#twdg clouis fanfic

[genderliquid-witch]

“For a moment, Louis seemed to lose touch with any sense of space or time, his mind completely isolated in that solitary moment. It was like being in the eye of the storm.”

‘Mango, Peaches and Clementine’ by appl_cider

A scene from my most recent Clouis fic, beautifully illustrated by the brilliant @spacedlexi :)

Been trying to write more twdg stuff recently since I’ve been replaying TFS, so hopefully I can put out some more Clouis/Violentine stuff soon (college is hard guys)

[scullyy]

Say Yes to Heaven

So I pumped this out on my work break a couple days ago after seeing this fanart from @ozonegrrrl and it was too cute gAh I wanted to share with u all xx

°♡•☆*

The opportunity was right fucking there.

Just why, in the name of everything holy, did that have to happen right. Fucking. Now.

Despite the rim of her hat only leaving the most gentle of 'bonks' against his forehead, it echoed so loud in her chest like the worlds most obnoxious gong.

Clementines mouth was immediately hidden away with her own palm, locking away whatever kiss she had been hopeful to share with him.

"Oh fuck- shit I'm so sorry, Lou. This isn't- oh fuck my life." A string of soft swears left her mouth in rapid succession, the brightest shade of red known to man emerging on her hollow cheeks.

It had been a full minute of her panicked ramblings before she finally noticed the uncharacteristic, and oddly unsettling reaction from Louis.

He was silent.

And damn near as red as she was.

Just a few moments ago, he was sporting the most relaxed aura that had them enwrapped from the world; just the two of them and a calming tune.

But now? The moonlight did nothing to hide the - what Clem assumed - panic on his young face. Eyes so wide she could make out the stark red veins within. Lips slightly apart as if a secret was threatening to spill out like a dark wave fighting in a storm.

"You can try again, y'know."

And there it was. A raging wave will always return to the calm shores, where it's supposed to be.

When her eyes, somehow full of equal desire and uncertainty, met with his own... Louis just about snapped.

Soft lips against plush ones, his warm hands were quick to envelop her cheeks, to hold her as close as humanly possible.

I got you.

I was yours the moment you walked in here.

[connorswhisk]

TWDG fans if you would like to request some writing from me i’d go nuts /pos

i’ll write ship but i also love gen fics, i’m personally into angst but if you want fluff then i’ll fluff it up lol. my faves are clem/lee/kenny/vi/aj/javi but i honestly enjoy every character in the games (to a certain extent lol) and would love to write abt any of them! my ao3 is connorswhisk if y’all wanna see my previous TWDG fics🙃

[bourbonificould]

Sweetened Up - Chapter 25: Kiss and Tell?

The newest developments leave both Clementine and her father wondering if they should spill the beans or not.

[hexisssssssss]

What’s a twdg fanfic(s) that you really want to exist but don’t particularly want to write?

At the moment i have a few specific ideas. With two of them of course being Lilly centric (i heart my smoking hot wife 🫶). Also bare with me if theres like horrible grammar or anything is confusing, i got like 3 hours of sleep lol.

Starting with the Lilly ones, I really want to see a fic about what happened to her after she took the RV that lead her to the delta. Which im sure has been done before, but there was a few specific ideas i’d love to see. Starting at a pov of her alone in the RV while the others deal with the train, just to show the thought process that led to her stealing the RV. And i feel that she would end up tangled with a group or community a lot like Carver’s, or the 400 days group that Becca and Shel are in. And at some point that group has a confrontation with the Delta, maybe similar to Ericsons where they are looking for people to take as soldiers. And Lilly see’s some opportunity for some level of greater purpose or control/command and betrays her new found group to join the Delta. Some smaller details i’d also like to see is a moment where she makes some sort of small memorial or grave for Larry. And when she is alone in the RV just driving i like the idea of her reflecting on the spiral she had after Larry died and the action she ended up taking and feeling some guilt, but in the end doubling down. And moments like that to see where her head was at to lead to her personality change in s4.

The idea has been floating in my head for a while but at the moment i just don’t feel like starting it.

The other Lilly idea is basically a s4 rewrite but from her POV. I am not sure if this exists because i have not gone looking specifically. Starting probably a bit before s4 just to give some insight to what the delta may look like (which is the part i would find most interesting to see but also what makes me not really want to write it at the moment because it seems a bit of a daunting task to execute well.). Then having her and her group set off on the boat for Ericsons. For a specific cannon timeline i think it would work best if Lilly gets away alive in the end. I see it working as a better emotionally satisfying ending than if it just ended abruptly cause she gets shot like 50 times by a toddler lol.

I also think it would be neat to see an AU where Minerva actually ends up helping the Ericsons kids. And later ends up back at the school with them. With Louis being the one captured, because i have this idea in my mind of his “talking too much” maybe being him urging Minnie to help them and reminding her of Tenn. And when she shows a bit of a reaction/seems to falter and consider helping them, whoever is with her (probably Lilly) decides he needs to be punished/stopped and also in turn try and “scare Minnie straight”. But what Louis has said mixed with seeing Violet again, will still lead her to aid them. So the whole bridge scene will be avoided and both Vi and Tenn will be alive. AJ and Clem still get separated from everyone else and she still ends up without a chunk of her leg later. The bulk of the fic would be her adjusting to being back at Ericsons again. I have some ideas for plot lines/events:

- Trying to rebuild a friendship with Vi

- A longer Tenn reunion arc and her trying to be a sister to him again, with difficulty due to her literally fucking killing their sister before

- Feeling guilt over Louis’s injury and trying to make it up to him, leading to a friendship there

- Generally having to unpack/confront all that happened to her and that she did and get over the brainwashing

- Recovering from an injury she sustained while helping Vi with the bomb

- And these are just small things i feel would be interesting: a few interactions with a “overprotective/not jealous but angry at what she did to vi” clem and this fic would follow the violentine cannon. And AJ interactions because i feel like theres an interesting opportunity for a dynamic there or lesson for aj??? Idk lol

Would absolutely love to write that but i just think the idea is too all over the place atm and not fleshed out enough that i could really do much with it lol

And this last one is incredibly vauge lol. But i’ve seen a couple fics for mostly stuff other than twdg where it’s like based off/taking inspo from a song. And i think it would be cool asf to see that with Violentine/Clouis with like an Adrianne Lenker or Big Theif song.

[ratinthebath]

My Telltale's The Walking Dead fanfictions:

Patched-Up and White Echoes

Clementine/Louis & AJ | some hurt/comfort set after the canon events of The Final Season.

Night After Night Darkness Enters the Face of the Lily

Character study about Lilly | set after she's left on the side of the road in episode 3 of season 1.

Be Brave

Clementine & AJ | set after A New Frontier and before The Final Season.

