take my cards.

he didn’t look like he was paying attention, so it would be easy to jump him. walking around like that through that area —- he HAD to be one of lilly’s men. he had to be delta. clementine didn’t hold anything back. he had more fight in him than she thought he’d have, so when he counterattacked it caught her by surprise just a little, but not enough that she didn’t REACT. bow in hand, arrow in place —- if he moved wrong, he was dead. she didn’t even have to tell him to turn around, but when he did, her heart sank.

and she wasn’t the only one having a strong reaction. immediately she lowered her weapon and stared at him in awe. she never thought they’d see each other again. ❝ gabe? i—- ❞ what could she SAY that wouldn’t sound completely obvious? nothing would be enough. after she found aj she was so far away from richmond that she grieved the fact they would never reunite, but she accepted it. and now there he was.

❝ you’re alive. you’re… HERE, i… ❞ with nothing else to say, she just ran towards him and gave him a tight HUG.

          HE THOUGHT HE WAS DREAMING, a sick little trick of his brain so he would wake up and the reality that his only friend never came home set in.   even to this day, there was always that little hope that when he woke up, returned from supply run or walker clearance... she would of arrived, his uncle grinning ear-to-ear when he got to gate, waiting to give him the news.   it was stupid, it was something he should of grown out of as he got older and he spent less time daydreaming and more time taking on his role inside Richmond and the responsibilities piled on and the thought was left to collect dust like boxes in the attic.

   and today, it all came crashing back.   his jaw hung making him look like a fish out of water as she stood over him, there was no mistaking her for anyone else, he knew that hat, he knew that face, he knew those eyes-- 

     looking for a new ride was easier said than done, he knew how futile that task was when the roads was stripped bare of what it had, but the thought of home and a hot meal waiting for him kept his feet going.   and the most he would be tasting that evening was DIRT.    he didn’t hear them coming, knelt down beside a car that looked decent enough but it wasn’t how shiny the car looked but rather what it still had inside, he checked the tires for inflation... and the next thing he knew his temple hit the floor hard enough for his vision to go white briefly,  hands were on him and encouraging his hands behind, instinct kicks in and he resists once the stars left his vision, he swings his head upward connecting with the attacker’s chin, he hit hard enough for her to falter and he suddenly rolls over, throwing her off and back onto his feet.  he pats the ground furiously until his fingers close around a rock and before he could swing.   he hears the stretch of a bow, the string squeaks under the pressure and an arrow glints as it’s pulled back making him freeze on the spot.   his head was thrumming and now he was still, the cold breeze informed him of a wet rivulet of red that slowly crept down the side of his face.  he was panting, and heart hammering.    shit.

   the rock fell from his hands with a thud and his hands slowly raise up, shit. fuck.    he turns around, finally facing his attacker who got the jump on him on what has to be his unluckiest day yet-- oh how that changed, how it changed.    gabriel turns his body and eyes lift up to the person standing above him, and he sees her.   her.

                    ❝ –    holy. shit.     ❞