Alright dudes lets just dive right in

also, this chap is dedicated to @-ziall_horlik for the votes :) thank you bby!

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Niall felt a sweat droplet roll down the side of his temple, catching on his cheekbone and sliding down to his top lip. 

He quickly bit his lips, knowing the droplet would tickle him if he left it, and tasted the salty liquid. 

The gas mask he had on was fabulous at preventing chemicals from entering his mask, but also preventing his body heat from diffusing out. 

He was miserable and drenched with sweat, but almost back to the base. He had just picked up some bear berries along the margin of sand and jungle for his camp members to eat. 

As he was walking back to the makeshift cabin, Jenny's long, wheat-like hair caught Niall's eye.

Niall admired how hard Jenny worked, she was always taking the diamonds to wash and prep before each test. 

She seemed to be digging in the red sand by the ocean, as silt crumbled and glided over her pale hands. 

"Hey, Jenny!" He shouted, but soon winced as his own voice ricocheted off the mask. She didn't notice him, only focusing on the pouch of diamonds in front of her. 

Niall shrugged to himself, not bothered that she was more focused on the diamonds since she shouldn't be distracted anyways. 

As Niall approached the base, he glanced inside and saw Harry, his favorite member of the team, and smiled to himself. 

Harry was in deep thought, hunched over his desk and running his hand through his hair. 

Niall thought Harry seemed stressed, so he might need a little bit of cheering up. 

Sucking in a deep breath, Niall pressed his face up against the glass and knocked on the window. 

Harry jumped slightly, looking over at the sound of the noise and jumped once again. 

"Boo!" Niall shouted, his laughing eyes meeting with Harry's frightened ones. 

The leader shook his head with a small smile, beckoning Niall to come into the room. 

Once Niall had entered, he began tugging and pulling at his mask with all his might. 

Growing frustrated with how tight the rubber stuck to his face, Niall's movements became more jerked and hasty. 

"Let me help." Harry softly chuckled, placing his makeshift gun on the table and carefully sliding off the mask. 

Niall took in a deep breath of air, running his hands through his sweaty hair to cool off. "Why do you always make me wear that stupid thing?" 

"Just in case, bear. I dont want your safety in danger." Harry explained, hooking the mask back up for Niall. Jenny had entered the room, standing kind of awkwardly as if she was interrupting something.

"Okay, whatever you say, Doc," Niall softly smiled, "What are you working on here anyways?"

"Well, after testing my gun multiple times, ive come to the conclusion that the failure of my work isn't due to the gun. The aim, power, and pressure are all perfect. Im thinking it may be the diamonds im struggling on." Harry sighed, walking over to the other side of the desk and seeing Jenny. 

"Oh, perfect. Jenny, I appreciate all the work you put into cleaning and prepping the diamonds, but im thinking of going the extra mile and running them through my purifier to make sure they're extra clean. Once i do that, i'm pretty positive the cure for ghouls will be made," Harry smiled, giddy to start testing again, "Now, did you have the diamonds Niall collected earlier?" 

Jenny's posture stooped, and she looked away from Harry, "Um, about that, im so sorry but i dont think i have them anymore." 

"What do you mean?" Harry's smile fell, and he looked at her with concern.

"I dropped them." Jenny's voice raised an octave and she itched her head. 

"Well, go back and pick them up." 

"On the shore." 

Harry sucked in a deep breath, "You can grab an oar and scoop them out." 

"They've been swept away; I tried my hardest to grab sand balls and cover the diamonds in them so they didn't move, but i wasn't quick enough. Im sorry, Harry."

Harry closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and reopened, "I understand, sometimes mistakes happen, Jenny. But, this is about the fifth time this has happened. Please, try to get the diamonds under control, or i'll have Milly and Smile assist you next time." 

"Yes, of course, Harry." She quickly nodded, leaving the room since she couldn't bare being in the suffocating tension any longer. 

It was silent after she left. Niall walked over to Harry and placed a comforting hand on his back, "Im sorry about that, Harry. Im sure she didn't mean to." 

"Yea," He nodded, "I'm just frustrated, im trying my best to be mad at the situation and not her." 

"I understand," Niall comforted, "We can use some diamonds we already had here, in the meantime." 

"I used them all, we're out of diamonds now." Harry explained, letting out a sigh. 

Niall hated seeing Harry like this, all upset and down. He wanted to get diamonds for Harry, but he knew it would be very rare finding them. 

Nevertheless, Niall began thinking of places close by where he could find diamonds. He excluded the ocean, the sand and the seaweeds, but those were the only places he could go. 

Well, all the places unless he went outside Crimson cove and into the outside. 

The risks he faced going to the outside were tremendous, one of which risks being caught by a ghoul and feasted upon. 

However, he wanted to make Harry happy and he had always been a little curious as to what was outside. Plus, he knew he could get by, although the risks he faced were devastating, they were also slim. 

Now, he just had to think of a place to go where diamonds could be stashed. Not in the jungle, nor the old school, but possibly in the mall. 

He'd heard that the mall was a term used for a giant building with smaller, specialized buildings inside it. 

One of them had to have diamonds, Niall was sure. Humans loved those, and objects with gold and silver on it. 

So, it was set; Niall was going to the mall to grab some diamonds for Harry. 

"Im going to, um, go, but i'll be back soon." Niall stuttered, feeling bad for lying to Harry but knowing that if he didn't, Harry would never let him go. 

"Go where?" Harry looked over at him, his slow voice seeping into Niall's guilt. 

"Away." 

"Bear, please?" 

Niall cursed himself for being so bad with Harry, and with one sigh he spilled, "Im going to go to the mall to scavenge for some diamonds for you." 

"No, Im fine with no having diamonds so long as i have you." Harry's voice was firm and decisive. 

"You can have both, after i get back." Niall tried, giving a small half smile to show his hope. 

"Trust me, the mall is a very dangerous place filled with raiders. The choice is yours, but i would strongly avoid leaving Crimson cove." Harry advised. 

"Well, then how do you expect to get any more diamonds?" Niall asked, trying his best to seem polite.

"I dont know," Harry admitted, "But we'll figure it out. I just want you to be safe, you know that right?" 

Niall nodded, "Yes, thank you." 

"Did you know you're also my favorite?" Harry murmured, a small smile on his lips. 

Niall smiled back, nodding his head. Harry took him into a hug and kissed the top of Nialls head, "And it would kill me to see you in harms way."

The older boy felt guilty, knowing he was leaving to get those diamonds no matter what. 

Niall knew how to be safe, he scavenges around Crimson cove all the time, so he can just scavenge around the mall in the same manner, right?

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dun dun duuuuun, he finna leave :0

hope you dudes enjoyed this chap!