A/N: I don't own any of the characters, they're owned by Naughty Dog.
Also the song lyrics are from the song from the E3 trailer. The song is called "Little Sadie" by Crooked Still, which I obviously do not own either.
Enjoy.
2039 - SPRING
The inner gate looks strong as ever and I've been debating over the last few minutes about whether to sneak out. I kind of want to go for a swim. After Dina finally taught me last summer, I've been trying to go regularly to help get over my fear of drowning. Water is kind of the safest place from infected since they don't seem smart enough to swim.
Dina has been acting kind of strange over the last month. I can't really pinpoint what it is but she's been somehow more affectionate. Or maybe I'm imagining things. I'm not one to shy away from her affection, but she also seems to be making oddly sexualized comments to or around me. I guess it comes with the territory of being a horny fucking teenager or whatever but I can't take anything she says without innuendo it seems. I mean sure we like fucking with each other to make the other as uncomfortable as possible but I'm usually on the end of the major discomfort.
To say it's been hell is an understatement, especially every time Jesse comes over and she acts like she always has around him.
"Hey there." Dina says, throwing her arm around my shoulder, in typical fashion.
"Hey." I say, wrapping an arm around her waist as she's trained me to do, no matter how weird it sometimes feels. She's assured me that she wants me to be more physically affectionate with her.
"What are you doing over here? Checking out some ladies?" She asks, smirking.
"You know there's no ladies but you that interest me here." I say.
"Ellie Williams. Are you coming onto me?" She says, raising her other hand to cover her mouth in mock surprise.
"I'm no home-wrecker… but yes you caught me." I deadpan.
"So what are you really doing over here?" She asks.
"Debating on sneaking out to go swimming nearby." I say.
"Really? Why would you want to sneak out to go swimming?" She asks, smirking.
"I just want to go to the channel at the base of the dam. I'm feeling kind of restless and want to burn off some energy." I explain.
"All right, you got a handgun on you?" Dina asks.
"Yeah, of course." I say, lifting my shirt to show it tucked into my pants.
"Good thing you don't have a dick to shoot off." Dina says, staring at the exposed gun before bringing her eyes back up to mine.
"How exactly am I supposed to store it? It's either here or my ass and I think this is more easily accessible." I say.
Dina steps forward and grabs my forearm, moving it so that my shirt it back down, covering the gun once more.
"It's fine. I just know most of the guys prefer to store theirs in the back. It caught me off guard. Let's get going." Dina says, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the cow patch. It's the easiest way to get out of the compound and she probably has the keys.
"Wait, you're coming? Why?" I ask.
"Why not? I haven't gone swimming since the weather was last nice enough for it." Dina says.
"All right. Where's your gun?" I ask.
Dina lifts her shirt with a smirk and shows the small handgun tucked into the front of her jeans, a similar position to mine.
"Giving me shit about shooting off my non-existent dick and you're doing the same thing?" I ask, mumbling.
"Don't you start with me." Dina says, tugging me toward the cow patch once more.
We successfully elude the tower guards and make our way down to the base of the dam. After reaching the concrete divider, I start stripping my shirt off.
"What are you doing?" Dina asks, sounding a little uneasy.
"We agreed last time that we couldn't go back with wet clothes. I'm just following the rules." I say, throwing my flannel on the ground before removing my t-shirt in a swift movement.
"Right." Dina says, dragging out the I of the word.
This is what I'm talking about. She's acting so strange.
I kick off my shoes before unbuttoning and sliding my pants off, leaving me in my sports bra and boxers. Once my pants are off, I realize that my handgun doesn't feel as secure in it's current position. That's when an idea strikes me. I pull my gun out of the band of my boxers, check to make sure the safety is still on, then hold open the back of my sports bra with one hand and tuck the gun in between my shoulder blades before letting my sports bra tighten around it. I do a little bounce and then smile to myself.
"Fuck." Dina says behind me.
I unsheathe my gun from my bra and turn around in a split second. I look around and see that there doesn't seem to be any immediate danger. I move over to the railing and over the side, scanning all the nearby area. My brows crinkle in confusion.
"What's wrong?" I ask, sheathing my gun back where I had it.
"Nothing, it's just…" Dina starts, her face is a little pink. I wonder if she's a little cold.
"Just what?" I ask.
"Have you been working out? You seem… different from the last time we went swimming." She says.
"Working out?" I ask, looking down at myself. I feel like I haven't really changed since last summer. I think for a few seconds. "I've been doing pull-ups and pushups almost everyday since last summer after Joel stopped going on runs. He says that the only thing the bandits have on me is strength so he asked me to start doing that. You know Joel. He worries about me."
"That's probably it." Dina says, slowly looking me over. "Why didn't you ever mention that Joel had you start doing that?"
"I think the first few days I started was when you went on a long run with Jesse and Michael and by the time you got back I wasn't hurting anymore. I guess I started to not think about it. Now I kind of do it without thinking. It kind of helps me wake up in the morning." I explain.
