zombies 1

i’ve been thinking a lot about the zombie au lately!!! about cu and archer being police officers that had no idea they would be so far in over their heads — maybe cu has been on the force a few years longer, but the two of them work well as partners. affectionately calling archer “kid” just because he knows it drives him up the wall.

maybe there were news reports. weird claims coming up on their scanner. maybe their squad car swerved and crashed because someone suddenly appeared in the road and they blacked out. still disoriented and trying to figure out just what is going on, they’re surrounded. people draw in closer and cu gets bitten just as he realizes exactly what is wrong with these civilians. archer shoots the apparent zombie down, but the damage has already been done. there’s a building up ahead and archer pulls cu in its direction, saying they can ask someone inside for help. cu laughs dryly; nervously — he wants to say that might not be a good idea, but he’d rather follow his partner’s sense of optimism in a situation like this.

they start to scan the inside of the building, noting it looks like a hospital, but on further inspection it’s actually a research lab. with cu’s shoulder bleeding sluggishly and throbbing, archer is determined to find some bandages and antiseptic to get him cleaned up. they have to pick off more zombies, whose intent is obviously to harm and kill. archer presses forward almost mechanically while cu is distracted by their clothing... their name tags... they look like employees. with a glance to archer, cu knows that he’s noticed it too. it’s obvious in the way his brow is pinched and his jaw is clenched. something horrific has happened here.

they enter a room with a buzzing, flickering light and notice its state of disarray. its filled wall to wall with cages of varying size, only staggered by examination tables and a sanitizing station. it’s empty. or at least, it seemed that way. the soft sound of a panicked whimper echoes against metal and the two of them quickly draw their guns. suddenly, a voice from the other side of the room cries out. “don’t hurt him!”

at the very bottom of the stacks of cages, there’s a boy. he looks like a teenager. he’s shoved himself into the furthest corner, just out of the light. eyes blown wide with panic, he pleads with them. “please. don’t hurt him. he’s not sick, i promise.”

cu lowers his gun, but archer’s remains up as he turns around, only to be greeted by another terrified looking boy whose hands are clenched over his mouth, tears spilling over his fingers. archer lowers his gun. they’re both locked up. who would do this... ? when archer looks up again, cu is already rummaging around the room in search of keys; a bolt cutter — anything at all. after trying what feels like a hundred keys on a key ring, both of them are set free. they stand wobbly on atrophied muscles and the smaller one cries openly into the other’s chest. arms quickly embrace him, whispering into his ear. it’s the kind of strong affection that tells cu and archer they’ve survived a sort of severe trauma together. cu swears he can hear “i’m so glad i can finally hold you” and he can’t help but wonder if they’ve actually gotten to touch one another before this moment.

they turn to cu and archer, still visibly intimidated yet their eyes are wet with relief. they silently thank them.

“why were you locked up like that?”

testing. “they” bought them and countless other orphans for experimental testing. when the outbreak happened, they were still locked up. it’s been days without food or water and already they look dizzy from standing. cu grabs his canteen and unscrews the top.

“just drink, don’t worry about emptying it.”

they do. both of them desperately drinking it down until there was nothing left. they gasp breathlessly, even without words sounding grateful. archer is going through the cabinets, collecting medical supplies to lay out on the examination table. the taller boy notices the other beginning to wobble and he gently helps him sit down on the floor before moving to a small refrigerator. he starts digging, filling his arms with small, white boxes. he sits down beside his friend and begins to twist open a spout. “here, c’mon.”

he immediately recognizes it as something familiar and begins drinking, making the same desperate sounds again. the taller boy sets a couple of the boxes aside and gestures to cu. “you two can have them. they’re nutrients.” it’s what they’ve been “fed” this whole time. they don’t remember what real food tastes like. in fact, it’d probably make them sick now.

the two of them sit huddled together on the floor, drinking down the nutrient boxes and waiting for the strength to stand up again. watching the taller boy, cu swears he can see severe skin discoloration peeking out from the neck of his shirt as he moves. he thinks to ask him about it, but archer calls for cu to come to the examination table to be treated.

neither of them have any idea of what they can do in a place that apparently locks up other humans for unethical testing, but they’re already committed to helping these kids.