Chapter 35:
One thing Clark found out was that stacking two sturdy and wall-looking golems on top of each other was not a good plan, as he watched it crumble. Another thing that he noted was that summoning two had taken a lot out of him, almost as much as four temporary golems. But thankfully, he had almost infinite food, and after half an hour, he was back in top shape.
"So, now what?" Lee asked him, and Clark scratched his head.
"If two won't work, why not have a big rectangle one?" Clark shot back, thinking about the shape and size of the golem in his head, before being willing to be built from the surrounding earth. Immediately, he felt a drain on his energy, almost emptying him fully.
But in exchange, he now had a golem ten feet golem in the shape of squares and blocks, looking down at them, and then positioning itself where Clark wanted.
"That… works…" Clark panted, falling on his back as he looked to the perimeter of the entire farm. Yeah, he would need at least a few weeks to completely surround the farm with his golems.
"That's either going to slow down a car," said a voice behind them, "or just completely stop it."
Daryl was leaning against the fence post to his left, arms crossed, crossbow on his back, watching the giant golem with a squint.
"Hopefully, stop it," Clark said.
"Hopefully." Daryl's eyes moved along the fence line, then back. "How many can you do?"
"Another two before I pass out. An extra two if I'm being careful." He paused, finally noticing the mental burden on top of the physical as well. "We'll see."
Daryl said nothing for a moment. Then, "They can act as watchouts as well?" Clark nodded. The hunter then pointed at two other points. "Then put two on the north and east. Those are the angles that are our blind spot. South and west singles are fine for now. You've got sight lines there." He pushed off the fence post without elaborating, moving back toward the barn.
Clark watched him go, then returned to the two points he had pointed and shrugged, filling his stomach with more bananas, dates, nuts, and watermelons. Through struggle, he summoned another giant golem, swaying on his leg. "Whoa, hey." Lee caught him before he hit the ground. "Okay… so… just… one…" Clark panted, willing the golem to go towards the north side first.
"Yeah, why don't you take a few minutes? We'll look around." Rick suggested, and Clark nodded. After being left on the grass, the two adults left with the giant golem, the thing's footsteps being surprisingly quiet compared to what some movies would have suggested back then.
Exhausted and tired in the morning after just that, Clark closed his eyes, wanting to sleep-
"Hey." A familiar voice greeted him. Opening his heavy eyelids, he looked to find Rosita next to him, a worried look on her face, and a bottle in her hand that she offered. "Thirsty?"
Now that she mentioned it, Clark nodded, which had Rosita smile.
"Need help getting up or-"
"No… I'm good…" Clark sighed, grunting and pushing himself from his back, sitting on the grass now.
"Here." She opened the bottle for him and almost offered to help him drink it, but Clark took it from her and helped himself. After two gulps, he let out a satisfied sigh, nodding to- "Rosita, right?" She nodded.
"Thank you, really needed it." She gave him a smile, her cheeks flushing just a little that Clark ignored. But before they could talk more, Clementine had left the entrance and was walking towards them.
"Well, got things to do." She told a distracted Clark, passing by and giving Clementine a greeting nod, before going to the section where they decided to grow fruits and veggies, with most of Rick's people preparing the earth first.
"You okay?" Clementine asked when she reached him, an eyebrow raised as she met Clark's eyes. "Yeah, just that the golems took out a lot out of me." At the mention of it, Clementine turned to look at the ten-foot giant that was stationary, acting as a wall.
"I just need a minute."
"I know." She stood next to him, her hand running through his now wild black hair, fingers brushing and massaging his scalp. "Ohh… yesss…" Clark let out, eyes twitching in pleasure.
She stayed where she was, massaging him, until he just fainted, falling back, hitting the grass, and loud snores could be heard from him. Clementine giggled to herself, taking the bottle from his hand and putting it to the side. She noticed the horn, and with a little intent, she had clementines that she enjoyed while watching over him.
