Fandom The Day The World Changed { The Last of Us 1x1 with icedthemoon }

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Commnder | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

It was both nice and disappointing that these reports were average. Nice in that they didn’t have anything too crazy happen. Disappointing in that it was all the same. He wished that they could have a different kind of the same though. He too wrote his pretty quickly, though he took a little longer than Josh. When he finished, he put his with the rest as well. “That’s one less thing we have to worry about.” He shook out his shoulders and arms. He didn’t know why he was so tense. Okay, that wasn’t true. Anyone could guess. He just didn’t know why it had to be now.

Theo wanted to run too, though his legs weren’t as good as Kai’s. As fast as he wanted to go, he was still slower going up the escalator. These steps were a little taller than the ones he was used to, and he had to work harder to get up them. Hayden was smiling from ear to ear every time that Kai looked back at him. “You’re so fast!” he would call up and “you’re almost to the very top!” When they got closer, he yelled up to him, “But not as fast as me!” He sped up so that he was right behind Kai the entire time. Just before the end, Hayden scooped him up and flew him through the air as he ran them onto the second floor! He spun them around, using gravity to aid him in making it feel like Kai was flying. He ended by plopping him on his shoulders and standing as tall as he could. “How good was that for a race up?”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Once Josh saw that Soren’s was done, he put them all together and clipped them. “I’m goin to drop this off to the General. You coming with me? Then we can take a walk. Get some of that tension out?” Josh suggested, seeing Soren shake out his shoulders and arms. “Well, we should make sure we have nice clothes. But I’m not sure where we could find things like that.” Josh added as he moved toward the door, holding the report in his hand.

Jacob moved with Theo, helping him if he needed it. He then saw Hayden and Kai. He scooped Theo up and looked at him. “Let’s go get them!” He said as he ran them up the stairs. Kaiden would laugh at each thing Hayden said, and he’d squeal and giggle when he heard Hayden speed up. As they got near the top, he gasped and laughed as he felt Hayden scoop him up. His arms flailed in the air as he laughed and giggled at the flying. When he was plopped on Hayden’s shoulders, he clapped his hands. “Good! Good!” He cried out as he looked around the mall. It was so big to him. He didn’t even know that something this big existed.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Commnder | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Soren of course was going with him. What else was he going to do? Hang out here? Nah. He needed to be with his buddy. He strode in step with Josh as they moved through the hall towards the General to drop off the reports. “I know Jacob was thinking about looking for suits soon. Maybe the boys will find us something amazing while they’re out. Or…” He was running out of ideas. “Oh! Maybe one of the men has extras for us?”

Hayden threw his hands up to grab Kai’s for both bracing and stability but also for fun. “You’re driving. Take me where you want to go.” He moved his hands, going the corresponding directions to remind him how to drive. They had done this plenty of times before. Theo in Jacob’s arms giggled as they ran up the escalator. “Up up up!” He yelled as he marveled at the expansive place. This was the most magical place he had ever seen. ​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh moved out of the room and headed for the stairs down the hall. The General had a huge office upstairs that he used. He looked at Soren and thought about that for a minute. “Well. We couod ask the men but we barely have extras of our own. Though, there is a suit I’ve looked at several times when the mall was still open. It’s a dark blue, almost navy, and it was set with a white shirt. I wonder if it’s still there.” He said as he opened the stairwell door for Soren.

Kaiden giggled as he held Hayden’s hands and nodded. “Straight!” He said, his legs swinging as he drove them. Jacob heard Theo’s excited yell and he ran up, making it to the top of the escalator. He shifted Theo so he was sitting in Jacob’s shoulders like Kai. This wasn’t don’t as much, they’d only done it a coupe times. He took Theo’s hands and smiled. “You’re in charge now, where are we going? After Kai?”​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Commnder | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

“Hmm, would we have time to go check to see if it’s still there? Or would we have to do that tomorrow?” With a nod of thanks, Soren moved into the stairwell. He did not quickly move up there like he might have on another day. He was just now realizing that he was exhausted. Truly exhausted with the wedding planning, working, juggling about a million things as a commander, and actual just lack of sleep. He wished that he could have been back home more to do a bunch of things with Jacob. He felt like he really left a lot of things for Jacob to get together, and that was unfair. He owed him a sincere apology and a thank you for taking a lot of this on. However, he also secured the place and got the okay with all the superiors. They were down the with morale plan as well. Soren looked up, realizing they made it to the office without him really noticing. Oh well that happened.

