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freakyomid · 2 days ago

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Warm Hearts & Cocoa☕💞

Character(s): Lilly, Carley, Doug (TWDG)

Summary: A late night hot cocoa shared between three friends who have gone through so much these past few months.

It’s late at night. The hour where everyone’s dead asleep.

Surfing into each of their dreamlands, forgetting about the real world full of scarcity and zombies—“walkers”, as they’d often refer to them.

Clementine’s all dozed up in the RV, hugging a bunny plush Lee gifted her a while back. Kenny’s snoring like that one annoying lawnmower you’d hear on Sundays.

Lilly...

Well, she can’t sleep.

Tossing and turning for hours certainly does not give her the beauty sleep she had expected.

She would sit up and scream into her hands by now.

If not for the door creaking.

Emerging from it?

Doug and Carley.

Her friends.

Best friends, to be exact, despite their animosity a few months back when this whole shit started.

“...The fuck are you guys doing here,” Lilly muttered dryly, still lying face-down on her bed.

“Uhm... we brought hot cocoa!” Doug replied, albeit awkwardly.

“Moreover, why the hell are you not asleep yet?” Carley cuts in, closing the door behind them before sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Fuck, Car, I dunno... insomnia, I guess,” Lilly muttered lazily, sitting up and groaning afterwards, “God, I wish you two would just leave me alone and let me sleep,” She muttered dryly, though both of them knew at this point that she was just being grumpily sarcastic.

Doug sat on the desk chair and lent her the hot cocoa. Lilly took it, the stainless steel glass instantly melting her palms. The three knew it was just some cheap scavenged cocoa powder, but with the right hands and the right companionship by your side, it could taste like something from a fancy restaurant.

“So... anything bothering you tonight?” Doug asked her gently, a worried crease between his brows.

“Isn’t this your third insomniac episode?” Carley asks her as well, sipping her hot cocoa.

“How and why the fuck have you been keeping records,” Lilly, bag-eyed and grumpy as she is, asked her.

“Bitch, I used to be a reporter; I observe shit nastier than this all the time, don’t underestimate it,” Carley cuts in, snarky as always with a smirk, “No, but seriously, you haven’t been sleeping in a lot lately, and we’re getting worried about you.”

Lilly’s expression sparked up at that, genuinely surprised. Never in her life would she imagine someone caring for her and looking out after her. This whole thirty-two years of living, she has always been fiercely tough and independent, thinking showing even a tidbit of kindness and empathy would make her weak.

“Babe, maybe right now’s not the time? I don’t really feel so good about us... butting into her business,” Doug tried to cut in regarding his girlfriend’s earlier question, seeing how it took Lilly so long to respond.

“No, no, Doug, it’s fine, just... never expected this is all,” Lilly answered, almost quietly and reflectively.

“Never expected what?” Carley asks again.

Lilly swallows her guts. Sips a bit of the hot cocoa. Then sighs, almost heavily, like a weight lifting off her shoulders.

“Remember the drugstore?” Lilly remarks.

That got both Doug and Carley to quiet down.

Carley sighs, “Jesus, yes. You were such a bitch back then.”

“That was over three months ago, you dipshit.”

“Well, me from three months ago still thinks you’re a bitch. A god-awful bitch who only knows how to nag and order around.”

“Carley, you son of a–”

“LADIES.”

That got the ladies to stop sass-bickering for a while.

Sweet, gentle, dorky Doug. Always the peacekeeper.

Though he knew this is just another one of their playful bickerings, and they never meant any ill will for it.

“...Sorry,” Lilly mumbles, out of habit by now considering how often this shit happens.

She clears her throat then, sipping some more hot cocoa.

“What I meant to say was... after everything we’ve been through at the drugstore, and how bitchy I was to you two especially back then, I never imagined to form some sort of... friendship. With you two, especially.”

Doug smiles a little, trying to lighten up the mood, “I think it started after that scav run, you girls remember? There was a herd, and Carley ran out of ammo trying to run from them. Guess what happened next? Lilly covered for her. Thus, I managed to pull her out in time.”

“Shut the hell up, dork, I did what any loyal crewmate would do,” Lilly retorts dryly, though she can’t deny that she feels a little bit too overproud inside.

“Still impressive to me though, covering up for your people like that. I would’ve been too scared to do it... probably run away. Not just anyone can be that brave to do that, Lilly.”

Lilly wasn’t sure how to respond to that. Someone praising her for something as small as... covering up for your teammate? It has always been expectation after expectation for her, and small victories would mean nothing to people, as they would only care if she made some tremendous, significant progress.

In the end, all she managed to utter out was just a small thanks. Awkward and quiet as it is, Doug seemed to take note of it, nodding approvingly.

“You know, Lilly? I can’t stop thinking about it hours after. Even during dinner. We hated each other so much I thought you’d just leave me to be dead meat back then,” Carley jumps in again.