She looked to the sky, not even noon yet, but her dear husband was already working himself to the bone, just when the previous day, he had declared that he wanted a day of doing nothing. She sighed, a hand on his forehead and thumb caressing his skin.
The thought about the pregnancy tests came to mind, but it wasn't the time, nor the place to talk about those things. The reason she had come out was that everyone had seen the giant earth statues being made, and she got curious.
Though-
She shot a glance at the people planting potatoes, onions, peanuts, tomatoes, cucumbers, and much more. Especially at the woman who was by Clark. Her intuition was telling her to be careful of that woman for a reason she couldn't identify yet. But she was grateful for her to give Clark water.
But seeing everyone working hard, Clementine sighed. It was time for her to work as well, though she still stole a kiss from a sleeping Clark. Dusting herself, she walked to the man in charge of preparing the soil for the planting, Abraham.
…
When Clark woke up, he was filled with energy and so, immediately got to work, summoning three other giant golems and slowly filling up the parameter, before he went back to sleep after filling himself with fruits and even raw sweet potato, eating them as if it were apples.
And when he woke up, he continued once more, until it was late evening and the farm was surrounded by at least sixteen feet earth golems acting as walls on each side. Each time, before he summoned golems, Clementine would make sure that he wouldn't push himself too much.
By evening, she was covered in sweat and dirt, but she had a pleased smile and was proud of her hard work. On top of all that, she got to know the people that joined them- or was it the other way around?
Clementine dropped down beside him.
She smelled of soil and sweat, her hair escaping its tie in pieces, and there was a streak of dirt along her jaw that she hadn't noticed.
He did and brought her down to his level, wiping it away from her beautiful face. After a yelp, Clementine simply snuggled against him, letting out a contented sigh.
"You look happy." He commented.
She blew air into his face, enjoying his warm hands that were now cupping her cheek.
"Because I am. Farm work is very tiring, but fulfilling." She replied. Clark shot a glance at their section and nodded. "We finished the area for both types of potatoes, cucumbers, and onions." She continued.
"I see. Then I'm very proud of you." She giggled at his praise. But after a few moments, she calmed down, cupping his face back. "Are you okay?" She asked, and Clark knew what she meant. If he was feeling weird for emptying his reserve throughout the day multiple times.
"Yeah, I'm okay." He gently kissed her-
"Ouch, Clem!" Clark exclaimed, opening his eyes to see the mischievous woman giggle at him, his lower lip between her teeth. And if that wasn't enough, she was pulling him with it.
"Clem, it really hurts." He pleaded, finally being let go after that, a quick kiss and a lick.
"That was for biting my cheek."
"That wasn't very nice." He gently scolded her, but his arms had different things to say, as instead of pouting at her, they wrapped around her tighter, to make sure she was warm.
"Oh, really?"
"Mhm."
"Well, how about I make it up with you… Tonight?" She suggested, giving Clark a playful wink.
"I guess, you're forgiven," Clark whispered back, shoving his face on her shoulder. She hugged him back for a minute, her fingers massaging his lower neck and then his head, making him moan in a different kind of pleasure.
"Is your cat ability bleeding to your human form?" She curiously asked, and Clark frowned. "Why?"
"Cause I don't think you were this sensitive here-" as if to prove her point, her fingers gently went over the back of his head, a little lower behind the ears, and simply pressed her sore fingers, massaging a spot that almost had Clark groan in comfort.
"Oh, that feels good." He let out, sighing into her shoulder. Once she stopped, her took that hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her palm and then each knuckle. "Now that you say it, after I transform back from hybrid mode, there's lots of tension in my scalp."
"Want me to massage you before sleep?" She asked, but Clark shook his head.
"No, I want you to rest your beautiful hands from today's hard work." He brought her other hand to him and kissed her palm. "And speaking of, I smell real food being warmed inside. Let's go before everyone devours it."
"I'm serious, I won't mind-" Clementine insisted as they stood up, walking towards the house as the last pair.
