Fandom Life in a Quarantine Zone { The Last of Us 1x1 with icedthemoon }

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Carlos kissed Kaleb’s shoulder since he was there, and then stood up straighter so that walking was easier. He was just so tired right now. Asher moved away from the building he hated so much and through this back section in the hopes that it would be less likely to attract any unwanted attention. It was a little alley like platitudes tall walls a couple of yards from the backs of the buildings and dumpsters lining the backs of the businesses. They had to squeeze around trash sometimes. In those cases, Asher squeezed through first to make sure there weren’t any sneaky problems on the other side. Their back street ended, and Asher groaned. That meant it was back to the Main Street. Thankfully, it should not have been much longer in their travels.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb smiled at the kiss to his shoulder and then he felt Carlos straighten up. They followed Asher through the alley, avoiding trash and keeping quiet. Kaleb looked around but he didn’t see anything abnormal. Jordan heard Asher groan as their back street ended and he sighed softly, peering out to check out Main Street. Nothing crazy. He squeezed Asher’s hand to let him know that they were good. Just a little bit further and they could get out of this crazy city once and for all. They were so close as they moved into Main Street, so close to leaving and finding a spot to rest and check their wounds.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

As they moved back to the Main Street, the good fortune of seeing three end of these buildings graced them. “Thank god,” Asher muttered as he waited for everyone to catch up. He shoved an arm around Jordan’s waist for no other reason than he missed being with him, and kept walking. “The city peters out up ahead,” he pointed out at the lessening of the buildings. “Another couple of blocks and it looks like an open stretch for a bit. Based on travels, I’d say a smaller city is next?” Carlos didn’t care. His body was actively giving up with all of this and he mostly wanted to cuddle up with Kaleb and never move again.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Jordan caught Asher’s mutter and chuckled softly before he felt the arm around his waist. “Most likely. Should we find a place to rest before we get to the open stretch? That way we aren’t out in the open.” Jordan said as they walked, looking around. Kaleb was as close to Carlos as he could be while still allowing them to walk. He needed to check on his arm, but knew they needed to get somewhere safe first. Then it was checking everyone out, and then cuddle time.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

