UPDATED Author notes: Only taking a break, will continue the story.
*Cluck-Ca-Cluck* *Cluck-Ca-Cluck*
"Woah there girl." Clementine brings her horse to a stop.
Embers of fire fill the forest air. Some of the sparkling pixels of heat pinch her malnourished cheeks. The young girl stares at the yellow gates of fire that consumes the complex. "AJ!" She whispers in panic to herself.
The entrance to the complex reads Fort McCarroll.
Eerie sounds of gunfire and explosions fill the young girl's ears. The front gate was split in a jagged line. The left half of the gate was being held in place from something on the other side while the right side is completely tumbled over leaving a massive hole to enter.
"Come on girl." She pats the horse on the neck and advances towards the Fort. They start to cross the war torn bridge that leads to the gate. "THERE'S ONE OF THEM!" A man screams from the ramparts above her. Clem shoots her face up and sees the man pointing an assault rifle at her. "Oh shit." She mumbles out to herself. She kicks the horse to move faster. The horse goes full throttle and the sounds of gun fire direct towards her. She hears the bullets whiz past her figure but then a cluster of the gunfire hits the horse causing it to flip forward dead. Clem flies off the horse and roughly lands inside the gates entrance.
BAM BAM*feminine screams* *masculine screams*
The blazing heat breaks the girl into a streaming sweet. She pushes her feet to get herself further inside the gate to avoid the bullets. She swivels her head in terror, scanning the furnace that consumes her. "Help me." A weak voice grabs her arm, pleading for assistance. Clem pulls her arm back and pushes herself away from the man.
He's trapped underneath a part of the gate. His entire left side is molten and has an orangish yellow glow to it. The skin on his face melts off the bone. "Please... kill me..."
Boom!
Clem quickly turns her head towards the bang. A group of people tumble over a door trying to escape the horrors from inside. Bullets fly out the door hitting some of the frantic people. Two men run out assault rifles in hand blasting the people away. "KILL THEM ALL!" The larger figure demands from his comrade. Clem stumbles to get behind cover, trying to avoid the men's view.
"Please don't kill us." A man pleads to the gunman. Multiple shots ring out and Clem hears the pitiful voices of men, women, and children scream for their final breath. The teen hears the monsters gut their victims out of pleasure. Clem's shaky hands unholster her pistol and brings it to her side.
"No... don't kill that one. I want to have some fun with her before she dies." The teen hears the sinister laugher from the monsters ahead. "NO! MY BABY BOY! GET OFF OF ME!" Clem turns her head peering the side of the flipped table. She witnesses a woman being pried from a motionless child and the monsters take her flailing body away. Clem takes a moment to compose her unsteady heart. J-Just c-alm down, I-I just have to find AJ. She takes in a couple of deep breaths with the fiery ash and restless screams in-circling her malnourished soul.
Clem takes her ground and timidly continues her quest to find her baby boy. The echo of gunshots ring throughout the structure. She comes up to where the men gunned down the helpless victims. She freezes in utter disgust and is haunted with the images of gutted children, men, and women. She spots an infant who's completely unrecognizable with it's face caved in revealing little brain pieces scattered all throughout the floor.
The teen painfully forces herself to go further into the Fort. She takes a corridor to her left and continues down the path. A door busts open revealing three medium sized men and a plump woman in hysteria. Clem hides in the shadows. "Kaya get the kids out of the infirmary. Meet us at the front gate. We've got to get them out of here." The plump woman nods her head and the three men run past Clem to the front gate. AJ!
The teen escapes the shadows and makes her way to the infirmary. Clem uses the fire emitting off the walls to guide her to her destination.
Crash!
Clem is tackled by a much larger man. "GET THE FUCK OFF ME!" He pins her to the ground trying to subdue the younger girl. "You're a pretty bitch! I'm going to fuck you raw!" The teen squirms her petite structure but the heavier man keeps her grounded. The ash hitting her face and the high pitch roaring of fire piercing her eardrums as she uses all her strength to get an arm free but to no avail. The man moves her left arm to his right hand and pins both her arms down with his hand. He uses his left arm to undue his zipper.
Clem spits in his eye and knees him in his nuts. He folds over holding his manhood. Clem unsheathes her knife and drives it into the mans back "AAAHHH!" She gets on top of his back and unleashes a flurry of strikes to his back and head. "FUCK YOU!" She screams as she continues her rampage onto his body. She turns him over and guts him out of pure rage. She stands and fiercely stomps on his manhood erupting his privates. His intestines cover the floor and his lower midsection, and white goo is splattered although out the floor. The younger girl's knees nearly buckle as she stands her bloody appearance up.
"PLEASE NOT THE CHILD!" A feminine voice yelps further down the corridor. Clem grabs her abandoned gun and rushes in panic of AJ being in there. Her red stained hands crack the door open. Two men tower over the plump woman she saw earlier. "Please... leave the child alone." The woman gets on her knees pleading for the men to show mercy. The bigger man of the two walks up to her and shotguns the woman in the face, causing her face to cave within itself. Her limp body tumbles over. The monsters laugh hysterically.