"How about I give you a full body massage before sleep?" Clark offered back, telling her how he has intermediate medical skills and familiarity with the human body. Something that she was now curious to test out and accepted his offer.
Though she did remind him that she was going to make up for hurting him during their playful prank. What that would be, Clark had no idea, but he was looking forward to it.
…
Clark's body twitched, forehead on her shoulder as he gasped, his exhale sharp and mixing with Clementine as her hand moved once more, a groan leaving his throat that she silenced with a kiss and then her tongue.
"So?" She asked, hands wrapped around his manhood. Another kiss, cutting off his inhale, but Clark didn't mind.
"Wasn't expecting that." He told her, glancing down at the piece of fabric that they had found lying around, now covered in his seeds. He winced a little at the smell. Clementine gave him a kiss on the cheek and chuckled to herself. "Now, my turn." She demanded, "But first. Give me a moment." She took the fabric and went to the bathroom, wrapping it around a small plastic and then throwing it in the trash, before washing her hands and coming back to the room, giving him another damp handkerchief to clean the remains on his manhood.
"Do you-" She played with her hoodie, and Clark nodded.
After just wearing her bra, Clark mounted on her perky butt and started to feel for knods on her back- "Oh wow." He couldn't help but let out, already feeling two giant ones, one right under her neck and the other around her left arm. He didn't have knowledge of massage, but he knew of the movements, so that's what he did-
"Ah~"
"Clem!" He scolded her, "Hold back your moans, please. I don't want others to misunderstand." He warned her, and went back to massaging her shoulder, then back, and lower back, before coming back up, her neck-
"Um~"
"Clem-"
"I can't help it, okay? It feels really g-ood~" She covered her mouth with her hands. "That one was your fault!" She kicked her leg back, hitting his back.
Safe to say, she tried her best to keep quiet and failed at some points. By the end of it, she was giggling to herself, feeling so much better than ever before after the massage. Feeling too lazy afterward, she stayed in her bra and cuddled with him under the blanket, immediately falling asleep.
Though Clark now had a problem. He couldn't sleep due to spending all day sleeping due to exhaustion. So, he had to stay awake and watch the night sky through the window and think about what he would do tomorrow. Until his eyes went to the breathing and ninja skills.
Change of plans, it was time to give some sort of protection to his group.
Now, if only he could fall asleep, but no. He remained awake the entire night, staring irritably as dawn appeared on the horizon, while he still felt not one bit tired.
Though the only positive thing in all of this was that Clark found out Clementine talks- well, murmurs in her sleep when she's really relaxed. And after finding that out, he had whispered conversations with her about everything and nothing at all. Funnily enough, at some point, he had convinced her to try flying in her dream.
…
The morning came, and Clark decided that it was time to teach others the breathing method as they do their daily tasks, and those who have nothing to do, he'll explain to them the basics of ninjutsu, and then show them.
Stealing a kiss from Clementine's lips, he left their room to go downstairs to tell those who were waking up to hold back on starting their now daily routine for a moment. The one to be awake in the living room, to keep watch, was Bob and Tyress, both men nodded at him in greeting.
"Morning, could you have everyone who wakes up come to the yard? I've got some things to… show." He let it end there. The two men glanced at each other and nodded. Getting their confirmation, Clark thanked them, heading outside.
The morning chill had him shiver, his breathing visible. He wondered what month they were in, but if he had to guess, maybe November or December.
With a sigh, he decided to test out Adept Total Concentration Breathing-
ISSSSS
Clark took a giant gulp of the air, immediately his heart and lungs "woke" up, and then his muscles flexed on instinct, but there was no change-
SIUUUU
He exhaled before restarting.
After doing this five times, he was getting dizzy and lightheaded, but continued, pushing through those feelings as he could feel himself getting stronger. His whole body was now awake and felt like it was on fire. The morning chill was doing nothing to him. Keeping the breathing method active, he decided to test it out in action, as he dashed to the fence line without a problem, and then, he was among the trees, running around, testing the improved strength and reflexes.
