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

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Jacob chuckled, nodding as he looked at Hayden. “True.” He said with a small smile. Kai hugged Hayden back and when his dad pulled away, he smiled. “Thanks dad.” Kai said softly. He went over to Josh who hugged him. “Good night kiddo.” Josh said, ruffling his hair. Kaiden sighed and turned to Ezekiel. “Ready to go?” He asked, his hand slipping into his partner’s. Josh smiled at Hayden and squeezed his hand. “We should get home to love. It is getting late.” Josh said as Jacob leaned into Soren. He was growing tired. It had been.. quite a day.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Ezekiel pulled Kai out as he waved goodbye to everyone. When they were outside, he grinned. “I like that they call you kiddo still. It’s endearing.” Soren looked at Hayden and Josh as he wrapped both arms around Jacob and pulled him close. From over Jacob’s shoulder, he spoke to the others. “I love you both immensely, but I would like to be alone with my husband now.” He kissed Jacob’s cheek. Hayden laughed. “Alright, yes, we can go. Come on my love.”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Kaiden looked at Ezekiel once they were outside, and huffed. “It’s embarrassing.” He said, rolling his eyes. He turned to walk down the road. Their house wasn’t too far from the others, and he still wasn’t sure if that was one purpose or not. Kai was quiet as they walked, knowing once they were alone, he’d get more information on their younger brothers adventure while they were apart.

Jacob felt the arms wrap around him, and felt Soren over his shoulder chuckling a little. Josh rolled his eyes dramatically and smiled. “Yeah alright. Let’s leave the two lovebirds alone.” Josh said, as Jacob rolled his eyes this time. Josh said goodbye and turned to lead Hayden out of their house and to their own next door.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Ezekiel smiled at the thought. Sure, it was embarrassing. He could only imagine how it would be if people called him kiddo. He hadn’t had anyone treat him like a child or anything close to that for many years. His own parents had too many other children to treat him so young. When they reached their own house, he closed the door and let out a heavy sigh, hands falling to his knees as he let out much of his stress. He felt like he had been carrying a heavy weight, and it was so oppressive.

Soren, to prove Josh’s point, reached from behind Jacob to gently guide Jacob’s face to the side with his finger and kiss him. Hayden chuckled at the display and walked with Josh out of the house as he waved. Soren was too busy to wave back.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Kaiden walked into the house with Ezekiel and once the door shut, he heard that heavy sigh from his partner. He saw his hands fall to his knees and he moved to stand in front of him. Kaiden took his hands and squeezed them. "Hey. We're alone. Come sit down and talk, I can see how this is weighing on you." Kaiden said softly, leading Ezekiel towards the couch to sit down with him. He was concerned, for Alex, for Nate, and for his love. There was so much here, and so much to heal from. Was this stuff that could be healed? Was this something that would stay with his younger brother for life?

As Jacob kissed Soren back, Josh gagged and stepped outside, shutting the door behind them. "What a night." Josh said, lending support as they walked down the stairs of Soren and Jacob's house. "I never expected this to happen, ever." He added, blowing his breath out of his lungs as he sighed heavily.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

This was not his burden, and yet it was. The burdens of his family were his own, and there was no family more than Alex. Ezekiel may have chosen Kaiden as his partner, and their bond was unlike any other that he had seen, but Alex was still his brother. He had always been, even more so than the blood siblings that lived in his previous home. As Kaiden astutely saw such weight on his shoulders, he could have almost laughed. Of course for this was Alex, and he was more than hurting. He followed Kai and sat, or perhaps collapsed would have been more accurate. He let the weight of his knowledge take away the control he had of his body. “It is much more than I could ever imagine for him, especially in such a short amount of time for us to be apart.”

Hayden moved down the front steps just to turn and walk not far and move back up with their own house. “For our son to find a lost friend? For that lost friend to have trauma we cannot understand? For that friend to bring a partner? For us to have more children? Pick your poison of things that I was not expecting for today.” He opened their front door and stood to the side for Josh to come in as well.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Kaiden looked at Ezekiel as he all but seemed to collapse on the couch. His arm went to wrap around his partner's shoulder and rubbed his side gently. "Talk to me, let me share in the burden of our younger brother's journey. It is not fair for you to carry it all." Kai said, leaning his head on Ezekiel's own. He wanted to share this with his partner, and perhaps both of them could help the younger two heal. Or try to at least.

