DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN 'LAST OF US,' NAUGHTY DOG DOES.
A week and a half later, Joel and Ellie had found a hotel, about ten miles away from Salt Lake City.
They had cleared the hotel, and found a room not too far from the exit. It wasn't as bad compared to the places had been staying, but it still had an unpleasant stench, and mold starting to form on the rotted wood floor.
Joel chuckled heartily, "I swear, this room smells like Tommy's socks when we were little."
Ellie hadn't been as talkative, and had been a little withdrawing from the task at hand. It hadn't escaped Joel's attention, so he had been trying to spark a little conversation.
Ellie sat down on the edge of the mattress, sulking quietly by herself. Joel sighed, and sat by her. He rubbed her back, making circles with his thumb.
"I'm goin' to go see if there's any supplies I can find. I need to find a couple of rags and some alcohol, if I want to make a Molotov. I'll be back soon. Do not leave." Ellie nodded, but quickly stood up. She walked towards Joel, stood on the tip of her toes, and kissed him on the side of his cheek. Even with the quick peck on his cheek, she felt a shock of energy course threw her.
"Be careful."
Joel walked around the building, trying to find supplies. His mind kept on wandering to Ellie, and how she had been acting since they left the town. He blamed himself for not finding her faster, unable to save her from that monster.
He didn't know what they would do after they find the Fireflies. Would they be able to make a vaccine from her blood? He had no clue. He didn't even know if the Fireflies were going to be there. After traveling across the country, he hadn't even thought about the Fireflies not being there.
After lucking out at the University, he almost didn't want to go to Salt Lake City. But, after his injury, he didn't really have a choice about where they go, and what they do. Ellie had found a cabin in the woods about five miles away from the University. They had stayed there for a couple of months, with Ellie hunting and scavenging for supplies. She said that once he was healed and able to travel again, they would go to Salt Lake City.
He didn't even know what the kiss from Ellie meant. Maybe she just meant it as a thank you? Joel had no f***ing idea.
"Sh*t." Joel heard clicking sounds, and saw ten or fifteen clickers, and a couple of bloaters. F*** me. He crouched down behind a wooden crate, pulling a Molotov out of his backpack. There were about five clickers near an abandoned bus, and the bloaters on the far right; the other clickers scattered around the room. He knew once he through the Molotov, all hell would break loose.
He threw a beer bottle to left, and saw about five clickers go and see what the sound was about. Go ahead, you sons of a b****es.He threw the Molotov where he had thrown the beer bottle, and saw all five of the clickers go up in flames. The other ten clickers stayed in place, not bothering to go check the sound out.
Joel grabbed his bow, checking how many arrows he had; 12. F*** yeah. He knew that it only took two arrows to kill on clicker, and only one to kill a stalker. Joel knew that the minute he shot a gun, every clicker and their brother would come after him, so he chose the most sneaky and stealth-like weapon he had. He shot and killed all of the stalkers, and still had eight arrows left. He killed four clickers, decided to get his favorite weapon out; the flamethrower. Burn, b****es, burn.
Joel crouched down, and slowly walked towards two clickers behind metal shelves. If they weren't infected, it would make a good f***ing barbecue. He was like a f***ing pyro maniac. Joel killed three other clickers, and decided to go ahead and use his gun for the last one and the bloaters. He traded his flamethrower for El Diablo, and had his shotgun as a back up. He had twelve bullets in El Diablo, and nine in his shotgun.
Out of nowhere, he was grabbed by a clicker from behind, and tried to get out of it's hold.
He unsuccessfully pulled away, but heard someone yell, "Joel!" Ellie. She shot the clicker in the head twice, Joel falling on his back. He got up, and searched for the bloaters; they were by the crates, across the room.
He turned to Ellie, and said, "What the hell were you thinkin'? I told you to stay put!" Ellie rolled her eyes.
"Jesus Christ, Joel! I just saved your f***ing life!" Joel angrily huffed.
"Fine. We don't need to argue 'bout it right now. We have enough sh*t on our hands." Ellie smiled lightly.
"Literally and figuratively." Joel shot her the 'be-quiet-so-we-can-get-out-of-this-alive' look. She just smiled and said, "You make it too easy."
