Guess who finally got a chapter done… I'm really sorry about this guys. As far as chapters go this was one of the worst struggles yet just because the story just didn't seem to like any of the directions I was trying to go with it. But my muse and I figured it out… so here it is! Working on Chapter 6 as we speak… hopefully I'll have a little more luck and a little less 'constantly starting the chapter over from scratch'! Hope you all are having a wonderful new year!
Chapter 5
"And you're absolutely sure we are in the right place?"
There was a huff of annoyance before a whispered reply. "Yes I'm sure that I'm sure. This is the location."
"And you're absolutely sure?" Nick asked again, looking at Zoey skeptically. "Because it looks like a whole lot of empty to me."
"Shhhh! It may be a ruse you idiot." Zoey snarled. Ok… so the brooding Nick had been a pain and for a while Zoey had missed his snarky comments… but he had chosen a bad time to start getting mouthy again.
Francis nodded, shooting a glare in Nick's direction before gruffly whispering to Zoey "You're sure that you're sure? Because… this doesn't look like the right place."
Zoey huffed out another sigh, shooting a glare at him. The truth was… she was beginning to doubt things herself. The warehouse they stood in looked entirely empty and it looked like it had been unused for years… abandoned before the apocalypse even hit. Surely there'd be signs of… something…
"Hey… what are you doing?" Francis' voice interrupted Zoey's musing and she turned to look at him before realizing he was talking to someone else. Nick, Louis, and Francis had their gaze trained on the newest member of their party… Ellis was clawing at something on the floor. Zoey had already checked over that area though… they had all looked at every square inch of the building and it appeared to be solid walls and a completely solid concrete floor. There were no seams… no hollow sounds from knocking… nothing. So what was Ellis doing?
They all closed in with interest, causing Ellis to look up at them in shock- a cockroach trapped between his claws.
"Figures." Francis mumbled with a grumble. "I hate cockroaches."
"He's just like a puppy." Louis muttered as he continued to meet Ellis' gaze while the other three dispersed to do another search of the facility.
"If you mean a puppy that can tear your head off… then yeah, he's just like a puppy." Francis grumbled.
"Wow, good to know you can string more than 3 words together." Nick said in an entirely civilized way. Of everyone (discluding himself… these were special circumstances) Francis was easily the one who was giving Ellis the hardest time. And whereas Nick refused to stand up for Ellis right now… on a matter of principle… he wasn't going to let Francis off on picking on the kid. Even if Francis was right.
Unintelligible grumbles came from Francis which earned another comment from Nick. "And there's the Francis we all know and hate."
The look that Francis shot Nick would have probably chilled most other people's blood… it had been quite effective on hostages and prisoners in the past (the weaker ones, anyway) but Nick knew Francis. Even if the man had a mind to kill Nick, Nick still wouldn't hold any real worry about Francis. He knew the man well enough to know how to defeat him…
With a loud snort Francis turned away, adjusted his vest, and continued his 4th search over the wall on the north side of the building.
"Ellis, are you going to be any help at all?" Zoey finally asked as Ellis chased the cockroach around the building- apparently being careful not to squish it but damn near determined to frighten the darn thing until it died from exhaustion.
Ellis paused to look at her, cockroach forgotten. For a moment. He saw it escaping out of the corner of his eye and pounced, trapping it under cupped hands before looking at Zoey again.
"What do ya reckon I should do?" He asked, glancing down at his hands every few moments to make sure the cockroach was still trapped.
Zoey placed her hands on her hips, looking hard at Ellis before shaking her head. "I don't know, really.. maybe you could sniff something out?"
"Like wha?" Ellis asked, his gaze still flickering between his hands and Zoey. "This buildin' doesn' have any interestin' smells. No' like the one we passed by ta get ta this one, anyway."
Everyone stopped to look at Ellis. A couple gazes perplexed and a couple confused.
"And.. you couldn't mention that earlier?" Zoey asked, her voice bordering exasperation.
Ellis crouched back, raising his hands in surrender- releasing the cockroach that scampered quickly away. Ellis was no longer paying attention to it, though. "Hey, I tried ta say somethin' a coupla times but… well you were so certain it was here so I figur'd I was jus' confused or somethin.'"
