The Point of No Return
He never really liked the nickname 'El'. Of course, that was before I ever-so lovingly began calling him by it. In fact, in the end, he preferred it over his full name.
...
"Don't worry, we'll make it out of here," I murmured, holding the boy close. "The helicopter is right there. Hold on. Just for me, El. Just for me."
The boy just looked up at my face, his blue eyes tired yet bright as ever. I flashed a hasty smile, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
"N-Nick," he stammered, his voice quivering.
"Yeah?" I replied, pulling him closer, trying to not disturb the gaping wounds in his chest, or in my lower stomach.
"'S the chopper gone?"
I didn't even bother looking at the helicopter pad. I knew it was gone. It was long gone. It was gone way before either of us had gotten hurt. All hope had left us as soon as we stepped onto the bridge.
"What do you think, El?" I lied, smiling, hoping that he would buy into it and think there was still time for us to miraculously stand up and run to the copter that abandoned us on this godforsaken bridge, our wounds fixed and forgotten. In reality, I knew he wouldn't last much longer. I kissed him all over his beautiful face, not letting him even think he wasn't going to make it. I kissed him on the lips last, feeling just as I did when I first saw him; in love.
"I-I love you, N-Nick." Ellis whispered after the kiss ended, his voice cracking. I saw the light leave those blue eyes, once open and bright, never diminishing, until now.
"I love you too, El." I replied, choking on my words. Tears threatened to fall, but I couldn't let them, not in front of Ellis. No, not even in death. I had to be strong, for the both of us. "I love you, I love you, I love you."
I repeated those three simple yet powerful words into his brown curls, taking off that treasured hat of his and holding it in my hand. I took in these last few memories of Ellis, hearing the fighter jets roar overhead.
I looked up to the skies, my tired and weary eyes watering. I saw the bomb fall from the sky, landing back where a Hunter had ripped that dreaded hole in Ellis' chest, where I had begun to carry him to this spot at the very end of the bridge.
The explosion was bright, firey, different. I wanted to shake Ellis gently and show him how beautiful and horrifying it was, but I couldn't.
With one last look down at the boy, I pressed a kiss to his forehead, and the-
...
AN:
I'll be glad to let you all know I teared up when I was writing this, when I was reviewing it, and when I read it just now. And I apologize for a somewhat lengthy delay. Well, in my opinion it was lengthy. Anyway... I hope you all enjoyed this three-part drabble. Just something I needed to fill my time with in between blocks on my novel-in-progress. It's getting harder to write, so more fanfiction might come out of this... Lucky for you all, suckish for me. Oh well.
Disclaimer:
I don't own Left 4 Dead 2, Nick, or Ellis.