Skinny Love
Pairing: Nick Clark x Reader
Author: @ftwd-nicky
Words: 3672
Author’s Note: So, this was requested by anon and I have changed it up a bit because I didn’t want it to be too long, but nonetheless cute! I really hope you guys end up enjoying it!
Nothing is worse than being separated from the guy you’re hopelessly in love with. It’s been a few weeks since Nick had walked off with the dead, claiming we were the monsters.
Ofelia and Alicia got into the bed of the truck, my feet planted where they were as I saw Nick walking towards us slowly. I stumbled towards him, laying my hands on his arms as tears were streaming down my cheeks. “N-Nick,” I whispered, looking up at him as his eyes gazed down at me.
“You need to go,” Nick muttered, his hands intertwining with mine as my eyes widened, shaking my head.
“Y/N! Nick! Come on, we need to go,” Madison called out, walking towards us. Strand drove slowly behind us, stopping a few feet behind us, light shining twenty feet past us.
“Nick, please, I-I can’t lose you,” I murmured, moving my hands to his cheeks. Nick leans his bloody forehead against mine and my eyes flutter shut.
“Go,” he whispered, placing a small kiss on my forehead.
“Nick, come on. We gotta go,” Madison claimed and he looked at his mother before glancing towards the villa that was currently on fire.
“She was right…” Nick started, looking back at Madison. “We destroy everything.”
“Madison! Y/N! Come on, now!” Strand yelled, infected and angry villa workers making our way towards us. Madison’s lips parted, her eyes filled with sadness as were mine, stepping back towards the truck.
I stared up at Nick, sniffling a bit as he gave me a sad from, rubbing my cheekbone. Strand wrapped his arms around my torso, beginning to bring me back towards the truck. “No! No, I-I can’t leave him. Let me go, let me go!” I yelled, squirming in his arms.
Nick turned around, running towards the mob of infected before slowing down, walking as Strand placed me into the bed of the truck.
I sat in the back of the pickup truck when we drove down the driveway of the villa passing Nick on the way and my eyes trained on Nick as his were on me.
“I’m sorry. I love you, be safe.” He mouthed to me, luckily being able to read his lips. Tears streamed down my face as I lost sight of him, hugging my knees.
I felt a hand on my shoulder, glancing over towards Ofelia as she gave me a sad smile. I just looked back towards where Nick was walking, not seeing anything but the infected limping around.
The five of us stopped at this hotel, getting out of the truck as I hugged my arms, looking up at the large building. I glanced back towards where we came from, frowning a bit as I wish Nick would just walk through those gates and wrap me in his arms.
Ofelia, Alicia, and I went to one of the rooms to stay in while Strand and Madison had gone to the bar area. I sat down on the bed, sighing to myself as I looked out the window. The blue ocean waves crashing into the shore, many infected climbing out onto the beach every once in a while.
“I’m gonna take a shower,” Ofelia muttered to the both of us. Alicia must’ve nodded her head because the next thing I hear is the door behind shut.
The bed dipped down next to me, keeping my eyes on the water. An arm came around my shoulder and I glanced towards Alicia, tears pooling in my eyes.
“I know it’s hard,” she muttered, rubbing my back softly. I looked down at my hands, sniffling a bit as I nodded my head.
“I-I just don’t understand what happened. He would’ve never left you or me and now… he’s not even here. He’s out there,” I nodded my head to the outside, “without anyone by his side. I should’ve gone with him.”
“Nick wouldn’t allow that,” Alicia told me and I shrugged my shoulders.
“I don’t care. I just want to know he’s safe. I need to know that he’s safe,” I cried, not being able to stop the tears that are streaming down my face. Alicia wrapped her arms around me as I begin sobbing into her chest, hugging her tightly. Please be okay…
“If I know my brother, which I like to think I do, he’ll come back. Nick cares about you too much for him to not come back,” she muttered and I picked my head up, looking at her.
“You think so?” I asked and she nodded her head, a small smile on her lips.
“Of course. I know he mouthed something to you as we were leaving. I’m not very good at reading lips so I don’t know what he said, but I’m sure it was something-,”
“I’m sorry. I love you, be safe,” I muttered, cutting Alicia off and her eyebrows furrowed together in confusion. “That’s what he mouthed to me,” I clarified and her eyes widened, lips parted in surprise.
