"N-No, it's not you're fault." He said, his whole being becoming less shaky after a few moment.
"I'm just- I'm glad you're okay." Ben said.
His breathing was heavy but aside from that he was fine. Shaken, but fine. He was mostly just worried about Arvo and he didn't want Arvo to blame himself.
He felt like shit, he was so tired, he was so scared. He didn't feel safe here, he hadn't for a long time. Then again he never felt safe anymore.
He had felt safe when he had Arvo in his arms-

He reached out then and pulled Arvo into a hug, he needed this, he needed to feel safe for just a second longer; and from the way Arvo had been falling asleep on his earlier he guessed Arvo felt safe with him too.
"I'm sorry- for the way Kenny's treating you. I'm sorry for everything." Ben said shakily.
He was so tired.

" I-I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.. " Despite Ben trying to reinsure Arvo that it wasn't his fault, that it was okay, he couldn't help but feel otherwise. Though he did seem to shush a few moments later, small muffled sobs replacing those sorries instead as he hid his face away.
He did try and pull himself together as he begun to calm down, and whilw he did he finally unburied his face from his knees, finally stuttering out a small reply with the nod of the head and a small sigh.

" ..I am glad you okay too. " He mumbled, and it wasn't soon after that he was pulled into Ben's arms and trust me, there were no complaints from Arvo.
He right away hid his face into Ben's shoulder as his breath calmed itself, his eyes shutting tightly snd his fingers curled tightly into the back of Ben's shirt.

" ..Ben? uh, Can.. Can sleep like this? Or well, with you wouldbe better way to put I guess. I like- I like being like this. Is nice. " Arvo couldnt believe that he was actually admitting this right out, but I think the fact he felt like shit was just stopping him from giving a fuck.
He just wanted to be held and snuggled up to himself and just, it'd help him a lot right now, yknow?

Plus after what just happened he'd like to make sure Ben's okay anyway, so.

Ben's face became a little warmer as Arvo requested to continue cuddling. This wasn't what he had expected really, but god he was happy it was happening.
"Yeah, yeah...sound's good." Ben said, his face a lot hotter now. He would have been flustered but really he was just too tired (physically and emotionally and mentally) to do anything but keep his arms around Arvo.
His felt himself calm down, his breathing calmed as he breathed in rhythm with Arvo's.
"I won't let anything bad happen to you." He said, his voice half gone because of how tired he was. He just wanted to give Arvo this final bit of comfort before leaning back against the fence and closing his eyes, letting himself slowly fall asleep.

---

When he woke up the world seemed too still, too quiet. This was the first time in months he had gotten a full night's sleep, not woken by fighting, or zombies chasing them from their camp. It took him a few minutes before he decided to open his eyes, he wanted to keep the world as quiet as it was for as long as possible.
When he opened his eyes he blinked slowly, blinking away the tiredness in them. When he realized Arvo was still on him, laying right where he had fallen asleep, arms wrapped around him and head in his chest, he smiled, a small smile but a real one.

Could it be possible that he and Arvo could actually be happy like this? Actually like each other, be happy together- before this all started, zombies and people dying every day, this would have made Ben so happy. But now, now this terrified him. He didn't want to be happy just to loose Arvo.
On top of that, Kenny's words from the previous night rung in his ears.
"He's using you to get free!"
That couldn't be? He didn't know Arvo very well yet but he didn't think he would be able to fake this kind of affection.
Unless he could.

The peace Ben had felt earlier was completely gone now and anxiety and terror filled him once more.
Welcome back, he guessed.

He registered that a few of the others were already awake, Mike and Bonnie were awake, talking to each other around the half burning fire. And Luke and Clementine were walking around. Kenny and Jane were nowhere to be seen, which made Ben both anxious and relived.
But, he just closed his eye's again, deciding not to move until Arvo woke up.

It took a little longer for a certain small Russian to like, start coming around and waking up to be honest, he wasn't exactly the the biggest morning person ever or anything, so. Though once he did, he seemed to try and go right back to sleep, he had whined under his breath immediately and tried to snuggle closer to the one warm thing he was currently snuggled against, aka Ben!
So Arvo pretty much crawled on top of Ben and sat up on his lap before burying his face away into his shoulder with a small sigh, his eyes tightly shutting again for a few moments. He had honestly almost fallen back asleep like that, but then someone from the group, erm, Mike he thinks in his daze, called over to them, and had asked if they were awake.

His eyes had snapped back open and he jumped slightly in surprise, but just kinda grumbled sleepy semi Russian gibberish as he looked around, finally taking a second to process everything.
And that was about the time he noticed that he had somehow gotten sat on Ben's lap and he just kinda froze a moment before quickly shifting off again, hoping that somehow he didn't notice. I mean, he totally did but hes just going to pretend he didn't, yup.

