Over the last week (Y/n) had been getting more accustomed to life in the city with Marcus and Tobias. Her life had mostly consisted of helping Marcus out around the house and with daily errands like grocery shopping, in exchange Marcus had also been showing her around the city and teaching her more about how the Infected society worked. This should have been Tobias's job but alas he had been avoiding (Y/n) like the plague and hadn't spoken a word in her direction since she had announced her decisions of staying in the city. The most interaction the two of them had had since then was a brief eye contact followed by Tobias pressing his lips in a thin line.

Gosh he really hates me now. (Y/n) thought as Tobias walked out the front door this morning, on his way to work. She had never asked Tobias what exactly he worked in, but Marcus had been kind enough to tell her that he had a job as a carpenter. He also made some extra money by making fake IDs.

It only then occurred to (Y/n) that, because of her, Tobias might have missed some work days due to him accompanying her to the Uninfected Shelter and spending time with her. A thought that both needled her with guilt and soothed her with warmth.

Tobias had had no obligation in doing this for her, in fact he had had no obligation in saving her the very first time they met either. Still, he had done it without asking questions or expecting anything from her.

He was truly a kind hearted person, so much so that sometimes it was hard for (Y/n) to remember that Tobias was still an Infected. A potential threat for her.

But even with Tobias's obvious displeasure with her, (Y/n)'s thoughts had been focused on other things, namely discovering more about the city and her newfound freedom, and finding Grey. Her wavering hopes having been revived by a conversation she had had with Marcus on that fateful morning after she had announced her decision.

"The Uninfected Shelter might not be your only chance at finding your sister though." Marcus said, "It was your best luck at finding her, true, considering taking an Uninfected in without going through the Uninfected Shelter first is illegal. But your sister wasn't a registered citizen, so things may be different. Someone might have taken her in right away."

(Y/n) listened intently as Marcus continued.

"Recently a new law was passed concerning 'Uninfected health and wellbeing'. Infected people with an Uninfected darling have to allow them outside at least once a month to keep them sane and healthy." Marcus chuckled humorously, "This society's gone nuts. But this might be your chance at finding your sister."

(Y/n) nodded, processing this new information.

"I guess so. But as you said, since Grey wasn't a registered citizen, authorities probably don't even know about her existence. Meaning that laws don't apply to her or her captor. Am I right?"

"Indeed." Marcus said with a compassionate smile, "But this is still a possibility. And still a potential chance for you to find her."

So this is exactly what (Y/n) had been doing during her outing with Marcus, keeping an eye out for Grey. Today was different though, as it was the first time she'd be venturing in the city without either Marcus or Tobias to guide her.

"Are you sure you'll be fine, dear?" Marcus asked, guilt clear in his wrinkled eyes as he looked at her from his armchair.

(Y/n) flashed him a smile, putting on her jacket and taking the shopping trolley. Marcus's left hip had been hurting since this morning and he had barely been able to walk around the house. Letting him go grocery shopping was out of the question, thus (Y/n) had offered to go alone since Tobias had already left for work.

Of course, (Y/n) would be lying if she said going out there alone didn't scare her. It did, terribly so.

A cold shiver of dread licked its way up her spine as images of her night out with Tobias flashed through her mind. The scene of a man killing someone in front of her really wasn't leaving her mind anytime soon.

But (Y/n) had also decided that if she was to enjoy her experience in the city fully and spend her time here, she might as well get used to being independent and going out on her own. She didn't want to rely on either Marcus or Tobias to go out anymore. She wanted to be able to go out whenever she wanted to, with or without a companion.

So this was as good an opportunity at testing the waters as any other.

"I'll be fine, Marcus." She said reassuringly, patting him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll be home in no time with all the things written on the shopping list."

"Okay." The elder answered with a tender smile. "Don't forget the apples for good ol' grumpy Tobias."

(Y/n) answered with a thumbs up before finally opening the door and stepping outside all by herself. Unaware of the eyes watching her from afar.













































Tobias let out a tired grunt as he opened the front door and stepped inside the house, a heavy sigh falling from his lips at the sight of Marcus standing by the sink and doing the dishes when he had explicitly told him not to due to his hip.

"You're kidding me." Tobias groaned in a low voice, taking quick strides towards the older man and snatching the plate out of his hands.

Marcus turned to him with a grin, the crows feet at his eyes crinkling at the sight of his grandson. Tobias shouldn't have been home for another two hours or so, but he must have finished work early today. Unfortunately for Marcus who had just been caught red handed doing something he definitely shouldn't have been doing.

"Oh Tobias, I wasn't expecting you home so soon, my boy."

No, shit Sherlock. That much was obvious.

"Sit back down or I'll make you." Tobias said with a dismissive roll of his eyes. Marcus knew he didn't have much of a choice, so he silently sat down at the dining table. "You know what the doctor said. To not overexert yourself when it hurts."

