3rd Pov.
Clementine and Y/n are walking past the comic book store on their way back to the clothing store. As they walk past the door, Clem is pulled into the store as Y/n chases after and as he's able to get inside, he surrounds his fist with fire preparing to torch whatever had grabbed her.
Y/n: Alright, who's trying to die today?
However, before he can do anything he's stopped by Clem as she walks up to him.
Clementine: Wait!
Y/n: Clem? What happened?
She nods behind her and that's when Y/n finally sees Luke crouched behind them. He looks a little worse for wear. His eyes are sunken in a little and he looks like he hasn't slept for days, but still the two are glad to see him.
Y/n: Holy shit. Hey, Luke. Glad to see you're still alive.
Clementine: We were all worried.
Luke: Aw, it's good to see you too, guys.
Luke looks around for a moment to make sure the coast is clear before turning back to the kids with a serious look on his face.
Luke: Alright, listen, we ain't got much time, okay? I followed y'all here best I could. Haven't had a night's rest since y'all got nabbed and well, this is the first chance I got to talk to somebody. They're everywhere, okay? They got guards. Watching everything.
Suddenly Luke stops.
Luke: Shh.
Footsteps are heard outside the store.
Luke: There's a herd'a lurkers just south of us. It's bigger than I ever seen around these parts.
Y/n: And? Carver mentioned it already.
Clementine: Said he hopes it passes us.
Luke: Yeah, I heard folks talking about that, but that ain't so, okay? It's gonna hit this place, I know it is. I don't know when, but it's coming and it's gonna be soon. See, I've been looking for places to...to get y'all free... but haven't been able to find anything yet. They plugged up all the holes we used when we got out.
Y/n looks around at the store they're inside and notices how this place is probably where Luke has been ever since he made it back. The place seems empty majority of the time, so it would sense for it to be used as a little resting area. However Luke's condition is still one that concerns the two as he occasionally looks out into nothing.
Y/n: Luke, are you alright? You seem a little out of it.
Luke snaps out of whatever it was he was doing and turns to Y/n.
Luke: Yeah, yeah, I'm alright... I just could use some sleep, you know? Hard to rest when you think a lurker's about to get the jump on you at any moment, but, yeah. Yeah. I'm fine, okay? Don't worry about me.
Clementine: It seems dangerous.
Luke: Well, the whole situation's dangerous, but, well, we're in it now. It's what we got. We just... we just need a plan, y'know, a way to get you and... and everyone...
More footsteps are heard outside the door this time and they pause for a moment until the leave. Noticing the urgency, Clementine rushes Luke to get the point. They didn't have long.
Clementine: Luke.
Luke: Oh, sorry, sorry. Shit, okay. Troy ain't gonna like you being late. Listen, guys, I need you to meet me here tomorrow, about this time, 'cause I-I need you two to get me one of those radios, okay? Do you think you can do that?
Y/n: You want us to steal you a radio?
Luke: Just... just one of those walkie-talkies. I just need to be able to tell y'all what's going on with them guards... you know, I'll figure out the schedule their patrols are on. I mean, they're... they're all over the place, but I can keep an eye on 'em for y'all from out here. Look, we ain't gonna be able to shoot our way outta here, so we gotta be careful. W-We just gotta be smart, okay? We gotta plan. That radio is crucial to that.
Y/n sighs and looks at Clem.
Y/n: What do you want to do? Chances are Madison might take me away for the night so you might have to do this alone, but on the off chance she doesn't I'll be able to help. Though, it isn't... well, guaranteed.
Clementine thinks about it for a moment and seeing no other way, she decides to go along with it.
Clementine: Okay, I'll do it.
Luke: Thanks, guys. I'm so glad I can count on you. Remember, you two meet me here tomorrow. I'll try and be here around this time. But if I ain't, just wait as long as you can, 'cause I really need one of those radios. Just let everybody know I'm alright, okay? I'm worried they, uh-
Before Luke can finish, they all hear Troy calling out for Clementine and Y/n as they never showed back up to Bonnie and she called for them. She was worried and wanted to check on the two but unbeknownst to her it kind of fucked them over just a little bit.
Troy: Clementine! Y/n! Get out where I can see ya!
Luke: Go on! Get outta here.
The two leave the store and Troy sees them.
Troy: The hell were you doing? Huh? Answer me!
Thinking quickly, Y/n just grabs Clem's hand while staring at Troy.
Y/n: Totally making out.
Troy rolls his eyes.
Troy: Don't play with me, boy.
Y/n: Or what?
Y/n steps forward and looks at Troy.
Y/n: I may have to put up with Madison, but at least since she's so fond of me I don't have to worry about stooges like you fucking with us. Now get out of our way so we can get back to work.
Troy wants to say something, but he know he can't after what Madison said she'd do to him should he lay a finger on Y/n or the girls Madison would take the said fingers. And he knows Madison doesn't lie when it comes to hurting people. So he grits his teeth and looks at them.
Troy: Bill radioed. Wants a word with you two up in his office. So get on up there, now.
Y/n grabs his girlfriend's hand.
Y/n: Excuse me.
The two start walking back to the store and as they do, they look at one another. They start to laugh at the fact they made Troy look like a bitch. Even though Madison torments them, there are...ways to use it to their advantage. They make it back inside and walk towards Bill's Office. While walking up the stairs that lead to his office, they pass Rebecca on the stairs who they'd tried talking to, but she was crying the whole time.
Clementine: Rebecca?
Y/n: Are you okay?
She doesn't say anything and continues walking as Carver walks out of the room.
Carver: She's a strong woman, surrounded by weak men. I ain't letting my kid get raised around that. Get in here.
