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

Marriage, choosing someone who isn't your family? That was a strange concept to Allison but she could see how they loved each other. Josh moved to stand beside his husband, an arm slipping around his waist with a smile on his face. Josh chuckled at the kiss and the wink. "Yes, many years ago." He added as he looked at Hayden. The moment lasted for well, a moment before she looked at Hayden showing them how to use a fork. Allison copied him and twirled it into the spaghetti and pulled up a forkful. "Wow." She said as she ate a bite of it. Her eyes went wide as she tasted it. "That's so good! Gracie, you gotta try it!"

Kaiden heard his name as he'd gone to turn away. He wanted to spend as much time with the girls as he could before he had to.. find them a home. He wiped tears away as he turned back around to look at his partner. How could he know what was going on if they never talked. He sat down, placing a hand on his leg. "I'm here for you. No matter what you need to say. You are my best friend, my partner and my love. We are together in this and I cannot help you, cannot know what is going on if we don't talk. So whatever you want to say, I'm here." Kaiden told him. In the end it was just Kaiden and Ezekiel. "And.. I'm sorry about being so pushy about taking the girls. But you didn't see how terrified they were, Grace wouldn't leave my side without coaxing and.. I just.. I feel this need to protect them. I can't explain it but I won't.. push this."​

 

[icedthemoon]

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

Grace watched Allison and tried to copy them both with the fork, having a hand time holding it correctly. She held her hand in a fist as she struggled to twirl the spaghetti. Hayden leaned over to help her. “Can I see your hand? Try holding it like… this.” He helped her little fingers work around the handle better so that she had more control. She smiled and tried the spaghetti. Her eyes lit up as she looked over at Ally. She finished what was on her fork and laughed. “Ally! This is good! Better than beans. We always had beans.” She shook her head and took another large bite after twirling her fork around. Hayden grinned. “Later, maybe we can go to the cafeteria to try some other food. But not now! Now, we have fancy spaghetti.”

Ezekiel was trying to be open to this. He was trying to consider it, and though there was no reason he couldn’t, there were just some things that were so hard for him to accept. Things like the mere possibility of being able to have children. Being a person who was capable of raising one let alone two. When he looked at Kai, he saw someone who was already full of love for these little girls that he just met. Ezekiel brought one hand up to his cheek, feeling the scars that Allison touched. She was not afraid. How could he take this from Kaiden? “I have not always been… open to new things.” Demons as infected for one. “I have not always been open nor do I believe that I ever can be.” A fear. “But you… you want this, and you deserve this. You also deserve for me to tell you something I have told few others.” He thought about Alex years ago. Then he thought about Alex now. “It is only fair that you know about me.”​

 

[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

Allison looked at Grace as she took another bite, grinning happily. "So much better than beans!" Ally agreed as she took yet another bite. She didn't want to stop eating, but her attention went to Hayden, hearing him. Other food? Food that wasn't spaghetti? "What kind of food do they have there?" Allison asked, as she worked to get another bite of food.

He didn't want him to feel bad, didn't want him to give in just because this was something he wanted. Kaiden saw him bring a hand up to his cheek, and he remembered the first time he'd touched those scars. The first time he realized that there was so much more to this man than what they'd been taught. He bit his lip as he listened to him speak. Just because he wanted it, didn't mean that it was just for him. "I would be honored to listen to you. To hear what you wish to tell me. I am listening, I am here." Kai said, his hand going up to rest over Ezekiel's hand, the one on his cheek as his thumb brushed the back of his hand.​

 

[icedthemoon]

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

Hayden made a show of thinking, raising his chin and placing his hand under it. “They make so much food. Fresh food that does not come out of the cans. In fact, there are plenty of things that we could even make here.” He grinned and leaned against the table, head in his hands. “Have you ever heard of ice cream? It is the most delicious food in the world. We could even make that here. In fact…” He stood up and looked at his closed cabinets like they would be able to tell him what they had. “I have a plan. We are eating spaghetti now, and then we are going on a scavenger hunt for what we need to make our own ice cream. How fun would it be to make something all for yourself?”

