Author's Note ~Hello, guys! It's my first time writing fanfiction, so don't judge me too hard. Welp, I do ship Nick and Coach, and I am proud. They'd be too cuute. This fic is rated M, by the way. Mostly for the fact that there will be cute fluff that can slide a bit more than hugging. And violence. Kind of a lot of violence and cussing. Anyways, enjoy, Mortals!

Nick's Pov

I shot a nearby zombie in the shoulder and watched in disgust as it fell quietly, as if it accepted that it was going to die at that exact moment. I sighed and kept up with the group, barely. I think I may have hurt something for real this time.

The second I saw the safe room, I ran for it, not giving it a second thought. I literally just want to rest, maybe rethink my life choices as a human being.

What I probably should have looked for was the fact that a witch had been sitting on the steps, crying. I literally stepped on her foot. The crying girl looked at me in pure rage, and then proceeded to slash my chest open.

I blacked out.

Coach's Pov

Oh dear lord, why? Why Nick? I was tending to his wounds, and watching him, making sure he wakes up sooner or later. We have to keep moving.. We don't have a second chance.

Suddenly, Nick's acid green eyes fluttered open, and he began coughing and choking on his own blood. I almost cried in shock. I held him down, to keep him from ripping open old wounds, but he just kept coughing and struggling against me.

"Nick, Nick! You'll be ok, just quit struggling, alright? Shh.. It'll.. It'll be fine" I said, panicking while trying to calm him down.

After a while, Nick settled down, and stared up at me. I winced at the type of look he was giving me. It was a painful look, as if saying,"Please don't do this to me".

I fed him some leftover peaches we held onto a while ago. I noticed blood oozing from his white pants. I rolled the pant leg up slowly, and sighed. He ripped his knee open. Probably from when he tried escaping that Tank by climbing up an apartment.

I slowly started patching him up, as not to hurt him.

"Coach, why do you attempt to help me?" Nick muttered just loud enough for me to hear.

"Hm? I'd help you no matter what, Nick. That's a promise" I answered back, wrapping up his leg.

Nick fell silent. "I'm just asking. You're always the first one to help me when I get attacked. You're always there when I'm hurt. You even fed me earlier. I know something's up, ok? You can never hide anything from me." Nick grumpily asked me.

This time, it was my turn to fall silent as I felt my cheeks grow hot. I just kept wrapping his leg and tending to his shredded chest. Nick groaned in boredom.

"I like you, Nick. I'm surprised you didn't suggest this earlier.

Nick almost choked again on his peaches.

"Did I hear you right? You like me? Like.. Love me?" Nick asked quickly, as a heavy blush spread across his face.

I nodded and Nick covered his face with his hands. He had a melancholy look on his face.

"You know, everyone in my hometown called me a faggot.. Because I was gay.. I know, this seems a bit convenient to you, at least, Coach..But, I have a crush on you too.." Nick admitted, his voice cracking.

A smile crossed my face. But Nick was still frowning. I suddenly understood why.

"But yeah.. I know it's wrong to have a relationship with someone in a middle of a damn apocalypse.." I muttered.

"That's not what I'm worried about, Coach. It's just.. I don't want to go through this again."Nick said firmly.

"I can help you through everything, ok? You don't need go alone. Besides, that's what I've been offering you from the very beginning, right? An arm to hold when you can't walk. A light to help carry you through the darkness. It's what good friends, hell, even acquaintances should do" I reassured Nick.

Nick looked at me, and smiled at me. Something I haven't seen ever since the concert at Whispering Oaks. I smiled warmly back at him, and hugged him.

Nick held onto me tightly, and we sat there for a minute.

"Ow. That hurts" Nick winced.

"Oh, sorry" I chuckled as I worked on him again.

And that, was only the beginning.

Author's Note ~ So? How'd you like it? Like I mentioned before, this is my first fic, so don't judge me too hard. Leave a review, if you'd like. Good day, Mortals!