordon's. "I miss Black Mesa. I miss it a lot. Miss us. Miss how life used to be. I mean, hell, anything beats this. I can't remember the last time I slept in a comfortable bed, in peace and quiet. The last time I ate a whole meal. Hell, the last time I got to brush my damn teeth. Feel like I'm always on the run, Gord. Man, I bet it's a lot worse for you, havin' all those people to please." Barney turned his head to look at Gordon, eyes heavy. "Wish we could run away, you 'n me. When this is all over, wanna just be around ya."
"I miss it, too, Barney. Wish I could just go back to being myself. All I do is fight. I'm worried about those people, too. They're looking to me for something I can't deliver." At least not alone. Is what he wanted to add, but he couldn't put this weight on someone else, not when he felt the weight himself.
"I know you can do it Gordon, we're all here to help you." Barney's hand ran up Gordon's back, resting at the back of his head, softly petting the short hair there. "Heh," Barney softly chuckled. "I remember your 'lil ponytail. That thing was cute. Liked to play with it while ya did yer work."
"I miss doing work. Never thought I'd say that." Gordon turned to look at him. "I liked it when you played with my hair. Felt nice, knowing you were there." Gordon looked back down, to the ground, where he watched zombies slowly wander. "Sometimes I feel special, being able to have known you before this whole mess. Sure, you were still a guard, but you were so...I don't know...different. Time...and trauma, changed you...changed everyone."
"Yeah." Barney looked down as well, watching the zombies Gordon observed. "I feel kinda special bein able to have known you before the whole, 'One Free Man' business. I got to know nerdy science Gordon, haha."
"The real Gordon." Gordon sighed. "This persona isn't me. Wish it could be simpler."
"We all do. Everything is so complicated now, I get it." Barney took Gordon's hand in his own. "I understand."