Hayden ran straight, weaving a little but not too much since Kai was the one in charge here. He only corrected for moving out of the way of any obstacles. “I don’t see any fancy suits yet, what about you?” It was somewhere down here. Though the place was mostly the same, it didn’t feel right which messed with his memory or sense of direction. From behind, Theo yelled, “Ai! Ai! After Kai!” He squealed in delight as he finally got the k sound. It was harder for him to consistently get it.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh listened to Soren as they walked up the stairs. He was realizing as he walked that he was thinking about taking some time. Maybe, maybe. “Well. We have one more day to get things taken care of so that the day of your wedding goes smoothly. What do you say we go check it out after giving this report?” Josh asked, a little bit of his old self slipped through the cracks. Slipped through that hardened soldier facade. As they got to the General’s office. He knocked on the door and once granted the ok to enter, opened the door and held it for Soren before stepping in himself.

Kai giggled and laughed as Hayden ran, his eyes looking around at the big mall. “Suit!” He cried. Up ahead to the left was one of the few high end suit shops in the mall. Meanwhile Jacob laughed, running and he heard Theo. “Good job buddy! Kai!” He said as he headed after the other two with a smile on his face.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Commnder | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Inside the office there were several people. There was of course the General at the desk who looked like he was trying to either solve all the world's problems or ate something particularly sour. There was also a woman who was often around. Soren thought she might be a glorified secretary. Another commander was clearly giving his report. “Why don’t we just leave these here and then go? I think he’s got his hands full right now.” He grinned and whispered, “Besides, finding suits sounds way better than another patrol.”

Hayden was glad that Kai pointed out that place. It was one of the places he liked to go. There was another store that had some suits as well off in another direction on the other side of the mall. He hoped they’d be able to find someone something cute here. “Hold on tight. It’s going to be a bumpy ride!” He ran faster, zig zagging his line and moving up and down to simulate some movement. He was not sure where the rest was, but he didn’t want to move them off course. Theo was a giggling mess as they ran through the top floor of the mall. “Faster faster!” He yelled with his tiny voice. Somehow, it was as shrill as someone much older. “Logan, faster!” He called sort of turning his head to see behind him. ​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh looked around at the people and bit the inside of his cheek and nodded. He set the report on the desk, backed up quickly and looked at Soren. "I agree, let's get out of here." Josh said, backing up as he stepped out of the General's office with Soren, shutting the door. "Alright, to the mall?" Josh asked, a grin like he used to have slipping onto his face. "You're a bad influence by the way, because we should be doing another patrol." Josh added as he turned to head back to the stairs.

Kai laughed and giggled, holding Hayden's hands as tight as he possibly could. "Go go go!" He cried out as he felt the movement and the zig zagging, his eyes sparkling with happiness as he took in the mall. Jacob heard Theo's yell and he grinned, laughing as he ran, while Logan, who'd been jogging slowly behind them, heard Theo. "Alright bud! I'm coming." He called, running now after Jacob and Theo with a smile on his face.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Commnder | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Soren stayed quiet as Josh slipped over the with the reports and the left. Then he grinned, concealing a chuckle. “Sure, I may be a bad influence, but I’m getting married in a very short amount of time, we are the finest commanders these people have, and you do so much extra work for them that you’re bound to be promoted tomorrow.” He shrugged as they walked through this stadium, intent on leaving it. “They can deal with me stealing you away for a good rest of the day. If you’re worried about the other patrol, we can catch someone else to make sure it happens. Maybe Justin. He’s pretty capable and eager.”

