Apocalypse Rebirth: Under The Mad Dog's Protection
He stiffened in shock for a fraction of a second, his breath hitching in his chest, before his arms came up around my back, holding onto me with that same careful, reverent gentleness he had always carried.
"You're not that weak, Freddy," I murmured, my voice muffled slightly against the worn fabric of his denim jacket. "Physical violence isn't the only metric that matters. In a world where people will slit your throat for a stale crust of bread, your kindness is also something. It’s rare, and it has value."
I pulled back just enough to look into his swollen, bruised face, offering him a faint, bittersweet smile that felt softer than anything I had allowed myself since the gates first shu