Reminisce: talk about, recall.
Tommy sat on his raggedy couch as wondered to himself if this counted as babysitting. He knew she was 15, nearly sixteen, but she was a child in his eyes. Not to her, to Ellie sixteen was fully grown and ready to take on the world. She was probably right, but neither he nor Joel wanted to believe that.
Ellie glared at the door. Joel left just under five minutes ago, saying he'd be back soon and no, she could not go too. This would usually lead to a argument, but today Tommy was there. He was supposed to "make sure she doesn't scamper off". Ellie hadn't run off in ages. Well, two weeks to be exact.
Ellie finally sighed and tore her gaze from the door. He wasn't coming back to get her after all.
She turned to look at Tommy. He gave an awkward grin.
"How're you and Joel doing?" Tommy asked. The teen shrugged.
"Okay, I guess."
Silence fell between them. Ellie stared at the wall with a scowl, obviously upset with his brother.
'Will Joel ever learn she just isn't the same when he's not around?' Tommy thought as he shook his head.
The two had grown close within their time here at Jackson, so close that he often caught Ellie referring to Joel as 'Dad'. The first time it terrified Joel, and after a huge mess to prove they were both stubborn mules that couldn't communicate at all, Joel grew to accept it. Tommy knew another daughter must hard to accept, especially one you couldn't always keep safe, but he was glad things turned out the way they did. Joel was still sensitive about Sarah and certainly still scarred, but he loved Ellie like his second daughter.
'I just hope this doesn't end badly.
Joel can't take another tragedy like Sarah's passing.'
Tommy paused to gather his thoughts.
"Hey, did I ever tell you about the time Joel got bullied in school?"
Ellie's eyes flicked over to him. She seemed interested, but he was never good at reading people.
"Well, you might not believe me but Joel was a runt in middle school." Her eyes grew wide in surprise. "No fucking way. You sure we're talking about the same Joel? Joel, the rough and tough zombie killing machine?" Tommy laughed as he nodded.
"That's the one. Back then he was a four feet an' seven inches, acne plagued teen. Everybody picked on him. He never let it bother him, though. Long as his grades were good. Mom and Dad...they took nothing but perfection. S'why they..."
Tommy stopped. Ellie very interested in Joel's past, since he never spoke of it himself. This particular part was when Sarah came in. He knew this was something Joel kept very quiet. So he changed topics.
"Never mind." Ellie immediately jumped in.
"No, wait, what about-"
"I can't tell you. S'private stuff. Joel'd have my head on a platter if I told you without his permission, so ask him yourself."
The girl fumed and shifted her eyes back to the front door. Tommy was losing her. He tried to keep her attention.
"Anyway, Joel got pushed around, talked bad about, beat up..." That did the trick. Her eyes were back on him, this time holding an angry look.
"Why would Dad just let them do that? Why didn't he fight back? He could've wrecked those guys in ten seconds flat!" Tommy motioned for her to calm down.
"Quit interrupting. I'm getting there.
So, I come across them one day beatin' up on him. He just sits there and takes it. Me, being a dumb eleven year old, go up and tell them to piss off. Well they didn't like that too much. Started calling me names. This one guy, huge teenage meat sack, he swings at me. He didn't even get to blink before Joel was on 'em. That fight had to have been legendary. The littlest kid in school puts three bullies in the nurses office without getting so much as a scratch on himself."
Ellie was in awe, gaping at the story. She blinked. "He protected you because you're his brother, right?"
He nodded again with tears in his eyes. "Sure did. Those guys never laid a hand on Joel or me ever again. Joel got bigger, stronger, and a lot more intimidating after that. No kid with a brain wanted to pick a fight with him. 'Ventually, when we got to high school, some girl was brave enough to talk to him and next thing I know, Sarah's sitting in my lap." Tommy finished with a sad look at the floor. It seemed like a day ago. One minute he had newborn Sarah in his arms, laughing and joking with Joel. The next he was digging her grave and praying Joel and him would survive through the night.
He looked up when Ellie said something. "What?"
"I asked if you could tell me more about Dad's past," she said hopefully. He looked at her, and for the briefest, tiniest moment, he saw pale blue eyes staring back.
"Maybe one day, kiddo."
A/N: Ahhhhh, wasn't that refreshing? I must say (forgive me if I sound a bit cocky) that might've been the best thing I've wrote yet. Had some very family-ish vibes going on. I honestly have no clue where that little piece of fluffiness came from. Maybe eating chocolate at 11:30 PM just has that effect on me.
Lemme know if you liked it!
CREDIT FOR IDEA GOES TO TONIFONI!
He/she said: "Ellie hanging out with Tommy? :D"
At first I was like, "well wouldn't it just be extra awkward?" But then I had an explosion of clarity. It was perfect. So thank you so much, friend! Couldn't have done it without you!