Forelsket (Joel x Reader)

♥ Damaging Differences ♥

Y/f/n = Your fake name

You and Ellie are trapped in a room. A firefly symbol was spray painted on the farthest wall.

"Let us out, you fuckers!" Ellie screams, stomping on the ground. You sit leaning against the wall when a woman and 2 guards enter. "Please state your names," she demands, clipboard in hand. "Y/f/n" you state, standing up. The woman's eyes dart to Ellie, who stands slightly behind you.

"Veronica," Ellie says angrily. You touch her arm, and she reaches for your hand. The woman sighs. "Please count to 10," she asks. "1, 2, 3, 4-" Ellie begins rapidly, but the woman stops her. "Slowly," she snaps. Ellie complies hesitantly. The woman writes something down and then turns to you. You sigh through your nose. "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6-" you get interrupted by Ellie. "Fuck you," she says, holding up her middle finger, which makes you smile slightly. The woman writes something down, nods, and leaves as fast as she arrives. Ellie goes back to tugging on the chain on her leg.

"You know, it's not gonna work," you say. She pulls on it anyway with her head tilted back and she's yelling. Water from the roof drips down into her mouth. Ellie shoots up and freaks out, spitting it out onto the floor by your feet. You scrunch your nose, disgusted. "Ew, Ellie!" you shout, scooting away from it.

Hours pass by as you get increasingly more bored. There's only so much sister can discuss. The door suddenly opens and Marlene walks in. Great. "What do you want?" Ellie asks, tired. Marlene tosses both your bags. Ellie makes a beeline for the knife your mother gave her when she was a baby. You check to make sure your pistol is still there.

Marlene explains to you both that because you both are immune, there might be a possibility of a cure, but she needed to get you west to get it. Gunshots are heard in the hallway, making all three of you jump. A woman enters, missing a whole ear.

"Kim!" Marlene says. She acts fast, unlocking your ankle chains, and points her gun at the door. More gunshots are heard and you hear people screaming. Ellie holds your hand. As fast as it started, it ended. Marlene busts the door open with her foot. Her hand held in front of you signaling for you to stay put. She sweeps the hallway with her gun. Someone shoots at her. Kim rushes over to bring her back in, firing at the person on the way.

"Stay here," she tells you both and runs out. You quickly rush to Marlene's side and hold her wound, trying to stop the bleeding. After 10 minutes, Kim comes back with bandages. Ellie has sat next to you as you continue to put pressure on the wound. Just like your mother taught you. "I brought first aid. Move."

You comply and step out of the way. Ellie goes over to you and puts her hand on your shoulder. "Hey. You okay, kiddo?" you ask, ruffling her hair. She laughs. "Yeah, mom," she jokes. You smile enthusiastically. It takes Marlene 30 minutes to recover. A lot less time than it would take you if you got shot in your side. She and Kim step into the hallway.

"You think the cure's a real thing?" Ellie asks, looking up at you. Her brown eyes glisten from the window light. "Maybe. I hope so. Life was fun back then," you smile at the memories. You were 6 when the Outbreak happened. Your father got infected and your mother had to kill him. He begged her to. You tear up at his loss. Brushing it off, you smile at Ellie. She gives you a sympathetic look. "Yeah, okay, but did 14-year-olds have knives?" She asks, twirling around her pocket knife. You laugh at her cockiness. "I don't know. Maybe some," you shrug. Just then, you hear footsteps coming from the hallway, opposite Marlene. You shush your sister and urge her to follow. You get next to the doorway and pull out your gun. Both you and Ellie jump out. Immediately, Ellie gets kicked to the ground and her knife goes under a man's foot. A woman next to him points her gun at you. The man points his at Ellie You point it right back at her, but, alas, you were outnumbered.

"No! Don't shoot them!" Marlene yells at the two of them. Both women point their guns at the strangers. "We need the car battery," the man says. "He sold it to you. Where is it?" Marlene sighs. "Gone. We had other plans for it," she says. "Dammit," the woman groans. the man points his gun at Ellie again, finger on the trigger. You copy his actions, now pointing at him. He looks at you and falters slightly, then returns his gaze to Ellie. "Okay wait! Look. We can get you everything you need if you trade with us," Marlene says. Kim gives her a surprised look. "What's in it for you?" the woman asks. Marlene considers what to say. "Okay, if you bring Y/n and Ellie," gesturing at you both with her gun, "to the State House, we will give you your stuff," Marlene negotiates.

"Don't let the smugglers do it, I'll do it!" Kim suggests. Marlene snaps her head towards Kim. "Kim, you don't have a fucking ear on your head," Marlene argues. Which was true. Kim was missing an ear and instead had dried blood down her head. "Joel, you know this place like the back of your hand. You were always the one person I didn't want to cross," Marlene says to the man. Joel takes that in. He lowers his gun finally. He looks at you again, your gun still trained on him. He gestures for the woman to follow him so they can discuss. "Can we talk?" he asks Marlene. She nods. He was handsome. You shake that thought out of your head and you help Ellie up, who snatched her knife from under Joel's foot. "Are you okay, El?" you ask her, glancing up and down at her. "Yeah, I'm fine Y/n/n," she smiles shyly at you.

"Okay," The woman clears her throat, turning around. "We're in," Joel looks hesitant to do so.

Oh boy.