The Sun Will Be Rising Soon

The Raiders Attack

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..
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(Y/N) could still feel her heart racing a bit from the confession she and Clement had, a bright smile on her face as she climbs up the ladder to the lookout. AJ was waiting for her, binoculars in his hands against his eyes as he scanned the forest with an intense concentration.

Soft snarls could be heard in the distance, the occasional walker visible as it staggers from the bushes. Crickets chirp faintly into the night sky, an owl hooting every so often.

"The raiders..." AJ starts, getting (Y/N)'s attention. "That... guy. He's gonna be with them."

(Y/N) slowly nods with a short sigh, crossing her arms over her chest. "Yup."

AJ frowns deeply, lowering the binoculars. His eyes flick towards where (Y/N)'s wound was, (Y/N) noticing this and subconsciously placing her hand against it gently.

"I knew it," she mumbles under her breath, turning to him with a frown. "AJ... your nightmares lately... they're about Abel, aren't they?"

AJ sighs quietly, looking up at her. "Yeah."

He stops himself when he goes to say more, grumbling in annoyance as he pouts.

"Can I swear yet?" he questions, looking through the binoculars towards the woods once more. "I think it's time I can. If you do."

(Y/N) hums in thought, sighing in defeat. "Fine. Clem and I were around your age when we started, I guess. But--!" she stops him as he goes to speak, "nothing worse than shit. Got it? So you can say shit, damn, and crap. Not the f-word, but freaking is okay."

AJ nods at this, scowling. "Well, that guy is a f--"

(Y/N) gives him a pointed look, AJ faltering as he drags the sound.

"Fffff... freaking shitbird," he recovers, nodding firmly as he looks to the woods.

(Y/N) can't help but quietly chuckle, shaking her head in amusement.

"It's not funny, (Y/N)!" AJ pouts, his eyes flicking up to her as she smiles. "Come on!"

"Sorry, sorry," (Y/N) apologizes, raising her hands in surrender.

The two were caught in a small, comfortable silence, both watching the woods closely.

"... I'd take a big shit on his head."

"AJ!" (Y/N) laughs in disbelief, caught off guard by his comment as she shakes her head. "Come on, bud. That's enough. Instead of cursing out Abel, how about you count the monsters out there?"

"I already know how many there are," AJ bluntly replies, sighing. "Same as before. Three, four..."

He trails off, his hands tensing around the binoculars as he lowers them back down and looks towards (Y/N)'s wound.

"AJ, don't worry about this," (Y/N) softly speaks, making him look up to her. "I promise I'm fine now. I just wish I could take away your bad dreams of Abel. I know he's scary, but Clem and I won't ever let him hurt you, AJ."

AJ doesn't speak for a moment, looking through the binoculars. "Ten. There's ten monsters out there."

He scowls as he lowers them, "and Abel doesn't scare me. He makes me angry. When he comes here, I call dibs. I'm the one that kills him. Okay?"

(Y/N)'s brows furrow at his words in shock, "AJ, don't ever talk like that again. You never kill out of anger, or for fun, or just casually. It's never easy."

AJ seems surprised by this, his forehead crinkling in thought. "Is it because I'm trying to be good because of Marlon?"

"No," (Y/N) firmly responds, shaking her head. "It's because you should never think about killing someone like that. The moment you get that bloodlust for another, you lose your humanity."