Clementine, Y/n, and Carver enter his office. When they enter the office which seems to be pretty standard for the boss of a place, a big desk in the middle and some things on top of it. Though in the corner they find Alvin laying in a chair unconscious after being beaten by Carver & Madison it seems.
Y/n: Shit...
Clementine: Alvin. Alvin!
Carver: He passed out hours ago. He can't hear nothing. No point in making a racket.
Y/n: Why are you doing this?
Carver: Me and him, we got history. Understand? A couple things we had to... get worked out. But I wouldn't be so concerned about his well-being if I were you two. Not with you both being so close to the fire yourself. Now...
Carver waves his hand towards a pair of chairs in front of his desk. The two sit down by the desk in front of the chairs while Carver sits on the edge desk.
Carver: You make sure you tell me the truth when you're sitting where you are and you won't end up over in that chair. Clear?
Y/n: Crystal.
Carver nods.
Carver: You might not believe this after what happened earlier, but I liked Reggie. He was a funny guy. He kept things light. You need folks like that... it's easy to let depression sink in during times like this. But he was weak.
Y/n: He only had one arm.
Carver: I don't mean just 'cause he was maimed, that wasn't his problem. He was weak of will. Weak of character. And we can't have that around here, not anymore. Not with what we got at stake. You have to be able to contribute...
Clementine: We...understand.
Carver: I knew you were smart. You see, Reggie put us at risk with his incompetence. He's had a string of screw-ups lately. Killing one in order to save many is part of survival. It's one of the tough decisions that a weaker person couldn't make.
Carver leans in and looks at the kids.
Carver: It's why it falls to people like us to lead them to safety. Do you understand? Well, I wish it was different, I do. But they are weak and we are strong. That's why it's our responsibility to shepherd the flock, to keep them safe. It's their nature to follow, not to lead.
As much as the two hate listening to Carver, a literal psychopath, he made a good point about leading. Ever since the group met the kids they've been leaving a bunch of shit up to them and honestly...it's irritating at some points.
Y/n: (Sigh) As much as I'd like to disagree with you, I can see what you mean. We've been having to do everything for them ever since we met. It's exhausting.
Carver: Of course it is. But that's the role you're both meant to play. And we're more alike than you think. In fact, I think you both realize it, but you're not comfortable with it yet. There's no way you could've lasted this long otherwise. I realized it back in that cabin.
He crosses his arms and looks at the kids.
Carver: You were scared, both of you were, but you looked me straight in the eye. Kept your nerve. That's what we need if we're gonna get through this. The next generation has to be stronger than the last to lead us out of this. Kids like you, raised the right way. The way my child'll be raised. It ain't this herd that keeps me up at night.
Y/n rolls his eyes.
Y/n: (Mind) "His Child," pfft.
Carver: We can handle that. It's not knowing if I got anyone to hand all this off to... but I ain't worried about that anymore.
Clementine: What if it's not yours?
Carver: Well, even if that was true, it's mine now.
Y/n looks at Carver.
Y/n: Permission to speak freely?
Carver: Permission granted.
Y/n: You already have a daughter, so why were you worried about leaving this to anyone? I mean the way you speak and address things... Madison should be your perfect candidate. Even if she's not a good person.
Carver stops for a moment and sighs.
Carver: That girl, I love her, but she's not fit for leading. I'm sure you've figured out by now that she's not exactly the type of person who thinks things through. She just does what she wants & the consquences don't bother her even if they affect someone else. My daughter makes a good soldier, but even I can see the cruel things she does.
Y/n scoffs.
Y/n: And how is that any different from you?
Carver: Because I do what I have to in order to keep people alive. My presence brings order and the thought that the person could face punishment from me is usually enough to keep them in line. I only do things because I want to make the lesson stick. My daughter does them because she enjoys the things she does. You may not want to acknowledge it, but she and I are different.
Before any of them can say anything else, the radio near Carver goes off and it's Tavia.
Tavia: (Radio) Bill? You there?
Carver: Yeah? I'm here.
Tavia: (Radio) The loading bay door is jacked. Troy really knocked the shit out of it.
Carver: How bad is it?
Tavia: (Radio) Rails are tweaked so it won't shut all the way. I don't think it's an emergency or anything, but it's something Stan should take a look at when he can.
Carver: I'll get him on it. Out.
Carver puts the radio away.
Carver: That fucking idiot. Herd on its way and he puts a goddamn ding in my door. Go on back out to the yard. It's almost supper time.
The two stand up and look at Alvin one last time before leaving the office and walking back towards the yard. While they walk together Clem leans against Y/n, feeling exhausted after today.
Y/n: You okay?
Clementine: Yeah.
Y/n: Face still hurt?
Clementine: Like a bitch.
Y/n sighs and wraps his arm around her waist.
Y/n: I'm sorry. Later, lord willing, will actually be able to spend the night together. Hopefully you can sleep off the pain.
At the bottom of the stairs, they meet up with some woman and she leads them back to the yard. Inside everyone is sitting in lawn chairs by the roaring campfire. Even Molly and Carley made it back in one piece. Molly was tempted to attack Madison, she held herself back from it. The two overhear the others talking as they get closer to the fire with Kenny's voice being the loudest of the bunch.
Kenny: 'Cause we all know what happened this morning! I don't know what that son of a bitch is gonna do next!
Molly: Not to mention what happened with Madison outside at the store.
Carley cracks her knuckles.
Carley: I swear that woman is going to pay.
Mike: So you wanna ring the dinner bell for a herd of walkers to show up? How is that better?
Kenny: 'Cause this place'll be fucking chaos when that thing hits. No one'll be paying any attention to us. And that's when we go. That's our opening. We just gotta figure out a way to draw 'em to us.