New World [Gay Chandler Riggs/1D fusion fanfic]

Chapter 12

The girls had a little more trouble getting out than I did but they were happy to get outside; they seemed to have finally forgotten about the vests and little "shoes" they now wore, which Dad and Liam were a total fans of. I looked around and saw Chandler quickly walking away from us, ignoring the lone walkers in the street; he walked with purpose, as if he knew exactly where he was going.

The girls started following him without me even telling them too, but we never caught up with him. The girls wanted to investigate and sniff everything and I didn't try to hurry them along; I was really curious what Chandler did on these little trips, and I didn't want to make him feel awkward by tagging along.

Chandler lead us to a small corner store, around the back where a walker seemed to be in a hole or something. I watched him as the girls sniffed at a dead bush; he sat in the dirt for a while staring at the walker until he got up again and tried to load his crossbow one handed. He angrily tore off the sling his arm was in when he failed and tried to load it again; when he finally did he just stood there, pointing his crossbow at the walker in the hole but not firing it.

He just stood there as we finally caught up to him, not reacting to us at all. I looked at the walker in the hole; from this angle it actually looked like a grave or something; Chandler was holding his crossbow so tight that his knuckles were white. "Chandler...?" I asked softly as he started shaking; because he was staring down his crossbow his hat hid his eyes from me but I saw a single tear roll down his cheek. I looked at the walker, after studying it for a bit I realize it was his sister.

"I'm sorry" I said softly as I slowly outstretched my hand; I wrapped my hand around his that was on the trigger and gently applied pressure. The bolt flew and the walker, his sister, stopped moving as it landed between her eyes. Chandler took a ragged breath and softly said "I've been trying to put her down" Chandler dropped his crossbow into the dirt before embracing me in a tight hug "Thank you, for being stronger than me...and doing what I couldn't" he said as his shoulders gently shook with his silent sobs.

-

Chandler and I buried his sister, after he calmed down; the entire time he gushed about her: the memories they shared, how his entire life changed when his mom brought home a bundle of pink blankets, how his father was slightly abusive and how he became his sister's protector. I didn't interrupt him at all, I felt like he needed this, like this was his way of mourning.

He put together a crude cross made from the handle of a mop and carefully carved "Candice Jennifer Riggs" into the wood with his knife and tied the two pieces of wood together with some string that was in the corner store. Chandler took Candy's backpack and placed it on her grave before taking out the small family photo from his backpack; he stared at for a long moment before putting it inside her backpack.

He sighed and turned to me "My sister can finally rest in peace, thank you Cole" he said "I feel...I feel the best I have since she died" he said with a genuine smile; his smile was breathtaking.

I blushed under his gaze and he gave a small, short chuckle but didn't comment, picking up his crossbow and shouldering his own backpack we started walking back to the police station; before we turned the corner however Chandler turned back to the grave and said softly "I love you, little sister, rest easy. I'll see you again one day".

As we were walking back Chandler spoke up "I...I want to apologize for my behavior...I know I've been cold and standoffish and I thank you for being so patient with me; I promise you Cole, I'll try to be a better boyfriend". I was so shocked and surprised that I tripped over air, nearly falling on Shylo since she was walking right in front of me.

"Cole are you alright?" Chandler said, immediately falling to his knees beside me. "Boyfriend?!" I sputtered out, still on the floor; Chandler looked at me, confused"Yeah? I mean that whole thing with my knee this morning...I thought we had an understanding? I mean you were like inches away from...my...well you know"

Chandler helped me to my feet before I said "You could have at least told me!" Chandler looked at me for a long moment before saying "Sorry...?" Chandler took a step forward as if to kiss me but changed his mind and only offered his hand instead.

I placed my hand in his and we intertwined our fingers together; after we started walking again before he said "You know that ever since I found you, I've had dreams about my sister? As weird as it sounds...she helped me move past her death; but I still felt guilty that her body was still moving, I was so mad at myself that I couldn't put her body down...thanks Cole". I smiled, not really caring that he was rambling, just happy that he was talking.

He looked over my shoulder "There is a gas station over there, we should check it out, there might be some food or water inside" I followed his eyes and saw a lone walker standing in front of the gas station like it was guarding it. "You should take it out" Chandler said as we approached it, looking at my sword "You need practice if you really are going to use that; I wish that you wouldn't though, it's insanely dangerous".

Chandler loaded his crossbow, he was plan B if things went badly; approaching the walker I drew my sword that was strapped on my back. The girls, this close to a walker, starting snarling and baring teeth; I took a deep breath and swung my sword, closing my eyes as the steel whizzed through the air...and hit nothing.

"Don't be afraid, Cole; that sword is long enough to keep you out of harm's way" Chandler said as I went several steps back out of reach of the walker's out stretched arms. The girls also stepped away, obviously not wanting to be too close to the walker either. I adjusted my hands on the hilt of my sword; it was terrifying being this close to a walker, to see all the rotting details this close to my face. I considered taking off my glasses, just so I wouldn't be able to look at it clearly.

I swung again with my sword, despite my best efforts my eyes closed by themselves again. I swung harder than I meant too and completely unbent my elbows, the unfamiliar weight of the steel that far away from my body caused me to stumble as I lost my balance. I heard the soft twang and a heavyweight hit the floor as Chandler shot the walker with his crossbow.

I felt so embarrassed as I opened my eyes and Chandler went to pick up his bolt; Chandler could kill walkers like they were bugs inside his house and I couldn't even keep my eyes open this close to one. "Sorry" I mumbled, Chandler looked at me "Don't apologize, if this was easy for you I'd actually be concerned; anyway, let's go babe, and check out this gas station".

"Did you just...call me babe?" I asked, as soon as I thought Chandler had no more surprises he seemed to hit me with another; Chandler immediately turned red however and said "Sorry...it just slipped out..." before I could say anything he quickly went inside the gas station.