When Ellie left for her room, she wasn't expecting Joel AND Harald arguing right outside her door.
"I'm tellin' ya," Joel groaned, clearly getting tired of Harald's will to keep up the conversation. "She was asleep when I left, an' when I returned from getting somethin' for her and I to eat, she was gone."
"Well she's not exactly safe around Lucas. As you are her guardian, I politely ask you to keep your eyes on her more than before. I will see both of you after the feast." Harald said before walking away from the conversation, as bored and annoyed as Joel was with it.
Joel pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly annoyed. "Hey, kid," He said, forcing a smile as he looked at her. "Glad to see you up and about."
"Thanks," She said, giving him a a brief hug before heading back into the room to put on her own shirt.
When she had asked about what he and Harald had been talking about, he merely shrugged, telling her that he thought she was going to get herself in trouble if she stuck around Lucas, but Joel told her that he thought otherwise. "I think he's a good kid, eben if he does need a little anger management..."
"Is that because he saved your girl?" She teased him, hoping he was getting a good look at her naked back.
He let out a grunt. "He's a handsome young man," Joel hinted, even though it hurt. He wanted her to be happy, and to be happy with someone her age. Even if it did bring pain to him in the process.
Ellie laughed at his logic. "You're saying he's handsome, and you've never even seen his face!" She puased, looking herself over in the mirror. She was actually clean! The nurses must have washed her when they had overscene her while she was still out like a light. "But he is alright," She admitted, turning to look herself over. The curves were starting to show in all the right places. "He just needs some time to heal."
Joel took a moment to think to himself. 'Old dog's bein' left behind...' "Well then," He said, turning to leave. "I better get our little girl and Ish and his band of survivors."
"Alright, stay safe, Joel!" She called out to him, putting her hair up in a braid. Joel new all to well what she was doing, even if she didn't.
As Joel walked away he saw four people walking towards Ellie's room, each one of them carrying one decorated dress. This surprised him as most people didn't have nice, formal clothes anymore.
Back at the house Ish was drinking some water when he heard banging coming from the backroom. Susan and Beth both readied their weapons and aimed at the door whilst Ish raised his rifle and slowly approached the door.
Chaya peeked out of her guardians' room, Ellie's pistol tucked securely in the back of her faded black jeans, which looked more grey than black now. She had took a stance behind Susan, hand behind her back in case she did have to draw the weapon, but hoped she wouldn't have to let the adults see it and risk it being taken away.
Ish slowly opened the door and revealed that Serena was no longer in the center of the room, rather she somehow got out of her shackles.
"Shit..." Ish muttered before a bruised and red hand pulled him into the room, slamming the door behind him.
"Beth, get that door open." Susan requested and the young girl rushed up to the door, trying to open it.
It was locked.
Ish was pinned against the wall, he tried to fire at Serena but she pushed the rifle away, and he effectively killed nothing but the wall. He pushed her back and got a good look, she had freed her hands of the bindings, but still had the cuffs on her ankles.
'Great, didn't think about the chair, did we Joel?' He thought to himself before raising his gun at her head.
"Get. On. The. Ground. Now!" He ordered.
Chaya tugged on the Susan's shirt. "Can I help?" She asked. "I know how to unlock stuff. Joel taught me an' ev'rything."
Susan nodded at the girl. "Be safe and quick about it, I don't want you hurt." She said.
Inside the room Serena quickly dashed towards Ish, effectively disarming him and tossing the weapon to the ground. She delivered quick and brutal punches to his face and gut before he smashed his face against hers, a technique used by many, though those wearing masks amplified it's effects.
She groaned as she stumbled back, nose bleeding, "Not that shit again..."
"Yes, that shit again." Ish breathed out before swiftly kicking her gut.
As she stumbled back by the kick yet again, Ish grabbed onto her head and rushed over to the wall. Before she could stop him, she found her head smashed against the wall, cracking it. She backed up and punched Ish in the gut.
Everyone outside the room heard banging on the door and Susan quickly rushed to pull Chaya to safety, Beth took cover on her own.
Sure enough, just as Susan got Chaya out of the way the door came falling into the kitchen, Serena went with it. In the room stood Ish, breathing heavily.
"The hell does someone fight with shattered shoulders like that?" He breathed.
"Is she dead?" Chaya asked loudly in her high pitched voice., looking down on the bloody and battered girl on the ground.
