I know, I know I'm such an awful person. (Cowers behind a desk in a ball.) I just couldn't help myself. I've played the game more than once and every time I see these two interact my yaoi instincts whisper to me, do it, doooooooo iiiiiiiiit, and every fangirl/boy knows that you can't ignore yaoi instincts.

One thing to keep in mind for this story. For those who know the game, Crane got to Rahim before he set the explosives, so he was saved and didn't die, then Crane went and blew up the volatile nest.

Disclaimer: I don't own Dying Light.

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His body ached.

Every muscle in Crane's body was screaming at him from the exhausting run just now.

It was supposed to be a simple air drop recovery before dark, but he didn't take into account the possibility of running into Rais' thugs torturing some poor survivors. They were no match for his sword but needless to say, saving them took a huge chunk of his remaining daylight. Thus when he got to the air drop his watch was already beeping, signaling the start of a long night. He could've easily spent the night at a safe house, but the tower was really low on medical supplies and he was already more than halfway to the drop when he had adequate amount of light left.

Just as he grabbed the last bit of medical supplies from the crates, a volatile spotted him and began pursuing him. Now normally Crane would jump to the nearest safe zone and just wait until dawn, but every time he came within a safe zone vicinity there just happened to be a collection of volatiles guarding the entrances. Had his hands have been free of supplies he would've taken the lot of them out with his sword. Cursing he passed them up and sprinted to the next one hoping he would get lucky. This happened again and again until he found himself near the tower and realized that his best bet at this point would be making it there alive.

Crane sighed, running a hand along his sore neck. He had just finished giving the supplies to the quartermaster and was headed towards the elevator. He was looking forward to sleeping in the entire day now that they had restocked.

Once the door opened on the nineteenth floor, he slumped his way around the gate towards his bed. Just as he neared the room marked guards a voice called out to him.

"Crane."

He turned his head slowly to see Jade running up to him.

The aching operative sighed and placed a hand on the wall to support his weight as he answered her tiredly. "Yeah?"

She sighed and bit her lip, looking anywhere else other than him. Eyeing her more closely Crane could see the faint signs of tear tracks glistening off her face in the dim tower lights.

He became worried.

"Jade, what's wrong?" He asked more alert now than he was a moment ago. Did someone turn while he was gone?

Her glistening eyes shifted over to Crane before sighing loudly. "It's Rahim..."

Crane's eyes widened. "What about Rahim?" His hand left the cold wall, no longer needing it for support.

Jade opened her mouth then closed it again. She placed a hand over her eyes and shook her head. "He...He's just..." She sighed heavily. "Look, he's been drinking again and you know when he drinks he gets depressed." She held her arms to comfort herself. "He's been different since the incident with the volatile hive, so I went up there to check on him, but when I went to bring him inside he threw a bottle at me and ran to the edge of the building and told me that if I got any closer he would...he would jump off." She choked back a sob as she brought a hand to cover her mouth.

Crane reached out and gripped her shoulder firmly to steady her.

She looked over to him and inhaled deeply. "Please Crane, will you go talk to him? At least get him away from the edge before he falls to his death. I already asked Brecken for help, but Rahim acted the same way to him."

Crane tensed at the thought of the Rahim doing something as stupid as falling off the tower and immediately started heading for the top floor.

He stopped momentarily to look back at Jade, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it." Without a second to spare he was running up the stairs, ignoring the pain shooting through his body. He needed to get to Rahim before he did something stupid like last time.

Arriving at the top he noticed two things. One, Rahim was dangerously close to tower's edge, and two he was visibly swaying. Knowing that sneaking up behind him would probably result in the worst scenario he decided to make himself known.

"Rahim?" He let his boots clunk loudly against the pavement to let the other know he was there.

Said kid turned around sluggishly, showing the half empty bottle in his left hand. "Crane?" He slurred, turning around to face the operative. His confusion only lasted a second before it turned to anger. He looked behind him and then at Crane frantically.

Crane held up his hands. "Easy kid, I'm not here to bring you inside I just want to talk." When Rahim didn't move he took small steps towards him.

Rahim only glared at him. "That's e-exactly what Brecken and...and Jade said before they..." He groaned and gripped his pounding head with his free hand.

Crane edged closer while Rahim was distracted. "We'll, I'm not them. Now what's bothering you? It's not the incident with the volatile hive again is it?"

Rahim was silent.

Crane took a few more steps to him until he was within arms reach. He didn't do anything yet, not wanting the kid to back up to his death. He then noticed Rahim's shoulders slump.

