Chapter 2: A Shy Incubus and the Growing Base
Alex's eyes darted to Cassian as they walked back to the base, feeling the tension in the air. The incubus was quiet, his eyes darting nervously from side to side, like a rabbit in the presence of a predator. Alex couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him. It was clear that Cassian had been through something intense, and his fear seemed almost ingrained, as if it had become part of him.
Despite the incubus's frailty and obvious exhaustion, Alex couldn't help but feel an odd protectiveness stir within him. The apocalypse had done its worst to everyone, but Cassian, with his delicate features and strange glow, seemed to be a casualty of it in ways Alex couldn't comprehend.
"Don't worry," Alex reassured him as they entered the base. "You're safe here."
Cassian barely looked up, his face tense, but he nodded slowly. He was clearly too scared to ask questions, but Alex didn't mind. He didn't expect the incubus to trust him right away.
The entrance to the base was in far better shape than the outside, and it still had a few working systems left. Not that they would provide much protection yet—Alex was still in the early stages of his base construction. But it was enough to keep them from being immediately vulnerable to attacks.
"Alright, let's get you settled," Alex said, guiding Cassian to a cot that he had set up in one of the smaller rooms. The base was large, but it had been stripped of almost everything valuable. Most of the tech and equipment had been scavenged long before Alex found it. The place was a mess, but he was determined to turn it into something worthwhile.
Cassian hesitated before sitting down, his eyes scanning the room nervously. His back was rigid as though he expected someone—or something—to jump out at him. Alex could sense the fear in him and decided to give him some space for now.
"I'll go get you something to eat," Alex offered, standing up from the cot. "You look like you could use a good meal. Just relax for a bit."
The incubus nodded, but Alex noticed how tightly his hands gripped the edge of the cot. The guy was clearly on edge, and Alex wasn't sure what had happened to him before they met. For all Alex knew, Cassian had been through hell.
As Alex made his way to the small kitchen area—where he had already begun rationing his food—he thought about how to move forward. He had a lot of work ahead of him, building this base into something that could withstand the mutants, raiders, and who knew what else. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that if Cassian wanted to stay, he could be useful. After all, Alex had already seen how fragile he was physically. He might not be able to help with the heavy lifting or the dangerous tasks, but maybe there were other things he could do.
"Alright," Alex muttered to himself as he rifled through his supplies, "food first, then we'll figure out what Cassian's role is."
He returned with a small tray of food, finding Cassian still sitting quietly in the same spot. The incubus looked up when Alex entered, his eyes wide and full of that same fearful apprehension. Alex couldn't blame him. Being in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by strangers (and who could say what kind of survivors were out there?), would make anyone tense.
"Here," Alex said, setting the tray down on a small table beside the cot. "It's not much, but it should help. I have some water too."
Cassian didn't immediately reach for the food, his eyes still darting from the tray to Alex as though unsure whether it was a trap. He seemed to be in some sort of mental battle with himself, a mixture of hunger and hesitation.
"Is it... safe?" Cassian finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Alex raised an eyebrow at the question. "Of course it's safe. You think I'd go out of my way to give you poisoned food or something? Come on, I'm just trying to help."
Cassian hesitated for a few more moments before finally, slowly, picking up the utensils and poking at the food on the tray. His movements were tentative, like a nervous animal unsure whether it could trust its surroundings. Alex could practically see the internal struggle in the incubus. How long had it been since he'd felt safe enough to eat in peace?
Taking a deep breath, Alex sat down across from him. "You don't have to be scared, you know. I'm not like those people out there. I'm not gonna hurt you."
Cassian didn't look up, his eyes focused solely on the food, his hands trembling slightly as he brought a bite to his lips. It wasn't until after the first bite that Cassian's guard seemed to drop just a little bit. His posture softened ever so slightly, though his expression was still full of wariness.
"Thank you..." he murmured, his voice soft but filled with gratitude.
Alex smiled, feeling a small sense of accomplishment. Maybe this wasn't going to be easy, but it felt good to help someone. Especially someone who had been so clearly broken by the harshness of the world.
"Don't mention it," Alex said. "Just get some rest, okay? We have a lot of work ahead of us."
As Cassian ate, Alex couldn't help but start planning his next steps. The base needed fortifications. More energy. Better defenses. And if he could get his hands on the right materials, he'd start upgrading the technology. The system had shown him that he had the potential to build a whole technological haven—if he was patient and resourceful enough.
In the back of his mind, Alex wondered what Cassian's role would be in all of this. The incubus was still fragile, clearly. But his ability to survive the apocalypse, despite the odds, meant something. It gave Alex the hope that they might be able to make it through together.
"I'll get this place up and running," Alex muttered under his breath. "And when I do, we'll be ready for whatever comes next."