Hayden ran into the shop, creating a bumpy ride as he lowered himself down until he all but fell onto his butt, picking up Kai, and sweeping him forward and into his lap. He made skidding noises the entire time. “But he’s a world famous flying ace and Kai sticks the landing! No problem.” He hugged the little one from behind and then let him go. “Okay, don’t leave where we can see each other. Stick close to Theo.” He turned to look at the rest. Theo was loudly laughing and screaming nonsensical words and sounds that might have been like the ones Hayden made for flying or driving. “Wait wait, Kai! Coming! Jay and Logan and ‘Eo!”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh looked at Soren, seeing that grin and shaking his head as they walked through the stadium, heading down the stairs. He listened to him and hummed for a moment. "Well, I doubt I'd get promoted tomorrow, and I know that the other commanders will make sure the rest of the patrols get done. Like you said, we're the finest they have. They'll be fine with us taking the afternoon." He replied, opening the door to the outside, holding it for Soren before stepping out of the stadium. "To the mall?"

Kai squealed and laughed as he felt the 'bumpy' ride and himself lowered to the ground. He felt Hayden pick him up and set him into his lap, and he loved the hug but was eager to explore the shop when he was let go. "Okay!" He said, turning to the door hearing Theo. Jacob was running, and he slid into the shop, slowing down by dropping to his knees. He picked Theo up off his shoulders and set him down. "Now, like Hayden said, you two stay within eyesight of us. Got it?" Jacob said as Logan came to a stop inside the shop as well. Kai ran to Theo the moment he was on the ground and took his hand. "Theo! Explore!" He said, pulling on the three year old so they could go searching.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Commnder | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Finest they have. They sure were. Soren was proud of that. Occasionally, he would joke with the others as they would ask how he and Josh were such a good team. ‘Make your own officer,’ he would answer. “Eh, maybe not tomorrow but next week? They love you.” And it was true. All of those fancy, high ranking people loved Josh. He was the best of the best when it came to doing exactly what needed to be done. Soren not so much, though when he was with Josh, they made quite the pair. He stepped out of the stadium and started walking. “Absolutely. This is our well earned reward for being great.”

Exploding with Kai was exactly what Theo wanted to do, so he was running with him the moment he could. Hayden sighed entirely aware that they were going to disappear sooner rather than later. Thankfully, they had three of them to watch the little ones today. This place was also the most secure big place like this to run, so it wasn’t so bad. Theo wanted to touch literally every one of these clothes still on racks even though they were told not to touch anything. Hayden was honestly impressed by how much was still there. It really had been left alone for the most part since FEDRA took it.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh never really understood why everyone of the high ranking liked him. He just did what needed to be done and like everything else he did in life, put a hundred and ten percent into it. “I still don’t know why they do.” He said softly, shrugging his shoulders. As they stepped outside and headed for the mall, he smiled and chuckled, nodding his head. He had never felt more like himself then he did right now. “Perfect.” He said with a nod as they ventured towards the civilian side. As they walked, he noticed that many of the civilians were giving them dirty looks which made him sigh a little.

Kai took off with Theo, and Logan decided to follow them. He missed kids, that was the biggest thing since the world changed. Having been a pediatric nurse, he loved kids. He’d watch the ones in the apartment building every so often but he did miss his job. Kai was touching the clothing as Jacob moved to search with Hayden. “Oh, what do you think of this one?” He asked, it was a black suit with some white embroidery on the cuffs.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Commnder | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

“Why wouldn’t they?” Soren asked as they moved through the civilian part of the zone. He tried to give everyone looking a friendly smile, though he knew that they were not likely to be returned. Not many were happy here. How could they ever be compared to how the world used to be? “You’re the perfect officer. I’d promote you. In fact, I’d give you some sort of medal to commend you for all that extra work you don’t have to do.” One man scoffed at them as they walked by. The closer they got to the mall, the fewer people were around.

