The dormitory doors slammed open, shouting could be heard from all over the courtyard. Violet opened her eyes with a sigh as the voices of AJ and Clementine carried over to her. Those two sure had been arguing a lot lately. Violet sat up on the wall, looking down at the pair as they faced each other in front of the stairs.
"Oh boy..." Violet exhaled. They were both in full fighting stance. Violet watched for a minute before sliding off the wall.
"Clem, you can't tell me what to do anymore, I'm all grown up!" AJ yelled as he crossed his arms and looked down at Clementine.
"You may be taller than me, but you are not grown up." Clementine put her hands on her hips and stared hard up at her little boy, "Don't you dare leave those gates right now, it will be getting dark soon and you're not allowed out after dark."
"Stop bossing me around." AJ clenched his fists at his side, glaring daringly at Clementine as he marched out of the front gates.
"You gotta be freaking kidding me!" Clementine fumed, throwing her hands in the air. She turned away from the gates, sinking exasperated into one of the outdoor couches.
Violet walked over and sat down next to Clementine, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into her side, and planting a kiss on her temple.
"Trouble in paradise?" Violet smirked.
"AJ is being so unreasonable lately!" Clementine growled, leaning into Violet's hug.
"You sure he's the only one being unreasonable?" Violet raised an eyebrow.
Clementine pushed away from Violet, scowling. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"He's like, a teenager now right? Probably?" Violet asked.
Clementine nodded, still scowling. "Your point?"
"You've got to start letting him make his own choices, his own mistakes." Violet put her hands on Clementine's shoulders.
"A mistake in this world means death. I can't risk that..." Clementine trailed off, avoiding Violet's eyes.
Violet pulled her into a tight embrace, "Clem, you've raised him well, he knows how to take care of himself."
"You're right..." Clementine sighed into Violet's shoulder, "He's smart and strong... I need to give him more freedom. I just miss the way he used to listen to me. He remembered every word I said to him and then he did what I said."
Violet patted Clementine on the back, "I know."
"I was there when he was born, I saved him when his mom turned into a walker when all the adults were too busy fighting to notice, I fought for him his entire life and now he thinks he's too big to take my advice?!"
"I know, I know," Violet patted her again.
Clementine groaned and slumped into Violet's lap, staring up into her face. "You're so beautiful."
"Clem..." Violet rolled her eyes.
"Don't 'Clem' me, it's true, you're beautiful." Clementine reached up and grabbed the back of Violet's head, pulling her in for a kiss.
Just then the front gates creaked as they opened. "Seriously?" Violet grumbled, "we've been together how many years and we still can't have a peaceful moment?" Clementine laughed and sat up to see AJ walking back in, closing the gate behind him.
Clementine rushed over to AJ, wrapping her arms around his waist, smashing her face into his chest. "I'm sorry I've been so bossy, you've earned my trust over and over again. I trust you to make your own decisions... Just be careful okay?"
"I'm sorry I called you bossy... you've always taken good care of me." AJ wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "I love you Clem."
"I love you back kiddo." Clementine said, AJ lifted her up off the ground in a bear hug, both of them laughing. Violet smiled as she watched the two reconcile.
A/N: A lot shorter than I usually like to post, sorry. I love the idea of AJ being taller than Clem when he's like 13, it's adorable to me.