Fandom The Reunion { The Last of Us 1x1 with icedthemoon }

[EquineGurl23]

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

Kaleb didn’t know what happened, what had changed so he clung to Carlos. He thought about what would’ve happened if he’d at the gun pointed at himself. It was terrifying. “I know.. I trust you.” He whispered, just wanting to be held and taking in the comfort from his partner.

Jordan waited. He saw how quickly Asher was breathing. Like he’d been running from more than just the moment. He stood there, saw his hands shake and then one by one they dropped and the gun clattered to the ground. He slid it aside with his foot and stepped closer to Asher. Arms wrapped around him. “Hey. Shh. I’m here and I know everything feels like the worst right now.” Jordan said, his hands moving. Taking hold of Asher’s and just holding them. “That is a valid thing to feel, and I wish I could take that feeling away, but I can’t. So instead, when you feel like that, take my hand. Use me to ground yourself and let me help you.” He said, looking at Asher concerned.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist and Former Hunter | 23, 29 | Current location ;; New Mexico

“Good.” Carlos wasn’t going to move. “I would hate for you not to after all this work I’ve done to earn that.” If Kaleb needed him to hold him, then that was what he was going to do. That was what he was there for. He always knew that Kaleb would need that kind of support, and he wanted to do that. He had for as long as he had known him. Seen him. From out the window in that tiny little room, Carlos would see that officer walk, and he knew that he would do anything for him. It certainly sounded crazy considering the fact that they hadn’t ever met. He was right, though. These arms were built to protect Kaleb. He kicked away some fabric that was threatening to take him down and did nothing but hold his love.

Asher felt like he was fractured into so many pieces. The traveler, the partner, the mentor. The hunter. It was the biggest shard left, and it was the one that knew how to survive. He didn’t want to be that person. He hated that person. The rest were so vulnerable though, and that kept him from stepping into them completely. His hands tried to meld with Jordan’s even though they couldn’t. He was so much better with Jordan beside him. When he was gone, look at what he did. He’d threatened both of their companions now. He overthought everything. He didn’t feel like he could do this anymore. He brought his forehead to Jordan’s eyes closed as he breathed in the air Jordan exhaled. “What if I can’t? What if you’re too far away? What if I don’t have you to bring me back?” He could feel that this was what would happen one day. And when it did, he didn’t know what would happen next. ​

 

[EquineGurl23]

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

Kaleb stayed like that, a quiet hum of appreciation at the words. He didn’t move for a few minutes and then he pulled away to look at Carlos. “Thank you.” He whispered, leaning up and kissing him gently. A moment passed and he broke the kiss. “What should we do now?”

Jordan felt the forehead press against his own, and he breathed calmly. In and out. “I will never leave your side gorgeous. I will always be close enough for you to ground, to keep the part of you at bay. You are mine to love, to hold and to cherish, as I am yours to do the same. I will never be too far away.” Jordan said, kissing him gently before pulling away. “You can’t get rid of me this easily gorgeous.” Jordan added with a wink.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist and Former Hunter | 23, 29 | Current location ;; New Mexico

There was nothing we wanted to do more than be there for Kaleb. When he kissed him, Carlos kissed him back to say that he was more than welcome. That he would always be there. He kissed Kaleb’s forehead and smiled. “I love you, my beautiful blue eyes.” He kept him close even as he pulled away from their kiss. “Do you want to go check on our friends?” Still friends. Who was Carlos to judge someone who struggled? He could never. He loved people with a good struggle. That meant they were human.

