Fandom Tale of Two Survivors { The Last of Us 1x1 with icedthemoon }

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan
Former Seraphite | 19 | Current location ;; Idaho

Alex’s eyes widened as he heard that word. So he did something, perhaps a little unconventional but it would hopefully have the intended outcome. Using his weight to keep Nate still, he nodded with a smirk. “Okay.” He said simply before he attempted to tickle Nate’s sides. “This won’t stop until you admit if you are in love with me or not!” He said laughing.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews
Former Firefly| 21 | Current location ;; Idaho

Nate was thinking that Alex would do something super silly like argue that this wasn’t an answer or throw a fit or insist on having a definite yes or no before moving away. But no. No instead he was being viciously attacked, and the laughter was real. Like really real. Like he didn’t know that he was ticklish until this moment but it was serious kind of real. He was laughing so hard that his entire body was trying to curl together and was certainly beginning to constrict. “Oh my god!” He cried as he attempted to squirm away from Alex, which was definitely not working. “You can’t use your powers for evil!”
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan
Former Seraphite | 19 | Current location ;; Idaho

Alex heard the real laughter coming from Nate and laughed himself. This may have been unexpected but it was so wonderful to hear that sound. He’d missed this laughter and almost kept up the tickling just to hear it. Alex felt Nate tr and squirm away but he kept him from doing that. “I’ll use my powers for evil if I want to. Now, are you going to answer the question or does this have to keep going because I can do this all day.” Alex said with a big grin on his face. He certainly would try but eventually he’d stop, maybe. Possibly. ​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews
Former Firefly| 21 | Current location ;; Idaho

“Noooo!” He screeched as he tried to pry away his hands so that he could push Alex away. This was proving to be not only a difficult but also an impossible thing to do. “Stoooooop!” Nate’s brain could not process anything while he was being mentally and physically attacked. It was like the tickles meant he could focus on literally nothing else. His body contorted as he tried to get away, but it was like Alex was everywhere. There was no getting away from him. Or the incessant laughter. Man, Nate was a lot. “Fine!” he finally yelled though he didn’t say anything after that.
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[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan
Former Seraphite | 19 | Current location ;; Idaho

Alex heard the screech, felt Nate try and pry his hands away and heard the stop. But it wasn’t until he heard the word ‘fine!’ that he paused. His fingers stilled where they were but he didn’t move. “Fine what?” Alex asked, arching an eyebrow with a smile on his face. He looked down at Nate curiously. “Are you going to answer my question or do I have to keep on tickling you?” He asked also, though his smile was warm and teasing, enjoying the moment.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews
Former Firefly| 21 | Current location ;; Idaho

With the assault now having come to a pause, Nate could attempt to regain his breath. And his bearings. And his wits. He stared into Alex’s soul as he grounded himself again. “Fine I will answer your question. Am I in love with you? That is questionable.” Before Alex could do anything about it, he quickly continued. “Because because because the question of ‘in love’ refers to a state of being. One that you could potentially flow in and out of. Am I ‘in love’ with you asks if I am in the state of selfishness that means that I want you for reasons that directly correlate to me. These are probably feelings and desires that stem from the state of a new relationship that consumes the brain and the body. Since bodies and beings fluctuate, this state can pass and one can be simply not ‘in love’ anymore.” He may have been grinning like an idiot. “Am I in love with you? I don’t know. I’ve never really been in love before, but all the symptoms point to that. But.” He paused to smile more warmly. “I think it’s safe to say that I do in fact very much love you.”
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan
Former Seraphite | 19 | Current location ;; Idaho

Alex shifted uncomfortably as he saw Nate staring at him. He tilted his head as he listened to Nate, confusion filtering on his face. This was making his head hurt. If Nate wanted to use his wits to win, it was working because Alex was blinking as he saw Nate smile warmly. “Okay.. um.. you know? I’ll take that answer I guess.” Alex said, before he grinned. He leaned in, watching Nate. “And I love you too.” He said, kissing Nate deeply before he finally moved off him and stood up, holding his hand out. “Come on you, we should get moving.” Alex said with a soft smile.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews
Former Firefly| 21 | Current location ;; Idaho