Zoey took a deep breath and released it slowly before going over to Ellis. He flinched back when she raised her hand and Nick took a step forward, but Zoey just rested her hand on Ellis' shoulder. "Can you show us the building?"
"Well course." Ellis nodded. Francis and Louis still looked on edge about Ellis being with them… they were always quick to reach for their guns. Zoey had been as well at first… but she quickly overcame that when she saw the same traits in Ellis she had noticed in him the first time they met. There was still a softness there… if also a new and fresh sadness from more recent events with Nick.
And speaking of Nick… he hadn't explained to anyone about his reaction. Ellis… well he hadn't really attempted to do anything with Nick- hadn't spoken to him or gone near him. He also hadn't cut Nick completely out of conversations or completely avoided him. It was like… he noticed that Nick existed, he just didn't completely acknowledge it. And Nick followed that example and did the same… That and Nick had just stopped talking entirely for quite a while… only having really spoken for the first time earlier that day after they had brought down a Tank with Ellis' help- though his comment had nothing to do with the Tank or Ellis… instead he randomly murmured 'I wonder if there's a Burger Tank around here… bet Coach could use a burger right about now.'
The trio and Nick followed Ellis out of the empty warehouse and down the street a short way to another building that looked just as vacant, if not a little more rundown. The door swung open on creaking hinges that caused most of the survivors to flinch back and draw weapons… but Ellis just continued on ahead.
Inside this warehouse looked almost as empty except for the fact there was a trapdoor at the other end of the building (that took some time finding). Zoey took the lead in heading over to it, quickly reaching the door and trying the handle. The door pulled up easily, silent as the grave, which caused a few eyebrows to arch in suspicion.
Zoey turned around, raising a finger to her lips, before once again leading the way into the trapdoor and down a dark staircase that twisted around so that they ended up in a room beneath the warehouse.
The stench is what hit them first.
"Oh God, what is that?!" Francis asked, trying and failing to continue to breathe through the scent but giving in and putting a shirt over his nose.
Nick turned inquiring eyes to Ellis who's nose was twitching and wrinkling, even the kid was having troubles with the smell. Then again, with heightened senses Ellis was probably especially having difficulties with the smell.
"There's a lotta death here." Ellis said by means of explanation but didn't say anything more explanatory then that.
The thought had fear coiling itself around Nick's gut. Who was dead….? What state would they be finding Rochelle and Coach in? The conman swallowed nervously, his nose buried in the elbow of his suit- the smell was only slightly better… but a lot more manageable than the stench of the warehouse basement.
"Do you think this is really where they were being held? It doesn't look very government official." Louis noted mildly as the group began to trek through the basement, flashlights out and roaming across the area. So far they hadn't actually come across what was causing the scent though it continued to get stronger the farther they went.
"There's probably more here than meets the eye." Nick piped in, knowing from experience the amount that could be hidden in a warehouse… or any building, really.
Ellis took the lead from that point… in fact with how slow the others were moving he was becoming more of a scout. Blips from flashlights cut across his vision as the others lit the way ahead of him before pulling the light to search something near them. Ellis didn't really need the light… though he couldn't particularly see well in the dark, he could still see enough to get around.
Nick went on high alert when he saw Ellis pause some distance ahead, and quickened his footsteps until he was alongside the other. The smell further hit him before the sight, which was rather gruesome… organs lay scattered everywhere.
"What the hell happened here?" Zoey whispered.
"Coach… Rochelle…" Ellis murmured quietly, being once again the first to continue on. He didn't notice the blood that was getting on his hands as he crawled through the left over gore from whatever had attacked the place.
Zoey's fingers dug into her own arms as she forced herself to follow Ellis. Warning throbbed at the back of her mind… whatever had done this could still be down here… but she needed to know the extent of the damage. Perhaps there'd be clues to what had gone down…
"We aren't really going to continue deeper…?" Francis asked, still standing at the edge of the mess. Louis and Nick moved past him to follow Ellis and Zoey… and after a moment's hesitation Francis followed with a grumbled "I really hate this."
The lower expanses of the warehouse turned out to be a lot more expansive than what any of the survivors had expected. It quickly proved to the survivors that exploring the entire warehouse would be a multiple day mission… but that there was practically now point. Nothing was left… After a couple complaints about the stench poisoning them the survivors started to head back out but Ellis didn't show any signs of following. Even after the others called his name… he had to find Rochelle and Coach. To at least know their fates…
Heaving a sigh Zoey turned back to continue following Ellis… as did Nick after a moment. Francis and Louis shook their heads…
"We're not going to find anything else down here." Louis stated.
