It's Been 20 Years
Welcome to my first Nuke fanfic! I hope you enjoy it but first, some warnings...
-This is a Luke/Nick relationship. If you don't like it, don't read it!
-There's also some detailed scenes that may be a little disturbing, so read at your own 'risk'? (I think that makes sense) ;_;
-Smutty scenes however not graphic or extremely in detail. (If you know what I mean.)
This fic was intended to be a one-shot, however I got slightly carried away so it became short story.
Anyway, hope you enjoy and please leave a review! :D
Chapter 1- Eleven Days After Her Death
It was a cool but dark day. The sky was grey and dull, leaving not one white cloud to be seen. Every minute felt like it was going to rain and thunder, but it didn't… The weather became tedious, leaving the cabin group of seven miserable… Even Sarah felt down in the dumps, reading her favourite book over and over again until the words stuck inside her head.
Only eleven days ago, Nick's mother died. Only eleven days ago, the entire cabin group were foolish enough to take in a bite victim. At the time, they didn't know… But their mistakes cost someone their life, that being Nick's mother… Her death left Peter Joseph Randall sorrowful and quiet, but the person who felt most sunken and down, was Nick…
The black haired man became silent, not speaking unless forced to. Even then it would only be a grumble of an answer or 'whatever'. At first, Nick thought speaking to his uncle would help him; it always ended with a heated argument…
Luke couldn't help but to notice Nick's sudden change in attitude. He'd known his friend for almost twenty years, however he'd never seen Nick in such a huge depression. Ever since Nick's mother died, Luke tried to talk to his friend, but every time, Nick would push him away as if he was now worthless. Inside, he knew Nick was just depressed, still, it has been eleven long distressing days and Nick still hadn't snapped out of it. It would take time to overcome this pain, however this was becoming a little too much… Nick would never be happy again until he actually sat down and talked to someone properly.
Luke twisted the doorknob of his door and stepped outside. It had been hours since he had left his room. Knowing Nick was depressed made him depressed. Unlike Nick, Luke could take a breather and not be stuck alone in an isolated room…
The brunette sighed and ran his hand through his wavy locks and made his way down stairs. Already, Luke could see Carlos, Sarah, Alvin and Rebecca sitting in the living room talking amongst themselves. Sarah was reading, yet again the same old book. Her facial expression looked concentrated as she only had eyes for the page she was reading. Noticing Luke's presence, Sarah's eyes flicked away from the page and onto Luke.
"Oh, hi Luke!" Sarah said cheerfully.
"Hey Sarah." Luke replied with a smile as he came up next to her and ruffled her black hair with his fingers.
The teen girl giggled and then went straight back to reading, making Luke chuckle.
"Luke, it's been a while…" Carlos says, darting his eyes away from the group and to Luke. His face seemed worried and concerned.
"Yeah, uh… sorry bout that…" Luke stammered, rubbing the back of his head.
"Are you okay?" Carlos asked, Rebecca and Alvin also looking up, faces full of concern.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine, just worried about Nick and Pete…" Luke replies, searching the room with his eyes to notice Pete and Nick wasn't present.
"Pete's in his room, working on a fish trap I think…" Alvin stated, noticing Luke's wondering gaze and pushing up his glasses slightly as they were sliding down the bridge of his nose.
"Is he okay?" Luke questioned.
"He's fine… Nick though…" Carlos began to say.
"Speaking of Nick, where is he?" Luke asked concerned.
"Where'd you think?" Carlos replied, raising an eyebrow slightly.
"On the porch, for like the one hundredth time…" Rebecca answers, leaning back into her seat and placing a hand over her stomach.
Luke's face creases with worry… again. Ever since Nick's mother died, Nick would either be in his room or on the porch. He would stand against the wooden railing staring into nothing, expression saddened.
"He's been really sad lately, I wanted to read stories with him but he ignored me…" Sarah says, looking up from her book and to Luke, voice disheartened.
"Oh I'm really sorry Sarah…" Luke says sympathetically.