" U-Uh.. Good-- Good morning to you? " He said, a nervous smile spreading across his face, along with a tint of red because just, oh gosh. He was quick to look over to the others, hoping that none of that noticed that either, but nope, Mike, Bonnie and Clem had looked over for that moment, and had all kinda looked they were snickering at them.
Which worsened Arvo's flusteredness as he just quickly looked down towards his lap with a small huff, trying to calm himself down a bit as he spoke.

" Do.. Do-- Do think we could go sit by fire until scary guy come back? I'm uh-- cold, and I am sure you are too, so. " He said, lightly shrugging his shoulders as he looked up a little bit, but he was still mostly keeping his head down for now. His head was up enough to notice another small smile spread across his face, this one seeming a lot less nervous then the last.

" T-Those people and you, seem many times nicer then that angry man, so I guessed would be okay, maybe? If not you can at least I am guessing. "

When Arvo had woken up and began to snuggle into Ben's chest and practically sit in his lap, Ben's face had turned red and he felt himself relaxing a bit. Momentarily forgetting the anxiety in his mind, he let himself relax and he found himself smiling a little.
Then Mike had called over to them, breaking this moment of peace.
"Hey you two- you awake?"
Ben opened his eyes again, noticing that Bonnie, Mike, and Clem were all looking at him and Arvo, this made him blush.
"Y-Yeah." Ben croaked out in response, his voice was weak and his throat hurt.

Ben gave Arvo a small nervous smile in return, "morning."

"I'll give you a while to wake up but we gotta get moving." Mike said, ushering Clementine away as he walked off, and Bonnie followed.

Ben nodded in agreement as Arvo suggested they go sit by the fire.
"The other's won't mind," he assured "yeah, let's go." He said, slowly sitting up. His back hurt from sleeping propped up on a fence but other than that he was fantastic right now.

He walked over to the fire, grabbing Arvo's hand to pull him along with him. They sat down near the fire, sitting quiet for a long while until Kenny came back.
Kenny walked over to the two of them.
"No one thought to tie him back up?" Kenny said, pointing at Arvo.
"Come on, man." Ben said, tiredness in every word he said.
"Don't 'man' me," Kenny said, mocking Ben's voice when he said 'man'.
Ben opened his mouth to argue with Kenny again when Bonnie interjected.
"We need to get goin', but we're not going to get anywhere be fightin' like this! They're just two kid, we don't need to tie em' up we can just keep an eye on em'." She tried to reason with Kenny.
All eye's were on Kenny, and deciding not to start anything Kenny just let out an angry noise and began walking away.
"Fine, let's just get goin'." He said angrily.

Ben gave Arvo a sad look.
"He's....He's not always like this." He tried to reassure. Ben should have said, he didn't used to be like this, but it was too late to correct himself now.

Mike walked over.
"Come on guy's, we're heading off....you two alright?"
Ben just nodded.

When Ben had said, yeah, they could go sit by the warm fire for a little bit, Arvo was quick to competely look up, his face just lighting up. Though he probably got a bit too excited, a super big smile spread across his face, and he just blurted out a, " Really!? " before just jumping up from where he was sat.
He was quick to take hold of Ben's hand and pull him to his feet as well before he started to tug the taller over to the others, and the fire. Once they had gotten settled near the fire, despite his excitement due to the thought being able to warm some, he was still pretty half asleep. So after a few moments, he yawned and absentmindedly set his head onto Ben's shoulder once again, his eyes fluttering shut with a soft sigh as he dozed.

Though, of course, that didn't last for too long before he was pulled from his sleep and thrown right back into fear due to a certain loud, angry man, complaining as to why he was not tied up again. Arvo tensed up and pressed himself into the fence again out of nerves, keeping his head down as Ben had tried to stick up for him, he was so sweet, oh my gosh. And then Bonnie had joined in aftef the man had started snapping at Ben as well, and he guessed since thry didn't want to start stuff this early in the morning, he seemed to back off thankfully.

After they had headed off, he looked over to Ben with another nervous smile, kinda hoping he wasn't worrying the other too much, but from what Ben immediately said, he wasnt sure. So he tried to act like he wasnt as freaked out, quickly nodding his head as he smiled nervously at the other. It again, most likely wasnt that believable unfortunately.

" I-I.. Yes, I hope not, he is, uh, odd. " In other words, he freaks me out really badly and i want him to stop, but im too frightened to really speak up at the moment. Thankfully being close to Ben did make him feel safer though, so that was nice at least, sigh.

And that was when Mike had come over, and had questioned if they were okay, Arvo looked to Ben a moment like he was wondering if the other was okay first, and once he nodded he looked back and nodded himself. He stuttered a small reply as he stood up, brushing snow off himself.