“He said ‘I love you’? Wow, that’s honestly really surprising,” she mentions and I nodded my head.
“I know. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him say that before, to anyone,” I pressed my lips together, smiling softly. I picked at the tips of my fingers, my smile widening as I thought about all the times Nick and I hung out with each other. Our friendship was very touchy… like we always had our hands on each other in some way. It honestly felt like we were a couple most of the time and we’ve gotten compliments from people saying how adorable we were. Although Nick would deny the fact that we were just friends, I liked to think just maybe the two of us could’ve reached that status, but it never happened.
I was snapped out of my thoughts when Ofelia came out of the bathroom, running a towel through her long hair. “Shower’s free,” she smiled, sitting down on the other bed. Alicia patted my bed before heading into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. “So, were you and Nick-,”
I cut her off before she could even finish the question, “no. W-We weren’t together,” I muttered. I glanced towards her, giving her a small smile as she nodded her head.
“I’m surprised. With the way you two looked at each other I would’ve guessed that the two of you would’ve been together for at least a few years,” Ofelia mentioned, looking at herself in the mirror as I stared at her, my lips parted in shock.
-
We stayed at this huge ass hotel for about a week. During the week we had found the owners of it while Alicia and I were being attacked by the infected, the result of looking for Ofelia since she just disappeared. People found out that there were survivors here when Madison turned on the lights of the place to see if Travis would come towards it, which he did.
Turns out that Chris wasn’t with Travis and we prayed that he was okay, well Alicia didn’t but Madison and I did. Soon enough the four of us; Travis, Madison, Alicia, and I were kicked out after Travis had basically murdered the two boys that were with Chris after finding out that they ended up shooting him after getting into a severe car accident.
Now we’re on the road again. Heading towards the border to see if there’s a chance we can find Nick. When we reached the border, we were taken in roughly by the military. Us three girls getting into one truck as Travis got into another truck, driving in separate directions.
The three of us girls were brought into what looked an office, an officer leaving us alone as Alicia began pacing the room. Madison looked for some other way to get out, worried for Travis’ safety.
“Anything?” Alicia asked her mother and she shook her head no in response. The teenager sighed, running a hand through her hair as I sat down on the chair, glancing out the window. “What about the ceiling?” She asked.
Madison stood on a chair, pushing the ceiling tile up before letting out a small sigh, “there’s nothing. It doesn’t go anywhere.”
“We shouldn’t have come here,” Alicia muttered, sitting down next to me.
“We had to, ‘Licia,” Madison told her, hands settled on her hips as Alicia rolled her eyes.
“No, we shouldn’t be looking for him, chasing him. It always blows back on us in the end,” she mentioned and I furrowed my eyebrows together. Madison was about to speak when a guy mine and Alicia’s age steps into the room with a journal in his hand, sitting on the desk in front of us.
“Hi, sorry to keep you. My name’s Troy,” he introduced and I rest my elbows on my knees, watching Madison stare at the teenager. “Please, please sit, ma’am.”
I tuned out the conversation, looking back out the window, wondering what Nick is doing at the moment. Wondering if he’s okay. Dead or alive. I could feel the tears pooling in my eyes as negative thoughts filled my mind. I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard the door shut, looking at the two girls.
“He’s going to kill us,” Alicia muttered, my eyes widening, feeling my heart beat a mile a minute.
“No, no. He’s treating us to well,” Madison countered, beginning to look around the room again.
“Why do you think that is?” I asked, earning a shrug from Nick’s mother and I sighed, running a hand through my hair.
The two began arguing as Madison was looking for some sort of weapon in case things go bad. I saw Alicia bend over, pulling the butterfly knife out of her boot, showing her mother. “I hid it in before they took us.”
The three of us heard footsteps and Madison motioned us to hide. Alicia and I hid behind the couch as someone walked in. We came out when we heart grunting, seeing Madison on top of Troy, trying to take him down when he knocks her off. Alicia charged at him with her blade, getting it knocked out of her hand as she was thrust towards the wall. I stood in shock, eyes wide and lips parted as I saw Madison grip the spoon, coming up to Troy from behind, jabbing the spoon in his eye.