This should not have been so hard to talk about. He could tell Alex with relative ease. Though, he could talk to Alex about almost anything without the same discomfort that came from talking to anyone else. Even Kaiden. Especially Kaiden when it came to this. “When I was a young warrior, I was placed in a group of people where I was the youngest. I trained with them and worked with them for many years. We were a commendable group of scouts and messengers. We worked closely like a family. We were together more than only during our working times.” Family was always important in both of their upbringings. “I was closest to a girl named Atarah. She was a good warrior and an excellent friend.” This ended where he liked the story. “When I was nineteen, the Elders chose to pair us together. ‘With his strength and her agility, they will make exceptional warriors.’” He could still hear them speak this, because he could still feel how cold and nauseous he had become. As he spoke, he looked at a spot on the floor that replayed the memories for him to watch again.​

 

[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

As Ally enjoyed her spaghetti, she looked at Hayden, hearing him mention that they made all kinds of fresh food. Not from a can? Now that was intriguing to her. Her eyes widened at the food, and wait.. make it on their own. "We can do that?" She asked, watching him with wide eyes. "Yes! Let's make ice cream!" Allison cheered as she worked to eat another bite of the spaghetti. What she didn't realize was she'd gotten sauce all over her face on accident.

Kaiden looked at Ezekiel, listening to him. His hand pulled his partners down off his cheek and held it gently in both hands. A gentle squeeze of encouragement as he listened. A group like family, he knew what that was like. His Papa's patrol group was like an extended family when they were in the WLF. His eyes widened hearing that he was chosen to pair with her, there was no choice from either of them. It was just what was to happen. He took one hand away from Ezekiel's hand and gently took his chin, lifting his head away from the floor so he could look at him with a soft, warm smile. "What happened after the pairing?" He asked softly, no judgement or harshness in his words, only encouragement and kindness.​

 

[icedthemoon]

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

Grace giggled at Ally as she noticed the mess on her face. “Ally!” she called, interrupting what Hayden was going to say. “You got spaghetti all over!” In saying this, she flung her own spaghetti across the table. Hayden watched this happened and nodded as he remembered what it was like to have a young child. At least they were old enough to realize. “We can do that as soon as we clean this up.” He grabbed a towel and handed it to Grace. “Grace, can you clean up that mess right there that you made? I’m going to help your sister.” He knelt down with a different hand towel and grinned. “I also make a mess every time I eat spaghetti. I’m going to wipe it off, okay? Actually, I will wipe off one cheek and you can wipe off the other.” He wiped it off, and then held the towel out for Allison. “Now you clean off the other side.” He looked over at Grace who managed to clean relatively well. “Nice job. You guys are practically pros when it comes to spaghetti.”

His eyes unwillingly found Kai’s, though he did not see the horror that he expected. That he would have given himself. “When you are paired on the island, this is your life partnership unless something happens to your partner. We were husband and wife.” This fact was only known to those on the island. The group that knew died a long time ago. The entire group. His family had few dealings with him. Only Alex was left to really know. “I was… a bad husband. I was… bad for her.” He remembered Atarah well. The two of them could take out wolves and demons without others. They could take up the same space it seemed. He could see why they were paired. “She was happy with the pairing, and I was not. She wanted all the trappings of a marriage. I did not.” He closed his eyes since he could not look away. “I could not.” For many reasons. “The Seraphites, as you know, are a strict people with strict customs that cannot be questioned. I thought, when we were growing together, that we would make a good pairing. But when they paired us, it was… uncomfortable. And when we were officially one,” he bit back memories more than uncomfortable, “I wish I could have learned why everything… hurt.”​

 

[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

Ally looked at Grace, hearing her and then giggling when she flung her spaghetti all over. She had never had this much fun eating before. Her parents always kept things quiet and clean. When Hayden came over with the towel, she nodded, hearing his words. “Okay.” She said taking the towel and wiped her other cheek clean. Josh watched the whole thing. He didn’t remember having young ones since he wasn’t around much when Kai was growing up. And many kids they found were usually a little older.