"No..." Ish breathed out, still trying to catch his breath. "But I wouldn't be surprised if she just ruined her arms for life."
Just then the door got kicked in by a familiar bearded face, the owner of that face holding a bolt-action rifle. "What the hell is goin' on in my house?!"
"Joel!" Chaya squealed, jumping up into his arms just after he had slung his weapon onto his shoulder.
He embraced her. "I missed you, baby-girl." He then looked at Ish and his family, then at the barely moving Serena, then back at them. "Thank you for lookin' after her," He said, nodding at them.
"You're welcome. You didn't find Ellie or Lucas?" Ish asked him curiously, finally having caught his breath.
Serena was knocked out cold and Ish knew when she woke up she would be regretting her actions.
He shook his head, smiling as he put his forehead to Chaya's, then looked back at them. "I did. There's a feast for the victory over her group," He motioned towards Serena. "And we're all invited. Granted, I may or may not have disobeyed direct orders not to leave the big bearded man's camp, and I may or may not have stolen one of their jeeps, to tell you this."
"I hope they like guests." Ish said as he put his rifle on his shoulder and picked up Serena.
"Everyone ready? I'm personally glad to leave this place... being stuck in here makes one want to run around the woods like an idiot." He commented.
When everyone nodded, he walked outside the way Joel came from and everyone of his group followed closely behind him.
Joel followed the group a few minutes later with Chaya wrapped in his arms, after he had made sure to cuff Serena to something more stable. Even if she could get her hands free again, there would be no way to get her legs free. And nothing was in reach to get herself free.
He drove slowly back to the clan's settlement, preparing himself for yet another annoying scolding from Harald.
Ellie couldn't believe her eyes as she saw the four people enter her room after she had given them permission, each one holding a dress and carefully setting it on her bed before they left. 'Holy shit! These people have it all! I hope at least one of these fit me!'
She slowly made her way over to the bed where her new clothing choices lay, carefully feeling the soft fabric.
Ellie couldn't believe her eyes as she saw the four people enter her room after she had given them permission, each one holding a dress and carefully setting it on her bed before they left. 'Holy shit! These people have it all! I hope at least one of these fit me!'
She slowly made her way over to the bed where her new clothing choices lay, carefully feeling the soft fabric of one of them.
The first choice was an elegant green dress, made of a wool-like material. While it was obviously stunning in shape and color, the texture was an annoyance to her skin. She carefully set it on a chair, crossing it off her list of what to wear.
The second dress was just as beautiful, but in a fire red with white lace trim and a softer material that made her put it off to the 'maybe' section of the bed.
Her next choice was a pure white dress, which instantly made Ellie want to wear it for the party, just because of how clean it was. Not a stain was upon it. And that was literally the reason she would want to wear it. Being twenty years after the end of the world had made pure white anything a hard color to come by. And the softness of it beat that of the red dress. She set aside in the 'most likely' spot.
Lastly, was a dark cobalt blue dress. While it shared the same aspects in length as the other dresses, but this one was backless, the front was to be held up by two thick straps tied together behind the neck. The back of it went down to just above the the waistline. She put it with the white one, unable to choose between the two.
Ellie did not notice that Lucas was standing in the door way, leaning to his side as he watched her trying to pick a dress until it was too late.
"I could see either one looking good on you." He commented, crossing his arms in thought.
Having come to the decision any of those two dresses would look good on her, he decided to go to the symbolic nature of the colors themselves. "You want to be a symbol of something beautiful yet dangerous such as the sky and sea. Or perhaps something of pure beauty, innocence, and light?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
She jumped once she heard his voice, her face turning a darker shade of red with every passing second. "Fuck, Lucas!" she laughed, clutching her chest as if she had a heart attack. "Don't you know it's rude to enter without knocking? Especially when it's a girl's room?"
She sat on the bed and looked at the two dresses before her, considering what he said. She finally looked back up at him after a few moments. "I don't know," She shrugged, truly at loss. "One is who I am. The other, who I've wanted to be. It's not an easy choice. That, and the fact that I've never worn anything even remotely close to this has got me afraid of even putting one on..."