" Uh, I am okay too, I mean, is tired, but what can do I guess? " He replied, a nervous laugh and a smile following as he tried to joke and move on from what happened. He then looked to Ben a moment before turning and holding a hand out to help Ben up, his smile seeming a bit more real now.

" Are coming, Бенни? "

Ben took a deep breath and nodded, "y-yeah, let's get going." He said, standing up.

---

Hour's of walking in mostly quiet, Kenny decided to break the silence. He rounded on Arvo and Ben who were walking together, leading the group.
"How much further?" He demanded, looking at Arvo.
"Close, very close." Arvo said with defeat in his voice.
"You've been saying that every time I ask."
"Please. Come."
I'm really starting to think you're full of-"
"Kenny! Look out!" Clementine shouted as a walker jumped up from behind a turned-over row boat.
"What the fuck!" Kenny yelped, and he began to wrestle with the angry walker. Clementine pulled out her gun and shot it, causing it to become limp and fall on Kenny, who quickly pushed it off him.
"Jesus Christ." He whispered as AJ began to cry because of the loud noise of the gun.
"That was close." Mike said quietly, trying to hush AJ.
"Fucker came outta' nowhere!" Kenny shouted.
"That was real loud, hopefully there aren't more of 'em." Bonnie said with concern in her voice.
"Yeah well, let's move. We don't want to be around to find out." Jane said, hurrying forward.
"Is very close. Come." Arvo said, nudging his head to show the other's they needed to keep moving.

Ben stood by Arvo with baited breath, he had been holding his breath as that whole ordeal went down, and now his breathing was shallow and loud, his mouth was dry and he felt sick. Every time any small thing happened he always felt like this, he was just so afraid all the time that something bad was going to happen.
He wanted to just sit down, to sit down and never move again.

When the other's began moving, he moved as well, but it felt more like he was on auto-pilot now. He wasn't thinking about what he was doing. He wasn't focusing on where he was walking. He just felt empty now. He hated when he got like this, it was a moment of pure fear, and then he shut down, he didn't feel anything. This could last for minutes, or a month. The group had been with him when it had been at one of his worst moment's, for a week or two he just refused to move until they were chased away by zombies.

He didn't want to think about it, thinking about it made it worse. He just hoped the sudden mood he was in now would pass soon, he didn't want Arvo or any of the other's to see him when he was like this. The group already knew about his "moods", but not Arvo. He had lost a friend or two because of this before, even if Arvo was his soul-mate, it didn't mean he would like to be around him when he was like this.

Suddenly Arvo's voice pulled him out of auto-pilot.
"There." Arvo muttered.
They all looked forward, there was a small falling apart house on the other side of a frozen over river.
"That piece of shit??" Kenny said angrily. "It's half built!"
"We're here for the supplies, not the house." Jane said evenly.
"Is warm. Fireplace. Very warm." Arvo insisted.
"Id just like a place to sit if I'm honest." Luke said, though he was very much serious you could tell he was trying to lighten the mood.
"As long as there's food, who cares what it looks like?" Clementine interjected.
"You're not gonna' think that when you wake up with a couple inches of snow coverin' you."
Everyone was silent for a moment.

"So...Are we just gonna' walk over?" Mike questioned.
Everyone took a few steps over to the river so they were at the brink of the frozen water.
"Maybe there's a way around?" Bonnie offered.
"I don't see any." Luke mumbled.
It seemed everyone was at a loss, no one wanted to walk across the lake, but no one wanted to turn back now.
Arvo began speaking in Russian, which of course pissed Kenny off.
"Say it in American, asshole."
"Is...Is ok! Walk. Ice."
"No shit "ice", that's the problem!"
"I go first. I can be front." Arvo suggested. This gave Ben a little twinge of anxiety. He didn't know how he felt about this, he could lose everything, including his own life, and everyone, in less then 10 minutes.

"We need to spread out, just to be safe." Jane ordered. "Less weight the better."
"Let the ruskie go first, since he's so confident."
This made Ben mad, he wished Kenny would stop saying racist stuff like that, but he crossed his arm's and kept to himself, giving Arvo a "sorry" expression.
"Is okay!" Arvo assured as he turned around to face the water once again. Then he began walking forward, Kenny close behind, and slowly, one by one, all of them went on the water and began to spread out.

Arvo and Kenny were at the front, Jane and Mike in the Middle, with Bonnie and Ben heading the back, and Clem and Luke at the very end.

Everyone was quiet, too nervous to speak to each other. That was until a cracking was heard.
Clem let out a small gasp and Luke spoke to reassure her, "We're okay. Don't worry."
Then the groaning and moaning was heard.
"We got some walkers behind us." Jane said with a command to move forward in her voice.
"It's only a few of 'em, we should be alright." Mike, but worry was evident in his tone.
"Let's just get to the house!" Bonnie said, the panic in her tone more obvious than anyone else's.

