long and winding road back to you

These past four years have been hell on Gabriel, especially since he has traveled alone the whole duration of the apocalypse. Most of his belongings were either raided or missing, only managing to snag a few cans of food from his house and a picture of himself and Alex-oh Alex. Even thinking the name sent the scrawny boy into a numb frenzy. There was no one in the world he wanted to find more than his boyfriend, but even he gave up hope years ago. Well, mostly. There was always that voice in the back of his head telling him to look harder; that he would find Alexander and they would travel together. Wishful thinking only brought about false hope, but those false fantasies kept him going. Sure, the world may of been annihilated and broken to the point of no repair, but he could have some hopes, right?

The more he traveled, the more he changed. Gabe wasn't always the way he was; he was a drastically different man man before the world went to shit. A smile as never from his lips, always trying to keep a positive outlook on everything. He would laugh at the littlest things, cracking jokes constantly. Now, he was almost the complete opposite. Smiles were rare and few, eyes haunted with what he has seen and done. Gaz keeps to himself more often than not, voice hollow and void of any emotion. Sure, he is impulsive as hell when scavenging, but he has learned to be tactical when planning raids. Dark bags under once shining emerald hues indicate his lack of sleep, his bony figure suggesting his low food stock. He wouldn't be surprised if his own parents or Alex didn't recognize him- if they were alive.

Today's raid was supposed to go like any other; he'd sneak in, stock his bag full of food and medicine, and sneak out. He'd used the sewers to get around- they were quite efficient and void of any undead. He had gotten into the camp he zoned in on, telling Rex to stay at their little home. The sewers didn't smell so bad anymore since they went unused, so he often set up camp down there. He had a small tent, a sleeping bag, and an oil lamp he managed to salvage from a hardware store. He stocked up on blankets and pillow from when he raided houses, finding dog food to keep his darling German Shepard fed. When the houses in the area became vacant of food and medicine, Gabe knew he'd have to find it elsewhere. That means raiding other people's camps. Lucky for him, there was one nearby. He had never seen the people who were involved in it, but he had heard tales of them and their cruel leader. Those sick or too old were kicked out, leaving only the strongest to stay. Well, it truly was a good idea for the survival of the group, but still messed up. So, he figured stealing from them was less worse than taking from another group. He had used the sewer system to get right under their food supply, managing to get up and actually pack some into his bag. What he wasn't expecting was for three armed men to come in and catch him.

He put up one hell of a fight, managing to punch one of the three right in the nose and stab another in the shoulder. His bag was tossed down into the sewers, to be retrieved later. Several solid punches and kicks had forced Gabriel into submission, hands tightly tied behind his back. He was dragged from the room struggling and cursing up a storm, one man running ahead to warn their leader. The boy, let's call him Ryan, bounded up to Alexander with his nose gushing. "Sir! An intruder was found trying to raid our food and medicine stocks! He stabbed Dylan in the shoulder and got me, but we have him restrained and waiting for you." He growled out, voice nasal-y from pinching his nose closed. The other two had dragged Gabriel over slowly, the malnourished boy digging his feet in as best he could. As soon as he was untied, whoever these assholes were better expect fists to be thrown.

Gabriel wasn't sure what to expect when meeting the leader of this place--if everything he had heard over the past year was true, he should be scared. He just broke into their supply stock, stabbed one guy and broke the nose of the other, and he was still trying to fight his way out of this situation. He was cussing up a storm as he was dragged into the office, thrashing as best he could with the strength he had. The past two years hadn't been kind to him in the slightest--he was much thinner than he used to be, and his temper had shortened to basically zero. He had killed for his food and shelter--something he was not proud of at all. The Gabe that existed before this apocalypse was just as dead as those undead fuckers, and he rarely thought of it anymore. To him, this was the best way he could survive--to cut off any and all emotion in favor of doing what he must to live on. This was now a world of 'kill or be killed', and he would be dammed if he died at the hands or teeth of another.

