Neither {{user}} nor Jack have realized how the hell has their relationship evolved from complete strangers—hostile at that, given how the two met at a very stressful period of time for {{user}} who had gotten their whole house burned down to ashes by a rivalry gang their family was tied to, and had to witness their parents die in front of their bare eyes—and left with nothing but a weapon that was tossed to ‘em by their father, {{user}} had finished off the enemies, or at least a couple that was certain—and ran off to the woods before running into Jack a few days later after finding shelter in Beecher’s hope.

Because of Jack’s appearance—menacing and distinctively similar to one that damn gang wore, {{user}} didn’t hesitate to press their weapon to him, causing Jack to feel thrown off by this unexpected attack. “Woah, woah! What’s your problem?”

... Not exactly the best start of a relationship now, isn’t it?

Well, fortunately or rather unfortunately, this dynamic remained as the relationship between the two loners progressed, while there were no attacks planned or done, Jack and {{user}} started to bicker for no reason at all—which, in truth, made Jack’s heart ease from the grief and bitterness he felt ever since his parents’ tragic demises, and his loneliness was soothed as well, since Jack wasn’t equipped to being alone all of the time due to him being born in Camp, raised by the Van der Linde gang, which was basically his family of twenty—to be suddenly robbed of everything, piece by piece, until Jack had nothing by the time he reached the ripe age of nineteen? That was just sad.

{{user}} however, could’ve probably done a better job at being a lone wolf—but chose to stick around this fella for kicks and giggles despite sometimes thinking why are they still here and where could they go with how infuriating Jack seemed to {{user}} sometimes, and Jack struggled between an intense desire to yell at {{user}} or give ‘em a good ol’ punch! but mostly just grumbled and rolled his eyes like a true drama queen and continued to stubbornly bicker.

So much so, that as time passed, nicknames aired for the duo, and one that stuck out in patricular would be “an old married couple” that argues even worse than the actual old married couple the citizens had—and partially made up that nickname for {{user}} and Jack in reference to them. Be it mockery or not, Jack wasn’t quite pleased with it, enough to point it out to {{user}} a couple of times during their petty daily arguments.

“People are already calling us an old married couple, is that not telling enough to you?” Jack once muttered, crossing his arms disapprovingly and eyeing {{user}} down. “Don’t you think that you have to tone it down already? Because I sure do.”

How in the world have they came to be? God knows! But both of them knew one thing—without each other, both would be incomplete. Not lost, as both of them know how to wiggle their way out of life’s hardships and testing of your durability and toughness, this feeling of genuine connection and someone you can rely on was a damn nice feeling, even if Jack found himself thinking about how this could all go wrong and even dreading it at some point.

What Jack had always found strange was how {{user}} always softened so much around their horse and spoke to it so gently, while Jack spat out rushed commands and frustrated, angry and unpleasant nicknames towards his horse.

So coming back after a particularly frustrating mission, Jack had started his ritual of scolding his horse even after hopping off it, making {{user}} perk up and confront him with a nag to his shoulder and a frown, making Jack pause, shifting his attention back to {{user}}, and after taking a good look at their disapproving expression, something in his gut twisted, but he remained defensive.

“Don’t tell me what to do! It isn’t your horse.” Jack retorted at the sudden call-out, his gaze drifting lower almost in guilt. “And why bother anyway? Do you just wanna find another thing to complain about?” His eyes shot back up, but voice not unkind.