Clem draws her gun to the side of her face to take action. "Get the kid out and slit it's throat." The bigger man nonchalantly motions his comrade to the metal container holding a child. The smaller man bashes the cage open and grabs a screaming afro-haired boy dangling him in the air. "AJ!" Clem screeches and puts three rounds into the smaller man killing him. AJ hits the ground and the bigger man charges the girl knife in hand. She shoots him in the shoulder but he tackles her before she can get another shot off. He shoves the knife towards her chest, she catches his hands and repels them from her body. They both grunt as they try to out power one another. The knife gets closer and closer to her chest and the point presses on her skin. She twists and turns exerting as much pressure out of her little body as she can muster. "STOP squirming you little BITCH!" The man fiercely growls at the teen. "AJ!"
"Clementine!" The loud whisper of Louis swiftly leans to her side shaking the panic-struck girl. "Hey, hey, Clem wake up!" His voice a little louder. The naked girl's eyes open madly. She pushes herself away from the boy out of sheer terror. Louis watches as her exposed body sit knee to chest hugging herself. She whimpers to herself with tears breaking through her face. "Clem?" The soft voice of the naked boy slowly reaches his clumsy hand to her but she jerks from his grasp. He depressingly studies her suffering state.
It's still dark outside with only the moonlight to guide them.
The scarred faced boy slowly crawls his way to her, wanting to comfort the girl he's grown to love. He leans his back on the wall beside her to which she slightly turns herself away from him.
He takes a look at the back of the teens hair which is drenched in her own sweat. He examines her bare back and gently wraps his right arm around her right shoulder. He becomes exuberant that she didn't pull away from him this time. He pulls on her shoulder bringing her into his shoulder which she rests her head on his upper right peck. He rests his scarred cheek on top her head and wraps his other arm around her, giving the girl all his warmth. He sits there with the girl on his chest for some time hoping she'd calm down. His chest is wet from her strained eyes.
"It's alright Clem, you're safe." He passionately circles his fingers on her shoulder rubbing her skin. Her naked body continues to tremble on his.
A short minute passes and he starts to hum a soothing melody to the unstable girl. The vibrations from his chest gives the girl goosebumps. He starts to gently rock her back and forth to the melody. Her tense body starts to relax into his as he continues humming. She closes her teary eyes to listen to the heavenly tune. As he hums, he pulls the covers overtop her vulnerable body to protect her from the cold.
"It was the Ranch again... wasn't it?" He stops his melody and whispers into the void. A brief silence subdues the room before the young girl replies. She traces a finger over the scar on his left peck "It always is." Her voice shaky and serious. An acute smile overtook the boy's face hearing her voice. He then becomes serious again "I'm sorry that I can't protect you from your nightmares... if I could, I would." Her now relaxed but shook soul replies softly "I know."
He lifts his head off the girl's hair and he clumsy runs his fingers through it. "Get some sleep... I won't let anything bad happen." Although she is terrified of going back into that realm she feels safe in his arms so she did as he asked and closes her eyes on his chest. He allows her to rest her body on his against the wall.
Louis stays seated in that position for some time until he is certain that she's sleeping. In one fluid motion he lays the girl down with him. They now lay on their left sides. Her bare back faces the boy. Louis sneaks his right arm underneath her's and holds the top of her hand. He pulls himself closer into a tight spooning position exchanging his skin to her. "Night Clem." He whispers to the girl. Unannounced to him a tender smile forms on her lips. Night Lou.
Four hours later
The rays of sunlight penetrate Clementine's eyes. Her weary eyes blink a couple of times to adjust to the bright corridor. She's wrapped together with the blankets and Louis' arms. She feels the slow beating of his heart on her back. She twists her head toward the young man behind her. "Lou!" She loudly whispers. She lightly shakes his shoulder to wake him. He moves and smacks his lips together but doesn't wake up. "Lou! It's time to get up!" She shakes him a little more vigorously. The boy awakes with her face projected to his. A dumb grin forms on his face "You get prettier every time I see you." The girl shakes her head "Oh I'm sure I do." She says sarcastically. Clem never believed she was an attractive person and she never believed Louis when he'd say things like this, but it did make her feel special that he at least thought she was. He props his left elbow on the bed to rest his head. "Yeah you do." He says with a smirk on his face. A hysterical grin overcomes her face "Is that why you were poking my butt this morning?" Louis' cheeks turn bright red and his eyes shoot although out the room. A nervous laugh comes out his mouth and he awkwardly rubs the back of his neck.
She giggles to his embarrassment. "I can't control that." He plainly states. "Oh I know... you made that clear." She tells him while giggling. A bright smile overcomes him hearing her enjoy herself.
He begins to feel strange so he lays on his back. "I'm not... feeling so great Clem." He tells her worryingly. A familiar tingly feeling overrides his body. She sits herself up not fully understanding what he means. "What's wrong?" She asks with him brow furrowing.
