Chapter Text
They had been around for a long time. Mutants, as people called them. Inhuman beings that sometimes took an almost human stature, creatures with fur, wool, scales, and sometimes textures that couldn't be described. These beings were capable of magical feats with a source they called "divinity matter".
Nex, was one of these creatures. An Eldeen, with an almost human like form, but digigrade legs, allowing for comfortable four legged transport, huge paws on his feet and hands. Nex's hands weren't hands, they were paws. But they were five fingered like one, could move freely.
But most importantly, his inhuman strength. Predator mutants were often much stronger depending on their rank on the food chain. Eldeens were fairly high up there, known for their brute force and unnaturally strong muscles.
That's why Nex was on the police force, he acted as a K-9 almost, with his enhanced sense of smell. He could sniff out almost any drug imaginable. He didn't need a gun to kill, and was even fast enough to dodge bullets. He could take a mans skull off with just his paws, and could even safely consume bodies.
Rick had always liked Nex, he was childish, playful, reminded him of his own little boy at home, Carl. Except a whole lot bigger, and a whole lot heavier. It was just a shame Nex hadn't been there that day
The day of those three suspects. He had been with someone else, and that's probably why Rick had been shot. If Nex had been there, he probably would have been able to smell a third person. That mistake wouldn't have been made.
But he wasn't, and there was no going back now.
Nex felt guilt every single day. Rick was dead, he had loved Rick. He had loved him more than anything, the man had been the first human Nex had cared about in a long time. He felt even worse when it happened, when people started dying and coming back.
Nex knew for sure then that Rick wasn't waking up. Shane had even told him before he left. Rick was gone. However.. he hadn't gone off to Atlanta. He just couldn't, this had once been his home. And he would protect it until the day he passed. Even with how evil and cruel humans were, Nex always saw the good. The positive, how humans laughed, how they smiled and shared stories. How they loved.
Nex would protect that love. It had been his duty from the moment they put that star on his chest. He had sworn nobody else would get hurt when he was around.
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Nex patrolled the streets of his small town, long after the disaster. His pawpads squishing on sidewalk concrete, despite confusion that many had. Nex had no problem killing the infected, they were already gone. Husks of a human, and Nex couldn't leave them like that. So he did what his biology told him to do, rip into their skulls with his teeth.
Nex was..immune to the disease. He didn't know why. He was completely immune, he had been bitten, scratched..yet he hadn't turned. So, he assumed it was divine. He was sent to protect the people, immune to the disease so he could rip apart walkers with nothing but his claws and teeth.
Daylight was scarce, Nex looked at the sky, not many trees to corrupt his vision. His big ears flicked, a bit of excess fur coming off. His own ears often reminded him of a fox's.
That was..when he smelled it. A human. Ricks scent, there was no way-they probably just had something on that was Rick's. It wasn't uncommon for humans to smell familiar because they were wearing something that someone he'd known had once worn.
But that didn't matter, he had to get to them, to bring them inside where it was safe, away from walkers that would tear them apart, he picked up the pace at the thought, jogging on four legs. The smell got stronger the closer he got
It smelled so much like Rick. But it couldn't be him, there was no way. He was gone, Nex needed to accept it. He had seen what grief could do to someone, and Nex needed to accept Rick was gone.
And then he saw him..brown, shaven hair, peach skin, and a hospital gown with those bandages on his side where he had been shot. It was him. It was Rick. He was ALIVE.
Nex bolted, he had to get to him. His fur billowing in the wind with long black hair. He lashed his tail, he had to get to him.
"Rick!" Nex yelled out, and the man turned, seeing Nex, a look of disbelief spreading as he saw the mutant. He saw him mutter something, but Nex couldn't hear it.
"Nex-Argh!" Rick made a yell of pain as Nex barreled into him and smacked him to the ground, the excited mutant standing over him. "Rick! Ohmygosh- it's really you! You're alive! I can't believe it!" Nex nuzzled Ricks face, hugging him and wagging his huge tail.
"Alright big guy-get off, you're squishing me" Rick said. How Nex had waited to hear that phrase, big guy. Rick had always called him that, he used it more than his real name. To the point where new recruits hadn't known Nex's real name, because Rick just called him big guy all the time.