I wince, placing my hands over my mouth as she was mumbling to him. I ran over towards Alicia, helping her off the ground making sure she was alright as Madison called back to us, “Go find a running vehicle!”
Alicia and I took off in another direction, sneaking around the base as we saw two vehicles nearby. I looked around for guards as she quietly opened the door, making sure it would when grunting and screaming tore our attention elsewhere.
“What was that?” I asked, glancing towards my friend which she responded with a shrug. She began walking in that direction, seeing a sewage grate as I followed behind her.
“Nick?!” My heart skipped a beat at the name, running over to her, looking into the vent. Oh my god. Below me was Nick, struggling to get an infected off of him, his eyes widening once he noticed I was there.
“Alicia? Y/N?” He called out and I could feel the tears streaming down my cheeks. Alicia slipped the butterfly knife through the gate, landing near him as a woman took it, stabbing the infected in the back of the head. Nick pushed the infected off of him, his eyes never leaving mine as a pair of arms grabbed me, pulling Alicia and me away.
“No! Let me go, Nick!” I called out, struggling to get free of the soldier’s grip.
“Y/N!” I heard him yell.
Alicia and I were brought to the pit where Madison and Travis were, the couple in a tight embrace. “I found him, Maddie. I found Nick, he’s here.” I heard him whisper to her and her eyes lit up.
“Where is he?” She asked as guards brought Nick and another woman around the corner, Nick fighting the guard's grip. Madison stepped forward, muttering to herself incoherently as my eyes never left Nick’s. “Let him go!”
The guards let him go as he stumbled forward. “Mom,” he mumbled as Madison ran over to him, pulling him into a tight hug. I started to cry again as Alicia stepped forward as well, hugging his sister and mother at the same time. Nick’s eyes met mine as he pulled away from them, stumbling forwards as he reached me. “Y/N,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around my waist.
I cried into his neck as I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” I muttered into the crevice of his neck, my hands going through his hair as Nick lifted me off the ground.
“I’m glad you’re okay, too. I was so worried something might have happened,” he whispered, pressing his lips to the side of my head.
After our reunion, the six of us including the strange woman who was injured was brought to an area where Travis and Madison began to pack some stuff, talking about where we’re going next.
I glanced towards Nick who was currently stroking the hair out of the girls face, a frown forming on my lips. Who the hell is this chick? Her hand was resting against his forearm, squeezing her eyes shut in pain as he comforted her with reassuring words.
I stepped away from them, feeling my heart breaking just a little bit as I sat down on one of the storage crates. I violently wiped the tears from my eyes as Alicia stood in front of me. “You okay?”
“Y-Yeah, I’m fine,” I muttered, staring at the ground, my foot tapping against the concrete. I bit my lip to stop myself from quivering, but fail. A sob escapes my lips, Alicia crouching in front of me as she wrapped her arms around me. “I-I don’t understand, ‘Licia. H-He’s gone for what? A couple weeks or something and he’s already got a girlfriend? What does she have that I don’t?” I asked.
“I don’t know, Y/N/N. I really don’t.” She whispered, rubbing my back softly. Nick came out, glancing at us as his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
“Everything okay?” He asked softly, rubbing his hands together. I glanced up at him, looking away quickly as Alicia sighed, getting up.
Before she could drag him away I spoke up, “who’s she?” I looked towards him as his eyes were already on me, his lips moving but no words come out.
“Uhm, that’s Luciana,” he muttered, stepping towards me. I scrunch my face up, getting up and walking away.
“Infected incoming!” A guard shouted and I glanced around seeing a horde of infected making their way towards us.
“We need to get Luciana on that chopper!” Another Guy my age yelled as Travis and Alicia grabbed her, Madison and Nick taking out some of the infected. I stood still, lost in my thoughts as I just looked around feeling my hands shake slightly.
“We gotta go!” I heard Troy yell, a pair of arms wrapping around my stomach as they carried me towards the truck. I glanced behind me to see Nick carrying me, trying to wriggle out of his grip as he places me in the bed of the ford.
“Let me go,” I muttered, getting out of his grip, sitting towards the tailgate as the truck began to drive out of the base. I could feel Nick’s eyes on me and I looked over for a few seconds, seeing the hurt in them as I looked away. I ran my fingers through my hair, staring at the helicopter as they flew over the mountains.