Josh chuckled, hearing Hayden and shook his head. "I'm not entirely sure which thing I mean more." He admitted as he stepped through their front door and shut the door behind them. "But let's go with all of the above." Josh said, walking to the couch and sitting down, gesturing for Hayden to join him. He needed to relax a little before bed.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

“I only carry that which he could share,” Ezekiel countered as he allowed himself to release all that strain. “But he shared much.” And so too did he share Alex’s story with Kaiden, because though it was not his own, Kai needed to know. They needed to be one team to help their brother through this time. He held nothing back. He told every detail that he knew and every detail that he extrapolated. To finish, he surmised, “I do not know what they did to him when they took him to the apartments. I do not know how badly he hurts. All I know is that he has pushed it aside for his partner as I would for you.”

Hayden stretched as he stood there, easing out the tension in his shoulders from the evening’s events. As he moved into the living room to join Josh, he eyed him curiously. “What are you thinking? What I would give to read that mind of yours. I have yet to find a scientific way to make that happen, so I am going to need your assistance.” He joined him on the couch, sitting down and propping his leg up on the small ottoman he had for that purpose.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Kaiden nodded, hearing him. "I understand." He replied, and he listened to the story that his partner shared. Listened to the horror and the joy, love and loss that their brother endured while they were apart. He knew that Alex was so similar to Ezekiel, and he knew that his partner would do what Alex was doing. "I am sure they were not kind in the apartments. I've heard tales from wolves that went there, from dad who knew about it but couldn't stop them, and I'm sure your own people had horror stories from those that have been and escaped there." Kaiden said, kissing his cheek gently. "We will need to be there for him, and I'm trying to get his partner to talk to me. And I'm sure Alex will talk to you again."

Josh looked up at Hayden, seeing him eyeing him. "Me?" He asked, tilting his head as Hayden joined him on the couch. "I'm thinking a lot right now, but my main thought is about our son and his friend. Or, should I say our newest adopted children? I saw that look on your face earlier. Have you decided to add two more to our already large family?" Josh asked, looking at Hayden, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Ezekiel and Alex were raised in the same group of people. It only made sense that they would act similarly in many situations. Bothering others with their problems was always something that they refused to do. The people they cared about the most should not be burdened with their struggles. The only person Ezekiel was ever able to do differently with was Alex. He could share his doubts about the group and some of their customs. He could talk about his poor experience with being partnered with a woman. He could express the mistrust he felt he placed in the Elders with so many issues. He was proud that they could share these kinds of struggles with one another. He wished, however, that there was no horror to share. “I have heard far too many tales of those rooms. I can only imagine how bad it was. If you wish, you may be able to get more detail from Nathaniel. I cannot say that I know him well, though. If anyone can get through someone potentially stubborn, that would be you.” He smiled knowingly at Kai. “Besides that, it seems that the loss of the others that they knew has taken a tremendous toll on them. I remember how it was when you thought you lost Theo.”

Hayden relaxed his head on the back of the couch, placing a hand on Josh’s leg as he sank into the cushions. “No, of course not me. I would never want to add more to our family.” He smiled, all too aware that he was the first to want to father a newcomer. “This time, I believe it is your brother who would like to keep one. A medic for a medic seems only fitting. Though, to be fair, it is true that I am far more likely to parent than Jacob. He and Soren like their lives without the responsibility of children far more than I could ever.” He chuckled to himself.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Kaiden looked at Ezekiel, a small nod of his head as he heard that. "I am sure you have. And I can only try, as stubborn as I may be, I also know how hard it is to open up. How hard it is to relive it through stories shared." Kaiden said, seeing that knowing smile from his partner. Yes Kaiden was stubborn, he had been since he was little. His face fell as he remembered that time in his life. He had been young and foolish, they should never had been on the Ferris wheel with the ocean so turbulent. He had sunk into a deep depression and did not leave the Stadium for at least two months. "I was quite a mess when I thought I'd lost him." Kaiden nodded in agreement. "I remember that I never left the stadium for at least two months and you were either mad or really upset when I finally showed back up." He replied with a chuckle. "And I was alone and still so broken then too."

Josh felt the hand on his leg and chuckled, hearing Hayden and shook his head. He knew that was a lie because he took to Kai rather quickly even when the kid still had a father. "A medic for a medic though, how fitting. But I can see Alex becoming yours. Though he seems to be similar to Ezekiel in not just scars but how he holds himself. I think we've gained another soldier son. And yes, my brother and his husband are definitely not exactly.. parents but I think they might just like Nate. We'll see. Though there is far more going on with those two than we know." He said softly.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Ezekiel took Kaiden’s face within his hands and breathed in the scent of him. He ran his thumbs over his cheeks. Kissed his forehead. “He was your brother, and you lost him, even if it was not as bad as you and everyone else assumed. No one can blame you for what you felt. I only say this as I think on my own brother and how he must be feeling to have lost people who felt like that to him.” His smiled grew wider despite that heaviness of the conversation. “But as you recall, that was two months you were simply gone. We heard nothing from either of you. In my selfishness, I was more than upset. Though explaining it then was absolutely impossible.” He did not know what it was then, and even now it was hard to see what was happening in his mind. With time, he came to realize that these were the feelings of someone who did not view Kaiden as a mere friend.

