A/N: Welcome to my story! This is the first L4D2 fic I've written, so I'm sorry if it reads like a burnt pancake. I don't own the characters, franchise, or anything except two very spoiled and pampered cats. Enjoy!
The humidity wrapped around the group like a wet blanket, suffocating the mood and squeezing sweat from their pores. Nobody spoke; the only sound was the water lapping at the sides of their boat and twigs snapping in the surrounding woods of the swamp. Even Ellis was quiet, removing his trusty hat to swipe at his sweaty face with a grungy sleeve, soft curls dripping. He removed his gaze from the woods to take a look at his group members, drawing in a deep, damp breath that felt more like choking than breathing.
Coach and Rochelle stood at opposite sides of the boat, both peering into their respective wooded areas, holding their matching AKs in a ready stance. The undead lurked among the trees, occasionally gurgling out to each other. It was up to the rest of the team to keep a look out for danger while Nick carefully navigated the boat through the swamp. The conman had been mostly silent ever since accepting the role as captain, those sharp eyes of his scanning the rumpled, slashed map they'd found pinned to the wall of the last safehouse.
As if sensing Ellis's curious gaze, Nick's attention rose from the map and caught Ellis's eye. Those deep emerald eyes, flecked with warm gold, narrowed at the mechanic, a familiar frown pulling at the conman's lips.
"You should be watching the woods," Nick broke the silence with his deep, haughty tone. Rochelle and Coach both glanced at Nick and then Ellis, who flushed at the sudden attention. He was cowed by the fact that Nick was still wearing his full suit, jacket and all, his face hardly reddened by the intense heat and humidity. A single bead of sweat trickled down the conman's left temple, leaving a slow, wet trail down his cheek, his jaw, sliding down his neck. Ellis watched with a dry mouth.
"Hello? What, are the barn lights on but no cow is home?" Nick snapped, irritation spilling across his handsome face. Those eyes that always sparkled with sarcasm and confidence seemed to pierce through Ellis's soul. The conman carried a command presence with him that Ellis couldn't compare to anyone he'd ever met. When Nick walked in a room, all eyes drew to him. His very aura pulsed with a primal protectiveness, attracting anyone who needed guidance, flocking like trusting sheep to a slaughter. He never laughed, never really smiled either. He had this smirk that Ellis wanted to hate but couldn't because it was just too sexy, a look that screamed "I know something that you don't". From the moment he'd met Nick, he'd wanted to earn his trust and pride. It was unexplainable; he just yearned for this commanding man's attention. Ellis could understand how Nick was such a successful conman; he was so damn smooth and cool with everything he did, whether it was calmly making a one-handed shot with his Magnum while steering a Humvee with the other hand, or simply washing with a rag before bed. No matter how mundane, Nick managed to make his actions appear collected and intelligent. He was dangerously attractive and admirably intelligent; Ellis wanted him.
"Sorry, Nick. I jus' had ta take a break, y'know? This humidity's worse than the time me and Keith borrowed my da's tractor and axe-dentally rolled it in the woods. We got lost and didn't have no water, -"
Coach interrupted a famous Keith story, his voice a deep rumble.
"Trouble to the left of the boat. I heard somethin'."
Everyone's eyes flashed to where Coach was pointing. Ellis worried his lower lip, squinting against the brutal light of the sun. There was silence. He couldn't see anything, no sign of the undead. He risked another glance at Nick, who huffed impatiently.
"I don't hear shit," Rochelle said flatly. She swiped the sweat from her brow with a grumpy scowl, tired of the bugs, humidity, and nastiness of the swamp. Nothing would feel better than finally escaping this hellhole and meeting up with Francis and Zoey. The two survivors had run into them two days ago and informed the group of a ship that would take sail for New Orleans in three days' time – which meant they now officially had less than twenty-four hours to find the port. The groups had gone their separate ways, agreeing to meet at the port; Zoey and Francis had wanted to retrieve a friend before making the journey.
"I know what I heard," Coach grumbled. Ellis slapped his hat back on, his usual cheery grin spreading across his young face.
"I betcha did hear somethin', but ain't nothin' there now," Ellis said to Coach, as if assuring him that they believed him. The larger man simply glowered at the mechanic.
"I'm sure it's still there," Coach snapped, his gaze returning to the woods with stronger intensity.
"I don't care what anyone did or didn't hear, just keep your eyes peeled. I refuse to die here in the devil's asshole," Nick said, neatly folding the map to tuck away in his pocket. Rochelle gave a bitter chuckle, whole-heartedly agreeing with their captain's sentiment. She set down her weapon and fished the flask out of her back pocket, unscrewing the lid and taking a conservative sip.
"Wouldn't that be the cherry on top of this shitty sundae," Rochelle muttered, tempted to pour the little water she had left over her head to let the cool liquid absorb some of the heat, if even for a moment.
Ellis whistled, turning around to face his team, entertainment sparkling in his large eyes.
