Chapter Text
Feet pound the dirt, sloshing through mud, and the groans of zombies. Nothing like it to get the blood moving and the heart pumping.
“Three, on your right.” Five naturally falls back into using running numbers. It’s what they always use when running and feels good in this situation.
“See them, darling.” Simon refuses to use the number when it makes sense.
When the small group of people dressed as zombies come out from behind a sewage gate, the two of them turn off to the side while the other runners near them are attacked (the flags worn around all the runners waists are pulled). Making it out of reach by a few feet, Simon and Five laugh breathlessly. Neither have had any of their flags pulled, even though they get three flags and still win the race. But both are competitive enough to want to not lose a single flag.
“They’re chasing us,” Simon comment casually.
“Alright, let’s split up. Cut them in half and meet back up after the mud,” Five explains and Simon grins.
“I like the way you think, my love. See you on the other side.”
He peals away from Five and the ‘zombies’ had to split up to chase them both.
Five loses sight of Simon pretty quickly and so instead focuses on leaving the zombies behind.
The trail consists of your average, everyday obstacle course and also buildings that are either really well made fakes, or this was actually some sort of neighborhood that was left to the wilds a long time ago. So the obstacle course is hard to surmount, but Five and Simon quickly realized that tons of zombies mills about on the beaten dirt and in buildings. It was safer to stick to the mud and the wooden structures. Easy being relative of course.
While picking a path through the mud, not really avoiding it that much, Five hears a very recognizable yelp.
Almost pulling to a complete stop, Five quickly identifies Simon as he disappears inside one of the houses and slams the door shut with zombies piling outside. Without even hesitating, Five heads in that direction.
“Hey, hey! I’m shouting and moving, follow me!” Five takes off into the obstacle course.
The zombies glance at each other before deciding that yes, they would chase something that was running away.
Five doesn’t have a huge head start on them, but is quick enough to outrun them in due time.
“Look over here! Come on!” When Simon starts shout at the zombies, the actors looked really confused, they’re supposed to chase the closest person they see, but the pair are about equally distanced.
Five groans and starts off, Simon follows so they basically meet up at a point and run side by side.
“What are you doing, you idiot? I was trying to get them off of you!” Five exclaims, punching him playfully.
“Respectfully my love, but I cannot let you take this burden alone. We are part of a lovely relationship that now includes a third. We’ve got to look out for each other.”
“Yeah, we do. Speaking of, we got to keep a look out for Sam. He’s got to be around here somewhere,” Five throws a look backwards, though Sam wasn’t in the crowd before.
“Maybe he already got killed,” Simon suggests.
“We don’t kill the zombies, we run from them,” Five laughs.
“Well, how do you propose you deal with them in the long term?” He queries.
“I… Why don’t we worry about that a little later? Like when we’re not running for our lives?”
“Gotta think of the future darling. Do you want the three of our’s future children to live in a world full of zombies?”
“Future children?” Five asks, looking at him with confusion.
“Well…” She catches him blushing before finally coming up with a plan to deal with the zombies.
“Okay, got a plan. Three, you run as fast as you can around this mud patch. I’ll lead them through the mud, climb the rope and leave them behind.
“Sounds good.” He seems relieved about the subject change.
“Ready? Go!” When Simon wants to pick up speed, he really can. No zombie stood a chance in keeping up.
Five looks back to make sure the rest are following and then picks up speed. With an impressive leap, Five misses most of the mud and grabs a dangling rope and immediately starts climbing.
Simon looks over at Five, heart nearly stopping at seeing Five’s muscles working while climbing the rope,
Once at the top, Five swings until the rope gets close enough then lets go, landing safely on top of the wooden structure which is supposed to be jumped from. The rope designed to slide down to get to the ground, with gloves and the like. It looked like a structure that might be for training firemen or special forces. Five decides that it doesn’t matter which way it’s supposed to be used if zombies are involved.
So Five has basically lost the zombies at this point, but still has to get down without catching them again. The monkey bars will do just fine.
Taking the monkey bars is easy enough for Five, but rolling down a climbing net is a little iffy.
Simon is at the bottom of the net to help Five back up.
“That was an impressive bit of acrobatics, my dear.” Simon still has his hand in Five’s.
“Gotta do what you gotta do. Let’s move.”
Without zombies in pursuit, the run is slightly simpler. And apparently they got to compliant.
