Finally, I get around to writing an EllisNick story! I've been reading around and I haven't found any stories with my plot yet, so I figured I'd write it! (Sorry if I haven't seen your story and took your plot :S) but anyway, lemme just say the first paragraph is not mine, it was taken from the official Valve character bio of Nick, just to clear that up. Hope yall like this! I don't own anything you recognize.
A lifetime of drifting from city to city, finding back-alley card games and trying to stay out of jail has taught Nick two valuable lessons: Don't trust anyone, and look out for number one.
Those two lessons were what Nick had lived by ever since he knew right from wrong. That is... until he met the three most amazing people he would ever know.
It had all started one sunny southern morning as Nick boarded a gambling riverboat in Savannah, Georgia. Dressed sharply in his white Armani suit, he was determined to con a few hicks out of some cold hard cash. Taking a seat at the bar, his eyes drifted to the suspended television to his left after ordering his drink. Lighting a cigarette, he listened closely as a beautiful, African-American woman appeared on the screen.
"I'm standing in the center of Savannah, Georgia in front of Trinity Memorial Hospital which is quickly filling to capacity. An outbreak of what scientists are calling the Green Flu has now drifted from the northern states to the south. People suffering from this illness are showing what can only be described as 'an extreme case of rabies.' The symptoms of the Green Flu start as any other normal flu, but progressively become worse. The skin will begin to turn a grey color, and in some cases, flesh and even limbs will start to deteriorate and fall off. Many of the victims will turn violent, attacking and mauling anyone within reach. If you witness anyone with these symptoms, please call CEDA's Georgia station at 1-912-122-1789. I'm Rochelle Aytes for Cleveland's Eyewitness 10 News."
Nick's lips pursed around his cigarette as he took in a deep drag of smoke. He wondered why in God's name they would even let a gambling boat travel under the city's pandemic. Chuckling to himself, Nick turned back to the bartender, and retrieved his drink. Taking his lips to the glass, the boat suddenly gave a violent shift, causing the scotch to spill from the glass, onto Nick's suit. "Damnit!" He shouted out, the brown liquid staining his expensive suit. Everyone's attention was immediately turned to screams that broke through the main gambling area. Nick sprung from his stool and ran out of the bar, to see a rabid man ripping through the poker tables. His skin was grey, and half of his face was decayed off, revealing his skull, just like that news reporter had described. "Holy shit!" Nick screamed as he made a mad attempt to run for the exit. Luckily, the mutant didn't take notice to Nick, and he escaped. Reaching the ledge of the boat, Nick looked out to see they had only traveled about half a mile from the docks. Reluctantly, he decided to leap into the dark, warm water, and swim to shore.
After Nick had pulled himself onto the dock, he made a break for any refuge he could find. All around town the zombie-like people were destroying buildings, running rampid, and devouring their fellow human beings. The conman had never seen anything as gruesome in his entire life.
"Hey man! Over here!" Nick heard a voice yell from his left as he stopped on his heels and turned. A younger man with a white and blue baseball cap on his head was motioning for Nick to join him in a building. Ignoring his better judgement, Nick hustled himself to the broken down building and ran into the small room. The younger man hastily slammed the giant metal door shut, bringing the large door stopper down across it. Nick stood in the middle of the room, doubled over and gasping for breath. A hand appeared in front of his face. As he looked up, the young man was offering the gambler his hand. Taking his offer, the man helped Nick straighten up.
"Thanks man, I owe you one." Nick heaved out.
"No problem! My names Ellis!" The hazel eyed boy smiled with a cheery look. Nick hesitantly studied the man. His accent was dripping with southern hospitality. His clothing was common, Nick thought, possibly lower class. A dingy yellow shirt tightly formed around his chest. The short sleeves revealed a dark blue tribal tattoo running down his toned right arm. An over-sized, dark blue jumper covered the southerner's legs, letting the upper part hang around his waist. His skin was tan and greasy. Nick inquired that he must have been some sort of mechanic.
"Nick." He sternly said as Ellis shook his hand.