Watching Alex’s face while he spoke was probably one of the best things. He was just so gosh darn cute, and it was so adorable. Yeah, there was no question about whether or not he loved Alex. He really, really did. When Alex pulled away, Nate sighed. “But wait now. I liked the kissing part. I will babble about nothing more often if I get more kisses.” He laughed to himself as he took Alex’s hand and stood up. And then, because he couldn’t take it, he took Alex’s cheeks in his hands and planted another deep kiss to his lips. “To be fair, it seems pretty likely that I’m in love with you too.”
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[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan
Former Seraphite | 19 | Current location ;; Idaho

Alex arched his eyebrow as he stood up, hearing those words and chuckled. “Is that so? You can babble about nothing if you want. I’ll kiss you anytime no matter what.” Alex said with a smile on his face. He smiled at him when he felt the hands on his cheeks and kissed Nate back just as deeply. When Nate pulled away, Alex chuckled and nodded. “I’m sure it’s just as likely I’m in love with you too.” Alex told him, smiling at him.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews
Former Firefly| 21 | Current location ;; Idaho

Nate reached for Alex’s hand and held it close to his side. “That’s good to know.” He already knew it, but it was nice to hear. “Then I accept that you know how irresistible you are due to Carlos’ infatuation with you and the indisputable fact that I am in love with you.” Just to pull it back to where this all started. He swung their arms. “Okay, so I turned around enough that what little directions I could keep together are definitely gone now. Help?”
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[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan
Former Seraphite | 19 | Current location ;; Idaho

Alex smiled as he felt Nate take his hand and hold it close to him. “I’m sure it is.” He replied before he laughed softly. “I guess I do know how irresistible I am.” He admitted as he felt Nate swing their arms. Alex snorted a laugh as he looked around. “Come on.” He said, turning them in the right direction and started walking. “You and that sense of direction of yours. It’s a pretty good thing I’m here with you.” Alex teased as he walked.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews
Former Firefly| 21 | Current location ;; Idaho

Nate happily turned to go whatever direction Alex was taking him. Alex could have turned them around and walked them right back to Seattle, and Nate would not notice until far too late. He did not even consider that Alex might do so, but it was still something he could do. “That is the reason I am in love with you,” he replied as though this were an obvious fact. “Be careful or I might just choose the next person who can guide me.”
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[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan
Former Seraphite | 19 | Current location ;; Idaho

Alex knew that Nate would go whichever way he took them but Alex was done traveling. He wanted to find Jackson and hopefully find stability. Find a place where they don’t have to get up and travel. “I knew it. You just love me for my map skills.” Alex said with a chuckle. “I don’t think you could find someone who will guide you like I do. I’m a perfect guide just for you.” Alex said with a smile on his face as he walked.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews
Former Firefly| 21 | Current location ;; Idaho

Nate laughed as he swung their arms while they walked. “Yep. It’s your map skills.” He questioned this last bit though. “How come no one else is as good as you? What makes you perfect and everyone else mediocre?” Granted, Nate agreed with this, but he wanted to know what Alex’s reasoning was. He had met a whole lot of people, and not a single one was like Alex.
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[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan
Former Seraphite | 19 | Current location ;; Idaho

Alex loved hearing Nate laughing again like before. Before Washington. That state did neither of them any good. From the loss of their family to being ripped apart and fighting to get free. Alex was glad to put that behind them. He turned his attention to Nate and chuckled. “My map skills, I knew it. And as for what makes me perfect? I don’t think I’m perfect. I just.. learned a lot from people I knew. From growing crops to knowing maps and directions. It took years to learn everything I do now.” He replied. “But I don’t know the true answer to your question as to how no one else is as good as me.”​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews
Former Firefly| 21 | Current location ;; Idaho

Nate lived in this moment. He was not sure how long the moment would last, but he was not about to dwell in it. Any time he started thinking about it, he remembered, and he didn’t want to remember. Not right now. He liked how it was right now. “Well, I think you’re perfect.” This was a cheesy thing for him to say, and he was sure that his brothers would have rolled their eyes and never let him forget it. “Maybe you aren’t the most perfect or anything, but you’re something pretty near.”
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[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan
Former Seraphite | 19 | Current location ;; Idaho

Alex paused a step and looked over at Nate when he heard him. His face turned red as he blushed and looked at the ground for a moment. "Really?" He asked quietly. "Even being near perfect is.." Alex stopped his words as he squeezed Nate's hand gently. "Thank you." He finally said as he kept walking, looking over at Nate with a warm smile on his face. "I think you're pretty near perfect yourself."​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews
Former Firefly| 21 | Current location ;; Idaho

