"Look at me." It got deathly quiet. "You. Don't know. What you're doing." Ellis blinked in understanding. "You're confused. So... I'm going to help you up, we'll go look for some fresh water or something, and then you'll be fine." Was he babysitting? He swore to god he hated kids. Ellis was like... like a five year old. With a gun.

Not that he had much of a problem as long as the gun wasn't pointed at him.

-

-

-

Ellis nodded his head, sniffling and trying to man up because he hated looking so weak. "Keith... my friend... once told me that I should smile all the time, 'cause my smiles are pretty." He laughed. "It's so stupid, 'cause that was the time he forced me inta a dress, but it's the only thing that keeps me smilin'."

Francis laughed. Laughed. "You're an idiot."

"Hell yeah I am~" Ellis laughed, too, this one sounding a bit better. "But I'm the cutest damn idiot you ever did see!"

Francis paused, then wrapped an arm around Ellis' waist. The boy squeaked. "Yeah, yeah, I suppose I don't hate all idiots."

-

Nick honestly hadn't listened in. He didn't care. He did care, however, when Francis came out with Ellis latched to his waist like a parasite. "What the fuck?"

On instinct, Ellis jumped away, eyes wide, gun ready. "Shit zom-" He paused, then turned. "Oh. Jus' Nick." The smile fell.

"You were fucking crying." Nick growled in response.

Ellis' face fell. "Seriously, just stop with the jabs before I kick your ass." Francis intervened, hand curling around Ellis' waist. "The kid's going through some traumatic experiences now. We're going for some fresh water. I suggest you hang out with Bill and Louis and get to know them, because you won't be seeing us for the next couple of hours."

Louis and Bill looked up as their name was called, and Louis burst into laughter. "Ohh, shit! I knew he was gay!" Francis just scowled. "Ohh~ This'll be great! I can't wait for Zoey to get back-"

"Louis, shut up."

"Why?" The man turned to stare at Bill, who was looking around. "You hear something?"

"There's a hunter around. No. Two of them."

Ellis looked up at the sky. "Well, looks like me'n Francis aren't goin' alone, then." He moved his hands and fixed his cap. "Someone willin' to come with us?"

Bill laughed. "No thanks. I'm just going to take a nap in that car of yours. It's still unlocked..."

Louis held his hands up. "Nu uh. Francis and me don't get along."

Francis rolled his eyes. "We get along better than that asshat." He pointed to Nick.

"It'll be just like old times, eh, Francis?" Francis glared while Ellis looked over, questioningly. Nick held up his hand, the one with the ring that matched Francis' tattoo. "Just. Like. Old. Times. Or did you not hear me?"

Francis growled. "Nick, I told you, I left that place behind, you included."

Ellis fidgeted a little. "Wh-what'chu talkin' bout?"

"Nothing." Nick walked to Ellis' side, despite the fact that Francis pulled Ellis closer when he did. "Let's just get you your water."

"I... err... Nick..." Ellis trailed off, legs moving on their own. Francis followed suit, Nick taking Louis' health pack from his back and hurrying after. "Never mind..."

"That's what I thought, queer."

Ellis grew unmistakeably quiet. Nick clenched his fist, glancing at the boy who was shaking, the tremors going unnoticed by the man who was holding him. On reflex, Nick grabbed the boy and tugged him closer. "Smoker!" And, on reflex, Ellis pulled out his axe and quickly elbowed Nick away. He stared, wide-eyed. "Shit, man. That's the second time I thought you were a zombie..." He set his axe back on his back, still shaking. "I... Why'd you do that?"

Nick rubbed his nose, where the blood was starting to flow. Ellis had elbowed him in the nose, and it hurt. "You looked cold."

"I'm not." Ellis looked away from the man, focused, instead, on the growling sounds that he was hearing. "They're here."

"No shit, Sherlock."

Francis glared at Nick, who offered a shrug, instead of an apology. "Nick, you go on ahead and be Hunter bait."

"N-No. I'll do it." Ellis spoke up before Nick could even come up with something witty, hurrying ahead and disappearing.

Nick heard a Hunter scream. "Great." He hissed, under his breath. "You just had to give the kid the idea to go off ahead and get ripped apart by a Hunter, didn't you?"

"You should have done it, not him. If you're that worried about him, you do it."