Then the attention was on Arvo, as he had began walking quicker than the others to the house, trying to leave the other's behind.
"Hey! Stay with us!" Kenny said angrily.
"Fuck!" Luke yelled as a group of zombies that had been following them broke the ice and fell through weakening it.
It seemed that Arvo saw this as his chance to get away, as he began to run (or, more shuffle, because he couldn't run with the weight of his leg bringing him down) away from the group it seemed he would have kept running but the ice broke and Arvo fell through to his waist before pulling himself up, and Kenny grabbed onto him, pulling him by his collar as he had done earlier.
"Fuck, he's gonna kill him!" Mike shouted, this is when he and Ben ran forward to stop Kenny.
"Don't hurt him!" Clem shouted at Kenny.
Kenny pushed Arvo forward and pushed him onto the ground on the shore.

Everyone was running to land now and after a few moments: Mike, Ben, Arvo, and Kenny, were all on solid ground. Which only left Bonnie, Jane, Luke, and Clem on the water. Slowly, the group of water-walkers carefully walked across the lake. The group of people on land headed into the house.
As soon as they got in Kenny began shouting.
"You shit-head! What the fuck is wrong with you! You just had to run off like that!" Kenny screamed at Arvo.
"L-Leave him alone!" Ben said, his voice shaky and breaking.
"L-L-Leave him alone." Kenny said in a huge mocking tone of Ben's voice.
"I've had it up to you and you're f*g boyfriend over there!" Kenny shouted, then a horrified look crossed him face.
"Ben I-" His apology was cut off as suddenly Jane came rushing into the house carrying Clem who was soaked in water and shivering.
"How the fuck did that happen!?!" Kenny shouted, forgetting all about Ben and Arvo.
"There's a fireplace!" Jane said, rushing to set Clementine beside it. "We have to get her warm, she's going to freeze to death!" She shouted.
"H-He's gone, Luke's fucking gone." Mike said, his usually calm voice riddled with sadness. "We should have gone around."

Ben went and sat next to Clem.
"Y-you're going to be alright, I-I promise." He said, out of everyone in the group, Clem was the only one he trusted with his life. If she died- no, he wouldn't think about that.

"Goddammit!" Kenny screamed.
"You could have- you could have helped him." Bonnie muttered to Clementine.
"Don't listen to her Clem', this isn't on you." Kenny snarled, turning and glaring gaze on Arvo.
"You. Son of a bitch!" He said, yelling at Arvo now, obviously needed someone to vent his anger onto. "This is your fucking fault!"
"Kenny! Don't, man!" Mike said, stepping in between them.

Ben fault himself pause, he wanted to stand up, he wanted to stand up for Arvo and help him, but he was just so tired.
They just lost Luke, they might lose Clem, he was just so- so tired. And he didn't want to fight anymore. He just watched it happen, anxiety and guilt and grief piercing his stomach and making his head fuzzy.

"Don't what!" Kenny shouted.
"It's nobodies damn fault." Mike shouted in return.
"The hell it ain't!"
"Look at this place, just a stack of fuckin' toothpicks. Bet those magical supplies are bullshit too?! What?" He pushed Arvo, "no speaka de english?!?" Kenny said, being racist again.
"Fuck you." Arvo said, the anger in his voice was obvious.
"You fuckin' commie piece of shit!" Kenny shouted, then raised his arm and punched Arvo square in the jaw, knocking him to the ground.
Ben stood up then, his eye's wide and his whole frame shaking with anxiety and anger, but he didn't move from where he had stood, he *couldn't* move.
"Kenny!" Mike shouted, but Kenny was already on Arvo, punching him multiple times as hard as he possibly could.

"Kenny! Stop!" Clementine screamed, this gave Kenny pause. "J-Just stop." Clemetine stuttered.
Kenny got up then, reviling that Arvo's face was now covered in blood.
Jane walked in then, shock on her face. "What did you do to him?" She said, horror in her tone. She threw a bag at Kenny and it opened at his feet, in it was a bag full of food.
"There's another just like it, he wasn't lying."
Kenny reached down and grabbed a can.
"Would you like to tell me, how a can of fucking chili, is going to help the baby?"
"How is beating a kid to death going to help anybody?!" Jane said angrily as she tried to start a fire.
"This is your fault, and you damn well know it." Bonnie said.

Kenny gave Bonnie and Clem a final look before turning to Arvo again. "I'm tyin' him up." He said, then pulled him up only to push him to the stair case where he then tied him to the railing.
"Mike, help me start this fire."
"Do you *need* help? He's hurt real' bad." Mike said, concern for Arvo in his voice.
"Mike." Jane demanded.