"This ain't no devil's asshole. I was inna real devil's asshole one time with Keith. We went campin', and –"
Nick sighed loudly, irritated that the young mechanic was already spilling into another long-winded Keith story, knowing it was bound to leave them stunned in silence at the stupidity of the mechanic and his idiot of a friend. He watched their youngest team member chatter on, Coach shaking his head in grumpy silence. Ellis didn't seem to notice their lack of desire to hear the story. His naivety almost drew a smirk from the conman's dry mouth. Though his stories were long and baffling, Nick had to admit that the kid was at least entertaining. He was always so damn cheerful and positive, finding any situation either funny or fun. No matter how gray and dark the mood was, Ellis was their faithful ray of sunshine, determined to keep the other survivors going. He was one hell of a shot, too, and usually the driver because the kid was an absolute animal at the wheel. Rochelle had vomited after their last drive, the speed and agility of Ellis's driving and Infected dodging too much for her empty stomach. Ellis was…many things. Focused was what Nick currently wanted him to be, so the conman snapped his fingers twice, halting Ellis's storytelling. The kid's humored eyes lifted to meet Nick's stern ones.
"Overalls, what did I just –"
Suddenly, a long, thick, purple tongue shot out from the woods, wrapping around Nick's torso, pinning his arms to his sides, and yanked him from the boat. Nick's Magnum clattered to the deck of the boat, knocked from his belt.
Ellis watched in slow motion, frozen in horror, his eyes glued to the conman as he flashed from sight, yanked under the water as the Infected dove in to escape the survivors with its prey. Nick, who was always so nonchalant and cool, never showing emotion other than scorn or smugness, had looked at Ellis with something in his widened eyes that Ellis had never seen there before: raw terror.
"Nick!" Ellis screamed, running to the side of the boat with the others, desperately scanning the murky waters for their friend. His heart pounded wildly in his chest, beating so fast it surely had to be skipping beats.
"I fucking told ya'll I heard something!" Coach shouted, whipping his AK up. Ellis barely heard him over his own ragged breathing, pupils dilated so wide they practically swallowed his irises.
"There! Shoot at the tongue!" Rochelle yelled, pointing at the purple shadow beneath the thick, dark water with the barrel of her gun. She immediately began shooting, the gunfire tripling as Ellis and Coach joined her.
"Careful, don't hit Nick!" Ellis warned, voice raised above the blasts of their weapons. Adrenaline surged through his body like electricity through a live wire. How long had it been since Nick was dragged beneath the water? Was he hurt? He needed air.
Panic bubbled up Ellis's throat, threatening to exit via vomit, but suddenly the Smoker's severed tongue flopped out of the water, followed by the defeated Infected. Rochelle crowed a cheer of achievement.
"Take that, ya ugly piece of shit," she exclaimed, pumping her free fist in the air. The two men silently stared into the water, waiting for Nick to spring to the surface, gasping for air, freed from the monster and risk of a watery death. But the conman didn't surface.
"C'mon, Nick," Ellis whimpered, eyes desperately scanning the water. He couldn't see anything. None of them could. Three seconds passed by before Rochelle and Coach flinched, startled by Ellis throwing his gun to the ground and hopping onto the edge of the boat. Before either of them could say a word, Ellis dove into the water.
The young mechanic forced his eyes open, stinging with the murky bacteria that surely thrived in this pool of sludge and God knows what. He immediately saw Nick, not too far from where he was. The conman was weakly thrusting his arms up, as if trying to pull something, his legs desperately thrashing.
Fear and realization sunk to the pit of Ellis's stomach as he swam faster than he'd ever had. Nick didn't know how to swim. The mechanic reached his drowning friend, the last of Nick's air leaving him in large bubbles, and grabbed onto the conman. Nick turned to the mechanic, clearly choking and suffocating on the water, panic twisting his face. Ellis yanked Nick to his body, wrapping his arms tight around his broad back, and kicked as hard as he could to push them up. It was a lot more difficult than he'd thought it would be; Nick was fighting him, not in his right mind, his body bursting into survival mode. Ellis fought for his own life, knowing the older man could easily drown him. He was bigger and stronger than Ellis, and panic only intensified that strength.
Ellis's lungs began to burn as the oxygen slowly became depleted, trying his best to get a grip on the conman. His efforts didn't require much time; Nick suddenly stilled in the mechanic's arms. Ellis heaved him into a better hold and struggled to drag him to the surface. He didn't know what was worse – Nick fighting him, or his deadweight.
Finally, their heads emerged from their watery grave and Ellis gasped in a long, deep breath, glancing at Nick to see his eyes closed, head limply tilted back.
"He can't swim, help me," Ellis shouted, his voice shaky and ragged as he continued to suck in air, dragging Nick closer to the boat. Rochelle immediately dove into the water, swimming to Nick's other side. The two quickly brought him to the boat, and Coach yanked him up with a grunt, flopping him onto the deck.