“Big!” Theo cried as he touched whatever was hanging low enough for him to reach. There was a lot. Everything on tables was also just at the right hat for him to mess with. He grabbed a pair of shoes and lifted them. He clapped the soles together and giggled. He turned to Logan and did it again. Hayden moved with Jacob, smiling that Logan had the two little ones. “That one is very refined. Or maybe one like this one?” Near it was another also black suit with a subtle pinstripe of white though from afar it would look more like a variegated fabric instead. He grinned. “Or you could go wild and get one of those.” He pointed to another wall where there were suits of bright colors like gold and green.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh shrugged as he looked at Soren, and he tried to smile at some of the people they passed by. A young woman glared even after they passed by and he just tried to let it roll off his back. He had to. It was easier. "Is that so?" He asked Soren as they headed towards the mall. He could see the structure up ahead and how few people were around. He got to the doors and pulled it open to let Soren in. "If I remember right, the shop I was looking at is up on the top floor, I just can't remember which side."

Logan chuckled as he looked at Theo. "Yes, those are big. They are great for clapping." He said as Kai giggled and ran forward, grabbing onto a pair of suit pants and pulled. The model that it was on fell down and clattered loudly on the ground. "Kai, are you okay?" Logan asked, turning to the other little one who sniffled and backed up before giggling and nodding. Jacob looked at the suit that Hayden pointed out before he looked at the colored ones. His eyes were drawn to a forest green one. Dark green embroidered on the cuffs and lapel. "I want this one." He said, before he heard his brother call out that everything was good when the mannequin fell.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Commnder | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Soren nodded to Josh and stepped inside. “Then let’s head up to the top floor first and then see from there.” He did not mind taking some time to wander. He actually liked just hanging out with Josh. He wished they had more of a chance to do so. He walked towards the stairs. “So I’ve never been to this mall. I lived here a couple of years and never really went a lot of places. Kinda feel like I should have. Show me what I missed?”

Theo jumped. The fall was loud and a little scary. When he looked over at it and figured out that it wasn’t too bad, he also giggled. He liked that. He ran to the next mannequin and pulled at the pants until it fell down too. He giggled practically uncontrollably. Hayden whipped around to them. “Theo! Maybe we shouldn’t do that?” He shook his head and turned to Jacob and the suit. “That is a good looking outfit.” He touched the sleeves. “Such a nice green color.”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh looked around and nodded as he looked at Soren. "Sounds good. It's not a huge mall but it's got a lot of memories." Josh said as they headed inside. He made his way towards the stairs as he looked at Soren. "Well, there is lot that isn't here anymore. The food court was huge, and had such a great selection. Hayden and I.." His words trailed off as memories hit him. Coming here after school, on their days off. "It was so much better when it was active." He finished, walking up the stairs.

Kaiden giggled when Theo did it too although he looked at Hayden when he whipped around to them. "Theo! Bad!" He said, giggling harder as he tagged him. "Tag!" He squealed and took off into the store further. Logan chuckled as he followed the two toddlers while Jacob grabbed the suit off the rack. "I bet they still have those suit bags out back. We can tuck the suits into them so they don't get dirty." Jacob said as he looked around. "And the smaller ones might be further in too."​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Commnder | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Soren smiled. Josh clearly had good memories of the place. He wished that he could have seen it when it was nicer. Active. “What did you guys do?” he prompted, hoping that Josh would be able to talk about it. He wanted the good to still be there. Come out a little. Even if it was hard. They made it up the stairs and he looked both directions. “Hmm.”

It could not have been too bad if Hayden merely asked for me not to do it and Kai was giggling. Theo was considering pulling a third down when he was tagged. He squealed loudly before running through the pants and after Kai. He could have run around, but it was way more fun to go underneath. Hayden ran a hand down one suit and then another. A nice, deep burgundy. A gray with flecks of gold. One was black with red stitching. But none of them was the one he remembered. Of course, they weren’t very far in yet. “You’re probably right.” He slowly stepped through the rows and racks. Remembering.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh heard the prompt as they walked up the stairs. "We mostly walked around, ate way too much food in the food court. As we got older, we'd check out the suits, and there was a party store on the first floor that had beautiful decorations. I remember sometimes we'd come here, and there was a suit that Hayden wanted for our prom but they couldn't afford it at the time." Josh said as they made it to the top. "Well, the mall is shaped in a circle so if we head straight, we can loop around until we find it." Josh suggested as a squeal hit his ears faintly. "Did.. you hear that?"