She peers at the scars on the boy's upper body. "Lou?" Her voice a little more concerned. She moves herself closer to him and his body begins to lightly shake. Fuck he's having a seizure. She gently picks up his upper half and hugs him in her breast. "I'm here Lou..." she gently rocks her body back and forth with him in her possession, hoping to bring him back. She lays her cheek on his forehead. "Come back to me..." she whispers to the boy. His body continues to regurgitate for a brief moment and he comes back.
His eyes look all around him confused. The girl still holds him tight in her breast. "W-Well isn't this a nice view." His bouncy voice enters her ears. His cheeks turn hot with her breast against his cheeks "Uh-what are you doing?" He asks confused. She lets go of him and looks at him confused. "Is something wrong?" The boy innocently asks. Her brow furrows "You had another seizure." He notices her worried face. "Oh..." he doesn't know how to respond.
"God it's cold." She shivers and pulls the covers back overtop her exposed body. She lays down to gain warmth.
His belly rumbles. Man I'm hungry. "You hungry?" He gives his full attention to the naked girl's face. "A little." She replies. "Well then..." he climbs overtop her and nearly tumbles on top her. Clumsy fuck he thinks to himself. He lands on his feet "I'll get my dear princess something to eat." She giggles to herself "Just make sure Omar doesn't put his 'secret' ingredient in mine." He laughs "I can't promise it'll taste as good, but as you request." He clumsily grabs his underwear and pants but then the door starts to open. Shit! He throws his attire at the closet and stumbles over his feet to get back in the bed. Clem throws him some of the blankets and he covers his lower half with it.
The afro-haired AJ barges into the room with his coloring box that has some new supplies Tenn gave him. "Hey Louis!" His innocent face gleams to the bigger boy who's sitting on the bed. "Hey little dude!" He matches his intensity. He keeps himself together to make it appear as if it was a normal day. Clem with the blankets covering her naked body is in panic "Uh-AJ..." Louis notices her shaky voice. AJ hops onto his bed and opens the coloring box to draw "Yeah Clem?" Louis quickly steps in "Do you know if Tenn is hungry?" The boy squints his face to the question as he draws shapes onto his paper. "I don't know... I didn't ask him." Clementine's child looks up at the larger boy. "Could you ask him? I'm going out to get everybody food." AJ's face gets big. He loves when people give him missions, it makes him feel important "Yeah I'll ask him."
AJ lays his materials to the side and jumps down to the floor. He stops to examine Louis' bare chest "You know Louis..." Please don't ask me to stand up Louis begs to himself. The little one walks up the brown eyed boy and points at his chest "Those scars make you look badass." Clem snaps her head out from under the blankets so angry that she almost revealed her naked body "Swear!" Her teeth grind. AJ quickly corrects himself "I meant cool." Louis chuckles to Clem's motherly correctness. "I'll go ask Tenn." AJ starts his way but stops holding the door handle "And-uh-Louis?" Louis changes his attention from the girl to him "Yeah buddy." AJ's throat tightens "...Thank you..." Louis' face scrunches and he looks at Clem who is just as confused as him. "Thank you for protecting Clem." Both the girl and Louis' eyes widen. Louis clears his throat "If you ever need a guy to take a knife for you... you know who to call." He tries to make light of his heroic action. AJ snaps at him "No... I'm being serious." Louis dangles his head down and looks the little boy's mother. She gives him her sweet eyes and bright smile "Any-day buddy." AJ fights a tear back inside and opens the door. Louis interrupts him before he exits "I'll meet you at his room." AJ nods and exits.
Louis gets his clumsy body out the bed "That my darling was way to close." He sighs in relief. Clem's body relaxed when her little boy left the room "I'm surprised he didn't ask for a hug." Louis starts to laugh imagining the awkward situation "Yeah, that woulda been a disaster." She watches him as he puts his clothes on. As he grabs his shirt she starts to get out of the bed. He turns his back to her to give her some time to get dressed.
"Lou... you're doing it again." "Doing what?" He turns to her but keeps his eyes fixed on other things in the room. She moves to him putting her long sleeve shirt on "Awkwardly looking around the room." She giggles. With her shirt on he focuses on her face "Thought you'd like to change in private." He says innocently. She puts her underwear and blue jeans on, Louis adverts his attention to other objects as she does this. She catches him doing it again. She silently chuckles to herself and stands in front of the taller boy. A toothy smile dominates his features. She gets on her tiptoes and kisses him on his freckled cheek. "Come on Lou." She drags him along with her. "Oh... I almost forgot..." she lets go of his hand and runs to the bed frame to grab her hat. She fits it snug on her head "Better." She trots back to him and they exit together.
AJ waits outside Tenn's room waiting for Louis. Louis and Clementine walk towards the boy who jogs to them. "He said he wasn't hungry." "What about you?" Louis asks. "Nah. I have to ask Willy about something though." Louis fist bumps the little guy. He walks up to Clem and hugs her waist and runs to find Willy.
The day was fair. It isn't cold and it isn't hot. This is the first time in a while they've had this kind of weather.
"Hey Clem?" Louis turns toward her, which she does the same. "I'm going to help Aasim with the greenhouse. He said that he wants to finish it now that I'm walking." Clem nods her head "Just... promise me you won't be too hard on yourself." He gives her a compassionate hug "I promise." He smiles to her and walks towards Aasim who is discussing food plans with Ruby.