Asher didn’t believe it. He believed that Jordan meant it, and if he could choose, he would always be there. What about with things like the weak floor? He did not choose to fall. Why was he thinking about this again? He thought he handled that well. He pulled Kaleb away. He got them to the basement. They found their men. They were okay. He needed to stop dwelling on things he handled better earlier. He smiled at the wink. He couldn’t help it. That attitude was one of his favorite things about Jordan. It made him so compelling. Then he almost did it again. He almost told him how hard it is to keep going like this. He almost told him that he didn’t want to keep traveling for them to keep almost dying. For it to be Asher who almost killed them. Maybe they could convince the other two to come with them. They could all find wherever Joel was and stop living this nomadic lifestyle. But he didn’t. Again. He knew he was tired. Overreacting, right? Right. “You better stay with me,” he mused. “I uprooted everything for you.” He said this like it wasn’t the best thing that had ever happened to him. Like Jordan wasn’t his life now. He squeezed both hands that captured his.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

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

How in the world did Kaleb get so lucky to find someone like this? Someone so sweet and kind, and willing to put up with the rough Officer side, the cold indifference and how hurtful he could be with his words. Blue eyes. He loved hearing that. “I love you too Strong Arms.” He loved Carlos, and he loved how he was with him, when all his worries had been laid to rest. “Why don’t we do that.” Kaleb agreed, hoping that their friends were okay.

Jordan knew this was a lot. Even he wasn’t a fan of traveling either, he’d done it a fair bit as a smuggler and now on his way to finding Joel. It was not an easy lifestyle to adapt too and he knew it. He knew it well. “I’m not going anywhere without you. And I know you did.” He said, feeling the hands squeezing his. Jordan decided this wasn’t enough and he wrapped his arms around Asher, pulling him into a hug. “I know this isn’t easy. But you are doing so well.” He said softly, kissing the top of his head gently. Then he pressed forehead to forehead. “I love you gorgeous. So much.”​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist and Former Hunter | 23, 29 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Carlos probably should have taken this as a time to walk away and go see their friends moment, but he didn’t. He never could control himself when it came to being his sappy self. He brought his hands to Kaleb’s face to keep him in their personal moment longer and kissed him one last time. It was a meandering, lingering kind of kiss. “Okay. Let’s go.” He slid one hand into Kaleb’s and carefully made his way over the pile of wreckage. He looked at it for a second and then decided that the world probably didn’t care if he left it a mess. Then he led them outside.

Asher groaned. He hated being coddled like he loved being coddled. He wanted it more than anything yet it stole away his independence that he always thought he needed. Within the last year, he’d learned a lot about himself, and the most important part was that he didn’t have to be how he was. Independent. Aggressive. Ruthless. Savage. He could tell that part of himself no. So when Jordan hugged him, he groaned, but he also let himself fall into it. He buried his face. He kept his arms close to Jordan’s chest to let his partner keep him together. “I hate how good you are sometimes.” He didn’t mean that, and they both knew it. “Mm, but I love you too, lovebug.”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

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

Kaleb smiled at the hands that were brought to his face. He smiled into the lingering kiss and kissed back, enjoying the personal moment a little longer. Then it was over. He felt the hand slide into his and he nodded. “I’m with you.” He said following Carlos over the wreckage and heading towards the outside of the store. He hoped that their friends were doing better.

Jordan heard the groan and it merely made him smile. He’d worked on getting Asher to realize that he didn’t always have to be a hunter. Be that independent man he used to be. When Jordan hugged him, he heard the groan and yet felt him bury his face. And felt the arms close to his chest. “Mm. I know you do. And yet, here we are still gorgeous.” Jordan whispered, kissing the top of Asher’s head gently again. He heard motion and twisted his head to the side. He saw Carlos and Kaleb heading outside, and looked back at Asher. “You okay to face our friends gorgeous?”​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist and Former Hunter | 23, 29 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Asher unburied his face to see if what Jordan was asking meant that they had come to check on them. It did. He looked at Carlos and Kaleb and decided that it was less horrendously terrifying when he was hiding in Jordan’s chest. He breathed a few times and then extricated himself so that he was standing beside Jordan. He firmly gripped that hand though. “Hey. Um. I’m-“ Carlos was waving, which knocked him off balance. Why was he waving? And smiling? “Are you okay?” Carlos, the man who Asher had just held a gun to with full intent to shoot him, was asking him if he was okay. He didn’t know how to answer. He looked at Kaleb and then at Jordan. “Battling some demons? We’re kind of experts at that.” He grinned and kissed Kaleb’s temple. Asher had absolutely no idea what to say to that.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

