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Chapter 3:

Once Cedar and Ellie arrived back at the house they attempted to discreetly enter through the front door but were stopped by Miguel and Joel, who both looked like a combination of worried and angry.

"You two wanna explain where the hell you've been all day?". Joel asked sternly as he leaned against the wall with his arms folded.

"How long were we gone?". Cedar whispered to Ellie, who just shrugged her shoulders in answer.

"It's two in the afternoon". Miguel piped up. "I went and checked on you guys like three hours ago and neither of you were in bed".

"We snuck out alright? It was Ellie's idea". Cedar confessed with a glare in Ellie's direction.

Ellie glared back at Cedar for a second before turning to look up at her father. "We obviously got back in one piece, Can't we let it go?".

Joel and Miguel shared a look before Joel looked between the two young adults. "Fine, we'll let it go this time".

Cedar sighed in relief just as Benji came walking into the living room with a concerned look. "You guys alright?".

"Benj, we're just fine, alright?". Cedar mumbled tiredly as he rubbed his eyes.

"Not feeling nauseous or anything?". Benji asked, ignoring Cedar's answer.

"No... should we be?". Ellie questioned.

"Some of the effects of being exposed to radiation for too long is feeling nauseated and/or skin redness". Benji explained.

"I feel fine". Cedar shrugged, rolling up his sleeves to show that his skin wasn't reddened or blistered

"Same here". Ellie said with a nod.

Benji looked between them for a moment before nodding. "Alright... Just don't sneak out again, understood?".

"Understood". Cedar and Ellie responded in unison before Ellie turned on her heel and went back upstairs without another word.

"Everything alright with you two?". Joel asked, taking notice of his daughter's odd behavior.

"Not really". Cedar sighed. "Ellie and I got into an argument".

"About what?". Joel asked carefully as Miguel excused himself to the kitchen.

"I think Ellie likes me". Cedar confessed. "Like, In the romantic sense".

"I don't think that's true bear, Ellie's only ever liked girl's for as long as I've known her". Joel replied quietly.

"Yeah, I guess you're right". Cedar mumbled in an almost disappointed tone. Did he want Ellie to like him in that type of sense?

"Want me to go talk to her?". Joel offered after a moment.

"I think that would be best". Cedar nodded. "I would do it myself but I think she kinda hates me right now".

"She doesn't hate you alright?". Joel said consolingly as he brought Cedar into a side hug. "It's just those young adult hormones being weird".

Cedar smiled a bit and pulled away from the hug as Joel went upstairs while Luca and Lev were just making they're way downstairs.

"Did you guys just get up?". Cedar joked as both boys sat down on the living room couch.

"Maybe". Luca replied playfully. "Heard you and Ellie were off on an early morning adventure".

"I really don't want to talk about it, alright Luc?". Cedar grumbled in slight annoyance.

Luca nodded in understanding as Lev hesitantly spoke up. "When I was with the Seraphites, there was this other boy named Aaric, He and I dated for a while in secret".

"How long were you together?". Luca asked gently.

"Six months". Lev went on. "Rocky was the only person I told, I couldn't tell Yara because I knew she wouldn't understand".

"What happened to Aaric?". Cedar questioned gently, fearing for the worst since he knew the Seraphites weren't accepting of this type of stuff.

"I'm not sure how Emily found out but when she did, she had Aaric hung". Lev explained tearfully.

"Rocky didn't sell you out, He would never do that to you". Cedar said at once.

"I know". Lev sniffed. "Emily actually interrogated him about it after Aaric was hung".

"She didn't hurt him did she?". Luca asked worriedly.

"She beat him with a cattle prod". Lev explained with a shudder. "I stepped in front of him when I couldn't take the screaming anymore".

"Jesus". Cedar mumbled as he ran a hand over his face.

"You're both safe with us now". Luca cut in softly as he put an arm around Lev. "And so is Rio".

Lev smiled at the support while Cedar got up from the couch. "I'm gonna go check on Ellie".

"Want some backup?". Luca asked.

"Nah, stay down here with Lev, alright?". Cedar replied before quickly walking up the stairs before Luca could protest.

Author Note: I Want To Make A Quick Note That The Events I Mentioned In This Chapter Regarding Lev Are Of My Own Creation & NOT A Canon Part Of The "Last Of Us" Universe - Though You'll Obviously Already Know That If You've Seen The Series/Played The Second Game.