“Nah, I’m not that kind of person. As much as I hated you back then, I’m not that cold-blooded to leave you for... walker chomps,” Lilly admits.

“And that got me thinking... I don’t know, maybe you’re not as rigid and military as I thought you were. You still have some loyalty and empathy left in you by protecting me from... those,” Carley adds in again.

Lilly can only nod at that; she’s not sure what else to say to respond.

“Didn’t I tell you she gave me a still-working GameBoy, Car?” Doug suddenly chimes in with something... out of topic and techie. Classic Doug.

Carley turned around suddenly at that, “Wait, that was her?! You said you picked it up yourself during a drugstore run!”

Doug grinned sheepishly at that, “Yeah, well, I don’t know how you would’ve felt about me taking a gift from another girl. Someone you hated back then, especially.”

“Jesus, Doug, I could’ve talked with her one on one and PERSONALLY thank her AND WE ALL COULD’VE BEEN FRIENDS SOONER YOU DIPSHIT–”

“I’M SORRY, CARLEY, I SAID I’M SORRY IT WAS A FEW MONTHS AGO–”

Lilly chuckles at that.

A lighthearted, genuine, warm one. Not her usual sarcasm.

That got their bickering to stop as well.

“What? Do I have something on my face?” Carley turns back to her, confused.

“No, it’s just-” Lilly took one more giggle, then a pause, and sighs, “Just... you guys may be bickering like idiots and all but, Jesus, I felt like I could laugh at that.”

“Laugh?” Doug asks, confused.

“Yes, laugh. I mean- old me would’ve told you two to shut the fuck up and get out of here. But then... we started to be acquaintances, and I learned how to loosen up in life instead of taking every single damn thing seriously like I’m back in ROTC all over again.”

That seriously got them to shut up and look stunned at her.

“If it’s still two versus one with the three of us, surely I would’ve broken down by now. Maybe even... I don’t know, in unlikely circumstances, snap and shoot someone. Could be either of you, for the worst part, since you two kinda get on my guts a lot.”

“Lilly, you wouldn’t.”

“I probably would with my mindset from over three months ago.”

“Can’t really see that happening, for sure. It’s a stretch.”

There was a pause after that.

They’re not really sure what else to talk about.

All they can do is be content for now, let their thoughts simmer, and sip their hot cocoas.

After a while, Lilly sighs, her mug half-empty now. She put it by the bedside table, next to Carley’s already empty one.

“Can I just… say something?” Lilly asks, almost quietly, like a child’s plea. The two turn to her at that, showing that they are listening.

“I’ve never really said this before, but… I’m sorry. For all the times I put either or both of you in a hard time a few months back, be it me as both of your enemy, acquaintance… or friend, even now.”

That got both of them to look pretty confused.

“Lil, why the apology all of a sudden?” Carley asks.

“...I don’t know, just… this chickenshit little deep talk session made me do it, I guess. It’s obvious you two cared a lot about me, and… it’s only fair if I try to give back a little of your care, right? Even if it’s in the form of an apology.”

The two looked at each other for a few seconds, unsure if they should accept her apology or reassure her. They turned back to her after a while, each of them giving their own thoughts on her apology.

“Lilly, if I have to be honest, I began to understand why you act the way you did back then, despite it coming out as dictatorship-like and… well, no offense, but wrong on so many levels I can think of,” Carley spoke out her thoughts first.

Then, in a surprising gesture of solidarity…

She held her hand. Thumb brushing over her knuckles and all.

“You know what really matters, though? You apologized, and you owned up to it. That earns an ex-reporter’s respect more than if you were to try and defend it with very poor logical fallacy and mentality,” Carley continues, reassuring her.

“You tried your best to open up and change, and that’s already enough. You see how Kenny’s less aggressive around you now? You see how WE are willing to be your friends now? That’s progress, Lilly, and it’s because you were willing to make the small change in you,” Doug continues, a small, proud smile on his face.

Lilly looks at the two of them, back and forth, unable to comprehend all this.

“...You guys really meant it?” Lilly asks, her voice small. Nods from the two of them already told the truth.

“Point is, we’re proud of you, Lilly. All of us.”

We’re proud of you.

Four simple words.

And yet.

It got Lilly’s eyes shimmering.

How long has it been since those words were last told to her?

Carley’s snarky yet reassuring smirk, Doug’s sweet yet dorky smile…

It made her eyes water and blur.

She pulls her hand away from Carley all of a sudden.

“Lilly–?”

Lilly wiped her eyes in a halt. Like letting someone see her cry would make her get beaten up.

“Sorry,” She said, sniffling before turning back to them, “I guess I got emotional.”

“Nah, it’s fine. Even I am messy most days. Back then, and even now,” Carley reassured her, getting a chuckle from Lilly.

“Point is, what happens in the past stays in the past, okay?” Carley continues, her hand on Lilly’s knee in a reassuring gesture for a few minutes, then her hand retreats, “Don’t let it get over you. What matters is right now and tomorrow, and so on after that.”