"Damn man, you 'ere doggin it down that street! It reminded me of this one time, me 'n my buddy Keith 'ere runnin' from the cops an..."
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Nick let out a strenuous sigh of relief. After weeks of killing off thousands of zombie mutants, he and his three teammates were boarded on a CEDA helicopter, flying to safety. The air vehicle had picked them up in New Orleans, and was now flying the four back to where it all began. Savannah. He had remembered the day he had met the three all too well. But most of all, he recalled meeting Ellis quite clearly. The southerner had been the first of the three Nick had met, and he had basically saved his ass. Over the past few weeks, Nick had heard a life time supply of Keith stories. This wore on the con man's nerves profusely, making Nick let out a few outbursts on their journey. Even though Ellis' never ending stories of his old friend annoyed the shit out of him, Nick had acquired an attachment to the 23 year old mechanic. Sure, his constant optimism clashed with Nick's cynical personality, but that's what drew the older man to Ellis. He had never met someone so upbeat about life, especially in a time where life could be taken at any moment.
"You gonna stare at him like that this whole way?" Rochelle whispered in Nick's ear. Turning to her, the man's green eyes narrowed.
"What are you talking about?" He returned, sounding a bit annoyed. She smirked, nodding her head towards Ellis, who was excitedly gazing out of the helicopter window. Nick shrugged his shoulder to Rochelle's comment. "I wasn't staring at him." Nick simply said, an angry look plastered his face.
"Will yall stop fighting for once? Were here." An older dark skinned man broke the tension between the two and their scuffle. Looking out of the window, they realized Coach was right. Below the four survivors was a sea of white tents. Soilders could be seen walking about, all being heavily armed, ready for anything.
------
Upon exiting the chopper, a plethora of soilders greeted the four survivors. One of the men yanked Ellis forward, jabbing a long metal needle into the boy's arm. "AH! What was that for?!" Ellis' hazel eyes glistened with tears as the man studied the scanner connected to the needle.
"He's clear." He confirmed to the other armed men as he stuck a band aid over the fresh wound on Ellis' forearm.
Afterwards, Rochelle, Nick and Coach were also checked for the mutated gene. All of them came up negative for the Green Flu, thankfully. Anyone who turned out positive for the illness was immediately shot on sight. The soldiers had handed them fresh clothing, and pointed the way to the showers. The teammates cleaned themselves up, then slipped on their new clothes which consisted of white T shirts and light blue sweat pants. Ellis stepped out, meeting his three friends. "These clothes are real comfy, huh guys?" He grinned as Rochelle smiled back.
"A lot better than wearin the same clothes for weeks..." She did have a point.
"Yea they're comfy, but a little low class for me Overalls." Nick announced smugly, making Coach roll his eyes. Ellis felt a blush run across his tan cheeks.
'Hehe, Overalls.' Ellis giggled mentally at this nickname. He didn't know why, but he adored it when Nick called him that. Suddenly, the loud speaker sounded above them. "Dinner is now being served." A male voice spoke through the intercom. The teams face's lit up.
"Oh thank God! Some decent food!" Coach cheered as they made their way to the mess hall tent. It was the biggest of all tents, able to house about 900 people. The four stood in line, idley chatting as they waited for their meal.
"Ellis?" A country voice called out from their far left, making them all turn. A man who seemed to be about the same age as Ellis stood a few feet away. His southern accent was almost as strong as the mechanic's. Short sandy blonde hair swept across his forehead. His skin was lightly tanned, and his body was well toned. The man's bright blue eyes were wide with what seemed to be astonishment as he stared at Ellis. They both wore the same white and blue hat, a tow truck pictured on the front.
"K-Keith?!" Ellis exclaimed, running to his long lost friend. "Jumpin' Jesus man! I thought I'd never see you again!" Ellis cried out, pulling the man into a tight embrace. The rest of Ellis' team couldn't believe it. They were certain that the man they had heard so many stories about was probably dead, but now, he stood right before them. Nick flustered with envy as Ellis brought the boy over. But for a reason he couldn't place...he was just flat out jealous.
