A/N: This is my first fanfiction of The Last of Us. I just finished the game on the 5th of April and it was sooo good! Now I'm playing the DLC, Left Behind. I've been thinking about the game constantly, and I need a let out so here I am. There are probably a few grammar mistakes because English is not my first language, so feel free to point them out and I'll correct them. SPOILERS.
I hope you'll enjoy it!
LEGAL STUFF: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING, EVERYTHING BELONGS TO NAUGHTY DOG.
- CHAPTER ONE -
A ROOM WITH A VIEW
"So this is it?" Ellie asked.
The two finally reached Jackson, ready to settle down after everything they've been through. A chance at a 'normal' life, or whatever people considered to be normal these days. Joel turned to look at the fourteen-year-old girl he'd been traveling with to the other side of the country. She had been awfully quiet during their walk to Tommy's which frightened Joel to the core, thinking she might know the truth about what really happened in Salt Lake City.
"This is it." he said. "Ready to leave all of this behind?" he gestured at the landscape behind them. Boston, Lincoln, Pittsburgh, Colorado, Salt Lake City... One hell of a journey they've been on and it's finally come to a stop.
Ellie watched the trees, the leaves moving the same way the wind blew, and the faraway mountain, its summit covered in snow. Everything seemed so distant, standing where they are now, it felt like everything happened months ago.
"Yeah, I think so." She said a little uncertain. The idea of staying in one place scared her a little because Joel and her had always been on the move, moving from one city to another. Their only purpose in life was to get to the Fireflies but now, she couldn't imagine what everyday life would be like once they've settled down. With infected always around the corner, hunters who were ready to put a bullet in their heads, scavenging for supplies and food whereas now the only thing they'll probably be worrying about is what they should have for breakfast.
The shift in life gave Ellie a comforting yet unsettling feeling, one she could hopefully shake off during time. While lost in her thoughts, Joel watched her attentively. Every time he looked at her, he was flooded with guilt. About how he took her away from the Fireflies, away from Marlene. Killed her because he was afraid she might come after them one day. She'd never forgive him, would she?
Tired of these questions, he snapped out of his thoughts. "C'mon kid, we're almost there."
They continued down their path until they caught a glimpse of a heavy, metal gate, similar to the one of the power plant they stumbled on a few months ago when they left Pennsylvania.
"Alright. Here we go." Joel prepared himself.
As expected, the two men who were guarding the perimeter from one of the towers, aimed their rifles at them, telling them to keep their hands where they could see them.
"What's your business here?" One of them asked, the end of his gun still fixated on Joel while the other had Ellie's reflection captured in its scope.
"My name is Joel and this is Ellie," he said, turning slightly to her when he said her name. "I'm Tommy's brother. If you call him, he'll tell you."
The guards looked at each other, probably deciding whether they were telling the truth or spitting out bullshit. Eventually one of them held out a small black box that seemed like some sort of radio transceiver because the guard was talking to it. When the call ended the guard nodded and lowered their weapons. They heard a creaking sound and saw the gate open.
Joel and Ellie entered and the gate closed behind them, shielding them from the dangers they had endured along their way. No more infected, no more hunters. No threat at all. They were safe now.
"Wow. It looks nice." Ellie commented as she looked around.
"Yeah. Different from what we're used to."
A bunch of houses, still damaged but not as much as the ones outside these gates. There were also people walking calmly on the streets, even children playing around.
"No fucking joke. I don't think I've ever seen so many people together without someone who's about to lose his shit."
Joel chuckled.
"Goddamn." He heard a familiar voice say and he saw Tommy and Maria appear, making their way to the pair, the two brothers sharing a hug.
"Took you long enough to get here!" Tommy said when he let go of Joel.
"Yeah, well, had some trouble along the way, you know."
"Good to know you two made it here safely." Maria said, welcoming the two to their settlement. Joel assumed she had forgiven him for asking Tommy an impossible favor the last time they saw each other, or at least, let go of her anger for now.
"Thanks."
Ellie watched Joel and Tommy interact. It's weird. Sometimes she'd forget that he still has a brother in this fucked up world, that he still has a family he could go to while Ellie lost hers when she was little. It made her feel more alone in the world. Of course, she had Joel but their relationship has been strained ever since their last conversation. She knew he was lying to her, knew he was hiding something. It was something that both angered and saddened her because during all the time they had spent together, the many arguments and short conversations, he had never lied to her. Joel was the person who'd never lie to her until now.
"Hey, you okay?" Maria asked her, noticing she hasn't said a word.
"Yeah, a bit tired. That's all." she replied. Ellie could feel Joel looking at her. He knew something was off too.
"Well, how about we show you your new home?" Tommy swung his arm around his older brother. "There you can sleep all you want."
"Lead the way, little brother."
It was a five-minute walk until they reached the house. The wooden walls were painted in green, the color a little faded because of the damage. The roof a soft pink-reddish color and there was even a porch.
"Looks nice." Joel said.
Ellie eyed their new house in awe. It's perfect she thought. This was their home from now. A place where they could live, eat, sleep...
"Wait 'till you've seen the inside." Tommy opened the door for them and all four went inside. There was a small kitchen on the left side of the room and a living room slightly bigger on the other side where only few furniture covered the floor. An old bench with the fabric a bit torn, a small saloon table with a television on top of it and a larger table with three chairs situated closer to the wall.
