Even on difficult days...OC x Joel Miller

•Four•

Joel forced open a metal gate finally freeing the group from the pipe. Panting Ellie thudded to the ground with her arms atop her knees trying to catch her breath.

Tess spoke up "look - what was the plan? Let's say we deliver you to the fireflies. What then?" She was crouched to Ellie's level.

"Marlene...she said that they have their own little quarantine zone, with doctors there still trying to find a cure." Ellie panted.

"Yeah, we've had that before huh Tess?" Joel was cutting towards Ellie once again, turning his back to her and wandering away from the conversation.

"And that...whatever happened to me is the key to finding a vaccine" Ellie ignored Joel's words continuing to tell Tess everything she knew.

"Oh Jesus" Joel turned back around with an exasperated tone.

Ellie argued back at him "it's what she said"

"Oh I'm sure she did" Joel scoffed looking at Ellie

"Hey. fuck you, man!" Ellie slapped her knees as she stood up "I didn't ask for any of this" she opened her arms stepping closer to Joel. Imogen smiled at how Ellie was towards Joel, she wasn't going to take his shit and it was brilliant.

"Me neither. Tess. What the hell are we doing here?" Joel closed the distance between him and Tess, scanning her face to see what she was thinking.

"What if it's true" Tess didn't hesitate in answering"

"I can't believe-" Joel huffed out before being cut off by Tess abruptly.

"What if, Joel?" She was now following Joel who had turned away from her "I mean we've come this far let's just finish it."

"Do I need to remind you what is out there" Joel was pointing out in a random direction his other hand on Tess' arm. Imogen watched the pair, the true closeness of their relationship revealed in the way they talked to one another. She looked to Ellie who was flipping between watching Tess and Joel.

Tess turned to Ellie and back to Joel "I get it." She walked away leaving Joel looking at the young girl who stormed past him followed by Imogen. The pair shared a knowing glance at each other due to Tess' words.

Joel hesitated watching the group walk away, deep in thought about what had been said. He knew he couldn't leave Tess, not that she couldn't handle it, he wanted to be with her. Deciding to catch up with the group he set off in a fast paced march.

Imogen and Ellie were side by side picking their way over the broken terrain. Greenery had swallowed the smaller features of the city. Ivy climbed up every surface, long strands of grass poked through every crack in the floor. The girls climbed their way up a broken highway bridge, cars were strewn across their path. The full extent of the city buildings could now be seen

"Holy moly. I guess this is what these buildings look like up close" Ellie was looking into the sky taking in the sheer height of the buildings "They're so damn tall" Ellie's mouth was a gape.

Imogen chuckled "These aren't even close to being some of the tallest in the world you know" Ellie looked at Imogen with wide eyes as if it was hard to believe buildings could get bigger.

Tess came to a stop standing at the end of a huge crater, the tarmac crumbling away at the rim. Ellie peered over the edge, a building was half sunk into the hole. The subway below completely exposed, the train carts derailed and lying amongst the rubble. Joel was stood beside Tess on the very edge looking in.

"I should push him off" Imogen whispered to Ellie "one good kick and he'd go flying" Ellie tried to stifle her laugh as Imogen flashed her brow playfully imitating kicking Joel off the ledge. As her leg was raised in a kick position Joel turned round catching her in the act. She put her leg down pushing air into her cheeks as Joel gave her a scowl clearly not finding the joke amusing.