This Isn't The End [Ellie Williams x Fem!Reader]

•Chapter 5•

  ~WARNING FOR LANGUAGE, INCLUDING USE OF A HOMOPHOBIC SLUR~

Ellie's P.O.V
I woke up around ten. Sitting up in bed looking up at the clock I swore. I was dead. So dead. Jesse was going to kill me for missing patrol. I pulled a shirt on over my head, my muscles protested the quick movements. That fall really took a toll on me. It's been a while since I've slept so late, even on my days off. I ran to my bathroom splashing water on my face careful to avoid the vicious cut by my temple. Looking at my reflection and the bandage so delicately wrapped around my head. (YN).
I'll take your patrol tomorrow.
I froze then, running for my living room praying I would find the gentle girl sitting on my couch reading that book I saw she left on my coffee table. She wasn't there. Panic rose in my chest, I know she's more than capable of handling herself but patrol? With someone she doesn't know or trust? It sounded like a recipe for disaster. I pulled on my coat and slung my pack over my shoulder and began to jog to the stables. She'll be fine. I told myself. If at 15 years old she could survive on her own she'd be fine just going through the woods and taking out any infected that got too close to Jackson. Maria was walking down the street with Tommy and Joel, I prayed she didn't see me. But today wasn't my lucky day.
"Ellie!" Tommy called. I slowed my jog as the three of them caught up. Looking at Joel made me furrow my brow. I trusted him for so long. How could we have gotten to this point.
"Hey guys." I greeted walking with the towards to stables.
"You heading to the stables?" Maria asked. She was in charge of everything here for the most part.
"Yeah after patrol yesterday I slept in and I guess (YN) took my spot. I gotta go find her." I explained. Tommy grinned at me setting a hand on my shoulder bringing us to a halt.
"Have you asked her to stay yet?" He asked. My heart dropped to my stomach.
"No it's her choice, she's only been here a few days I don't want to rush her." The wind began to howl around us. The storm was done with its pretty fluffy flakes, today it would finally strike. "I don't want her to get lost out there in this weather."
"She'll be okay Ellie. Jesse said she's survive five maybe six years alone? A little storm won't hurt her, she'll be back." Joel tried to comfort me. I scowled at him. It only took one thing to go wrong for someone to get hurt or killed.
"This isn't a little storm and you know it, who went with her?" I asked Maria. She looked at Tommy before she let out a sigh.
"Jesse, Dina, and Seth." My heart dropped. I despised Seth and if anyone could make (YN) want to leave Jackson and never return, it was him.
"Seth?!" I exclaimed. Tommy took a step towards me.
"Listen kiddo-" he started lecturing you that was when the gates opened. They were back. I jogged to the stables where (YN), Jesse, and Dina were pulling their horses to their stalls.
"Hey." I greeted. (YN) turned from her conversation with Dina and smiled at me.
"You look like you're feeling better." She teased. That ball of worry that had felt like lead in my gut just disappeared. Her (HC) locks were a bit ruffled out of place from the wind, her cheeks flushed from the cold.
"I can't believe you let her take your patrol. But I'm not gonna complain much, (YN)'s wonderful." Dina beamed at me. (YN) turned her focus back to Atlas, combing her fingers through his mane.
"Yeah she tricked me, asked me while I was on the verge of passing out." I rolled my eyes at her watching (YN)s shoulders shake with laughter. Dina laughed with her before patting my shoulder gently. She winked at me as she walked past, leaning in to whisper in my ear.
"Go get em tiger." She grinned before walking out with Jesse. I felt my face heat up and I shook my head violently. She and Jesse laughed as they left bumping shoulders and holding hands. So they got back together it seemed.  (YN) turned around form Atlas, the horse huffing at the switch in her attention.
     "So how was my patrol?" I asked her. Part of me worried she was hurt and I couldn't see. There was alway that fear when one of my friends returned from patrol.
     "It was kinda weird, we just rode through a nice trail, I listened to them flirt back and forth the whole time." (YN) rolled her eyes. It was nice to see her like this, all light and smiles. So at odds with the sobbing girl I had comforted the night prior.
     "I thought Seth went with-" before I could even get the words out the older man came bursting through the stable doors. His face was red either from the cold or from how furious he was. Maybe both. I looked at (YN), her lips curled into a smug smirk as she examined her nails in that fake boredom again.
      "You disgust me. You absolute bitch!" He yelled at her. I blinked in surprise, it's been a while since I'd seen him this worked up. (YN)'s eyes darkened as he approached, she adjusted her stance subtly. If this came to a psychical fight all my money was on her.
     "Try that again." She said firmly. There was no arguing with that tone. But Seth, the idiot he was, was going to pick a fight. What did she do?
     "You will respect me here! This is my fucking town and even if I have to beat it into you, you don't belong here. In Jackson or anywhere." He threatened, he took another step towards her and I got between them.
     "Seth. Calm the fuck down right now, you can't just march in here making threats like that." I was so confused but I couldn't let him yell at (YN) like that.