Ben was still standing where he had stood, still shaking, fists still clenched, Kenny had walked off to be by himself and Ben walked over to Arvo shakily, leaning down to where he sat as the other's started a fire.
"I-I'm so sorry, are you okay? Jesus..." He said, his voice as shaky as his body was.

Oh god, oh god, oh god, he knew he shouldn't of run, he knew if he ran off from the others bad stuff might've happened, and hey, guess what happened? Certainly nothing good, thats what! Like, they lost a person in the group, almost lost another two, most likely angered that scary man even more and just, he was trying not show it, but he was completely freaking out inside. He just wanted to run into the other room and hide from the others as a gross feeling in his stomach churned as everyone rushed around.
He slowly had begun to take deep breaths as he leaned onto the door frame, keeping his head down as he gripped at the front of his own hoodie, just to have something to fidget with for now.

He was just hoping that he could slip away in the background for a bit to calm himself down before he was like, yelled at or whatever, but nope. His head had snapped up as Kenny jerked and turned to Arvo, hissing out his name as he furrowed his eyebrows together, quickly rushing his way up to him. Kenny probably knew like, really really deep down somewhere that like, it wasn't exactly Arvo's fault that the ice was thin, and broke like it did.
But he really just needed something to take his anger out on. And Arvo, who was already kind of his punching bag, was his easiest target at the moment.

Arvo had vaguely stuttered out a nervous response, holding his hand up shakily to try and stop Kenny from getting up in his face or something, though thats when Kenny kept trying to egg him on. He had given a small shove, and made fun of this english speaking once again, and y'know what, all the slurs, Ruskie, F*g, and all the pokes towards his semi broken English, him beating on him whenever a n y t h i n g went wrong, He was just about done with it.
Arvo's face seemed to shift rather quickly, he looked up from the floor and up at Kenny as a scowled marked itself onto Arvo's face before he pretty much spit his next words, " Fuck you. "

Despite the fact it felt so good to say it, that relief didn't last long as the next thing Arvo knew, he was on his side, a throbbing pain in his jaw. He gently rubbed at the area and had looked up, but just as he did that was when Kenny threw another punch, completely knocking him on his back.
He tried his face to try and shove his hands away and struggle underneath the much bigger man, though it didn't really do much and he was pretty much at mercy of Kenny. Arvo had heard everyone trying to get him to stop, to get off him, but none of it seemed to really work until a small familiar voice had spoken up, the concern in her voice obvious, and thankfully it seemed to stop the angry man in his tracks for now.

Arvo's whole face felt kinda numb, but also stung and burned like a bitch, a small noise of pain leaving as he sat up, keeping his head down though. He didn't put up a fight when he was went to be tied up, he kinda just seemed dazed or confused or anything.
He didn't say much as he was pulled up by his hood and dragged away from the others, just a few small mumbles in Russian that no one really understood.
Once he was tied up again he just slowly blinked a couple times and leaned his head onto the siding of the wall. He still seemed pretty out of it by the time Ben had come over, when he had spoken up Arvo seemed to jump like he hadn't noticed him, staring at Ben wide-eyed a few moments for seeming to relax a bit again.

" I-I.. " He stuttered out, a small almost confused noise followed before he shook his head slightly and looked back up at the other.

" ..I-It hurts. " Was all he could really comment on at the moment.

Ben let out a shaky breath as Arvo mumbled out his response.
"Yeah, it...it looked like it." Ben said softly, "I'm sorry, I should have done something." He said, blaming himself for this whole situation.
He felt like he was going to shut down again, go back into autopilot, he was just so fucking tired. Every single time he moved or did something it felt like a crushing weight on his shoulders. His eye's always felt so heavy, and even when he was happy- he was scared because he knew in a few seconds the happiness would be gone and he'd be sad again, so he never let himself get too happy, or too hopeful.

"Just a second." He said, he stood up and started walking around the house until he found a t-shirt laying on the ground. It had probably belonged to someone in Arvo's group, he sighed as he walked around. All he could think is- maybe if he had let Arvo go when they first met this would all be different, maybe everyone would still be alive, Rebecca, Luke, all of Arvo's group...He sighed again thinking about it. He was so used to people dying now, it was unbearable. Eventually he found some water bottles, he grabbed two of them and walked back to where Arvo was tied up (the fire had been started and Clementine was looking a lot better, that calmed Ben down slightly) and sat down next to him and poured a little bit of water on the t-shirt.

"You're covered in blood." He muttered as he began to gently rub away the slightly dried blood off Arvo's cheek. When did he become to immune to this? If anyone had shown up like this last year, he probably would have thrown up, blood and gut's used to make him sick. Now he just felt kind of- empty.

Arvo was obviously still a littlw dazed due to the hits to the head, it seeming to take him a second to competely process what Ben just said. Once he did though he kinda just frowned at the other and furrowed his eyebrows together with a small huff.