Kaiden nodded, hearing that. He couldn’t imagine that though. Paired for life with one person that you didn’t even pick? And even the fact that Ezekiel was married before they were together did not bother Kai. That was a different life. “Why were you bad for her? And marriage isn’t a trap. It’s real and beautiful. Wonderful. If you felt it was a trap then it means you simply weren’t meant to be.” Kaiden said softly, his hand squeezing Ezekiel’s. “What happened to her?” Kai asked softly, his eyes searching his partners to find out what happened to him. To her. He was there for his love no matter what he learned.​

 

[icedthemoon]

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

Hayden took the towels from both as they finished, clean a little of Ally that she missed and a little of the table that Grace missed as well and put his hands on his hips. “Just like new! Alright, so who is still eating? Are you guys done or are you still eating? Both options are fine.” He smiled at Josh. “Aren’t they so fun? This time around, you can do this with me. I promise, it really is a blast.”

Not a trap. It certainly felt like a trap. It was not a commitment issue really. He knew that the way was to be paired, have children, and serve Her. He was not bothered by this. Being paired was not only an inevitability but something that never bothered him until it happened. “She wanted love as she should have had. I was not able to give her that love.” He could remember the arguments that they had. How she used to be so upset that he was not happy with her. “She would blame herself for this, but there was nothing wrong with her. It was me. It was always me. I thought that I could not give her love, because I couldn’t love.” He almost smiled. “Alex was the one who told me that maybe I hadn’t found the right person yet.” He almost smiled, but he didn’t. “She wanted the typical marriage, and I… tried. I tried to give her what she and the Elders wanted.” This part he had not told Alex. This was a long time ago. Ten years ago. “I tried to give her the child that they wanted from us. But I…” He hated every moment of it. “Couldn’t. After months.” Of suffering through that. “I couldn’t give her love. I couldn’t give her happiness. I couldn’t give her a child.” He could only imagine how it must have felt to have been her. He thought about that frequently. Less frequently now, and he was guilty for that. “She was so upset. She told me… that I did it on purpose. That I was making her life miserable.” He grimaced. “I was doing at least that. We were still part of the same group, and everyone knew about this. It became strained. The family was falling apart. So one day, we are on the mainland, and we come across a group of WLF. We are not the great pair or the great group with how divided and disorganized we had become. We cannot see the dangers as they come at us and… She died. That is what happened to her.”​

 

[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

Ally giggled when Hayden cleaned the spot she missed and then she looked at the bowl. She wasn’t used to having so much food available to her. “I’m done.” She said, sliding her bowl away. Josh looked at Hayden with a warm smile. He’d regretted not seeing Kai grow up, and here was a second chance for him. “I can’t wait my love.” He agreed, the biggest smile on his face.

Kaiden listened, his eyes widened a little at the words. The Elders had paired two people up who were not compatible, they were not happy. Then realization dawned on Kai as to why Ezekiel was against children. He could not give his wife one so did he believe he didn’t deserve to have them? Was that.. oh. She blamed him, their life was rocky and it caused her death. Suddenly Kaiden was too far from his partner. Too far to show him what he wanted to. Kai shifted so he could sit beside him. “I believe that you loved her but not as a wife, correct? As a sister or a close friend but nothing more. That is not your fault. Our brother is right in not having met the right person.” Kai said, wrapping his arm around his partner. His love. “And you tried to give her a child, you tried to make that relationship work because you are kind hearted like that. Thinking of her own feelings and happiness at the expense of your own. But.. the past is the past my love. Perhaps.. this is the path that She has decided to guide you in. These girls were meant to come into our lives, and perhaps, just maybe this was what you need. A new start. A new life and a new.. family.” Kaiden’s words were soft but kind. He was not trying to make light of his past, he was trying to help him work through it.​

 

[icedthemoon]

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

Grace agreed. “I am full,” she announced. Hayden swept the two bowls away and took them to the counter. He covered the extra to save for later. “We can come back to these later. The great thing about making our own ice cream is that it take a while. You may be a little hungrier when we finish.” He moved back in front of them. “Have you ever gone on a scavenger hunt? That’s where you have a list of things you have to find in order to complete something or get a prize. We have things we need to find around the town so that we can create our ice cream.” He pulled out a piece of paper. “This may be difficult. Ice is harder to get a hold of, but I think we can manage it. With those cute little faces. Can you make a really sad face? People will give us more if you can make a really sad face.”