He smirked, not leaving the doorway. "They both will look amazing on you. Do you want people to see who you truly are or who you want to be?" He asked curiously."Oh and... I'm sorry my lady, I just couldn't resist the temptation of stopping by to see you on my way back to my room to... fix something of mine." He informed her as he examined her, then the dresses.
'Damn it!' She had just gotten over her first blush, and now here he was, tormenting her with more compliments! "I'm tempting?" She spoke her mind before she could stop herself, like she always did. "I-I mean, thanks! I'll try on this one then!" She picked up the blue one and disappeared into the bathroom, hoping to die in there to save her from living with her embarrassment.
He sighed, his thoughts about this girl were plaguing him. She was attractive, caring, hell she could even be funny at times. He only had a few issues stopping him from saying anything, one being the fact she was with that older man. Another being his thoughts on what Daniel said, for all he knew it could be true after all, being used wasn't exactly a new subject for him.
Despite her words, calling him a hero, he belonged no where but on his own. Serena was right as well, he wanted to protect those he cared about, but they were always the ones to hurt him the most. The only two people not to have ever hurt or betrayed him were Ish and his sister, but how long until they eventually did?
He sighed and shook his head, this should be a happy night. In the middle of the night, when it is all over, he shall leave and never be seen or heard from again. He knew how to tend to his wounds if needed.
Ellie opened the door and walked out, pulling him from his mental struggle once again, only to see her carefully hanging the dress over a chair next to her bed. Meanwhile, she wore a plain black short sleeved t-shirt and short jean shorts that showed off her shapely legs, which seemed to beg to be praised. She then turned and looked at him, her hands behind her back, which looked much like the first time they met, and she smiled at him.
"You look amazing..." He thought out loud as he saw her smile, groaning mentally at his slip up.
He caught himself examining her, and she no doubt did as well. He quickly looked away and let out a quiet sigh. If she was attractive just like that, he tried imagining her in either of those dresses, and he forced himself to think about other things like snow, and Harald screaming at him if he saw what he was doing right now. He had no right to those thoughts, as they were wrong and often led him straight into pain.
She looked down at herself, happy he wasn't upset about her not showing herself in the dress yet. She wanted it to be a surprise; A way to thank him for what he did to keep her safe. She wished that she could repay him, but she had nothing to begin with, and him showering her with dresses and such nice words of encouragement made it even harder for her.
"Thank you." Her smile got even bigger when she saw how absolutely content he looked when his eyes raked over her, even if it was short-lived. "You don't look so bad yourself, apart from the little scratch here and there."
"Oh you're funny." He said with a small chuckle, still having his gaze avoid her for his own safety. He didn't want to dig himself deeper into the grave he was placing himself in just by that one slip up.
Ellie shrugged. "I know." She then walked slowly over to him, her body swaying back and forth, while she kept her hands behind her back. "Still unable to resist 'temptation', Lukester?" She asked, quoting his words from just a few minutes ago. She stood right in front of him, and while she may have been trying to loosen him up and get a few more laughs or even a chuckle out of him, even she had to admit that the air felt warmer this close to him.
He nodded slowly. "It's even harder to resist when you're this close..." He muttered as he watched her body's movements.
He could hear Harald scolding him now, 'I told you not to go near her, now you're enchanted by her' or 'Don't think you need to listen to me anymore, eh? or his famous, 'You can't let your guard down like that, boy.'
She couldn't move. Couldn't bring herself to reach up to touch his bandaged face. Or his stitched up chest. She wasn't going to take anything from him. He had had enough people do that to him in his life. If something was going to happen, he'd have to give it...
"I know," she whispered.
He groaned at how close they were, was she doing this intentionally? Trying to get him to act upon his tempting thoughts and desires? If not she sure did make it seem like she was.
He looked up, meeting her gaze with his own. The look in his eye changed to one previously unknown to Ellie, and if he saw himself in the mirror he could safely say he hadn't seen that look in years. He was now fighting the losing battle of resisting her as well as himself.
It was almost the same thing on Ellie's side, only she had only just found out what she was finally feeling. One might have thought that with her being in a relationship already would have told her what was going on inside her, but Lucas was so different from Joel... And yet so the same. But not a thought about Joel had even entered her mind, as if his name was but a memory in the back of her head.
She saw the look in his eye, the conflict, the struggle, and she just wanted to help. To save him somehow. Her hands moved on own their own, up to slowly reach for the bandages that once again kept his face concealed from the world. She hesitated once her hands were millimeters from touching the cloth that was wrapped around his head.