Willy was on lookout as usual. Clem calls his name, his head jerks to her voice "Yeah Clem!" He's worried she's found out about his secret bomb project "Know where AJ is?!" His body relaxes knowing his secret hasn't been discovered "I saw him talking to Ruby." He then pauses "I think he went back to Tenn's room." She starts for his room "Thanks Willy." He quickly responds "No problem."
As she approaches the door Tenn and AJ's conversation grow louder "So the police officer caught the bad guys?" She knew it was AJ because Tenn's voice is raspy. "Yeah. They caught all the bad guys."
She opens the door, AJ's voice follows "Hey Clem." Both of them are on the floor drawing. A deep sense of accomplishment consumes her seeing him being a kid "Mind if I draw with you?" His eyes enlighten "Yeah! Come sit!" He's always wanted to draw with her but she's always too busy.
She sits down by his side and picks up the purple colored pencil "What should I draw?" She use to draw a lot when she was his age.
He thinks for a minute "You pushing me on that tire thing." She chuckles to his ignorance "The tire swing?" His face shines "Yeah, that thing!" She begins her drawing "I can't promise that'll look pretty." He defends her "You'll make it great."
One hour later
"Alright kiddo. I have to get some things done around the school." She hands him her completed drawing. The boy is surprised as he witnesses her drawing skills. "Clem this is great!" He passes it to Tenn who was leaning over the boy's shoulder. "Where'd you learn to draw like this?" The raspy voice of Tenn is astonished. She chuckles "I use to draw a lot when I was your guy's age." Tenn carefully continues to study her drawing. AJ jumps onto Clem with his arms wide. "Be careful Clem." "I should be saying that to you." He giggles.
Clem opens the double doors and is welcomed with a comfortable breeze. I really should see James. She makes her way to the gate.
Aasim was practicing with his bow at the makeshift shooting range beside the cellar. He sees the light-skin girl heading towards the gate "Clem!" He waves her down and she approaches him. "What's up Aasim?" While holding his bow he picks up his homemade quiver which holds a respectable amount of arrows "You up to hunt around?"
Violet comes out of the cellar and hears the girl with the baseball cap respond "Sure. Come with me to find James and we can hunt afterwards." He nods to her and gathers his things. Vi jogs to the slightly shorter teenage girl "Could I come along. I'm kinda tired of tending to Minnie." Upon meeting the hazel eyes of Clementine the blonde dangles her head down and rubs the back of her neck. "I don't see why not." A timid smile appears on the blondes face. The girls meet up with Aasim and they head out together.
Ten minutes later
Aasim is discussing the status of the school like he usually does "We're good on food right now, but winter is almost here and we don't have enough to ration for the season." Clementine reassures him "We can scavenge out further than we usually do for the next month and we'll be fine." He flips through his notepad "Yeah... maybe."
"How's Lou been?" The blonde gains the hazel eyed girl's attention. Aasim ventures a little further out from the two trying to find signs of James. Clem directs her face between what's in front of her and the girl as they talk "He's upset, but he seemed really happy this morning." A reminiscing smile protrudes her face remembering the details of last night. The blonde awkwardly gazes from the girl's body to other objects in the forest. "Upset about what?" Her low voice asks. Clem sighs "He has problems... from the head injury." A small silence fills the air "Like what?" The blonde curiously probes. "Well he's had two seizures since he's been awake. He had one this morning." Clem says sadly. Vi becomes visually disturbed thinking about Louis being tortured by his own body, especially since Minnie did this to him. "He's also a little clumsier than he was before." She adds. Vi notes her discomfort. "What made him so happy... because when Lou is upset, he usually stays that way until something cheers him up." A faintly noticeable hue of red overcomes Clem's cheeks "I-uh-I-I'm not sure." She lies through her teeth. "Well I'm sure you did something. I mean you guys went to bed pretty early last nigh— wait..." the blonde's brow furrows thinking to herself. Holy shitThey did not do what I'm thinking, there's no fucking wayVi looks back up to Clem who's face got even more red than before, obviously sensing the blonde knew about it. Vi chuckles underneath her breath which makes Clem even more embarrassed "I'm happy for you guys." Her face still flushed with a smile now forming "Thanks Vi." "I won't tell anyone." The blonde reassures her, which makes Clem relax. Vi gets the idea to tease her "I bet he didn't last five minutes." Clem looks at her and a toothy grin reveals itself "Neither of us did." Vi burst into laughter.
Aasim falls back to the girls and matches their pace "I can't find a trace of James." "We'll find him" Clem reassures. Aasim starts to talk about the repairs being made around the school and an update on the greenhouse "Louis and I have been toating some of the building materials we got from the raiders to prep for repairs for the front wall... I told him to take a break but he went to the greenhouse and started working on something over there ." I told him to take it easy. Clem's face tightens "He shouldn't be doing a whole lot today. He's going to get himself hurt." Aasim looks at both the girls "I-I told him that, but he said he wanted to help around."