Sarah lets out a small smile before going straight back to her book.
"Yes, I thought that was quite rude of him to push Sarah away like that…" Carlos explains.
"Dad, it's okay…" Sarah tried to say, but Luke came in first.
"Look, I'm sorry that he did that, but Nick just needs some time!" Luke snaps back in defence of his friend. He didn't mean to sound so rude but blaming Nick for his actions was not right…
"Luke, Nick has had enough time! He's going to continue being like this if no one does anything… We've tried but he will not listen!" Carlos retorted, making Luke jump slightly.
Luke stood glaring at the Spanish man angrily but didn't say anymore, as Rebecca was quick to shut them up…
"You two don't even start!" Rebecca growled from the opposite couch. Obviously she'd had enough of the arguments that were starting to happen more often…
Sarah now was curling up into a ball on the couch, bringing her book closer to her face scared.
Noticing her, Carlos looked up at Luke angrily.
"I'm sorry Sarah…" Luke says kneeling down so that he was level with Sarah.
The black haired girl slowly looked up from her book and to Luke.
"It's okay." Sarah quietly replied with a reassuring smile.
Luke gave a smile in return before standing up again.
"I'm going to talk to Nick…" Luke says straightforwardly, turning to make his way towards the front door of the cabin.
Closing the door with a click, Luke almost immediately saw Nick's tall and slender figure hunched over the wooden railings. Like expected, he was staring into the emptiness of the forest, rifle also leant against the railing. The man's cap created a dark shadow on his face leaving his lively blue eyes looking lifeless. Nick's white sleeves were also pulled over his hands as if he was cold, or something along the lines…
Luke watched for a few seconds, saddened to see Nick like this. He couldn't help to admit that his feelings for his friend were starting to grow rapidly. Luke still considered Nick his best friend, however not long ago, Luke felt a different emotion come over him every time he got close or made eye contact with the raven-haired man…
Seeing him lose his mom, made Luke want to take care and talk to Nick… more than he used to.
He just wanted to see him smile again.
The brunette cleared his throat, letting out a small cough to indicate to the other man that he was here...
Nick turned his head slightly but didn't look up. He knew Luke was there, but didn't bother to smile, say hi or anything like that…
"Nick…" Luke says walking slowly up to the taller man.
Nick replies with silence but notices Luke walking closer and shuffles to the side slightly.
"C'mon Nick, it's just me…" Luke says saddened, now only around ten inches away from Nick.
Luke leaned against the railing, copying the way Nick was standing.
"I know…" Nick muttered, pulling his cap down slightly, casting a darker shadow over his face.
"Nick…it's been eleven days." Luke says, desperate to see the real Nick again. He turns so that he's facing his friend but Nick continues to stare off into the deep forest.
"Yeah, I lost my mom but I didn't lose the will to count how many days it's been…" Nick replies sharply, still refusing to look at Luke.
Ouch. That hurt. Luke tried desperately to think of a way to reply, but Nick was right… he could still count. Luke almost felt as if he insulted his friend.
"Nick, I didn't mean it like that…" Luke replies concern and regret in his voice. Even though Nick refused to look at him, Luke continued to watch Nick. It gave him a chance to take in his features. He still had the same eyes, the same nose, mouth… but something about his face wasn't right. It was almost like going from colour too black and white. There was no emotion anymore. Nick wasn't the same right now…
"I know…" Nick says shortly afterwards.
"Nick, I can't take this!" Luke replied, again louder than intended. He had enough of seeing Nick like this… he wanted him back, right now.
"You can't take what?!" Nick retaliates, picking up on Luke's change of voice. As Nick turns to look straight at the brunette, Luke notices how his face looks restless, pale… but now angered. His blue eyes turned a grey sort of colour and all together, Nick looked pissed and already seemed to have had enough.
Startled, Luke noticed his voice quiver as he spoke.
Was he afraid of Nick when he got angry?