A zombie leaps out from behind a tree and pulls one of Simon’s flags.
In the shocked silence that follows, Five registers Sam smiling and holding the flag, under a deep layer of gorey makeup.
“It’s too late for me Five. Go, run!” Simon gives Five a push and Sam follows in quick pursuit. Normally, Sam wouldn’t have a chance at keeping up with Five, except Five has already been running for a while and Sam is fresh.
He’s still chasing Five when he loses track of the figure suddenly. His steps falter a bit but he keeps at it, hoping to catch up.
A force knocks him to the ground, holding him down with a hand pressed to the back of his head.
“Now you’re a dead zombie,” Five whispers softly, basically cradling him.
“I don’t think you can do that,” Sam responds.
“Oh yeah?” Five cocks an eyebrow. A gentle kiss on his lips leaves Sam stunned. “Then why didn’t you pull my flag?”
Just as quickly as the attack happen, Five is gone.
“Hey! You can’t do that!” Sam spins around and struggles up.
“Already did,” Five calls back, already plenty far away that Sam will never be able to catch up.
Sam laughs shakily, unconsciously touching the ring Five put on his finger and blushes when he realizes what he’s doing.
It maybe costume jewelry, but he refused to take it off for being made into a zombie. Even it is a game, he might be a little more than delighted to be a part of it.
******
Five comes over the crest of the hill and sees the finish line, guarded by a mass of zombies. With a grin, Five scans the area and finds an opening.
The zombies tried to catch Five, but by twisting and swerving wildly, Five just as easily avoids these zombies without a scratch and crosses the line.
Panting, Five looks back towards the edge of the hill. A sound is coming from behind it and a mud caked figure crests the hill. Five knows Simon well enough to recognize him by profile.
Excitedly, Five jumps up and down and waves wildly. Simon offers a leisurely wave, looks behind him then take off faster. Zombies are right behind him, but not gaining any distance. He still has to make it through the landmine of zombies ahead of him.
“I’m coming baby! I’m on my way!” He shouts quiet loudly, loud enough for Five to hear.
“Come on Three!” Five encourages.
He makes it through the zombies easily enough and plows right into Five’s open arms, knocking them both down.
Together in an embrace, they laugh, smearing mud all over each other.
“We did it!” Five exclaims, pulling him closer.
“I love you Five!” Simon says, then gasps when he realizes what he said.
“I love you too.” Five grasps his chin and pulls his lips down. They kiss softly, only pulling apart at the sound of more people cheering as they cross the line.
The two of them untangle and sit up, watching other competitors arrive and celebrate.
Finally after the mud starts to dry and cake on their skin, they make an announcement calling the zombies back in.
Simon notices how Five sits up straighter and smiles when Sam comes over the hill. But it doesn’t twist him with jealousy as much as it usually does. It still does a bit. He’ll have to work on it, and talk to Five he decides.
Sam spots the two and walks over.
Five prompts Simon so they stand.
“How many people did you eat Sam?” Five asks.
“Um… Just Simon actually.” Sam rubs the back of his head.
“Aw, I’m your first and only Sam? How sweet!” Five stops Simon from jumping on Sam.
“Before you do that, we need to get cleaned up so we can get going.”
“We’ll put that hug on hold for later, Sam.” Simon ruffles Sam’s already messy hair. “I am a bit dirty guy right now.” He winks.
Sam blushes and follows behind Simon, Five comes in on his side and bump into his side.
“Did you have fun?” Five asks him.
“Actually yeah. I’ve never been made up like that before. It was… interesting.”
“We can dress you up like a zombies more often. I actually really liked being chased. It was invigorating.”
“You’ll want to do it to someone a little faster than me. I’m not much of a threat to someone as fast as you.” He mumbles, looking away.
“Zombies aren’t supposed to be fast. Sprinting undead would be pretty scary.” Five shudders dramatically.
“Ah, we could outrun them no problem, right Five?” Simon calls behind him.
“Well I could. You got bit today. And you only get one chance at that.”
“Sam got lucky. If he plays his cards right, he could get lucky again.” Simon grins at Sam.
“Well, I’m not very good at cards. Maybe go fish?” Sam rebutes.
Simon laughs hard, actually leaning on his knees to keep steady.
“You know what Sam, I like your style.”
Five grabs Sam’s hand and glances at him.
“Me too. Come on, I think it’s time we head home.”