"So you're still doing it?" Dina asks.
"Yeah. Every morning pretty much unless I was drinking the night before. It really helps on the nights I wake up from a nightmare. So it's really noticeable?" I say, still not really seeing it as I look at myself in the water.
Dina hums an affirmative before going back to taking off her own clothes.
I don't really understand what's going on with her. I decide to ignore it and dive into the water.
The spotlight shines brightly against the rest of the dark forest, illuminating the area. I've been doing double shifts on the southeast watchtower, overnight and early morning duty for the last week because the regular guys have something called strep throat. It's highly contagious so they've been quarantined in their houses but I heard they were on the mend. It's really boring but Tommy said that he couldn't find someone else to cover.
A clack sounds on the roof of the tower box and I jump to attention, shining the spotlight around. Another clack rings and it sounds like the noise came from behind me. I turn around and pull a flashlight off my belt, not wanting to shine the spotlight into the houses at the late night hour.
Dina is on the ground waving me down. I look at the other two closest towers and they are scanning around. I descend the long attached ladder and walk up to the inner fence.
"Hey stranger." Dina says, smiling. "Glad I found you. Hadn't seen you all week and then I asked around, finding out you were up here."
"Yeah. Double shifts all week. Eric and Mark have strep throat which is super contagious I guess. So what's going on?" I ask.
"Nothing much. I broke up with Jesse a few days ago. Thought you were out on a long run with your team but then I saw Jeremy and Sarah helping in the mess hall today. I figured I should find you." She says.
I'd heard that her and Jesse broke up again. This has been their longest stretch so far. I was kind of avoiding her even when I wasn't doing these shifts because she's always sad for a couple weeks until they get back together. I can't ever seem to make her feel better during those times. She seems fine though.
"Well, you found me. What can I do for you?" I ask, glancing quickly over to where my spotlight is shining before looking back to her.
"There's the monthly dance tomorrow night. I wanted to ask you to come." Dina says.
"I don't go to the dances." I say, uneasy.
I haven't danced since it got Riley and me bit.
"Please. Come for me." Dina says.
I breath in sharply, unsure if she realizes what those words are doing to me or if she's fucking with me.
"Dina, I—" I groan.
"Look I can't make you come. I know you told me what happened with you and Riley. I understand your aversion to dancing but I figured maybe I could make dancing fun for you again." Dina says, gently.
Looking between the ground and Dina, I debate for a few seconds.
"Ok." I say.
A brown liquid swirls in my glass as I lean against wooden stand that seems to be a bar of some kind. There isn't a bartender behind it but I don't mind it. I look out into the crowd, which has stopped dancing as a whole because the music is changing to the next track.
Went out one night to make a little round
Met little Sadie and I shot her down
Went back home, jumped into bed
.44 pistol under my head
This one I did enjoy more than others. It was very upbeat and if I was going to be here at least the world seems to be humoring me in that respect.
I woke in the morning bout half past nine
The hacks and the buggies standing in line
Gents and gamblers standing around
Taking little Sadie to her burying ground
God why am I here? I don't do dances. Well I know technically why I'm here but seriously why am I actually here? Oh speak of the devil. Dina. There's the reason I'm here, dancing away at a ridiculous speed with Trevor. I'm happy to see she's enjoying herself.
I began to think of what a deed I'd done
I grabbed my hat and away I'd run
Made a good run, just a little to slow
They overtook me in Jericho
I take another sip of my drink as I watch the two prance around the whole dance floor. They are covering some distance. Props to Trevor for keeping up with her.
Just after Trevor twirls Dina and they do some other move that I don't even know how to name, Jesse walks up to me and leaning against the counter near me. I readjust a little bit away from him before looking down, acting like I wasn't just staring at his ex.
Standing on a corner and reading a bill
And up stepped the sheriff from Thomasville
He said miss is your name Brown
Remember the night you shot Sadie down
"I hate these things." Jesse says, gesturing to the dance floor.
"Tell me about it." I say, scoffing in agreement.
I said oh yes sir but my name is Lee
And I murdered little Sadie in the first degree
First degree and second degree
Got any papers will you read 'em to me
"Your old man really laid into me today." Jesse says.
Everyone likes talking to me about Joel.
"What happened?" I ask, realizing that most people probably don't know what else they can talk to me about.
So they took me downtown and dressed me in black
Put me on a train and started me back
All the way back to the Thomasville jail
Had no money for to go my bail
"Another big lecture about my patrols. Don't go here. Don't go there. It's funny how involved he gets whenever you're scheduled to go out." Jesse explains.
Yeah that's Joel in a nut shell. Ever since him and I stopped going out together, he's probably come down on Jesse pretty hard to make sure I stay safe.
"Yeah." I say.
Joel was getting to be too old to keep going out with me. I finally convinced him last year that I should join one of the other scavenging teams but it wasn't easy.
The judge and the jury they took their stand
The judge had the papers in his right hand
Forty one days, forty one nights
Forty one years to wear the balls and stripes
"She's, uh… putting on quite the show." Jesse says, probably realizing I wasn't going to say more.