Lilly nods at that, “Yeah, I get it,” She said, with a small smile.

“Say… this is getting awkward all of a sudden,” Doug chimes in after spending most of the time as an NPC.

“Yeah? And what are you proposing?” Lilly asks him.

“Say, truth or dare over Pocky?” Doug proposes, a dorky grin plastered over his face.

“Doug, no, we’ve done that a hundred times already,” Carley retorts exasperatedly at him.

“But Carley, the fact that we have done it over a hundred times means it’s as solid of a plan as ever!”

“Baby, I love you, but no. Pocky’s scarce as it is, we can’t just keep having nights dedicated for them! You think we have the energy to scavenge for some already-rare snack? During this time?”

“Then we’ll find a replacement, silly! Call it... I don’t know, ‘canned meat night’?”

And the bickering starts again.

Which, as loud and dumb and chaotic as it is, brings Lilly peace. A warm smile on her face.

She really has people now, huh?

“Okay, lovebirds, I really do need to sleep now. We can think of some friendship night ideas later in the morning,” She cuts in amidst the bickering, a chuckle almost bubbling up there.

“You know what? Jesus, fine. We’ll continue this later in the morning,” Carley remarks, a sharp glare at her boyfriend during the last part.

“Oh we will, alright,” Doug retorts back, though his mock-challenged expression softens when he turns to Lilly, “Farewell fist bump, General Caul?” He asks, holding out his fist.

“Wait, you know what? Mine too. Fist bumps from both sides now, Lil,” Carley adds in playfully, holding out her fist to her.

That got a chuckle out of Lilly, “Idiots,” She remarked, standing up towards the two.

Not to fist-bump them.

But to hug them both.

Tight.

Shocking Doug and Carley, arms locked awkwardly at their sides, unsure whether to be thrilled or concerned.

Because their grumpy face of a best friend never initiates hugs. A group hug, even.

“Uh, Lilly? You okay?” Doug asks, part-concerned, part-shocked.

“Did you get drunk or something?” Carley asks her, too.

“No, I’m perfectly fine,” Lilly answers, “Just… feeling grateful, I guess,” She continues, pulling them both tighter, making them yelp a little.

“Who are you and what have you done with our bitchy Lilly Caul,” Carley remarks, albeit jokingly.

“Shut up or I’ll bite your ears off,” Lilly retorts back at her in her usual bitchy way, so to speak.

Lilly took a sigh after that, arranging the proper words to say to her friends.

“...Thank you, both of you. For seeing me for who I really am.”

The next few words are more quieter, personal.

“I love you both.”

It was quiet for a few more seconds.

Which is perfectly reasonable when your resting bitch face of a best friend suddenly says “I love you” like you’re something precious.

“...Carley, babe, I’m not dreaming, am I?”

“Yes, you are. This is not our bitchy Lilly.”

“Pinch my cheek.”

“Mine too.”

“Can you two shut the fuck up,” Lilly interrupted, pulling away from the hug just a bit to pinch both of their cheeks, getting them both to yelp.

“OKAY OKAY WE GET IT THISH ISH NWOT A DWEAM AT ALL–” Doug begged for mercy.

“LILLY WE GET IT YOU’RE BEING GENUINE LET US GO–” Carley followed up, and at that, Lilly released both of their cheeks.

A few moments after that is just some pitiful cheek-rubbing between the two as Lilly composed herself from the earlier… teasing she put on them.

“I meant it, you know,” She said, “I really do love you both.”

“We know, babe, don’t worry,” Carley said with a smile on her face, stepping forward for a second chance at a hug, “Why else would we put up with you?”

Lilly chuckles at that, hugging her back, “Bitch.”

“Aw, don’t leave me out~!” Doug said mock-pitifully, joining in the group hug, wrapping an arm around each girl.

It was the comfiest fucking group hug Lilly has ever received her whole entire life. It lasted for a while until Carley pulled away with a yawn.

“Damn, late night sentimentality got me so drowsy,” She remarked, almost to herself, “Let’s hang out more in the morning, yeah, Lilly?” She follows up, grabbing her and Doug's empty hot cocoa mugs while heading towards the door, opening it.

“Sure,” Lilly answered.

“Bye, Commander Grump!” Doug said farewell in that sweet dorky way of his, followed by a wave goodbye. Lilly returns the wave with a chuckle, her eyes crinkling at the corner as he closes the door.

She can hear the two’s footsteps down to their own shared room by the hall, and all she can think about was the earlier moment they all hugged.

She thought about how they didn’t see her as Larry’s daughter, a soldier, or a leader…

They just see her as her own person. As Lilly.

And she thought for once, in this apocalypse hellhole…

How everything would be just fine with the two around.

#twdg #twdg s1 #the walking dead game #carley twdg #twdg carley #lilly twdg #twdg lilly #doug twdg #twdg doug #twdg fanfic #yes this is a repost #i had to fix and polish the ending

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