By the time he returned to the yard, he was- surprisingly- tired and sweating, but he felt good.
"You okay?" Glenn asked him.
Clark nodded, shooting a glance at everyone behind the Korean man, as almost everyone had come outside.
"Okay," Clark said, once he had his breath. He looked at the group, both groups, really, the motel people and Rick's, standing in the morning yard with the posture of people who had come outside because they were told to as some of them seemed… a little annoyed to be in the chill of the morning.
Daryl was at the back, arms crossed, the crossbow always by his side. Abraham had his arms crossed as well, but he was paying attention to the group meeting Clark called. Glenn was beside Maggie, who had a scarf pulled up to her chin against the cold, and she would remove it after it to noon. Carl was next to Rick, his hat pulled down. Lilly and Mark stood slightly apart from both groups- Clark winced a little at that, he had completely forgotten to ask how Lilly was doing. From what he could tell, she was still in her grieving period, but being with Mark seemed to help her a lot.
Lee and Carley were not far from them, both were in each other's side arm hug, Clementine had appeared in the doorway with a mug of something warm, her short curly hair still loose, but after catching his look, she downed the last sip and jogged up to the group, ready for whatever he called everyone for.
"Okay, so- I got some things that I need to teach you all, one of those things, all of you need to learn, without exception. The other thing would be for those who want to get a little stronger." Inwardly, Clark wanted to hit himself for wording it like that. Both teachable skills needed to be learned at all costs, but while one can be explained just the basics and then do it throughout the day to get used to, the other was something Clark had to actively teach.
"First one- Total Concentration Breathing." He told them, as everyone seemed to be interested but was skeptical of… something, but not the skill. Still, Clark continued his explanation. "It's a breathing method that expands your lungs' intake of as much air as possible, accelerating your blood flow and heartbeat, while increasing your inner body temperature, which also makes your bones and muscles more… excited."
Everyone was looking at him as if they didn't understand a word he said.
"It basically makes you superhuman." Clark summarized and watched as everyone finally got it, Common Sense trait making it so they think of it as "normal," but there were still some doubts about their own capability.
"Why teach us this?" Rick finally asked, and Michonne was on the other side of him.
"To become strong?" Clark tilted his head slightly. "Look, the breathing method makes you superhuman, with a faster thought process and better reflexes. It's going to take a lot out of you to learn it so you can use it just a little, but it made surviving so much easier." He pointed at him.
"It's basically what I've become with my SuperHuman ability, but through hard work. And you know how easily I can snap someone's bones." Again, Clark wanted to hit himself for wording it like that, but he could see everyone finally understanding.
With no one else questioning him, Clark used his Teaching skill to teach them the breathing method. Their first step would be to increase their lung size. So, they would do that by taking huge intakes of air, holding it as much as possible, and then slowly exhaling it.
Two minutes in, everyone in the group was getting dizzy.
"Okay, that's what I want you all to do throughout your day." Clark decided to end it there for now. "Even if your task is really draining, like farm work or digging, I want you to continue what you were doing. If you think you're passing out, take a two-minute break, and then redo it." He ordered them, seeing some of the people in the group groan, except maybe Clementine and Lee, who nodded with determination. Daryl, Abraham, and Carl were others in Rick's group.
But for others, they doubted they could learn, so why bother even trying… He could literally see those thoughts in them.
"Listen." Clark sighed, his posture dropping. "I really need you all to learn this." He almost pleaded with them. "It's important."
"And why is it important?" Abraham's voice cut through others' questioning looks, looking curious.
"Because this can save you all when I'm not there." Clark began, "This can make it so you'll be safer out there, both from people and ghouls."
"What if-"
"There's no what if!" Clark lost his temper just a little, feeling the load on his shoulder being extremely heavy in that moment, "You all need to learn it. Doesn't matter if you'll be cooped up inside, in the safety of the walls, or out there. You need to learn it so you can protect yourselves."
