Disclaimer: I don't own The Walking Dead (Talltale Series). I don't own the picture (cover). Or the song.

(qwertuno and SilentReadersMatter)

(Hope you enjoy.)

She's always been alone.

Since the start, since Lee's death in the beginning, Clementine's stood by morals gained along the journey with countless people. 

Clementine's taught AJ everything she's learned.

"What did you fucking teach him?!"

Clementine stood there speechless. AJ shot a kid in the head. How he even got a hand on the gun, she will never know.

"I..."

She's silent, mute. She doesn't know what to say, what's appropriate to say. Clementine's mindset reverts to the adult she's been taught to be.

"AJ." She tried soothingly, attracting his gaze. "AJ, put the fun down. Please, put the gun down."

The little boy's eyes softened. The killer look in his eyes vanished as he slowly lowered his arms and dropped the gun to the ground in compliance.

"Clem.." His voice whined. "Clem, he's dead. It's good, right? You taught me to protect. He's dead and he won't hurt us anymore."

AJ sounded conflicted. The six year old is in the right, she knew he thought he was in the right. In his mind, he's protecting his mother from figure.

The people standing in shock watch the interaction between a mother and child. She's trying to not lose her words, guiding the child closer home.

"AJ, come here."

AJ obeyed the command. How can he not? Staying nearby is the least he can do after Clementine raised her by himself. He remembered there were others.

All are dead now.

Clementine's arms pulled AJ close. The little boy gasped her hips, head facing the people holding weapons. Their intentions perfectly clear. To kill.

Not to protect.

"Give him over!"

A random killed yelled. Anger justified, actions not. AJ will not allow himself to be killed. He held onto Clem just as tight. Neither will lose nor back down.

Even if they die together.

Clementine pointed the gun. Finally a confrontation in the making happening in the present. If they even tried taking AJ away, they'd regret their lives.

No one will take what she's cherished to heaven.

"HOW COULD YOU KILL HIM?!"

"HE WAS PROTECTING ME!"

"HE'S A COLD BLOODED KILLER!"

Whilst the shouting matches carried on, a kid snuck the back way between Clem and AJ. The mentioned glanced behind to see a lunging silhouette.

"CLEM!"

SMACK.

Clementine's hand grasped the kid's one, fingers gripping the hands of the attacker and throwing them to the ground. The lunger grunted as they slid in the man made garden.

"Shit."

Clementine rushed AJ forward. She no longer trusted any of these kids. They hadn't know the crap she's been through to get where she is now.

"You are all immature." She stated calmly, despite her blood boiling and instincts begging to beat those who dare attack. "You've seen how he was going kill me over something so irrational. And the fact you would kill a child is nothing short of disgraceful."

Some faces fell. Some kids stayed stubborn. Acting as if it was AJ's fault he delivered justice for Clementine's would be killer. In their point of view, the kids in the school didn't understand.

"Your a kid to. You taught him."

Clementine's mind snapped. Something deep inside finally making itself known. Eye twitching, she growled as a feral animal revered to base instincts.

"EXACTLY!"

The kids are stunned into silence. Gobs smacked, they see Clementine's limit finally maxed out. Her eyes held no patience for fools who are inconsiderate and obvious to the real danger.

"The walkers." Clementine's folded her arms, moving so Aj hid behind. "Are there. Out there. Worry about them. Not us. The one who tortured others is dead."

She glared at the pack of children. Living in a school and growing cocky toward those who truly experience the horrors of the real world.

In the apocalypse.

People have asked how Clementine's raised AJ. Questioned she could have corrupted his moral compass by how easily he killed Marlon.

"He's a kid. I'm a kid. I taught him how to survive."

She grabbed AJ hand, though not without him giving his own glare that somehow outmatched the deadlines of hers. The pack of kids saw the two for who they really were.

"Clem-"

"Shut it, Louis." She spat, emotionless. "You've proved you can't be trusted. We'll leave in the morning. After our supplies are filled. It's the least you can do to compensate."

She walked AJ off into the building. Hand gripping tight into his own, the other wrist carrying the incase any betrayal was incoming in the children's behalf.

"Clem, thank you." AJ whispered, a frown sketched across his mouth. "They would've killed me. Thank you for being there. Just being there."

Clementine contemplated on how to answer that particular thanking. She allowed a smile across her own mouth. One saved just for AJ.

"Your welcome, goofball."