" I.. W-What? Is not your fault, i should not of said what said, is reason was punched. " He said, trying his best to make the other feel better, even though he wasn't exactly the best with words. The other had seemed to pause and look the other way a moment, like he was thinking or something, so Arvo hoped that was a sign Ben mightve listened a little bit.
Ben had then stood up and quietly went looking for something, and Arvo just gave him a soft, " Okay, Benny. " before relaxing into the railing again.

Arvo had obviously almost dozed off while Ben was away, since he jerked back awake as his footsteps became louder. He was quick to give them a sheepish before they had started cleaning up his face, mentioning the blood which Arvo kinda just replied to with a nod. Though he had to admit, the soft rubbing of his face felt like, really nice. A small almost purr seeming to follow as his eyes shut as he just enjoyed the feeling really.

When he had shut downs like he was, he tended just go competely numb, even to outside touch so I guess just any feeling would've be nice.

" ..Mmm, Ben? " Arvo mumbled, opening one eye to look at then other. " You are very sweet person, I thank you a lot for that. "

_____

After Ben was done helping Arvo, cleaning up his wounds and all that, that angry man had come into the house, shouting out for everyone rather happily. Arvo couldnt help but snort to himself, since hey, its the first time hes heard the guy not very upset, that was different to say the least.
He then just shut his eyes again, absentmindedly tuning everyone out since he was just so tired, so just done with everything. His head did perk up a bit when he had heard his name mentioned, by Mike at first to be specific. Whatever Mike had said about him, Kenny didn't see to like since he had right away twisted his face up in anger.

" Really!? You want to take the shitbird who tried to get us killed in the damn truck with us!? " Kenny shouted, crossing his arms tightly as he pretty much shot daggers with a glare towards Mike. Huh, thatd what must've made the guy so happened, he must've gotten that shitty truck out back to run finally. Also, while uh, Arvo was flattered and all that Mike was standing up for him and trying to convince Kenny to take him with but, uh.
He wasn't really sure if he wanted to go, he was just so tired, his entire just felt so sore and tired and just, just he wasn't sure if he could keep trooping on like this.

Not without his sister, I mean, he does have Ben, but what if the same thing happens to him? Ben would be fine witjout him, probably better acutally. So he didnt have to worry about this whole soulmate thing, yknow?

Then, Bonnie was quick step to try and defend both Mike and Arvo, a small sigh coming form her as she looked to the small tied up teenager.

" I mean, he did bring us to those supplies, and if you like, think about it the truck, so itd only be fair, right? " She tried to argue, but of course, Kenny was having none of that.

" F a i r? Yeah, I don't know if y'alls noticed, but life isn't exactly about fairness anymore. " He snapped at the pair, and that was about the point Arvo decided he'd speak up. Arvo sighed and cleared his thoart rather loudly to get everyones attention, and once he did, and after a slight hesitation he spoke up.

" ..I.. Do I no get say in the matter, at all? "

Ben felt his heart beat a little quicker when Arvo had told him he was a sweet person. It was nice to be praised by someone. All he usually got in the ways of acknowledgment for what he had done was Kenny yelling at him while the rest of the group gave him a slight cold shoulder, and Clementine comforted him afterwards. Never once had someone called him a sweet person. So, this was different, and not unwelcome.

After a while, Ben had just sat with Arvo, saying nothing. Then Clementine had come back in the house with an excited Kenny and he wondered what was happening because he hadn't seen Kenny actually excited since they had gotten that train to work what seemed like a million years ago.
Apparently, Kenny had gotten a truck to start and he said they would be going to a town (Welington? If Ben had heard correctly) soon, then the subject of Arvo came up.

Kenny, of course wanted to leave him and Mike and Bonnie were arguing for him to come with them. Kenny wasn't hearing it. It seemed that they were going to start fighting and Ben wanted to start in. Of course Arvo was coming with them, he thought, Ben knew on some level that being separated from Arvo would destroy him.
He had already lost so much, he didn't want to lose Arvo too, and then he silently made the decision that if Arvo had to stay behind, he would stay with him. He had no ties to this group, other than Clementine.
That's when Arvo had spoken up, asking if he had a say in any of this. Ben held his breath.

"No, you don't cus' you ain't comin'." Kenny said with irritation in his voice, he seemed to be a bit more calmed down now, now that he had eaten and gotten a truck working and all didn't seem completely hopeless.
Bonnie sighed then and looked at him, "of course you do." She said, giving him a look that said 'go on,' even though Kenny made an exasperated groaning sound.

Of course, Kenny was quick to shut him down, and Arvo had kinda just expected that, just rolling his eyes before just pushing on after Bonnie said it was alright. He went to just out right say it, but for some reason he kinda just stuttered a couple um's, looking to the floor as he furrowed his eyebrows together. He paused, seeming to think about his words but he then just shook his head and quickly looking back at the others, finally saying what he wanted to say.