Joel shook his head, but handed Ellie his shotgun. Ellie's eyes widened; he had never let her touch, let alone shoot, his favorite gun; the shotgun. Joel had to crack a small smile at her expression, and said, "You know how to shoot one right?" Ellie nodded.
"F*** yeah, I do." Joel nodded, and carefully scanned the area. Three f***ing bloaters. Joel grabbed his flamethrower as a back up, and carefully made his way to one of the three bloaters. He threw a bottle at it, and started to shoot at it. It started to shoot bombs of spores at Joel, but easily dodged it. Once it was close enough, he grabbed the flamethrower, killing it. He looked over to see Ellie battling another bloater, shooting at it's head, almost getting hit by a bomb of spores. Joel saw the other bloater gurgle, and face Ellie. Oh, sh*t. He ran over to Ellie, knocking her out of the way. A bomb of spores flew past them, splattering itself on the ground.
Ellie didn't have time to thank Joel, and she continued to shoot at the bloaters. Joel backed up, and threw a Molotov at the bloater further away. He watched as it fell forward, dead. He turned back to Ellie, and see the last bloater die, but fall on top of her.
"Ah! Joel!" Joel rushed to her side, and lift the thousand pound bloater off of her. He knelt down to Ellie, coughing.
"Are you okay? Anything broken?" Ellie shook her head, and continued to cough. She shakily stood, but collapsed. Joel caught her before she fell, and held her up until she could walk again.
Once she regained her composure, she fully stood, and said, "Thanks. That motherf***er was a heavy sh*thead." Joel nodded, and took back his shotgun.
"What the f***, Joel? I thought you trusted me with that!" Joel smirked, and handed her the sawed off shotgun. She looked at him incredulously.
"What? You downgrading me? Come on, I helped you take out three f***ing bloaters, Joel." Joel then proceeded to hand her the flamethrower, smirking at her expression.
"You've got to be sh*tting me." Joel shook his head.
"You can use it 'til we get to the Salt Lake. And you could start by saying thank-." He was caught off by Ellie, engrossed into a hug. He was taken aback and tensed, but relaxed a little, and awkwardly pat her back.
"Thanks, Joel." She pulled back a little, and looked up to him. She met his ice blue eyes, and felt her heart almost melt. They stayed in that position for a few seconds, but then Joel cleared his throat and said, "We better get a move on. I think we should go ahead and search for them Fireflies." Ellie nodded.
"Do you think we can find a car? My feet are killing me." Joel shook his head.
"Cars don't just appear out of nowhere. We were lucky enough to get a car from Bill." Ellie scrunched her nose, remembering Bill.
Joel huffed, and continued to walk, knowing Ellie would catch up.
"F***, I so wish I bet on this." Joel ignored that comment, and started the Ram truck they had found on the side of the road. Ellie hopped in the passenger seat, and went through her backpack.
She had found a new backpack while scavenging about a week ago, along with some clothes. She still hadn't found any more Savage Starlight comic books, but did find a couple of science fiction books.
"We'll be there in 'bout an hour and a half." Ellie nodded, and through the cd's she had found on the floor. She found a Michael Jackson, Linkin' Park, and Love and Theft cd. She put the cd by Love and Theft, figuring that Joel would like it, since the cover showed two men that looked country.
She likes whiskey with her water
She starts dancing when the stars come out
She ain't your typical preacher's daughter
She'll leave you dreamin' yeah there ain't no doubt
Joel lightly smiled at how well the song summarized Ellie.
There's a little bit of devil in her angel eyes
She's a little bit of heaven with a wild side
Got a rebel heart a country mile wide
There's a little bit of devil in her angel eyes
A little bit of devil in her angel eyes
Ellie started to sing along, messing up at certain lyrics. She looked over expectantly at Joel, but he shook his head.
"Ain't gonna happen, kiddo." Ellie frowned at the nickname, but kept her mouth shut.
A/N: Please read and review! A big thank you to doomsta27 and TheChickontheInternet for reviewing, and who ever fav./followed this story!
Anyway, I am open to any suggestions, even though I'm going to stick to the storyline until they return to Jackson, but then I can write anything! :D