When Lugh finally came up, Alec could feel his heart pounding fast. He could not wait for their night together. They would have to be fast though, to avoid the risk of being caught.

Once Lugh rose, he blushed as he saw that Alec was already lying on the old mattress, completely naked under the sheets.

Lugh wasted no time to take his own jacket off, just before lying in the mattress next to Alec, taking his lover's lips against his right away. He took the time to caress his leader's stiffening cock, going up and down slowly with his hands as if he was born to do it. If someone told Alec that Lugh would dominate the technique of pleasuring him in less than a week, he would think they were lying, but his boyfriend always surprised him.

"Come on Darlin." Alec whispered in a needy voice. They had to be as quiet as possible.

It took a while of practicing with fruits until Lugh learned how to not use his teeth, but it wasn't like Alec minded at all. Just being with Lugh was enough for him. The hunter felt in heaven as soon as Lugh had his mouth wrapped all around him.

He was still quite tentative, always learning and quite clumsy, but all Alec could feel was an intense love and pride for the man between his legs.

This time Lugh tried to take Alec to the hilt, but he almost choked himself, blushing embarrassed because he could not do it.

"I'm sorry." Lugh coughed, trying to take a breath.

Alec just smiled once more. "Don't you worry. No need to try and do everything at once."

Lugh just nodded and started his ministrations all over again. This time he caught a good rhythm, palming at his own pants while doing so. It didn't take long for Alec to come undone in his lover's throat. Lugh swallowed everything and cleaned the sides of his mouth before throwing his stained shirt and put a new black one, while Alec dressed up too.

Once their hearts stopped beating so fast, Lugh laid down with Alec, resting his head upon his hunter's chest. They changed a few more pecks and some caresses as well.

"Love you..." Lugh confessed in a very soft whisper.

"Ya too..." Alec replied with a soft blush upon his cheeks.

They changed a couple more kisses and everything felt perfect. They were so distracted with their kisses that they didn't even hear the steps from downstairs.

A knock made Alec get up, putting his vest on and opened the door. It was the butcher in the Black Market, Newt.

"There was an attack on the trade wagon."

"Is everyone alright?" Alec announced, Lugh coming behind him to listen, and gasp in shock.

"The rider died, the rest are safe."

"Who attacked 'em?"

Newt sighed, eyes glancing down his feet. "Flyer Frontiers."

"They were merciless, the kids had no choice to kill them," his voice was grim, and it was clear that Newt's interaction with this new had been anything but pleasant. "All disguise in the snow, high caliber rifles. Killing. And they said one of the people's names, Kal. After the fight, the man escaped, Max tried to chase him but couldn't catch up." Fear struck though Lugh's heart, and it must have shown on his face, because Alec stood up and to stand close to him, one hand on the small of his back, rubbing in circles.

"It's gonna be alright. We'll get that boy talking," Alec said. He was speaking to all of them, but Lugh knew the words were meant to comfort him specifically. "We're gonna make that boy talk, tell us who they are, see if they are actually Flyer Frontiers. Nobody's getting in here without a fight. And if they try, we'll win."

Lugh sat down the bed and was very clearly a ball of nerves. He sat fitfully, and was too anxious. The news of the Flyer Frontier or so what of a group potentially close to them had hit hard- they had just settled in, finally found some peace, and now this? He couldn't imagine how Lugh felt, but he could guess by the anxious, tense way he sat on the bed, fingers clenching around the sheets beside him. When Alec sank down beside him, Lugh drew him into an embrace immediately, burying his face into the curve of Alec's neck and breathing deeply.

"Shh, darlin'. It's alright. I fucking promise you, we're gonna be alright," he soothed, his arms tight around Lugh. He hated how shaky Lugh's short breaths were, tight and panicked. Alec layered gentle kisses onto his cheeks and jawline, wishing there was some way to ease the unrest that he saw in the smaller man's eyes. He stroked Lugh's face, thumbing over his cheek.

Lugh leaned his forehead against Alec's, the gesture sweet and trusting and intimate, and Alec felt his heart give an aching squeeze in his chest. "I've been with them so long," Lugh said. "I know what they do. Maybe it's actually them, they did once said about if something happens they hide until the time is right. I've fought people before. I've fought hard to survive. If we have to fight for this place, we'll win. I know we will. I just... fuck. I'm scared. I hate feeling like this."

Alec drew Lugh down to lay beside him on the bed, their lips so close that Alec could feel the warm puff of Lugh's breath against him. "You've told me and what I see you're strong. It was hard for you, the beatings, threats against your life, your friend. It's okay to be scared. But, we can fight this. This ain't the first time we've dealt with 'em. It tolled us when Negan came back with terrified kids, all abused and broken. We'll figure it out once the boy spills the beans."

"Don't be harsh on him," Lugh murmured, inching closer so that their bodies were flush against each other. Alec quirked an eyebrow. "What you mean?"

"Nathan has to be a military officer for the Flyer Frontiers, yet Kal... he's a kid. He's not them."

"Of course, I know. Don't worry."

"Alec? Can I ask you a question, and be honest."

"'Course."

"If you didn't know me and I told you I was a Flyer Frontier, would you've trusted me?"