"He ain't breathin," Coach warned, rolling the conman onto his back. Ellis wanted to throw up, fear rolling through his stomach violently. He watched as Coach began CPR, Rochelle hopping in and helping the younger man in as well. Ellis sat on the deck, leaning tiredly against the wall of the boat, his burning eyes glued to Nick. Rochelle rushed to their side, muttering encouragement under her breath to the limp, pale body beneath Coach's large hands.
"C'mon, you bastard. I know you're too damn stubborn to die," Coach snarled, Nick's drenched clothes sliding up to reveal a toned, flat stomach littered in scars. As if hearing his words, Nick suddenly jerked against the large man's hands, eyes flashing open. Ellis could've screamed if exhaustion hadn't settled so deeply into his bones from his own near drowning at the panicked hands of his comrade. Instead, he watched in indescribable relief as Nick rolled onto his side and vomited up water. Coach hit him hard on the back to help clear his lungs, the swamp splashing over and over again onto the deck from the conman's mouth. He continued until he was throwing up actual emesis, his vomit becoming diluted from the water. Tremors rolled through Nick's body uncontrollably as he heavily sat back, gasping for air.
"You okay, honey?" Rochelle asked, wrapping a blanket around Nick's shoulders. Coach hadn't risen from his knees, hand glued to Nick's back as if worried he'd suddenly drop dead. Ignoring the question, Nick stared at Ellis, who gazed back with stinging eyes and a quivering bottom lip.
"You saved my life," the conman rasped, running his fingers through his soaked hair, chest heaving. A tear escaped the mechanic's swimming eyes and rolled down his wet cheek.
"Anythin' for you, Nick," Ellis replied throatily, twisting his wet hat in his hands. His heart was pounding wildly in his chest again, his breathing quickening. The intense, relief look on Nick's face was almost too much to bear. It took everything in him to stay sitting when all he wanted to do was launch himself at the conman and sob into his shoulder. Ellis instead gave Nick a big smile and pulled his hat over his wet hair.
"Thanks, kid…You too, Coach," Nick said quietly. Those green-gold eyes of his slowly scaled Ellis from head to toe, causing the mechanic's cheeks to bloom red. "You okay, everyone good?"
Ellis nodded, biting his lower lip again. Coach let out a low whistle and teased their drowning victim by ruffling his drenched hair, earning a deep scowl from Nick, who swatted his big hand away.
"Damn Nick, I really thought you were a goner," Coach said with a rumbling laugh. He helped the conman to his feet.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence. I have worse news than my death, though," Nick said. He pulled out the soggy remains of the map from his pocket and tossed it to the floor, where it landed with a wet smack. Ellis buried his face in his knees to hide his tears; that had been their map to safety, to the port, to other survivors. Rochelle cursed again and again, loudly, desperately, as if the swears would stop the ink from bleeding into a puddle and reform the paper. Coach and Nick were silent, both looking at the mess with unreadable expressions. After a moment, Nick moved back behind the wheel of the boat.
"Maybe you should take a break; you just rose from the dead," Coach said flatly. He was met with Nick's cold, level gaze.
"I'm the only one with an idea of how to get to the port. Like I said earlier, I'm not dying in the devil's asshole. I'm driving this boat. You lot can sit down and cry over a puddle of ink, or you can put your damn big boy pants on and return to watching for danger. Try not to get me killed again. Either way, I don't give a damn. I'm moving forward," Nick said, gripping the wheel with a trembling hand. Ellis could see the weariness setting in, the tremors that tugged at his legs and shoulders, the dissolving fear in his eyes, those full lips drawn into a grim line.
"Whatever you say, Boss Man," Coach chuckled, returning to his original post and picking his AK up. Rochelle, too, returned to her post.
"Are we gonna ignore the fact that Mr. Perfect can't swim?" Rochelle teased, a grin spreading across her face. Nick shot her a humorless glare.
"Suck my dick," he snapped.
"In your dreams."
Ellis was the only one who didn't return to post; he curled in on himself and appreciated the brutal sun for the first time all day. He rested against the wall and locked eyes with the conman. His heart skipped a beat. Everything had happened so fast, but Ellis still felt like he was strapped into an emotional rollercoaster. He would've given his hat for a moment alone with Nick right now, to lay into him about the dangers of not knowing how to swim during a zombie apocalypse and did he know how much he'd scared Ellis? Every time he blinked, the image of Nick laying on the deck pale, unmoving, not breathing flashed through his head. Again, the mechanic wanted to vomit, but he fought the urge, not wanting to worry the others. Nick frowned at him, trying to read the younger member. Ellis bit his lower lip and looked away, staring out at the horizon.
He wasn't going to rest until Nick was safe on ground.
A/N: Thank you so much for reading, I hope this came out halfway decent! If you'd be interested in reading more, please leave a review! (: