Friends before Lovers {NUKE fanfic}_@Mintgal2

34

Luke
Everyone else walked ahead, and I started to limp.
"Want me to help?" Mike asked. I was about to answer, when Nick stepped in.
"I can." He said, and with that, he slung his arm underneath my armpit, and up around my neck. I sighed, and put my pressure on him as we walked. Arvo was tied up ahead, Kenny standing behind him, making sure he wouldn't run away. God, what is wrong with Kenny? Arvo has no weapons, and no harm on us. I mean, I get Rebecca died because of that...but still. And now things are ten times worse, because Nick is paranoid of Jane. I can tell he hates her.
"What was that?" I ask Nick.
"What was what?" He asked, still sour about something.
"You wanted to hurt Arvo?" I asked.
"No I didn't. I wanted Kenny to hurt Arvo. It's different." Nick said.
"No it isn't, it ends the same way." I said. "Jesus..."
"Look, I'm ready to trust him if it means he's telling the truth." Nick said, easing up. "Okay?"
"Okay. Okay." I grimace as my leg stings, sending a spasm of pain up my side. "Look, Nick. Promise me you won't get yourself hurt."
Nick was silent, before saying "I promise."
"Thank you." I said. I noticed no one else was looking, so I leaned over and planted a kiss on Nick's cheek. Nick smiled as we continued walking, but it faded into a sad look. "You okay?"
"I'm fine...just." He sighed. "I'm worried."
"Same." I said.
"I just..." Nick's breath became shaky. "First Pete, then Carlos and Alvin? Now we've lost Rebecca. When will it stop?"
"I don't know." I answer. "Wow. You and Clem are having the same issue."
"What?" Clementine asked from in front.
Nick looked at me, not wanting me to tell her, I guess.
"Um, Nick's just a little worried." I said. Nick sighed.
"We all are." Bonnie said.
"Let's just get to this house, and we can figure out something." Mike said. And with that, we all quieted down.
Nick
"You don't have to point the gun at him the whole time!" Mike said, and I looked up.
"Did you just forget what we went through?" Kenny snapped.
"He ain't going anywhere. No need to get your arm all sore." Bonnie said. I heard Clementine and Jane talk, and they hung back. I kept on walking, supporting Luke as I did so.
"Jesus." Luke swallowed. "My fucking leg..."
"Need to stop?" I ask.
"No. It's okay." Luke said. "I'm not gonna slow us down."
With that, Bonnie looked over at Clem and Jame.
"Come on, slow pokes!" Bonnie yelled.
We kept walking, the trees arrowing a path through the forest. Arvo limped in front, Kenny behind again. Bonnie and Mike followed, with Luke and I in the middle.
"How long do we have to keep walking for?" I complained.
"I dunno, when we get there." Luke said, and I set my foot down. Except he dropped, causing him to fall. I held me upright. "Aargh!"
"Wait up! Wait! We need to stop." Bonnie yelled.
"No...No I'm fine! I'm fine...okay? I just need a second. Sorry, I just put more weight on it than I should've." Luke said. I saw Kenny roll his eyes.
"Wait there!" He demanded Arvo. Arvo kept dawdling slowly. "Hey! What'd I say?!"
Kenny strode up to Arvo, and pushed him to ground.
"When I tell you something, you fucking, you understand?!" Kenny yelled. I set Luke down on a fallen tree.
"Kenny, come on! There's no need for that!" Mike yells.
"He's gettin' what he deserves." Kenny said.
"I'm gonna have word with Kenny. He doesn't have to treat him that way. Kid's been through enough. You alright here?" Mike said.
"Yeah, yeah, go on and talk to him. I got Clem here if I need anything." Bonnie said. And with that, he walked over to Kenny. Bonnie handed the baby to me, and I stared at her.
"You know how to hold him?" Bonnie asked.
"Yeah." I say, and I sit down next to Luke.
"What is it with you guys?" Bonnie asked, and shook her head.
"What do you mean?" Luke asked. Oh no, here goes a mini rant.
"Every man I've known is always trying to let everyone know how tough they are. Put em' in their place." Bonnie explained. "Buncha dominate, alpha male horse shit. And it all ends the same way...."
"Don't look at me. I ain't that guy." Luke said. Clementine, Luke and Bonnie looked over at me. Fuck.
"I've noticed that too...I don't know why it has to be that way..." Clementine agreed.
"It just is. Get two of em' in a room, and it's only a matter of time before they're challenging eachother to do somethin'." Bonnie said.