“Normally, I would say that we should push forward to the next city instead of staying in the outskirts of this one, but,” Asher looked from Jordan to Carlos and shooks his head. “But I think you’re right. We find one of these buildings not at the end in case there are people who are less than savory traveling around- we find one a block before, of course.” Carlos shrugged. Sort of. “I will go anywhere. Except maybe a basement. My love, I understand what you mean now. No more basements. That’s what’s down there? No more. For now.” he thought about it a moment. “Well for now. Maybe later. We could do that better next time.”
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Jordan looked at Asher as he spoke, seeing him looking at him and then Carlos. As much as he'd rather push forward too, he didn't think any of them could do much more. They were injured, tired and mentally drained from the whole ordeal. "Let's see, how about that building there?" Jordan said, pointing to a small two story house near the last block before the city ended. Kaleb looked at Carlos and chuckled softly. "I told you basements weren't a joke, believe me now? And no, we aren't going to find more basements." Kaleb said, shaking his head as he looked up ahead. "That would work I think."​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Carlos was not really going to be able to tell anything about anything in that moment. He was just barely moving as it was. “When better prepared, I think the basements could be fine. More explosives? All four of us. We could do it.” Asher, unlike Carlos, was actually paying attention to what they were looking at. That was, after all, what he did all the time. He pulled away from Jordan with a, “As our last standing, let me go check that out.” He began moving away but stopped to look straight at Jordan and order, “Do not get yourself into trouble while I’m gone.” He moved at his usual swift pace and ran around the building, scanning it for any problems. He returned shortly after, the rest of them still moving a bit slower. “It seems pretty safe over all.”
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb shook his head again as he sighed heavily. "No." He said. Absolutely he was not going to risk losing Carlos to a basement, not after that. Jordan looked at Asher when he pulled away and watched him start moving to check the building out. Then he chuckled softly when Asher looked back at him and he heard the order. "I won't leave this spot gorgeous." He said, watching Asher do his swift pace checking of the building. "Alright then, let's head there." Jordan replied, turning towards the building. Kaleb followed the other two, moving slowly as he did.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Carlos knew that Kaleb was right. Avoiding the basements was probably the best idea. He still wanted to do it again. It was kind of exhilarating. Just not right now. Not when he was mostly dead. Later! It could be fun. He would pose this to Jordan later. Kaleb and Asher would definitely not agree. He moved with Kaleb as Asher led them into this little house. It looked about like the rest of them. There were definitely better buildings in the world, but it was not the worst. It actually was pretty good really. “Shall we have some rooms?” Asher asked. “Who can actually make it up the stairs?” Carlos wrapped an arm around Kaleb. “I can carry my beautiful blue eyes.”
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[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb followed him and Jordan into the house and he looked at Asher for a moment. Then his eyes drew to Carlos. “Absolutely not. If your arm is messed up, there is no way you’ll be able to carry me upstairs.” Kaleb said firmly. He would not allow Carlos to hurt himself more. Jordan looked at Asher with a small sigh. “I can walk upstairs, it’s just my back, but Kaleb’s right. Carlos cannot carry him up the stairs. And we will see what is up there for rooms before we determine where we stay.” Jordan said, pausing his steps to look at the others.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Carlos may have agreed that it would be difficult to carry Kaleb up the stairs with only one fully functioning arm, but he would never allow that something like an arm possibly being broken or whatever to keep him from doing what he needed for Kaleb. Nothing could keep him from that. “I do have another arm. I could carry you with one!” He already knew that he lost this which was why he was already looking at what the house had to offer downstairs. Asher was thinking out loud, which he didn’t always do. “With houses this small, they usually have a master on the bottom floor and another bedroom upstairs, or if we’re lucky, both bedrooms downstairs and a loft upstairs. It’s hard to tell from the outside sometimes.” Carlos raised his hand. “Alternatively, one bed for us all.” Asher rolled his eyes.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb sighed heavily, hearing that comment and shook his head. "Carlos.." He muttered as he sighed, looking around. Jordan moved from where he was to check out the downstairs and he smiled, before turning back to the others. "There is a master bedroom and a smaller one down the hall here. Gorgeous, shall we give them the master and we can have the other room?" Jordan asked, looking at Asher before glancing at the other two. Jordan could've made it up the stairs but it probably would've hurt his back a little bit. His legs were a little sore too.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Only Kaleb could say his name like that. Plenty of people said his name and sounded disappointed or upset. When Kaleb said it like that, Carlos knew that he was stepping a bit too far. Did that ever stop him though? As Jordan moved off to check, he wrapped his good arm around Kaleb. “My love, nothing in this world would ever stop me from doing whatever it takes to get you where you needed to go.” He lifted Kaleb’s chin and kissed him as they stood there. “But since we don’t need to go upstairs, I won’t push you to do that. I don’t care where we go as long as I have you.” Asher coughed out a laugh. They were cute. They were adorably cute. He did not think that he and Jordan had ever been that kind of cute, and he was okay with that. “Hm?” He had gotten so distracted watching the other two that he had not really paid attention to the words Jordan was saying. “That is fine with me. We don’t need a big bed.” He felt that the other two probably didn’t either. They were a clingy kind of group. Asher ran his hand over Jordan’s chest, lips leaning close to his ear to talk. “If only you hadn’t gotten yourself so broken, lovebug.” He started walking on but snagged Jordan’s hand as he did so. He pointed to the other room. “That’s you guys. If you get lonely, I’m sure Jordan won’t mind if you come join us.”
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb looked at Carlos when he felt the other arm around him. His blue eyes locked onto Carlos as he heard his words. “I don’t want you to push yourself if you’re broken because I need to be somewhere.” He replied before he smiled into the kiss, feeling Carlos lift his chin up. “You are quite a sap aren’t you?” Kaleb asked as he followed the two towards the door. Jordan nodded and then he chuckled at the comment. “You should know this little back thing of mine wouldn’t stop me gorgeous.” He said, feeling Asher snag his hand. Kaleb looked at the two before he opened the master bedroom door and looked in. Perfect. “I think we’re all set. See you two tomorrow.” Kaleb said, ready to go inside and check on his artist. Jordan chuckled as he led the way to their room, pushing the door open and bowing for Asher to go in first. He bit back the twinge in his back at the motion. “After you gorgeous.”​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Carlos grinned proudly. “I am. But think about this love. I’m your sap.” Always and forever. No power in the universe could stop that. He would rather die than be apart from Kaleb. And in this scenario of his imminent death, they were both dead. He would never ever leave Kaleb alone. He stepped into the room with Kaleb as well, surveying it and its potential. Asher stopped at the doorway and smiled. “On second thought,” he called out for all to hear him. “Nevermind. He’s all mine. If you get lonely, you’ll have to just be sad.” He leaned in and captured those lips of Jordan’s before he pulled him inside and closed that door. He pointed to the bed. “Alright show me what you did to yourself.” In the other room, Carlos laughed and closed the door as well. Then he moved to the bed and sighed. “I think I may need some help take these off if you’re wanting to see what bad news is under all these layers.”
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb nodded as he looked at Carlos. "Yeah, you're my sap." He agreed with a smile as they headed into the room. Kaleb looked over at Asher and rolled his eyes a little bit. "You two have fun." He said as they entered their room, and he moved to the bed with Carlos. "Let's see how badly you've hurt yourself." Kaleb said as he started taking off the shirt layers, helping him. He had no idea what he was going to see under those layers.