Kai heard Theo behind him and he ducked between racks and under them. He slid around a rack and into a door near the back before taking off again. Logan kept an eye on them, moving behind them as Jacob set the suit over his shoulder. He watched Hayden look at them all as they walked towards the back of the shop. "You okay?" Jacob asked, watching how slowly Hayden was moving.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Commnder | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

They could wander for the rest of the day if that made Josh feel a little better. A party store on the first floor actually sounded great. They might be able to take some things for the wedding or at least the after party. Or perhaps the after after party when they all ended up back in their apartments, whichever one they came to first, and celebrated as their small family. He snapped his head forward and listened. Narrowed his eyes. “that was not the sound of infected,” he said though there was no reason for infected to be there. “Someone else wanted to travel the mall too?” He moved forward, both because they were heading that way anyway and because he was curious.

Theo managed to accidentally give himself a shortcut as he ran through the suits. He barreled under a table that had shoes and ties on it, and when he rolled out from under it, there was Kai! What good fortune. He loudly squealed again, some sort of war cry as he tagged Kai’s arm and went screeching to the side. He was hoping that the fabrics would provide him some cover as he ran under them. He loved the feeling of the pants thwacking his face. Hayden touched one, a darker blue with a similar blue vest beneath the jacket. It reminded him of the one that Josh used to like. That darker blue. He frowned as he looked up at Jacob. He took in a deep breath. “Yeah, I’m okay.” His hand dropped and he walked further in. The one he was looking for was a lighter blue, only an aquamarine or turquoise. It reminded him of the ocean. It had a gray waistcoat instead of a matching blue. A light gray with an even lighter stitching. Like sharks. He just wished he could find it. He walked further into the store.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh noticed Soren's head snap forward, and he narrowed his eyes as well, looking forward. He nodded, hearing him. "Yeah, apparently someone else did." He agreed, curiosity sparking at his being. He walked towards the source of the sound, looking ahead. "I do have to wonder who wanted to come to the mall." Josh admitted as they drew closer to the store. Josh wasn't sure who it was, but as they came to the front of the store.

Kaiden giggled and screeched as he was tagged by Theo, and he ran after him. He saw his best friend hide under some fabric and he giggled again. Kai followed him, and even as he tripped on a pair of shoes that had been knocked off, he rolled into Theo. "Tag!" He squealed and took off back towards the front of the store. Logan was standing near the back, listening to the kids as he found a nice suit, deep red and then he found a few small suits near that. Oh. Suits for the little ones. "Hayden, Jacob! I've got some little suits here." Logan called as he looked back, before he realized the kids disappeared. Jacob heard Hayden's words as he saw him looking at a dark blue suit before he looked at Logan. "Well, at least the little ones could have suits." He said when he heard Logan call for the kids. Kai had run to the front of the store to get away from Theo and ran right into a pair of legs. Kai stumbled back and looked up. "Josh! Soren!" He giggled, distracted enough that he could probably get tagged again easily.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Commnder | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Theo screamed as he was tagged and somersaulted forward until he could gain enough control to turn around and run after him. Soren and Josh moved towards the store, and it was no until they got to it that he realized where they were going. “Someone else had the same idea as us. I wonder…” Hayden only barely could bring himself to think about anything else. Suits for the little ones. “Good. They should have something beaut-“ Josh? He froze at Kai’s giggle. He spun around to see what exactly the little one was yelling, because it couldn’t possibly mean that they were there. Maybe this was a new game that the two of them were playing? They could be their real life heroes instead of playing tag for once. Theo barreled straight into Kai yelling, “Tag!” Seeing Josh and Soren was not about to make him lose the game. He giggled, staring at them for a moment, and then ran back inside to hide again. Soren just laughed. “Well isn’t that the best thing that possibly could have happened today? If these cute little ones are here, then that means…” He stepped away from Josh. He normally would have stayed by him, but he really wanted to find Jacob. Hayden had just stepped into view, where he could see both Kaiden as well as the people who just arrived. Or rather, he could see Josh. ​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Kaiden giggled as Josh knelt down. "Hey kiddo!" He said he said as Theo barreled straight into him. "Go get him bud." Josh said, ruffling Kai's hair as the four year old nodded, determination in his mind as he nodded and took off after Theo again. Jacob heard the names and cursed under his breath. He didn't want Soren to see the suit he'd picked out. He ducked further into the store as Hayden moved to the front. Jacob found a few left over suit bags by the register and managed to get the suit covered by the time he heard footsteps. He zipped the bag up and turned, smiling wide as he saw Soren. "Hey you. Get out early?" He asked, swinging the bag over his shoulder as he walked towards his fiancé. Josh stood up and looked into the store, and saw Hayden looking at him. "Uh. Hey." Josh said softly, taking a couple tentative steps forward. He didn't know how this was going to go.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Commnder | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