As he felt her hesitant touch against his covered head his resistance broke and he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close to him. He then leaned in and his restraint once again kicked in, though only in part. What would have once been fierce turned into a gentle, long kiss upon her lips.
He slowly pulled away from the kiss, officially ending it to regain his breath. He looked at her eyes briefly before tilting his head and kissing her exposed neck multiple times, each time he kissed slowly. When he finished, he returned to look into her eyes. The look in his own remained the same.
He sighed. "I should go, yeah?" He asked her in a whisper. In truth the question was also a statement, as if he was undecided what he wanted to do so he reached out for her opinion.
One thing was for certain though, he was still holding her close to him.
"Only if you want to," She whispered back, sucking in some much needed air. She didn't want to let go of him. She didn't want him to go anywhere. She just wanted him here, in her arms. And she wanted to stay in his. She kissed him again before letting him decide what to do.
As the kiss ended, so too did the embrace as Lucas began to look away and slowly back out of the room. "I best be going. I'll see you soon." He stated quickly before walking down the hallway that led to his room.
She looked disappointed to hear that he had to leave, but not so much as a move of protest to him. She mumbled out an "okay" and left it a that.
Once he was out of sight, Ellie closed her door and backed up to her bed until she felt it behind her knees. Once she knew it was right behind her, she let herself fall back, putting her right forearm over her eyes. "Fuck!" She swore, mad at him for leaving her like that, and also mad at herself for feeling like she betrayed Joel. 'He DID say that you should find someone your age, Ellie.' Her mind was once again working against her gut instinct to just forget about the kid and find Joel. She looked at the door. He wasn't going to come back, and she had an idea as to how to get near her Lukester without ticking off the guards AND guardians.
"Fuck it!" She said, rising off the bed and throwing on her coat before running out her bedroom door and up the stairwell exit.
Once on top of the roof, Ellie shivered as the harsh winter wind blew around her. 'Fuck, that's cold!' But she didn't go back inside. She peeked over the edge of the building to see six guards on the ground below. 'They may have stopped me from climbing up, but they forgot the part where I climb down.'
And climb down she did. And it didn't take long to get to her target's level. Ellie was soon at his window, looking inside before giving a light knock, hoping not to alert the guards to her presence. "I'm gonna freeze my as off out here if he doesn't open this fucking window soon!" She mumbled to herself, knocking one more time.
As she looked inside she saw him doing something to his mask. After about a minute he turned around, half of his mask now had the distorted face of Daniel's. Now complete with a scratched in mouth and scratched in eye. He chuckled, shaking his head as he saw Ellie literally hanging outside of his window. He walked over and opened it, taking a step back.
"Can't handle being away from me? Or do you just like breaking rules?" He asked with a chuckle.
She smiled as she hopped in, wiping snow off her shoulder. "Yes," She answered, a devilish grin playing across. "And besides, I thought you could use some company, since you'll be alone for another hour or two until the fucking party starts."
She then turned around, heading towards the window again, saying, "Unleeeeess you had other plans."
"Do you even have any idea how suggestive that sounds?" He asked with a smirk behind his mask.
He walked over to the bed and jumped on it back-first. He patted an open spot on the bed next to him. "These are my plans." He muttered.
She closed the window and staring out it for a moment, deep in thought, but quickly pulled herself back to reality and turned to she him there, looking at her expectantly. She giggled, throwing off her coat before jumping onto the bed and cuddling into him.
"You've come a long way..." She said with a smile, looking up to see his still masked face. "But I still say this is an annoyance to me." She had a joking tone to her voice, carefully lifting the plastic off his face. She then proceeded by tossing it on a nearby chair.
"You've helped me with that, doctor." He said in a whisper. As she lifted the mask from his face he chuckled, "You should feel lucky. I don't bite you when you attempt to remove my mask. Everyone else gets a nice scar at the least."
He turned his head and stared her in the eyes. Just seeing her calmed him down and made him smile. He held her close to him with one arm as they cuddled.
"Bites aren't so bad," She teased, her voice matching his in tone, then took on one with a more serious one, with a smile added to it. "Should the doc change your field dressings?"
"I've never bit you before, you don't know my bites." He said with a wink. He let out a sigh of relief at her offer and sat up quickly. "Or remove them completely." He stated with a grin.