[yuuna06]

A quick practice for my new artstyle. This is a WIP tho, I still have A LOT of drafts of more modern AU twdg especially Clouis. There's this Clouis fanfic that i've been reading lately and its Instant Crush on ao3 and i'm literally only in chapter 2 and i'm already OBSESSED

[twdteacakes]

Time Left To Heal - Chapter 4 - I Loved Him

Overall Synopsis: The past can be haunting. There are scars that cut deep. Thanks to Lilly and her people, the children at the boarding school were wiped out, and Clementine lost her forever home. After such a huge massacre, only herself, AJ and Louis were left alive. Five years later, the trio are just trying to live a peaceful, carefree life. If only it were that simple.

Chapter Synopsis: Louis is gone. AJ is desperately trying to hold it together. Clementine’s psyche is breaking. Will they escape their captors or will grief swallow them whole?

Archive of Our Own:

Wattpad:

Fanfiction.net:

[appl-cider]

It's been just over a decade since the outbreak began and all of society collapsed, and Clementine is alone. She has been for some time, and she prefers it this way. No one to weigh her down, no one to look out for, no one to lose. And with no one by her side, Clementine only has one job: Survive, just like she always has. But when she takes refuge from an incoming snowstorm in an old grocery store, Clementine encounters a group of survivors who may very well be the death of her. As the storm closes in they quickly realise that they'll need to work together in order to survive, even if that means Clem has to put up with one boy in particular who seems insistent on leaving her to freeze in the blizzard, though it doesn't take long at all for the feeling to become mutual. Tensions rise-in more ways than one-and before long the survivors are faced with a harrowing question: Which of them will manage to keep a level head and survive the storm, and who will be left to rot when spring comes to melt the snow?

An alternate timeline where Clementine never made it to Ericson's and is left to survive all on her own, until she meets the group—or what's left of them at least—whilst wandering the snowy wasteland that is Michigan.

fandom: The Walking Dead (Telltale Video Game) relationships: Clementine/Louis (Telltale Video Game)

[ericsonclan]

Oh My Darling Clementine

Summary: Louis decides to take Clementine away from camp and the pressures that come with it.

Word Count: 2000+

Read on AO3: 

“Well that went about as well as expected,” Aasim sighed as he slung another rabbit over his shoulder. His eyes stayed on the hunted game for a moment, making sure none of the blood would get on his dark brown jacket.

“Yeah, I’d say we kicked ass,” Mitch slung his carbine repeater over his shoulder, pride deep within his eyes as he held up the single rabbit he got. He glanced over at his friend when he didn’t hear a response. “Making sure nothing gets on that fancy vest of yours?”

“It’s not that fancy. I’m just trying to dress decently,” Aasim grumbled, tugging on his coat to make sure nothing got on his gold and brown vest that held a sophisticated design to it.

Mitch snorted. “Uh-huh, well I think spending money on fancy shit isn’t worth it.”

“Says the man who’s been eyeing vests lately.” Aasim retorted and started to lead the way through the forest back into their camp. “What, is your stained blue shirt and jacket full of holes not doing it for Brody?”

Mitch frowned at that. “Shut up, she likes this look on me. I look like a fucking badass,” He readjusted his black cowboy hat.

Aasim didn’t buy it at all and stayed silent for a moment as he weaved past the tall trees lush with green leaves. “Then why are you looking at vests?”

Mitch looked down at his boots. “I’m planning on taking Brody on a nice date in town. Maybe pop the question if I can get up the courage,” Mitch messed with his hat, making sure more of his face was covered. He didn’t have to glance over to know what his friend’s expression was.

“You’re going to propose to Brody!”

“Quiet down,” Mitch hissed. “Fuck, you want the whole camp to know? Fucking hell,” Mitch stuffed his hands in his pockets.

“Sorry. So what’s the plan for the proposal? Do you have a ring yet?” Aasim began to bombard Mitch with questions. All of it was starting to overwhelm the young outlaw.

“I’m still figuring everything out.”

“Well, I can help you out. I can ensure it goes smoothly and-” Aasim paused for a moment. “Wait, Carver is fine with this, right?”

Mitch stopped in his tracks when he heard the question. “Does it matter? It’s my life and Brody’s, not his.”

Aasim grew quiet, pursing his lips as he pondered for a moment.

“Let’s get back to camp. We have more dynamite lying around, don’t we?”

Aasim’s brow furrowed. “Why?”

“I want to take Willy fishing with me and using dynamite is the best method,” Mitch smiled when he saw that his friend was about to disagree with him. They were nearing the camp when Aasim finally found his voice but the faint snapping of a twig made the outlaws spin around.

There, rushing behind the safety of a tree, was another outlaw. He wasn’t in their gang though. After a second the outlaw tried to hightail it out of there.

“Shit! Get back here, asshole!” Mitch’s yelling made people around camp look over and spot the enemy hiding in the woods. Before Mitch could even hope to chase the young bastard, a gunshot rang out and the enemy outlaw fell over.

Looking back, Mitch spotted Carver standing there with the revolver. He placed away the weapon in the holster and worked to straighten out the gold pocket watch chain on his vest.

“Mind telling me how he got so near camp?” Carver’s eyes were cold and blunt, his form cloaked in black save for the red handcherkief in his breast pocket.

“I don’t know, we were being careful and-”

“Not careful enough,” Carver cut Aasim off. “You two, over here. Troy, bring over our new guest.” Carver’s voice had taken on an eerie calmness.

“Get your fucking ass up!” Troy grabbed the young man by the throat.

“Wait, this is a misunderstanding,” The young man tried to plead but Troy continued to drag him towards a tree on the outskirts of the camp.

Carver scowled at the boys. “I had such faith in you two. I figured you would be protectors but then you make a mistake like this. Don’t you understand that we’re struggling to hide away right now? If we want to be free and finally not have to deal with lawmen or bandits or other outlaws, then we have to use our brains.”

“It was a mistake. One we won’t make again.” Aasim answered as he and Mitch stood before Carver. The others stood nearby. The tension in the air felt palpable.

“A mistake is right and what happens when you screw up?”

“We get punished.” Mitch mumbled then caught Carver’s eyes. “Sir.”

“That’s right. I gotta get it through all of your thick skulls that the world is dangerous. They are all out to gut you, to fill your bellies with lead, to leave you to the vultures and crows. Here is where you can be safe, but in order to learn sometimes a bit of pain is necessary.” Carver slowly strode forward and sent a heavy punch to Aasim’s face. The outlaw crumpled to the floor and before anyone could even process what had happened Carver had sent a punch against Mitch's jaw as well. He added a backhanded slap. His hands held Mitch steady so he wouldn’t fall. “Now I care about you, son. Both of you. Don’t make this mistake again and let’s put this in the past.”

Mitch nodded, his eyes hidden as Aasim struggled to get back up on his feet.

“Yes, sir,” Aasim wiped away the blood from his lip.

