Walking Dead Game Collection

"Dad?"

Title: Dad?
Characters: Clementine, Luke, Carlos, Carver, Kenny and Nick.
Summary: Clementine accidentally calls Carlos 'Dad' causing some uproar among the group. However, this does lead to some trouble regarding Luke, Carlos, and Carver.
Author's Note: Spoilers and foul language inside. Read with caution.
Requested By: Anonymous
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"Ugh." Clementine groaned, staring at the peaches and beans that were for dinner yet again. She didn't mind it at first, after all she would rather have this than nothing at all. But after a few days and having them for every meal, they get old. The young girl's golden eyes roamed the table, searching for anything she could use to wash down the rest of her meal. Her orbs quickly locked onto a water bottle at the other end of the table, next to Carlos and Sarah. Clementine was about to speak when Nick cut her off.
"Yo, when are we going to have something other than this for dinner?" He asked, gesturing to a spoonful of the messy substance.
"If you can come up with something better to eat, you let me know." Kenny retorted with a snark, shooting a daring glare towards the man. Quickly, Nick avoided eye contact and resumed on eating his food.
Clementine smirked, but forbid herself to speak.
"I think Nick has a point." Carlos commented. "We're going to get sick of this eventually. We need more food."
"We can work with what we got now, can't we?" Kenny fired back, now shifting his gaze over to the father. Unlike Nick however, Carlos stood his ground.
"I don't have anything against the food that we have now, all I'm saying is that we need more. More variety." Carlos reminded Clementine a lot of her father, the girl noticed as she watched the two argue. Her father was also the type of person who would stick up for good of the people, not just for the good of himself. It made her look up to her Dad, even more than she already did. She smiled softly to herself, but made sure it wasn't large enough for anyone else to notice. She didn't want any prying questions about her family anymore than she was forced to answer.
Their argument finally dying down, Clementine seized the opportunity to ask for the water she had seen earlier. A grin still on her face, the girl spoke gesturing to Carlos. "Hey Dad, can you pass the water?"
It was only when everyone at the table froze and glanced at her awkwardly that she realized what she had said. A midst the shock, she dropped her spoon against her plate, causing a dull clink to bounce off the walls of the room.
"W-What?" Carlos asked exasperatedly, as if he had been punched in the stomach. Everyone at the table was staring at her like she was an alien. Clementine said nothing and remained still, as if that could cause her to vanish,
"Clem?" Luke asked, reaching his hand out as if he was going to try and soothe her, but Clem quickly jolted away. Luke's hand recoiled before he had a chance to near his fingers close to her body.
Without warning, the young girl jumped out of her seat and ran out the front door, not stopping for a moment to explain where she was going or to explain her previous actions.
"Clem!" Luke yelled, rising from his seat. But she couldn't hear him, she was too busy running as fast as her legs could take her.
She ran and ran until her legs felt weak, causing her to collapse onto the dirt path below her feet, panting desperately. What had she done? She couldn't go back and face everyone now, it would beway too heartbreaking to talk about and explain, then she would receive their pitying glances and would go to bed a depressed little girl.
Footsteps crunched up ahead, and without looking she launched herself at the male presence that has stopped beside her. "Luke!" She cried desperately. "I'm really sorry but I can't go back there, not right now. I don't want to have to explain everything. I—" Her voice halted, feeling a hand rest itself against her hat. It didn't feel like Luke's. Normally his hand was warm, and in moments like these he would gently rub her hat against her head in an attempt to calm her. This hand felt cold, and unwelcoming.
"There there." A gruff, unsettling voice grumbled from above her head.
Carver.
"It's alright." Clementine's muscles stiffened as a familiar voice behind her called her name' confirming her fears.
"Clem?" Luke called, his voice a clear example of his worry and anger.
"Luke!" The young girl cried in thankfulness. She pushed herself away from the creepy man despite his attempt to latch his fingers onto her shirt, and leaped towards her friend in a hug.
Luke immediately dropped the sword he was carrying to wrap the young girl protectively in his arms. "Clem, thank God you're ok...." He whispered through her hair. However, the touching moment didn't last long as Luke pushed Clementine behind his legs and retained his weapon. "Carver, what the hell is your problem?!"
The man chuckled, holding up his hands as if trying to prove his innocence. "I didn't hurt her."
"You better not have!" Luke fired back quickly. "If you so much as come within fifty yards of her, you're going to have me to deal with!"
After studying the two for a brief moment, Carver smirked. "Alright. I believe you." But before Luke had a chance to warn him off any further, he disappeared into the dark forest. As if he was warning them of what was yet to come.
A short moment of silence fell upon the two before Luke placed a hand on Clementine's back and ushered her forwards. "He didn't hurt you did he?" As he spoke however, he was switching between giving her looks of genuine concern and checking behind him to see if the villain had returned.
"No. I'm fine."
Finally, out of possible range, Luke stopped the young girl and spun her around as he crouched to her level. "What was that all about Clem?" He asked, his voice soft and just above a whisper.
Clementine frowned and stared at the ground. She shifted uncomfortably, not wanting to speak about the past events. But out of everyone in the group, Luke was the one she trusted most. She knew he would understand. "He just reminded me of my Dad, that's all. I was thinking about that when I spoke." She refused to make eye contact with the man as embarrassment and sadness swept over her features. "I just miss him."
Luke studied her sad face for another brief moment before standing and placing his hand over her shoulders. "Come on, we'll stay outside the lodge for a little while. That sound ok to you?" He asked with a smile.
As they reached the cabin however, Luke asked Clementine to wait outside while he told the group about their safety. Upon reaching the front doors however, he was attacked by questions from everyone. "Guys!" He yelled after a few minutes, finally calming the group down. "No one is to speak a word of this to her. Ever. Okay?" He spoke sternly. "She's just upset over her parents that's all. Don't bring it up."
The group gave him odd looks of confusion before nodding and going their separate ways; the only person to remain being Carlos. "Do you know why she called me, out of all people, Dad?" He asked.
Luke raised an eyebrow, cautiously thinking of if he should reveal the answer or not. "Why do you ask?"
Carlos smirked. "Because I think you're more of a father to her than I'll ever be."
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Original Link: http://thatglitterygeek.tumblr.com/post/83799793269/the-walking-dead-game-fanfiction-dad