"Can't be too different from the kisses," She mumbled, barely audible for him to hear, but he did. She sat up so that she was on her knees, feet tucked underneath her, reaching up to carefully take the wrapped clothe off of his face.
She was still wearing those damned jean shorts of hers, and it made him wonder how she had put up with that outside. She definitely had other things on the mind. As she began to remove his bandages, he placed his warm hands on her cold legs, sending a shiver down her spine.
"If they are not angry bites... Perhaps..." He informed her.
Turning his attention to her cold legs he grinned rather wickedly, "Cold?"
Ellie all of a sudden found it hard to undo one fucking knot! Her hands couldn't stop shaking from the contact his hands had made on her body. It hard to even concentrate on the matter at hand. Literally.
"Maybe..." She whispered, her voice cracking. 'Fuck, that was embarrassing!' she thought to herself, her face heating up, again . 'All you have to do is untie one fucking knot!' "It's too cold for fucking shorts."
He chuckled, sensing and feeling her unease. "Alright, I'll go hands off..." He muttered before chuckling as he removed his hands from her legs.
"Better?" He asked the embarrassed girl. "Or does my doctor need some help?"
"Oh, mother fucker thinks he's funny now, huh?" She snapped playfully, finally pulling out her trusty switchblade and cutting the knot. "Fuck you, bandages." And with that, his face was freed from the tight prison it was in.
When she pocketed her blade, he noticed the slightly swollen scar on her right arm, and she when she noticed that he had, she covered it with her other hand. "Sorry," She said, looking away. "I forgot that I was s'posed to put on my long-sleeve."
He sighed as his wound was freed, the long line of stitches easy to notice. Lucas chuckled at her handiness before catching a glimpse of her scar.
His face fell dead serious. "Y-... You're infected?" He stuttered nervously.
She looked ashamed. "I-I told you back at the place we were staying, I swear!" She started, closing her eyes. "I guess you didn't believe me when I said that I was immune, huh? But y-you did say that you didn't need to see it when I told you to roll up..." She looked at him, then turned to leave. "I should probably go..."
He grabbed her by the arms and turned her to face him, shaking his head. "I'm a cold person... but you shouldn't doubt me so easily, Ellie." He said, revealing his true intentions. His serious face disolving into his normal look.
"I don't frighten easily, and I was just messing around with you. I remember everything you have told me, and I meant every word I said. Forgive me..." He begged. "You shouldn't be ashamed of such a thing around me."
"You-?" She looked like she was about to cry. "A joke? Do you know what that did to me? I thought I either lost you or that I was dead! Don't fucking ever do that to me again!"
She embraced him regardless of what she thought was poor choice in humor, and just sat there like that for a few minutes, letting her heart rate go back to a steady pace again. After a few minutes she finally spoke. "I do forgive you."
"Less of a joke, more of a test." He muttered as he held her tightly in his arms.
He stayed holding her tightly for quite some time even after she said she forgave him before letting her go. He sat down and ran his fingers across his wounded cheek.
"Oh, the alcohol tonight is going to be a real blast." He chuckled, gazing into her eyes like he always did.
She sat beside him, frowning. "I've only had whiskey once. Waaaaaay back there. Back just before this happened;" She lifted up her bitten arm. "That was about a year ago or so."
Ellie looked sad at the thought, the way someone does when remembering the loss of a loved one. Her hand covered the scar again. "Sorry, I just got lost in thought for a moment, I guess."
He saw her look and frowned. He placed his hand on her back, beginning to rub in circles to comfort her. He knew that look all too well.
"I'm sorry for... what ever had happened in your past." He said softly.
She shook her head. "Shit happens, and we move on," She said simply, then looked up at him. That smile of hers was coming back. "That feels nice." She mumbled, leaning back a little into his touch.
"How about I get the door and you hide under the bed?" She giggled before sliding under the bed.
He was laughing as he got up and opened the door. Harald stood there for a brief moment before walking inside. Lucas closed the door behind him.
"You do not have your mask on? What is the occasion?" Harald asked suspicious of Lucas.
"Oh you know... stuff." Lucas said quickly, not thinking of a good answer fast enough.
Harald began to look around the room, spotting something most odd. "So you have your bandages removed, your mask removed, AND a coat that is not your own..." He said, his voice growing in volume and irritation.
