The Crash of Worlds - The Last Of Us

Part IV - Tracking The Kid

James awoke to Joel spooning him. He at first thought Joel did it purposely but chances are he did it in his sleep. So James rolled out of bed and out of Joel's arms, wouldn't want to weird him out.

This morning was thankfully pretty chilly, and they'd be heading into Washington today which will most definitely be cold. James didn't like the heat, he liked the rain and the wind. He thought it was beautiful. So he slipped his clothes back on, physically tucking his dick back as it reared it's ugly head.

Embarrassing boners aside the morning went well, Joel woke up. They both got dressed, shared a can of mandarin oranges they found. They were delightful. Joel immediately noticed how James had gotten up before him, had he seen the way he was holding him? Did he like it or was he grossed out?

Joel isn't sure just as James isn't sure. They like each other that much is clear, but lord knows nothing will happen until someone makes a move. Which could happen tomorrow or months from now. It's unclear.

"So... You were touchy last night." James said, Joel kind of glitched. Just standing still for a moment as he tried to concoct a lie. But damnit he's a terrible liar.
"Yeah, sorry about that." Joel said, a bit disappointed but not surprised. Who'd love some middle aged moron.
"I didn't say I didn't like it." James laughed, Joel felt himself lighting up a bit. Maybe someone could love a middle aged moron.
"I- Oh shit that's the lab!" Joel shouted under his breath,

He pointed to an old clinic, a large barbed metal fence had been built around the place. It wasn't overgrown or weathered, it was new. Around the perimeter of the building were guards of unknown affiliations, no identification besides guns and body armor. Possibly soldiers.

After what happened to Sara, Joel had a small hatred for the military. After all it was some stupid soldier who killed her for no reason besides a hunch. Before things fell apart he supported the troops and what not but after the outbreak it became clear. They have no clue what they're doing.

Joel retrieved his pistol, holding it up pointing to the sky.
"Put that away." James demanded,
"What? Why?"
"We've gotta do this quietly. You got a knife?" Joel placed his pistol back in its holster hesitantly. He pulled out his knife, the blonde smiled a bit they had the same type of knife. Buck knifes, however James's was a Buck 120 and Joel's was a Buck 119. The difference is the size of the blade, Joel's was five inches long, James's was eight.

James liked his knife a lot, the only thing he had that held any type of sentimental value. It was his fathers and he found it long after they died when he went back to his home. His parents died when the outbreak first happened. And at twenty he finally wandered back to his childhood home. It had been raided of course but he did find the hunting knife in his fathers little stash. He remembered his dad hiding Christmas presents in the wall, behind a baseboard was a hole in the wall that he hid things in. And inside he found the knife.

Since then he's had it by his side for years. The blade is still sharp and it's saved his ass many times. The long blade makes it perfect for stabbing, it'll almost pierce through someone's torso. So a stab to the heart and they'll be done.

Joel just kind of found his knife.
"Follow me." James whispered, huddling low to the ground as he and Joel slowly snuck up to the building. The fence was good quality but what these people didn't account for was the base, of which was loose dirt.

James had found a dug out section of dirt under the fence, it was seriously deep. And they squeezed under the fence with little issue. As with everything the foliage is overgrown and tall, making it extremely easy to sneak through it. So they did, slowly making their ways around the building until they found an unlocked window.
"Here." Joel said, pointing to it as James slid the pane up.

Now inside the hospital they'd need to be even quieter.

James looked forward at the older man, Joel waving him over to follow as he began to crawl on the floor. He didn't know where they were going, neither did James. So he needed to get some directions, and a doctor alone in the hall looked like a perfect little navigator.

Joel pointed to the man, James nodded. Joel wasn't asking the blonde to do anything but James jumped the man. He cupped the strangers mouth and dragged him into a spare room as Joel followed. The man shook around wildly, his eye's panicked and wide.

Slowly, Joel closed the door behind them. James pulled out his knife, making a big show of it.
"Where's the kid?" He asked, the doctor gasped as James took his hand off his mouth.
"W-what kid?" The man replied, he was lying. It was obvious, so James had to go a little harder it seems.

Joel just kind of watched in awe as James shoved the doctor against the wall. The stranger groaned as the blonde held the man's hand against the wall. Without another word James stabbed the man's hand to the wall, leaving the blade through his palm and stuck into the drywall.

The man screamed wildly as James kept his hand firmly on his mouth. None of his shouting would be audible beyond that door. He'd make sure of it,
"If you don't tell me where the girl is I'll slit your fucking throat. Tell me." James demanded, ripping the knife out of the wall and the man's hand as he pressed the bloody blade against his bare skin.
"S-she's I-n... the uh, underground lab!" The man stuttered, his body shaking with fear. This guy had a crazy look in his eye, he didn't want to die.
"Thank you." James replied before using the blunt steel end of his blade handle to knock the man unconscious.
"Shit." Joel mumbled, James smirked,
"I told you I'm good at this."

With the information the doctor so helpfully provided they headed down to the lower levels of this clinic. Finding the basement wasn't hard, idiots had left a map of the place on the wall. A brief view and Joel and James were on their way.

As they made their way down they found two guards blocking the door to the basement. They stood side by side, assault rifles in hand.
"You take the guy on the left, I'll get blondie over here." James whispered, luckily the guards were wearing sunglasses of sorts, helmets. They couldn't see much around them.
So James ran up, stabbing the man in the back of his neck, severing his spinal cord as the man fell to the floor limp.

On queue Joel stabbed the other, however for him Joel went for the heart. The rifle fell to the floor with the attack, so all the guard could do was watch as his life was taken. Unfortunately for him he's just a glorified background character.

Without much dillydallying they snuck into the lab, Ellie was sat on a chair in a hospital gown alone. No doctors had been sent in yet it seems. The girl looked up,
"Joel?"