Firefly

Twenty-Six

A/N: this was going to be super fucking long. So I had to split it into three chapters. Im sorry. It's also kind of sad and shit. Again, I'm sorry. But like a happy ending in the next chapter.

On and the photo above has me in a fucking choke hold. It's my wallpaper, so I blush every time unlock my phone.

♡♡♡♡

Bill and Frank's 2023

As we got closer and closer to the front gate a bad feeling settled into my gut. "Somethings not right," I said. Joel hummed and we stopped right outside the gate. The grass was brown and the lawns weren't kept. Frank was always particular about how everything looked. Joel punched the code for the gate and we walked inside.

"I don't like this," I said quietly as Joel slowly opened the door to their house. "What the fuck? Bill? Frank?" I yelled. I looked over at Joel and he turned to Ellie. "You stay there. Ya hear anything, you see anything… yell," he told her. The place was quiet and everything was covered in dust. "What if they’re gone?" Ellie asked. I pulled my gun and slowly walked up the stairs and down the hall to the door I knew was to their bedroom.

I put my hand on the door knob and turned. "It's locked!" I brought my fist up and knocked. "Bill? Frank?" Joel came over and tried the door himself. "Come on." He turned around and headed for the stairs. After a few seconds I followed after him. "Ellie?" Joel called. I walked into the dining room to see her sitting in the chair holding a letter. Joel came up beside me shortly after.

"It's from Bill," she said, holding it up. "To whomever… but probably Joel.” I figured I fell under “whomever." Came with this," she told us and slid car keys across the dusty table. "So they’re dead?" Joel asked. I sucked in a deep breath as Ellie nodded her head. "Mm-hmm. You, you wanna?" She asked. Joel looked over at me and looked back at her, "Go ahead. You do it," he said.

August 29, 2023.

If you find this… please do not come into the bedroom. We left a window open so the house wouldn’t smell, but it will probably be a sight.

I’m guessing you found this, Joel, because anyone else would’ve been electrocuted or blown up by one of my traps.

Hehehehehehehehe.

Take anything you need. The bunker code is the same as the gate code but in reverse. Anyway… I never liked you, but still, it’s like we’re friends… almost.

And I respect you. So, I’m gonna tell you something because you’re probably the only person who will understand.

I used to hate the world, and I was happy when everyone died. But I was wrong because there was one person worth saving. That’s what I did. I saved him.
Then I protected him.

That’s why men like you and me are here. We have a job to do. And God help any motherfuckers who stand in our way.

“I leave you all of my weapons and equipment. Use them to keep…”

Ellie stopped and looked between me and Joel. Joel walked over and took the note from her and walked out the door. I had tears in my eyes and I was taking deep breaths to keep myself calm. "Do you want to know what it said?" I looked up at Ellie but didn't answer.

"It said, "Use them to keep your firefly safe. She's never too far from you. Even if you can't see or find her, she's there." I didn't open this one because it was only addressed to you." She stood up and handed me an envelope. "Stay here," I whispered and walked outside.

I looked down at the envelope recognizing Frank's handwriting. I carefully opened it, unfolded the piece of paper.

Firefly,

Don't cry. I wanted this. I was getting old and my health was getting worse. Don't worry it wasn't painful. It was peaceful.

Bill said Joel could have his guns and anything he needs. But the whole place is yours. I know you left Joel because of what was said in the heat of the moment. And I know you think he was always way too protective of you. I thought the same about Bill.

But that's not the case. That's the way they show they love us. He's miserable without you. I also know you're a little threatened by Tess. You don't need to be, honey, she's got nothing on you. Joel's eyes are only and always on you.

I saw the way he looked at you the first time you two came here. And I know there's a pretty big age gap between you two but you're that man's world. His universe. He's nothing without you.

Let the past in the past and forgive him. Life is too short. Get the hell out of Boston and stay out of Boston. If you want to stay here, it's all yours. It doesn't matter where you go to just make sure Joel is by your side.

I love you my sweet girl. And even if it doesn't seem like it, so does Bill.

Frank xx

I wiped the tears that had started to fall from my eyes and down my cheeks. The day I left flashed in my head like a short film. The words that were said. The emotions that heavily hung in the air.

I looked up to see Joel in the garage that was beside the house. The hood of the white and blue truck Bill had left was up. His head hung low, hands gripping the truck. And I wondered if he was thinking about that day too.

Late Fall 2013

"I'm not arguing with you, yn! You're not going and that's final!" Joel paced around the apartment gathering everything he needed for his trip outside the walls with fucking Tess. "Why the fuck not?! You always do this, Joel! And don't fucking say it's because you nerd to keep me safe! You know damn well I can protect myself!

"So what is it? Huh? You want to be alone with her so you two can fuck around freely? So, you don't have to tiptoe around me, huh?" He spun around and stuck his finger out towards me. "How many fucking times do I have to tell you there isn't anything going on between me and Tess?! You really that fucking low of me? You really think I would ever hurt you like that?!"

"Well, what other reason is there, Joel? You never give me a straight answer. It's always you're protecting me and keeping me safe. That's not a fucking answer! Not when I'm safest when I'm with you! Why can't you see that? Just tell me why I can't go with you!"

He was by the door now and he turned to look at me. "You wanna know why? I'll tell you why. It's because you only slow us down. You just get in our way. I don't have time to babysit you when we're out there. Every time you come along with us trouble fucking follows. You're always getting us into fucking situations that never happen when you're not there! You're a fucking burden to us!"

It felt like the wind was knocked out of me. Everything seemed to slow down, ringing erupted in my ears. Tears burned the back of my eyes as they slowly formed and gathered at my waterline. I couldn't say anything. I just stood there with wide, glossy eyes and my mouth parted in shock. I was a burden to him. For how long?

"I need to go. We'll talk about this when I get back," he said and opened the door. "If you walk out that door, don't expect me to be here when you get back," I said barely above a whisper. He stopped for a few seconds and I thought maybe he'd close the door and tell me he didn't mean anything he just said. But he didn't. No. He walked out the door, slamming it closed on his way.