We arrived at the ranch about a day later, stopping a few times along the way. Madison and Nick sat in the backseat of the truck as I volunteered to sit in the bed of the truck, not wanting to be anywhere near the Nick at the moment.
Troy unexpectedly told us to get out of the truck and the three of us complied, suspiciously. We stood on the outside of the gate, my eyes looking over the ranch, seeing an amount of RV’s and tents all over the grassy plains. I hugged my arms, rubbing the dry skin softly as Madison and Nick were talking about leaving.
“Y/N?” Madison called my name and my gaze turned towards her, humming in response. “Are you okay?” She asked and I nodded my head, my eyes glanced towards her son, his eyes on me as his hands were on his hips.
He let out a sigh, walking over towards me, grabbing my arm before dragging us off so we can talk alone. “What’s going on?” Nick asked once we were out of range for his mother to hear.
“It’s nothing, Nick,” I muttered, trying to walk away when he stops me.
“Obviously there is something, Y/N. Y-You’re never this cold to me,” he mentioned and I looked towards the ground, kicking my feet in the dirt. “Talk to me.”
“Who’s Luciana to you?” I asked bluntly, staring up at him. Nick’s let out a small sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Is this why you’re so upset with me? Because of Lucy?” He asked and I stayed silent, shrugging my shoulders. “She’s something to me…” Nick vaguely cleared up and I scoffed.
“Bullshit. She’s more than just something to you, Nick. While you were with her, I was worried sick about you. I-I didn’t sleep, hell I barely ate. D-Do you know how much you actually mean to me?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.
“You don’t think I was worried about you? Because you’re wrong. I was just as worried about you as you were of me. Y-You mean everything to me, you of all people should know that and I know that I mean a hell of a lot to you as well.” Nick muttered, placing his hands on his head as he walked in a circle.
“Then how come you’re suddenly with another girl?” I asked, becoming a bit angrier as he let out a huff of breath.
“I’m not with her. She got shot when I tried to help her people go to this “refugee camp,” but turned out to be a fucking military base who do human experiments.” He explained and I tilted my head to the side, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion.
“Human experiments? What do you mean?” I asked.
Nick showed me his hand, revealing a number on it. I gently grabbed it, running my hand through the ink as he spoke, “Troy and his little minions would test how long it took people to turn. They took us there and we were waiting to be slaughtered. Wanna know something?” He asked and I nodded my head. “While we were waiting, I actually told Lucy about you. Basically everything and she told me she’s never seen someone so in love with somebody before. At first, I thought that was ridiculous since we were best friends, there’s no way we could be in love with each other, but then that changed. When I saw you standing there at the base I couldn’t feel anymore relieved that you were okay. It took a lot of holding back from kissing you,” he muttered, his thumb settling against my cheek, rubbing my cheekbone softly.
“I-,” I stuttered, moving my hands to the jacket he was wearing, gripping it in my hands as I looked over his face.
“I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen you speechless,” Nick joked, chuckling a bit as I hit his chest playfully.
“When the guy you’ve been in love with for years tells you he loves you as well… you get a bit speechless,” I mentioned, grinning softly. Nick leaned his forehead against mine, his breath hitting my lips as my own breath hitched in my throat. “I love you too,” I whispered.
He grinned, leaning down to press his lips against mine. I let out a small gasp, eyes fluttering shut as I wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing him back. Oh god, his lips feel wonderful. His fingers slipped into my hair, pulling me closer to him as mine did the same.
Nick pulled away from me, a wide grin on his lips as he stared down at me. “I realized that I’ve been waiting for years to do that,” he muttered, placing a quick kiss on my lips. Nick let out a small sigh, glancing towards the ranch. “I really don’t want to stay here, but if you’re with me I don’t think it’ll be all that bad.”
I chuckled, shaking my head a bit as Madison called out to us, motioning us to go with her and an old man. Nick grabbed my hand, intertwining our fingers as we walked into the ranch, people’s eyes staring at us as the elder man gave us a tour of the place.
I glanced up at Nick, his thumb rubbing against the back of my hand his eyes looking all over the place. Any place is better with you.