"A-all I want is to be useful like you...a-and Jade and Brecken." He swayed a bit, making Crane ready his arms to grab him. He was getting nervous just watching the kid teeter against life and death.

Crane cocked a brow at his words. "Jeez Rahim not this again."

Rahim removed his hand, revealing glistening eyes. He gave Crane a sad smile and continued. "You t-three are a-always d-doing something for the tower, but me...I'm not doing anything!" He threw the bottle down, shattering it into tiny pieces.

"I-I should be out there...risking my life like you guys do. I should be running errands, even if it's just getting air drops or manning the front entrances. I-if I could do anything other than listen to that radio, then I would be doing something useful." He whimpered taking a slight step backwards.

Crane tensed and took a step forward, shaking his head. "Kid, you and I both know that you would get hurt out there if you were a runner, besides you do help. You listen in for any survivors or whoever else is on frequency." He took another step towards Rahim. "You help on the inside of the tower, where you're guaranteed more safety."

Rahim clenched his teeth and lowered his head. "No I'm...I'm only a burden. That's why I was given the job of messing with that radio...it's so I stay out of the way." He clenched his fists tightly and shot his head up. "But I could do it! I-I could be a runner just like you and help out!" He lashed out at Crane who narrowed his eyes and moved forward.

"Help? Don't you remember what happened the last time you helped?" A hand shot out and grasped Rahim's arm. "Omar died and you nearly lost your life as well! If it wasn't for me getting you to Lena and Zere in time you would've turned! If you went out there again you would wind up either dead or a biter, and then what huh? I would have to kill you, you're sister would be heartbroken, and Brecken would be angry at himself for letting you go out there in the first place!"

Rahim flinched at Crane's harsh words and backed up.

His foot ran out of pavement and slipped off the edge. He let out a cry as he fell backwards. "Ahh!"

Crane's eyes widened and shot out his other hand immediately latching onto the arm he was already holding. Rahim gasped and glanced up at Crane to see panic and worry in those eyes as the operative pulled him up.

Once Rahim was safely back on the roof Crane sighed, "You don't get it do you kid? You're too important to people to go risking your life when someone else could do it. Do you know how worried Jade and Brecken would be? H-How worried I'd be?" he stuttered, turning his head away from Rahim.

Just as surprise washed over Rahim, he was pulled roughly into Crane's chest. Strong arms wrapped themselves tightly around the kid as Crane fought the heat creeping up his neck. The operative wasn't normally like this, but Rahim needed this and he felt the sudden urge to be the one to show the kid just how important he was.

It was dead silent, the only source of noise coming from the lights buzzing from being turned on. Rahim didn't move a single muscle. He just let Crane hold him tightly, relishing in the comforting embrace.

Just as Crane was about to pull away he felt Rahim's shoulders shake. He looked down at the kid in his arms to see his form quivering. A small snivel was barely heard through Crane's shirt, but it was enough to make the operative move again. With Rahim still encased in his arms, he gently backed away from the edge of the tower and into the wall near the door. He loosened his hold around the kid and waited to see if he would try and run. When he didn't Crane slid down the cold building and sat with his legs wide open. After making himself as comfortable as he could he grabbed the kid's hand and pulled him down into his chest.

Rahim grunted as his body collided against Crane's, a fierce blush quickly spreading across Rahim's cheeks once his brain registered that he was resting in between Crane's legs with his head on the operative's chest.

Not being able to hold back the tears anymore, Rahim gripped the front of Crane's shirt and buried his face in the warm, inviting chest and cried. The operative felt his heart tug painfully at the sight of the broken kid and wound his arms around him once again. This only made Rahim cry harder. He could feel the kid's tears soaking through his shirt, but he didn't care. All that mattered was comforting Rahim.

About half an hour later, Rahim's cries died into soft snivels.

His face was still buried within the warmth of Crane's chest, not yet ready to lose the comfort it offered him. With Rahim in a more stable state, Crane took to running one of his hands in a comforting motion up and down the kid's back. He felt Rahim's grip slacken and his snivels reduce to nothing as he turned his head to the side.

Crane stopped his actions and waited to see if Rahim would say anything.

After what seemed like hours Rahim muttered the other's name weakly. "Crane..."

Said man shifted his neck to the side to get a better view of Rahim's face. "Yeah?"

Rahim paused briefly before continuing. "Is it true? That you'd worry about me if I were a runner?" He didn't look dare look at Crane, as if expecting to be told it was a lie to get him away from the tower's edge.