'Don't look under the bed, don't look under the bed, don't fucking look under the fucking bed!' Ellie thought to herself, her heart speeding up again.
"Guards!" He shouted and the door opened, four men poured into the room, two remaining outside.
"Sir!" They announced in unison.
"Go to the girl's room and investigate her presence there. Knock first, no response, search the room. If it turns out she isn't there... I will have to have a word with Sir Joel about this matter." He ordered and the men saluted before taking off.
Harald turned back to Lucas. "If she's in the room, you better show me where, brother." He warned.
'Of course you had to listen to Lucas and pick the most obvious spot!' Ellie scolded herself.
He stopped right at the foot of the bed, turning so his toes were pointed directly at Ellie. "She's under the bed isn't she?" He asked before Lucas walked behind him.
"You really think I am that stupid? If you really must know, she is on the roof, going back to her own room before the guards get there. Want to validate my claim? Look on the side of the building, you will see her tracks." He said calmly.
It was enough to persuade Harald, who let out a chuckle and moved over to the window, looking outside.
"She's under the bed." A female voice called out from the door.
"Either that... or in the closet. And I see no closet around here, do you?" The voice added.
'Shit.'
"You may as well come out, girl, we know you are there." The voice reasoned with the hidden girl. Ellie recognized her voice as Lucas' sister's.
Ellie's hands were the first thing seen by Lucas before she pulled herself out from under the terrible hiding place. She rose to her feet, looking at the now pissed off Harald.
She gave a nervous chuckle before saying, "Did I mention how much I was looking forward to shaking your hand this evening?"
"Can it, girl. I am disgusted in both of you! I can not punish you, girl, but I will punish you Lucas. For now though, I am going to go inform your guardian about this breach of the rules." Harald threatened Ellie before Lucas' sister stepped up.
She shook her head, "No, Harald. I will. After all, I have been waiting so long to meet with him. Come, Ellie, you've some explaining to do I should expect." The woman with long black hair said, crossing her arms as she waited for Ellie to gather her things.
"As you wish, Winry." Harald said, turning his full attention to Lucas now.
Ellie nodded, grabbing her coat and walked past Lucas, brushing her hand against his as she did. She then walked out the door, giving her friend a wink before heading to her room. "Dick," She grumbled bitterly to herself, referring to the large man who had interrupted her 'date'.
Winry walked with her until they rounded a corner and approached her room, seeing Joel approaching as well from the opposite end of the hallway. Just the same, the four guards dispatched to search the room were knocking on the door.
"Just follow my lead." She whispered to Ellie quietly as they approached the guards.
"Uh, okay..." Sh was confused now. Wasn't this girl mad at her for sneaking around?
Just then Joel pushed one of the guards away from the door. "Get the hell away from my girl's room!" He growled, obviously pissed at them for wanting to intrude. "Just 'cause your people own the place don't give you the right to breech an' clear a teen girl's room!"
"We were under strict orders from Harald hims-" One of the guards attempted to inform Joel, but Winry cut him off.
"The order he gave was because of a mere misunderstanding. I have her right here with me. She was acting under my command, I did not know she was not supposed to be around Lucas, and she got scared when Harald and you brutes pounded on the door. She was merely there to deliver a message. Lucas being a good guy and all, tried to cover for her." She said with a convincing look on her nineteen year old face.
The guards looked at each other and shrugged. "Understood. We will bring the report back to Harald, my lady." One of the guards said before they all rushed down the hall.
Ellie played a long. She had gotten good a lying by now, and it was too easy to fool these armored clowns. "Yeah, see? I'm here, fine." She patted herself, as if they would have thought she was an illusion. "See ya, suckers."
"Thank you for delivering that message for me, Ellie, I appreciate it very much." Winry said, bowing her head slightly before looking at Joel with curiosity.
"You must be her guardian?" She asked.
"Guardian," He chuckled as Ellie nodded to the girl and gave Joel a brief hug before heading inside her room. "Or just the guy who fetches the food." He extended a hand to her. "Joel."
She took his hand gently in her own as they shook hands. "Winry. It's a pleasure to meet you, I only heard you when you entered the command structure and protected her, so I've been curious ever since." She informed him with a smile, giving a small laugh when he said his 'alternate role.'
