#of cringe

Word Count: 1029

Ship: Clem x Louis

The first time Louis ever has to come to Clementine’s assistance involves  the most awkward supply run he’s ever been on. Although the process, for the most part, wasn’t anything new, attaining painkillers for menstrual cramps is definitely a first. While the  girl was confined to her bunk bed in a fetal position, him and Violet were staking out a gas station in hopes of finding something to alleviate her pain.

“Can’t we just get her, like, Advil or something?” Louis grumbles  as he trails  Violet up and down the feminine hygiene section. His skin prickles  and he tries to avert his eyes from the few products that remain on the shelves.

“I checked. All the over the counter meds have been looted by now.” Violet sighs in  irritation when she opens up a pink and white box and finds it empty. “Damn.”

“How come you or Ruby never get like this?” Louis says. “With the..female trouble.” Violet raises her eyebrows. “Female trouble, Louis?”

“Fuck me, Violet, I’m not an expert on this.” Like any of them are. He remembers fondly how Violet had thought she was bleeding to death the first time it happened.

“I don’t know. She said she’s been on the road a while. I guess it’s just hard to adjust to staying in one place. It hasn’t gotten that bad for me in a while.” She shakes her head. “Instead of standing there like an idiot, why don’t you help me?”

“What do you need?” His eyes wander up and down the shelves. It’s all Greek to him.

“Birth control’s probably the only thing left for this shit. Me and Minerva used to use it.” Louis glances at her but her face is relaxed. That’s good. Usually whenever she talks about Minnie she gets this tight look on her face, like somebody’s forcing a knife into her side and twisting it hard.

“You guys were doing it?”

Violet chucks an exploded soda can off of the floor at him. “Screw you. It helps with the cramps, you know?” She grins slyly. “Unless you can think of another use for it.”

His cheeks heat up. Vi always has a way of turning the situation on him. “I get it, okay?”

“Just so you know, condoms are more reliable.”

---

She groans at his intrusion, but otherwise doesn't respond. “Clem?” he says, touching the blankets over her waist. She flinches and whimpers at the touch, and Louis  yanks his hand away—a little hurt, then confused at feeling hurt. “Hey, Clem, you okay?”

“Yeah,” she says, laughing weakly. With a herculean effort she rolls herself over to face him, still curled, he realizes now, around her stomach. She looks absolutely miserable. “It hasn't been this bad since the first few years,” she says sheepishly, like it's something to apologize for. “Then all of a sudden, whammo.”

“I can’t relate.”

“I bet.”

“Where’s AJ?” With Clem looking this shitty, he’d expect the kid to be clinging to her bedside like glue.

“He’s in the yard with Tenn. He’s hardly noticed.” The words seem to take a lot of effort and she sorts of folds in on herself with a wince.

“Uh, Violet and I got you some stuff from a gas station. Some pills.” Clem looks a little surprised. “Pills? I thought that stuff’s all gone.”

“Well, it was. It’s..uh, birth control.”

Clementine smiles feebly. “Louis, I don’t like you that much.” It’s her attempt at a joke so he manages a grin in return. “Nah. Violet said it helps.”

“Yeah, I know.” She stretches gingerly. “This isn’t that bad, Louis. Save it for someone else.”

“What  else are  we using them for?”

“I don't know!” Her face twists up in sudden pain, and she curls in on herself more tightly. He feels like a dick.

“Clem, you look like shit.”

“Sure know how to charm them, Louis,” she says wryly. “I’m fine. Besides, it isn’t like I have any beauty pageants coming up.”

He can't tell her—even swimming in her own sweat and aged ten years by the pain—that she's the most beautiful thing he's ever seen; that even the knowledge of what's going on down there doesn't stop his thoughts from spinning like they always do when he’s around her.

“Come on, Clem. If you’re stuck in here all day who’s gonna save my ass when I act like an idiot?” He can’t believe he actually has to persuade her to take painkillers.

 She glares at him and flops back onto her pillow. “Okay. Give them here.” He fumbles with the packaging - Take the morning after! - and rips the crinkled foil off of the pills. They look like little sticks of gum. “Uh, how much?”

“Two should be enough.” He drops them into her extended palm and pushes the bottled water on her bedside into the other. She grimaces at the bitter taste but downs them quickly, clearing her throat afterwards.

“Thanks, Louis.” She smiles at him. His cheeks feel like they're melting. He nods.

She scoots over and pats the bed next to her. “You want to sit until  they kick in?” From the way her own cheeks are smudged red he can tell she’s embarrassed by the request too.

Jesus.

“Whatever,” he says, heart thundering. After a second to work out the logistics, he lowers himself down, careful not to jostle her too badly, and leans back against the headboard.

“Hey, at least we know you're not pregnant,” he blurts out.

She looks at him strangely. “How in the world could I be pregnant?”

“Just saying,” he mutters.

He can feel Clem  roll her eyes. She moves  in closer against him, tucking her head under his chin, the close proximity forcing them together. She really must be feeling out of it.  His hand slides a little so it's touching her waist; just barely though. It's not on purpose or anything. It’s just convenient.

“We're good for now.”

I’m the farthest thing from good,  he thinks desperately. But something in her warmth, the smell of her, tugs at his senses.