In The Dark (Sequel To Light) -Clementine/Louis, Clouis, Louisentine

Chapter 1

The sun was just beginning to crest the horizon, the usual inky blackness of the night giving way to the muted oranges of the sunrise.

Louis would consider it beautiful if he wasn't focused on the fact that he had woken up at an ungodly hour and he could potentially be walking into death.

Clementine seemed to agree.

She was sat on the edge of her bed, his nervous pacing making her feel equally as nervous, watching him from her space on the bed with a concerned frown.

"Louis, are you sure you're okay for this?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. I can do this. I can. Just need to... To calm down a bit."

AJ didn't show a hint of the nerves he was feeling, examining his new pistol and flipping the safety on before tucking it away in the back of his trousers.

"Don't worry, Clem. I'll look after him," AJ assured Clementine, smiling cheekily at Louis

"I know you will, kiddo"

"Uh, shouldn't I be the one looking after you?"

Clementine and AJ share an amused glance, raising an eyebrow at one another at Louis' question.

Louis huffs in annoyance, turning to the bed and picking up one of their spare bows, securing it across his back before turning back to the two.

"You ready, bud?" He asks AJ, who nods eagerly in response.

"Yep. I'll go grab the map and wait by the gates," AJ informs him, turning and walking out of the room.

The two of them watch AJ as he goes, the door softly closing behind him once he leaves the room. Clementine stands slowly from the bed, grabbing onto the bed posts for support as she pulls herself up. Louis notices this, quickly walking over to the end of the bed to pick up her crutches and pass them to her.

Clementine smiles gratefully at him, though with a slight frown on her face as she takes in his thoughtful expression.

"What are you thinking about?"

He sighs softly, scratching the side of his neck nervously as she gazes intensely at him.

"I just... I really meant what I said. About stepping up, that I'm ready to defend our home."

"I know you did. That you are."

"For some reason I can't shake these nerves. That somethings gonna go wrong, or that I'll find a way to fuck things up."

"Thats completly normal, Lou. Especially when you're not used to these kinds of things. I've done them hundreds of times, and I still feel that way before every one," Clementine reassures Louis, stepping slightly closer to him. "Here, take this."

Clementine reaches into her jacket pocket, pulling out her signature knife and flipping it to hold the sharp blade, offering the handle to him.

"Are you sure? It's your knife," He asks in uncertainty, knowing Clementine will most likely kill him if he damages or loses it.

"Yes, it is. And I'm relying on you to use it to protect yourself, and to protect AJ."

Louis takes the knife carefully from her, honored she would trust him with it. He tucks her knife away in his jacket, smiling fondly down at her.

"Thanks, Clem."

Clementine returns his smile, pushing up on her toes and pressing her mouth to his softly. The tension drains out of him as he leans into her comforting touch, a small whine escaping his throat when she pulls away.