Military Facility
Pairing: Nick Clark x Reader
Author: @ftwd-nicky
Words: 2153
Author’s Note: I wanted to write about Nick in dat facility when I was re-watching season 1 and this is the end result! I hope everyone enjoys it :)
I sat in one of the many cages in the dim lit area, other pleading the guards to let them free as my foot tapping on the floor in worry. I placed both hands on each side of my head, gripping my hair gently before rubbing my face. I don’t even fucking remember how long I’ve been here for…
“You alright there, darlin’?” A deep voice asked me and I glanced up seeing a dark-skinned man wearing a very expensive suit in front of me. I let out a small sigh, shaking my head as he sat down next to me.
I rolled my eyes at the sound of the adult weeping next to us, glancing towards him as he looked at a picture of what I assume is his family. The posh man sitting next to me stood up, standing next to the man holding the picture, staring down at him.
“I look at a person like you and I know. You are a buyer. How do I know? Because I am a closer,” he spoke pacing in the space in front of us as my eyes stay on him. “I can sell anything, everything. Ask anyone. Except, uh, insurance.” He laughed, shaking his head a bit.
He began talking about family, making the guy sitting on the bench cry harder as I tilted my head to the side, wondering what this wealthy man is trying to do.
“Douglas, what’s wrong?” He asked, sitting down next to him as the crying got worse. I leaned my head against the fence, closing my eyes as I try to drown the sound out before I go completely insane. “Buck up. I think I found you a bright side.” The guy in the suit took the picture from Doug’s hands, glancing down at it. “I presume this is the wife.”
“Maria,” Doug told him, looking at it longingly.
I tuned out the conversation, thinking back to when I was first taken to this damn forsaken place.
I was sitting with my stepfamily in the Military run “safe zone,” watching some of the men patrol around the cul-de-sac as a doctor went from house to house, checking on people who needed medication and whatnot. I could hear my stepfather whisper to his boys and I glance behind me, seeing the three of them huddled up as I sighed.
Doctor Exner, she calls herself, came to our house next, greeting me with a small smile before talking with the step, both of them stepping into the house. They talked about what felt like ages but was only a few minutes before she took her leave.
“She doesn’t need to do a checkup?” I asked my stepfather and he shook his head, not even looking at me as I sighed, heading into the house, going to my room. I looked at the picture of my mother and I on my mirror, sighing sadly. “I wish you were still here…”
That night some military soldiers came into the house, claiming they had one of our names on their list to bring to the facility. “Y/N L/N.” One of them spoke as my heart stopped.
My eyes looked towards my stepfather and brothers as they had this stupid grin on their faces, the soldiers grabbing my arms, escorting me out of the house. “W-Wait no. There’s got to be a mistake. I’m not sick!” I yelled, fighting their grip.
I was snapped out of my memories when I felt the fence move, seeing Doug’s body laid against it, the crying got worse as two soldiers came in and took him away.
The man leans against the fence next to someone else, not really able to see their face as they sat on the floor, tucked into themselves. “So, then, who the hell are you?” He asked, looking down at the person.
I let out a small gasp as the person looked up, gripping the edge of the bench. “Nick…” I whispered, moving closer to him. “Nick? Is that really you?”
He looked over towards me, his eyes widening and I stood up, walking over towards him. “Y/N? What are you doing here?” I kneeled down next t him, placing my hands on his face, analyzing every inch of it.
“Remember my absolute favorite stepfamily?” I asked him sarcastically and he nodded his head in response. “Well, my stepfather told Exner that I was sick.” I frowned as did Nick, knowing how much of a dick my he was.
“I guess I had a similar scenario,” Nick paused, taking one of my hands in his, “Travis’ ex-wife had told her that I had been a drug addict and needed methadone.”
I scoffed, shaking my head. “Still doing that, huh?” I asked to which he shamefully nodded. “Nicky-,”
“I know, I know. I tried to quit I really did, but it’s difficult.” He whispered, feeling the wealthy man’s eyes on us.
“I’m just glad you’re okay,” I muttered, wrapping my arms around his neck, giving him a tight hug. His hands rest on my back, returning the hug as I sighed contently.
“As much as I don’t want to interrupt this cute reunion, we’ve got bigger problems on our hands.” The man mentioned and I pulled away from Nick, looking at him.
“What did you say your name was again?” I asked, looking up at him.
He smiled, straightening his suit as I narrowed my eyes at him. “Strand. Nice to meet you, Y/N.”
“You too,” I muttered turning away from him as guards patrolled around the cages, taking everyone’s temperature.
They placed the advanced thermometer near strands head, reading out the result, “98.6.” They moved onto me as I stared up at them, my heart pounding. “99.8.” Again, they moved onto Nick, heading the thing beep, waiting for them to read the result, “101.1. Take him.”
“Wait, no. H-He’s not sick!” I yelled as two guards came in, grabbing his arms. I stood up quickly, trying to pry their hands off Nick. “Listen to me, he’s not sick, please,” I begged.
One of them pushes me off of them and I fall to the ground, reaching my hands out to try and catch myself, but fail. I wince, hurting my wrist as Strand stepped up to the cage, whispering something to the main guard, Melvin.
