How could you forget? Ch. 5

Chelsea Goldsmith

*Warnings- Left 4 Dead and anything associated with it belongs solely to Valve and the only things I claim as my own are the two main characters themselves and the "story" they go through.

It didn't take Cayden long to figure out exactly why the smoker had approached him. He'd had about a whole second to ponder it before his world tilted downward as he was lifted up and then slung over the smokers shoulder like some sack of goods.

He would have immediately started fighting for freedom if it weren't for the fact that as soon as he was able to register he was basically hanging upside down the smoker swung around suddenly, further disorientating him, to start the short trek back to the bathroom.

Cayden was actually sort of glad that he was no longer human and could no longer get motion sick from something like this. It was unpleasant, yes, but did no actual damage in the long run. As a human he probably would have become dizzy and made a fool of himself.

When the smoker finally set him back on his feet he had but a moment to collect his bearings and "glance" around at the new surroundings. A moment was all he really needed anyway. Besides the smoker it wasn't anything different from any other bathroom he'd seen before.

The sink was located near the doorway with the toilet not far from it on the opposite side. Behind Cayden was the shower/bathtub with a flimsy "teenage mutant ninja turtles" decorated shower curtain pushed carelessly to one side. The floor, sink, toilet, and bathtub were all white. The only other color besides the curtain was the pale blueness of the walls.

Cayden wasn't exactly sure how he knew what was printed on the curtain but he just knew. He had a feeling these "teenage mutant ninja turtles" were even something he had liked as a human. Strange how in life he had liked mutants and in death he was one. Could you say "Irony for the win?"

He'd noticed, as with the walls, that as long as something wasn't alive or at least pulsing with some kind of life he could vaguely make out their actual colors. He only assumed he and the smoker were green because weren't most zombies? Isn't that what was always shown on the television?

The random memories like that were annoying and he had a feeling that besides him, and maybe the other "special" zombies, none of the others had much consciousness or memories at all. He didn't know if that could be taken as a blessing or a curse.

Glancing up at the smoker Cayden tensed when he saw an unexpected hand heading towards him. Really, what had he been expecting though? For the smoker to just let him stand there like a fool?

"Come on Shrimp, you're wasting my time." The smoker spoke close to his face as he leaned down to grab the edge of Cayden's hoodie. "Either you take it off or I do."

The perverse grin the smoker had as he spoke the last was enough to cause Cayden to start trembling. Let some zombie he didn't even know strip him? He took a step back and started ripping the hoodie from his person quickly, tearing through the duct tape easily, before the smoker had a chance to think about it again.

Next came the ragged t-shirt underneath the hoodie and then Cayden stood there awkwardly once again watching in fascination as the tall smoker leaned down to undo the laces on his own shoes before pulling both them and his socks off.

Luckily the smoker didn't seem to notice Cayden's current "break" and focused instead on shedding the last of his own clothing. Cayden had seen others boys naked before, he knew that, logically he did. Obviously he had to have gone to a gym class in middle and high school, it didn't make sense that he wouldn't. But he couldn't seem to catch the hitch in his breath as the smoker slid first his pants and then his boxers down his lanky body to be dropped on the floor with the rest of his clothes.

When the smoker stood completely nude before Cayden he stretched to his full height, towering over Cayden with his arms crossed over his chest, head tilted slightly to the side, with a look that seemed to appraise Cayden as if he were nothing more than a piece of meat.

"I don't understand it…" The smoker muttered out loud, further confusing Cayden.

"Don't understand what?" Cayden asked quietly, fearful that if he spoke too loudly it would break the current dam holding the smokers more volatile side back.

With the sound of Cayden's voice the smoker seemed to snap slightly out of his daze and approached him, continuing even when Cayden backpedaled to escape whatever it was the smoker was going to do. When Cayden's back hit the coolness of the bathroom wall the smoker placed both his hands next to either side of Cayden's head and leaned in, becoming "eye" level with Cayden.

"I don't understand what's so special about you. Why can't I get the sight of you out of my mind? The smell of you out of my nose?" The smoker hissed the questions at him in anger but Cayden still couldn't suppress the shudder of pleasure that ran the length of his spine at the smoker's closeness.

It felt right, you know, when Cayden wasn't feeling fear. And even the smoker had just admitted to feeling something between them hadn't he?

"I-I don't know." Cayden finally answered after an awkward silence. The smoker snorted his disdain and pushed himself off the wall to stand up straight, once again towering over Cayden. Though intimidated Cayden plowed forward, "I don't know, but it has to mean something doesn't it?" he finished, surprised to realize it was one of the only times he hadn't stuttered around the other man.