“Good. Now Ms. O’Donnel, Ms. Anderson, if you two would kindly help your men with their faces. It seems like they messed them up pretty good.” Carver watched as Ruby and Brody moved forward to help Aasim and Mitch. Willy quickly ran over to check on his older brother too but Mitch kept brushing off his concern.

“Now, Clementine, how about we get started on welcoming our guest,” Carver slowly rolled up the white sleeves of his undershirt.

Clementine nodded and walked forward, mimicking her father’s actions. The pair made their way over towards the tree where Troy had bound the young man’s hands.

“What’s your name, son?” Carver stopped in front of the tree.

“Fuck you,” The young outlaw spat at his face.

Carver silently wiped the saliva clean with his red handkerchief. “Clementine. Teach him some manners.”

“Yes, sir.” Clementine curled her fist and immediately dug it into the outlaw’s gut. A short, raspy breath left his lips.

“Now listen, you’re only getting what you deserve. Those who treat others like you do, don’t deserve much of anything good. Are you understanding what I’m getting at?” Carver’s gaze stayed on the man’s eyes. Slowly the outlaw nodded.

“Now, name?”

“Joey.”

“Joey, good. Decent sounding name.” Carver tucked away his handkerchief. “Here’s what’s gonna happen, Joey. I recognize your kind. That swagger, those colors you wear. You’re part of that O’Riley gang out west, aren’t you?”

Joey slowly nodded.

“Alright, well then we’ll make sure to starve you for a few days. Get that old brain really spinning then we’ll get that information on your gang. You see, we know you’ve been trying to find us again.” Carver’s voice went an octave lower.

“I don’t know. I just joined a few weeks ago.”

“Hmmhmm. Alright then, let’s go, Clementine. Troy, keep our new friend company.”

“I won’t be leaving this spot.”

That’s exactly what Troy did. Days passed and no matter how much Joey begged or how much the others wanted to spare him a morsel of food, Troy didn’t let them near him. After several days, Carver returned with Clementine by his side once more. He expected Joey to talk but he didn’t. So he allowed Clementine to have the honor of forcing him to. After what felt like endless hours, Joey caved and Clementine stepped back, her fists slick with his blood.

“Okay, okay I’ll talk! Just please stop,” Joey begged as bloody saliva slipped down his beaten lips. “We have a camp near the river just west of here. It’s right by some boulders and a huge twisted tree. You can’t miss it. I can take you there.”

“Oh, you can, can you?” Carver shared a look with Clementine that made her stomach drop to her feet. “Alright then,” He took out his hunting knife and casually cut the ropes that tied the outlaw to the tree.

“Thanks. It’s just this way. I don’t need a horse or noth-” He never got a chance to finish that sentence as a bullet shot through his skull. With a loud thud he fell to the ground. Clementine stared at her most recent kill then holstered her revolver.

“Good girl. We couldn't risk him running off and trying to warm his people. He was a risk to our little family here.” Carver placed his hands on Clementine’s shoulders as he stood behind her. “Did you feel that rush when you pulled the trigger?”

“No.” Clementine wouldn’t look back to meet her father’s gaze.

“Yes, you did. Don’t lie to me.” His voice went low again. “With a bit more practice all of this will become like second nature to you. This is what it means to protect the family. So don’t you dare wander off and go crying or puking like some of the others might. Grow a pair and be proud of yourself. You took out a threat. Now go wash up, your hands are a mess.” Carver patted his daughter’s back and smiled at her. She was his pride and joy. He knew as soon as he met her all those years ago that they were cut from the same cloth. He could see that part of her relished all of this. That was the part of her that Carver wanted to nurture.

Silently Clementine walked over to the wash bowl and started to clean her hands. Everything around her faded into the background. Carver’s yelling at Mitch to clean up his mess was but a faint hum in her ears. All she wanted to do was get this blood off her knuckles.

“Clem, Clem, you there?”

Louis’ voice appeared by her and the feeling of his hand on her arm made her snap out of her thoughts.

“What? Yeah, I’m here.”

“That was rough. What you had to do,” Louis looked over at his crush with concern in his eyes.

Clementine shrugged. “Just doing what I have to.”

Louis was quiet. He didn’t know how to respond to that.

An awkward moment passed between the pair before Louis broke it.

“Well, how about we go off into Valentine for a bit? I heard they have a piano at the saloon. I’d love to play you a song.” Louis smiled and watched as Clementine’s gentler side reappeared.

A small smile appeared on her lips. “Okay,”

“Great! Then right this way, ma’am,” Louis tipped his cowboy hat, causing the fringe on his jacket to sway.

“Yeah, how about we leave out the ma’am part,” Clementine walked over to her horse. The burnt brown Turkoman seemed antsy to get away from this camp. Clementine knew that feeling.

“Don’t worry, Kismet, just give me a second.” She gave the horse a few pats then worked to get up on the steed.

Louis’ horse seemed just as ready to leave as well.

“Okay, hold your horses, Arpeggio,” Louis showered the gray-speckled American Paint horse with affection as always then got ready to leave as well.

After a quick look over to make sure they were good to go the pair rode off. Neither of them spoke much as they galloped through the grass and wildflowers that covered the ground.

It wasn’t until they were in the saloon and Clementine had ordered a drink that they finally spoke.

“So, what’s this song you wanted to play for me?” She leaned against the piano and gave a warm smile over at Louis. Any harsh or intense aura had left her. Whenever Clementine was around Louis she felt free to be herself, not the version Carver wanted her to be. Being around him brought a sense of peace to her, making her heart both grow calm and flutter wildly whenever he gave a smile her way.

“Oh, umm, a few different ones but for now I found a song with your name in it,” Louis smiled then worked to get his fingers on the right keys.

“Oh yeah?” Clementine quirked an eyebrow and took a swig of liquor. “Alright, Lou, let’s hear it then.”

“Okay, get ready to be blown away,” Louis added a bit of flair to the beginning then started to play the opening notes of the song.

“Oh my darling, oh my darling

Oh my darling, Clementine,”

Louis started to hum along, not singing the rest of the words as he continued playing the song.

“Umm, Lou, I think you’re forgetting some words there,” Clementine pointed out and Louis’ piano playing grew softer.

“Oh yeah, about that. You see, well, I’m still working on editing the lyrics,”

“Editing the lyrics?” Clementine leaned closer towards her crush. “Why is that?”

Louis’ heart started pounding; he swore it would beat right out of his chest if she got any closer.

“Because it's a sad song and I wanted a song with your name in it to be happy. It’s what you deserve,” Louis gave a bright smile then paused for a moment as he got lost in the warm honey brown of Clementine’s eyes. Immediately he returned to the piano, his fingers slipping and hitting a wrong key.

“Great playing there, idiot!” One of the drunk patrons yelled.

“Hey, shut up, asshole!” Clementine snapped back at the man. Both of them locked eyes with one another and were silent until Clementine spoke again. “Just go on back to enjoying your drink, pisshead.”