"If… he wants to stay down here, I say let him. But I'm getting out of here." Francis added. Despite what he said he didn't turn to leave, instead watching as Zoey continued to follow Ellis in and out of all the rooms. Finally, having already been partially convinced as well, Zoey placed her hand on Ellis' shoulder.
"It doesn't look like anyone down here survived." She told Ellis softly and he looked up at her.
"Maybe they weren' here then… maybe they were taken somewhere else."
"It's possible, Ellis…" Zoey admitted though it was clear she doubted it. This had been the last standing research facility according to the information she, Francis, and Louis had gathered. But it was best not to completely destroy Ellis' hopes… right?
Something… different caught Ellis' attention. A scent he hadn't caught before… and a tiny thrill of hope ran through him as he turned in that direction. He quickly took off after it, wanting to know whatever it was.
Ellis was led to an unexplored part of the warehouse. Footsteps echoed behind him as well as calls of his name but he ignored all of it. He chased the smell to a closed door and preparing himself for the worst he flung the door open.
It wasn't Rochelle, or Coach. It wasn't anything that Ellis had been expecting… A large pile of corpses- most of them with chunks missing as if eaten- was lying in a corner. And that's when the screams started up.
"WHAT IS THAT THING?!"
"SHOOT IT! SHOOT IT!"
Ellis slammed the door shut, twisting around to head back towards the survivors but something stood in his path. The creature took a step towards him, the sound of dry leaves rasping against one another created by the movement.
It was tall and thin- thinner than anything Ellis had seen yet. The skin of the monstrosity hung off of glistening muscle like old rags. Bone protruded from the tips of what was left of its fingers- like claws, poking through the remainder of muscle.
In this meeting time seemed to slow down. The infected eyed Ellis carefully, lifting its head to sniff at the air before glaring back down at him. Ellis stood his ground- the gunshots and screams in the background not really registering in his mind. All of the alarm bells were going off in his head- danger like he couldn't imagine exuding from the infected.
"They're not dropping! We need to get out of here!" Shouted one of his companions.
"Take out the legs! Take out the Legs!" Someone else replied. More guns shots. Then retreating footsteps.
A deep rasp came from the creature- the obstacle between Ellis and his friends. Ellis snarled in return. If he had hackles he was sure they would be raised at the moment as he crouched onto all fours. He was ready to fight if it came to that… Either way he needed to get around this creature.
A chill swept through Ellis as the creature took a step closer. He couldn't tell for the life of him if the creature was ready to attack or not- its position seemed relaxed but it only took one quick slice and Ellis could be through. Just like that. As the creature continued to approach Ellis considered backing away.. but that would be losing the challenge. Was he really just going to crouch there until the monster was upon him? Yes… yes he was. It was an arms-length away now. Another step and Ellis was craning his neck to look up at the monstrosity.
Ellis couldn't help but flinch as the monster raised a hand, sharp fingertips dragging across Ellis' head- knocking his hat off. The creature rasped again and the strangest sensation came over Ellis… like he was being told to do something. He felt the urge to follow after the survivors become darker- shrouded with a longing to kill instead of a want to be with them. It wrapped around his mind, a dark embrace, before it was suddenly gone- a shot having knocked the infected away from Ellis.
"Ellis, come on!" Nick's voice called from the end of the hallway. Ellis didn't have to be told twice. He was soon sprinting in Nick's direction, the conman turning to run as well as Ellis caught up to him.
"This way." Nick said quietly, leading Ellis down a different path then what they had taken to get this far down here. Feet and hands slapped against the floor, leaving a trail in the organs. Well, at least Ellis knew where the organs had come from now- the infected hadn't had any. Ribs practically bare under the muscle and nothing beneath the ribs.
Of all the monstrosities that the infection could create Ellis had not seen this one coming. That thing was like something from nightmares… skeletal and wraith-like, rotting away and yet still just as deadly if not more so then the other infected.
Ellis followed Nick blindly up the stairs, continuously checking over his shoulder to see if that thing had caught up. It was not in sight but that gave Ellis little relief as he and Nick burst out of the darkness.