"Nick, I want you back! You're not the same anymore!" Luke says, nearly shouting but in a desperate tone of voice.
Nick's face creased before replying.
"No shit!" he spits back making intense eye contact.
Nick's sudden change of attitude alarmed Luke to a point that he didn't know what to say anymore. He had valid points to make but he ended up only repeating himself…
"Please Nick, you're going to die like this if you don't snap out of it! You're scaring me, the group, Sarah!" Luke decided to put into words.
Nick huffed before turning back to look away from Luke, pulling his dusty white sleeves so that they bundled up all around his hands as he gripped the ends with his fingers.
Noticing Nick do this for the last few days, it made Luke, yet again worried and concerned.
Was he hiding something?
"Nick…"
"What?" Nick replied impatiently.
"Your sleeves…" Luke says in a calmer manner.
"What the fuck about them?" Nick snaps, rubbing his temples with his fingers quickly before going back to leaning on the railing.
"Why do you keep on pulling them so that they cover your whole arms and your hands?" Luke questioned.
"Just do… can you go now?" Nick replies impatiently, already standing up fully in attempt to make a move inside, however Luke stood in front of Nick to make sure he wasn't going anywhere.
"Tell me, I'm not letting you go anywhere." Luke replies in a serious tone.
"Just move the fuck away!" Nick growled, this time attempting to walk right pass Luke.
Now troubled by Nick's suspicious actions, Luke's brow's furrowed and his voice expressed concern, this time even more than before…
"Nick, tell me!" Luke says angrily but voice low enough to not make Nick flare up again.
"No…" Nick grumbles, pushing past the shorter man. However, Luke lifts his arm to Nick's chest, stopping him for a moment.
"Nick, I will wrestle you if I have too!" Luke threatens even-tempered.
"Luke, it's nothing!" Nick snaps, rolling his eyes.
Instead of debating for even longer, Luke makes the quick decision and grabs for one of Nick's arms. He grabs Nick's right arm before the taller man can react, pulling up his right sleeve to reveal a sight Luke thought he would never see.
"Get the fuck off me!" Nick retaliates, attempting to pull his arm away from Luke.
Luke firmly grips Nick's arm within his palm and studies the long incisions within his pale skin.
Nick had been self-harming.
"Get off!" Nick shouts desperately shaking his arm.
Ignoring Nick's frantic shaking left Luke oblivious to Nick's next move...
Irritated, Nick lifted his right fist up and gave one hard punch at Luke's jaw, sending the brunette to the ground in pain.
Luke was shocked by Nick's sudden move, and he knew it was his fault. He pressured Nick into this, causing himself to get hurt… The real one to blame was him...
The shorter man sat on the floor, hand to his cheek, feeling it burn up in pain.
Nick threw a hard punch.
Meanwhile, Nick watched as Luke clutched onto his burning cheek. The man looked up at Nick and gave his famous puppy eyes… He knew he screwed up, but he didn't know what to say… or what to do. Luke was his best friend; he should help him… but no.
"I… I'm, sorry…" Nick stuttered before dashing past Luke and into the cabin.
Luke heard the faint sounds of Rebecca, Carlos and the others saying things like: "Nick?" or "What's going on?"… Followed by the sound of a door slamming shut.
Instead of rushing in, Luke stayed seated on the porch, clutching onto his cheek. He stared into the forest like Nick did, wondering what just happened.
He was meant to calmly get Nick to talk to him but instead it ended up with him discovering Nick self-harms and himself with a swollen cheek…
What if Nick never went back to his usual self?
So many questions, so little time…
It wouldn't be long until Nick reached his breaking point. If he self-harms, is extremely depressed… What worse things could this lead to?
Luke needed to let Pete know most of all, but Nick wouldn't appreciate that… Nick probably didn't want any attention right now. He wanted to be left alone, but the person he was closest to besides Pete right now, was Luke.
Walkers were a problem here and there, but right now, Nick was Luke's priority…
Luke was going to help Nick… He had to.
Before it was too late.