They are brought out of conversation to the sounds of growling and crackling noises. Four walkers reveal themselves in a small group a short distance from the three.
Aasim firmly grabs his bow and loads an arrow "You want to take them?" Clem draws her knife "I'll take the one in the front and you shoot the closest one from me." He nods. Vi unsheathes her cleaver "I'll get the one in the back." They nod to one another and execute their plan.
Clem approaches the walker in the front. The stench of rotten flesh and bodily fluids reek the air. It doesn't affect the girl as she has grown accustom to the aroma.
She leg sweeps the first which causes it to fall flat on its face. Aasim's arrow soars past her and strikes the closet one to her in the head. The girl with the baseball cap swiftly stabs the walker in the head. In one swift motion she throws her knife into the next walkers skull. Her footwork has become flawless with her seven years of experience.
Vi hacks her cleaver into the last walker killing it. Clem recovers her knife "That was pretty fucking cool." Vi tells the skilled survivor. Clem cleans the knife on her pants "Thanks." "Fucking asshole!" Both the girl's turn to Aasim who's collecting his arrow. His agitated voice continues "Fucking broke my arrow." He kicks the walker in the face.
A whisper creeps into Clem's ears "Clementine." She turns to the voice with the knife raised over her head to throw it. The talking walker shields his body "IT'S ME CLEM!" He takes his mask off to reveal himself to her. They three teens relax and Clem lowers the knife "You really shouldn't sneak up on people." He quickly defends himself "I wasn't trying to scare you." She softens her voice to match his "I know, but you know what people do when they're scared." He nods understandingly "Yeah... sorry." He trots along with them beyond the safe zone.
"Where are you guys heading?" James' naturally soft voice flows with the breeze. "Past the safe zone to hunt, and scavenge." She pauses "We were also looking for you." His face jumps "Looking for me... why?" Clem signals Vi and Aasim to stop. "We want you to join us at the school." He looks between her and the rest of the kids "I don't know Clementine..." "You protect us from the walkers and you're our friend. We don't want you to be alone anymore." I trust her and AJ but I don't know about the rest. He looks into her caring eyes and glances down "How's Louis?" She straightens her back "He's up and walking." A rare smile takes his features "Good..."
Tense silence fills the air "I'll think about it." Joy fills inside of the curly-haired teen "You're always welcome to come and sleep inside the walls."
James puts his mask back on and bids them all farewell. "And Clem..." He grabs her arm before she is able to resume their hunt "There's a herd coming in from the southwest... a big one." Vi and Aasim notice they left Clem behind and walk the short distance back. "They're maybe two days away from the school. Make sure you guys are extra quite for the next couple of days." She nods to him and he lets her leave.
"What'd you guys talk about?" Vi asks. Clem sighs "A herd is heading in from the southwest." "I'm guessing we're to stay low until they pass?" The blonde asks. Clem nods her head "Yep."
They continue past the safe zone.
"Louis... I don't think it's the greatest idea to talk to Minnie." Willy says bluntly. "Clem said that she wanted me to see her." He painfully accepts Clem's orders. "I'm going with you." The voice of AJ makes the boys jump. Louis gets on one knee and fist bumps AJ. "You and me on a team is overkill." AJ smiles hearing Louis' comment. They head inside with one another.
The eerie sounds of humming and singing fill the cellar. "Don't worry Louis. She's been like this for a while." Louis gulps. "Well isn't that comforting." AJ grabs a baseball bat stashed behind an old desk. "What'd you need that for?" AJ pats it on his hand. "Just for protection." Louis awkwardly nods his head. AJ is probably the most savage kid I know. But it is pretty badass sometimes. They turn the corner meeting the sickly looking girl. "Why does she look so sick?" AJ points the bat at the food on the ground. "She won't eat." He bluntly states. Louis timidly walks up to the broken girl. "Hey Minnie." She continues her looping song. Her wrists are bleeding from her struggling to set herself free. I'm sorry Minnie. "It's Louis." She stops her humming but continues to stare at the ground. His breathing gets heavier. He goes to touch her shoulder but on contact she violently pulls and tugs on her restraints to set herself free. AJ pulls him back from her. "She's crazy." AJ tells the boy.
Six hours later
The three teens caught a feast. Aasim's back is snapping with the weight of a medium sized deer slouched over his shoulders. Clementine has bodies of rabbit swinging from her side. Vi is carrying some birds and a packet of berries. "Looks like you where right Clem." She's never seen Aasim so happy
The sun is setting as they approach the gate "They're back!" Willy's voice calls to the others inside the walls.
As they enter the gate they are greeted by Willy and Ruby "Holy shit... a deer!" Willy hasn't seen a deer since the beginning of the apocalypse. Aasim drops it from his shoulders "Goddamn my shoulders are killing me." His shoulders where painted in the deer's blood. Ruby goes and tends to the back-broken teen "Are you okay?" The southern accent of Ruby asks him tenderly. While pushing his hands off of his knees Aasim tries to not make her worry "I'm fine Ruby."