“Well, yeah,” Nate answered almost as softly. He was mildly embarrassed now that he said it out loud and it was evident that Alex heard. It was amazing how things sounded one way in his head and a different way when spoken. He smiled as well. And then Alex complimented him, and he was lucky that his body did not react the way that his mind did. No. No he was not. He wasn’t anywhere near perfect. He had so many flaws. That was when his mind really remembered. That was when he started to think about being happy and silly in this moment with Alex when he couldn’t even save any of the rest of his entire family. Every last one of them. So he shook his head. “Thanks.”
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[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan
Former Seraphite | 19 | Current location ;; Idaho

Alex heard that soft answer and paused to look at Nate once more. Something was going on inside his partner and he didn't quite know what. He bit his lip as he saw him shake his head and his thanks. "Okay. So. New topic of conversation. What's the first thing you wanna do when we have a farmhouse of our own?" Alex asked as they neared the forest at the edge of the field.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews
Former Firefly| 21 | Current location ;; Idaho

Trapped. Again. That was how it was, he just didn’t notice. Or perhaps, he was not trapped. Perhaps the doors were closing, and he was too busy looking the other direction. Alex shoved a foot in the door, and asked him to come back out with him. “I don’t know,” he answered as he looked forward. He imagined the dream farmhouse they had talked about for so long. He couldn’t see it nearly as well anymore. It used to be full of life and wonder. Now it was stale. Static. Hadn’t they talked about this before? They told each other the things they wanted to do when they found it. Things like fancy dinners and raising livestock. He wasn’t sure he could do that anymore. Or even if he should. “What do you want to do?”
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[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan
Former Seraphite | 19 | Current location ;; Idaho

Alex looked at Nate, hearing him. Okay, so perhaps this wasn't the best change of topic but it was something. He heard the question repeated to him and nodded as he did. "The first thing I'd do would be to plant wheat, and allow the plants to grow so I can make bread for us. And while that's growing, I'm going to.." He paused as he bit his lip. "I'm going to find us horses and name one Ireland."​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews
Former Firefly| 21 | Current location ;; Idaho

Had they had this conversation five minutes ago, Nate might also have answered something to do with bread. That was one of his favorite things that was supposedly coming out of getting a farmhouse. He listened, imagining this world of wheat fields. And horses. And Ireland. He almost lost his breath at the name. “He would have loved that.” Nate didn’t understand Carlos’ obsession with a horse named Ireland, but it was cute. It was only right that they honor that.
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[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan
Former Seraphite | 19 | Current location ;; Idaho

Alex owed a lot to Kaleb and Carlos. They showed him just what love and partnership was. And showed him that he had that all along with Nate. He grew more confident hanging out with Carlos and Kaleb was so welcoming of him and his scars. He wanted to remember them forever, and that included naming a horse Ireland for Carlos and creating a huge painting for both of them. “I know he would’ve.” Alex replied as they walked into the cooler forest. He missed his brothers, a lot. And he gently squeezed Nate’s hand and took a deep breath as they walked, going silent as he was lost in his thoughts, and in his memories.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews
Former Firefly| 21 | Current location ;; Idaho

There were so many things they were going to do with their brothers. So many. They were going to live this beautiful life, but this world took that away from them. How were they supposed to keep going when it just kept taking like that? The squeeze brought Nate back to the present. He and Alex were still there. They were still going. They could not give up just because everything felt so wrong. Kaleb and Carlos would have hated that. “Then I think we should name another one Denver. Since Carlos started the places theme.” Denver like the place they came from. Denver may not have been the best place ever, but it was the only place they’d known for a long time.
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[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan
Former Seraphite | 19 | Current location ;; Idaho

Alex was thinking, remembering and a faint smile had danced across his face for a moment. He remembered that room in Montana, after they met Kaleb and Carlos and Carlos had gotten shot. It was then that they offered to share their dream. To have this place for them. All four of them. Alex looked at Nate when he spoke and nodded. “Denver and Ireland. Those are perfect names and I’m sure they’re looking down on us with big smiles.” Alex said as he looked up at the sky. It was growing darker.​