Archive of Our Own ^beta

Georgie was sat cross legged on the floor, his pajamas two sizes too big. They’d picked them up at this big department store that was still completely loaded with stuff, despite being months into the infection. He had a thin blanket draped over his shoulders, and he was rambling on and on. Player didn’t have the heart to stop him. It was refreshing to see in such desperate times.

“She’s just so pretty, you know what I mean?”
“Well, I can’t really comment on that, Georgie.”
“But that sounds weird, doesn’t it? Doesn’t that mean I think Zuzy’s pretty too? Is that wrong?”
“It’s not wrong.” they reassure with a laugh.
“And, Zee’s so sweet. I spent weeks and weeks learning sign language so she didn’t feel alone.”

Player remembered that. He had fallen asleep with that ASL textbook on top of him a lot. But her face when he had signed the “happy birthday” song flawlessly was worth it. Georgie groans, leaning back against his bed. But he was grinning regardless.

“You’re going to make someone a very good boyfriend one day, Georgie.” His face lights up.
“You seriously think so?”

Hell, unless the kid went through puberty and completely changed, he was going to do fine. This level of maturity at ten honestly surprised Player. Or maybe Georgie just had to grow up faster.

“Absolutely,” they say, smiling at him. “You’re going to make someone very happy.”
“Did you ever have someone who made you happy?” he asks, pulling his knees to his chest. Player hesitates.

It was such an innocent, simple question.

They’d dated on occasion, but usually they were too busy with work to care for romance. For some reason, they were basically designated therapist and matchmaker in the safe place, though. Player didn’t really know how that worked. But they didn’t want to lie to Georgie. That kid had been lied to enough. Because there had been someone. A while ago.

“No. Well, not really. Maybe. A long time ago.”

Player attempts to steer the conversation away from their past romantic endeavours, but Georgie was persistent.

“What was her name? Or his name? I don’t know who you’re in to, but don’t worry! I don’t care either way.”
“I guess I’m interested in both.” they say with a shrug. Georgie’s eyes widen.
“Is that.. like.. allowed?”
“I sure hope so.” Player says, laughing.
“Well, tell me about them! I want to know!”

Player sighs. They haven’t told anyone about this, and they’re hesitant to do it. But Georgie’s different. He’s a ten year old boy, for starters, who’s in a hopeless romantic phase. Maybe it won’t hurt.

“Georgie, it’s past your bedtime.” they say. That’s stupid. When you’re in the apocalypse, rules like bedtimes go completely out the window. But they’ve been trying to build a normal routine again, which starts with sleep.
“So, tell it like a bedtime story.”

Player pauses, watching Georgie crawl into bed, pulling the blanket up to his chin. They know he won’t sleep until he knows. So they sigh, and start talking.

“Well once upon a time, I was twenty-two.”
“Back in the olden days?” Georgie grins, and Player reluctantly matches his smile.
“Ah yes, five years ago.”

They’re a little nervous, but why should they be, really?

“It was my first day as a detective. And I was so nervous, I barely slept the night before. So I was getting coffee in the break room, when the machine broke. I thought I was screwed.”
“You broke the machine?” Georgie says with a laugh.
“I thought I did. I completely panicked, until Doggy walked in. He saw me sweating and reluctantly admitted that he had actually broke it, just decided to pretend he didn’t. But he felt bad that it was my first day.”

Player glances over at Georgie, who’s eyes are already drooping. But he’s determined to stay awake, so they keep talking. It’s almost therapeutic to tell someone, even if that someone is drifting in and out of consciousness.

“After that, we were constantly paired up for stuff. I would solve cases and he would arrest them. I think I.. admired him. He was the whole reason I got that promotion to being a real officer. I don’t know, maybe it sounds silly.” Player didn’t mean for it all to come out. They’ve just been holding it in for too long.

“And he always admired my morals. I remember we made an arrest once, and he told me that.. we do things because we have to, not because we want to. I never forgot that.”

Georgie nods slowly.

“Did you love him?” he asks quietly.
“I think so.” Player admits, fidgeting with their hands in their lap. “I never got the chance to tell him.”
“Maybe you will one day. When all this is over.” Georgie says. His eyes can barely focus on Player.
“Go to sleep, Georgie.” they say softly.
“But, the bedtime story.”
“I’ll finish it whilst you fall asleep.”

He shuts his eyes, and Player thinks about stopping. Forgetting all of it. But that seems impossible.

“I remember being in the forest together, at the start of the infection. I was looking for you, Georgie. And one night, he disappeared. Next I saw, he was infected. I still don’t know how. It’s.. one of the only cases I can’t solve.”

This was true. Player had always been great at solving cases, connecting dots nobody else thought to connect. Doggy admired this in them. Yet for the first time, this one stumped them. An empty vial, Doggy turning infected, and, perhaps most intriguing, traces of the infection being found in Player’s body. A lot of it. Enough to turn them. But they were still here. Walking around, talking to Georgie. Everytime they tried to figure it out, they hit a dead end. There were no leads. Maybe this was just an unsolved case.

Player looks over at Georgie again, who’s sleeping soundly. Must have been a good bedtime story.