Threads of Fate Across Universes

Elio ascended the stairs with careful steps, his body still running on the tension of the past day. The farmhouse was quiet, save for the occasional creak of old wood settling. He found Shane already in bed, broad shoulders shifting as he turned his head toward the door. Even in the dim light, his eyes carried a sharpness, the kind that never fully faded, not even in moments of rest.

Elio shut the door behind him and walked over, peeling back the covers before sliding in. The bed was warm—whether from the old farmhouse insulation or Shane's body heat, he didn't know. Probably both. He pulled the blanket up, settling close, seeking the comfort only Shane could provide.

Before he could even let out a breath, Shane's voice cut through the quiet.

"So is it true? They're keepin' walkers in the barn?"

Elio stilled for a moment, then exhaled. "Yeah."

Shane shifted beside him, his body turning slightly to face Elio. "That's goddamn dangerous."

"For normal people? Yeah. It is."

Shane scoffed. "You and I both know one bite's all it takes."

Elio nodded. "I know."

Silence settled between them, but it wasn't the kind that brought comfort. It was heavy, sitting between them like an unspoken truth. They were both thinking the same thing. The people in this house—Hershel, Maggie, the rest of them—thought walkers were sick people who could be saved. But there was no saving them.

Still, it wasn't time.

Elio sighed. "They need more time. Hershel, Maggie… all of them. They're not ready to see the truth."

Shane made a noise—half frustration, half agreement. "Time ain't somethin' we got a lot of."

Elio didn't argue. Instead, he fell quiet, his thoughts drifting back. The show. The way things had gone before. The road to the CDC. Sophia.

He swallowed hard, his heart tightening in his chest.

Shane felt it through the bond.

A shift, an ache, a weight settling over him that wasn't his own.

"Elio." His voice was softer now. "What's wrong?"

Elio hesitated. Then, he turned onto his side, facing Shane in the dim light.

"Things have changed so much," he admitted. "If we hadn't left… there would have been so much more to do." He took a slow breath. "The road to the CDC wasn't great. And on the way back… Sophia got lost in the woods."

Shane tensed beside him.

"She was just gone. Everyone kept moving forward, but they never found her. They searched, but—" Elio shut his eyes for a second. "Eventually, the group ended up here. You were here for days, maybe weeks, before you realized there were walkers in the barn."

Shane's breathing had slowed, but his grip on the blanket had tightened.

Elio continued.

"When you did find out… you were pissed. Everything was taking its toll on you. You let them out. You killed them."

Shane didn't say anything, but Elio could feel the weight of his stare in the dark.

Elio swallowed hard. "After they all fell… there was movement in the barn. A little girl walked out." He exhaled sharply. "It was Sophia."

Shane's breath hitched.

Elio turned his head, blinking up at the ceiling. "She would've died if we hadn't left."

A long silence followed.

Then, suddenly, an arm wrapped around Elio, pulling him close. He didn't resist. He let himself be drawn in, pressing his face against the warmth of Shane's chest.

Shane didn't speak, but the hold he had on Elio said enough.

For a long time, neither of them moved.

Elio's breathing slowed, the weight of exhaustion pulling at him. But even as his body began to relax, his mind wasn't at ease. Because this—this moment, this change—meant something.

And he wasn't sure if it was a good thing.

Because something still happened to Shane.

And if Elio stuck with them…

Would he be able to stop it?

Or was he only delaying the inevitable?

Elio woke slowly, warmth pressing against his back. It took a moment to remember where he was—the farmhouse, the bed, the conversation from the night before. His chest felt tight, weighed down by the knowledge he'd given Shane.

Shane's arm was draped over his waist, heavy and solid, like he hadn't moved all night. His breath was steady, slow. For a man who usually woke at the first sign of trouble, he seemed peaceful here, at least for the moment.

Elio shifted slightly, but Shane tightened his hold, muttering, "Ain't time to get up yet."

Elio huffed a quiet laugh. "It is if you want breakfast."

Shane made a noise against the pillow, reluctant but waking. He loosened his grip just enough for Elio to turn onto his back, and their eyes met in the soft morning light filtering through the curtains.

There was something in Shane's gaze—thoughtful, searching.

"You good?" Shane asked, voice still rough with sleep.

Elio hesitated. "Yeah."

