Walking Dead Game Collection

"For Who You Are"

Title: For Who You Are
Characters: Clementine, Javier, Gabe
Summary: When Clementine is bullied and physically attacked by some of Richmond's members for being gay, it gets to be too much for her. As she starts planning to take her life, Javi and Gabe find out and they have to let her know that she should love herself for who she is.
Author's Note: tw; suicide, abuse. This is a long one so buckle in yo.
Requested By: fetchketchum
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Another black eye. Another bloodied lip.

"Clem?"

"I'm fine." She was used to it all.

She was used to dismissing Javi's concerns after she had taken a beating. She was able to cover everything up relatively well with leftover makeup she had found scattered about in Richmond's abandoned buildings. However, it was in the way she walked, the way her head hung in shame, the way she grew mute, that made it painfully clear to her new family that something was off.

But what, they had yet to know.

Clementine had been out for about a month, but the month had been a hellishly long one. Originally she had come out only to Javi and Gabe, confessing in shy awkwardness that she was gay. They had taken it well. Unfortunately, their family had been the only ones to do so.

Gossip rapidly travelled through the small town and before long the entirety of Richmond was aware of her orientation. In their world, the apocalyptic one, being gay was heavily frowned upon. Earth's population was heavily decreasing as they succumbed to the sickness that had infected millions. Those alive were outnumbered by the dead, and homosexuality was seen as a choice to spite those who hoped to have children and sustain life. Being gay was seen as an infection all of its own; one that did nothing more than tarnish the mission that those still alive were attempting to push.

After a few days of the news spreading, that was when everything took a turn for the worst.

It had started when she was returning from the medical tent after bringing supplies to assist a child injured in the raid the city had faced weeks before. Just as she slipped through the park ready to head to her temporary home and sleep, they attacked her.

It was about 5 of them, mainly young-adults and teenagers, who instantly had her outnumbered and pinned to the ground. They went for her face and hair. They battered her body and littered the surface she once loved with bruises.

The next night, it was 8.

Then 12.

Each night, the number grew a little more.

Of course, none of the few who accepted her would ever know. It was as if the mob was a secret cult shrouded in mystery. During the day, they didn't bat an eye at her. No word was whispered, no action was taken. It was only ever when night fell. Their goal was that after enough beatings the girl would take back her claim, assuring the city that she wasn't gay and, when old enough, would be more than willing to marry and bear a child with a man.

But it wasn't a choice. That was what they didn't understand.

"Clem, are you sure?" Javi's voice once again echoed through the child's ears, pushing her to see the figure before her. He had drawn closer from where he originally stood a few paces back, and only drew closer seeing her quick to dismiss his concern. "Clem, what's going on?"

"Nothing. I'm fine." She shook her head, waving a limp hand and vanishing towards her home, also known as the location she dwelt most these days. It was her only safe space; the only location they couldn't get her. If they did, they would draw attention from the Gacia's family tent just beside her. It was too risky, and it wasn't a risk the mob was willing to take.