We'll Meet Again (Clementine x Fem!reader)

Mariana

"Are you doubting my aim, love?"

1st Person | Present

Betray would not be the right word to describe what Duck did, at least that is how I see it. Clementine believes otherwise, but how am I supposed to accept this new reality?

For the rest of the night to the early morning, that's all I think of: what could've driven my very own brother to try and kill his family? He was supposed to be the protector if something happened to me. He promised me.

Each time I try to recollect possibilities for his actions, I remember Sarita— specifically from her first interaction with Duck to the aftermath of her death. Kenny never forgave him for mercy killing her, I don't think...

I pause.

That's right. I remember now. Ever since that incident, they barely interacted. Duck hardly spoke to me, let alone talked to Clem or Christa.

Did he isolate himself?

"Y/n."

Maybe that was it. Maybe he was in pain and I just didn't notice.

"Y/n?"

Is it my fault?

But why would he still attempt to take Clem and AJ's lives?

The realization continues to dawn on me as the situation grows more complicated. I could've done something, like—

"Y/n!" Clem practically shouts in my ear, causing me to instinctively jump.

"Jesus." My grip tightens around the reins of the horse Clem and I are sitting on as I snap back to reality. "Don't yell in my ear."

"You didn't hear me the first time." She shifts suspiciously closer. "What're you thinking?"

This entire time since we left before sunrise, I completely forgot about her presence behind me. By coincidence, Eleanor didn't have a fourth horse so I took the role of being the rider and Clem as my passenger-- not that I am complaining.

"Duck," I admit. "I just... I don't understand why he did what he did..."

"I'm just as hurt as you are."

"No." I glance back, my eyes finding that bullet scar once more, the horrible mark that reminds me of my failure to protect her. "You got hurt in the process. You saw it first hand while I was gone."

There's a short pause before I spot a familiar hand reaching forward to cover my own tense ones that are still clutching the chewed-up reins.

"There was nothing you could've done."

Classic Clem. Always reassuring everyone by saying our actions couldn't prevent what had happened.

"If I was there—"

"You would've gotten hurt."

"And that's better than you getting hurt," I finish.

She shakes her head and says nothing more. The rest of the slow ride towards the junkyard is silent, except for the occasional sneeze from the horses.

She never takes her hand away either, understandably staying close. Regardless, I don't pull away— I would never, not after all this time of being separated. Though the headache from the night before still hasn't gone over and I'm sure Clem will notice the signs later. She always does.

"You never told me what happened to you when you disappeared," she speaks up after a few minutes. "Did you get lost?"

I've been dreading this part, yet again she was brave enough to tell me the truth of the others.