Work Text:
When Cooper leaves, a part of Blaine goes with him.
The last war. That's what they called it. Not against the dead. Not exactly.
But they were the ones who took his brother.
Blaine and Sebastian run through the building, searching every room for traces of their son.
The chaos outside is too much. Bullets, growls, blows. And Blaine can't take it for another second.
He kicks the empty crib in room ten. Pulls his hair slightly as he growls. Sebastian grabs his shoulders in an attempt to console him. But Blaine knows he's a damn mess too.
Blaine melts into the safety and warmth of his husband's arms. Sebastian holds him, and Blaine does the same. Until gunfire erupts. Both jump slightly and separate by barely an inch.
The shots are too close, and they know they have to leave. Maybe it's their people, maybe not. They have to go.
They run down the hall, taking their own weapons, aiming at every corner, alert, until they reach the first floor and step outside.
They follow the sound of gunfire one street down and see him.
Cooper is at the far end, shooting and striking a horde of walkers far too big for him to handle. Blaine staggers slightly. Sebastian has to hold him.
Cooper turns, carrying Landon in his arms. Unconscious. His small body limp as Cooper maneuvers between crushing skulls and avoiding teeth.
Blaine and Sebastian run to them. They start shooting from a distance. And the closer they get, the more visible the bloodstains on Cooper's body become.
Cooper runs out of bullets, loses the gun, which is ripped from his hand by a bite.
His arms are bleeding everywhere, so he pushes. Uses his body to make his way through the wave of the dead.
Chunks of his skin and flesh are ripped off by teeth until Blaine and Sebastian finish off the remaining walkers.
When it's done, Cooper collapses to his knees before them. He never lets go of his nephew's body.
Blaine falls in front of him and takes the boy. Cooper smiles at him, eyes bright and mouth bloody. "They sedated him. He's okay."
Blaine nods, a lump in his throat. Sebastian kneels before them and takes their son.
When Blaine's hands are free, his brother's body falls into them. And Blaine holds him the whole time until the spasms stop. His brother stops breathing. His brother is gone.
Blaine holds his breath too long, refusing to blink so the tears won't run uncontrollably. His eyes sting, his lungs burn, and he pleads for air.
"B." Sebastian's hand falls on his shoulder.
Blaine nods. He knows what he means.
The body in his arms starts to move. Small spasms. A groan so low he almost misses it.
"I'll do it." Sebastian says, kneeling before him. "B, come on." His voice is slightly breaking.
He knows. He does it. He knows he has to.
The body moves more, groans louder, and Sebastian pulls Blaine. But Blaine doesn't move. The body that has returned as something no longer his brother twists, bites the air, and Blaine holds his head so it won't move. He doesn't let go. Not yet.
"B, please." Sebastian begs, tugging at his shirt.
The walker's teeth snap together, too close to Blaine's skin. Then it stops. The body falls lifeless on Blaine's legs.
Blaine pulls the knife from his brother's head and tosses it aside.
The air is heavy. The wind stops blowing, and they stop breathing. Until a sob cuts through Blaine's body. He hugs his brother, trembling as the tears finally come. He lets them. He lets himself feel. He sobs, shakes, and feels. All at once. And he thinks he might die of pain in that moment.