Nick glared, rubbing the ring on his finger. "As if. He's attached himself to your waist, not mine. You get him."

Francis smirked. "That makes you bait, all alone back here."

"You know what, Francis? Go suck a d-"

"HUNTER!"

Nick and Francis jumped, upon hearing Ellis' scream. Nick reacted first, pulling out his M16 and rushing forward, finding the boy not too far ahead attempting to push the Hunter away. The hooded infected was persistent, claws finding themselves to a body part they could find. Nick shot at it, glaring at the limp body on Ellis. "You're not supposed to get so far ahead we can't reach you," Nick sneered as Francis came into view. "You're late."

Francis held out his hand, which Ellis took, mumbling a, "much obliged," before brushing himself off. "Thanks, Nick." He spoke, next. Nick just shrugged again. "So that's one down..." A Hunter screamed, pouncing on Ellis. Nick and Francis stumbled back. "Again?!"

"I got it, I got it." Francis took out his pistols and shot at the hunter. He wasn't getting anywhere. The Hunter growled as he was shot, but dug his claws into the boy's chest, clawing down. One last shot and the infected froze, tumbling to the side, dead. Nick rubbed his head. "You alright, kiddo?"

Ellis looked down at his torn shirt, offering a smile. "Just fine. Don'tchu be worryin'."

"You... sure...?" Francis was skeptical, but Ellis nodded, even id he was wincing as he stood and offering a laugh. "It doesn't look too good."

"It's fine. All the more reason to go find water..." Ellis' voice came out slowly, painfully, and Nick reached for the medkit on his back. He opened it, stopping. Ellis looked over. "Ah, Nick, what... I don't need..."

Nick stared blankly. "You don't? Really? Because I swear to God, Ellis, you look like you're going to start walking slower and limping. That lovely trail of blood you're going to leave will sure help us, too. Shut up and take off your shirt." Silence. Ellis stared, eyes wide. Francis laughed. Nick grumbled as Ellis did as he was told, wincing as he attempted to. "Damn it, here." Nick reached for it himself.

"Ah..." Ellis stammered, but Nick ignored him, taking the reddening shirt and hat from the reddening boy and discarding them on Francis' face. The man growled, but Nick ignored Francis, too, spraying some antiseptic onto the wound. "Ow..." Next, the bandage. Nick wrapped it, gently, stepping back to check how he did before closing the pack and leaving it on the ground. The only problem with first aid kits was that there were almost no resources in them. There was just enough spray for one wound, and enough bandage to keep the wound wrapped, but there was nothing to re-wrap it later when it would be needed.

"We'll need to find another kit on our way back." Nick turned. "Let's get going."

Francis held out Ellis' shirt. Ellis bit his lip. "Erm..." He fidgeted. "Can you..."

"Here." Francis helped him put it on, ignoring the flushed cheeks Ellis had as he fastened his hat on his head. It grew quiet. Ellis fell into step behind Nick, Francis next to the boy.

It was comfortably quiet, for a while, until Francis picked up the sound of a river. He smiled. "You hear that? Water."

Ellis jumped, excited, starting ahead. "I'm so thirsty, man!" He broke into a run, though quickly stopped, eyes wide. "G-Guys?"

"What." Nick growled.

"Umm, that roarin'? It ain't water."

"Shit."


Wow. Well, most of this was finished yesterday. Seriously. So this one actually has a semi-cliffhanger ending.
So... Blegh. Has anyone else noticed that Infected just seem to hit Ellis left and right? That, and Coach. Whenever I play, Ellis ( normally me ) is getting smoked, hunted, jockeyed, boomed... Nick's always, always, the first to notice, and normally the one to save me. It gets awkward when I play online, 'cause I'm constantly yelling for the Nick player to save me even when he might not be able. xD Trust me, people notice.
That, or I don't say anything. Then when I end up dead, everyone freaks out. I'm such an evil person.
Anyway. Reviewers, I love you. Not reviewers, I like you. I don't review, I don't expect you too. So yay. Awesome people.
I'm bringing brownies to my next Authors Note. So if you can deal with no Coach, Rochelle, Bill, Louis, and Zoey for just a bit longer, all will be well. Because Bill is epic win. Who's your favorite L4D1 Survivor? Mine is Francis. Because he's invincible. x3
This Chapter has a title! Gasp! Bye~