Walking Dead Game Collection

"Photograph"

Clementine and Luke

This is set right once Clementine and her new group reach the ski lodge in season 2 episode 2 and before action hits. Clementine finds and old photo of Lee and realizes that she needs a little comfort in her time of need.

Clementine sat crouched on the ground, her head resting against her knees and the picture of Lee in her hands. "How did it come to this?" She asked herself, her voice cracking as she spoke. God, she couldn't even look at her picture of him without threatening to burst into tears. However, it's true that she had a reason. Lee saved her from everything, even himself. All because he cared for her.
After seeing her parents turn into walkers, she couldn't help but want Lee to take care of her. In that one instant moment of heartbreak, she knew Lee was there for her.
Well, at least he was.
She threw his picture to the side with a small sob/sigh and hid her eyes in her legs. She shot him.She killed him. Even though there was no other way, she couldn't help but feel her sorrow and guilt consume her from the inside out.
After all of her fighting against it, her tears finally surfaced and rolled down her dirty cheeks. What was she doing? The others were here, her new group could come in at any minute and see her just sitting her sobbing like a baby.
They had just made it to the ski lodge not too long ago and she had left the group to put her things away upstairs where she would be sleeping. It was clearly a mistake to look at the photograph. Seeing Kenny just made the pain that much worse.
"Clementine?"
Caught.
Clementine heard Luke's voice echo through the room. Oh god, how embarrassing. Her head remained locked in her jeans for a moment before she heard creaking of floorboards. She froze her breathing for a moment, and being content with the thought that he had left, she raised her head. Instead, he was standing right in front of her.
At first, he gave her a quizzical-almost a 'what the hell are you doing' stare-before he noticed the tear stains on her cheeks and the pools of water resting against the rims of her eyes.
Almost immediately his eyes turned to concern and worry as he knelt down to her level. "Clem, what's wrong?"
That voice, that tone, that nickname. Everything. It reminded her so much of him.
Before she could break again she brushed her eyes across her sleeve and gave a small sigh. "I'm fine."
Now noticing the picture thrown to the side, Luke picked up the half and examined it. "Who's this? Your dad?" He asked, showing the picture to her red face. Clementine frowned again, turning her eyes away from the photo.
"It's Lee." Her hoarse voice whispered in response.
Luke immediately dropped the topic and slid the picture back beside the girl. He remembered the story she had told him, how Lee had saved her and told her how to shoot. He was pretty much like a second caretaker after her parents turned.
"I'm sorry kiddo." He said softly.
"Me too." The same words she said to Lee just moments before his demise.
The thought was enough to make her break, and that's exactly what she did. Her lip began to wobble, and before she could fall apart she ducked her head back into her knees again. Her body shook as she bit down harshly on her lower lip to keep from the loud sobs escaping from her lips.
Luke's chest tightened at the sight. She was holding back, he could tell. She didn't want to cry in front of him, maybe in front of anyone. Being carful not to make a lot of noise, he slid beside her and watched her cautiously. "Clem," he started.
With a small sniffle, she rubbed her eyes and took a deep breath to steady her voice. "W-What-"
An arm wrapped it's way around her back and gripped onto her side, and in one swift movement she was resting in Luke's lap, his arms wrapped protectively around her small frame. Clem gasped, fighting back more tears as he moved her. He must think she's such a baby.
"Clem, you're just a little girl." The statement caught her off guard slightly considering that Luke always hated calling her a 'little girl'. "You don't need to be tough and strong all the time."
Even though she hated to show her weak side, Clem found herself with more tears rolling down her cheeks with every passing second.
"You can cry, Clem. It's ok." A broken sob escaped her lips, hiding her eyes from his view. She froze for minute, trying to control herself before speaking again.
"I really miss Lee." She said quietly. Luke didn't even respond, he just rested his hand against her back, surveying the room as she poured her heart out.
"I'm sorry." He said quietly. "I'm sorry for locking you in that shed, dropping you in the woods, demanding that we leave you behind."
Clementine didn't respond, instead she just teared up again and hid her eyes against his shirt.
"I mean...Jesus. I'm such an asshole. I didn't realize what you'd find through, and look what I did. Made it worse."
"You didn't make it worse." She said with a sniffle. "You were just protecting their group. That's all."
"Well now, I'm protecting you." He said sternly.
The thought was sweet, although memories clouded Clem's mind instead of being happy that he cared. But he did, maybe things would be different this time.
"Thank you." She said quietly.
He may not be Lee, but he definitely cared.
Luke gave a small smile and leaned her back. "Let's go get dinner, ok?" He said, rising to his feet, gently setting her beside him. He offered her his hand to get up, which she took. Finally standing, he smiled and held a hand on her back as they headed for the door. "Let's go." He said quietly, Clem giving a small smile up at him as the exited the door, and descended the stairs.
-----------
Original Link: http://thatglitterygeek.tumblr.com/post/79562842897/walking-dead-game-fanfiction-photograph