" ..It is okay, leave me, I not mind at all, alright? " He said with a sigh, leaning onto the railing to his side. It was obvious by just looking at him that Arvo was just tired, probably not completely there.

" I am just.. Tired, I want stay here and sleep for awhile. Just uh, untie hands before go, please? Thank you. " He said, just lazily shrugging his shoulders as he started to shut his eyes. He didn't think that anyone would react much, maybe other then Ben, but like he mentioned to himself before, Ben was better off anyway, so. He would really miss him though, he was really sweet this whole time, and really caring and just, gosh. He hopes he makes it through all of this.

After Arvo had said what he did, the whole room seemed to just go quiet a few moments, making everything pretty awkward. But then, Kenny suddenly broke the silence with a shrug of the shoulders as he turned and started heading towards the door.

" Hey, you heard the kid. Even he wants to stay here, so y'know. If you guys are going to be comin', untie him, grab the stuff and c'mon. " He said before he stepped out of the building, slamming the door harshly behind him. Jane was then the next to speak up, stepping towards Arvo and untieing the boy from the railing as she spoke.

" Hey, if the kid wants to stay here, let him. Its not like we can force him to go or anything, so. " She said as she finished up picking out the knot in the rope, Arvo slowly getting up and brushing himself off before just shakily wrapping his arms around himself.
He looked to Ben, and then away again, unsure why he had this feeling of guilt in the gut of stomach. He'd be fine, It'll be better for him, Its okay. I t s o k a y.

" ..Theres more bags of things in the other room, grab them and bring them out to the truck, will ya? " She said, walking over and grabbing the one that Jane had dragged out before, and heading towards the backdoor.

Ben blinked at Arvo in stunned silence, he had thought Arvo would say something like this; but he had hoped he wouldn't have. Kenny was of course happy to grant Arvo's wish of letting him stay behind, then he left, then Jane left, soon Mike and Bonnie left and Ben guessed Clem and AJ were already outside. But he hadn't moved, other than when he had stood up to stand next to Arvo.
"No." He said quietly, unable to think of anything else to say. His throat was tight and his voice was quivering with anxiety.

The room felt small, was it always this small? The walls seemed to be shrinking. Even though there was no one else in the house but Arvo he felt a million eyes on him. His mouth was dry and he couldn't focus on anything besides his shaking legs. Of course this would set of an anxiety attack.

He felt dizzy, and the only thing that was bringing him back to reality was that Kenny, Mike, and Bonnie walked back into the house.
"Hey Ben, you comin'?" Bonnie asked tentatively.
"No." Ben repeated, a little louder.
The group was quiet, then Kenny spoke up.
"Come on Kid, you're wasting gas, the truck up an' ready to go."
"I'm not going."
"What?"
"If...If Arvo isn't going then I'm not going."
He had decided this earlier, if Arvo had to stay behind he would too.
Other than Clem, he had no ties to the group. None of them cared about him or what happened to him.
He always felt so alone in that group, and Arvo made him feel not so alone. He wouldn't leave him behind.

Arvo's gaze just went to the floor as one by one, the others slowly made their way out of the building, some more hesitant then others due to Arvo. But then there was Ben, he was just stood there, completely frozen up with wide eyes, and once Arvo had noticed it he turned really concerned for the other. It looked like they were going into a anxiety attack, or well, thats what it seemed like him to be honest. He didn't really think that him saying he was going to stay behind who hit Ben so hard, he was staying behind because he thought they would be better off, and now he isn't so sure.

Though that could've also been his own internal feelings about not staying behind and staying with Ben intruding and making this out to be something its not.

Sigh. He just didn't know.

He had reached up towards the other to grab gently at their sleeve to get his attention, starting to ask, " Benny, are you oka-- " But he was then interrupted by the others walking back in, he pulled his hand away and he shakily wrapped them around himself. He just looked off to the side as they spoke it out, he wanted to comfort Ben at the moment, but he wasn't sure if he should at the same time.
What did cause him to look back though, was Ben declaring he wanted to stay with Arvo, and if he was staying, he was as well. Everyone seemed to just go quiet, and then after a few moments, all eyes besides Ben was on Arvo, so he was quick to try and stutter out a reply.

" ..I-I.. Ben, I am like, flattered and stuff, but uh, really is okay. You should go, you shall be fine, and so will I and.. Yeah. " He said, he wanted to say more, say something more hopeful, but god, his head still felt all fuzzy and dizzy and he couldn't really think all that well right now. It was because his body was trying to shut down, but he trying to force himself through it, so.