"I won't be here all the time. Maybe something needs me to be somewhere else. To deal with some variants or- or- or- something!" Clark shook his head, and the group watched the man glare at them for their laziness. "I can't do everything alone. I need people behind me so that I can focus on other things that need me." He finally told them, letting out a sigh and all his tension. "Understand?"
They nodded.
"Good, now go- do whatever you have to. Your training starts now."
With that, everyone dispersed, Rosita and Clementine being the only ones to remain.
Rosita had her arms crossed, but it wasn't the defensive posture. It was the posture of someone who had decided to stay and was figuring out how to justify it to herself and anyone watching. Clementine had already walked up to him, a concerned look on her face that melted away when Clark smiled at her, noticing her breathing. At least, someone was doing it right away.
"I love you so much." Clark couldn't help but tell her, loud enough that even Rosita's face crumbled just a little, before leaving the two alone, for now.
For Clementine, his words had her stop the breathing method for a moment, giggling into his embrace. "I know. I love you too." And then, she resumed. "I'll try my best." She promised, and Clark nodded. "I know you will." He kissed her head, her cap still missing.
"What's wrong?" Clementine asked, kissing his chin, feeling his turmoil.
"I wanted to also teach everyone some ninja skills." Clementine raised her eyebrow at him having that skill to teach, since he hadn't told her. "But I didn't know how reluctant they would be with just the breathing method."
"Mhm." She hummed in agreement, focusing on holding her breath, even when it made her dizzy, her heart almost bursting, and her lungs burning. She exhaled, slowly, and controlling it, the air hitting Clark's neck and making him shiver just a little.
"Keep it… for another… Day." Clementine struggled to say, holding her breath for another moment, before inhaling- "Oh…" She was hit with the full force of his unique smell that she loved, spicy vanilla, her mind shutting down for a moment, her knees going weak- Clark immediately caught her in his arms.
"Take a break." He ordered her, and she felt a tingle going down her spine at the tone. She hummed in agreement, her arms wrapped around his neck, her nose buried in his neck, and she inhaled his scent as deep as she could, drowning her lungs in his scent.
She knew it was the effect of his perfume trait, and at some point, she had gotten used to it. The breathing method made her feel… drunk was the closest word she could find that explained her state. And in this state of dizziness and breathlessness, her brain was confused enough that just inhaling him seemed to bring her… euphoria? Pleasure? Contentment? A buzz? Then she remembered the pinch he had given her a lifetime ago, back when they were stuck in the apartment, and an idea was slowly forming in her head.
"Clem, you okay?" Clark brought her back to the present, still holding her, his tone filled with concern for her. "You've been spaced out for a little while now."
"I'm fine," she said. "Just dizzy."
"Take a break." He said it again, with the same tone, and she felt the same tingle and decided that exploring that… thing could wait until they were alone, and when she was actively trying not to pass out in a farm yard- though it would be another story- 'no, bad Clementine.'
She straightened up, reluctantly, and put six inches between them.
"Better?"
"Worse," she said honestly, which made him laugh, short and genuine. Her heart did the flutter of the butterfly.
"Go eat something." He nodded at the farmhouse. He then looked to the fence line and sighed. "I'd have to get back to work as well." Immediately, a huge golem was made a few meters away from them, and then it walked towards its designated area, with orders.
The orders were: To protect everyone inside. If a ghoul got close, take it and throw it as far as it could. If humans get close, await orders, but stay cautious. If they mean to harm those inside, throw them as far as possible.
Though it drained half his energy, Clark chuckled like a kid that had a new toy, while picturing himself outside the farm- their base/compound- a new platinum ticket, wow- and then hearing and seeing a body scream with all their might through the sky. Until they went splat against a building or ground.
It would be funny.
…
Two hours later, Glenn had found Clementine in the barn, talking with Maggie on some stuff and taking care of the cow and its calf.