Shane didn't look convinced. "Last night…" He trailed off, exhaling sharply. "Ain't nothin' happenin' to me, alright? Not if you're with me."

Elio's chest ached. He wanted to believe that.

Shane reached up, fingers grazing Elio's cheek before settling on the back of his neck. He pulled him in, pressing their foreheads together, grounding him.

"C'mon, let's get movin'," Shane muttered after a beat, rubbing the sleep from his face as he sat up.

Elio followed, but the weight of the night before lingered.

Downstairs, the kitchen smelled of fresh coffee and bread. The farmhouse was quieter than he expected, but Maggie was at the table, flipping absently through an old book. She looked up when she saw them, eyes flicking between the two.

"Morning," she said, tilting her head. "Sleep alright?"

"Yeah," Shane answered, voice neutral.

Elio just nodded, grabbing a cup of coffee from the counter.

Maggie's gaze lingered for a second before she stood. "Daddy's out back. He wanted to talk to you both before breakfast."

Shane glanced at Elio before shrugging. "Guess we better go see what the man wants."

They found Hershel near the barn, his expression unreadable as he leaned against a fence post. The moment they approached, his eyes settled on Shane.

"I wanted to make something clear," Hershel started. "You're welcome to stay here for now. But I won't have trouble under my roof."

Shane crossed his arms, already tensing. "That what you think we are? Trouble?"

"I think you've got strong opinions," Hershel said evenly. "And I'd like to know where you stand before we go any further."

Elio felt the shift in Shane, the way his shoulders squared just slightly.

"We stand where anyone with sense would," Shane said. "On the side of the living."

Hershel's expression didn't change. "The people in that barn—"

"Ain't people," Shane cut in, jaw tightening.

A heavy silence followed.

Elio stepped in before it could escalate further. "We're not here to stir anything up, Hershel. We just want to make sure this place is safe."

Hershel studied him, then nodded slightly. "Good." He turned to Shane. "Then I trust you won't do anything reckless."

Shane didn't respond.

The tension sat thick between them as Hershel walked away.

Maggie, who had been watching from the porch, crossed her arms when they approached. "I don't know what you two are planning, but don't go thinking you know better than my father."

Shane scoffed. "Maybe we do."

Maggie's expression hardened. "You don't."

She left before they could say anything else.

Elio exhaled. "That went well."

Shane rubbed a hand down his face. "We can't stay here long, we need to go for Carol and Sophia."

Elio knew he was right.

But leaving wouldn't be simple.

And the truth was, he wasn't sure what would happen next.

Hershel was back on the porch when Shane and Elio found him again, leaning against the railing with his arms crossed. He watched them approach with the same calm, unreadable expression he always had, but Elio could tell he was sizing them up.

Shane didn't waste time. "We need to head out for a bit."

Hershel arched a brow. "And why's that?"

Shane rested his hands on his hips. "Got two people waitin' on us. A woman and her daughter. We left 'em back in the woods while we checked this place out."

Hershel's gaze flicked between them. "You left them behind?"

Shane didn't even blink. "We weren't gonna bring 'em somewhere we weren't sure was safe."

Elio kept his face neutral, letting Shane take the lead. He could feel Hershel's skepticism, though the old man didn't outright challenge the lie.

"You're planning on bringing them here?" Hershel asked.

Shane nodded. "If that's alright."

Hershel sighed through his nose, rubbing a hand over his beard. "How old's the girl?"

"'Bout twelve," Shane answered.

That gave Hershel pause. He shifted his weight, then nodded slowly. "You bring them here, we'll give them a place to rest. But they'll have to follow the rules, same as you."

Shane nodded. "We appreciate it."

Hershel eyed him for a long moment before finally pushing off the railing. "Just be careful. Ain't safe out there."

Shane smirked. "Ain't safe anywhere."

Hershel didn't argue.

As they turned to leave, Elio let out a slow breath. He could feel the tension rolling off Shane, the way his body was still coiled tight.

Shane muttered under his breath, "Man's too damn trusting."

Elio glanced at him. "That's gonna change."

The road ahead was peaceful, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow over the trees. Rick and the group walked at an easy pace, their steps unhurried. Carol and Sophia were safe, and they knew exactly where to find them. There was no rush, no tension—just the quiet comfort of knowing everyone was accounted for. For now, the journey was simple, and they moved forward with a sense of calm assurance.