Two Sides of the Same Street (A Clouis Fic)

Chapter Four

Word Count: 3754 (damn this is a long one)

Summary: Louis helps comfort Clem during a blackout.

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"Seriously dude, go home. I can clean up just fine by myself." Louis passed Marlon his third tissue, wincing at his violent sneeze. His third sneeze of that nature within the last ten minutes.

Marlon quickly grabbed the tissue, emptying the contents of his nose into it. "Don't worry about me, I'm fine-d."

"When you put a 'D' at the end of fine you're not fine," Louis teased, yet there was some merit to it. This idiot Marlon was showing telltale signs of illness; pale face, a blushed nose and non-stop sneezing. "We're closed now anyway, so technically you can leave."

Marlon threw the tissue into the bin, straightening out his shirt. "I guess," He poked Louis's chest sharply. "Don't do anything stupid." His face screamed 'I am sick with the plague' but his eyes said 'I will kill you in your sleep if you try anything'.

Louis feigned a laugh as he passed Marlon his jacket. "You'll be seeing it on the security cameras if I do. You still going to Brody's?" Marlon graciously took his winter coat, shrugging it over his shoulders.

"Not in this weather and not when I'm like this. I'll give her a call when I get home. Catch you later Lou." He gave Louis a classic finger gun as he trudged out onto the thick layer of snow outside. He quickly hobbled through, trying desperately to not fall on his ass.

Louis grabbed the wooden broom from the far corner of the store, sweeping away a combination of dust and crumbs into a neat pile by the bin. "Cinderella has nothing on me."

Suddenly the centre light above his head began to flicker like crazy. Louis had seen enough horror movies to know where this was going, but before he could reach the door for his getaway every light in the store went out.

"You gotta be fucking kidding me."

Blackouts were common during snow storms, Louis had a small backpack hidden away in the storeroom for emergencies. It was originally his apocalypse survival bag, but that's just crazy! He dug around the backpack for one of the flashlights Mitch had given him after the store experienced their first blackout.

"Always be ready for anything dude."

Louis made a mental note to kiss Mitch next time he saw him.

He fiercely pulled out the flashlight from it's hiding spot, his bright smile could threaten it. Louis pressed the small power button once, then twice...three, four, five times.

"I guess they're not kidding me," He huffed. It had been a while since he replaced the batteries. "Maybe Clem might have something I can borrow. A fancy candle or something." Louis glanced at the antique store from across the street, there didn't appear to be any lights on either. Also, an excuse to see Clementine was valid in every sense.

Louis waddled through the snow like a baby penguin, some of it seeped into his shoes through the holes by his ankles. "Kiss Mitch, buy new shoes." He gently tapped his knuckles against the front door, trying to peek in through the frosted windows. It was eerily pitch black and Clementine wasn't answering the door.

Louis slowly opened the door, flinching when it creaked. "Clemster, it's Louis. I'm coming in, please don't attack me." He called out into the desolate space. Never had it been so quiet or so cold. Louis closed the door behind him before treading lightly around the store, if he broke any of these artefacts he'd be making an early call with Death. His arms were waving around in front of him, trying to piece together where he was. "If I were in Bird Box I'd be fucking dead."