Walking Dead Game Collection

"Sugar Rush"

Title: Sugar Rush
Characters: Clementine, Luke, Kenny, Rebecca, Nick, Sarah
Summary: Luke gives Clementine a chocolate bar as a reward for all she'd done for their group, but inadvertently gives the child a massive sugar rush.
Author's Note: The title reminds me of Wreck It Ralph tbh. tw; swears
Requested By: Anonymous
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It was intended to be a simple present, but everything had taken a turn for the worst.

Walkers had been crawling up the sides of the ski lodge taking over the hill that led to the group's haven. Luke and Kenny had dashed outside, weapons drawn, ready to clear them enough that they could all get a decent, safe sleep. Clementine, glancing out the window, could sense they were getting outnumbered. Without saying a word to anyone inside, she grabbed a weapon and ran out after them.

At first, Luke and Kenny were shocked to see Clementine at their sides. Kenny had passively told her to get back inside, but was shocked at how well she seemed to be holding her own. Really, she was focusing on any walkers that slipped past them, smacking them down before they could get close to the lodge.

So, when the three of them slipped back inside, it only seemed fair that Luke thank her for her help with a present. But that turned out to be a mistake.

"Let's go outside!"

"Clem, it's dark out."

"And?"

"There are walkers."

"Then let's go kill some!" Clementine's arms swung as she spoke, her body filled to the brim with pure unadulterated energy. "We did a great job earlier! Let's get a head start for tomorrow."

Luke could feel his head fall into his hands in disbelief at how determined Clementine was to do everything and anything. Most days she had little motivation to move. She merely existed in their world, she didn't live in it.

It was a given that it was bound to happen to her eventually given her past — even given the bits of her life they witnessed — but they didn't think it was going to happen to her so soon; the loss of the will to live.

That was all gone. Now, she was an entirely different person.

One of Rebecca's eyebrows lifted as she watched the child, giving a side eye to the exasperated male beside her. "Still feeling confident about that 'treat', huh?"

Luke scoffed, standing up from the chair he had been sitting in. "I didn't think it was going to turn her into this. We've never seen Clem on sugar before."

"Let's hope we never see it again." Nick commented bitterly, lifting his head from the table he had been resting it on. He had come downstairs from where he had been attempting to relax when he heard the commotion. He was greeted by Clementine parading around the main floor before an exasperated Luke and a mildly-entertained Rebecca.

Kenny, who had entered the scene shortly after Nick, held a cup of warm water as he watched with a smirk. He had never seen her this excited about anything before, especially not since her new group had joined theirs. Lee's death had certainly taken a toll on her. Really, a lot of things had. In a way, she reminded him a lot of Duck when she was like this; care-free and happy despite their shitty world.

"Nick! Let's go exploring." Clem quipped.

The male raised an eyebrow, casting a hesitant gaze between Rebecca and Luke. "Why me?"

"I know you have a thing for beer." She jumped, determination laced within every motion. "Let's go find you some."

Nick smirked. "I take that back, let's give her sugar every day."

"How about we don't?" Luke claimed, pushing himself against the nearby wall. He was only a few feet from Kenny; having a front row seat to the show.

"You're not going beer hunting with a child." Rebecca spat, a hand jetting out in front of him. "You have got to be kidding."

"She offered!" Nick countered, easing his head back down to the table, exasperated from his only encounter with the hyper child.

The gentle patter of footsteps entered the air and just as the adults turned to their side, Sarah was making her way down the last few steps of the staircase. She had her eyebrows raised, her freshly-brushed hair demonstrating that she had been ready to go to bed.

"What's going on?" She asked softly, turning to see what the adults were watching. Then, before her, she watched Clementine turn her attention to a box of Christmas decorations — the leftover ones her and Sarita hadn't gotten to the day previous — and began hanging her favourites on the tree.

"Clementine got sugar." Nick responded plainly, finding no desire to hide the fact from the girl. "And now she's hyper as hell."

Sarah's eyes followed Clem's movements, Nick's words ringing in the background. She gave a slight pout as she watched Clementine's excitement. She hadn't seen the girl ever this happy.

Noticing her frown sent a surge of concern through Luke, standing upright to face her. "Sarah, what's up?"

The child jolted out of her trance, staring absentmindedly at her sugared-up friend before turning to the adult speaking to her. Meekly, her shoulders sank. "I haven't had chocolate in forever, that's all."

Clementine's head poked up from behind the tree, smiling kindly. "Sarah, I have extra!" Setting down the box she had been dealing with, she scurried to her backpack in the corner of the room, removing the half-eaten chocolate bar. "Want some?"

Sarah's eyes lit up like stars, already starting forwards before the small herd of adults, all in sync, spoke for her.

"No!"

The sudden yell caught the interest of both girls, staring at the adults with quizzical hurt and wonder. "Why?" Sarah asked softly, turning to them all. Her gaze cast a shade of betrayal. "Why does Clementine get some and I don't?"

"It was supposed to be a thanks for helping with the walkers outside." Luke groaned, roaming his fingers through his distressed hair. "I didn't think it was going to turn her into a hyperactive mess."

Clem pouted briefly, as if finding a kind of offence at the claim, before crossing her arms. "Why can't I split with Sarah? Then we can be hyperactive messes together." She countered, her tone slightly bitter.

Great. On sugar, she was even sassier. Nice.

"Let 'em have it." Kenny claimed with a wave of his hand, his smile painfully evident. He didn't bother trying to hide the surge of joy he felt at seeing Clementine this happy. It filled him with so many memories of his boy. Even better was being able to create more memories with his girl.

"Seriously?" Rebecca asked with an eyebrow raise. Of all the people she expected to be on board with the plan, Kenny was the last.

"Let them have their fun," he claimed, taking a sip of his drink. "They don't get a lot of that these days."

Luke raised his eyebrows, rather impressed. While exhausted, he had to admit he saw it in the same way. The two children had been almost mute with sorrow ever since they had met and now here they were, excited over something as simple as a candy bar.

Nick groaned, pressing his fingers to his temple. "Fuck it, why not? At least they'll be entertaining."

Sarah, giving a slight jump, darted towards her friend holding the treat out to her.

Watching this, Nick turned and cast Luke a cautious side-eye. "If none of us get any sleep, I'm blaming you."

"Heh," Luke sighed, shoulders slumping. "Great."

But somehow, the sight of the two girls being truly happy made up for that. He would stay sleep deprived for days if it meant for a while, even just a few hours, they got to act like kids. Kenny smiled, wandering up beside the male, perfectly mimicking his thoughts.

That's what they deserved; some real fun. No matter what the cost.
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