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

Kaleb saw Jordan hugging Asher and then he saw Asher take his face out of where he’d buried it. He smiled warmly as Carlos waved, and Jordan squeezed Asher’s hand gently even though he had a firm grip on his hand. Kaleb saw Asher seem confused at his partner’s question but when Asher looked at him, he smiled. Jordan heard Carlos and saw Asher look at him and he smiled back. “A couple demons tried to come out but we got over them.” Jordan said, kissing the side of Asher’s head while Kaleb smiled and closed the distance between them after the kiss to his temple. He came up beside Asher and took his other hand, squeezing it. “Are you okay?” He asked, this time softly, and with both care and concern in his words.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist and Former Hunter | 23, 29 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Suddenly Asher was surrounded by hope, and that was almost as terrifying as how it was without it. Both hands taken by people who cared so much more than they should. So much more than he felt he deserved. He nodded. “Yeah, I’m okay.” He looked at Jordan and hoped that he would go along with that. They both knew that he wasn’t. They knew he was struggling. Who didn’t, though? However, maybe for now, he could be okay. Maybe this hope was enough to keep him okay. Carlos moved around and picked up the fallen gun. He held it out to Asher. “Here ya go. You’re going to need this to protect us.” He smiled too, and Asher felt like he did belong. This was right. They could do this if they worked together. “Okay, this is enough of that. We have places to go.” Too much attention on him made him uncomfortable. “Buildings to raid. Try not to sound like we’re under attack this time?” Carlos shrugged. “I can’t help that I am naturally too loud for this world.”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

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

Kaleb smiled and squeezed Asher’s hand once more. “Glad to hear that.” He said as Jordan smiled softly. He saw Asher look at him but Jordan knew better now. He was okay enough, especially with their friends. Jordan looked at Carlos who handed Asher back his gun and smiled, this was why they had them. This positivity and hope was what Asher needed. “Okay. How about we head further into the city and see what these buildings have in store. Hopefully nothing too bad.” Jordan said as he broke the attention on Asher and started walking. Kaleb held his hand out for Carlos with a smile.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist and Former Hunter | 23, 29 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Carlos took that hand and followed after Jordan and Asher. What a fun day they were having so far. Honestly, that was pretty exciting, and that hopefully meant that they would not have anything else like that. Well, maybe Asher. That was okay. They could deal with Asher. If Carlos and Kaleb could deal with Kaleb’s officer, they could deal with Asher’s hunter along with Jordan. That was what friends were for. Who cares if they had only known each other for a little while. This was how the world worked now. “That sounds like exactly what we should do!” He was awfully enthusiastic. Carlos covered his mouth. “Quietly of course,” he whispered with a chuckle. They walked further down the street, Asher’s attention sweeping across to see any potential threat. ​

 

[EquineGurl23]

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

Kaleb had not been expecting such a start to their time in this city but he wasn’t upset. Not really. Being upset wasn’t worth it, and he knew that. Besides, who better to temper a hunter than such a positive person like his partner? Or a hopeful ex-officer like him? Or his loving partner? This was what friends.. no family was like. Jordan walked beside Asher, so far they were seeing small rundown buildings with not much left or large buildings with boarded up or overgrowth covering its walls. “Well. Maybe we’ll find a building we can actually search here sometime soon.” Jordan joked quietly, looking around.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist and Former Hunter | 23, 29 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Carlos skipped forward and eyed the various buildings. These were all smaller in this area. Little buildings that looked like they were caved it. Further up were bigger buildings. One looked like it might have been have been a warehouse. The buildings got bigger as they kept going as was the way cities went. After having to move around some broken parts of the city, they were finally looking like they might be in a strip of buildings that looked like they could actually go through them. Asher pointed up ahead. “What about one of them? We can probably find something in those.” Carlos shrugged. He hadn’t figured out the signs of what was and was not good to search yet. ​

