Pairing: Bill x Zoey with implied Francis x Louis (you can read into that last pairing :P)
Warnings: This fan fiction contains coarse language and references to violence not suitable for younger readers.
Other Warnings: This fan fiction and the following chapters may contain strong adult themes.
Disclaimer: I do not own Left 4 Dead or any of the characters. My story also does not follow directly with the game (for those of you that are aware of the Crash Course campaign).
Hello everyone! This is the first fan fiction that I have posted on this site! Please feel free to review (try to be nice please :3). If enough people like it, I'll post more~
Also just a small hint to make things a little easier: italicized phrases are considered thoughts. Italicized words alone are just for emphasis. I'm sure you guys would be able to figure that out eventually though :P Anyway...
Enjoy!
Louis stared up at the dull clouds, his eyes catching a few raindrops while the rest dripped down his face. Thunder rumbled lightly as a measly streak of lightning skittered across the night sky. That's when he saw it. In the distance he could see an object moving closer and suddenly he knew. He knew exactly what it was. "Guys! The helicopter is coming!"
Francis looked over as he finished killing an Infected that just didn't want to die. "It's about time. I hate being stuck here," he said and reloaded his gun. "At least this was the last of 'em."
"Don't be so sure."
The biker caught sight of the old man and scoffed. "Oh yeah, Bill? What makes you say that?"
"Wel—"
"Uh, guys? I think Bill's right," Zoey said as she drew nearer to the group, her back turned to them. Suddenly her finger was wrapped firmly around the trigger of her Uzi, laying waste to a group of Infected climbing over the ledge.
Instead of the air growing quiet after she finished her round, a low hum grew until the group could clearly hear the screams of the horde swelling all around them. The building shook lightly. Louis had a sick feeling in his stomach; yet again he knew exactly what it was. "Shit! Shit, shit, shit! We need to get to the helicopter pad now!"
The Survivors ran toward the metal ramp, the building shaking even more. Bill glanced back and saw the source of quake: an increasingly cross Tank. He fell back, pulled out his shotgun, and aimed directly for its ugly head. Shots pierced through the air as the deafening whir of the helicopter drew near; Bill was getting antsy. Why won't this bastard die?! he thought as he reloaded his gun. The veteran readied his aim once more when he heard his name being called from behind.
"Bill! What are you doing? We need to go! C'mon!"
He looked back quickly to the group as they jumped onto the helicopter and turned his gaze to the Tank. The old man let free a few more bullets before heading in their direction but soon found himself to be airborne.
Zoey watched in horror as the Tank grabbed Bill by his ankle and slung him into the air. Her heart dropped when he hit the ground, hearing him groan in pain as he lay defenseless. His shotgun remained on the helicopter pad. A low growl flew from the college girl's lips as she fired at the mutant unrelentingly and didn't even notice when Louis joined her in the onslaught.
Meanwhile Francis jumped from the helicopter and ran straight for their incapacitated comrade. To his disappointment the majority of the Infected were by the Tank; he wanted to slay a few while he saved Bill from further injury. "Ya don't look so good, old timer," said Francis as he helped the veteran to his feet.
Bill smirked. "You wouldn't either if some mutated fuck had tossed you like a ragdoll."
The biker laughed lightly and looked to the helicopter. "We better hurry or they'll leave our asses." He started back to the pad and noticed Bill wasn't following him. "Are ya comin' or what?"
Bill leaned heavily against the wall he had slammed into earlier. His breathing seemed labored. "Damn! My leg is killin' me..." he muttered and staggered toward the other man.
"We don't have time for this, old man!" With that much said, Francis hoisted the Bill up onto his back and carried him back up the ramp.
To Zoey's relief the Tank died just as Francis came up to the helicopter carrying Bill. They managed to get both of them aboard without any further delay and soon the group was headed away from the city.
**********
As much as she wanted to, Zoey couldn't relax. Her gun was still warm from firing so many rounds at that Tank; she would've shot it even more if she hadn't run out of ammunition. The girl's attention soon turned to the men. Louis hastily bandaged his wounds and kept looking around as if to watch out for more of the horde. Francis, on the other hand, insisted on arguing with Bill.
"You didn't 'ave to carry me. I coulda walked back just fine."
"Well I coulda just left ya there! How 'bout that?"
"Fine by me! Then I wouldn't 'ave to look at your sorry ass!"
"Guys, guys! Stop fighting!" Zoey exclaimed and came between the two. She watched as Bill sat back down and Francis lowered his tightened fist, both of them grumbling under their breath. The girl got a small satisfaction from seeing them do what she said; she rather liked it.
Louis walked over to the others. "Thank you, Zoey. I was getting tired of listening to these two bitch and moan."
"I can bitch and moan all I want. That fucking thing threw me thirty feet," Bill said, narrowing his eyes dangerously. He would've said more unpleasant things but his ankle began to throb. The pain was something he was used to but still, it hurt like hell!