“You mean ours?” It had been a long time since Hayden wanted to have a child on his own. Honestly, then he did not wish to be a single parent. Fear drove him to that when he did not want it. “We know what it is like to have soldiers to raise.” He thought on Kaiden’s partner. “Alex may be similar to Ezekiel, which is exactly why he would have to be ours. It will depend on what kind of person that he respects. Though, he needs someone to cast a shadow of protection. And we have plenty of that to go around. I agree. There’s something wrong, but in this world, who does not have that. Look at us. We have had our fair share of rough patches in our lives.” He looked up at the ceiling as he thought on their own lives. “Family is how we survived that.”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Kaiden felt Ezekiel take his face in his hands, felt the thumbs run over his cheeks and kiss to his forehead. His dark brown eyes searched Ezekiel's face, heard him. He knew what it was like to lose a brother, and perhaps sharing his own story would help him open up. He saw that smile and chuckled softly, a smile on his own face. "Yes. And I believe we had a fight the day before I lost Theo, but then again. I think we fought every time we were together. And then I just.. vanished. And to come back alone? I'm sure that did not help." Kaiden said softly, it was about that time when he was so broken that he realized how much he enjoyed Ezekiel's company. Even looked forward to the fights because he could see the passion once he stopped fighting what he felt and opened his eyes.

"Yes. I mean ours." Josh said, kissing Hayden's head gently. "And, true. We raised Theo and Kai so I'm sure this won't be as bad. Alex seems a lot more.. open than Ezekiel, more willing to learn. So we will have to see who he respects. I could see him surprising us though." Josh said before he hummed softly. "Yes. We all have our own pasts, but we will be here for them like we were here for you, for me, for Kaiden when we lost Theo, and for Kai and Theo when we all moved here. Family sticks together forever."​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Ezekiel sighed as he remembered all those months when they heard nothing. They had no idea what was wrong. He thought about their time together before that many times. “Between your hotheaded reactions and my explosive nature, I am not sure we had a single time we did not fight at least once before that.” So much fight stemmed from so much love. He could never have guessed that this would be the case. “But no, it didn’t. I had never seen you without your brother. Other than the times we fond ourselves alone, but he always started with you, and you left with him. He was there like Alex was always there. Until then. That was the first time we got to really be on our own the whole time.” Ezekiel got lost in the memory of the hurt of being apart despite not knowing it. He remembered so vividly how it was to find him again. How angry he was in the not knowing. How scared he was later. This was not the point of the conversation. And yet… “We all know what it is like to lose people. You better than the rest. I have a feeling that you can get him to open up. If you could crack me open, I think you can open him. I may not know him, but he seems… easier to handle. Alex has already started with me. I hope that is a good sign.”

Josh was not wrong about anything that he said. Not how they raised anyone. Not how Ezekiel was difficult. He certainly was difficult. Not how these boys could surprise them. “You know what I think?” he asked as he leaned into Josh. “I think we have the best family. Perhaps it is not the traditional family that I thought we would have all those years ago. It certainly is not the American Dream with the husband and wife, their two point five kids, and their white picket fence. I like this better though. This is far more real.”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Kaiden chuckled, knowing exactly how each time they met had a fight back then. "Yeah, this is true." He said with a smile, thinking back on their own story. "And true, it was always us like it was always you two together." Kaiden said, remembering how angry and upset he was when Kai had finally made it back to patrol. "It was hard to leave my room that day, and seeing you.. It was like things were normal again, and I wasn't without Theo." He said with a small sigh. "But yes, we know loss, and I'm going to try to talk to him." Kaiden said, looking at Ezekiel. "But right now? I could use something to take my mind off this. Can we go lay down?" Kai asked softly.

Josh looked at Hayden when he heard him, feeling his husband lean into him. "I think you're completely right. We might not have a traditional family or the 'American Dream' but we have something so much better. Something much, much more real." Josh agreed as he looked at Hayden, with a smile on his face.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Ezekiel’s smile only grew as he listened to Kaiden. Their story was something that they were still exploring, and it was hard to share the space with others. It needed to be the story of Alex as well as Nate. They deserved the help that family could provide. Of course, their story was awfully compelling when they were alone. “We can do whatever you would like,” Ezekiel answered as he drifted from the couch with his hand out. “Come to be with me.”