Gasps of relief could clearly be heard from Nick as they finally reached the top building of the warehouse, accompanied with realizations of how light headed and nauseous they had been feeling….
"Come on, let's had back to the safe house." Nick said, quickly checking to make sure his gun was still loaded.
Francis, Zoey, and Louis were nowhere to be seen though bloody footprints lead from the door.
"They probably went back to the safehouse." Nick offered before setting out. The footprints led in that direction so Nick and Ellis followed. There was a little trouble with a spitter, but it seemed like nothing compared to the wraiths they had fought earlier (a term Ellis had settled on because of the way they looked).
Shouting could be heard from inside the safehouse- the noise having drawn stumblers to the door. Nick quickly dispatched them with a few well placed shots to the head before kicking them aside and attempting to open the door. Unsurprisingly it was locked.
Nick gestured for Ellis to follow before heading around to the side of one of the windows. He pushed it up and pulled himself up onto the ledge, swinging one leg in then climbing in the rest of the way. Ellis followed suit, neatly leaping through the window. Following the sounds of shouting, Nick walked into the kitchen to see the three other survivors in the middle of an argument.
"What's our next plan of action?" Nick cut in. Three pairs of eyes turned to look at him with various mixtures in expression.
"First off… we all need to get this stench out of our clothing and take baths." She directed. "We can figure out what we do next after that."
Francis glowered at this, shaking his head. "We need to figure out what those things were. They didn't go down with head shots- that makes them exceptionally dangerous."
"They go down if you blow their head clean off." Nick offered before adding on, "One shower. I'm calling first." And with that he headed in the direction of the shower- not glancing in Ellis' direction. There was a collective groan from Louis and Francis-for different reasons- but they called dibs on second and third and then disappeared into the house to either rustle up some grub or clean weapons. There was an obvious storm cloud brewing over Francis' head.
Ellis found himself wandering the house without ever having consciously decided what to do- eventually ending up in front of the bathroom door. He stared at it, a whirl of emotions churning in his chest. Nick had gone back for him… the others had left him behind but Nick had come back. He couldn't understand why Nick would do something like that but just a few weeks ago had been ready to shoot him…
Ellis sat back on his haunches- half determined to get an answer from Nick, the other half content with continuing to ignore the man. Before he had made up his mind the door opened.
"Shit." Nick growled when he almost tripped over Ellis. He quickly regained his cool and glanced Ellis up and down before pointedly looking away.
Ellis found himself frozen, muscles tense as he was surrounded by Nick's scent. He gave a soft whimper, completely perplexed about the situation at hand.
After a couple more moments Nick attempted to move past Ellis. He was able to slide past the crouched man without too much trouble but as soon as he was past Ellis, Ellis seemed to unfreeze and began following Nick – only after a moment's hesitation.
Nick considered slamming his bedroom door in Ellis' face but reconsidered. He wasn't truly mad with Ellis… and he didn't want to cause any more damage to whatever relationship they might have left. Nick left the door open behind him but neither looked back at Ellis or made any gesture that he could enter behind him- though he did anyway. Nick moved across the room to stand next to a window… Ellis stopped just beyond the door, looking uneasy.
Ellis braced himself when he entered Nick's room. He would ask what was going on with Nick, get his answer, and then leave. Simple. Ellis took a deep breath but the question caught in his throat. He tried again, noticing that Nick was again not looking in his direction. One more time and yet his voice just seemed to have stopped working. He cleared his throat and spoke… but the words that finally spilled from his lips weren't what either man was expecting.
"Are Rochelle and Coach still alive?"
Nick looked at Ellis, forcing his eyes to stop being quite so wide. As he thought about a response his gaze narrowed and focused on a spot over Ellis' head. Nick didn't really know how to answer… it didn't look like anyone had escaped that base. But he didn't want to destroy Ellis' hope… there was a chance, a very small chance but still, that they hadn't been in that base.
Nick opened his mouth to respond but found his voice caught in his throat as well. The truth was he didn't want to consider Coach and Rochelle gone either. His jaw clicked shut and his lips set into a firm line. As Nick struggled with a response he caught movement in the corner of his eye and noticed that Ellis had inched closer and was still inching closer even with Nick's gaze on him. As he approached, he stood up- his back straightening in a seemingly painful fashion.