He frowned under his long hair. "Lugh..."

"Please."

"No. You tell a person from how they move, talk, their eyes, reaction. And what I see is a man who's been through abuse to survive."

"Before we go, can you just take this off my mind? Anything, please." Alec knew that wasn't what he was offering, but the thought skittered across his mind anyway: Lugh, soft and flushed and underneath him.

He forced the image away, heat coiling inside of him. Instead of dwelling on it, he leaned in, his lips brushing Lugh's. "I can do that."

-:-:-:-:-

A dozen people came running between the apartments and markets and into the house where it had a long table where Lugh, Alec, and two Bounty Hunters- Mike Sweeney and Basher Clay- sitting like a jury in a court, and when Kal entered, everyone looked at him for a second, and then their eyes snapped back to stare at the jury. Kal sees the kids way behind the crowd. The RK's had worry looks at Kal, particularly Rin couldn't sit still in her chair as Killeen moves a hand over hers to calm her down. Max look intently at Kal like he's reading his thoughts.

"We ask you question and you answer. Be truthfully, and we discuss what to do with you." Lugh said.

Immediately people started to bicker and yelled at Kal, calling him traitor, murder, and a Flyer Frontier. It was chaos and he knows there's nothing to convince the people.

"Enough!" Growled Basher Clay.

"We don't know if the Flyer Frontiers exist," Basher Clay said more gently, looking from the crowd to Kal and back. "If they do exist, we can't make assumptions that he's one of them."

"Thank you," said Lugh. "Your name is Kal, right?"

"Yes."

"Who are you?"

"I really don't know myself, expect I am fifteen years old. I had once a family before, but they never cease to exist in my life. I love guns; well everyone should since it's the Ruins. I like to have friends, to have people to hang around with. Being alone isn't fun, sometimes I become a bit crazy to talk to myself, but that wouldn't be the crazy thing to see. I- I have a place, more of a camp. Not very much of us. Our group is, well, a bunch of kids. Like the RK's. Some two years old than me and the rest are younger. We trust each other and protect each other and we aren't a threat to anyone. If fact, we keep searching for a place to stay, a place to be safe, and never worry about anything. Just like where I am. The truth is I am no threat, and if I was I wouldn't succeed."

"Come on, now," said a man irritably.

Lugh looked at the man insistently, and he lowered himself down

Alec had eyes the color of the ocean, but at that moment Kal thought they looked as cold as ice. There was no trace of compassion or humanity on his face. All he could see was the hunter, the loner. Basher Clay started to get up, but suddenly Alec was there. Before Kal could move or speak Alec crouched his body over Kal.

"Remove your sleeve." He snapped.

"No...," Kal croaked.

"Alec..." Said Lugh.

"I can tell you I'm..." Kal stopped, but Alec didn't stop. To prove it he pulled up the sleeve of the shirt and fear was rising Kal now, replacing his terror inch by inch. Alec, and only Alec, could see many long scars along his forearm, and a burnt mark of the letter 'F'. He then puts his sleeve back on gently.

"Flyer Frontiers use bars as brands or a change in appearance. These marks are nothing like them." He whisper to Kal before going back to the wooden table.

"How are the Flyer Frontiers alive?"

"Some are," Kal replied. "We're called the Frontiers. After the fall of the Flyer Frontiers, some were alive and weak. Many died from starvation, suicide, and being killed by others for revenge. Then there's this woman, she found two people who were military armies. Ever since, she raided as she forced others to join, mostly who were Flyer Frontiers. When she went into Nevada, she found a community, build structured wall, and brought people. That's where they're named Frontiers; "we forged from the fire and ash, and are reborn to raid the weak". The Frontiers are ruthless, raid community after community for supplies; it's how to survive. There's the cattle and there are the alpha's- the Frontiers." He sighed and ran his hand over his hair. "There are kids being trained as Frontiers, killing people. I was trained as a guardsmen. I couldn't handle it, I had to escape, but it cost a lot of lives. It's hard to escape, but me and other kids made it out."

"How many Frontiers are there?" Asked Mike Sweeney.

"Probably hundreds of hundreds. Could be more."

Then the crowd went into sudden madness. They screamed at Kal, demanding justice to kill the boy before he spills the secrets. They wanted more answers, and Kal yelled over his lungs to tell everything he knows.

"Listen!" He cried. "The Frontiers are unstoppable, they are merciless. They come to communities and destroy them. If not, become their slaves. I'm not a Frontier; me and other kids ran away. We want a place to be safe. Please," he pleaded towards Lugh. "I just want my people safe. I can tell you the Frontiers community. I know a weakness they have. Please, don't take me back there."

Then Lugh raised his band and the crowd finally shut up.

"Who else is with you?"

"The others are up northwest, and a guy is going up north to find a community. He wants the Frontiers dead and will explain immediately yo the community to stop the Frontiers."

Lugh nodded.

Kal looked at him he saw a complexity of emotions swirling in his green eyes. He gave a reassuring smile, and he wondered, not for the first time, if he understood his desperation. Or had this experience before.

"We'll continue this discuss and make a decision. Alec, take Kal with you."