"C'mon guys, that's enough," Louis intervened, only to get an irritated looked from both of the other men.
Francis scoffed once more and made his way to the opposite side of the helicopter, Louis following after. "Whatever. You do what you want," he muttered and finally sat down to heal his own wounds.
Zoey watched their retreating backs until they sat down and turned her attention back to Bill. He had been watching her, she noted. "So where does it hurt?"
"It doesn't. I'm fine." Bill feigned normalcy but it was obvious to the girl he was lying.
She sighed lightly. "I just want to help you, okay? I—" She stopped herself, blushing self-consciously.
Bill looked up at the girl. It didn't quite register at first that her cheeks were flushed but he soon realized this and the way she was holding herself. Before Zoey looked very—well, normal. Now she seemed embarrassed and he couldn't figure out why. He cleared his throat. "I, uh, it's my right ankle." Bill clutched his knees lightly, feeling the dull pain growing a little more.
Zoey let out the breath she was holding, wondering to herself why she was holding it in the first place, and got on her knees in front of the old war vet. "Can I—?" She motioned to his boot.
He furrowed his brows and pulled his foot away from her. "I can do it myself."
The college girl watched as Bill attempted to pull his foot up to rest on the opposite knee but with no avail. As much as he wanted to remove his own shoe, he couldn't do it that way. The old man decided to lean over to untie the boot, his face mere inches away from Zoey's as he did this. He felt her eyes on him; the thought made him nervous.
Needless to say Zoey was thrown off when she saw him lean over and couldn't help but look at him. Honestly his face was practically in hers so it's not like she could very well ignore him. Still Zoey felt awkward being this close to their leader.
Across the helicopter two pairs of eyes were watching them.
"So what do you make of this?" Francis questioned, nudging Louis in the arm, and motioned to the other two.
Louis looked up and didn't really understand what Francis meant. "What? What are you talking about?" He watched the biker roll his eyes.
"Seriously, Louis?" Francis cleared his throat and scratched his jaw. "Do you not see what I see?"
"What? I see Zoey helping Bill. What do you see?" the analyst asked, staring at Francis under tensed eyebrows.
Francis sighed and gave Louis a look that practically said 'Really?'.
"What?"
"If you say 'what' one more time..."
Louis breathed out an exasperated sigh. "Well if you'd just tell me what you mean instead of expecting me to read your mind—"
"You wouldn't want to read my mind, Louis. I mean, my thoughts are unfathomable."
The black man laughed out his nose and smiled. "I didn't know you knew that word."
"I'm insulted, Louis! Are you implying that I am uneducated?" The biker feigned being offended. "I mean, really dude! That hurts."
Louis shook his head and laughed a little. "Can we get back on topic? As much as I like playing cat and mouse with you, I'd much rather know what the hell you're talking about."
Francis conceded and leaned closer to the other man, placing his hand on Louis's back. This proximity made the analyst uncomfortable but there wasn't much he could do about it. "Look at them. Look how they're acting," the biker said, pointing at them with his other hand. "This is what I see, Louis. I see a man and a woman unaware of the other's intentions. In other words, they got the hots for each other. I mean, I didn't see Zoey jumping to the chance to help either of us. Ya know what I'm sayin'?"
"I'm not sure I do! You saw how bad Bill looked! He needs help more than we do," Louis argued, seeing where Francis was going with this.
Francis exhaled loudly. "Okay think of it this way. Haven't you ever noticed that the two of them hang around each other more than with us?
"So? We hang around each other more than with them."
"Well that's different, Louis. You see, unlike you, I like pussy—"
Francis was interrupted by a sharp punch in the arm. "Hey, man! Don't even go there!"
"Well don't imply things then," Francis said and chuckled at his disgruntled friend. "But you see where I'm going with this right? I mean, imagine it were me in Bill's place. Do you really think that Zoey would come running to me because honestly I don't."
"I see what you mean. I mean, I wouldn't wanna run to you either." Louis half-expected to be punched back but wasn't. He looked at Francis who was raising an eyebrow at him. "Sorry...I don't know. I guess I don't really see them having that sort of relationship. It's...kinda weird."
"Yeah, considering he's old enough to be her dad." Francis subconsciously grimaced a little but shook it off.
Louis pulled away from the biker and rubbed the back of his neck. "Can we stop talking about this? This is just—a little much for me."
Francis breathed out a short laugh and nodded. "Fine, fine you win. I just hate not knowing, ya know?"
"Francis, you hate everything." Louis looked at the other man matter-of-factly.
The biker smiled raunchily and ran his hand down Louis's back. "I don't hate you."
The black man practically jumped out of the helicopter from sheer disbelief. "Dude, I told you not to go there!"
Thank you for reading!! :D