TWDG |OC!Reader Clementines Brother Book 1

S1 E2.1| THE ROAD TO THE DAIRY!

Motor Inn – Peter's Room, Just Before Sunset

The room smells like blood, old wood, and worn sweat. Peter sits shirtless on the edge of his mattress, arm resting across his lap as Katjaa kneels beside him with a flashlight tucked between her neck and shoulder. Her hands work carefully along his side, feeling for damage.

Katjaa: (quietly, focused) "I need you to breathe in again. Deep."

Peter inhales, sharp and slow. He winces immediately.

Katjaa: "And out."

He exhales through clenched teeth. Katjaa shifts slightly and presses two fingers to the side of his ribcage.

Peter: "Tch—shit—yeah, okay, that's not great."

Katjaa: (gently) "You've got a cracked rib. Possibly two. Your shoulder isn't dislocated, but it's badly strained. You're lucky you didn't break the arm outright. And you said you fell?"

Peter: (grumbling) "Missed a stair. Wasn't exactly planned."

She sighs, clearly frustrated.

Katjaa: "You're pushing yourself too hard."

Peter: (shrugging with his good shoulder) "You think Ellie's just gonna walk back here on her own?"

Katjaa looks up at him. She doesn't speak for a second—just looks. Then she goes back to her bag, pulling out some bandages.

Katjaa: "Even so... you need to rest. You need to heal. These kinds of injuries—if you don't slow down, they won't."

Peter: (without missing a beat) "I'll slow down when I'm back out there."

That's when Kenny, who'd been leaning against the doorframe, steps in.

Kenny: "The hell you will."

Peter's head snaps toward him.

Kenny: "You're not goin' anywhere until you learn to take care of yourself. You think running off every night makes you strong? It just makes you reckless."

Peter: "I'm fine."

Kenny: "Bullshit."

Katjaa: (sternly) "You don't get to keep doing this, Peter. You're not invincible. And you're not alone. Stop acting like you are."

Peter: (bristling) "No one else is out there looking for her and Joel. Not you. Not Lee. Not anyone. I don't have time to sit around."

Kenny: (stepping forward) "You're gonna get yourself killed, and what then, huh? What about Clementine? What about the rest of us?"

Peter: (snapping) "I didn't ask you to give a damn about me, Kenny!"

Katjaa: (firm) "Well I do! And I know Clementine does, too. You think you're helping her by crawling out of here with half a ribcage and a limp arm?!"

Peter: (gritting his teeth) "I'm doing what I have to do."

Kenny: "What you have to do is rest before you turn into walker chow!"

Before it can cool down—

Larry (from the hallway): (loudly) "Maybe you should be careful next time, brat, instead of getting yourself wrecked and making your problems ours."

Peter turns his head slowly, rage seeping into his expression.

Peter: (venomously) "Maybe you should shut the fuck up before I finally give that heart of yours something to complain about."

Larry stomps into view. Lilly is right behind him, already rubbing her temples.

Larry: "Say that again, you little sh—"