So I posted this story a couple of years ago but just now finally continued to update it. I have been posting it on my AO3 account but figured I should update it on here as well. I've revised the first chapter so it flows a bit better than before. Hopefully people enjoy the story as much as I enjoy writing it!
"Shoot, that girl Zoey sure is somethin' ain't she Nick?" the drawl of the Southerner's voice made the con-man's eyebrow twitch for what felt like the umpteenth time that day. If he had to hear about that girl one more time he was going to lose it. Ever since they ran into the other survivors Ellis hadn't shut up about Zoey and he's just about had it.
"Whatever you say Ellis." Nick said, rolling his eyes at his teammate. He didn't understand what Ellis saw in Zoey. He was pretty sure the kid was only excited that a woman-with actual breasts and a vagina- noticed him. And in the few stuttering words he managed to get out were barely reciprocated. Ellis was determined this woman was the only one alive on Earth, completely disregarding Rochelle's existence.
Wedding bells were sounding off in Ellis' ears, convinced this was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his miserable life with. But in the few sentences exchanged between the two of them, Nick knew that would be the worst mistake Ellis ever made. Her attitude was on par with Nick's, a trait he didn't find admirable when it came to women. She was snarky and quick-witted, not something you ever wanted to deal with if you were looking for a docile partner. If Ellis couldn't handle Nick's personality, how in the hell could he live with this firecracker?
"I'm telling ya' Nick, I see a life with me an' Zoey." Ellis clasped his hands together behind him, a dazed look in his eyes as stared at the sunset, almost as if he were acting out a scene in a Hallmark rom-com. "I mean, apart from all the zombies that roam the streets and practically being the only two people left alive, we could make'a good life togetha."
Nick all but gagged at the thought of Ellis being able to reproduce any type of organism, especially one who would inherit his features. Brown curly cues, tightly wrapped in spirals, resting gently against the scalp. Baby blue hues, so electrifying you wouldn't be able to tear away from the adventures hiding in their sea of eyes. Tiny dimples forming around the corners of their mouth, leaving inverted craters in the cheeks as their smile burned like a thousand suns. Nick had to admit that Ellis had a few features going for him. Maybe the nonexistent kid wouldn't have such a horrible life if they didn't have Ellis for a dad.
He stopped walking and turned towards the younger man, a scowl placed upon his lips. "Ellis, would you shut up already? We're trying to get to the next safe house and I can't focus when your mouth is running like a motorboat." The words tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop them, coming out a bit harsher than he intended.
Ellis opened his mouth to speak but was cut off as Rochelle stepped up next to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and squeezing it in a gentle manner. "Aw Nick, don't be like that, Ellis can't help that he's interested in someone," she said as she winked at him. "Besides, you have no room to talk you womanizer. I'm sure when they were alive you had ladies wrapped around your little finger so there's nothing wrong with Ellis having a little crush."
Nick clenched his gun, puffing air out of his nostrils. He stared at the pair in front of him and watched as a toothy grin crept onto Ellis' face; his eyes squinting downwards as he looked at Rochelle in contentment. 'How could something like this happen to me?' Nick thought as he ran a hand through his hair. 'A con man and a country boy just don't mix.' He had the faintest idea of when he formed this sickening crush on Ellis, it sort of just, happened.
Never in his wildest dreams -or nightmares- did Nick think he would fall for a character like Ellis. A boy from the South with an accent as heavy as their drinking problems. His mind had warped from dames in skimpy black dresses to a dirty mechanic who could barely walk in a straight line sober. Why was his mind tormenting him?
"I just don't understand why he's spewing nonsense about Zoey. We met them in passing, Ellis chanted her name about ten times, and they stayed perched on their ledge while we did the grunt work." Nick said gruffly, placing a hand on his hip while resting his gun on his shoulder. "I doubt we'll even see them again. I mean, it's not like the world is a walk in the park picking daisies for your new crush. It's more like skipping through a butcher's shop and barely missing the meat grinder."
Ellis turned his attention towards Nick, his smile disappearing in mere seconds. "Gee Nick, ya sure know how ta' build a guy's confidence up." He slid out from underneath Rochelle's grasp and gave Nick one last glance before walking past him. He caught up with Coach, who was just a couple of feet ahead of the other survivors, and settled in with his pace. Coach looked over at Ellis and give him a small smile to which Ellis returned.
Rochelle glared over at Nick though it went unnoticed by the other as he was too preoccupied staring at Ellis. She smacked his arm which immediately gained his attention. He hissed at the contact, rubbing his arm from the sudden blow, like a dog licking its wound. "Nick, what's gotten into you? You know how sensitive he can be." She crossed her arms across her chest, eyes gleaming in disapproval, reminding Nick of a mother scolding her child . "You need to act more like a friend to him rather than someone you're forced to survive with."
"But that's exactly what the kid is to me." The comment earned him a raised brow. "I don't know what you're trying to do Rochelle but you can't coddle the kid whenever things don't go his way. Feeding him lies about Zoey is going to do more harm than good."
She shook her head at him. "I'm not feeding Ellis any lies Nick, I'm trying to give him hope. How many other survivors have we ran into since the mall? That's right, zero."
Nick scoffed at Rochelle's attempt to defend herself. "Exactly Rochelle, I'm doing Ellis a favor. No use in him getting interested in someone who will die a gruesome death."
"That's not the point Nick. You're trying to keep Ellis from being happy and for what? What personal gain do you expect to receive from constantly belittling him?" She sighed and rubbed her temples. "Look Nick, you need to change your attitude soon because if you don't, you're going to lose the people who matter most to you."
Nick opened his mouth to retaliate but she had already turned away from him and proceeded to meet up with Ellis and Coach, leaving Nick alone to his thoughts.
'Why does it even matter?' He threw his hands up in frustration. 'It's not like we will ever see them again. The chance of us meeting them in the first place was a one in a million anyways.' Nick started to trudge towards his teammates.
"Oh well, he'll get over it." He said aloud as his eyes rested on Ellis, soaking in all of the boy's features. From the way his mouth turned into a curl when he smiled, to the way his shoulders erupted in fits when he laughed. He never thought he could think about a man the same way he did with women, but somehow the little fucker did it. He broke him.
Nick's gaze lingered for a moment longer before he turned away, missing the way Ellis glanced behind him, staring at Nick with concern.
"He'll get over it." Nick reiterated once more, but this time it came out quieter than before. The sun began to set on the safehouse in front of them and Nick had never felt so relieved to see the shelter before him.
If anyone has any feedback I am always open to constructive criticism. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter as there will be many more. Slow burns are my favorite, especially when you're helping two characters fall in love. Until next time!