"Yeah...suppose I've been in enough spitting contests to agree with you." Luke said. "Guess it took a woman to talk some sense into em'. Looks like Jane split them up."
If he mentions Jane like that again, I swear to god.
"Keep pressure on it, okay?" Bonnie stood up. "I'm going to go find some bandages."
Clementine held her hand on Luke's wound.
"Hey, Bonnie." Luke said, and she turned around.
"I'm sorry." Luke said. I got confused.
"For what?" Bonnie asked. Luke didn't answer. "I'll be right back."
Clementine relaxed for a second, and Luke flinched in pain.
"You okay?" I ask. Luke shook his head.
"Dammit." He said, and Clementine put pressure onto it once more.
"Don't worry." Clementine said. "You're gonna be okay."
Luke managed at smile at Clementine and I.
"How did we get here?" He sighed.
"We walked. At least most of us did. You basically had to be carried." Clementine answered. God. She's too precious.
"Sittin' in the snow, leaned up against a tree, bullet in my leg...but alive." Luke said. I could feel his pain. "When most of my friends are dead...for no good reason. And I couldn't do anything to stop it..."
"I'm still here." I reminded him.
"And we're all thankful for that." Luke smiled, and squeezed my hand. "Everyone we set out with...just gone."
Clementine looked away sadly.
"...Pete...Alvin and Becca...Carlos and Sarah..." Luke listed. It made me think that if I had died, I would be tacked to that list. And now I know why Luke made me promise to be careful.
"They didn't die in vain." Clementine said.
"I wish I could believe that." Luke said. "I could've done more...and that ain't up for debate. I know it in my bones. And I've gotta live with it."
"I...you're not alone." I said. "I'm more responsible than you. Maybe we could've had more time to help Sarah if I hadn't have gotten shot. Maybe I should've listened on the bridge. I....you're not alone."
Bonnie walked back with a blue tourniquet.
"Alright, this should work." She said, and handed it to Luke.
"That's perfect." Luke said, and a gut feeling told me that Luke might have something on with Bonnie, too. Fuck. Why does Luke have to rock it with the girls?
Bonnie knelt down in the snow. "What did I miss?"
"Hmm? Oh, nothin' much." Luke said, covering up. "You know...complainin' mostly."
"Luke feels bad about what happened." Clementine admitted.
"What?" Bonnie asked.
"Really?" Luke asked Clementine, annoyed.
"C'mon, Luke." I said. "Don't."
"But, it's not your fault. Bad things happen and we can't control then all the time." Clementine said.
"She's right. You don't go blamin' yourself for this." Bonnie said.
"Alright." Luke shifted uncomfortably. "Can we drop it?"
I sighed, and Bonnie started wrapping the bandage around Luke's leg.
"I'm fine." He said, and then glared at Clem. "Thanks a lot."
I nudge Luke in the foot, as Clementine looked away, guilty.
"Hey, Clem...go over and see if you can change the bandages in Kenny's wound." Bonnie said. "I offered, but I don't think he feels comfortable with me doing it."
"Okay." Clementine said. Bonnie dropped peroxide in Clem's hand. God, that stuff. It hurts like hell.
"That's gonna sting, but only for a second. It's gonna clean it." Bonnie said.
"Oh, I know what it does. It's gonna suck." Clementine said.
It's gotta get done." Luke said. Clementine stood up and walked away.
"Seriously?' I asked Luke. "Clem was just tryin to help."
"Nick." Luke warned, as Bonnie was still around. Bonnie noticed, but she tied the rest fi the tourniquet up, and left. "Maybe I don't want everybody being up in my business."
I sigh. "She feels bad."
"What do you care?" Luke asked.
"Can you stop being a dick?" I asked.
"You know how annoyed you are, Nick? I've put up with that for years." Luke said. I narrowed my eyes.
"S-sorry. I'm just..."
"Upset." I said. "Got it."
"Nick..." Luke began. "I'm..."
his bottom lip trembled.
"I'm not okay." Luke said. "I'm..losing it."
"Wow." I said. "Have we gone crazy enough to switch positions?"
Luke laughed. "Maybe."
"Look, as long as I'm here, you'll be fine." I said, and snuck a quick kiss on Luke's lips. "I'll do my best to help you and the group. And you'll do the same, I'm sure."
Luke smiled, and nodded.
"How have I missed you all these years?" Luke asked, and I shrugged.