Chapter Text
AJ and Marion weren't always close. Sure, they lived at the settlement and saw each other often but it was Marion's constant, near parental scolding everytime AJ got hurt that led them to grow closer with each visit to the clinic.
As of late, Marion's stern scoldings turned gentler, as if they were scared that she would one day stop telling him to not get hurt.
It scared her.
Marion rarely looked scared but she didn't like the idea of AJ not coming back to the settlement.
So, when AJ kept returning to the clinic, Marion felt relieved. Marion hoped that the routine of her scolding AJ for getting hurt on an expedition or whatever he did while she patched him up wouldn't end.
As for AJ, he had gotten used to Marion's motherly scolding.
It had become custom for him to return to the settlement and head straight to the clinic to get patched up. Each time, he'd be strangely proud every time he got less and less scratches from anything he fought.
That was what made Marion upset.
What if, one day, he got an injury she couldn't patch up?
Those kinds of thoughts haunted her brain late at night.
Marion didnt like those thoughts.
So, as long as AJ kept coming back to the clinic, she would be okay.
Marion wasn't used to being scared. She didn't like how it felt.
It was like thorns piercing into her heart. Pulling them out was her relief.
So,
Marion would just take it easy, while trying not to worry about AJ, who would refuse to listen to her.
"Just stay at the settlement." She finally spoke up, wrapping his arm in some bandages, a stern frown on her face.
AJ didn't bother listening, shrugging her words off as more of her usual scolding.
She didn't know how to get it into his head that she was worried he'd die out there.
As reluctant as she was to admit it, she had, yet again, gotten attached.
The frown on Marion's face vanished and she sent AJ on his way.
That very next morning, perhaps it was shock or something else that was on AJ's face.
Marion had decided to tag along with him for his morning expedition.
It was relatively quiet. Too quiet with just the two of them but then again, Marion was usually quiet.
Even her footsteps were quiet.
Why did Marion decide to go? She barely understood the reason herself. She just felt like she should.
Maybe it was the lack of sleep that took control. It should be fine.
Marion hung back a few steps, not too close nor too far.
The light wind pushed against their backs, making their steps a little bit quicker as the force pushed them forward.
A deafening silence overtook the desert as a cave crept up in the near distance. Well, it seemed that they were headed that way?
Like before, AJ took the lead with Marion clutching a first aid kit in her hands as it lightly pressed against the fabric of her clothes, slightly rocking while they walked.
An eerie sense of dread filled the dark cavern.
Yet, AJ kept walking forward. It took a while but Marion's eyes did end up adjusting to the darkness of the cave.
Sounds that disturbed Marion filled her ears. AJ didn't seem to react so she thought that, perhaps, it was normal?
She's never left the settlement unless it was to the market, and even then she never went without a few other people.
Perhaps Marion was being selfish.
Her worries took the best of her and now her life is at risk... It only took a second but somehow, she lost track of AJ.
Marion's mouth opened but fear overcame her. What if she just ended up leading danger to her or AJ.?
Marion wandered, keeping her mouth shut and held her breath, wandering aimlessly around the cave.
As for AJ, he had barely noticed, just trying to get out through the other side of the cave
About ten or so minutes later, light enveloped his feet. There it is. As AJ walked into the light, he paused and looked around.
"Mari?" AJ questioned, noticing that he was alone all of a sudden... How long had she been missing?
AJ dived back into the darkness. He'll worry about the exit later. Finding Marion was more important now. He couldn't leave her here, after all.
"Mari?" AJ called through the darkness. No response.
He called out to her again, much deeper in the dark caves. Then a third time.
"Marion?!" He shouted and a hand placed itself on its shoulder. He jumped and almost punched whoever it was when the faint shade of blue made itself apparent even in the darkness.
"Sorry." She apologized.
AJ felt relieved. "Don't vanish on me like that." And now she was being scolded.
She just warily smiled.
The blue-haired woman and AJ had finally made their way out of the cave when a scream rang out from inside.