"I know." Marcus said with a sigh, lightly drumming his fingers against the wooden table. "But an old man can only wait around and do nothing for so long. And you've been working hard lately, leaving earlier than usual and coming back later too. The least I can do is to wash my own dishes."

Tobias paused. He didn't think Marcus would have noticed his change in schedule, but then again, Marcus might be old but he wasn't an idiot. And in fact more perceptive than most.

"Why the sudden change, Tobias?"

The question Tobias had been dreading to answer.

He swallowed thickly, pouring some more dish soap on his already soapy sponge.

"Just getting more work than usual these last few days. That's all." He hoped Marcus wouldn't question him any more than that. But of course, Tobias should have known that his grandfather wouldn't so easily be fooled.

"Is that all? Because it really seems to me like this is you trying to avoid dear (Y/n)."

Tobias's hold on the plate in his hands tightened, his jaw set in a sharp line.

He had known there was no use hiding his true intentions from Marcus, the man who had practically raised him. Still, Tobias had hoped that Marcus would spare him the bothersome conversation. But now that he had brought it up, it was obvious that Tobias would have no choice but to come clean.

"And, what if it's the case?" He said, trying to keep his voice even and steady. Even as frustration bubbled up inside of him.

"I'm not judging you, Tobias." Marcus said, "I'm just trying to understand why the sudden change in behavior when the two of you had started getting along just fine. Just a week ago you were going out for drinks."

Tobias turned to the older man, heaving a sigh and wiping his hands on a nearby rag.

"Yeah, well things are different now."

"Because she decided to stay? And you're scared of getting too attached." Marcus said, and as usual he saw right through Tobias. Both of them knew why Tobias was putting up barriers now that he knew (Y/n) would be staying longer. It was the very same reason he had tried to keep his distances from her in the first place. And the very same reason why he kept himself away from others.

To avoid turning into the monster he knew lurked inside of him.

And before (Y/n)'s announcement, things had been slightly different, because Tobias had been reassured by the knowledge that she would be leaving soon. But now, with no idea of when she'd be leaving or how long she'd be staying, he couldn't afford to be so careless anymore.

Even less so when part of him had been happy at the thought of her staying in the city, in spite of another part of him knowing for a fact this was a bad idea.

Worst case scenario, I'll be here to protect her. Had been his first thought. One that had terrified him.

Because no part of Tobias should have ever been okay with (Y/n) staying in the city. No part of him should have found solace in the reassurance that if she stayed, he would be able to protect her from all the potential threats out there.

He wanted to put an end to whatever was slowly blooming inside of him. Nip it in the bud whilst he still could.

Tobias knew Marcus wasn't expecting an answer to his question, it was more rhetorical than anything else, as both of them knew what Tobias's reasons for staying away from (Y/n) were. Marcus just didn't know about Tobias's growing affections for her, a detail Tobias was keen on keeping to himself.

So instead of answering, Tobias chose to go to his room for some much needed rest after his shift. But something on the way caught his attention. (Y/n)'s room was way too quiet.

Too quiet for her to be inside as he had previously thought. And his blood turned to ice in his veins at the realization of what this meant.

(Y/n) had gone outside, alone.

"Where is she?" He stormed back into the living room, eyes scanning the outside through the window to try and see whether he could catch sight of her. But she wasn't anywhere near the house, which only served to increase Tobias's panic tenfold.

"(Y/n)? She left to go grocery shopping. I would have gone with her but couldn't walk with my hip, so she offered to go alone." Marcus explained, seemingly not seeing anything wrong with it.

"And you let her?" Tobias turned to his grandfather, struggling to contain the frustration and anger in his voice. "You should have waited for me to come back. I would have gone!"

Marcus didn't seem all too bothered by the boy's anxious state, instead offering him a reassuring smile.

"She'll be fine, Tobias. And anyways, if she's going to stay in the city she might as well get used to going out and about alone. You can't always go with her, and although I'd like to, neither can I." Marcus explained and gestured with his chin towards his hip.

Tobias knew this. He knew that at some point (Y/n) would have had to venture outside alone. But somehow, the idea of her walking alone in the city plunged him in a deep state of unrest.

She wasn't ready. She didn't know the city nearly as much as she should in order to be safe by herself.

She was vulnerable.

And the idea of anything happening to her whilst he wasn't by her side to prevent it had Tobias's heart coming to an abrupt halt in his chest.

"This isn't a good idea." He said, eyes staring off into the distance as all the terrible things that could happen to her flashed through his mind. "You shouldn't have let her. She's Unin-"

"Uninfected, yes." Marcus said, "And so am I. But you never got this worried over me in the past."

Under any other circumstances, Tobias would have flinched at Marcus's comment, and this would have led to an endless cycle of self doubt. But right this instant Tobias was way too consumed by thoughts of (Y/n) hurt or endangered for him to care much about Marcus's words.

"It's not the same."

Was all Tobias said before hastily grabbing his coat and storming outside of the house.