Clem sits her rabbits on the table "Willy could you get the meat to the basement?" He jumped "Yeah." She gave her attention back to Aasim "You good?" His back was huntched over "Yeah. I'm going to help Willy, then I'm going to sleep." She agrees.
Louis comes out the admin building occasionally tripping over himself with a toat of their building supplies heading towards the greenhouse. Clem notices his fatigued body slowly make its way around the courtyard. His shirt was covered in sweat and the front of his shirt has some blood on it. He sees her in the corner of his eye looking at him. He redirects his face to hers and gives an exhausted smile. She gave him a troubled smile. He notices the pain in her face and he too becomes depressed.
AJ comes running out the basement to begin his watch "Clem!" The youth was always happy to see his mom. Goosebumps form on her skin "Hey goofball!" His face crunches "It's AJ." His voice noticeably offended. "Sorry. I'll stick to AJ." She loves to see him defend his integrity. "What are you in a hurry for?" She suspects that he is meeting someone. "It's my turn on watch." He loves to be the one protecting the homestead. "Wanna hung before your big watch?" A grin grew on her cheeks. He embraces her hip "Be safe." Her voice made him forget the constant danger he's in.
As she walks away he stops her "Can I play with Tenn again tonight?" She gives him a suspicious face "Yes you can, but your coming back to our room tomorrow." He reluctantly agrees and runs to his post.
Her body is aching and sore. Her knees are starting to get unbearably painful. She heads towards the admin building when Ruby stops her "Hey Clem!" Her tired eyes meet Ruby's "Yeah!" Ruby points to the picnic tables "Food is ready!" Clem painfully walks and grabs her bowl "Tell Louis I'm taking his to our room." A smirk appears on the redheads face. "I'll tell him."
Clem enters her room and lays Louis' bowl on the dresser. She sips the juices from the bowl. The warmth of the stew gives her chills.
By the time Louis made it to the room she has nearly eaten all her food.
The door cracks open with a grunt meeting it. "Ouch... garbage ass door." He spots Clem sitting on the floor, with her back against the dresser. His pain vanishes with her presence "What did our famous chef make today?" She giggles "More strew." His face turns to disappointment "Yummy!" He says sarcastically.
She pats on the floor "Sit with me." He grabs his bowl and sits beside her. He takes a sip and a piece of Omar's hair gets caught in his throat. He spits out his stew and grabs the hair "I fucking told you he's putting it in there on purpose!" She bursts into tears from laughter. His heart warms to it.
"Oh you think it's funny that our dearest friend is trying to assassinate me." A grin is still on his face. "You're the cutest." She says recovering from the laughter. He shoots his face back "Cute?" He holds his chest as if offended "I think you meant most charming man ever." She rolls her eyes and continues to eat her stew.
She notices his wheezy breathing "You really shouldn't had done anything today. You need to heal." He glances at her boots "I wanted to help." His voice assertive but gentle. "It won't help if you get yourself hurt." He remains silent thinking about what she said "Can you please take a couple of days to let your body rest?" She can't stand to see him in pain any longer. "I can't just sit around and do nothing." He sees her face downcast "I-I'll take it easy for the next couple of days. But I'm still going to help around." A grin grew on her face "Thank you."
A short minute passes when she catches another glimpse of the blood spot on his shirt "Why's there blood on your shirt?" He looks down and remembers the incident from earlier. He wants to tell her but he's scared that it'll only upset her. "I'm not sure." Her brow furrows "You wouldn't lie to me... would you?" He really doesn't want to show her but he can't bring himself to lie to her. He lifts his shirt up to show her. "Lou..." She gets on her knees and examines the wound. "I was carrying a box and tripped myself... I don't know what did it." He studies the girl's face as she carefully touches his abdomen. It's obvious to him that she's upset. He lets his shirt drape back over him "Seriously Clem... It's nothing." He hands her bowl back to her. She continues to eat but not without thinking about his cut.
They both finish their food at the same time. He eyes her empty bowl "You still hungry?" She shakes her head "No, I'm full." His exhausted body gets under his clumsy limbs "Well then..." He holds his hand out "I'll take your bowl down." His face full of admiration. She decides to let him be the gentleman "Thank you Lou." A grin grows on his face "Anything for my Queen." Her cheeks glow red.
He heads towards the door humming to himself but then stops at the door "When I get back... y-you wanna talk." Her face full of mystery "About what?" His heartbeat rises "Last night..." The memories replay in her head and she blushes even more "Yeah." He enlightens the more she blushes "And just FYI miss Clementine." She looks up to him with her flushed face "I think it's pretty hot when you blush." She rolls her eyes "I'm sure it is." "Oh trust me. It is." He opens the door "See you in a minute." She gives him an tired smile.
Clementine sits there and rests her eyes.
A couple of minutes pass before Louis opens the door. He trips over himself as he goes to sit beside her. "You wanted to talk?" Clem asks. "Oh yeah." He nearly forgot. He takes a deep breath "How do you feel about it?" A slightly noticeable smile forms on her face "I enjoyed it." She makes eye contact "How do you feel about it?" He downcast trying to find the right words "To be honest... I can't explain how I feel... I know I'm happy about it, but I feel like it meant so much more..." Her brow furrows "What do you mean?" He continues to try the right words "D-Does it feel more than just sex to you... because to me I don't care about that part... I care more that we got to really trust... love one another..." A illuminating smile overcomes her with his pure soul. She holds his hand and interlocks her fingers with his. He does the same. "I feel that way too." A twinkle of light passes over his pupil to her response.