Warmth enveloped Nick as two strong arms wound around his shoulders and a face pressed into his neck. Nick's own response felt slow and weighted as he returned the embrace.
"If they're really gone…. Then that means you're the last one left, Nick. The last of our group." Ellis murmured. He wasn't crying, which Nick was grateful for, but his voice was choked.
"You are forgetting yourself." Nick pointed out mildly, his hands idly stroking Ellis' back. A cold nose was running back and forth along Nick's neck as Ellis shook his head in response.
"They may not be dead. And you certainly aren't." Nick argued against Ellis' denial.
"Oh yeah? Then why'd you try ta shoot me?!" Ellis pulled away enough to glare at Nick, but didn't release him.
"I was never going to shoot you." Nick replied honestly.
"Coulda fooled me. Ya had a gun at my head an' pulled the trigger."
"Do you really think I would shoot you?"
"I thought not. Not 'til the other night."
"Oh Ellis, you lose faith in me so quickly." Nick said, reaching up to stroke Ellis' cheek. Nick's voice was soft as he spoke, only a light chill to it since Nick was teasing more than he was being serious.
"Tha's like sayin' 'Ya saw me in bed with someone else but I ain't cheatin' on ya or nothing.''"
"Oh Ellis." Nick whispered, voice sultry as he cupped Ellis' face and drew him nearer. "There were never any bullets in the gun." Nick said, recalling the simple trick he had used to slip the ammo from the weapon without anyone noticing. Giving Ellis a coy smile he pressed his lips to the kid's. It had been too long since he had had Ellis so close to him. Though this last week hadn't quite been hell, it had definitely been difficult.
Ellis didn't respond to the kiss at first, resisting… but as Nick's words sank in Ellis' resolve dissolved and soon he as pushing Nick back toward the bed- nothing really in mind anymore but to kiss Nick until the man forgot what it was like to have his lips free of Ellis'.
As soon as they were comfortably on the bed, Ellis straddling Nick's lap, Nick's hands were immediately reaching for Ellis' clothes with the intent to strip the kid down. Each time he tried, though, Ellis would take Nick's hands and move them so they were no longer gripping his clothing. This went back and forth for a short while before Nick pulled back, his expression slightly annoyed but also confused. The hick made the attempt to chase after Nick's lips but it was the gambler's turn to resist.
Ellis heaved a sigh. "Can't we just kiss?"
"You say that like I force you into sex every day." Nick mumbled irritably.
"'s nothin' against you, Nick. Just…. In this form…." Ellis couldn't find the right words for what he was trying to say. Even though he had done these things with Nick in this form… well Nick had been drunk and Ellis hadn't disliked being what he was quite as much as he did now. Even knowing that Nick hadn't been intent on shooting Ellis… that the other man had pointed a gun at him still perplexed him.
"Can you not feel?" Nick asked, having an idea on the actual reason but wanting to push Ellis regardless. He kept his expression innocent as he slid his hands up the back of Ellis' shirt, effectively pulling a shiver from the man.
"Tha's not it." Ellis mumbled, feeling sheepish.
"Did it not feel good that first time?"
"Sorta." Ellis answered softly, "But tha's not why, either. I ain't afraid a' pain."
That made Nick pause in his attempt to sneakily pull Ellis' shirt off. As cold as Nick could be, he wasn't completely heartless.
"How much did it hurt?" Nick inquired, voice level.
"It was fine Nick. I just… with me like this…"
"Are you ever going to have sex with me again?"
That gave Ellis pause… There was no cure for him in the forseeable future. He had accepted that… he kept telling himself when the time came he would let Nick go. He had made the attempt after the 'incident'…. Not to leave out that he was hurt but he had other reasons for attempting to put distance between himself and Nick as well.
"I know that look. You really weren't, were you?"
"Honestly Nick… we can't stay together. They won't allow me into the safe camps an' I won' letcha stay out here. Not for me." Ellis stared determinedly into Nick's eyes.
"Who says there are any safe camps anymore? We may be the last people on Earth at this point."
"I can't jus' accept that." Ellis replied, shaking his head.
"And I can't accept you leaving me." Nick replied. Even if he had existed without Ellis at his side it hadn't been much of an existence. Ellis turned surviving into living.