"Whatever it is you're getting at shrimp, I'm not buying." The smoker growled down at Cayden stubbornly and something inside him snapped.

"My name is not shrimp, or dumbass, or even brat! It's Cayden! Cay-den! Would you knock it off with the nicknames!" Cayden finally yelled at the man in frustration. He'd had just about plenty of the short jokes and though he was normally even-tempered, enough was enough.

The other man simply smirked at him victoriously. Cayden had been feeling rather confident in his standing until that point. You know, until he'd danced to the tune of this assholes drum. Again.

"Y-you're a fucking asshole." Cayden muttered at the floor completely deflated. What in the world had he ever done to be stuck with such a dick?

A hand patting him on top of the head gently startled him out of his pout. "Calm down, Cayden. My name is Grier, I'm just as sick of not knowing my partners name as you are. Plus," He added and then leaned down once more, this time placing his mouth next to Caydens ear before continuing, "I'd like you to know for whom it is you'll be screaming for later."

Although he couldn't blush anymore Cayden knew he'd have been had it been possible. The smoker seemed to enjoy him constantly being in a state of discomfort and he had to wonder why. What was so fun about causing Cayden trouble?

"Though honestly," the smoker leaned back and continued in a conversational tone as if he had never said anything out of the ordinary, "I'm not really sure if I'd much enjoy hearing a hunter screech in the middle of it."

All right, it was now official. The man was completely bonkers.

"You're crazy." Cayden spoke up again watching Grier closely as he did so, "You do know I'm a male right? Of course you'd have to know, I don't have any breasts! So why is it that you feel the need to...mate…with me?" He finished feeling silly for his choice in words but not really having a better way to voice it.

The man in question stared down at Cayden for a few moments before a wide grin split his usually bored expression into one of enjoyment. Not long after, a chuckle joined the grin and then full-blown laugher soon followed. Cayden wasn't particularly appreciative of any of it.

"Oh man, Cayden, you're priceless!" Grier choked out as Cayden felt something large land on his head and proceed to ruffle his hair. Great, he was being treated like a child on top of everything. This was the second damn time the man had touched his head. Though he'd be lying if he said he disliked all of it. "You speak as if reading from a textbook or something! Breasts? "Mate?" You've got to be kidding me!" The man continued admits bouts of laughter and coughing leaving Cayden to simply stand there gawking at him oddly.

"I don't see what's so funny about it…" Cayden muttered under his breath and slapped away the hand that ruffled his hair again soon after.

"Lighten up, Cayden. You'll develop wrinkles in your undeath if you're not careful." Grier finished up the laughter with that little statement as well as wiping away an imaginary tear from under his eye.

Cayden wasn't certain how to react to that statement, surely the man was joking. Develop wrinkles in his "undeath?" Was undeath even a word? He doubted it but the last thing he needed was to put the Smoker on edge again so he simply stood there continuing his confused "stare."

It didn't take the Smoker, or rather Grier, very long to sober up after he saw the "look" Cayden was giving him. The taller man released what sounded like a defeated sigh and turned to the shower after a moment. He turned it on with a quick twist of his wrist making Cayden jump at the sudden sound of water slapping against the bottom of the tub. Any comfortable feeling Cayden might have managed up till then vanished in an instant.

"Uh…Are…Are you certain we have to b-b-bath?" Cayden managed to spit out as he felt tremors of discomfort shake his entire being.

Without turning back to Cayden, Grier stepped inside the shower and made a pleasing sound as the assumed warm water cascaded down his chest. Perhaps if it was so great he'd just let Cayden sit there and not have to touch it? What was so wrong with just being wiped clean with a rag anyway?

Before he was really able to solidify that thought and attempt to put it into words he felt the now familiar sensation of the smokers tongue wrapping around his midsection to lift him up off the ground and another quickly rip his trousers, and underwear, from his person. Also just as quickly he was dumped into the tub in front of the smoker who'd moved back to make room.

As he scrambled back from the offending spray that continued to splatter on his face messing with his "vision" he felt two strong hands instead of slimy appendages steady him with a grip on his arms. A calming "Whoa it's okay" followed and somehow the contact actually did make Cayden relax a bit. Or as much as a hunter could when confronted with something like water.

"Good boy." The smoker spoke close to his ear so he could hear it well even over the roar of the pounding water.

Had Cayden felt like he was being treated like a child? Dog was probably a more accurate term.