“What was that?” The man rose to his feet and in an instant Louis got up and stood before Clementine.

“She said how about another drink. Bartender, could you get a drink for this fine friend of mine?” Louis hoped to de-escalate the situation. Luckily it worked out. Soon enough the man was back in his seat, nursing the drink that had been paid for him.

“Sorry,” Clementine sat down on the piano bench by Louis. “Almost started a fight.”

“That’s okay, I think Minnie has already gotten into a brawl here.” Louis rested his fingers back on the piano keys. His eyes wandered over to his crush and once again his heart fluttered in a melody that only appeared when he was near her. Something about her made him feel safe and throughout the years she had looked beyond his playful side. Clementine saw him for who he was and that was priceless to him.

It took Louis a moment but slowly he began to play a song. It only took Clementine a second to realize that it was a different one from before. This one was slower, filled with happy yet thoughtful notes. It lasted all of thirty seconds before Louis stopped playing it.

“That was a pretty song. What’s that one called?”

“‘Clementine.’ I wrote it myself,” Louis’ eyes didn’t look up to meet Clementine’s. “Not for the fruit, I like the fruit but I-” His courage faltered and he grew shy and he went back to playing the piano. “Yeah…”

Clementine stared at her crush for a moment, wondering if that song held the feelings she thought it did. “Louis,”

“Yeah?” Louis slowly looked up.

“Y’know I like you. Like, like like you.” Clementine watched as Louis’ lips parted, staying slightly ajar. After a moment a dorky smile appeared on his lips.

“Really? Holy shit. I can’t believe this. Really?” He looked over for confirmation which he found in his crush’s eyes. It took him a moment but he eventually got up the courage to respond in kind. “I like like you too.” Louis smiled and was surprised when Clementine leaned forward and captured his lips in a kiss.

It was a sloppy first kiss, Both of their foreheads bonked together and they were fumbling through the romantic gesture at first. After a moment, Louis closed his eyes, returning the kiss before it ended. As they pulled apart his head was left in a surprised giddy state.

Clementine watched Louis, feeling her heart warm with happiness at the confession. It felt like she was on cloud nine when she had heard Louis’ words. Until reality sent her back down to earth.

Carver.

Her father would never approve of this. Hell, he hated Louis’ guts. It would be too dangerous to flaunt the fact that they had feelings for each other around camp.

“Holy shit,” Louis murmured, his voice finally catching up with his mind. “I can’t wait to tell Marlon and Vi too. Man, they won’t believe it. I’ve been crushing on you for years and-”

“Louis.”

Clementine’s interruption made Louis pause.

“Yeah?”

“What happened just now. The two of us. It needs to be a secret, okay?”

Clementine saw Louis’ smile fade at those words. She could pinpoint the moment that his heart sank. She didn’t have to explain why, he knew.

“Okay.”

[deeahzee]

Together

Pairing: Clementine and Louis

Summary: Unable to sleep during a thunderstorm, a mute Louis turns to his girlfriend for comfort.

A/N: this is one of the bday gifts i gave out to the dear @bluebutterfly1 :3 happy happy bday!

Read on AO3

or read here on Tumblr!

Thunderstorms were always a horrifying thing to Louis. They always freaked him out ever since he was a little boy. Though he could never put his finger on whether it was the obnoxiously loud booming sounds of thunder, or the electrifying crashes of lightning that scattered across the sky that kept him awake late at night. No matter what he did, or where he was, storms were always prepared to wake him up. He was used to it though; he knew what to do whenever this stuff happened. This time, however, he was struggling.

The lack of a tongue slowly tore Louis apart. He wasn’t himself; it felt like something that made Louis, well, Louis, was missing. He couldn’t sing, he couldn’t laugh, he couldn’t tell his own girlfriend how much he loved her. Clementine, his Clementine. The one who came back for him when he was taken, the one who hugged him back when they got locked up in a cell together. The one who truly cared for him, the one he’d do anything for. God, he’d do anything to tell her how much he loved her.

The night was rough. Rougher than the boy expected. All the methods Louis used to help him battle through the thunderstorms before were useless now. He remained stuck in bed, wide awake while droplets of rain sprinkled onto the window and echoed through the dorm. He stayed in his sitting position on the bunk as he stared at his hands, which were resting in his lap. Beside him laid Clementine, heavily snoozing as the storm outside continued on outside. How could she be asleep through all of this?

Louis’ fingers shook violently as another crack of thunder bursted through the atmosphere. It startled him so much he nearly bonks his head against the top of the bunk. He let out a shaky breath, pulling his knees closer to himself. The storm only seemed to get worse as time flew by, Louis figured that out because of the sounds of water beating against the window harder and harder. Why couldn’t it all just go away? He didn’t want to deal with this, not right now. Hell, he didn’t want to deal with this ever again.

Louis must’ve been breathing so heavily it had woken Clementine up, the boy feeling the brunette roll over and flutter her eyes open right as tears began swarming through his lids and blurring his vision. He panicked, glancing away from her as he did his best to hide his broken state. He couldn’t let his own girlfriend see him in such a frightened mood, he didn’t want her worried. He failed, obviously, since Clementine noticed almost immediately.

“Louis?” Clementine asked in a hushed voice, sitting up onto her elbows and glancing at her boyfriend. Exhaustion tickled at the tip of her tongue, and could easily be pointed out when she spoke. The soft shift of her prosthetic rubbing against the blanket under them played out when she moved. “Lou, are you okay? What’s wrong?”

The lack of response from Louis made Clementine frown, setting a hand on his shoulder and turned him around so he was facing her. Her heart broke upon seeing his face, obvious tears slipping down his freckled cheeks. Her honey coated eyes met his chocolate like ones, and Clementine could tell just by seeing them glossed in tears that Louis was hurting.

“Oh Lou…” Clementine reached her other hand up to cup his cheek, using her thumb to wipe away the tears that slid down his face. “I’m so sorry… I know you’re still suffering. Can you not sleep?”

He gave her a brief nod, but he knew she could never truly understand how he was feeling. He felt so… incomplete. He knew very well he wasn’t Louis anymore; he wasn’t himself. The ability to talk, to sing, to laugh… that’s what completed the puzzle. But now? It was like the puzzle was unfinished. It was like the one piece left went missing, and could never be found, leaving the puzzle to collect dust in a dark, cold corner.

“Is there anything I can do?” Clementine’s voice brought Louis back to reality, his eyes meeting her concerned ones. He took her hands into his own, pulling them close to him as he laid delicate kisses on her palms. Clementine’s lips curved into a sad smile, hoisting onto Louis’ arms and tugging him closer to her into a hug.

The two sat in silence as Louis’ head rested on the girl’s chest, hearing his girlfriend’s heartbeat. It was like a set of drums, only softer and more attractive to the ear. He felt himself calming down almost instantly among hearing it, though it wasn’t enough to heal his crumbling self.