So Theo was not exactly the smartest player yet. He was loud and shrill. He giggled incessantly which most assuredly betrayed his hiding spaces. When he ran by Logan, he announced this by calling out his name. “Logan Logan Logan! Jay and Sor’n are here!” After that, he kept running through the low rack of individual suit jackets. Soren moved through the suits, occasionally dodging a stray Theo, until finally he came across Jacob. “I don’t know why I was not expecting to see you here, but I am more than happy to.” He took several wide strides until the gap between them was closed. He clocked the bag with a grin. “Find something wonderful?” He placed a hand on Jacob’s shoulder and bent forward to kiss his cheek. Hayden did not know how to feel about this. He had so badly wanted him there not a few minutes ago, and now that he was, Hayden was torn. He wanted Josh with him. The Josh who used to walk this mall by his side. Who indulged him every time he wanted to look at a suit he could never have. He looked down. He couldn’t do this if he was going to be the soldier instead. “Hi.” His voice was small. Almost weak.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Commander, FEDRA Civilian | 26, 32 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Kaiden dodged the adults as he ran after Theo, hearing him calling out to the adults as he ran. Logan chuckled, hearing Theo though he did look out to the front to see Josh and Hayden looking at each other. He turned and followed after the little ones. "Theo, Kai. Why don't we pause our game and check out these clothes?" Logan called to them, hoping to redirect them so that they weren't underfoot. Jacob heard Soren and grinned, smiling at him and the hand on his shoulder. "I'm happy to see you too. And you'll have to wait to see it but yes." He said, smiling at the kiss to his cheek. He took his free hand and snagged Soren's chin to kiss him better before pulling away and smiling at him. Josh looked at Hayden, hearing that small voice. He bit his lip as he slid off his uniform jacket and set it on a table at the front. He took a few steps closer slowly. "I remember this store. Back when we would come here often." Josh's voice was quiet at the moment. Maybe.. maybe just for today they could feel a little like normal. A snapshot of good in a changed world.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Commnder | 26, 37 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Pause the game? That seemed like a terrible idea! Theo loved to play games. Though, he did like clothes too. Except for shoes. It was easier to exist without shoes. Theo spun around and ran back to Logan, grabbing onto his leg. “Play game after?” Soren let out a deep, throaty hum. He smiled like a man who was getting married to the best person in the world in far too many days. “So we have secrets now? Does that mean I will have to find something without you?” He slid his hand down Jacob’s arm and caught his hand. “Give you back to Hayden.” He glanced over his shoulder, and though he knew he would not be able to see them, attempted to hear them. They were too far for that or they were too quiet. Was that a good sign? Hayden still looked down. The uncertainty hurt. His mind filled with the images of a time he missed. A time he longed to have again. “Yeah.” It was Hayden’s favorite. He turned his head further into the store. He was not looking for anything in particular. He trusted Logan with the kids. Or maybe he was looking for something. He was looking for something lost. “Just to look.” To dream.​