TWD - Zomboid - Chapter 283: Ellie’s Clumsy Excuses (Patreon)

Luke stuffed the rest of his sandwich into his mouth in a few bites, grabbed another one for the road, and was just about to leave when his sister-in-law came trotting over. She crouched down and handed him his shoes without even being asked.

Luke felt a little warmth in his chest.

His sister-in-law really was sweet and considerate.

She was practically her brother-in-law’s little angel, always thoughtful when it mattered most.

Just as he was about to praise her, Beth leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Can I get a kitten?”

Luke: “...”

Of course.

So this was what she had been waiting for.

Apparently, his sister-in-law’s sudden attentiveness came with a price after all.

“Ask your sister.” Luke slipped on his shoes and headed for the door. “If Maggie says yes, forget a kitten. If you want a tiger, I’ll get you one.”

Beth’s eyes immediately lit up, and she practically jumped for joy.

“Yay!”

She cheered and rushed straight toward Maggie.

As long as Luke had agreed, her sister, who spoiled her more than anyone, would never turn her down.

After all, Maggie hadn’t exactly objected much the last time she made a move on Luke either!

Hehehe!

Next time, she’d try something even more exciting!

...

Ada had arrived at the office early as usual.

She sat at the desk with a focused expression, busy tracking Wesker’s whereabouts.

Now that she had completely broken with Wesker, Ada knew better than anyone that the man would never simply let things go.

Given Wesker’s abilities, methods, and ambitions, if he was lying low, it could only mean he was waiting for a better opportunity.

Until she figured out exactly what he was planning, Ada wouldn’t be able to rest easy.

Luke noticed how serious she looked, especially her alluring profile, and walked over to kiss her on the lips.

Ms. Wong was wearing black stockings again today, her crossed legs forming a perfect curve.

Ada had long since gotten used to Luke’s wandering hands.

She raised one slender hand and gently scratched under his chin as though teasing a clingy puppy, then pushed him aside.

“Go on, get lost. No fooling around today.”

“Fine, fine.”

Luke reached over and pinched Ada’s soft cheek.

The mature beauty merely gave him an annoyed look.

After teasing her for a while longer, Luke finally wandered off, still somewhat reluctant to stop.

He leaned against the window and wondered what kind of trouble he should get into today...

No, wait.

What work should he get done today?

He thought about it for a moment.

Come to think of it, Rebecca hadn’t pestered him for a blood sample in several days.

Perfect...

Luke’s eyes lit up.

And there was Ellie too.

Why not take Ellie to see Rebecca?

He could find out what that woman had been plotting lately while also giving her something else to keep her busy.

Give it enough time, and maybe she’d forget about drawing his blood entirely.

Hehehe.

Two birds with one stone.

Perfect plan.

Luke snapped his fingers and had someone bring Ellie over.

...

The laboratory wasn’t far away, but Luke decided to show Ellie around the Commonwealth on the way there.

If possible, he wanted to bring Ellie into the fold as well.

With the right training, the girl could grow into a formidable fighter.

Their first stop was a small pizza shop that also sold ice cream.

Ellie followed half a step behind Luke, still wary as she took in the clean, bustling street and the relaxed expressions of the residents around her.

Everything here felt alien to her.

In the apocalypse, she had grown accustomed to ruined buildings and terrified survivors running for their lives, as though that were simply how society was supposed to look.

But this place was different.

The stores had intact signs and were open for business. Children chased one another through the streets, laughing and playing.

It all felt unreal, like an ordinary afternoon from the old world.

“Why did you bring me here?” Ellie asked cautiously.

“Had breakfast yet?” Luke asked.

“N-No.”

“Pick whatever you want. My treat.” Luke gestured toward the display filled with food.

Ellie shook her head.

“I’m not hungry.”

She wasn’t going to let herself be bought off with food.

Her stomach growled the moment the words left her mouth.

No. You were definitely hungry.

Ellie’s face instantly turned red.

She pursed her lips and looked away, stubbornly refusing to admit anything.

Luke: “...”

So she was a tsundere too?

Kid, didn’t you know tsunderes had gone out of style?

Luke couldn’t be bothered to keep playing along.

He turned toward the counter and called out, “One bacon pizza, one Italian sausage pizza, two hot dogs, and two vanilla ice creams!”

Before long, the table was covered with food. Steaming pizzas, hot dogs, and ice cream for dessert.

Ellie stared.

This much?

How was she supposed to eat all of that?

“I-I can’t eat this much. I don’t eat that much!” Ellie said.

“How selfish can you be?” Luke gave her a look. “What about me? Am I not a person? I only had one sandwich this morning. I’m starving.”

Ellie: “...”

She was speechless.

So all this food wasn’t just for her.

Well, he could have said that from the start.

Ellie was beginning to understand that the guy who called himself the leader wasn’t actually a bad person.

He just had an awful personality.

Luke picked up one of the vanilla ice creams and held it out to her.

Ellie instinctively tried to refuse again.

Luke ignored her protest and simply put it into her hand.

The kid was way too shy about accepting things.

Sometimes, having no shame really did make life easier.

“Eat.” Luke’s tone softened slightly. “Consider it my apology for yesterday. All right, young lady?”

Ellie stared at the cold ice cream in her hand for a moment.

Luke had already started demolishing the food in front of him without the slightest concern for appearances. There wasn’t a shred of a dignified leader about him.

Only then did Ellie lower her head and cautiously lick the ice cream.

The flavor burst across her tongue.

For a girl who had spent so long wandering through the apocalypse, something like this was an incredible luxury.

Cold, sweet, creamy...

It was amazing.

Ellie’s gaze grew distant for a moment.

She thought about Joel again.

She wondered how he was doing.

Was he eating well?

Had he passed that assessment yet?

She cautiously looked up and asked, “Joel... how is he?”

“Same as ever.” Luke took a bite of his hot dog and spoke around it. “Last night, he snuck into one of my men’s rooms.”

Ellie’s hand tightened around the ice cream.

“Knowing Joel as well as you do,” Luke said, glancing at her with a faint smile, “what do you think he was doing sneaking into someone’s room in the middle of the night with a knife?”

Ellie’s heart tightened, and she hurriedly tried to cover for him.

“Maybe he just went into the wrong room!”

“The wrong room?” Luke raised an eyebrow. “He’s a grown man. Even if he got up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, how exactly does he accidentally end up in my subordinate’s room with a knife?”

“Ellie, if you’re going to make excuses for him, could you at least think them through first?”