Jesse didn't take long to fall asleep after Carter had, he'd felt so much satisfaction and amusement at being able to both torment and talk to someone new after so long doing it to the same people, that he hadn't realised he'd gone overboard and pushed Carter to the edge. 

The next morning, he awoke to a blend of different smells: an earthy damp scent and the more unusual odor of dried blood and burnt wood mixed in a putrid aroma. Although it wasn't an overpowering scent, it was more like an old smell which clung to clothes and was near impossible to get rid of, Jesse had noticed it almost as soon as he entered the Hellscape, and it had been omnipresent ever since.

Groaning tiredly, Jesse sat up and yawned with a stretch. He'd noticed it last night as well, but he could hear the faint sound of running water, although it was clearer in the morning silence. A few feet away from him sat Violet and Naoko, who were gathering twigs and sticks and laying them out as if there was going to be a fire. 

Standing up, Jesse asked, "Where's Carter?"

Violet gave a small chuckle and replied, "I think he got bored of you cuddling him all night long, got up at the crack of dawn to the lake."

Jesse cringed, realising he probably spent the whole night clinging to Carter like a full-body pillow. 

"Oh god!" He laughed awkwardly, "Well, I better go apologise... and keep him company!"

Jesse began to walk off toward the direction of the running water before Violet called without turning around, "Wrong way!" 

Turning toward the ACTUAL sound of running water Jesse continued before hearing Noako call, "Jesse."

"Hm?"

"Remember he's not your friend. Or even acquaintance. He's just a guide, so don't get attached or bug him too much." 

Jesse nodded and waved his hand dismissively, "I won't, I won't! I'll just go see what he's up to."

Walking off, Jesse soon came to a small slope that revealed a stream. It was relatively clear and Jesse could even tell it was probably more like a river than a stream, since it looked like it would come up to his knees if he went in. It amazed him that something as simple as this could actually exist in the barren hellscpae devoid of life, but water was one of the few things the undead hated. Although you couldn't actually kill them by throwing water at them, they seemed to recognise the danger of drowning and stayed clear, this made it a great food source and fish actually swam there fear-free. Sat off to the side was Carter on a large rock. He wore army trousers and a black shirt that Jesse admitted really flattered him and his muscles. He was holding a small fishing rod, glaring with determination and seriousness at the river, as if it would will a fish to jump out into the bucket next to him. Jesse tried not to chuckle at his seriousness but failed, causing Carter to snap his head around to him in caution, before recognising Jesse and sighing with annoyance.

"What are you doing here?" He spat.

"Oh you know, come to help you, uhh... fishing." Jesse skipped over with an innocent smile.

Carter exhaled and replied, "Yeah I bet, you gonna try and kill me with one of your lectures on Easter this time? Or maybe you'll get that mixed up with New Years."

With a pout, Jesse decided to ignore that comment and redirect a question at Carter which had been bugging his brain since he first heard about him at the market.

"So, how do you know your way around the Hellscape anyway? You used to be a tour guide or something?"

Jesse had meant it as a joke, but seeing Carter's darkening expression made him a bit regretful. 

After a long pause, Jesse asked again with seriousness in his voice this time, "Are you a mercenary?"

After another long pause and an unchanging expression, Carter finally spoke, "I thought you said you didn't know anything about me."

Jesse wasn't lying about that part, "I don't. But I keep seeing that tattoo on the bottom of your neck." He said point to his own neck. 

Carter pulled at his collar-probably subconsciously-and replied, "So you can be observant."

Jesse wasn't expecting and answer and he thought he had probed enough and didn't want to seriously anger the man before Carter began, "It was a few years ago..."

~ 

Thanks for reading! Sorry it's late!

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