Went out one night to make a little round
I met little Sadie and I shot her down
Went back home, jumped into bed
.44 pistol under my head
The final violin chord plays and Trevors dips Dina flamboyantly in front of the whole dance floor. Everyone starts clapping at the lowest part of the dip, before Trevor pulls a laughing Dina back up.
"I give you guys two weeks until you're back together." I say, realizing it's only a matter of time. They've broken up like six times and they always get back together.
"Not gonna happen." Jesse says then pauses for about three seconds, before asking, "She, uh, say something to you?"
I scoff.
"Make it one week." I say, confident, giving him a reassuring smile.
Dina always goes back to him. He's who she wants.
"Ellie." Dina calls, walking up to me, and I turn my head towards her voice as Jesse straightens up beside me. "Hey. What took you so long?"
Dina grabs my drink with one hand, while grabbing my shoulder for support with the other.
"Well, I'm here, aren't I?" I say.
She tosses the rest of the drink back before sliding her hand down my arm.
"Dina." Jesse says, raising his glass slightly to her.
Dina places my empty glass on the counter behind me.
"Jesse." Dina says, coldly.
Ooo. I'd feel bad but him sweating a little won't hurt. The breakup won't last.
"Come on." Dina says, smiling at me and tugging me by the hand to follow her.
We take a couple steps before we both half turn around as Jesse calls after us, "Hey, don't forget we leave at first light so get some rest."
"Yes, sir." Dina says, giving a mock salute before turning back to continue dragging me to the middle of the dance floor.
This effectively sends Jesse away.
"You're such a dick." I say, amused.
"Come on." She says, smiling as she pulls my arms to her waist. "Don't you start with me."
"Ok. I have a very serious question for you." She starts, laying each of her forearms onto each of my shoulders, and it feels like she's locking her hands together behind my head.
I knit my brows together slightly, kind of wondering what she's going to ask. She looks down to her right before looking back at me seriously. "How bad do I smell?"
I smile at the realization and she smiles in return. I lean forward and take a deep whiff for emphasis. She definitely has that musky sweat smell going on but she and I have definitely smelt worse before but I play along.
"Like a… hot pile of garbage." I say with amused frankness.
"Oh?" She says, with playful frustration. "Ok."
Her grip tightens on my shoulders as she leans forward and drags her cheek against my own. I groan while chuckling.
"How about that?" Dina asks, looking very proud of herself.
"Gross." I say, scrunching my nose.
I look down to her shoulder and then back to her eyes.
"You love it." She says.
She inches closer to me so that she can rest her head on my shoulder as we sway. Did we have to dance to this song? Not that I would've been worth anything compared to Trevor in the last song but god, a slow song where we just sway. I can't focus on this.
"Every guy in this room is staring at you right now?" I say, in a perfectly executed self sabotage fashion. I'm almost impressed, but I can't get my hopes up. She loves flirting with me and going back to Jesse. Which is fine, he's what she wants.
She lifts her head from my shoulder, and kind looks at me through her peripherals.
"Maybe they're staring at you?" She says.
"They're not." I say, almost scoffing out loud at the idea.
"Maybe they're jealous of you?" She says.
"I'm just a girl." I say, pausing before making the point. "Not a threat."
At this, Dina pulls back so that we're face to face again. She reaches up and tucks a strip of hair behind my ear before laying her hand lightly against my neck.
"Oh, Ellie." She says, in a tone I can't quite place, almost… endearing? "I think they should be terrified of you."
My brows crinkle at her statement; they should be terrified of me? Why? She's looking at me kind of strange. The hand lightly holding my neck moves to the back of my neck and she leans forward.
She kisses me.
Wait? She's fucking kissing me? I. I don't… understand. Wait, focus. She pauses, as if giving me the opportunity to back away. That's not happening on my end.
I lean forward and capture her lips, enjoying the feel of us moving together.
Dina pulls back. I look at her waiting for her to say something that'll make sense.
"See. I told you." She starts, confusion still at the forefront my mind. "They should be terrified."
Realization dawns on me and I smile.
A/N: I know this chapter was probably a little boring since it was the trailer in word form. I debated on ending it before the trailer but figured it was easy enough to add.
This story was largely based around this article, 36 Questions That Lead To Love (published on nytimes site), which circulated from a paper. The paper, or a related article, does state that these questions don't necessarily lead to love but more open us up to being vulnerable with someone, which could be a benefit for a friendship or a partnership. Just something to keep in mind. These questions aren't an end all to find love.
Anyway, I do plan to continue on after this with a second series or maybe a series of one-shots where this is the baseline but it might not be out for a while. It makes more sense for me to separate it from here since I wasn't sure how to move forward. Review if you desire. Have a lovely day. I leave you with a quote.
"Anything less than mad, passionate, extraordinary love is a waster of time. There are too many mediocre things in life to deal with and love shouldn't be one of them." - Tiffanie DeBartolo