As the struggling boy was placed down, he was forced onto his knees. His arms were still struggling in their binds, his knees and the balls of his feet keeping him balanced. His head was hanging low, not daring to look up at this leader or the men he had hurt. He wouldn't give the, the satisfaction of seeing the fear in his eyes--they didn't deserve that. Ryan and Dylan dismissed themselves at that point, throwing one last glare at the male on the floor before exiting to get themselves treated. The heavy boots on the floor alerted him to the fact the leader was drawing closer to him, his body tensing as he prepared himself to get hurt. His body still struggled to get free, already formulating an escape plan for once he got out. He needed to get back to Rex--he couldn't leave his dog down there to rot. Sure, the dog would most likely be alright on his own, but he couldn't lose him--he was all he had left of Spencer.

The voice that spoke made him freeze completely, hearing his name making his heart stop. No... this couldn't be. He was hearing things. His eyes slowly trailed up, his light colored eyes finally meeting the cold blue ones he remembered staring so fondly into. Any and all fight left his body in a matter of minutes, his balance failing him as he fell back onto his ass. It was Alexander--he was the leader of this group, but that didn't matter now. Choking on his breath as if it was stolen from him, the small male could only stare bug-eyed up at the other until his vocal cords finally worked. "A-Alex...? Is it...really you?" He breathed out, not believing the words as he spoke him. He was expecting to blink a few times and this vision of his love would be replaced with someone else, but he did not disappear no matter how hard he blinked. He didn't even notice the tears streaming down his face--all he could do was stare up at the one he once called his boyfriend and cry in relief. He was okay--that was all that mattered right now. Their relationship may have changed over the years, or maybe it didn't--Gabe never found anyone else. He was so in love with Spencer that it physically broke him to survive without him. Did Alex still love him? Would he still die for his attempts to steal? Would this change anything? His head was swirling with questions, but the only thing the brunette could do right now was cry silently.

Was he dreaming? God, if he was, he never wanted to wake up. He could only stare bug-eyed up at the other, half in disbelief. Gabe's tearful eyes watched cautiously as the other kneeled down in front of him, half expecting to get beaten. Sure, this was his boyfriend (ex? he wasn't sure what they were now), but this was also the leader of the infamous group that killed the elderly and sick--or, at least that is what the rumors said. As Alex's hand came to gently cup his cheek, the dirtied brunette nuzzled the hand with a soft smile. His head turned slightly, his lips pressing a soft kiss to the other's palm. He still loved Alex dearly, and he hoped that little gesture proved that. Had he known it was his boyfriend running this group, he would of just walked in the front gates. Man, Rex was going to--oh shit, Rex. He had to go back into the sewers to retrieve his dog--the one Alexander gave him just before the apocalypse kicked in. That could happen soon, but for right now, all he wanted was to be in his lover's arms.

The confirmation made Gabriel smile all the wider, his tears pouring out like a broken faucet. He felt like he was floating on cloud nine--he finally found the man he loved after two years of hell. He had convinced himself that Alex had died about a year ago, steeling his emotions to become a cold blooded, selfish killer who cared only for himself and his dog. Now finding himself back in the company of Alex was both wonderful and terrifying--what if Alex hates who he has become? Well, his boyfriend didn't exactly change for the better either--rumors all start for a reason. As soon as the smaller male's hands were untied, he lunged at the other. His arms wrapped around his neck as he was pulled into the hug, his head burying into Alex's shoulder. His body was trembling--both from excitement and from the pervious fight he was in. His adrenaline was still pumping in his system, body still prepared to fight even if he knew he was safe. Alex would never hurt him--even if the situation was like this one.

Having someone else dote over him was an odd feeling, especially after two years of caring only for himself. As the other explained how he looked everywhere for him, a soft smile could be seen through his tears. "I-I know sweetheart--I did too. I looked everywhere possible and when I found nothing I...I thought the worst. But you're here...really here....oh my god Alex I missed you so fucking much." He said, voice cracking from his crying. A short burst of laughter resonated within his chest as the other asked if he was okay, his shoulders relaxing. "Baby, you saw the condition of you men--they barely got to touch me. You should be worried about them, not me." He stated, a slight teasing tone in his voice. His hands hardly stayed in one place, tracing down and up the other's chest to rest on his shoulders. The mentioning of him eating did sound good, but what would his followers think? He did just try to steal from them, after all. As Alex spoke of missing him, Gabriel raised a finger and pressed it to his lips with a soft 'shh' sound. "I know--I missed you too. I just...right now I need you--I feel like i'm dreaming and if you don't kiss me right now I might just lose my mind." He murmured, pressing his thin body as close as he could to the man he loved.