" I mean hey, look at bright side, if uh, go and I stay, you no more have to worry about soul mate thing, that is good thing, right? " He said, though it was obvious as Arvo spoke that he wasn't competely happy with what he was saying.
I mean, this was his whole idea behind him staying, and yet him saying out loud just felt bittersweet for some reason, and he didn't like it. He had to force a smile on his face to try and hide that fact, but uh, it wasn't that convincing.

" I am sorry, I am kind of just.. Done with all of this, I guess is good way to put it. " Arvo finally admitted after a small pause, his eyes finally darting up from the floor to Ben's face. Mike was then quick to butt in, raising an eyebrow at what Arvo just said.

" Kid, I hope you don't mind me asking and stuff, but uh, what do you exactly mean by '' Done. ''? " He couldn't help but ask, since there was a couple ways to take that, and none of them were good.

" ..Y-You know what I mean. " Arvo sighed, obviously not wanting to actually say, he had guessed that everyone after that at least got what he might've meant.
He just wanted to sleep, and stay asleep.

" So, yeah. " He ended his small ramble, his hands fumbling together in front of him as he wasn't exactly sure what to do now, how'd Ben would react, and if he even still wanted that or not since he had a bunch of conflicted feelings going on right now.

Ben just kept shaking his head, no, Arvo wouldn't be fine and neither would Ben. It was so obvious in both of their voices that neither of them would be fine. He just stood still and listened to Arvo continue to ramble on and on, about how Ben would be fine and how if he stayed behind Ben wouldn't have to worry about "this whole soul-mate thing," as if that was a good thing. And then Arvo said that he was done, and that sent a lurching feeling in his gut, stabbing him like a knife.

Ben was still frozen, and everyone was quiet for a few minutes.
Then Kenny interrupted the silence, "stay or go, you have ten minutes to sort this out and then we're leavin', with or without you." Kenny said, irritation in his voice. Then he walked out and slowly everyone else followed.

When everyone left Ben suddenly found his voice again.
"I'm not leaving without you." He reconfirmed, then he reached down and grabbed one of Arvo's hands, staring at it because he couldn't look at Arvo in the eye.
"L-Listen, you're...you're the only good thing to happen since this whole mess started, and I'm not going to....I'm not going to leave you. No one deserves to be alone." He said, his was was tense and full of worry because he didn't know how to handle a situation like this.
"You s-said earlier that if you left I wouldn't have to worry about this soul-mate thing...But I'm not worried about 'this soul-mate thing', I'm worried about you."
He continued to only look at his hand that was holding Arvo's. This felt nice, slightly calming in a way, but he was too afraid to think about the feeling of Arvo's hands right now.

When everything had gone all quiet, Arvo could f e e l the nerves starting to bubble up worse and worse in his chest, he just felt s o guilty and awkward in that moment. He just wanted to run off and hide in one of the rooms, let that be that it I guess, but no, he forced himself to stay put for now. Thankfully, a few moments later, Kenny had finally broken the silence, causing Arvo to jump slightly because he was so on edge, but he just, slowly nodded his head in reply to him.
The others seemed somewhat hesitant to leave, but did eventually walk outside to the truck, leaving the two alone. Arvo looked up at Ben a moment, before quickly looking to the floor with a small sigh, unsure of what to really say after all that.

Arvo was quick to look back soon after though when Ben had taken his hand, and started fumbling nervously with his fingers as he stared downwards. Arvo just kinda stood there all wide-eyed as Ben had started on his little ramble, while he continued talking he could feel the same fuzzy feeling he got the other time Ben had held his hands. What he was going on about most likely wasn't helping the slight flustered feeling either, but y'know.
After Ben had finished, Arvo had take a little bit to actually be able to stutter anything out to be honest.

" ..I-I.. I don't know, I just.. Kinda scared. " He finally admitted, a small sigh following as he shrugged his shoulders, keeping head down for now.

" I-I was with group and sister very long time, since start of everything, and I not know if I can deal with the whole end of world thing by myself without them. " Arvo said, just shaking his head as he spoke. He knew this must've sounded so stupid, but it was true, he was so used to having his group, and his sister as a kind of safety blanket and well, they were gone now.

So he just, wasn't sure about all of this, and there was a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. Though that might've also been because he was hit in the head so hard. Sigh.

"I...I don't know. I know what it's like to...To lose a lot of people. And....you just kinda wanna give up but...being alone doesn't help and you can't just be...done." Ben was so bad at this comforting people thing, "I mean, you can be, but, like...even if you're done and you think you've lost everything you have to keep trying until you find something to keep you going. You know?"

He didn't know what he was saying at this point, all he knew is that he didn't want Arvo to be alone. He felt so awful for what happened to Arvo's group, for what happened to Arvo, for everything that happened. He wanted to make that right, he wanted to help Arvo because like he said before Arvo was one of the only good things to come out of this whole mess.