"Well, I think that just about does it. So, will you join us?" Ion asked after he finished explaining everything. First, Don looked toward April, who gave him an unsure look. Then, he returned his glance toward Ion.
"Let me ask you something. Why not return? Why not just go back? While that world may be full of trash, at least you are not fighting for survival. So why do you choose to stay here?" Don inquired.
Ion looked toward Jessica, who shrugged nonchalantly, then towards Natalie, who seemed to shake her head. Afterward, he returned his glance toward Don. "Why would I want to? You said yourself that the world is full of trash. Society is controlled by the media. Everyone is pretty much offended by everything. The people of that world have grown too weak for their own skins. They need a safe space just to survive. None of them have the grit needed to even live alone. That weakness makes it impossible for them to fight against the system. So they let themselves be controlled like sheep. Those in power remain in power and shape society as they see fit. Meanwhile, normal people are left to rot." Ion expressed as he leaned back against the sofa.
"Besides, I highly doubt that much has changed since I was brought here. I am sure that in those three years everything has only become worse. Companies still abuse their employees. Discrimination is still a thing, and sexism hasn't even become a topic. Before coming here, genders were still hating on each other and complaining about one another. No one decided to just come together as humans should, and in the end, corruption only continued to spread. So, why would we want to return?" Jessica pitched in.
"Well... you have a point, but..." April was trying to get a few words in.
"But what? Are you going to tell me that there are good-natured people in that world? Sure, I'll agree with you. Hell, I'll even admit that there are. However, what can they do? I am sure you've seen it yourself. Those with good in their hearts are brought down by society for being someone with an opinion. For being someone with a realistic perception of what is going on. They are frowned upon because they speak the ugly truth while everyone chooses to believe in the beautiful lie." Jessica responded to April, who shunned away.
"Don't get me wrong. I think your cool, and I don't despise you are anything, but I see no reason to go back. If you want to, then so be it; however, have you thought about what your boyfriend wants?" Jessica inquired as she shifted the spotlight onto Don. April looked towards Don, who sighed heavily.
"I can tell from all of those scars and how you hold yourself that you have been through some shit. You know how to use blades and guns like some kind of trained professional; for someone who appears to be in their early twenties, that seems a bit odd." Ion commented. "So tell me, do you truly want to return that world?" Ion asked.
Don was silent in thought. What Ion and Jessica were saying was true. He had seen the darkness of society firsthand. How manipulative those in power could be. How disgusting those in various positions of power were and how corrupt everything was. To him, April was the only source of light he had found. To him, April was the one who illuminated the darkness. So, it was thanks to her that he gave this thought.
"If April stays, then I'll stay. If she goes, then I'll go. It's as simple as that. You are right. Nothing has changed, and I believe things will only worsen as time goes on; however, I want to be there to protect April. I want to be beside her and with her. So whatever her decision is, is where I will follow." Don stated with firm conviction and resolve.
April's eyes lit up with hearts since Don made her swoon. Ion and Jessica stared at Don to test his resolve. When they found it unbreakable, they just released a sigh of exhaustion. "Fair enough. We aren't like the World Government. If people want to leave, they can. However, while you are here, why not help us? Someone of your skill and expertise would be a great addition to our forces." Ion stated.
"Are you asking for me alone or for everyone here?" Don inquired.
A smirk curved across Ion's lips. "I'll let you decide. As I said, I won't force you." Don released a heavy breath. "Give me time to think on that one." He added.
"Take all the time you need." Ion responded.
"I do want to ask about something else in the meantime. How long has that outpost been there? The one in Austin. It looks far too advanced for me to believe it was built in a few years. Besides, I highly doubt any of you built it." Don asked.
Jessica and Ion looked at one another while Natalie decided to speak up. "You are right. It wasn't built recently. From what I could gather while I was there. It was built nearly six years ago. It is not the only one either. Apparently, there are outposts like the one built all over Texas."