Did Ezekiel love her? Yes. He did. He loved her as he loved Alex. As he loved Janna. Marina. Leif. They were all family, and he loved them. Not like that. Never like that. He always felt that he should have been able to love her more, because if he could love anyone, it would have been her. Until Kaiden. Kaiden whom he loved with all his heart. Kaiden who was sitting here listening to him tell a story about how Ezekiel was the villain and refusing to believe that. A new life. A new family. He already had one of those. He never thought he could have what he already did. But these little girls? “No, I have not ever thought about kids of our own. I dropped the idea of children ten years ago. Even when I had you. Even when I learned about your fathers. I didn’t think…” A new start. He looked in the direction of the kitchen. He thought of that little hand on his face. Touching his scar. How she was not afraid. How Kaiden and those little girls looked happy and right when he came into the house. “I do not know how to be a father.”​

 

[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

Allison looked at Hayden, hearing him and shook her head at the question. She had never been on a scavenger hunt but it sounded fun. A sad face, she could do that. Allison scrunched her face up and widened her eyes making them big and sad as she pouted. Ally wondered if she did it right. Josh looked at the little girl and chuckled, nodding his head. "That looks pretty sad, what do you think love?" He asked with a grin.

Kaiden looked at him, rubbed his side gently as he listened to him. He turned his head to look at his partner with that same warm smile. "You wanna know something. I don't know how to be a father either. But we have my dads to learn from, and we have a huge familial support system. We can learn together. Sure we'll make mistakes but we'll learn and get better." He said softly. "And you know what? That's the best part. We can traverse this together. Like our relationship, like our life, together. And I think those little girls will teach us so much more than we could ever teach them. So what do you say about a trial run at father hood and if it doesn't work, then we'll find them the perfect home within the community. What do you think?"​

 

[icedthemoon]

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

Grace too had never been on a scavenger hunt, but it sounded fun. She immediately jutted out her bottom lip at the question about a sad face. She was pretty good at looking sad, because her emotions were so big. However, she was not so great at pretending to be sad. Her expressions were too exaggerated. Hayden thought that they were both perfect. “Oh yeah, that’s pretty sad. You girls are going to have the best ice cream in the world.” He pulled out a piece of paper and wrote several ingredients and drew boxes beside them. “Okay, this is what we are going to need. Sugar, milk, vanilla, salt, ice cubes, bags.” He pulled out a second piece of paper and did the same. He handed one to each girl and pulled out a pencil and a pen and handed one to each. “We must gather these materials. When we get one, you’re going to put a big check in the box like this.” On a separate piece, he showed them how. “Think you can handle that?”

Kaiden’s confidence in this was inspiring. It was heartfelt. He listened to that story, not necessarily getting every ugly detail, but understanding the main points, and he still felt hopeful for this. His gaze fell to their laps before finally shifting back up. “If I tell you that I am afraid, what would you think?” A question to answer a question. “Because it would be a lie.” He rested their foreheads together. “I am terrified. As I was when you wanted to pursue a relationship like this.” That at least went well. They weren’t arguing and fighting like they used to.​

 

[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

Allison looked over at her sister and giggled at her face, before looking at Hayden and took the paper that he handed her. She could barely read it, but she saw the boxes and how he checked them off on his paper. She nodded with a smile, holding a hand out to Josh. "Will you join us?" She asked and Josh smiled, taking Ally's hand. "Of course. Hey! I've got an idea. How about a race. One of you and one of us on a team and we challenge the other one. Who ever collects all the ingredients first wins? And Hayden, dear, we won't be running and if you'd like, we can even give your team a head start." He said with a teasing wink and a big smile.

