TWDG |OC!Reader Clementines Brother Book 1

S1 E1.4| TROUBLE AT THE MOTEL!

BACK AT THE DRUGSTORE

After Glenn and Peter left, Lee led Clementine into the office of the drugstore. The door creaked as he pushed it open, revealing a small, cluttered room. The dim lighting made the bloodstains on the floor more prominent, leading to the barricaded door at the back.

Lee stepped inside cautiously, glancing at the room. A mattress lay on the floor, surrounded by scattered supplies. The faint metallic scent of dried blood lingered in the air. Clementine hesitated behind him, her small hand gripping his shirt for reassurance.

Lee muttered under his breath, staring at the blood trail leading to the entrance. "I can't... I can't think about them being here." His voice was low, almost a whisper, as though he were speaking to himself. He shook his head and moved toward the barricaded door. "This door leads to the back alley," he said, more to Clementine than to himself.

Clementine stepped closer, watching as Lee examined a large plate blocking the door. With a grunt, he pushed it aside, revealing a cane lying underneath. As Lee picked it up, a faint smile crossed his face.

Clementine tilted her head, curious. "What's that?" she asked.

Lee turned the cane in his hands, reminiscing. "This was my dad's cane. He'd zip around here on it from time to time," he replied with a chuckle.

"Was he sick?" Clementine asked, her voice filled with concern.

Lee shook his head. "Nah, he was fine. I actually saw him whoop shoplifters with this thing. This cane protected this place better than any guard dog." He placed the cane back behind the desk. "Plus, he knew how to make it look cool," he added with a warm smile, glancing at her hat. "Kinda like you, with your hat."

Clementine's face brightened. "Ellie gave it to me," she said, touching the brim of her cap.

Lee paused, his expression thoughtful. "Ellie? Oh, Ellie Miller, right?" he asked, piecing it together.

Clementine nodded eagerly. "Yes! I hope she's alright."

Lee nodded in agreement. "Me too. She's a smart one," he said, turning toward the desk. "Alright, let's get this door clear, huh?"

Clementine's eyes lit up with determination. "Can I help?" she asked.

Lee smiled at her enthusiasm. "Sure," he said, motioning for her to join him.

Together, they grabbed onto the desk and started to push. The heavy wood groaned against the floor as they moved it backward, stopping midway. Lee glanced down at Clementine, noting her effort.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

"Yeah, it's not that heavy," Clementine replied confidently.

Lee hesitated before asking, "How about with everything outside?"

Clementine's expression faltered for a moment, but she nodded. "It's not good," she admitted. Then, with quiet determination, she added, "But I think it'll be okay."

They pushed the desk again, its legs scraping against the floor. As they worked, Clementine looked up at Lee curiously.

"Do you have kids?" she asked.

Lee froze for a moment before responding. "No."

Clementine tilted her head. "You don't have a family?"

Lee hesitated, deflecting. "What do your parents do?"

"My mom is a police officer, and my dad is, well, was a engineer," she said proudly.