"Yup. But don't get it twisted. Normal people didn't build the outpost. From what I was told, there are multiple outposts like that one all over the world. The Leader of the Rosario group even went so far as to say that the World Government was behind their creation. I can easily see it. If they want people to survive and whatnot. I mean, didn't you find it funny that the people in uniform were armed and knew how to use their weapons?" Ion commented.
"I did, but how do you have that information?" Don asked since it seemed like Ion was there.
"Because we were following you." Jessica answered, which caused Don to sigh. "Of course you were..." He muttered.
"Well, that aside, didn't you ever question why things like canned foods and bottled water were regularly in stock as well as other forms of medication?" Ion brought up something that he figured Don was curious about, and he was right. Don's brow rose with a nod.
"Yeah. The World Government is the one resupplying everything. Mostly bottled water and canned goods. I'd say they do it about once a month. On the other hand, narcotics don't get restocked for at least three months." Ion stated, which caused both Don and April to look surprised.
"Yeah, we caught them in the act. They drive in, stock everything up, then leave as if nothing happened. But, interestingly enough, the bugs and undead leave them alone. Don't know why or how either." Jessica added with a shrug.
"But why?" Don asked.
Ion and Jessica shrugged and shook their heads. Even Natalie didn't have an answer. "Like I said, I think it has something to do with wanting people to survive. I can guess that the World Government wants people to survive so they can recruit them, but as for why is beyond me." Ion gave his thoughts.
"Yeah, who knows what corrupted individuals want." Jessica added.
Natalie sighed lightly. "It's almost like something is going on in the background... Honestly, I can't wait to be free of this hell." She grumbled.
Ion and Jessica looked toward her. "We'll miss you when that time comes." Jessica stated sadly. "Yup. You've been great company." Ion added. Natalie smiled lightly, "You know you two can come back with me, right?" She responded.
Both of them shook their heads. "Nah. We'll stay here." Jessica replied with a chuckle.
"But what if you two want to have a child?" April bluntly question.
Everyone looked in her direction with a dumbfounded expressions. "What? I am serious. Couples usually have kids. I know I want some with Don." April threw out there, which caused everyone to look at Don with smug expressions. "Yeah, yeah. Maybe in the future." Don replied, which caused April to blush softly and nod cutely since she did not expect Don to say that.
Ion smirked, and Natalie just sighed with a soft smile; meanwhile, Jessica chuckled lightly, "If the time comes, we'll have some. I am sure we can raise a kid here. They'll be the best damn fighter to ever be known." Jessica remarked firmly.
Ion agreed, "Yeah. I wonder what kind of power they'll have...". Natalie was surprised at how nonchalant Ion was being about having a kid. April seemed just as surprised as well.
"But... isn't that unsafe?" April inquired.
"Unsafe? When is anything truly safe? Sure we could go back to earth and raise a kid there, but how can you say nothing bad would happen? Besides, I would rather my child grow up to be strong. Strong enough to fight against your boyfriend." Jessica grinned fearlessly, and Don sighed heavily with exhaustion. "Yeah, whatever."
"Ahem!" Someone cleared their throat to get everyone's attention. They looked to see it was John's mother. "Dinner will be ready shortly. I made enough for everyone. So wash up and come to the table."
As if on queue, the front door opened, and Josh, John, and Jake entered. "Right on time." John's mother spoke with a smile that caused them to raise their brows curiously.
"Dinner will be ready shortly. Go wash up and get settled at the table." She told them, and they smiled warmly and nodded gleefully. Everyone dispersed from the living room except for Ion, Jessica, and Natalie. "Are you coming?" April turned to look back at them.
"Wait, us as well?" Ion inquired, and April nodded happily. "Of course. You are Natalie's friend, after all. So you are welcomed here. Come on already." April encouraged them, and they got up after a moment of looking at one another. Everyone went to wash up and then sat at the dining table. It was filled all around with a large sum of people. John's mother brought out the glorious dinner: steak, mashed potatoes, and corn alongside some green beans.