One of Clementine’s hands found itself getting tangled in Louis’ dreads, and her other hand delicately rested on his back, her knuckles sending reassuring rubs onto his coat. She could still hear the freckled boy let out a quiet sob now and then. Her heart ached every time she heard it.

They stayed in the same position for a while longer before Louis pulled away. Tears no longer slid down his freckled cheeks as he forced himself to give the girl a smile. She returned the smile, leaning on her knees and giving him a peck on the cheek. Louis’ smile widened, grabbing the back of Clementine’s head right as she was pulling away and crashed his lips onto hers. A surprised yelp clogged at the bottom of the brunette’s throat, a grin forming on her lips as she slid a hand behind his neck to return the kiss.

They stayed in that position for a while. They didn’t want to pull away. Just being in his girlfriend’s presence instantly made Louis feel better. He wanted to stay close to her forever. He wanted her to always be there for him. To help him. To guide him.

Eventually the couple tugged their lips away, soft smiles resting on their faces. Louis leaned forward suddenly and pressed a kiss onto the girl’s cheek. The touch made Clementine giggle to herself. “You’re so cute.” The compliment made Louis release a cheeky grin.

The grin didn’t last long, however. A frown soon replaced the grin. The sight made the brunette frown too. “Louis?” He didn’t respond at first, instead turning his head to the side. “Louis, what’s wrong?”

The boy abruptly stood, moving towards the center of the room. Standing in the faint beam of light that shed into the dorm, Louis turned to the girl who remained on the bunk, a hand outstretched in her direction. Clementine rose a brow at his sudden action. What was he trying to do? Louis kept his hand stuck out though, as if he wanted Clementine to grab it. Is that what he wanted to do? Did he just want to hold her hand?

“You want me to hold your hand?”

Louis shook his head. Okay, that wasn’t it.

“Um… you want me to- to join you?”

The boy nods. Oh, alright. Okay. She was getting somewhere.

Scrunching up her nose, Clementine stood. She only wobbled slightly when her prosthetic came in contact with the floor. Walking forward, she slipped her hand into Louis’ and intertwined their fingers. She was still confused as to what he wanted. “Is this what you want?”

Louis nods slowly, slipping his arm around her figure and tugging her close. He just wanted to be close to her, that’s all he wanted. He would always feel himself begin to shake and power down into a state he couldn’t control. When Clementine was close though? He felt fine. She was what kept him going. She was the reason he’s here.

A frown forming on her face, Clementine hugged the boy back, feeling his hand finding her back and clutching her denim jacket anxiously. As if she were to suddenly disappear on him. Suddenly bail because of his state. It made her heart ache how much he cared about her. How much he relied on her. She first felt it with AJ, he always looked up to her, but it was different with Louis. It felt more natural.

“I’m never letting you go Louis,” Clementine whispered softly, cutting through the bearing silence that swarmed around them. “I’m never leaving your side. Okay?”

She could feel Louis nod. She sighs, keeping her grip on her boyfriend. She knew it would be okay. Everything wouldn't go back to normal, she knew that. But she knew they’d get through it. They’d battle through whatever challenges came their way. They’d slay every dragon that tried to disturb their peace. They’d get through it all. Together.

[scullyy]

Love Doesn't Need to Hide in the Epilogue

Pairing: Clementine x Louis

Word Count: 1948

Summary: All is fair in love and war, even with the threat of violence impending on the young teenagers a little crush cannot help but to blossom.

A/N: This was supposed to be multiple little clouis moments in one drabble but it got a bit too crowded for my liking and I got carried away with the first part KSKSSK. Anyhow, I'm like so proud of this?? Also Mitch my beloved you get to shine cuz you deserved better ;-;

-<3-

At a mere eight-years-old, Clementine considered her babysitter one of her best friends. Sandra was kind, silly and knew all the lyrics to every song on the radio. Her games were creative, her clothes were always stylish and she could would make perfect waffles every time, safe to say Clementine wanted to be just like her in almost every fashion. Almost

Sandra would not shut up about boys.

The boy in her gym class, that one boy she went on a date to the movies with, the boy she bumped shoulders with in her Biology class. Every week there seemed to be a new boy, a new fixation. A hopeless romantic, Sandra listened to her heart more than she listened to her head. It was Clementine's' least favourite thing to talk about, boys were gross! Kissing was gross! The naïve girl told herself to never, ever obsess over a boy the way Sandra did. It was so incredibly boring, especially when they could have been playing their Secret Sisters game instead.

But now, at seventeen years of age, she too fell victim to the same thing; boys.

Well, maybe just one boy in particular.

There was no way in hell Sandra ever met someone like Louis; none of her romantic conquests sounded as kind, charming, delightful...funny...totally handsome-

"Hey Clementine!"

Said girl shook her head of such thoughts, trying to remember her original task. Spears, that's it. "Uh, sorry Ruby, bad nights sleep." Clem rubbed her eyes for added effect, also trying to distract herself from him and shoo away any lingering thoughts. Louis was on watch that morning, his legs casually swaying off the edge of the tower. She had only known him for almost two weeks, why was he trapped so tightly in her mind?

Deep down she knew and the answer scared her more than the battle looming over their heads.

"Uh-huh," Ruby wasn't silly like both her friends here, her keen eyes picked up on the puppy love look on Clem's face the second Louis came out into the courtyard that morning. She kept her hands busy with the wire spiralling around the arrowhead, a cheeky grin on her face. "I was just sayin' the banners are done, AJ and Tenn did a real good job. How's your spears goin'?"

"Fine, should have plenty by evening-" Her unfaithful eyes flickered back to Louis, who was now gazing up at a bright bluebird in the trees above. She hoped with all her might that he was smiling, no one had seen him smile in days. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what's wrong sug?" Ruby asked even though she had a pretty good idea what Clementine was going to ask her. It wasn't the first time she had seen this look, it was universal. Ruby's love detecting machine was as strong as ever!

"Has, uh...has Louis said anything to you? He just hasn't seemed like himself the past few days-"

"Louis hasn't talked 'bout you."

Clem choked on the air around her, spluttering everywhere and almost dropping the arrowhead in her palm. "Me? Who...why on earth would I ask that?"

"Cause you're totally crushin' on him!" The red-headed girl gushed, nearly screaming her words for the whole forest to hear.

Clementine swatted at the space between them, urging Ruby to keep her mouth shut. "I am not!" Even if Clem was good at lying, her blush - which was as bright as Ruby's hair in the sun - was exposing her heart and mind ten fold.

"Okay sure," Ruby snorted as she continued to laugh further at her friend, who was trying to shush her to no end. "It's nothin' to be embarrassed 'bout! Louis has some appeal...in his own bizarre way." Though she couldn't see it, what with all the racket he made.

"Oh god," Clementine threw her head against their table, wondering just how much strength would be needed to rip her hair out. "Is it that obvious?"