"Hey." Glenn poked his head through the barn door, found both women, and immediately his expression shifted into a happy one seeing his… woman inside.
"Hey," Maggie shot back, a similar smile on her face as well. "How's the work stuff?" She asked him, and the Korean man shot a glance behind him, a golem being made of earth appearing by the fence line while the man that had summoned it folded in two, hands on his knees. In the other corner of the farm, there were at least five or six others who had finished planting everything by now and were simply prettying the area, while others were scratching their head to find some work.
"Good, I guess?" He returned his eyes to his lover and Clementine. "What are you two up to?"
Maggie patted the sleeping cow next to her on its head. "Clementine was just asking about some farm stuff." A teasing and sly smile on her face, while Clementine blushed, concentrating on petting the calf.
"Right…" Glenn muttered. He opened his mouth to say something-
"Hey." Clark's exhausted voice reached them, and then the man himself as he dragged himself, soaked with his own sweat; he struggled until he reached Clementine's side and then just let himself fall on the hay, next to the calf and its mother.
"Damn, you okay?" Glenn asked, and Clark groaned the answer out. A second later, he felt a lid of a bottle on his lips, which he accepted and drank the cool water. Next to him, the livestock were poking his head with their nose and asking for attention.
"Yeah-" A sip. "The wall project is taking a lot out of me." He admitted, moving just a little so that his head was on the cow, using the animal as a pillow, while the calf did the same with him.
"Yeah, I can see that." Glenn nodded, glancing at the walls. They were one quarter of the way done. "You don't have to rush it, you know. We can still continue with our watch rotation."
Clark shook his head. "I have to. It's better to finish this early and be done with it so we can do other things. And the sooner I'm done with this, the sooner I can just relax."
Maggie and Glenn gave him a guilty look, but didn't say anything.
Instead, it was Clark himself who had turned his head to the side, watching a block of white something just being there. "What's that?"
Maggie's expression did something that Clementine, who was watching from the corner of her eye, recognized immediately. The expression of someone who had just been handed an opportunity they hadn't been expecting and was deciding whether to take it.
She took it.
"Oh, that?" Maggie said, with the casual confidence of someone who had grown up on a farm and could make anything sound like common knowledge. "That's a salt lick."
Clark turned his head further, squinting at it from his position on the hay.
"A what?"
"Salt lick." Clementine took it from her, her voice usual, if not a bit excited. "For the animals. They need the minerals and stuff?" She paused, the exact right length of pause, and Maggie hummed in agreement. "It's actually really good for people too."
Clark looked at it.
Glenn, who had just understood what was happening, turned to examine the barn wall with sudden intense interest.
"Really," Clark said.
"Mm-hm." Maggie nodded, the nod of a woman with a straight face and a farming background that made everything she said sound factual. "My dad used to say it was better than any supplement you could buy. Pure minerals, right there."
Clark frowned, a look of confusion and suspicion on his face.
"Okay." He let out and didn't inquire further.
A look of disappointment crossed Maggie and Clementine's faces, but they didn't push. While Clementine had easily fallen for the exact same words, it seemed like Clark was another story.
"Anyway-" Maggie sighed, "I'm gonna go and train the breathing method for a while since I've got nothing to do." Glenn also nodded, leaving the two behind. Clementine looked at the barn and found the second floor of it very interesting for a moment.
"Let me check something." She ruffled Clark's hair and walked up to the ladder, while Clark sighed. "I guess it's time for me to go back to work." His eyes caught the salt lick for a moment.
…
Something did not require Superhuman or any trait that made him a superhuman. Such as love making with Clementine, not that they had one after the accident at the appartments. Last night didn't really count- or did it? Even if she only used her hand- he was going off topic. In summary, not everything in life needed his Superhuman ability active, such as right now, as Clark chased down his target in front of him, the woman of his dreams, screeching and crying out and bursting through the barn door.
"Clark-"
"Come here."