Jordan rolled his eyes and chuckled as they got to the bed. Jordan sat down on the bed and pulled off his shirt. On his back was a large bruise and a couple long and slightly deep cuts. The blood that had beaded up from the cuts had dried since it occurred. "How bad is my back gorgeous?" Jordan asked, looking at Asher.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Getting all those layers off was difficult, because his arm was very much not happy by the time they finally got to look. Could Carlos have carried Kaleb up the stairs? Oh yes, but it would have cost him probably his sanity. He would have done it. He would have done anything for Kaleb. The pain couldn’t keep the sappy away. By the time he and Kaleb got the clothes off, some that were soaked in the now mostly dry blood of a particularly nasty wound, it was apparent that this was not pretty. When he fell, he slammed the arm on the ground floor, and the jagged places that broke under Jordan were not kind to his skin. He landed on the old couch which probably saved him from the break his was afraid he had, but when he skidded off, he scraped up more than a little of himself. Plus the whole thing looked like it was one bad bruise or possibly many smaller ones that decided it was better to merge. “I think it could have been worse,” Carlos decided.

Asher sat right next to Jordan as he examined his back. “About as bad as one would expect after falling three stories into a basement that clearly had no upkeep.” He tossed his pack beside him and started getting to work. Asher was not one for trying to make this easier. He didn’t announce what he was doing or was gentle. He was never gentle about anything. He was far too pragmatic for that. “You’ll be alright. You honestly fared far better than I thought you would. Which is not doubting you, babe. It’s just statistics.”
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb sighed softly, a frown etched into his features as he bit his lip. He took in the injury and shook his head. “Yeah, you could’ve broken it.” He said, and grabbed his pack. Kaleb pulled out the medical kit he’d grabbed and looked at Carlos. “You.. scared me. And I know it wasn’t your fault. I know that these buildings are old but I- I thought..” Fear stopped his words, and started cleaning the wound. He wiped the blood off, used the alcohol to clean the debris and dirt out as he went quiet. He was so quiet. Thinking. Worrying. Cleaning.

Jordan knew that Asher wasn’t going to make this easier and he hissed a little in pain at the cleaning of his back. “I thank the old couch we landed on that made the fall not as bad.” Jordan commented as he clenched his teeth, eyes screwed up in pain. “Once you finish this wound, allow me to thank you gorgeous.” He said, not even pain stopping him from flirting.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

The absolute worst part about being the injured one was the part where he could not wrap his arms around Kaleb who needed him to do that. Carlos needed to be that reassurance, but he was also the one who needed to be still so that Kaleb could do whatever he could to make this arm better. “Love…” He reached with his other hand, placing it on Kaleb’s leg since it was the only thing he could comfortably reach without doing some serious contorting. “Don’t think like that. Nothing could keep me from you. Nothing. Not an old building that falls apart underneath us or those cranky infected. Not ever.” He squeezed what he could reach as Kaleb cleaned him. He did not wince or show the pain. Kaleb needed him to be strong.

“You are lucky,” Asher commented as he cleaned and dressed the wounds. “You could have missed this fortunate couch. You could have fallen on a whole number of things. But it was you, so I wasn’t that worried.” Which was true to a point. If anyone could walk out of something like that alive, it was Jordan. Jordan could talk and flirt his way out of anything to include basements. “But I was worried. A little.” As he finished, he slid his arms around Jordan’s neck, letting them drop around his chest and pulled him back so that they were close. He was careful not to touch the newly dressed injuries. “What did you have in mind?” He asked with a mischievous smile. His hands took advantage of the bare chest that came with removing clothing for cleaning up injuries.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb had always been a quiet man, also been in his head and withdrawn. But he was also alone for a decade and a half. He never had anyone to talk to, never had anyone he cared about. There was no one in his life that he ever worried about. Then Carlos came along. His quiet perfect life went upside down. Suddenly he had someone to talk to, some who cared abound him and who he cared about. He had someone to worry about and it was.. rough. He had never realized how much of a toll being alone had been on him until he had someone to think about. Kaleb was pulled from his silence as he heard the word and felt the hand on his leg. “It’s hard not to think like that. I never expected to lose my mother like I did and I cannot.. lose you. I felt him Carlos. The officer. He was trying to come back because I was afraid I’d lost you.” Kaleb’s words came out in a rush as he finished cleaning and wrapping up Carlos’ arm. “There. All clean and wrapped up.”

