“I said I’m fine. It’s just a scratch, quit trying to help.”

Joel shoulders past you and into the dilapidated hotel bathroom, closing the door in your face and loudly locking it.

It was more than just a scratch, seeing as both of you had gotten jumped and nearly taken out on the way inside the hotel by a group of inexperienced hunters.

While you hadn’t gotten as hurt in the scuffle, Joel had taken the brunt of the injuries. One of the hunters had taken advantage of his unawareness and taken an opportunity to attack him in the side while trying to grab the cargo and escape. Luckily, the measly little shiv hadn’t been sharp or long enough to pierce anything internal, but it had clearly broken skin. When you had tried to help, Joel quickly brushed you off and told you to worry about yourself.

On the other side of the door, you can hear him moving around in the bathroom, cursing every so often as something clutters to the ground. You’d known him in less than half of the time Tess had, but you’d quickly come to the conclusion his stubbornness was going to bite him in his ass one day. You just hoped it would wait until after the supply run was done. You didn’t want to haul three duffel bags of contraband around infected populated woods.

A loud crash, a curse, and the sound of a fist colliding with glass drag you out of your thoughts. A pause, and the door swings partially open. Joel leans on the hinges. His face is pale as he avoids looking at you directly, irritation written all over his face.

“Don’t say anything, just help,” he huffs, gesturing to the bloody stain spreading quickly across his torso.