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It felt like his heart was gonna beat out of his chest, which practically sounded impossible as an undead. Zombie’s blood pumps right into his face, thoughts running a mile an hour. Clutching his chest right above his poor heart, as he pressed his back right up against the wall in an attempt to ground himself and pull away from the sight in front of him.
His mouth felt dry, ironic. He’s a zombie, he salivates, why did it feel so painful to swallow nothing.
“Sh-Shiirrroo— P-please stay baaackk..” The poor undead pleaded. Desperate to look at anything but the man crawling towards him.
"Hey, we can use the canned stuff for breakfast today, I got good bonus notes so we're good for like... a few days?" Shiro rummages through his pack, checking their stashes and counting the notes he'd save up for the both of them.
It was a weird new way for ensuring survival, Zombie had read about working, and jobs, and stuff... so this is like the exact apocalyptic translation of why people need jobs, right?
He's probably had one before. Not that he could remember, but if he had to go to work early in the morning instead of lazing around and doing nothing as a dead guy? Well it's a tough choice but he'd rather not be a slave to work.
Like Shiro's being..
His attention shifts to Shiro's thinking face, mumbling to himself and.. calculating? Eh.
"I think I'd have to get more notes the next day after tomorrow though..." The four-eyed man glances up to Zombie, with a small apologetic frown.
This instinctively causes Zombie to click his tongue and slouch on the wall. He was getting tired of this newfound routine.
"Ssure.. whatever. Do what you want. I'll be here anyways."
Then nothing after that.
Zombie was paying a little too much attention to the ant on the ground. Too much to not notice Shiro's blank face shifting to an annoyed glare.
Shiro had this determined look on his face, Zombie thanked his lucky stars every time he got a closer peep at Shiro’s features. But.. for some reason he was on his fours, creeping up slowly to his companion, with a scowl?
Zombie could feel his warm steady breathing right on his own face. This man was way too close. If he hadn’t died already, Shiro would have absolutely been the death of him.
“You’ve been way too snarky towards me lately.” Shiro huffed, getting as close as possible to Zombie, looking him straight in the eyes. “I'm just making sure we both get fed.. Did I do something?”
Normally, Shiro wouldn’t resort to something so confronting, but being ignored and thrown sarcastic comments his way, doesn’t feel that nice. So of course, he got fed up with his companion’s antics. He needed to know what’s wrong with this guy.
For a walking talking corpse, labeled to be a predator to humans, Zombie sure didn’t feel like a part of that group. He felt like a prey being driven into a corner. Not knowing whether to be scared or happy to be paid attention to.
The blush from his face was enough to keep himself warm this winter season, he silently joked and prayed the dim space helped hide his flustered face from Shiro.
Zombie held up his claws in surrender and to hopefully put a barrier between the two., “S-sorry.. I know you need to.. Pay..? for food now.. I just feel cooped up I guess.. You haven’t taken me out in weeks.. Walking around felt nicer than sitting ducks.” The brunette did his best not to worry Shiro too much, looking down to the side and on their makeshift door. It was getting kinda old though, feeling like he’s trapped.
Shiro pulled back and sat up straight, his very brow furrowing as he thought to himself. Sighing, he sat next to Zombie instead, patting his friend’s shoulder as he did.
“I know. And I do wanna say I’m sorry, I feel bad about leaving you here all of the time..” He admits, raising his glasses just enough to try and pinch his nose-bridge.
“Ever since that close call- I’ve gotten way too paranoid about you getting discovered and we end up.. dead.” Shiro leaned his head back onto the wall, staring into the sad excuse of a ceiling they had, contemplating whether their decision to sneak into the city was even worth it.
But they were together. That mattered, right?
No, what kind of a friend is he? Keeping his only friend locked away in a shabby old wall in an alleyway. This small room would’ve been a jackpot for himself but knowing Zombie.. he doesn’t deserve to be holed up here.
“… You know, you don’t have to stay here.. I can think of a plan to get you out of the city, granted it might take a while but it shouldn’t be imp—“ A clawed hand abruptly shuts his mouth, he feels an intense glare burning a hole right through the side of his head.
“.. Who said anything about leavingg?” Zombie grunts in response, it was a dumb thought. He didn't exactly hate it here, he hated not being with Shiro. The city felt exciting, bustling, a new place to explore with Shiro. But not being able to do so.
“I just.. need to let my frrustrations out and.. be able to do something while you’re gone..” He pulls his hand from Shiro’s lips… Soft, warm.. and—
Anyways, he curls up within himself, hugging his knees. He should calm down. They’re just talking. He shouldn’t be this worked up.
He buries his face in his arms, letting the silence take over. It wasn’t unwelcome, but it held a soft tension in the air.
“Taken you out for walks.. What are you, a dog?”
Zombie hears a cheeky snicker from the man beside him, lifting his head to meet his friend’s gaze with a smile.
“Exxcuse you- from how nice and patient I’ve been waiting for you to come back home.. I rrreckon I’d deserve to be called a good puppy and a treat at this point.” He grinned, proudly showing off his sharp teeth. This successfully pulls a light laugh from Shiro.
“You could’ve used less of your sassy attitude but-“ Shiro turns to him and reaches over.
“That's true, you’ve been a good boy.” A soft hand plops on top of Zombie’s unkempt hair, realizing that Shiro was slowly petting him.
SHIRO?? PETTING HIM???HEAVENS WHAT DID HE DO TO DESERVE THIS LUXURY—
Before his thoughts could run amok, he notices Shiro’s unwavering but gentle, tender look. Towards him. Him.
His mouth was agape, taking this once in a lifetime chance to study this man’s face this close. So he sat there silent, wide eyed.
Enjoying this brief respite. Being petted was.. nice. Shiro lightly ruffles and tangles his bandaged hand in his messy locks.
Unfortunately, Shiro stops and his hand pulls away. Zombie couldn’t really find the courage to protest.
He must’ve looked pathetic and sad as he heard Shiro letting out a lighthearted huff. Sitting back down on the wall and leaning on Zombie for support.
“Lucky for you, I’m not going out today.”
“Wwhy not?—“
A flash of light disturbs his peripherals, followed by a thundering boom. Causing him to shrink back further to Shiro’s warmth.
“That’s why. I also wanna stay for a few more days to rest. I'll start again next week.” Shiro chuckled, setting his glasses away. “Let’s get some sleep, I have a plan for us later.”
Subconsciously, the human drapes a blanket over the both of them, essentially snuggling closer for warmth.
…
Maybe being sassy could give him the attention he’s been starving for.