"The pleasure is all mine, miss." He gave her a nod. A suspicious look soon was read on his face, and he lowered his voice as he spoke. "I wanna say she wasn't deliverin' no message, was she?"
Winry smirked, looking at him with a sly look. "Do you want to know if it means Harald will get on all of our asses?" She asked.
He shook his head, a low laugh rising from his chest. "On second thought, I'll pass."
She sighed, looking around before approaching him closely, whispering, "She wanted to thank him for saving her back in the command center, Daniel was about to kill us both, but he took all of the shots. Please don't tell Harald, or get mad at her for that."
With that being said, she gave him back his personal space. "So what exactly brings you this far out into no where?" She asked with her curiosity returning.
"You wanna discuss that over a hot drink? Kinda a long story."
She smiled at his offer. "That'd be nice. Shall we wait for the feast or begin now?"
" 'Nother hour till dark? I'm gettin' somethin' to drink an' eat now." His stomach growled in agreement. "Sorry, haven't eaten my... canned peaches yet..." His face almost twisted in disgust at the thought of those awful things.
"Could always team up, I can distract the cooks while you grab what you want..." She offered him with a smile that looked innocent.
"Careful," He warned in a lightened tone. "You might just start swearing like another young lady I know." He motioned towards the door. What Winry had said reminded him of Ellie, and colorful langauge would be all it took to make them seem like twins.
"I'm good at containing my thoughts. So, what do you say? Wanna go cause some trouble for the cooks?" She asked him with the smile still on her face.
"Lead the way, my lady."
She nodded and led him through the building, outside, across the camp site, and into a small building marked "Kitchen" Once inside they were bombarded by the smells of meats cooking, spices, all sorts of food that must have been hell to come by.
She wrapped one of her arms around Joel's shoulders, pulling him down slightly so she could whisper to him. "I'll give a speech, you sneak around them and pick up what ever you want, okay?"
Joel's senses kicked in and the hair stood up on the back of his neck. She had get that close to him? Just to say that ? Over the noise of the kitchen? He shook it off. "You want anythin'? He asked, his stomach begging to be noticed and taken care of.
"No, I can wait until the feast itself." She replied with a grin before walking up to the chefs.
"Alright everyone, I bring news from Harald himself. Gather 'round." She stated loudly through the commotion.
Hearing the Chieftain had something to say to them, they all stopped what they were doing to gather around and listen to Winry.
Joel carefully moved throughout the kitchen area, and found exactly what he was craving. On a counter not twenty feet away was freshly cooked steak, and beside it, a steaming hot backed potato. He could have rubbed his eyes right now, as this could just be his imagination. Thankfully, it wasn't, and he was able to get out of the the "torturous" room a minutes after he had gone in, being sure to cover his prize.
He stopped to hear what was left of Winry's "speech". "...And so he wants you all to work your hardest. Harald thanks you for your attention. Return to work!" They all cheered at her before rushing back to their food.
She quickly walked to catch up to Joel. Once outside they saw drums of various sizes being set up, a large fire being prepared, and seats being arranged. Multiple tents that were not set up previously were ready for the food, drinks, and people.
A large wooden fence with doors that were previously closed was now open, revealing a large area with melee weapons hung on weapon racks. Just as well there was a pit in the middle.
Winry scoffed at the sight, "Barbarians."
"They goin' to fight infected in there?" He cocked his head over towards the fence and weapons.
"Towards the end, after they train. Those who remain unscathed from training rest first, whilst prisoners fight for their lives and freedom. Most of the time, they just all die. Then the warriors fight. Since they are trained experts with those weapons, it's more to humiliate the dead prisoners whilst having 'fun'. Those who survive that feast with the Chieftain, his guests, and his council. They are then offered free access to almost everything for an entire day." She informed him with a low growl.
"Including... Never mind..." She whispered with sadness and annoyance in her voice.
He gave a genuine look of concern. What was it that could make someone look as she did? Of course, she had been through hell just the day before, but this was because of something that these people did. He looked back at the gates once more, wondering what could be the problem.
"Includin'." Joel mumbled, not pressing the matter. He was a man of secrets. He couldn't just ask someone something just because he was curious. He decided to let it slip, if she so chose to.
She stopped, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles were turning white.
"Women." She muttered as she pointed at an unmarked building.