Joel let out a laugh. "Goddam Tommy, you even got us a tv?"
"You'd be surprised how many working ones we could get our hands on in a nearby town." Maria told him.
"Just a whole bunch of 'em lying in an abandoned store. Funny, don't you think? That before this whole virus thing got spread out, everyone had to have a tv in their house and now people don't even have enough food to last the day."
"I know. Makes you realize how fast things change."
"Hey Joel, you gotta see this! Hurry up!" Ellie shouted from upstairs, her voice full of excitement that brought a smile to his face.
"Why don't you explore the house some more, huh? I know it's only got a few rooms but what do you think?"
"It's perfect, Tommy. I can't thank you enough. You too, Maria. Thanks."
She gave him a gentle nod.
"Alright then. Here's the key." Tommy handed him the piece of metal. "You and Ellie take your time. We'll swing by later, okay?"
"Okay."
Upstairs were three rooms, two of them being bedrooms and the other a bathroom. The bedrooms were on the left side of the hall and the bathroom on the right. He found Ellie sitting on the window sill seat, similar to the one in the ranch house she had run off to once. She was staring outside the window. Joel joined her.
"Look at that view." She pointed outside. And what a view it was. You could see the rest of the houses in Jackson, the barriers, the gate and beyond that the forest, river and mountains.
"Can't deny that view." It's the exact same thing Ellie said when Tess was still traveling with them through Boston. Both couldn't help but laugh.
"You ready to settle down, kid?"
"Yeah. It'll be great."
"I bet it will."
They continued to look outside, enjoining the calm atmosphere and beautiful view. They remained quiet for quite some time to the point where it may have felt a little awkward.
"So...," Ellie broke the silence. "What are we doing tomorrow?"
"Joel looked at her, a little puzzled by her question because they never had the liberty to plan something ahead.
"I don't know but we'll figure something out. We have all the time in the world now, don't we?"
"Right. It's weird though."
"We'll get used to it... in time. C'mon, why don't we have something to eat? You hungry?"
"Only starving!"
They went downstairs and looked what they could find in the fridge. Nothing special. Some meat, vegetables, a little fruit... Joel prepared a simple but tasty meal and both of them enjoyed every bite of it.
"Ugh."
"What is it? Something you don't like?"
"It's not that. It's these." She pointed her fork at the small pieces of cauliflower on her plate.
"You don't like cauliflower?"
"I used to but I can't eat it anymore."
"Why not?"
"Because! They resemble the head of a clicker."
"What?" Joel asked her confused, not sure if he wanted to know.
"You know, with the fungus all spread over their heads. It looks like a- "
"Goddamn, Ellie. You know I prefer not to associate my food with any infected, especially when I'm about to eat it."
"Sorry." She apologized, finding his reaction very amusing but suppressed her smile.
"Jesus Christ. Thanks for ruining my appetite. I don't think I'm touching cauliflower ever again."
He shoved his plate away while Ellie laughed at him, still spooning down her own food.
"Oh, that's right. I've got something for you." He said and reached for his backpack, looking for something. "Though I'm not sure you deserve it after what you said to me."
"Ah, c'mon, Joel!"
"I thought you might like these." He threw the last two comic books he found onto the table. "Since you've got plenty of free time now."
"Awesome! It's been a while since I've read these. Set in the year 2186, the plot of Savage Starlight centers around Dr. Daniela Star's adventures in space. She discovers a method of traveling faster than light via a jump drive, and soon finds that a group of hostile extraterrestrial known as Travelers are threatening mankind."
Ellie read the plot out loud, refreshing her memory and also because Joel could listen with her. "Thanks Joel."
"No problem, kid."
She continued to eat her meal while flipping through the pages.
Joel shook his head, after hearing Ellie read the plot of these comics he felt ridiculous for a minute. It was almost the perfect summary to describe their current situation. Except it's happening on this planet and instead of finding a way to travel faster than light, he had found the cure in Ellie and the hostile group of Travelers that are threatening mankind were infected. Since when could a comic book be so on point?
When the sun disappeared behind the horizon Ellie and Joel went upstairs.
"So which room do you pick?"
"Uhm. The one with the window seat."
"Alright. I'll be next doors. If you need anything."
Ellie nodded.
"'Night, kid."
"Goodnight."
Ellie heard Joel close the door of his room and all of a sudden she felt lonely. They had always slept next to each other, his presence driving away the loneliness she felt at night when she'd lie awake staring at the ceiling some nights. But now, she was standing all alone in her room, surrounded by shadows and darkness, and even though Joel was just next to her room, she'd never felt more alone than today. There was a little part that wished they'd never reached Jackson because she knew everything would change but she never thought she'd miss Joel even when he was this close. She crept on bed and took her pillow and blanket with her and quietly opened Joel's door. He turned around, his face away from the wall.
"What's wrong, Ellie?"
She said nothing, simply lifted her shoulders.
"Come here." He said and made some room for her.
Ellie lied next to him, immediately feeling more comfortable than she had been in the other room.
"I'm sorry." She said, feeling a little embarrassed.
"That's alright. One step at a time."
And the two gave in to their exhaustion and dreamt the night away, whether they'd be good or bad dreams, as long as they got each other, they'd be fine.