"Clark, it was just-"
"Come here, Clem."
"MAGGIE-"
"I was-"
She couldn't speak more as Clark had gently tackled her down to the grass, making sure she wasn't hurt, but not so gentle at all, and she was shrieking, and his fingers found her ribs.
"Clark- no- wait- " She couldn't get the words out between the laughter. "CLARK-"
"Sharing the experience," he said, very calmly, attacking her and tickling her everywhere.
"I'm sorry-" she tried, dying of laughter, and Clark showed her no mercy, even when she had tears in the corner of her eyes.
They didn't know or realize, but after the first minute, most people who had heard the commotion were looking at them from a distance, their eyes soft and their bodies relaxing in a world that hadn't given them much chance to.
Lee and Carley were on the porch of the house, Carol in front of Lee, as his warm arms were wrapped around her front, his chin on her shoulder as they chuckled while looking at the spectacle.
Mark and Lilly were not far behind, a melancholic look on their face, holding each other's hands for a moment, Lilly still in grief over her father, but slowly coming out of it well.
Glenn and Maggie were laughing openly, not too far from the couple on the ground.
Carol was next to Lee and Carley, a gentle, loving look on her face, leaning on the door as she listened to the sound of loud laughter that was richer than any music that she'd ever heard.
Rick, Michione, and Carl were also there in the yard; the sense of normalcy and peace from the young couple's antics was refreshing in a world that wanted to kill them all.
By the farming section, Rosita had a sad smile on her face as she watched the man that she fell for wrapped in another woman's arms. She was envious, but also felt no right to disturb their peace. Abraham, not too far from her, noticed her look of envy and heartbreak, but couldn't do much.
After about three minutes of tickle torture, Clark finally stopped, falling on the ground right next to Clementine, as she panted in exhaustion and even a little soreness for some reason.
He reached over and pulled a piece of grass from her hair without looking, the automatic motion of someone who had done this a hundred times even though it wasn't, and Clementine turned to say something to him, something that had him blush and poke her in the ribs, making Clementine squeal for a moment.
Rosita looked at the ground, her fists clenched.
Abraham appeared at her shoulder, not intrusively, just present, watching the young couple.
She didn't say anything. Neither did he, for a moment.
"You good?" he asked, eventually.
"Fine," she said. The word came out even.
Abraham looked at her sideways. He had, at some point, understood what was happening. A love triangle, even if it wasn't really a triangle at all. He didn't push. He just stayed where he was, and after a moment, he exhaled through his nose, and Rosita looked away.
Clementine was helping Clark get the grass out of his hair now, both of them still slightly undone from the laughing, and from the look on Clementine's face, she was saying something that was making fun of him, and he was accepting this with the dignified patience of a man. Or at least, he really tried, before he said something and then it was Clementine's turn to blush.
It was, in every sense of the word, a lovers' banter.
"It's not fair," Rosita said, quietly.
Abraham didn't ask what wasn't. He already knew, or close enough.
"No," he said. "It's not." Abraham watched her go away.
============
AN: Yooo, first of all, gotta say that I really don't have a sense of what's hiatus and what's note. When I announce it, I don't take it. When I don't, I'm gone for a while.
Kinda funny. Anyway, below is the plan for what I had in mind for this chapter and I'm kinda surprised with myself. There's literally only 4 short sentences in the planning and I've managed to make them reach my target:
Chapter 35 PLAN: Breathing method training begins alongside Ninja training. Rosita's pursuit starts quietly. The saltlick prank with Clementine, Maggie, and Glenn. Clark tackling Clementine in retaliation. Rosita watching, Abraham noticing. 4k-5k words.
Regarding chapter, I hope you are enjoying it, it's kinda slow and more slice of life focus for now. And *checked the next chapter's plan* so is next chapter. That might be shorter than usual. I say slice of life, but there's character development there so…
Anyway, i don't know when the next chapter will be, but I hope you enjoyed this.