"They are a people based in old ways long forgotten. They respect their women, but those that are prisoners have no respect towards them. The beautiful go to that building where they are taught by others their 'duty', Those not deemed beautiful fight with the men, but are treated worse." She spoke with a chill in her voice.
Joel nodded, taking note of where everything was set up. Even if it wasn't his business, he was thinking up some plan as to help the women. While these people did seem better than regular bandits, he could still see some similarities.
He mumbled in an even less audible tone. "Someone's gotta do somethin' 'bout that, then..." And it was evident on his face that he was up to something; Planning something.
"Don't... They will hunt all of us down if you mess with their society. Lucas knows that all too well. If you do, I pray Harald is nicer to us than that brutal dead fuck ever was." She said to him before Lucas walked out, wearing nothing but his mask, black cargo pants, and black combat boots.
He looked rather heated as he marched towards the pit.
Joel handed his plate to Winry before putting out his hand towards the boy, hoping he'd stop just long enough to talk to him, even for a minute.
"Hey, I wanted to thank you for savin' Ellie," He started, stopping the boy for a moment.
She took the plate and smiled at her brother. He nodded at Joel. His body expression was one of anger, and restlessness.
"You're welcome. Take care of her, yeah?" He said before nodding again, returning to his journey.
The men at the fence saw the approaching Lucas and rushed inside, grabbing swords. Once he was inside, Lucas grabbed nothing and waited for his first five opponents to attack him.
"The hell is that about?" He asked her, leading them back inside and up the stairs until they were just down the hall from where his and Ellie's room was.
"In truth, I do not know." She responded quietly before stopping in front of the door to Ellie's room.
"It was nice talking with you, Joel. You seem like a good man." She said with a smile.
"Thank you kindly, miss," He bowed his head in respect for her, then turned his attention to the door next to them, hearing Ellie humming a tune that seemed cheery but a little out of practice, making him laugh. "I hope I have the chance to dance with you, as I fear someone else might be a little busy dancin' with another someone else I know..."
Winry smiled and hesitantly nodded at him. "That'd.. be great. I look forward to it."
With that, she gave a quick bow and walked back they way they came from.
Meanwhile, back at the pit the original five men had fallen in, gasping for air. Above them stood Lucas, resting a captured sword against his shoulder.
"Goes to show how weak you lot have gotten since I left." He snarled. "Get off your asses and actually fight me."
Ellie rushed out her room as soon as soon as Joel entered, almost causing him to drop his much anticipated meal. "Jesus, Ellie!" He laughed as halted her dash for the stairs to look back at him. "Where are you-"
"I'm heading out to see the fight!" She said excitedly. "Lucas just beat the shit out of, like, fifteen men! And they had swords and guns and shit!"
And with that, she was gone, leaving him to chuckle sadly to himself, before closing himself in the room to eat.
Meanwhile Ellie was already outside and near the fence, watching with anticipation as Lucas stared down his opponents
The men looked weak compared to the previously severely wounded Lucas. As they weakly charged him, five new opponents appeared from the entrance trying to get the drop on him. Having returned the weapon he had to its owner, he was unarmed again.
When she saw Ellie rush out quickly, Winry returned the room and lightly knocked on the door.
"Enter!" Joel yelled as he wiped mouth on his sleeve, standing near the window as he watched Lucas fight. 'The boy has courage,' He admitted to himself. 'And he's got brains to back up his strength. Just needs to learn how to restrain that anger so he can concentrate on his movements, and most importantly, his enemies.'
He turned around as the door opened, expecting Harald to come barging in, scolding him for not watching over Ellie and letting her once again go near Lucas. "Look, she's an adult an' she can-" He started, but then shut his mouth once he saw her.
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So there's the new installment, everybody :D I hope you don't mind that I've wondered away from the original ship I had with Ellie and Joel. It's just that once my co-writer made Lucas we found that him and Ellie had a spark, so after a lot of hard thought (and considering possible hate for changing the ship), I made the choice to put them together as a couple. Sorry, but they just had that feeling of perfection together, and I couldn't pass it up. Maybe once I get this story done, my bud and I will make an alternate version, where Joel and Ellie stay together *shrugs*. For now though, we roll with our masked OC and the very lovely Ellie. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE NICE REVIEWS! :D IT MEANS A LOT! AND I HOPED YOU ENJOYED OUR WORK!