Kaiden smiled softly, hearing that question before he heard the answer. Their foreheads pressed together and he let a soft chuckle at the words. "Well. If you really wanna know, I'm terrified too. But I want this. I want us to be a family and we've got so much support." Kaiden said softly. "So. Trial run and we see how things go. I think you'll be a wonderful father by the way." Kai added as he kissed Ezekiel softly. "You and me. We've got this together."​

 

[icedthemoon]

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

Grace was absolutely excited about having a race. She liked races because they were games, and she loved to play. They did not get to do a lot of fun things, but they had some. They could race sometimes. Hayden liked this idea. He was slower, yes. He also knew where the majority of these ingredients would be. Or at least he had a good guess. “Is Kai going to join us too?” Grace asked, and Hayden looked at Josh. “I’m not sure. Do you want to go ask him? He might be busy still.” Grace took a couple of steps back to where they had been and turned back to them. “Everyone can go on a scavenger hunt.” Then she started on her way towards the others. Hayden followed at a distance just to make sure.

Ezekiel was not the kind of man to be wooed and swayed by romantic gestures and promises. He was not one to fantasize about something amazing that may or may not ever come. He was relatively practical and down to earth as long as he was not simmering in a rage that meant something else. But right now, Kaiden did not only move him but made his heart swell with the love and determination he had within. He kissed Kai again, a little deeper than gently but only enough to tell him thank you. “Um. Kai?” Ezekiel pulled away and looked at the little girl who was walking up to them. It was only then that Ezekiel realized that a few tears had fallen from his eyes. He turned away and wiped them. ​

 

[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

Allison loved racing too, and when their parents let them, she tried to race Grace a few times. They never really had good places to do it though. Josh heard Grace’s question and looked at Hayden, shrugging his shoulders. Allison nodded her head, agreeing with her sister. As Grace made her way to the others, Ally ran to catch up. Josh chuckled softly as he watched the two head off into the other room. “They are certainly something.” He said, smiling as he looked at his husband.

Kai kissed his husband back with that same intensity. When Ezekiel pulled away, Kaiden turned to look at Grace. “Hello princess. What can I do for you?” Kai asked, turning his body to look at her. Allison was right behind her sister when she noticed the other man, turn away and wipe his eyes. She tilted her head a little and walked over to him. A hand on his leg and she smiled. “Come join us on a scavenger hunt race!” She said, looking at him with wide and sad eyes, she was practicing her sad face so she could win.​

 

[icedthemoon]

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

Hayden took Josh’s hand as the girls ran into the other room. Now that they were becoming more comfortable with them, they had more energy. How much energy would they have when they felt like they were at home? “They certainly are. I think they could be good for our family.”

Grace walked right up to Kai and stopped maybe a few feet away. She wasn’t as fast or confident as her sister, but she was determined to do this. “We are going on an ice cream race hunt.” Some of the words got jumbled. It was a little difficult for her to remember all of them. “Will you come with us?” She put out her hand with a big smile still on her face. She didn’t need to be sad to make Kai do what she wanted. On the other hand, Ezekiel was not expecting one of them to come up to him. His attention moved to his leg where he felt her hand. “A scavenger… hunt… race?” He wanted to look at Hayden and Josh to see if they could explain what he had missed, but those eyes… He hated to see this little one look so sad. Like he was the one who would make her that sad if he did not do whatever it was that they were doing. With how vulnerable he just was, he was not sure what he should do. What he could do. He heard Grace and he could only assume that he was gathering what they were doing. And this little girl was asking him to do it too. He looked at Kai, still afraid. Afraid to try something that he never thought could happen. Something he spent years and years thinking he could never have and should not have.​

 

[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 smiled, nodding as he watched them go. “I agree. I think they’ll be good for our son too.” He said softly, as he headed towards the other room, leaning against the doorway. Meanwhile Allison was looking at Ezekiel, her eyes watching him as she nodded. “Uh-huh! And we’re going to race Hayden and Grace! And Kai too! Come with us!” Allison was full of energy, especially now that she’d eaten and she had a game to play. Kaiden looked at Grace and smiled. “That sounds like a lot of fun. I’d love to come.” Kai said taking Grace’s hand and he looked over at Ezekiel. “It’s okay love. You’ve got this. I know you do.” He said, leaning over and kissing him gently. Before he pulled back and stood up. “Besides. I’m sure you won’t win. Our team is much better right Grace?” Kai said with a grin, winking at Grace like they’ve already won.​