Walking Dead Game Collection

"She's Only A Child"

Title: She's Only A Child
Characters: Clementine, Kenny, Bonnie, Luke
Summary: After Kenny snaps at Clementine for the loss of Sarita, Clementine begins to self harm. Kenny, upon realizing he's the only one who can help her, needs to step in.
Author's Note: Mentions of self harm and suicide. Trigger warning!
Requested By: Froogie on Wattpad
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The bloody razors in the trash should have been her first warning. Bonnie, however, dismissed them to the previous tenants of their area. She had assumed it was a method of coping used by someone before they turned. But slowly, as she realized the pile was beginning to grow larger, the red-head knew it was time to take a stand.
At first, she couldn't tell who it was. Whoever did it hid it well. But eventually she began to note the lack of interest Clementine seemed to have in the group. She would skip meals, sit by herself in her sleeping space, her gentle humming when working on a task had faded. Instead, she occupied her time standing at the edge of their grounds, watching for walkers that never came.
All they had to fear, was each other.
"Kenny," Bonnie said softly, approaching him one night as the sun began to set. Clementine sat on the edge of their grounds, holding a little axe in her hands as her eyes lingered against the pink and orange sky. "I need to talk to you about Clementine."
Upon hearing the child's name, Luke sat up, ears alert to the conversation. While he wasn't involved, he felt the need to listen. Clementine was under his watch just as much as she was under Kenny's or Bonnie's.
"What about?" Kenny grumbled quietly. Bonnie couldn't tell if he was angry or depressed by his voice.
"She's not doing well."
"What?" His eye glanced up towards her, shooting a daunting glare. If she messed this up, if she said even one thing wrong, he wouldn't care.
"Why?" Luke stood, finally deciding to speak up. If something was going on he needed to know. Even if Kenny was being his usual stubborn self.
"She's been hurting. A lot, it seems. I think you should go talk to her."
"Hurting?" Luke stepped forwards, his eyes boring into the side of her skull. "How? Why?"
"Kenny, you need to do something." Bonnie cut off Luke's panicked questions to direct her attention back to Kenny. "YOU need to talk to her. We can't."
"What's going on?" Kenny spat, scratching his bread and glaring upwards. "And how in god's name would I make anything better?"
"What's happened to her?"
Bonnie frowned. Apparently he wouldn't be swayed so easily. It seemed like now she really needed to make her case. Open up. Be honest. She was hoping deep down that if he realized something was wrong, he would take action. Maybe he was more bitter than she thought.
"There are slits on her wrists." She said softly. Despite Clementine being on the they end of their site, she still didn't want to speak too loudly. Three eyes widened and stared at her with shock. "I think it's because of Sarita. And I also think you're the only one that can help her."
Kenny lowered his head, staring down at the ground, watching the dirt blow at his feet.
"You two haven't been on good terms. I think that's made it a little worse. Go talk to her."
Luke stepped forwards, lingering beside the red-head while the eldest of the three stood.
"I don't know if I'll do any good. But fine."
At least somewhere under his bitterness he still had his heart. Luke gently took the girl's shoulder and escorted her away, allowing the two to talk at the other end of their camp without prying eyes.
"Clem." His voice came off as forceful, with only a touch of concern. If anything, Kenny meant business. And business meant getting this solved as soon as possible.
Clementine glanced to her side, not bothering to make eye contact. She turned enough so he knew she was listening, but not much else. "Yeah," Her quiet voice breathed. Had he not decided to take a seat next to her, her voice may have gotten swept away with the wind.
"We need to talk."
She remained silent.
"Somethings going on. I know that. What is it?" For a while, she remained silent. She didn't bother respond until he spoke again. "Clem, what's going on?"
He sounded more genuine this time. Less agitated. So, she spoke.
"I hate what I did to Sarita." She breathed. "I hate myself for it. You hate me for it. So," She sighed. "Why bother."
Kenny frowned, staring out and watching the sky fade into pastels. He looked to the floor.
She was only a child.
She was a child who was thrust into the horrors of their world too soon. She was a child who knew what she needed to do to save people, but only ended in more pain. She had been taught how to save or kill. But, in the end, she was just a child.
Why has he gotten so mad at her when she hated herself so much? Why had he burst, when deep down he knew there was nothing that could have been done? Sarita would have been a goner. Regardless of what they did. Why had he verbally attacked at her when he knew she was attacking herself?
"I don't hate you."
"Well I hate me."
He glanced to his side. She was clutching her axe tightly in her fists, allowing them to shake as her knuckles turned white from pressure. Her eyes were fixated on the sunset instead of on the man. She couldn't bring herself to look him in the eyes.
"I messed up. Big. There's no going back. And I hate myself for it."
"Clem, this isn't your fault."
"It is. I shouldn't have chopped off her hand. We should have found another way. Or something." Her voice wavered with Kenny's eyes.
"Sarita died because of Carver. Not you. You tried."
"Not enough."
"Clem." He grunted forcefully, finally silencing her deadly thoughts for at least a moment to allow his words to seep through. "You were too young when you were put into a position to watch out for people. It's not your fault the world got ugly and it's not your fault that you were put into situations where this happens to you."
She remained silent, eyes wavering against the orange sky.
"You are a strong girl, Clem. You've never failed to amaze me at how much you take. This is just another one." His hand landed soothingly against her shoulder. Regardless, she still jumped at his touch. "You were put somewhere where you didn't have a choice. Yeah, we uh, we lost Sarita." He paused, his heart burning him. "But Carver put that upon you. It's not on you. It's Carver's fault. It's the world's fault that Sarita's gone."
He sighed and rubbed his temple with his free hand. "It was wrong of me to snap at you. I should have known you weren't to blame. But in the moment I needed someone to. And that was you. And I'm sorry."
He could hardly choke out his last word as bushy black air rested against his shoulder.
Her golden eyes sealed themselves shut, her body leaning against his own for comfort, and a sad smile creeping upon her face. "It's okay, Kenny." She breathed, sniffling quietly to herself. "I think we'll be okay."
He gave a gentle chuckle, rubbing the girls cap and smiling at the sunset, allowing it to drag away the pastel coloured sky and the doubts both of them once carried, and instead being replaced by brilliant sparkling skies, hopes and dreams.
After that night, the razors suddenly stopped appearing in the trash can.
And Clementine's smile began appearing on her face once more.
She's only a child.
But she was back.
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Original Link: http://thatglitterygeek.tumblr.com/post/140752510737/walking-dead-fanfiction-shes-only-a-child