"Hey, Joel? Uh, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you again for a while."

Ellie huffed and shrugged her shoulder to fix her left backpack strap and get comfortable. It’s a question that came along one of their old conversations way back when and she’d accidentally gone too far. Now that Ellie’s been around Joel for quite some time now she felt that right now could be an alright time to ask again.

"Hm?" Joel just shrugged, glancing back at Ellie over his shoulder. He watched her fumble with the strap of her backpack, fixing it. If he didn't know any better, she was nervous about whatever it was she'd been wanting to ask him. "Whaddya wanna know, kid?" he didn't stop walking. 

They had to keep moving.

Never stop fighting ... unless ... || +runningwerewolf

Liam nodded, whimpering quietly when the man watched him like that. He honestly didn’t know what was happening but he was scared to death at what was happening. He should’ve turned; he knew that he should’ve so why wasn’t it happening right now? It didn’t make any sense at all and he didn’t like not knowing what was happening.

He gave a nod, his arm wrapping tightly around the man’s shoulders. “Yes sir.” He whimpered. “I don’t feel anything…” Other than utterly humiliated. He knew that he was stinking of piss and sweat right now and he figured that he didn’t look any better either. He couldn’t imagine what he smelt like for the man at the moment. According to his own nose, he smelt terrible.

He looked up at the man when he was sitting in the bath. “I’m Liam.” He said quietly, watching Joel set down the towel on the dresser. He shook his head. “I won’t.” He whimpered. The last thing that he wanted to do was leave the apartment. He watched Joel leaving and when he had he slowly got to his feet to get his clothes off. His legs were shaking but he managed.

When he was undressed, he quickly took a shower, sitting on the bottom of the tub so that he didn’t have to stand up. When he finished, he dried off, glad that he was smelling somewhat clean again and wrapped the towel around his waist, so he could leave the bathroom. He didn’t put his clothes back on and instead grabbed the blanket from the bed to wrap around himself, hoping that Joel wouldn’t get mad at him for this. 

Joel didn't exactly trust the kid. He didn't know him, so how could he trust him? He didn't like letting him back in his apartment, but he couldn't take him either, so that was the only thing he could do, hoping he didn't do anything stupid. 

He made his way down the stairs and outside, nodding at an old friend who'd keep watch of their rundown apartment building practically all day. He lived in one of the cheap flats as well, but he spent most of his time outside. Looting and assaults weren't exactly rare nowadays, even if the punishment was severe in case you got caught. Then again, who liked to starve? 

He sighed softly as he made his was to the market, hoping he'd find some fitting clothes. The kid didn't look older than a teenager, didn't look like he weighed enough for his size and age, so Joel would get clothes that should fit even if he pepped him up some. Not that he planned to let him stay any longer than he had to. Joel liked to be on his own. He grabbed a pair of jeans and a plain blue tee, a pair of converse and boxers as he didn't exactly want to give the kid his. 

The smuggler unlocked the door to his apartment and slipped inside again to find the kid in the bedroom, wrapped up in the blanket. "Here." he told him, setting everything he'd bought down on the bed before walking out again. He was pretty sure the kid was hungry. While he only had canned food for another week, he knew Liam would probably be glad to get any food at all. About 10 minutes later, he'd warmed canned soup and filled two bowls, making sure the kid had more than he did, setting both down on the table in the living room. "Ya still 'live?" he called out. "Food's ready."

Ellie nodded and looked around before covering her mouth to sneeze. “Yeah… Okay.”

"Yer not gonna pass out, will ya?" Joel raised a brow. That had been a sneeze, hadn't it? It was summer, how could she have caught a cold? 

The Last of Us || +gonnakeepmababygirlsafe

Liam gave a small nod. Even if his father was telling him not to be scared, he was. He couldn’t help himself. All this was so unknown to him and he didn’t know what to do. He knew that he wouldn’t be of much help if something happened to their car. “Okay.” He said softly.

Liam didn’t like the fact that they had to keep driving, leaving that family behind. It wasn’t right to not do something for them. They should’ve offered them help. Weren’t there ways to see whether people were infected or not? “We shoulda helped them…” He said quietly.

Tommy glanced over to his brother and gave a small nod, continuing to drive as an ambulance passed them. He was forced to stop the car when they started to get to a traffic jam. “This is bad.” He said grimly. “Everyone and their damn mother had the same idea.”

Liam looked up out of the sunroof for a moment, hearing the chopper come over head and heading towards the city. “What now?” He whimpered.

“We’ll back track.” Tommy replied. “Don’t worry, sport, we’re gonna get outta here.”

Liam gave a small nod, pressing his face against his father’s shoulder. He kept looking out of the windscreen, seeing the man in the car in front of them getting out and another man in hospital scrubs attacking him. He couldn’t take his eyes off the attacked man, seeing the way that the other one threw him to the ground and another woman in hospital gown rushed over to the car and climbed inside.

“Daddy…” He whimpered, clutching his father’s t-shirt tightly as the first man looked up at them and started running over to their car. He pressed his face into his father’s shirt, not wanting to see what the man looked like up close.

Joel couldn't believe this was happening. The whole city tried to get out apparently and standing in a jam, like this was suicide. They'd be helpless and they'd never get out alive. not with those sickos running around. 

"Tommy." he called out, eyes on the road as he saw the driver of the car in front of them get out. He hadn't even left the car properly when he was tackled down by a guy in a hospital gown and the next thing he saw let him shudder. Instead of just killing him, he beat on him, biting and munching on a human being, right in front of their eyes and their car still hadn't moved. When another crazy person came running, throwing herself into the car, his hand curled around his brother's shoulder, "Tommy." he yelled, "Now."

Joel kept his eyes on the sicko, watching him run towards them as his brother turned the car around and he only continued breathing when they were driving down another road only to find it blocked by a goddamn caravan. "Get us outta here." he hissed, glaring at the people running towards them. 

"We can't stop here, Tommy." Joel almost yelled, not liking the fact they just stood there, waiting for those crazy people to overrun them. "Back up, then." he growled. If they couldn't get forward, they'd have to find another way. "Go, go, go." Joel glanced over his shoulder, ruffling his son's hair as they drove past the obstacle, the car slowly picking up speed again, only to be hit by something as they passed a crossroad. 

Joel blacked out. 

Gadreel gave a small nod. “Okay.” He said. So hair ruffling wasn’t something that strangers did to say thanks. That was something that he was going to have to remember. That was something he was good at, remembering.

He couldn’t help but frown slightly when Joel looked over his shoulder at him. “Why not?” He asked innocently. “Are women offended easily?” 

"Ya can do that when yer with kids." Joel told him, smiling a little, "Kids like it." he nodded, chuckling. When they were back at camp, he could already see the kids' faces when Gadreel ran around, ruffling everybody's hair. 

"Nah, well, yeah, but that's not it." Joel chuckled, shaking his head. "It's just.. their hair.. you can't just touch it." he laughed. "Women are... difficult."