20. Common trope

Jack exited the toilet running directly into Hunter.

"Morning" he said before following with " They have disinfectant here already, so we can keep ours."

Hunter nodded "Hug." He opened his arms while observing Jack with hawk-like eyes. If there was anything strange... he didn't know what to do.

Jack chuckled. "Don't you see something wrong with two straight adult men hugging in front of a toilet?" but he obliged and let himself be encircled in Hunter's arms, while patting the other's back soothingly.

Hunter felt so relieved that his leg trembled a bit. Since Jack slept for the first time, his body temperature had soared, like an oven. Hunter himself was normally a person with a body heat on the higher side, so the hug was not warm but hot. Jack wanted to withdraw but Hunter mumbled "Cold".

"I can literally feel you sweating, little chick." Jack was ten years younger than the other but neither he nor Hunter found anything peculiar with this nickname.

"Beautiful little chick." Hunter corrected.

"Yes, yes, a clingy and beautiful and sweaty little chick. Now let go. We go to the hospital back for looting".

Hunter released him with a grin. "Okay, let's go." Then he reminded "Let Lilly finally check your head. Jack turned around and gave him an Ok sign.

When they came back the hysterical woman from yesterday sat motionlessly on the couch, staring ahead with unfocused eyes. Jack wondered if it was a woman-thing that her lost youth was harder to accept than what happened here, but he chose to stay silent. He couldn't relate in any way, cause knowing nothing, for him, was just not gaining anything. But the years she lost was her losing everything. He decided to keep his chauvinistic pity to himself.

They found Lilly in her room, she had just finished helping Momo clean himself with wet wipes. She was a bit flustered seeing Hunter, but did her best to not let it be seen.

Momo greeted them a bit shyly, "Hello Uncle, hello Brother."

"Who is your uncle?" Hunter asked exasperated.

"Don't scare the child." Jack chuckled and explained. "He is your Brother too, so let's get along, let me show you something." He took his wallet and showed a coin, then made a few motions and the coin disappeared before their eyes.

"Magic!" Momo was beyond excited.

"First jokes and now magic, you are a Jack of all trades." Hunter laughed.

"Ahahaha, yeah my name is well placed on me."

Lilly felt this exchange calming her down, and the little fear of looking at Hunter was lost now completely.

"Let's see your head." She turned to the child "Momo, go to the kitchen for something to eat." After he left she undid the bandage, then she began cleaning the wound, Hunter standing behind her watching Jack's head with utmost concentration. But the more she cleaned the more stunned they two became.

"How is this possible?" Lilly asked.

"No wound?" Jack had that premonition already, and when he touched the two wounds where the pole had been through, there really was no wound anymore, just soft new skin.

Hunter was really worried. He knew that Jack's condition was a good thing, or he would be dead already multiple times, but what to do about Lilly. He threw over a sharp look, but she had already opened her mouth. "Don't tell anyone about this, we bandage your head again, and we all won't talk about it okay?"

Hunter let a breath loose he was unknowingly holding.

"Have you seen someone using powers? Isn't that the common trope after an apocalypse, we all get some abilities? And then go kill some zombies, or something?"

Lilly smiled, "No nothing like this, till now."

Hunter thought about it "That would be really cool..." he turned back looking strict. " But don't go around telling superstitions."

"Yes sir, I'm sorry for disturbing the age of science."

He was bandaged back again, and after saying goodbye to Lilly they went back to the living room where an unknown girl was sitting on the couch, looking downcast.

"They should be coming back yesterday, but they didn't"

Lenny was there too "We can look for them before going to the hospital." He was apparently informed about the trip to the hospital, and because it concerned his sister, he was naturally coming too. Sean squatted in a corner, spotting a new black eye.