Ruby set down a completed spear, placing it with the other two she had made. "Naw. Well...maybe just a smidge-" Pinching her pointer finger and thumb together. "Don't worry, Louis ain't that observant."

Clementine had completely forgotten about her craft at this point, eyes lowering to her lap. "That and I'm sure he hates me." She was so certain of it, every time they passed by one another his head would drop down, finding the floor much more interesting.

"What makes you say that?" Ruby inquired further, also losing focus on the spears. They could be finished later, this was so much more important!

"He hasn't spoken to me for a few days, not since he gave AJ..."

Ruby leaned in closer, the gap that once separated them almost non-existent now. "Gave AJ what?"

"He let AJ have some of Tenn's old shirts since his got ruined when we got attacked in the woods." A memory she still held onto dearly as she couldn't help the innocent smile from growing.

Ruby buried her head in her hands and squealed, getting an odd look from Omar by the stairs. "Oh my god, that's adorable!"

Clementine rolled her eyes. "It's just some shirts, Ruby..." Besides, Tenn probably asked Louis to do it. Yup, one hundred per cent. 'There was no way he would be kind to us because he genuinely wanted to be, right? People aren't just kind for the sake of it these days, not anymore.'

A lie right after the other. Despite what she had put Louis through he was still there for her, for AJ. A moment of kindness she seldom saw these days, with no expectation to pay him back. That's just the kind of person he was.

Her friend had other things to say, however. "No way Jose! That's a sure sign of affection right there!" She waved her finger in Clems' face, bouncing around like a giddy toddler being presented with a gift.

Clementine moved Ruby's hand with a gentle push yet the support still steadied her shaky knees, even by just a small bit. "Whatever, it doesn't matter anyways, he can barely look at me. There are more important things to worry about right now as well."

"Uh-huh, is one of those things a booyyyy?"

"Hardy fucking har."

Ruby snorted as she continued on with her final spear, shaking her head lightly. "Y'all are too cute."

Clementine kept her mouth shut from that point on.

The young man on the other side of the courtyard wasn't feeling much better himself. One, there was nothing super interesting to look at when on watch. There was the pretty bird in the tree above him sure, but that bird flew off into the sky. He tapped his fingers against the wooden railing, practicing a song he was trying to finish writing. There was the C key, then the D key followed by-

He made the mistake of looking back at the school, his eyes immediately falling on Clementine, sitting beside precious Ruby, the two gossiping about something as the duo seemed super hushed, their eyes and heads low.

'What is she thinking about? It's hard to tell what's going through her head on a good day, though I haven't really given her much of a reason to smile or be happy lately- shut up Louis!'

"See anything dude?"

Louis was jolted out of the daydream he was slowly falling into by Mitch calling out below him. He straightened his back out, attempting his best chilled out position. Totally chill so long as Mitch didn't notice his fidgety hands. "Not unless you count the bird that was here a few minutes ago."

"No, I don't." Mitch kicked at a stray rock by his feet, he was supposed to be doing something with Aasim but it sounded boring so fuck that. "You cool, dude?" Despite not being the most emotionally in tune with those around him, Mitch knew if Louis of all people was silent then something was definitely wrong.

"Uh, yup. What makes you say that?" Even Louis didn't believe his own answer, uncertainty wrapping like a noose around his neck; uncertainty about his past memories, the future of his entire life and...well, her.

"Cause you can't stop staring at Clementine like a fucking weirdo."

Louis bit down on his own tongue to keep his sarcastic remark to himself, focusing on the sour taste of his own blood. "I'm not staring and even if I was it's not weird."

"Why?" Mitch continued, not taking the hint as per usual.

"...Because."

"Wow, nice save."

Louis felt the eye roll in that, Mitch's candour was something he was always a little bit jealous of. Violet possessed this too, he wondered why he hadn't picked it up after so many years together. Hell none of the characteristics he admired in his friends he seemed to possess; he was the two-headed lamb, the broken hand on creations clock, a small bug lost in a big garden.

And yet, a girl he had only known for a couple weeks found it within herself to forgive him of all that. To resign him to a different fate, freeing him as though he were David being pulled from his marble prison. 

"Has she said anything? To you or someone-"

"I'm not a fucking marriage counsellor, you got shit to say you tell her." Helping Aasim doesn't sound so bad anymore 'fucks sake Mitch.'

"Dude-" Louis' palms met his face, tugging at the skin around his hairline. "Forget I said anything." He kicked at a stray leaf, watching it twirl to the ground below, knowing his treacherous eyes would immediately gravitate towards her if given the chance,

Mitch leaned against the rickety ladder, finding the dumb look on his friends face fucking hysterical. "You wanna know what I think?"

"Not really-"

"I think you gotta suck it up and go talk to a fucking girl. Y'know, an actual girl. Not like Violet or Ruby." He wildly gestured to the red-head as if Louis was unsure who he was talking about, hell he wouldn't put it past him. 'Seems like his mind is all 'Clementine this, Clementine that', fucking idiot.'

Louis glanced between Mitch and Ruby multiple times, searching for whatever point his friend was talking about. "Mitch...they're girls too."

"Yeah I know, but not like girl girls."

Crickets chirped between them. "I'm so confused-"

Mitch waved him off, forgetting his argument just as quickly as he had brought it up. "You know I'm right. Don't talk to me about your fucking fucked feelings, tell it to her." With that declaration, he turned on his heels and marched back to the school, leaving Louis only with the sight of Mitch giving the laziest bird ever flipped.

"Thanks, Mitch. You're a real Romeo."

It was his own fault really, asking Mitch about girls was like asking Clementine to wake up on time-

'Oh c'mon now. Stupid crush, stupid school, stupid car crash that brought her into my life like a meteor collision.'

Meanwhile his lady love had found no luck in quieting her humming mind.

‘You don’t have time for boys, Clem. Get your shit together and stop being selfish.’

Louis would one day tell their friends the story of how he wooed Clem with his endless charm, how enchanted she was by the song he wrote and how - as he put it - “she just couldn’t resist any longer!”. She would go along with the bit because of course she would, she was never one to turn down a game.

Quick and not-so-subtle glances would become fingers perfectly intertwined, embarrassed and hidden smiles turning into inside jokes and a carving on a piano there for the rest of time, outliving even them.

-<3-

[lukesmachete]

YALL LOUIS SINGING IS JUST AS BEAUTIFUL WHEN SPED UP A LITTLE

[bourbonificould]

Sweetened Up - Chapter 26: Truce of Truth

Both Clementine and Lee have new developments in their lives. Telling each other seems like the toughest task ahead, so why not confide in those who may end up being around more often?