"Whoa... are you serious? Where did you even get all of this!?" Ion exclaimed as he looked at the food in front of him. "Wow... I haven't seen steak in forever." Jessica pitched in, which caused everyone to chuckle lightly in some form or another.
"I grow all the vegetables in my garden. I am just glad everything was replicated perfectly. As for the steak, the frozen meat in our freezer was still good." John's mother answered with a warm smile. Everyone began digging in and striking up conversations with one another.
Everyone was having a wonderful time, and the atmosphere couldn't have been more family-like than it already was. When everything was said and done, Ion and Jessica were asked if they wanted to shower, and they gleefully accepted. After them was Rebecca, then Catalina and Sofia, then Susan.
John's mother went after her, and after her were the guys who went in one at a time. The last two to enter the shower were Don and April. However, they stood together and alone in the bathroom. Don was rubbing the back of his neck with his back turned from April, and April swayed nervously back and forth. Apparently, the talk about having children and whatnot seemed to put them in an awkward state since they were alone.
"Umm.... are you going to use the blindfold and towel again..." April murmured cutely.
"If you want me to." Don responded bluntly.
"Uh... well, you don't have to... I don't mind after all. Besides, you've already seen me... and well... I don't mind seeing you." April responded timidly with a bashful expression.
"Well, alright... I'll go ahead and get in first, then." Don began undressing. April turned around to see him undress and swiftly turned away. She could feel her heart beating rapidly in her chest.
'Nothing is going to happen. We are just going to bathe and go to sleep. Yeah... Just that.' April eased her beating heart as best she could. She took a few deep breaths, and by the time she had prepared herself and turned around, Don was already in the shower. She began undressing and made her way into the shower. Her cheeks tinged a bright red as he entered the shower.
"E-Excuse me..." April murmured.
Don stepped back to let her in and make room. She looked towards Don and smiled softly, though her gaze wondered, and when she saw the stallion, he was her cheeks flushed a deep shade. "Oh... my... Umm..." April hastily shifted her glances all around.
Don could see her bashful expression and chuckle softly since he found her cute. He stepped forward to gently take her chin in his fingers so he could lift her gaze into his own. Then, leaning down, he would place a soft kiss upon her lips which she repaid in kind after a moment of surprise. Once the kiss broke, Don stepped back. "There. Now you can relax and shower." Don stated. Although it was ironic, April's heart was beating faster than before.
"Y-Yeah, right... I thought for a second you were gonna..." April fumbled and fidgeted.
Don's brow rose. "What? Take you?" He bluntly threw out there, which caused her to cast her gaze downward from embarrassment. "Yeah..." April replied softly.
"Do you want me to?" Don asked bluntly, and April shifted her gaze upward. She figured Don was teasing her, but she felt her heart skip beats when she saw how serious he was. Her tongue caught in her mouth as she searched her mind for a response.
"Y-Yeah..." A response came from her without her knowing.
"After the shower then." Don replied before beginning to clean himself up with soap and hair conditioner that was around. April was a bit star-struck at what just went down.
'Was this really going to happen?' April thought internally.
'Are we really going to do it tonight?' April murmured internally.
Naughty thoughts plagued her mind, but when Don called her name and told her to bathe, she returned to reality. "Oh... um... yeah." April responded, still slightly starstruck.
The shower came to an end, and April exited with Don.
Instead of getting dressed, she was led toward the bed. Don locked the door while April stood at the edge of the bed, unsure of what to do. Don approached her afterward and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'll ask again, are you sure you want to do this?" Don ensured she was comfortable with what was about to happen, and April nodded softly.
"Yeah." She spoke gently.
Don nodded in return and slowly pushed her onto the bed with a gentle kiss. While this wasn't Don's first time bedding a woman, this would be April's first time bedding a man. They made sure to use protection. After all, April tossed many rubbers into her bag at the pharmacy, and while Don was gentle at first, things got feisty later. It seemed they would go at it several times throughout the night before they fell asleep in each other's embrace.