 

[EquineGurl23]

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

Kaleb saw Carlos skip forward and he moved slowly beside him. He looked around the city as did Jordan. He saw Asher pointed up ahead and nodded. "That looks good to me." Jordan said softly as they headed towards it. Kaleb was paying attention to their surroundings as was Jordan but so far nothing had really shown up. "Seems kind of.. silent here." Kaleb muttered, confused as they moved.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist and Former Hunter | 23, 29 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Asher looked at Kaleb and realized that yes, he was correct. Asher had been so in his head that it had not occurred to him that this was true. He narrowed his eyes as he tried to determine what exactly that meant. Carlos was peering into windows and mostly shaking his head to show that was not a place they would want to go as they passed buildings. He changed course to the ones Asher pointed out, and peered through a window. “Looks quiet in there too. Maybe someone has come through and cleared out all potential threats.” It was a hope that Carlos found helpful. It was a hope that only brought Asher more fear. ​

 

[EquineGurl23]

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

Kaleb looked around, seeing those buildings and he heard Carlos but something inside him was gnawing at him. Something that didn't sit right. "I don't know. I'm not.. Something's not right." Kaleb replied, appreciating the hope but unsure if it was a truth or not. Jordan on the other hand was more hopeful. "I like that idea beautiful." He said as they reached the first building Asher pointed out, and he opened it, or tried. "Locked.." He groaned softly, pushing against the door but it didn't open. He grabbed his knife and worked the lock and then grinned as it popped open. "Here we go." He said, pushing the door open for them to enter.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist and Former Hunter | 23, 29 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Carlos knew to trust Kaleb’s instincts, though he was hoping that he was just shaken from earlier with Asher. When he looked over at Asher, he was also looking like he was a bit on edge and out of sorts. That was understandable. He really hoped the answer was not something was not right and more like they weren’t used to these kinds of somethings. He and Kaleb had not been traveling very long. Asher and Jordan though had been traveling a year. When something felt off, it was because it was off. That meant they should turn around, but there really wasn’t any other direction to go. So many of these places were falling apart that if they could get this door open, it was the only option. He stepped inside the building and scanned it. He hated when they were this dark. He clicked on his flashlight, and everything felt so eerie. Carlos followed after. He couldn’t tell much yet. They would have to search more first.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

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

Kaleb’s instincts were something that he was working on honing. Something that he’d get better with as they traveled more. Right now there was just a sense of wrong. As he followed Jordan, Asher and Carlos into the building, he looked around. His flashlight clicked on and he groaned softly. He didn’t like this either. Jordan was trying to hard to be hopeful as he too clicked on his flashlight. Then he heard something shambling up ahead. He didn’t know where it was though. He tapped Asher’s shoulder and pointed in the general direction and then to his ear. ‘Listen.’​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist and Former Hunter | 23, 29 | Current location ;; New Mexico

At this point, Carlos was able to hear when threats and dangers were around. He was not yet able to determine what these threats were. As they walked through the dark building, he did not notice the shambling sound immediately. He was looking at how the building really was one of the worst that they had traveled in so far. It wasn’t until he looked over at the rest of his companions that he noticed Kaleb and Asher clearly listening to something. Asher was still for a moment before bringing a finger to his lips and shaking his head. Carlos nodded. Silence. Got it. Then Asher disappeared into the shadows like the ninja he was. Carlos wondered if that was something that he would ever be able to figure out. Asher clicked his flashlight off and pulled out his gun. He switched on the part of himself that was good at this. Good at analyzing. Good at hunting. He moved swiftly forward in an attempt to see what they were up against.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