[writingsweetroll]

**Summary: Louis has worries for his one year old, and Clementine soothes them by opening up about her own issues.**

Louis tried his best to not toss and turn, he really hated these beds. They were so springy, you do anything on it, so much as lay a hand on the mattress and it would make a springy noise. The noise wouldn’t annoy him as much if Clementine wasn’t laying beside him, he quickly found out she was a very light sleeper. It broke his heart that she wasn’t born a light sleeper, she just adapted to being one due to all of the trauma she faced. He wanted to make sure she got as much sleep as she could- so tossing and turning would definitely awaken her and that was the last thing he wanted.

So, he lay stiff as a board. Looking above to the mattress above him. He anxiously counted the number of bars holding the bed above him, distracting his mind to the best of his abilities. Because every time he couldn’t sleep at night, his mind went to dark places. *You have no idea what you’re doing.* He would think. That main thought spiraled out of control to other thoughts. But, that one main thought started from the time he was child, to now. It adapted to whatever situation he was in. As a child, ‘You have no idea what you’re doing’ related to the spelling bee, now, it is related to parenting his one year old daughter.

He grabbed the chair next to the desk, and placed it near the bed. He sat on it and watched her sleep soundly. A warm feeling was felt in his chest, unknowingly smiling ear to ear. He examined her features, and the midnight moon shone upon her face. She mainly had Louis’ features, his freckles, skin color, and eye shape. But, her lashes were full and her eyes were as golden as Clementines, her hair was also kinky just like Clementines. She was a perfect mix between the two.

*You don’t know what you’re doing, do you?*

Louis furrowed his brows as the thought entered his mind. No matter how many baby books he read, or conversations with Clementine he had about how to raise a baby into childhood, his mind was never satisfied with himself.

*To put your girlfriend through so much pain during her pregnancy, so selfish to bring a kid into this world, you’re a monster.*

That wasn’t true. Louis knew it. It wasn’t a mindless decision or an accident, it was multiple conversations and respectful debates about when or if they should start a family. After weeks, they decided together that they wanted a family, and they had enough resources to do so. And the pregnancy went better than expected, minor pain here and there, and the delivery had no scares. Thankfully, whenever Louis would remember this, it seemed as if thoughts grew quieter, and instead he imagined a world where the apocalypse wasn’t here. He wondered what her parents would think of him, or Lee, even Kenny. He didn’t know much about them, but he knew enough to know she cared deeply for them.

Suddenly, his daughter sniffled, causing him to go into panic mode. He calmed himself down once she went back to her normal state. It was spring, and it was just allergies but he was still terrified of her getting sick. Louis sighed, slouching against the chair now.

Although Louis truly thought he didn’t know what he was doing, he knew one thing. He’ll never be like his parents. His father, manipulative and a gas-lighter. His mother ignored it and was just focused on her public image instead.

*“Chin up, baby.” His mother whispered down to him. “Play your little piano and smile.”*

*His mother’s tone was sweet, and caring. But Louis wasn’t stupid. He knew his family milked his skills during fancy business parties like these ones. But, he played the piano nonetheless, because this was the only time he could truly feel like he had an audience that enjoyed his talent, his dream.*

*“My son! Ladies and gentlemen!” Louis’ father widened his arms towards Louis playing the piano. Families of prestigious wealth clapped for him. In this moment it was bitter sweet, should he feel happy that people enjoyed his music, or should he feel angry that his parents only supported him if it benefited them? Louis brushed off the confusing feelings and instead put his emotions into his music, making it authentic and oddly charming.*

*“Beautiful, Mandisa.” A woman patted his mothers shoulder. “You’ve raised a wonderful son.”*

Louis slightly groaned in irritation. ‘*They raised a horrible kid.’* Louis thought to himself. Now that he was older, he realized that he shouldn’t have beat himself up as much as he did when he was 17. Guilt had always occupied his mind when he thought about what he did, how he broke up his parents. But in reality, they raised him like that. They raised him to think of yourself first, not others. Survival of the fittest.

*“Please, I have a family William!”*

*Louis sat on the couch with his mother, they were just chatting when they heard the commotion coming from the office room. His father opened the door and held his hand out. “You’re not needed anymore, Mark.”*

*“I-I’m not needed?! Are you serious!? I helped you start this business, what the fuck man?!”*

*“But- Mark. You seem to forget. People like me. People like my beautiful ‘exotic’ wife, people love my son. What do you have Mark? A regular housewife, who’s pregnant and unattractive? A son who doesn’t excel in school? He doesn’t even have a talent to show off. You’re dragging me down. You understand, don’t you?”*

*“Excuse me?! The fuck did you-” Mark gulped as a security guard walked up behind him. “Fine.” Mark muttered.*

*The guard escorted the man out. Louis’ father looked at Louis with a smile, as if he didn’t just ruin someone’s life. “See son,” he started. “-sometimes, we have to make the hard decisions to get what we desire. It’s just business. Nothing personal.”*

Business came first, passion and feelings came last. That way of life ruined his childhood. He believed from a young age hurting others to get what he wanted was ok.

He gently stroked Willows head, *‘I’ll never teach you that.’* He thought to himself. No matter what, he’ll always make sure she knew it was ok to express herself, to talk about her feelings. He wanted her to know that no matter the situation, she was loved and *accepted.*

“I promise.” He whispered. “I promise I’ll give you a better life than mine.”

Suddenly, he felt slender arms wrap around his neck, a semi-heavy weight on his shoulders. He smiled, hearing Clementine mumble something out of exhaustion.

“What was that, darling?” Louis asked, holding her forearm.

“You’re doing great.” She yawned. “You don’t have to keep worrying Louis. You love her and that’s—“

“The bare minimum, Clem.” Louis cut her off.

“-not really. Not anymore.” Clementine said sadly. “Even back then, dads used to run out on their kids, unable to either provide a stable life or love. You could’ve ran out so many times, so many opportunities and you didn’t.”

“Why would I ever do that?” Louis replied, almost offended.

“I’ve seen it happen before. Of course I knew you wouldn’t but…there’s always that lingering exit you can take, and the urge is probably there for you-“

“Clementine.” Louis said sternly, waking her up a little. “I would *never* do that. Do you really think that?”

Clementine stayed quiet. In reality, no. Of course she knew Louis would never leave. It was just her inner insecurities popping out, she’d hidden it for years but it came out eventually. The *constant* fear that she would be alone again lingered in her mind. Louis noticed her silence and sighed. He got off his chair, and then hugged her tightly.

“Isn’t it crazy?” Louis chuckled.

“What?”

“How we only started dating a month into knowing each other.” Louis started, caressing her arm a bit. “Now, we’re in a family together. Clementine, I didn’t fight a war with you, fell for you in the middle of it, wrote songs about you, spent literally almost every second with you for the past 4 years to just leave.” Louis reassured.

“But now we have a kid.”

“Even more of a reason to stay. I mean *who* can actually say they have a kid with the most beautiful, bad-ass woman of the apocalypse world? Only me! I’d be a fool to run from that.” Louis joked.