“Hey! Let me go, man.” Nick fought, squirming as he looked back at me. I stared at him, slowly getting off the ground as Melvin halted the two men who were holding Nick.
“Put him back in the pen,” Melvin ordered and I sighed in relief as they brought him back in, my hands gripping his forearms tightly. Nick held me with the same amount of strength, my head buried in his neck. I could feel his lips pressed against the side of my head, his hand rubbing my back as the guards walked off.
“I’m okay,” Nick whispered, rubbing his hands on my arms as I pulled away. “Why’d you save me?” He asked Strand, furrowing his eyebrows at him.
“I didn’t save you. I obligated you.” Strand muttered, sitting back down on the bench. Nick and I moved back towards the spot he sat in when I first saw him, our shoulders brushing softly. “There’s a difference.”
We looked at each other, confused with Strand’s words. Nick was about to say something when Strand cut him off.
“I look at you, Nick, and I see someone who knows the means of necessity.”
“Well, I’m an addict,” Nick stated as I played with his fingers, listening to the boys’ conversation.
“No, you’re a heroin addict, that’s the golden standard. Don’t sell yourself short.” Strand corrected and I closed my eyes, biting my lip softly. I wish I could’ve been there to help him… “Anyway, I’m going to require a man with your talent when I make my move.”
“What move?” Nick and I asked simultaneously. Strand stayed quiet, just staring at us as he pulled out a key from inside his sleeve.
The three of us sat in the pen for what seemed like ages in silence. Nick got up at one point, pacing around the cage, running a hand along the fence. My foot anxiously began tapping against the floor again, chewing on my fingernails as my eyes darted around.
“I am losing my mind,” Nick stated, stopping for a second before continuing to pace. “I thought the house was bad,” he muttered, running a hand through his ratty hair.
“Nick, can you please stop? You’re making me kind of dizzy.” I chuckled, biting my lip softly. He looked down at me, smiling gently as he stopped, sitting down on the bench that’s next to me. Nick’s finger glided through my hair, leaning into his touch as my eyes fluttered shut.
“Just picture you’re somewhere nice, with a needle in your arm.” Strand told him and I sighed, getting off the ground, sitting next to Nick.
“Is it bad? When was the last time you used?” I asked him quietly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
Nick looked over at me, his hand on my leg as he sighed. “Y-Yeah. I mean, it’s been tolerable I guess. The last time I used was a couple days ago… morphine.” He muttered, frowning. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay, Nick. I-I just wanted what’s best for you a-and when you barely tried… I-I couldn’t handle it, so I left. I’m sorry.” I teared up, leaning my forehead against the side of his face.
“I-It’s okay, Y/N/N.” He whispered, hugging me tightly.
Our moment was interrupted by gunfire, both of us jumping as I gripped onto his arm. The alarm begins to go off, the three of us standing up.
“It’s time to go,” Strand mentioned, searching his pockets for something.
Where are we going?” I asked, feeling my heart pounding against my ribcage.
“What’s wrong?” Nick asked, watching him continue to search his pockets before Nick held up a key. I kept my laugh in as Strand smiled, taking the key from him.
“You, I like you.” Strand muttered, unlocking the gate, the two of us following behind him. “Y/N… I didn’t plan for you to come, but-,”
“She’s coming. No questions asked.” Nick cut him off, pulling me close to him as I wrapped an arm around his waist. “I can’t lose her again, Strand.” He glared a bit, placing a hand on his chest, trying to calm him down slightly.
“You didn’t let me finish. I was going to say, but I’m bringing you anyway because one, I can see that Nick cares about you and two, you’re growing on me.” Strand grinned and I laughed, pressing my lips together.
“Thanks, Strand.” I smiled as the three of us walked down a hallway. I kept my hand on Nick’s jacket, gripping slightly as we headed towards the stairwell. Strand pushed us out of the way as we heard guards rushing down the stairs.
My breathing became heavier as Strand motioned us to move forward, going through a pair of double doors, them closing loudly behind us. We crept down an eerie hallway, entering another area where a soldier was lying dead on the floor and another slowly dying. Nick and I stayed back as Strand went forward, whispering to him as a bunch of infected came through the doors opposite to us.
“Guys, we gotta go,” I called out, the three of us running back down the hallway we came from. We came up to the double doors, pushing it open but it doesn’t budge. “Oh no, no, no, no,” I muttered, looking back as Nick got in front of me, ramming his shoulder into the door, the infected getting closer and closer. “We’re gonna die.”
“Hey, we’re getting out of this. I’m getting you out of this.” Nick whispered, putting both his hands on my cheeks. “I’ll do literally anything to keep you safe.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks, coming in contact with his fingers as I nodded. His eyes searched mine for a few seconds before leaning down, connecting our lips together. I balled up his jacket in my hands, moving my lips against his before pulling away.
Nick looked out the window, his eyes widening as he placed his hands on the window. “Mom? Mom!” He yelled, pounding on the door. I looked out the other window, watching in silence as one of the nurses slid her card through the card reader many times. It finally unlocked, the three of us bursting through the door, Nick and I closing it behind us.
“Y/N?” Madison asked and I waved, smiling lightly. Nick grabbed my hand, muttering how it wasn’t a great time for a reunion.
Well, it’s time to run for our lives, literally.