He stands up with her hand in his and helps her up "You wanna go stargaze?" Her eyes widen "I'd like that." He lets go of her hand and grabs a towel from the dresser "What are you doing?" He walks to the closet "To take a shower before we go. I feel disgusting." She agrees with him and grabs herself some new clothes and a towel.
The couple following the moonlight make it to the showers. Louis looks at the girl's face with a smirk "Wanna shower together?" She chuckles to herself "You'd like that wouldn't ya?" He shrugs his shoulders "I mean... we'd be saving water." He can barley see her roll her eyes "Not tonight lover boy." He pushes the curtain to the side "Well... this room is for you then." He holds the curtain door for her to enter. He bows as she walks past him. "Thank you." "My pleasure." He closes her curtain and goes into the other room.
Louis stands under the dripping liquid beating himself up. What a fucking idiot. "Wanna shower together." What are you Louis a fucking animal? He shakes his head condemning his actions.
Clem is inside the opposite room doing the same thing. One of the rare times he try's to make the first move and you shut him down. No wonder he doesn't do it very often. He's probably beating himself up over it. She sighs to herself.
Clementine is brought out of her thoughts through the boy's voice "I'll be outside waiting Clem." She shakes her head coming back into reality "I'll be out in a minute." He smiles to himself hearing her voice.
Clementine turns the faucet off and drys herself off. She puts on a new attire which consists of tight blue jeans, a white long sleeve, and her boots. She stares at the hair clippings Lilly gave her. I'll let my hair stay down for the night. She stuffs the clippings into her pants and walks outside.
Louis sits on a small log that he found a few feet from the showers. He's tracing the scar on his face, feeling it's texture. I bet I look hideous. He sees the girl exit the showers and stands up to meet her. Clementine pats and searches herself to make sure she got everything out of the shower room. "I've never seen you with your hair down before." Her hair drapes slightly past shoulder length. She flicks the side of her hair causing it to go behind her ears. "I need to cut it." She uses her free hand to move her bangs out of her face. A deep sadness hits the young man. "But I love your hair." He pouts to her. His clumsy fingers rub on some of the individual strains. "I would leave it longer... but I made a promise." Keep that hair short. Lee's voice echoes in her head. Louis stumbles to his belongings and brings them with him. He holds his hand out to stack her belongings onto his "Your luggage madam." He uses a very formal and preppy accent. She lets him be a gentleman and loans him her stuff. "Thank you." His stupid toothy grin overcomes him again. "Anything for you."
He glances at her luscious hair again. "Could I at least cut it for you." A luminous joy fills inside her. "You'd do that?" He tugs on his trench coat "Yes and I promise I won't make you bald." She twirls a piece of her bang. "I'd like to have hair Lou." He motions her to follow him, which she does "Even if I mess up, and that is a big IF, You'd still be beautiful to me." She chuckles to herself. He doesn't mean that... or does he... "Mess my hair up and I'll cut your dreads while you sleep." She playfully grabs a piece of his hair and uses her hands as scissors.
He uses his free hand to grab ahold of his prized possession. "You'd sever my soul in two." She shakes her head. "Idiot..." she mumbles. "Actually Clemmy, my IQ is very average." She shoots her face at him. "How would you know?" He looks at her every couple of feet. "They made us do a stupid test when we joined this shitty school." He starts to laugh uncontrollably. Clem's brow furrows. "What's so funny." He regains enough composure to tell her. "I cheated on the test." He continues to laugh. What an idiot. She giggles to herself.
They come up to the gate of the school. Louis gives their stuff to Willy who's on watch. "Willy watch our stuff." Confused the young boy grabs their stuff. "Why do you want me to watch your stuff?" Louis points to the gate. "I'm showing Clem something." Willy looks out over the walls. He's believes it's to dangerous for them to be out roaming in the dark. "I don't know Louis. You guys really shouldn't be out there in the dark." "We're not going far." Willy looks down at the couple. "Ok." Willy huffs and puffs to himself.
Louis and Clementine venture out the gate. "After you." Louis holds his arm out holding the door for the girl. He sees a smirk dominate her face, making him fuzzy inside. "Yell if you guys get into trouble." Louis looks up at the younger boy. "Will do captain Willy." Willy's eyes slouch. "Don't ever call me that again." Louis grabs ahold of Clementine's hand and walks with her. He holds his thumb up at Willy. "Loud and clear captain." Willy shakes his head and sits down watching the couple disappear in the darkness. "Fucking Louis." He whispers into the void.
"Where are we going?" She's worried about the herd on the way. "You'll see. We're almost there."
