Author's Note : (Fan fiction, based in 'The Last Of Us' PS3 game realm.)
*The Last Of Us is property of Naughty Dog*
This body of work is not a self-insert, as such - but the scenario does involve a central character of my own creation. Ellie and Joel are peripheral characters, in this one, seeing as I'm not yet confident that I could do their personalities justice.
Also, like quite a few on here, 'The Last Us' has inspired me to write again, after a lengthy absence from it ... so to those who do read this ; I hope that you like.
In this probable one shot, Red is a hunter ... and this is his story ...
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RED MEMOIRS
Tale 1 - "A Hunter's Heart"
You know, I'll freely admit it - that familiar click of an empty bullet chamber signified my narrow escape from the fetid clutches of death, that day.
It had also simultaneously given away my foe's position, so after spinning almost 90 degrees to my right and spying this crouching 'tourist', I had a split second decision to make ; should I let my necessity-evolved sense of self preservation kick in? ... Or should I abandon this now proven 'survivor rationale' and follow what my gut was really telling me?
The truth be told, I had grown to hate what I had become, so the answer was indisputable.
Without hesitation, I trained my gun upon my quarry, who was transfixed, abreast the large packing crate that I had just passed. In a matter of fact manner, I then called out to my patrol partner. He was framed in the doorway, at the other end of the cavernous room, oblivious to the entire situation.
"All clear, here.", I heard myself shout, lowering my gun to my side, as I did so.
Stretch, a simian-like guy who was almost as wide as he was tall, stepped into the room. He and I weren't really friends, but the pursuit of a lasting, albeit savage existence had always spawned unlikely alliances.
Looking to kill Stretch's forward momentum, before he got too close for comfort, I directed his attention to a nearby window bay. It was shoddily boarded over with festering planks, allowing thick reams of dying daylight in.
"I'm gonna cover this possible exit for a little while...", I said. " Just in case he tries to escape this way."
Heavy in firepower, but light on intelligence, Stretch nodded.
"Want me to stick around, Red?"
"Nah, I've got this. Join Zeb and Drake on their sweep, on the next floor. There's more hidey holes up there, than there are, down here."
"Okay. Stay safe, man."
"You too."
And then he was gone ; his heavy footfalls gradually receding into silence, whilst I urgently returned my attention to whom I had temporarily saved.
She couldn't have been any more than fourteen years old. Her long hair was haphazardly tied back, and she had an aura behind her green eyes that belied her young age. Understandably, she was afraid, but at the same time I sensed that I would have my work cut out for me, if a knife fight were to occur ... And judging from the present condition of the bear of a man that was slumped behind her, it was also obvious that she was willing to die, if it meant saving him.
The grizzled, battle-worn alpha male in question was clearly severely concussed. His head wound wasn't bleeding out in copious amounts, but he was semi-conscious and helpless, in the face of the enemy ... In the face of me ...
"I wasn't told there was a girl.", I said more to myself, than anyone.
"Yeah, well ...", she blurted, before catching herself. "I don't like to advertise, alright?"
A brief chuckle escaped me, and scaled its way to prominence. Somewhat understandably, my amusement only seemed to make her more wary. Trying to remedy this, I dropped to my haunches to be at the same eye level. Her stare was still unwavering in its pointed mistrust.
"Is this your father?"
Why the Hell had I asked that question?
I guess yesterday's demons are never truly slain.
"That's none of your God damn business!", she replied defiantly.
Her pluck was admirable, and her hand instinctively hovering around the back pocket of her jeans reminded me that I still held my revolver.
"Just ... Just don't, okay?", I said, trying to sound as reassuring as possible, as I slowly but surely placed my gun into the folds of my combat jacket.
"One thing I'll never do is kill a kid ..."
... Which was kind of amusing, seeing as given the chance, she probably wouldn't have hesitated in decorating the floorboards with my entrails, right at that moment.
The awkward silence that ensued was fleeting. Time was short and it wouldn't be long until the promise of turmoil was descending the staircase, once more. I rose to a vertical base, and moved toward a man whose backpack was sporting a very impressive array of both conventional and hand-crafted weapons. All of a sudden, I realised that it was also very rare these days to see a guy around my age that was actually still breathing.
However, there was no space for retrospection, only action.
"Look, if you wanna live, then we've got to move - NOW!"
Fluidly, the girl stood up, and helped me lift her partner. Supported by us both, we bundled him in the direction of the nearby window ; our quiet grunts of exertion and drowsy discomfort being the only sonic tapestry between the three of us.
"Hold him here, as best you can.", I instructed, when we had reached the wall.
"Okay. Gotcha. C'mon Joel ; stay with me, here."
To his credit, 'Joel' mumbled some sort of response and seemingly threw all of his available strength into remaining standing.
Thank Crap I hadn't run into him, when he was more able to defend himself - that's all I can say.
I studied the window. Mercifully, only one severely compromised plank on our side needed to be removed, in order to make a hole big enough to climb through. I grabbed the target plank with both hands, and turned my head away.
"Now this is gonna make way too much noise, so when it's free, you haul arse just as fast as you can, alright?"
The girl nodded - and with it, some of the mistrust that had enshrouded her melted away.
"What about you?"
"Never mind about me. I'll help you get your friend through, but then you're on your own. All of my group are still inside the building - so please make the most of the time that I'm gonna try and give the two of you."
Fired up, I readied myself. I was determined to make my first attempt at plank removal the only one that I would need ... but before I could snap into it, she spoke again.
"Wait!"
"What?"
Her face softened. For that one moment, she had dropped her facade of toughness. Curiously, I felt privileged to witness this happen.
"Why are you doing this?"
I didn't need to ponder. The reason was simple, and my response visibly struck a chord with her, when I spoke it.
"I ... I used to have a daughter, too. That's all you need to know ..."