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

Kaleb looked at Asher, seeing him put a finger to his lips and shake his head. He watched in awe as Asher melted into the shadows, his eyes locking on where he just was. Jordan, a similar look of awe and love as well, watched Asher disappear. It was times like this that he loved seeing the hunter come out. It was so fascinating to see him switch, as it was when he first met him in Pittsburgh. Jordan kept Carlos and Kaleb back, he could defend here but it was smarter for one like Asher to see what exactly they were up against before two inexperienced like their companions and him joined his partner. So he waited, watching and listening to see if there was more shambling coming their way.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist and Former Hunter | 23, 29 | Current location ;; New Mexico

The dark was hard to see in, but light could attract unwanted visitors. It seemed that the infected were not aware of the light, but people were. Though he doubted that they were about to see a whole lot people in this place, it was always better to be safer. Especially now. Asher could still feel the tension in his chest. In his shoulders. He moved forward, listening and watching. Following the sounds of shambling. Ah, there it was. The question really was if there were more. It seemed likely. There were always more. With this quiet of an area, there were bound to be more. He followed the signs of scratches on the floor. He followed the residue left on the walls. Left on furniture. This one was not the only one. Carlos shifted uncomfortably where they were. He turned, thinking that he heard something from behind them. Had he? He shone his flashlight that way, but did not see anything.​

 

[EquineGurl23]

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

Jordan heard Carlos shift and he twisted his head a little bit to one side. His blood ran cold when he heard the skittering. It was faint, but the moment Carlos had shone his light, it moved. Then another skittering in front of them. Then to each side of them. Four. Four too many. “Kaleb, get Asher. I’ll stay with Carlos.” Jordan said, knowing Kaleb could at least defend himself with that officer training. “Beautiful. We have four infected, these are stalkers. Have you met them yet? Because this is going to require stealth but we have to be aware. Follow me.” He said, knife out and headed for the first stalker. Kaleb had ducked away, creeping through the silence to where he heard footsteps. Asher. Then a screech from beside him and he was knocked to the ground with a shout of surprise. His arms pushed away at the infected on him, trying to avoid the mouth and being bitten.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Carlos Da Silva and Asher McCoy
Aspiring Artist and Former Hunter | 23, 29 | Current location ;; New Mexico

Stalkers. Gross. He did not like those. He had in fact met one before. Carlos did not much appreciate it. He was, however, a little more prepared for infected this go around, so he was not too worried. He reached down and picked up the first thing that he could find, which just so happened to be a pretty hefty piece of debris. It felt like metal. He could work with metal. He followed Jordan, now aware of where he was looking, and saw a head poke out from behind a pile. He grabbed Jordan’s attention and pointed. Then he slipped around the other side so that he could cut it off in case it wanted to run. Hopefully, one of them could get it. Asher found that there was not just another. There were many others. The walls showed the remains of where infected had pulled themselves free. He growled under his breath as he counted. This was not good. They needed to leave. As he turned to move back to the rest of them, he found himself face to face with a runner. Before it could start calling for help, he rammed his elbow into it’s face and stabbed his knife into the side of its head once, twice. A screech from nearby pulled his attention, and he dropped the dying body of the infected, moving away before it even hit the ground. His eyes searched for the infected, finding it quickly. Kaleb. He pulled up his gun, silencer still equipped from before, and shot it in the back of its head. He closed the distance so that he was at Kaleb’s side in moments. He whispered close to him, “There are a lot in here. We need to leave.”​

 

[EquineGurl23]

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

Jordan followed Carlos, seeing him and nodded. He walked around the other side of the pile from Carlos and as he came up behind it, he grabbed it and stabbed it in the side of the neck, dropping it. One down, three to go. Though Jordan paused, hearing something further down. His gut was screaming that they had to get out of here, now. "Carlos. Get out of here, I'll be right behind you. I've got to grab our men." Jordan whispered, trying to avoid the stalkers as he headed back to where he saw Asher go. Kaleb was panting hard as he saw the infected drop off him, dead. He looked up to see Asher at his side and he swallowed hard, nodding. "Okay. Let's go." He said, his heart dropping at the fact that there were so many here. He didn't like that and he got to his feet. "I'm right with you, let's get out of here."​