"But Nick." Ellis protested but soon found lips pressed to his again.
"No buts. Unless it's your butt." Nick growled, succeeding in pulling Ellis' shirt over his head. Ellis rolled his eyes but his resistance was weaker than before. Nick had gotten the knot of his coveralls undone before Ellis stopped him once more.
"Are you sure, Nick? Completely sure about us?"
Nick let out a groan. "Since when are you a girl? I'm as sure as I am about anything else in this hell. You make things more bearable. I can survive without you but it's not really worth it. Can we just fuck now? Please?"
Ellis huffed out a breath, gaze meeting Nick's before giving in. He reached for the buttons on Nick's shirt, fumbling for a moment before working through them.
"Did you shut the door?" Nick inquired as Ellis pushed the shirt from Nick's shoulders. Ellis shook his head in response and moved from Nick's lap to go do so, flipping the lock and then the lights on his way.
"Why are the lights off?"
Ellis paused in his goal of making it back to the bed.
"You are such a girl." He heard some stumbling around and then the light was back on, blinding him. "I will prove to you that little has changed." Nick insisted, pulling on Ellis' arm, leading him back to the bed.
Ellis just nodded, no longer resisting as Nick leaned in and kissed down his chest, fingers hooking into the coveralls and the waistband of his underpants and slowly sliding both down. The material caused goose bumps to spread over Ellis' skin, the chilled air only slightly registering to Ellis as Nick's warm lips brushed against his hip.
Nick was slow in straightening back up but wasted no time in pulling Ellis closer once he had, his fingers tracing down the lines in Ellis' back. They were a little harsher, much less soft then what Nick remembered but he forced himself not to mind. Ellis was still Ellis, even if he had changed a little, physically. With a little guiding Nick had Ellis sitting on the bed, taking a moment to kiss the other man softly while Ellis got the button on his pants undone. Ellis helped Nick the rest of the way out of his clothing, tossing the man's pants and underpants to the floor carelessly.
"Still doubtful?" Nick asked softly, taking a seat next to Ellis. He slid a hand down Ellis' thigh, trying to meet Ellis' eyes but the kid looked away, shoulders slumping.
"Look, Ellis. I can't say that I love you. At this point I don't even know if I'm capable of such a thing… Something I have realized, though, is that you make this less of a hell for me. I'm ready to give my life for you in this war if it's necessary, and that's something I've never even considered doing for anyone else. Can't that be enough?"
Ellis cupped a hand behind Nick's head, fingers trailing through the still damp locks, pulling Nick toward him. Their lips met and moved together, warming Ellis both emotionally and physically. He knew this man, knew the way he kissed and how he enjoyed kissing best. Ellis knew what bothered him, what didn't, and what Nick hid from the rest of the world. And that was enough for Ellis- he knew Nick and accepted him just as Nick knew and accepted Ellis.
Shockingly Nick didn't rush the kiss. Didn't pick up the pace. Every touch was measured, kind, and unhurried as fingers slid up backs and traced jaw lines and lips moved together to create a harmony that sent sparks shooting through both men. Things remained slow as Nick pressed a hand against Ellis' shoulder, a silent request for the other man to lie down… which he did after a moment.
Though Nick wasted no time, the way he moved didn't seem pressed or rushing… Instead of taking a position above Ellis he lay down next to him, tangling their legs together and pulling him closer. The proximity had Nick's half hard member brushing against Ellis' hip but Nick made no move to grind it into Ellis, just continued their leisurely kiss like he planned on doing nothing else. It made Ellis ache in the best kind of way, his hands mapping every inch of Nick- never ceasing in their attempt to pull Nick closer.
Time no longer existed and neither did individuality… whether it was day or night, yesterday or tomorrow… it just was. Ellis and Nick existed but only together. Ellis couldn't even tell where Nick ended and he began… all he knew were the sensations flooding him, drunk on Nick's scent and his being near and all of the man's touches.
Even though he wasn't paying close attention to where the touches were coming from, he noticed that Nick really wasn't pressing this any faster… hadn't asked anything of Ellis except to continue kissing. And it really surprised Ellis, especially when he could easily feel just how hard Nick was and how much the other man was probably aching for release. Eventually Ellis took pity, seeking out one of Nick's hands and pulling away from Nick's kisses press Nick's fingers to his lips before opening his mouth to suck on them.
