Disclaimer: I don't own Left 4 Dead. It belongs to Valve.

Track #2: Sentimental Me

Yesterday, came and went
Like any other day
And I closed my eyes
And I looked away

They stood in a street just outside of a saferoom in New Orleans. The sun was hanging just over the horizon, ready to rest for the night. To banish their broken world into darkness. Shots rang through the air as the four killed the remaining Infected surrounding the building.

Fuck, there was so much blood. So much gore. So much death. Nick sighed in frustration and let his Magnum hang limply on his fingertips, rubbing his sore eyes with his free hand. Everything was so different. Ever since they'd started their trek to safety, Nick had been full of life—enough to be his usual jackass self—and had enough energy to want to survive. But now, in that moment as they shot down those monsters that once used to be human themselves… he just felt… tired. Tired of fighting. Of being a selfish asshole. Of killing.

Yesterday, came and went
Like any other day
And something's changed
And I can't explain it

Nick turned to look into the distance, the gunshots of his teammates nothing but a distant echo in his ears. The west was just beginning to glow as the sun past the line between land and sky. The slightest hint of oranges and purples gently washing over the vast blue, colors melding together as evening stretched its fingers out to embrace the earth. It looked like a painting—so beautiful… so surreal. A perfection untouched by the decaying reality beneath it. He frowned.

It was mocking them.

"Nick?"

The conman averted his gaze to look at the source of the voice. Ellis stood a few feet away from him, rifle held calmly in his hands. Nick could still hear gunshots ringing through the air, but they were distant, as if far off or around a corner. Coach and Rochelle seemed to be too busy clearing the area to notice their absence. The hick looked at him with his brows slightly furrowed. Confused… maybe concerned? His pale blue eyes shifted between the older man and the place he'd been staring moments ago.

"Watch'chu lookin' at?" he asked after a few seconds, gaze finally settling on Nick. His eyes seemed to be searching for something. Some hidden emotion. Some secret. The conman sighed, shaking his head and turning back to look at the sky.

"The sunset," he stated simply. Silence followed, as though Ellis didn't know how to reply. Then, a chuckle. Nick could hear the smile in that quiet laugh, but didn't look.

"Pretty, ain't it?" The mechanic whispered. He shrugged in response. Ellis continued, still quiet, "It's like it's tellin' us to keep goin'. If we keep headin' west, we'll make it. Like there's still hope… you know…?"

Nick's mind went blank, unable to reply. Unable to respond. Unable to comprehend… and he laughed. Not just a chuckle, either. He laughed to the point that tears were in his eyes, his head thrown back as though he'd heard the funniest thing in the world. But it wasn't because it was funny or moronic or because Ellis was so damn serious. Not at all. It was because he was so… innocent. Every sentimental statement was just him speaking his mind, like a naïve child. Nick couldn't help but let those words seep in and destroy all of that sorrow and all of those stupid hopeless thoughts that plagued his mind. And he laughed. Laughed because it felt so damn good. It felt so good to know that he had someone to be the optimism to his pessimism. The light to his dark. The smile to his frown.

"Hey, what's so funny?" Ellis pouted beside him. Nick's laugh slowly petered out into a grin as he wiped his eyes, looking back at the mechanic.

"Nothing's funny, kid. It's nothing. Just…" he drifted off, gaze returning to the sunset as he shook his head. This time, a smirk tugged at his lips. "It really is pretty." Ellis seemed content with that answer and didn't go on. Instead, he looked at the horizon. And they both stood there, watching as the sun disappeared and let its colors paint the sky.

If I could chase the second hand
Around the face of every moment I have wasted
I wouldn't change a single thing
I have no regrets
And I'm not that patient

They stood there for what must have been at least a half-hour, not moving until the sun had completely vanished and all that was left was a blanket of stars that enveloped the planet in a warm southern night. Rochelle and Coach's gunshots had long since stopped—they were probably in the saferoom sleeping by now. Nick turned to the younger man and sighed.

"Hey," he muttered, stuffing his Magnum into his belt. Ellis looked at him, blinking and raising an eyebrow. The conman opened his mouth to speak. To tell him how much his words meant. To tell him that if he hadn't said those words he might have just killed himself that night. But he thought better of it. His voice caught in his throat and came out as a drawn-out breath. He settled for something simple. "Thank you."

Ellis smiled back, probably not understand why he was thanking him but not wanting to ruin this rare moment. "No problem, Nick." He nodded and tipped his hat shyly. Nick couldn't help but smile a little wider at that, patting the hick on the shoulder. He started heading back to the saferoom, Ellis following a few feet behind.

And when the sun has faded
Maybe it's the sentimental me
Everyone needs some of that…

"D'you know what 'suck the heads' means? 'Cause Keith came down here once, an' he didn't know…" Nick tuned Ellis out, like he always did. Like everything was as it should be. But one thing was different.

He was smiling.

And it's all right here for me

A/N: Wow, an update in only 2 days? That's unheard of for me. But GUH, this song was so inspiring and I couldn't stop writing.

I find it ironic that Nick makes fun of Ellis's southern accent but his voice actor IRL has that accent.

If you would like to listen to Hugh Dillon's solo album, there is a Music player on his site. Just go to HughDillon (dot) com, click on 'Music' in the toolbar, then click 'Launch Music Player.' It should be a little pop-up window. Not sure if it's blocked if you have pop-up blocker on, though.

Alternatively you can copy and paste this link:

hughdillon (dot) com(slash) musicPlayer(slash) music(dot) html

^Just fix up all the spaces and stuff. This will bring up the music player as an actual window instead of a pop-up.

Track #3: Well On Your Way