“I don’t think I am much for traditional families anyway,” Hayden mused. “How could we ever have so many children otherwise?” He ran a hand across Josh’s chest, absentmindedly rubbing circles. “I am sorry. I never really asked you if you wanted this kind of family. It’s not something we ever discussed. I feel like I made a lot of decisions for us without ever talking to you.” He knew that it was water under the bridge now, but that did not make him feel any less bad about it. “That was perhaps not my finest time.”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Kaiden knew their story was one that should not be just theirs, but theirs and their brothers. He smiled, watching Ezekiel get up from the couch, and he took his partner's hand and stood up as well. "Okay." Kai said, turning to head towards their room. He squeezed Ezekiel's hand as they went upstairs and entered their room. He was looking forward to relaxing with his partner.

Josh looked at Hayden, hearing him and he smiled softly. He felt the hand run across his chest and tilted his head slightly. "It's okay baby. I don't mind having such a large family, and while it might not be something we really discussed, I've never been happier." Josh admitted, kissing his head. "I know you made a lot of decisions without talking to me, but we've talked about this, and I'm okay with it. I wasn't exactly around for you to talk to anyway and I do regret that."​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Hayden knew that Josh would say that. Part of him had a feeling that he brought this up so that Josh could tell him that it was okay. Another part of him genuinely felt bad and needed to make sure that he told Josh. Again. And again. Never been happier. Good. That was what mattered the most. “As long as you’re happy too. Now we have to make sure we work to help our children be happy too. Even if some aren’t exactly our children. Yet.”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Josh heard Hayden and smiled, kissing the side of his head. "I'm very happy. And yes, we do have to work to help our children. Now what do you say about heading upstairs to relax for the night?" Josh asked, looking at Hayden with a smile. He knew that he hadn't been around for a lot of Kaiden and Theo growing up, but he was trying now to be there for not just them but for the rest of their extended family too.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Hayden pushed down on the hand that settled on Josh’s leg and used it to help himself get up. “Alright, yes, I think that is a perfect idea. We are going to need plenty of rest for whatever life gives us tomorrow.” He had no idea what was to come, but he was happy to be part of it. He wanted to help, though he was not sure how. Not yet anyway. They were all stubborn. They would figure it out.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

The night was short for some and long for others. For Alex, the night was really short. He woke up when the sun rose, but he did not move. He would lay there with Nate until his partner woke up. He'd had a dreamless sleep and he sighed softly, kissing his head gently. He had never imagined that when he came to Jackson with Nate, that he'd find his brothers, Theo and all of them. This was great but.. he was sad that they didn't have the rest of their family here with them.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Nate fell asleep for maybe an hour before he woke up remembering. Then he did not sleep. He laid there trying not to do anything that might disturb his partner. He did not move. He did not even shift. He was perfectly still as he willed away all of that emotion that he could only barely control. With every memory, it grew harder and harder to stifle. Finally, many hours later, his mind fell into a slumber that was not quite deep but was at least not light. He woke sometime shortly after dawn as he so often did. For one moment, as he lay in Alex’s arms, he had the blissful unknowing of just after waking. And then he remembered.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Alex noticed that Nate was awake now and he looked at him, kissing his forehead. "Good morning beautiful." Alex whispered, shifting to hold him closer and rubbing his side with his hand. "Did you get any sleep?" He asked, concern in his voice as he looked at Nate. He was scared for his partner, worried and nervous. This was a situation that he never quite understood how to deal with, but he was doing everything he could think of to help Nate, to be there for him.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Nathaniel Matthews, Emmett Adler, Ezekiel Finch, and Theophilus Sharpe (and the Smith Clan)
Former Fireflies and Former Seraphite | 21, 24, 29, 25 | Current location ;; Wyoming

He was sure that Alex could tell because of the way that his body was heavy. The way his eyes had to fight to stay open. The way that he was naturally drawn to the warmth of Alex’s arms. Or maybe Nate was wrong, and he hid it better than he thought. Maybe if he smiled and promised that he was better, that Alex would believe it. He smiled and nodded against him. It was not a lie. He did sleep eventually. “What about you?” His voice was higher pitched than usual. It did that in the morning sometimes. He yawned and it squeaked. ​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Alexander Brennan, Cameron Harris, Kaiden Lachlan and Elijah Lewis (And the Smith Clan)
Former Seraphite, Former Firefly, Former WLF, Former Seraphite | 19, 23, 26, 27 | Current location ;; Wyoming

Alex could see that Nate hadn't got a lot of sleep, especially with how he felt heavy against him. "I got some sleep, but not as much as I wanted." Alex said honestly, as he kissed Nate's forehead. He heard that higher pitched voice, the yawn and squeak was so much like normal. "How are you feeling?" He asked softly, rubbing his side gently. "Would you be up for breakfast down there or would you rather just stay here?"​