Nick watched with half lidded eyes, allowing Ellis to decide when they had been thoroughly coated with saliva and allowing Ellis to guide his hand down to the kid's entrance. Nick sought out the kid's lips before pressing one finger in slowly, keeping his pace to the pace of their kissing.
Ellis hummed contentedly as Nick took his sweet time in preparing Ellis this time around, working two fingers in, then three, and even pushing it to four before pulling them out.
"Ready?" Nick asked softly, having untangled enough from Ellis to line up properly. Receiving a nod from Ellis he pressed in slowly, watching the kid's face for any sign of pain but although Ellis closed his eyes he seemed to be alright.
"You can move." Ellis breathed. He had forgotten the surreal feeling of being connected to Nick like this… to be so close to the other man that he could almost imagine their heart beats being in sync.
Nick obeyed and began to move slowly, gritting his teeth as he fought to keep that torturous pace. Nick had decided that tonight was a night to focus on Ellis… because last time Nick had focused only on himself. And it was odd to take the other person into consideration- Nick was used to getting in, getting done, and getting out… but in a way taking it slow was pleasant as well.
Ellis arched underneath him and Nick sought out the sweet spot that had caused that reaction, pulling Ellis' legs up so that his knees were hooked over Nick's elbows which gave Nick a better angle. It only took a couple more thrusts to find that spot again, and by the time Ellis was moaning a warning, Nick found himself close as well. A couple more seconds of being joined together and both Ellis and Nick were at orgasm, white stars flashing across their vision as their bodies remained interconnected.
It took a moment for Nick to pull out after that, moving to lie next to Ellis. He let out a breath of content, feeling thoroughly sated.
Ellis sat up, stretching leisurely and ignoring Nick's sound of protest. He looked down at the other man who looked completely content, eyes drooping as he looked up at Ellis.
"How was that?" Nick asked, winding his arms around Ellis' waist and nuzzling one of his hips.
Ellis chuckled softly in reply, stroking Nick's hair. Words dangled at the tip of his tongue but he bit them back. Sometimes even when words were felt to be true, they didn't need saying. Nick didn't entirely seem to mind his lack of response, instead tugging at Ellis. "Lie back down."
"You still surprise me, Nick." Ellis mumbled, nonetheless obeying his demand- albeit slowly. He settled comfortably into Nick's embrace, resting his head on the other man's shoulder.
"What are we gonna do now?" Ellis murmured, nuzzling into Nick's neck and sighing in content.
"Survive, like we always have." Nick replied, shrugging the shoulder that Ellis' weight didn't have pinned down.
"Are you two quite finished? Dinner's waiting downstairs!" Zoey's voice called through the door, slightly perturbed. Her footsteps could be heard stomping away after that.
"Hmph." Nick grumbled, opening an eye to glance over at the door. He considered getting up a moment but it was terribly comfortable lying here next to Ellis. It brought to mind that he wasn't usually a cuddler, either. Another thing to add to the list of exceptions that Ellis had made him build up over time.
"You should go eat, Nick." Ellis mumbled tiredly, not moving in the slightest.
"Later."
"They'll probably talk about what's next…" Ellis offered but contrary to his vocal efforts to get Nick out of bed, he curled closer to the other man.
"Mhmmmm. If it's important, I'll hear about it later."
Ellis listened as Nick's breathing evened out and willed himself to sleep as well. He was definitely feeling tired but as much as he'd close his eyes and think calming thoughts he wasn't having much luck at all actually falling asleep.
His mind wandered back to the wraith. The mutated infected had always been bad but the wraith seemed like demonic creatures from hell… From what he heard a normal head shot didn't take them down- though completely taking out their head did.
Ellis ran his fingers through his hair tiredly, before realizing there was something missing. He sat up, urgently looking around. It wasn't here… his hat wasn't here!
Taking a deep breath and attempting to calm down Ellis sat up and slowly looked around the room. He didn't see it anywhere. Carefully attempting to pull away without disrupting Nick's sleep, Ellis did another sweep of the room… trying to remember where his hat could be. Rubbing another hand through his hair in agitation he flinched as his fingers came away with something sticky… No. No way… had he really left his hat down there?
