100 theme challenge: L4D2

Hey :D 'Bout time I updated this ;P

A little short, but waffle-y this time. Mehhh :) Off you go! x

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17. Blood

The first time that Nick's suit became stained with blood, he had ranted constantly about it, and how much he wanted to replace it, or find a dry cleaners. After a few weeks though, Ellis noticed he slowly had stopped caring. This was a big relief to the ears of the whole team.

18. Under

Being in shit-water was not on Nick's to-do list today, and he cursed the zombies every step of the shit-filled way.

19. Grey

Nick swore he would turn grey by the end of this apocalypse, and not just because of the zombies (he could do without those), but Ellis. As the Tank thundered down the road towards them, Ellis ran ahead and took cover behind a truck. Not seeing the grenade launcher in the hicks hands, Nick immediately took off after him. He heard Rochelle scream, but his heart was in his mouth as he watched the Tank nearing the truck at an alarming pace.

Shoving his magnum into the mouth of an intercepting common infected, he pulled the trigger and turned to fight off the rest of the infected that had boxed him in, barely registering the fact the Tank had changed its course and was nearly upon him. With a boom that made his ears ring and throwing him off his feet, he heard the Tank roar in pain as the grenade Ellis had fired hit its mark on the side of the monster's ugly head. Unsurprisingly, the Tank staggered to the side, stunned for a second, giving Rochelle and Coach time to open fire on the hulking mass of flesh. When Nick turned around to check Ellis was safe, he saw the younger man grinning brightly with the grenade launcher resting against his shoulder. He accepted the hand that stuck out to help him up, but pulled hard on the arm when he was standing to bring Ellis close.

"Tell me, you god damn hillbilly, what the FUCK where you doing?" He hissed in Ellis's face. To say he was angry would be only half a lie, as he was immensely relieved his team mate was safe, but angry at his rashness.

The grin was immediately wiped off Ellis's expression, only to be replaced with the biggest puppy eyes Nick had ever seen. It was sickly sweet, and he let Ellis go as if he had burned himself.

"Well Nick, I was gonna ambush the Tank, see, but I guess-"

"You didn't tell me." Nick interjected, and Ellis chuckled.

"Aww, keep that up and I might think that'chu actually care 'bout me."

Fuming, Nick walked off without another word. Yep, he could feel his hair going grey already.

20. Fortitude

From day one, Ellis had always looked up to Nick. To him, the gambler was a great many things. A best friend, a brother, a father, a team mate. Ellis felt that if there was one person he'd solidly, without a shadow of a doubt, want to go and do anything at all with, it would be Nick. Sure, the man was cynical sometimes, even cold, but he was never ever deliberately harsh. Occasionally, he'd drop in a comment like "I hate you Ellis.". Or the time he mentioned that there was (apparently) a sign that read 'Cousins only' outside the tunnel of love in Whispering Oaks amusement park as a stab at his heritige. But he knew Nick never meant any of his offensive comments. It was just his type of humour.

Another thing that drew him to the man was his strength. Nick practically radiated power and wealth – even when covered with boomer bile and lord knows what -, which was something Ellis found both fascinating and reassuring. Looking back, Ellis tried to remember if there was a time when he had seen the man show panic or sorrow, but he could never recall any other then the ones he'd caused. Like his narrow escape with a jockey pulling him over the edge of that cliff. The composed mask Nick carefully constructed around his face shattered, and he almost saw a different Nick pulling him up as he clung onto the edge of the rocky shelf for dear life.

Times like that where Nick selflessly put himself at risk (even if they were rather rare), that was another thing that made Ellis look up to his friend. He was brave, yes, but not as brave as Nick, who had probably been through a lot more than he had - and survived!

"Hey sport, stop daydreaming about your boyfriend, Keith, and keep up!" Blinking, Ellis looked up, realising he had stopped on the pavement, and ran to catch up with Nick who had an eyebrow raised in concern. "You alright?"

"Yeah Nick, I'm okay. You?"

"Fine…just fine." Turning, they both walked beside each other down the street, shooting down zombies as they went.

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Mwah! Done :D Hope you liked it :) x

Untill next time

- Jen xxx