While walking he looks at her face every couple of feet. "I saw Minnie today." The surroundings grow tense. "Minnie is like a sister to me, but she's not in there anymore." A deep sadness consumes his being. "I think we should just put her out of her misery." He cringes saying it. Clementine grows distressed seeing him so upset. "We can keep her around" "No..." He interrupts her "I'm going to talk to Vi and find the best way to let her rest." She nods her head understanding. She hugs her right arm around his mid back trying to comfort his broken soul.
Louis trips over himself and falls to one knee. Clem is instantly by his side. "Lou!" She supports him with her arms. "Awe, I'm fine Clem. Just a little clumsy." He chuckles to her, but she isn't so enthused. With her help he stands back up and they carry on.
Clementine's knees feel like their about to explode from the inflammation. "Ouch!" She loudly whispers to herself. She stops for a moment. Louis turns to her and sees her rubbing on her knees. "Your knees bothering you again?" She nods her head, the pain is to intense for her to talk. "Here let me carry you." He goes to lift her up but she stops him. "No... I got it, just give me a second." She rubs on her knees a couple of more times. She chuckles to herself. "We're a bunch of cripples, you know that." Louis laughs. "At least we're crippled together." She chuckles. "Yeah, you're right."
They walk past a rotting barn which was covering a hidden pier. "Viola!" Louis says with his teeth greeting the girl. The old rotting pier hangs over the river with a clear view of the bright night sky. "I know it looks like shit, but it has a great view." He directs her to a spot on the edge of the pier. The moonlight glistens on their skin. He sits down with his legs dangling over the edge and pats her a spot next to him. "A fresh spot just for you Clemster." Her cheeks turn pink, but it's too dark outside for him to tell.
"They're beautiful." Clementine says while observing the star filled sky. "They could only dream of being as beautiful as you." Louis says honestly. She looks at the boy who is looking up at the stars. She looks back down to her thighs. "Thank you for being there for me last night." He glances at the girl and looks back up at the stars. "You wanna talk about it... the Ranch." Visions of the mangled children, women screaming from their rapists, and the slaughtered men who tried to protect them haunt her vision. "There's a lot of bad in this world Lou. I'm just glad you're not part of it." He adverts his full attention to the girl. "If you ever want to get something off your chest. You know who to talk to. Nothing you say will change how I feel about you."
She looks up at the bright orbs in the sky. "I saw the grave." Please don't be mad at me. "You're too good for me Lou." Thank you god. "You like it?" She looks back to the worrying face of Louis. "Words can't explain how much it means to me." She moves herself closer to the boy. They look up at the stars together.
He feels her body shiver from the midnight breeze. "Here, take this." He takes his trench coat off reigns it over her shoulders. "That is probably the cheesiest thing you've ever done." She says jokingly. "Well... cheesy is my middle name." She proudly wears it over her slim body. "Oh is it." "Actually no, it's Tye, but cheesy sounds cooler. And I like cheese." His airy voice is always so charismatic. She chuckles to his goofiness. He's is the weirdest person sometimes.
"Vi said that you two went hunting today?" She shrugs her shoulders. "What about it?" An evil grin protrudes his mouth. "Oh nothing... Vi just seemed so happy about it." With his trench coat wrapped around her (which Louis thought was his greatest achievement) she tells him. "What's up with her? She's been acting so strange around me more and more." She hears loud air gusts burst through his nose, obviously trying to hold his laughter inside him. "You've not caught on yet?" She shakes her head confused. "Caught on to what?" More gust of air break through his nose. He looks Clem in the eyes and chuckles to her. "She likes-likes you." He finally releases his pent up humor. "No she does not!" She tries to defend Vi. "Oh yes she does my sweet Clementine." She glances down to her lap and back to him. "What makes you think that?" Without looking away from her. "She told me the week before the raid." "Oh I'm sure she did." He looks up at the stars to gather his thoughts. "I don't blame her... you're the greatest person I've ever met." Her face his flushes with a pink hue but the darkness doesn't allow him to see. "Not to mention that your beauty attracts all genders alike." She shakes her head and giggles to herself.
His iconic stupid grin reigns supreme on his face again. "You going to leave me for her?" Clem shakes her head. "Not in a million years." His grin grows more distinct. "So in a million and one years you'll leave me for her." He chuckles. She gives him a devilish look and rolls her eyes. "I'm not going to leave you Louis. I'll stay with you to our graves." An unexplainable feeling overwhelms his soul. Till death do us part he thinks to himself. They look up at the orbs floating in the sky.
Clem leans her body onto his. She lays her head onto his shoulder. A compassionate smile overwhelms Louis' features. He wraps his left arm around her figure which is still being warmed by his coat. He lays his head on-top her's. They both look up at the sparkling neighbors. "I really wish, that there were words that could describe how much I love you Clem... because I can't think of any." He is truly frustrated that he can't formulate a sentence that could bring justice to his feelings. She pecks him a kiss on his left cheek and lays her head back down. "I can't think of any either." He lays his head back on hers. They both tenderly smile thinking about one another, while gazing at the stars above.
I'm taking a little bit of a break to make outlines for future chapters. Probably won't be a new chapter for some time. I am thinking of making a college AU but I don't know if I'm going to commit to it yet.