"Shit." Ellis whimpered. He couldn't just leave his hat… bt he was afraid to go back. And it wasn't an 'eek, look a spider' fear… it was a deep ingrained fear of the wraiths. A fear of what they could do to his mind if they didn't just outright kill him.
"Ellis." Nick mumbled tiredly.
"Shhhh, Nick. Go back ta sleep." Ellis whispered, voice hitching a bit as he leaned over and placed a soft kiss on Nick's forehead. Nick heaved a sigh but he soon obeyed. At the exact moment that Nick's breathing evened out Ellis scrambled to get some clothing on. Not wanting to be questioned by the others Ellis slid out the window he and Nick had used to get in earlier, attempting to be silent as he slipped out.
Ellis was halfway to the warehouse before pausing to really think things through. Was his hat really worth that much? Ellis shook his head- of course it was. It wasn't just some hat… it was his last connection to a life before this hell broke out.
He ran the rest of the way to the warehouse, just narrowly avoiding a run in with a witch. He opened the trap door wearily, expecting something to jump out at him. When nothing did he heaved a sigh and slid into the darkness. He could still catch Nick's scent from earlier and, using that as a guide followed it through a few of the hallways. The smell, of course, crossed paths a few times which made it more difficult to decipher but in the end Ellis was able to make his way through the dark maze.
The darkness of the area really didn't help how jumpy he seemed to be- every sound, every slip, every movement had blood surging through Ellis. He was sure his heart would be pounding out of his chest if it had a beat at all.
Slinking past closed doors Ellis tried to think of something more positive then the paranoia that something was following him. He couldn't help but check over his shoulder every other minute and by the time he reached the hallway that had the strange scent, Ellis' neck was sore from all the whipping around his head had been doing.
He crept carefully down this hallway, unsure if the wraith he had seen earlier was still 'alive' or not. His hat stood out plainly, white against the dark and foreboding red. Snatching it up Ellis turned to leave, ready to get out of there when the sound of rasping sent a chill up his spine.
He glanced around wildly, the usual calm that had come with being infected himself slipping as instinctual fear and respect pounded through him.
Ellis wasn't sure where it was coming from… he couldn't pinpoint a source… so he took off in a random direction, trying to escape the darkness that seemed to be encroaching on his mind. Something gripped at his ankle, tripping him up a moment. For a terror filled second Ellis thought the wraiths had got him but he discovered quickly that an intestine had been the culprit.
Slipping into a room at random Ellis placed his hat on his head, crouching low and taking deep breaths.
He would be alright. He could get out of this, still. Of course he could…. He let out his breath slowly before opening the door only to come face to face with the last thing he wanted to see. The rasping sounds sent chills up Ellis' spine as the clawed hand reached for him. This time he did back away though there was nowhere to escape to.
Feeling like he was being backed into a corner as the creature continued to approach Ellis made a last ditch effort to run past the wraith but a clawed hand dug into his neck.
"Le' go!" Ellis said, reaching back to grapple with the grip on the back of his neck. He earned a swipe from the creatures other hand for his troubles- tearing a cut into his shoulder. Ellis struggled, even as the dark embraces began to envelop his mind… and was able to twist from the creatures grip enough to sprint from the room. He tripped once more in his haste but scrambled back to his hands and feet, trying to ignore the intestines and other organs that were now covered him thanks to his tumble.
He made it to the stairs, made it to the trap door, but when he tried to open the trap door he found it stuck. Ellis bashed against it a few times but found no give.
"Lemme out!" He called through the door. He could sense more than hear that the wraith was approaching once again. Wondering what could be going on the door Ellis gave it one last futile shove before running back down the stairs.
Ellis gazed wildly around, trying to think through the panic clouding his mind. The wraith was right on his heels, moving with its eerie grace. Ellis had enough time to note how slow it moved before he took off in the opposite direction. He was trapped… he didn't know what he was going to do to get out of here… He was really and truly in deep shit. All for a goddamned hat.
He gripped that hat tightly as he found another room to hide in. One with a lockable door. Curling into a corner, hat held close to him, Ellis tried to think a way out of this. No one knew where he was… The door- the only way out- was blocked by something… Terror swept over Ellis in that moment. Things were hopeless- and that was Ellis last coherent thought as the darkness continued to encroach on his mind…