Crane's grip around him tightened. "Of course I would." He could already feel his face heating up again. "I get worried about you all the time while running out there. Wondering if you're up here drinking and brooding on things like this." He admitted softly.

Rahim lifted his head weakly to give Crane a sincere smile before passing out on his chest. Crane sighed, hearing soft snores coming from the kid's mouth. He went to move Rahim off of him, but every time he would move, the kid would grunt disapprovingly in his sleep. Eventually Crane gave up on trying to move him all together. The operative stiffened as he felt Rahim's arms circle around his waist, making it impossible for Crane to even think about escaping.

Knowing he was trapped, Crane got comfortable for the night.

He looked up at the dark sky and mused over Rahim's words. 'I want to be useful like you! I'm nothing but a burden!' Is it true? That you'd worry about me if I were a runner?' Crane groaned, rubbing his tired eyes. He looked down at the sleeping kid in his arms and felt his heart skip a beat as Rahim moaned and nuzzled into his chest.

He felt the corners of his mouth tug into a smile. He ran a single hand through Rahim's short hair as he whispered, "Fucking kid."

He wrapped his arms protectively around Rahim and finally let sleep claim him knowing that the kid was alright now.

0o0o0o0o0o

Jade tossed and turned in her bed. After Crane left she set out to get some shut eye in her room, but sleeping seemed to be the last thing on her mind. Worrying about her brother prevented Jade from doing anything but sleeping. She turned on her back and stared at the ceiling. Thoughts of Rahim falling off the tower kept her wide awake, resulting in her getting out of bed to pace around for a while until ultimately sitting back on the bed again.

Jade sighed and rested her face in her hands. Until she stopped worrying so much she could kiss her sleep goodbye. She lifted her face and eyed the door, musing over whether she should go check on them or not. Jade scowled as she thought about how Rahim acted toward her earlier and decided it would probably be best to not go up there if Crane was actually making progress with him.

It had been like this for a couple hours now and she couldn't help but think that Crane should have told her something by now. She looked over at her watch and sighed as it read 3 am. Jade ran a hand over her exhausted eyes and shook her head. She had to remind herself that if something bad happened that Crane would be down here already. 'They're probably talking still. He seems to have a way with Rahim that no one else does.'

Sighing, she flopped back down on the bed and closed her eyes, trying to ease her mind into sleeping with the knowledge of her brother and Crane talking everything out. It took a while but it worked. Soon Jade felt her eyes become too heavy to keep open anymore, and all sound seemed to fade away as she succumbed to darkness.

0o0o0o0o0o

It was dawn when Jade awoke and to her surprise when she surveyed the room Rahim was not in it with her. Her blood ran cold as thoughts of Rahim dead clouded her mind. Worried, she jumped out of bed and rushed to the top floor. 'He should have been in the room with me by now.' She thought frantically as she climbed the stairs.

Once Jade reached the top she gripped the frame of the door way and scanned the area for Crane and her brother. Panic began to overtake her until she turned to her right. Relief quickly washed over her as she saw both Crane and Rahim asleep against the wall. No longer worried, she sighed and placed a hand over her pounding heart to calm her nerves.

She then placed her hands on her hips and cocked a brow as she observed the position the two were in. Jade had to stifle a chuckle when Crane tightened his arms and pulled Rahim closer to his chest. Knowing she could use this in future arguments with both of them she hurried back down to get Brecken. She needed a witness to counteract their denial later.

Jade knocked several times on Brecken's door, hoping he'd hear her this early in the morning. The doors opened immediately revealing the parkour instructor, having been awake an hour earlier than Jade he yawned. "Something wrong Jade?" He asked tiredly.

Jade shook her head and grinned. "No, but you should really come see this."

Brecken eyed her suspiciously, but followed her to the top floor. Normally when Jade suggested he see things they were either important or highly amusing.

Once outside Jade held up her hand for him to be still. While putting a finger to her lips she pointed to the right. Brecken stared at her with a puzzled look until he turned in the direction she pointed. He chuckled softly and shook his head at the sight of Crane holding Rahim against him tightly while they slept.

He leaned over to Jade. "Guess you'll need to have Crane deal with Rahim more often." He teased before leaving her alone on the roof with them.

Jade hmed, "I guess he's got other uses than being a runner." She smiled at the cute scene and made her way downstairs to get started on the day.

Those new guys needed guidance on their fist air drop runs and she was the one in charge of that. She would also have to take care of Rahim's job for the day as well, not that she minded really. Whatever kept her brother out of harms way.

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So this will be a three or four part thing heh heh ^^;