[center][h1][color=yellow] Collaboration Post [/color][/h1][/center][center][h3]with [@joker892][/h3][/center]

Hector gently stroked Jax's back and let a heavy sigh escape him as they both rested within their tent. He stared at Jax's sleeping form with an uneasy frown as the crickets chirped annoyingly from outside the tent. He would always glance towards the tents entrance in hopes to see April enter without a scratch, but he would always end up disappointed as the tent only housed him and a sleeping Jax. Ever since she had left with Rafe Hector had been in a sour mood and would ignore everyone, including his own team. He shook his head as her outburst from earlier ran through his head and scoffed. 

[color=a0410d]"The hell is she even mad for? It's like she wants to be around that bastard,"[/color] he mumbled with annoyance. Sure the two broke up long ago, but Hector still didn't like how he would be around April. It just caused further anger within his mind. His head lowered a bit as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He had been awake for hours now and should be sleeping, but his worry for April would always force him awake. [color=a0410d]"Just come back soon,"[/color] he mumbled to himself.

April took the bear cub to Petra and returned Pixie as well. Yawning she headed towards hers and Hector's tent. She never hesitated or second guessed she just walked in. She knew he was mad at her but that wouldn't change how he felt about her.  Her eyes met his the instant she entered. 

She took off her jacket and moved a little slower than usual. The cuts from the cub's long nails were bleeding and they were painful but she ignored them as best as she could. She didn't like it when he was mad at her. She moved towards him and saw the worry in his eyes. April leaned over and kissed him on the neck. [color=ed145b]"You still mad at me?"[/color]

Hector was silent and looked to April with a bit of relief, though as he saw her wounds he couldn't help but clench his fist. He never made eye contact with her and simply stared at the wounds with a frown. Finally after a few seconds he sighed and grabbed a nearby rag while unscrewing his canteen. [color=a0410d]"Turn around,"[/color] he said as he splashed a bit of the water onto the rag. He wasn't a doctor, but he at least wanted to wash off the blood before it dried completely. 

April watched the look in his eyes and she turned so he could get the wounds. [color=ed145b]"We found the bear protecting a small baby cub and fighting off walkers. After we killed the injured bear I grabbed the cub and brought it back to Petra. I'm sure she will figure out a way to help it. I wasn't about to leave it there for the walkers to eat." [/color]

His hands on her skin felt soothing and warm as he cleaned the wounds. She still felt the tension in him. She sighed.

[color=ed145b]"Rafe and I have not been together in over six years. I don't understand what the deal is."[/color]

Hector froze at her comment and simply looked to the ground with a frown. He felt anger and annoyance. Anger towards Rafe for even being a part of her life and annoyance towards April who simply didn't understand. He gritted his teeth and resumed to clean her wounds, making sure to remain gentle even though his temper was growing even more. [color=a0410d]"I don't care if you two broke things off six years ago, I don't like him or how he acts around you. Simple as that,"[/color] he muttered loud enough for her to hear him. It was keeping everything he had within him not to burst. 

April hesitated and decided to tell him how it made her feel. [color=ed145b]"It makes me feel like you don't trust me and it makes others see me as weak when you try to leave me here because you are worried about him and I. Rafe and I get along just fine. He doesn't flirt with me or try anything out of line. We don't work together all the time but he is my scouting partner and has been for years. I am not going to change everything because you don't like him!"[/color]

She turned so she was looking at him so he could see her eyes.

Hector stared into April's eyes without any emotions and scoffed. [color=a0410d]"Well Im sorry for caring about you, but I can't trust the bastard when he is around you,"[/color] he said with gritted teeth. [color=a0410d]"He isn't the one that should be watching your back, it's someone that really cares about you or someone you care about,"[/color] he stated and looked away.[color=a0410d] "I just want that bastard gone for good,"[/color] he hissed. 

April stared at Hector a moment. He hadn't said that he trusted her at all so maybe he didn't. He must have thought she was weak and unable to do her job because even though she brought it up he never disagreed with it. So, what? He thought everytime she left his side that she and Rafe were off somewhere doing it in the bushes or something? She grabbed her jacket and looked at it.

[color=ed145b]"So you don't trust me. You don't trust me not to mess around with Rafe and you don't trust me to do my job? No matter what you think of him you should at least be able to trust me! It's been almost four years for you and me. I thought that meant something."[/color]  April felt the tears in the back of her eyes threatening so she went to walk out of the tent so he wouldn't see them.

Hectors eyes widened a bit and felt as if he just came out of trance. What the hell was he doing? What the living hell was he saying!? Of course he trusted her, but he was so focused on his anger towards Rafe it blinded him. He looked back to April, but before he could say anything she was making her way towards the tents entrance. He felt his legs push him forwards as he grasped her wrist softly and jumped in front of her to stop her from leaving. [color=a0410d]"Wait Apri-"[/color] he stopped mid-sentence as he saw tears ready to fall from her eyes. He stared down at her with a slightly shocked expression and shook his head. He did this. He has been going on about Rafe that he completely forgot about the person who really mattered. 

[color=a0410d]"I-I... April Im..."[/color] he couldn't find the words to speak. His anger and annoyance were now directed to himself. He lowered his head and closed his eyes to hide his shame. [color=a0410d]"I didn't mean it like that. I trust you, I trust you completely! It's just I'm scared I'm gonna lose you to him, or god forbid lose you out in the field,"[/color] he said as he held her hands gently. His mind clouded with guilt as the image of her crying replayed in his mind and he took a deep breath before continuing. [color=a0410d]"You are literally the only thing in my life that makes me happy. I've lost everything, and I can't even remember losing it! Everything before I was seven, I can't remember anything. Not my home, family, friends, nothing! I lived in that settlement with nothing and lived alone not knowing if someone from my past life was still out there. I trusted no one and kept to myself because I thought that was how it was supposed to be,"[/color] he said with a shaking voice before looking back to her. 

[color=a0410d]"That is until I met you. The one person that made me feel something towards someone. You gave me something that I was missing for all those years. Love,"[/color] he said softly and shook his head. [color=a0410d]"I cant have that taken away from me."[/color]

April watched his expressions and his eyes as they changed at his memories and thoughts. Hector was very open with her but not with other people so much. She knew how he felt even before he said it. She walked into his arms and wrapped hers around him. She knew he trusted her, even if he forgot it sometimes. 

[color=ed145b]"I'm sorry, I don't want to fight with you. You aren't going to lose me. I'm not going anywhere. I love you, even when you act like a jealous idiot." [/color]

She chuckled a little as she pulled him closer to her and hugged him tightly. Her feelings of uncertainty seemed to simply disappear. The one thing she could always count on with Hector was that he was genuine. He never lied about things. If he said something he meant it in the moment even if he later recanted. It was one of the many things she loved about him. She dropped her jacket and leaned into him and just held onto him afraid that something would take him away from her if she let go of him. Raising her face up she kissed him. She wanted him to realize that she was his. His. Not Rafe's or anyone else who might show up just Hector's.

All of the worry, anger and annoyance melted away as Aprils warmth filled his soul. He felt at peace in this moment and chuckled as he looked down to her. [color=a0410d]"But just to clarify things, there is nothing to compare between me and Rafe, right?" [/color]he asked as his eyes quickly glanced down. He just wanted to check. 

April started laughing and shook her head. [color=ed145b]"Oh my god I love you you silly man! No there is no comparison."[/color] April kissed him and wrapped her legs around him as he carried her back to their makeshift bed.


[@Rumikoohara][@Dnafein]