She shook her head, a big smile on her face. Louis kissed the top of her head, pushing her slightly towards the bed, there he dropped her on it. She got into a comfortable position, and Louis lay next to her.

“I was serious.” Clementine broke the silence. “When I said you’re doing great. It’s not only the love you have for her Louis. You don’t even go to sleep before she does. Even though I tell you I got it. You care deeply for her and that *is* enough.”

Louis sighed, twiddling his fingers with one another, only staring at the bars above him. “I know. Thanks. Sometimes it just feels like I’m not enough, even before Willow.”

“Louis…” Clementine muttered sadly. The thought of him degrading himself saddened her. She sat up, grabbing his curious glance. Clementine took off her oversized sweater, a tank-top underneath. There was enough moon-light to see the faint, pink branded mark on her arm. She slid her fingers over it slightly, a grimace appearing on her face.

“You finally gonna reveal the meaning behind that?” Louis chuckled, over the years, she’d always refuse. ‘*The past doesn’t matter.’* She’d say.

Although he was joking, she wasn’t.

“I got this when I was 13.” Clementine started.

Louis shifted himself upwards, a frown shown on his face as he eyed the scar.

“I only did it to make sure AJ was safe. But, then he got ripped apart from me in the same group. After that, I had nothing more to lose. And when you have nothing to lose…you do scary, stupid things. I was horrible, Louis. I wasn’t the same person you know today.”

Louis nodded, taking in her words to the best of his ability. Trying not to react negatively in anyway.

“After I got AJ back—I only had *him.* If anyone ever—and I mean, *anyone* tried anything to hurt or kill him, I wouldn’t hold back. Yes I love AJ. I really do, but that feeling of hopelessness for your own self is so damaging.” Clementine opened up. After a brief moment of silence she continued. “I didn’t have hope for my own life, only for his. I didn’t mind if I got bit, as long as he was safe, I didn’t care. Not because I was sad or anything but because I just felt like this world wasn't for me. When I was a kid, I loved to be social, playful even. I've changed so much, I was forced to. I used to be innocent. Now, I'm finally getting some sort of my old self back."

Clementine grabbed Louis’ hand and squeezed it slightly. “You saved me.” She said, her tone hoarse. Louis squeezed back on her hand.

"I'm glad to be of service." He smiled at her. “I love you.”

She smiled, and kissed his cheek. “I love you too, Louis.”

[clemster]

Can I Take Your Order?

“After forced to get his friend a drink, Louis finds himself unable to tell his order to the pretty girl running the cashier.”

A/N: inspired by this drawing; wrote this drabble a bit ago and have only made small changes to it. hope you enjoy!

Read on AO3

Or read here on Tumblr

Coffee. Louis refused to even take a sip of the drink. Something about it just made him want to shrivel up into a ball and die right on the spot. It disgusted him so much, probably more than cantaloupe.

He didn't know why he hated the drink so much. He’d never even tried it before, he can’t be all that mad about it. Maybe it was because his father was obsessed with it. And he usually hated anything his father liked. Yeah, that's probably the best answer to that.

So why the hell was he standing in line to a coffee shop local to the university he attended? Ah right. He remembers now. It clicks simply like a piece to a puzzle. His best friend, Marlon, wanted something. Some fancy hazelnut iced coffee with extra uh- extra something. He couldn't remember very clear, he was forced out of their dorm so quickly he didn't even get half of what the blond ordered. His phone wasn't working properly too (it was dead) so he couldn’t even call him for confirmation. He cursed at himself for forgetting to plug it in last night.

"Next."

Ah shit. That was his cue. He was next. Oh god, he wasn't prepared. He wasn't prepared at all.

Okay, calm down Louis. He spoke to himself. You can do this.

Taking in a deep breath, Louis stepped forward to the counter. Right as he looked up at the worker behind, his breath got stuck in his throat, and his stomach did a backflip.

There behind the register was a girl standing tall. Or, as tall as her body allowed her to be. She was much shorter compared to Louis. Her curls were tied in the back to form a small bun, and she wore a plain grey short sleeve shirt underneath a signature green apron. Probably one she was required to wear. Eyebrows furrowed, frown plastered upon her face. She looked as if she were going to die from boredom. Her face made it perfectly clear to guess she was miserable.

A plastic cup in hand and a sharpie in the other, she stared at the freckled boy who had suddenly zoned out of it. "... Can I take your order?" She mumbled out to try and break the uncomfortable silence that sat between them. She was ready for her shift to be done so she could go home and suffocate herself in a blanket.

Louis was out of it. He didn't know why he was standing so still. His palms were sweating. He could tell a faint blush was creeping upon his cheeks. Jesus christ, why didn't he visit a coffee shop sooner? He didn't know cute girls worked at coffee shops! What the fuck! He had to thank Marlon later for forcing his ass to come here. Curse Louis and his stupid romantic mindset, though, he continued to just stare at the brunette.

Growing impatient, the girl cleared her throat out loud to gain back his attention. "Um, sir?"

Right. His order. Shit. Fuck. He wasn't ready to actually speak to her. Fuck fuck fuck, that was what was going through Louis' mind. That word, set on repeat. This was bad, real bad. Why did such an individual have to make him suddenly feel so... like this? It was almost as if she just swept the boy off his damn feet. In the matter of two seconds!

"Uh, hi," Louis finally mustered out. Okay, we're getting there. "Can I uhh... have... coffee."

God fucking dammit. You screwed it up already. “Well, yeah, this is a coffee shop,” The girl deadpanned. “What kind of coffee? Hot brew? Iced? Latte?” Louis glanced at the menu that hung above the girl’s head. Jesus, why was it so hard to remember such a simple order? All his friend asked for was-! “Hazelnut!!” He suddenly blurts. “Um- hazelnut. Iced coffee. With… extra sugar?” Brows raised, the girl hastily jots down the order. “Is that all?” Louis gave her a nod. “Right, your total’s four sixty nine.” Scrambling to get his wallet out, the freckled boy peeled out a ten, practically slamming it onto the counter. The sudden slap of his hand coming in contact with the marble made the curly haired girl jump, staring at the bill for a brief moment before taking it and grabbing his change. Once handed to, she picked up the plastic cup and sharpie that she had previously set aside, just now remembering an important detail. “Name?” Ah crap. Was she really asking for his name? No, he ain’t going to give it out that easily. Nope. No sir. He was going to make this interesting. “Whatever you want it to be,” He sheds a grin, sending her a finger gun as he leans an elbow against the counter. Ah crap, was he being too cheesy? The sight made the girl chuckle softly, scribbling down something on the cup. “Sure thing, freckles.” Freckles?? That’s what she chose? Louis was this close to getting on one knee and fucking proposing to her. He didn’t even register the next thing she said, and before he could get the chance to ask she was off to go prepare his order. Louis just stood there, watching as she worked. He was in dreamland. Coffee shop dreamland.