Or maybe Kal was wrong.

-:-:-:-:-

"This really sucks," said Kal. "Hope the others are fine." He leaned his head back and looked at his jail cell.

Alec leaned at the wall. He had not spoken a single word since the confrontation of Kal's announcement. He looked unhappy, sadness swirled under his monotone face.

"I saw your scars. Not just the marks. Those are beatings, I know ways of whipping, choking, hits. They're ain't hard to puncture through the skin and muscles and tendons. But a knife, at a certain angle, you slice just enough for pain but not to cut any veins or arteries."

He almost flinched. He could feel his muscles, but he didn't. Maybe because he was too tired from the lack of sleep, panic, terror and a night of running. Or maybe because this man did see the harm that's been done.

Kal caved forward onto his knees. Alec did not ask him to stop crying.

"The leader is, a woman of status. Was a great commander. Everyone has a place to begin with; Frontiers are militant, strong men. No female because of weakness of affection and desire. The women stay at the wall, clean and cook and do our ammunition, no breaks, no rest. Folks that are gardeners are important and must be capable, they are the sheep. They get the beatings the most- eat an apple they are publicly shot. I... I'm sorry," he said in a pale whisper.

He nodded. "'s fine."

"And the kids. Age five to eighteen, are trained as soldiers. We are selected as to who is the alpha of the Frontier, and if we make it we get the brand. But if some don't, either cut one part of themselves or public death. We all been beaten at a point, and I hated them for so long I wanted to kill them all. I made the choice to keep kids safe, even if it means to sacrifice myself. I wanted to find a place to be safe, a place where I don't have to look behind my back and worry about anybody of us as Frontiers." He sniffed, wiping his eyes. "It doesn't matter what I say. Frontiers are Flyer Frontiers, we are wanted, unworthy. We're spotted, it's the loose rope to us."

"Maybe," Alec said. "But people have a choice. Be those assholes or not."

"How can you trust me? You're not doing this from your lover."

He frowned and came up on the cage as Kal slide away from Alec, fear panicked in his eyes. "Flyer Frontier, Frontier or not, I see a person- a kid- beaten and just survivin'. Both of you were them, but you ain't like them. People get scared, thinking that there's monsters. There is, but the world is shit, yet there's people doing good. No one sees it."

"Were you hit?"

Alec didn't flinch, however his mind raced. He had a emotionless expression as his thoughts try so hard not to think back those pasts. Kal stared at the man's face. He had the eyes that have old and new lights into it. Then he crossed his legs and lowered himself down the ground. He sat in front of him, the bars inching them away, the sunlight making his scuffed heard glow, and he gnawed at his lip.

"Yes," he said and he allowed it, and that was enough.

The door to the cell opened, and Lugh and Basher Clay came in. Alec started to stand up. They exchange looks at each other. Lugh steps towards the cell, stared a narrow eye at Kal before he reaches at his pocket and takes out keys and unlocks the cells.

Kal froze, unsure to step out.

"It's okay. It wasn't easy to convince the people, so we have to hide you in a place for a while. You describe every part of the Frontier, and I mean every detail. Their tactics, routes, supplies, people, everything you have. Once we got it, we'll get troops from other communities to fight with us against the Frontiers."

"T-Thank you... Why..."

"I've seen your eyes. I know what it's like to survive by them."

"You were one too?"

"A Flyer Frontier. Only a few know. Still unsure to express myself towards others, especially now there's a new threat."

In a sudden Kal's eyes widen, realizing that he can't leave. "The Frontiers are heading towards this direction. I have to help you-"

"And you will," Lugh insisted, "but I can't make you leave, you're a target. Both inside and outside the Tradepost. The RK's will watch over you, and you do anything, there's a chance I won't change my mind about you."

Kal sighed, frustrated that he only has to describe the fight. He needs to go back to Nevada, to his people.

To warn them.

The Frontiers are going to decimate them, and nothing can stop them.

-:-:-:-:-

Nathan hide under his coat, the snow covered it turning it black to white. The walk went miles, there were no breaks in between his heavy breathes. He can't stop, he's so close to find her.

When he found the Infected Famous Card, his heart stopped. It wrecked Nathan so much he crumpled to his knees, his face moistened that he never felt in such a long time. He became determine to finding her. He needs to see her face. He pondered if the picture is that accurate to her as a teenager or was she different. In fact, will she look like her. He considered so much, and after that he wants to know what happened to her. If she's alive and happy, dead or unwell and not the person that she was suppose to be raised. It's scary to say at the least; she never seen him or recognize him so it gives an advance to just look at her. Nathan is too long desperate to reach out to her.

But what will he do to her? Will she understand him.

He won't know until he meets her, alone and no one around her.

He grips on the card that read out a new Savior as he reaches over a hill to see the snow covered town of Jackson. Beyond the two mountains at between the peaks he sees a tall, grey chamber. He reaches out to pull out his binoculars, and he follows the exhaust chambers downwards. There he sees in the binoculars a faded factory. He's van trust his gut and his gut saying she's here.

He glances down at the card of the Savior- Mal, and grips it into his pocket as he goes downwards towards the town.