Seth looked down his nose at me opening his hideous mouth to spit nonsense at me.
     "If you so much as think anything like the horrific things you said to me on this patrol to Ellie here, I'll see to it the Tipsy Bison has a new manager." (YN)'s voice was lethal. Whatever he said to her really pissed her off.
     "Of course, no wonder you defended her so much. Another loud mouth dyke, perfect for Jackson." Seth snarled at her. (YN) gently moved me from between them. Rage bubbled in my gut.
      "You have absolutely no right to speak to her that way. Seth leave." I ordered him. Seth didn't even acknowledge my existence, he was seething with rage at the girl before him. He raised his hand at her and I immediately snatched his wrist from the air twisting it behind his back. Seth yelped in surprise.
     "I believe the lady advised you to leave." (YN) said curling her lip at him. Pure dominance and rage simmered off her.  I let Seth go and he spat another slur at us before leaving. Assuming he was going to find Maria, I grabbed (YN)'s wrist before she could walk away from me.
     "What the fuck did you do to him?" I asked. She blinked looking up at me with wide (EC) orbs.
     "He said that I should be staying in the Tipsy Bison with him instead of you because and I quote 'Jackson is way better when that dyke isn't around'." It was like someone had lit a fire in her chest and Seth poured gasoline on it. "And then I threw my dagger at him."
     "No way." I gasped. Maria and Tommy were going to kill her. Yeah Seth was a bigot but he was an important business owner here in Jackson. Upon seeing my horror she continued her story.
     "It caught the sleeve of his jacket and went through into a tree he was leaning against. I guess it got stuck pretty good because while he was struggling to get it out I spooked his horse and then raced Dina and Jesse back here..." She smiled at me sheepishly. I gaped at her. (YN) might be the craziest person I've ever met. She stood her ground so solidly against Seth. I admired that about her, it took a real strong person to stand against him like that. Let alone put him in his place like that. I burst out laughing.
     "He was so mad." I gasped out between laughs. Soon enough (YN) was laughing with me. The sounds of our giggles ringing through the bustling stable. Enough people saw the argument between the newcomer and Seth that they avoided us. I linked my arm through hers and began to tug her back to house. I hope she stays in Jackson.
     While we were eating some sandwiches I made and exchanging stories from over the years someone knocked on the door.
     "Wait they actually believed that sacrificing one of their friends would appease the clickers and they'd get out alive?" I asked. (YN) was in the middle of a story. She laughed at my reaction shooing me to go open the door. I could still hear her giggling to herself as I walked through the living. I opened the door cautiously and there on my porch was Joel.
     "Uh hey." I said awkwardly moving and gesturing for him to come inside my house. He looked rugged. Bags settling under his eyes and his hair tousled.
     "Hey kiddo." He smiled weakly at me. (YN) came out of my kitchen smiling at Joel.
     "Hey Joel." You greeted him. Joel smiled tightly at you.
     "I was actually wondering if Ellie and I could talk on our for a little bit." Joel said nervously. My stomach turned. I looked over at (YN) who seemed to be waiting for my decision on whether or not to be alone with Joel. To talk to him. I sighed nodding. She grabbed her coat bundling up quickly.
     "I'll go for a walk, the sun set looked pretty anyways." She excused herself. I small part of me wish she'd stay. I found comfort in her presence. The wind rushed into my warm home as she opened the door and walked into the snow that had been fallings day. They expected it to worsen tonight and hopefully break tomorrow afternoon.
     "What do you want Joel?" I asked bluntly. He raised an eyebrow at me crossing his arms.
     "Tommy told me about what happened with Seth." I froze. If they made (YN) leave I couldn't go with her, I'd just have to pray I'd see her again some day.
     "She was defending me Joel. Also someone has to put Seth in his place, he said Jackson was his town. You and I both know that's a lie." I defended her against him raising my voice.
     "She left him alone out there with no horse, regardless of how good her reasons are for doing it, it was reckless." Joel scolded me.
     "So what? Seth deserved it and you know it." I seethed. She defended me against Seth, I could stand up for her here.
     "I'm sure he did, we're not gonna make (YN) leave. However she can't go on patrol with anyone anymore. She's confined to Jackson until we decide otherwise." Joel dealt her punishment out like it was a small thing. But (YN) was wild and adored her freedom. I wasn't sure if she'd even want to stay if I told her this.
     "Why are you telling me this not her."
     "She trusts you Ellie, I wouldn't want some strange man telling me what I can and can't do." Joel's reasoning was sound. I hated it.
     "Whatever. I just don't want her to feel trapped here." I scoffed. Worry gnawed at me. If (YN) felt trapped she might just grab Atlas and leave.
     "Tommy and Maria want her to stay, and from that look on your face. So do you kiddo. I believe you'll convince her." Joel patted my shoulder and walked back out into the blizzard that had begun outside. I grabbed my coat, bundling up, and followed behind him in pursuit of (YN) to go break the bad news.