Bad Blood (Gabentine Fic)

Welcome

(Flashback)

The sun was nearly blinding as it reflected off the surface of the tent, a few people in the camp laughing and joking around with one another. Nothing out of the ordinary and everything seemed relatively calm. But, that wasn't what Clementine was thinking as her narrowed eyes swept around the camp as she watched the occupants from a distance. The harsh winter wind swirled around them with little snowflakes that made her cheeks numb and her lips crack.

AJ buried his face to Clementine's chest in an effort to shield himself away from the bitter cold. Clementine clutched him tighter to her, trying to keep him warm and to soothe the violent shivers that raked his body. AJ's face was starting to resemble a walkers from how pale it was and where his cheeks were starting to sink in from the lack of food in his system. Clementine mused that she probably didn't look like a million bucks either from the way her clothes were starting to fall off of her and the feel of her ribs barely touching the inside of her shirt.

"Clemmy, are (cough) we (cough) getting help?"

AJ covered his mouth as he coughed, in fear of the monsters getting them. Clementine grimaced at the sound of his wet coughs and rubbed his back.

"Yeah, goofball. I'm going to get you some help so you can feel better, how does that sound?"

AJ smiled a little and nodded his head as he sniffled from the snot now coming out of his red nose. Clementine brought up the sleeve of her hoodie and wiped away the mucus before kissing the top of his head. Her eyes glanced at the camp once more and made her decision, she was going to get AJ help no matter what the cost was because she owed it to them. Rebecca, Alvin, everyone who died to keep him alive and well.

"Alright, goofball. You ready to go? Remember to stay close to me and don't look at them, okay?"

"Yes, Clem."

Clementine breaths in through her nose and sends up a quick prayer that they won't shoot her or AJ. Her feet crunch under her as she steps through the snow that was piling up on the ground and the sound quickly catches the attention of the camp occupants. They raised their weapons at Clementine and AJ and shouted at them.

"Stop right there! Put your hands up or be shot!"

"I can't with him in my arms! I just want to talk!"

Clementine proceeded with AJ still in her arms and all of the people dropped their weapons upon seeing AJ, except for one who raised his weapon higher at them.

"I SAID STOP!"

"BADGER! Put your weapon down now!"

The man, who still had his weapon raised, lowered it as another man shouted at him and marched up beside him and grabbed his weapon from him. The man, Badger, looked mad at being shouted at but didn't try to take his weapon back and glowered at the man who took his gun.

"David, I told them to stop approaching us and she wouldn't listen!"

"She has a fucking kid and she looks like a kid herself, Badger! We don't shoot at fucking kids!"

Badger didn't speak anymore and the other man, David, turned back to Clementine and AJ. He approached them slowly and stopped within feet of them and looked closely at their shivering forms.

"You look pretty young to be a mother, kid. What's your name?"

Clementine's eyes narrowed at being called a kid and she instinctively tightened her hold on AJ as another shiver sent tremors through his little body.

"I'm not his mother, I'm his guardian. My name is Clementine and this is AJ."

David nodded and stepped closer to them, his eyes never breaking contact with Clementine's.

"My name is David. The kid looks a little sick, Clementine."

"He is. He needs medicine and some food."

David was now standing directly in front of Clementine and out of earshot from the others. He looked down at AJ as he coughed again and then looked back up at Clementine.

"We can help him and even get some food for you. Tell me, Clementine, how good are you with a gun?"

Clementine placed AJ on the ground beside her and drew her gun from behind her and shot an empty bean can that was sitting on a log beside Badger. Badger jumped in surprise and shouted profanities at Clementine while David nodded in approval at her precise shooting before sticking out his hand for her to shake.

"Welcome to the New Frontier, Clementine."