Jordan laughed softly as he heard that. “I’m a very lucky person.” He said with a grin which fell when he heard Asher’s comment. “I didn’t mean to worry you gorgeous.” He said, feeling those arms slide around his neck and then to his chest. “Mm. Lay down on the bed and I’ll show you.” Jordan said, leaning in and kissing Asher deeply.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb’s words were hard to hear. For Carlos, this had never been a problem. He never knew his parents, so their absence did not create some traumatic event. He was never so close to any of his crew that he was devastated at being apart from them. He would have been sad if they were gone. Horribly, unshakably sad, yes, but he would be okay. He knew so many people, and he loved most of them. He never thought about how bad it would be for someone like Kaleb to suddenly have more to lose. As soon as his arm was finished, he slipped off the bed so that he could be standing right in front of Kaleb. With his one hand that wasn’t feeling mauled, he cupped Kaleb’s cheek. “I’m so sorry. I should have been more careful. That was entirely unfair to you.” He pressed their foreheads together. “Your officer shouldn’t have to protect you like that. That’s my job. I promise I will do better.”

”Don’t hurt yourself, lovebug.” Asher may have only been traveling with Jordan about a year, but he knew exactly how this was going as he did the moment they joked about it earlier. Would it be Jordan if he didn’t find a way to completely ignore his own injuries for this? No. He pried himself away from Jordan and crawled himself backward so that he was actually on the bed. He hummed with anticipation and beckoned Jordan towards him.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Kaleb did not mean for his words to hurt Carlos. It was merely the truth. He did not want him to feel bad, because who could’ve known that floor was that bad. His eyes widened as he saw Carlos slip off the bed and stand in front of him. He felt the hand on his cheek, heard his words and then their foreheads pressed together. “Don’t blame yourself. My words were not supposed to make you feel bad. We don’t know how bad these floors are, and things happen. The officer has retreated once more and you’re here. That’s all that matters.” Kaleb told him, leaning in and kissing Carlos softly. Gently. And full of love.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

They called him crazy. They told him that this man was an officer. They told him that he must have lost his mind. Maybe he did. Maybe he was crazy. Everyone called Carlos crazy. He incited riots to cover up the fact that he was creating graffiti murals inspired by his unrequited love for a FEDRA officer. He wanted to traverse more basements when he felt better because he was really sure that they could take a bloater better now that he knew more. He was crazy, and Kaleb used to be an officer who could not let crazy hurt him. “You’re right,” he whispered after a long, drawn out kiss. “But I am glad to know how you feel. I want to know everything about you, because I love all of you. Even that officer in there.” He kissed him again. A long, lingering kind of kiss. One that he hoped could tell Kaleb that it was okay for words to be upsetting sometimes. That was how they worked as a team. Carlos wanted to be a team not just the crazy guy who annoyed an officer into loving him.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Kaleb Price and Jordan DeShay
Former FEDRA officer, Former Smuggler | 25, 28 | Current location ;; New Mexico

After that long drawn out kiss, he hears Carlos’ whispered words. He was about to speak when Carlos kissed him again. This one told Kaleb all he needed to know. They were a team. Words can hurt. But they were stronger together, stronger with each other. When Kaleb pulled away from the kiss, he looked at Carlos. “I think.. it’s time for us to lay down and relax. I’m exhausted and I’m sure you are too.” Kaleb whispered. “And I will always tell you how I feel, for better or for worse. Because I love all of you too.”​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist, Former Hunter | 23, 30 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Carlos nodded, because he was absolutely exhausted. There was no part of him that did not feel like he was not falling apart. As much as he liked being his usual flirty self, he was hurting pretty badly. That would not stop him from being goofy though. He wrapped that single good arm around Kaleb and barreled against him to push him down on the bed. He laughed as he rolled next to him. “I would say something about sleep being for the weak, but seeing as how I am right now, it would be an accurate statement.”
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