Nex got off, wiping teary eyes. "Okay okay- yeah I'm off" Nex said, letting Rick sit up, looking at Nex to ask him a question "what.. happened? Where is everyone? Lori and Carl?" He asked, and Nex felt himself freeze.
He had almost forgotten, for just a moment. What had happened.
"Come on- let's get you to your house. I'll explain everything when we get there" he said, getting up to help hia friend get on his feet.
The walk back was..tense. Rick was confused, disoriented, wanting to know where his wife and son had went. Why the place was deserted, lo and behold, there was no Lori and Carl at his house.
"Alright, I'm here, I need you to tell me what happened- and I need you to tell me now Nex." Carl demanded, his tone more serious and firm than before. He had used it often, when he was serious about something. Usually when Nex was doing something stupid and needed to be reeled in. Nex sighed, he had to tell Rick. He couldn't leave him in the dark forever.
"There..was an outbreak. A bad one..the disease it- it makes people different" Nex said, going into Ricks room with him to get him a new outfit.
"Different how?"
"Hostile. It makes them aggressive, it takes someone who was once dead and..makes them something else. Something that yearns for meat. You're lucky one didn't see you" Nex started, he realized how ridiculous he sounded. A zombie apocalypse, who in their right mind would believe that?
"So you're tellin' me there's zombies wandering around? Nex you haven't gotten into nothing right?" Rick asked, and Nex expected it. He wasn't offended, if he had woken up from a coma and Rick had told him there was a zombie apocalypse, he'd probably think Rick was on drugs too.
"I know- I know it sounds crazy. But we call them walkers, they're basically undead. I'm immune to it, but I don't know why" Nex said, throwing Rick his uniform to wear. He was lucky it hadn't been stolen in the chaos.
"Lori and Carl? What about them? Where are they? Why aren't they here?" Rick asked, it was like a gunfire of questions. But Nex didn't mind, he'd tell Rick. The man was his friend, and deserved as much as he could tell him.
"Went off to Atlanta, apparently there's a refugee center over there, food, water, clothes, shelter.. they went there in hopes of a safe place to stay"
Rick nodded along, getting changed into his new clothes. Uncaring of being nude infront of Nex, Nex was like his son, or a younger brother. Besides, nudity amongst his people was normal.
"Alright..so we go to Atlanta." Rick said with determination as he buckled his belt. He had to find his wife and son, he just knew they were alive. They had to be.
"Woah woah woah..before we start getting into all that. We should rest here for the night, we're losing daylight fast, and walkers like to swarm at night time. You'll get eaten before you can even scream for help" Nex said, changing his flannel into one of Ricks.
"And what? Leave Lori and Carl until daylight?" Rick asked, what if one of them was in danger? He couldn't just leave them be.
"They've survived on their own this long, I think they'll be fine another night" Nex said, he wasn't letting Rick go off on his own. He loved his town, loved the people. But he couldn't leave Rick, and he was going to Atlanta no matter what. That much Nex was sure of.
But at least he could stay another night..just one more night in the town he called home.
So, he set up beds, kept himself busy till nightfall. Made Rick some food, something to keep him sustained for the night. He had to keep himself busy, away from the choice he soon had to make.
Would he go with Rick..or stay in his town? He had sworn to protect it. He couldn't just leave them here with nothing to protect themselves, but Rick was back. He couldn't leave him on his own
Rick was his friend. Almost like a father to him, if he died out there again because Nex wasn't there..he wouldn't know what to do with himself. He wouldn't be able to live with it, with the knowledge that he wasn't there.
And that's what Nex had to contemplate, would he stay. Or would he go? Nex was so unsure. He didn't want to leave. There were still people here who needed him
But did Rick need him more? Nex had to fall asleep with that question in his brain, hearing the groans and growls of the walkers just outside the door. The only thing between him and them being walls of wood. Luckily they weren't that smart..or strong for that matter.
The walkers he knew would tear Rick to pieces if he wasn't there to keep him safe. To keep him protected, Rick couldn't protect himself. Against this? Nobody could, not even Nex. If he wasn't immune, he'd certainly be dead by now
..this wasn't fair. How could Nex make this decision? He couldn't save everyone. If only he could cur himself in half. Make two of himself.
But that wasn't possible. Nex had to make a decision, a real one. And with that thought in his head, he fell asleep. For a couple hours of rest, where maybe he could forget what lie ahead. The walkers, the disease.. and his ultimate decision.