Mags

That look that Spencer gave him was a warning. Like if Daryl got too close, he’d leave with his teeth punched in.

Daryl didn’t fear Spencer. That little mama’s boy? No.

But the thought of messing up something good scared him. Terrified him.

It was so rare these days to have someone you could call yours. If Daryl had to back off and let you be happy, he would. You deserved it.

He felt a longing in his chest, like anger and rage boiled down into one solid mass. Like it should have been him glaring into the eyes of a man who threatened his relationship.

A sick feeling made his feet move faster than his brain. In that moment, he found himself walking inside and slamming the door shut. Daryl only spent a moment in his head, consumed by the flood of that nasty feeling that destroyed his self-worth with each incoming wave.

As if drawn out by a siren call, a loud knock broke him from his trance. Daryl inhaled a deep sigh of frustration and swung open the door. “The hell ya’ want?” He hadn’t even looked up to see who it was.

“Relax pookie, it’s only me.” Carol snickered when Daryl muttered a quiet “shut up”. Carol’s eyes traveled to the sleeping bag on the floor behind him.

“Beds are just too soft, huh?” Daryl hummed in agreement.

“What’s got you so worked up?” Carol absentmindedly walked around his place, admiring the features of his apartment and comparing it to hers.

Silence.

Carol turned to face him and noticed his eyes flicker to the window. Her eyebrows rose as she stumbled over to see what he was looking at.

There, across the space in between Daryl’s place and yours, you stood at your own window. You were washing dishes with these pink rubber gloves. Adorable, domestic.

“Aww, are you in love?” She taunted Daryl with a pout. “Ya got good taste, she’s very cute.” Carol snickered when he tried to shut the blinds in frustration, his face beet red.

“S’nothing. Run went bad.” He grunted a lie, praying that Carol wouldn’t see straight through him. And normally, she would.

But, Spencer came into view, his large arms wrapping around your waist and bringing his lips to your neck. He seemed to whisper sweet nothings into your ear.

Carol laughed to herself and shut the blinds. “I get it. You’re jealous.”

Jealous. That word.

“Ain’t jealous.” His voice wavered slightly, a tone that immediately made Carol snicker.

“Sure you aren’t. You could probably take him, y’know.” She teased, shoving his shoulder. Yeah, he most likely could. Hell, Daryl could shoot him in the foot with his bow.

Wouldn’t make a difference. You were in love with Spencer.

The next few days, Daryl avoided you like the plague.

Because, for the first time since he had arrived, he understood that you belonged to someone else. And, based on the way you’d lean into his touch, the eager and loving smile on your face…

You loved him.

That didn’t stop his gaze, however, which searched for you in every room. God, he worried himself to death whenever you were gone. He wished he could come up to you, talk to you about your day. 

He felt a pain, a longing to hear your voice, your laughs, and the little things about you.

That’s why he flinched when he heard your voice behind him while he was fixing up a car for one of the other neighbors. “Daryl, where have you been? We haven’t talked in forever!” 

Your friendly tone masked the uncertainty you were truly feeling. Daryl had stopped talking to you completely. Was it something you said? Did you push him too far?

“Been busy-” He grunted out a meek response, not even sparing a glance your way. 

“Uh can-” You cleared your throat. “Could you come help me lift something? Spencer’s out right now, or I would have asked him.”

I would have asked him.

Those words struck Daryl like a knife in his side. He was a second thought, a backup, lesser-than version of your man. 

Still, he mustered the gall to answer. “Mhm,” he grunted and pushed himself off the ground to go help you.

He watched you walk in front of him as you led him to your porch. Daryl’s gaze traveled up and down your frame, watching the sway of your hips in almost a hypnotizing manner. 

Daryl realized he was staring and quickly cleared his throat. “S’this what you need?” He saw a large potted plant sitting on the top stair, and noticed the hook you had been trying to place it on.

“Yeah.” You looked down at your feet. Part of you felt like screaming, grabbing him, running away. Anything to get you away from Spencer.

But it wasn’t safe. Spencer was conniving and arrogant. He’d find you, he’d steal you back.

You’d never be free.

You were drawn from your thoughts when you heard your name being called. “Y/n, you okay?” Daryl was looking into your eyes at this point, noticing the glossed-over look. The stare that reached him and far beyond.

And he recognized it. “Y’look scared.”

You pulled away from his eye contact and grabbed the plant. “Could you just hang this, please?” You avoided the statement, the truth sitting just behind your eyes, threatening to fall out in one fell swoop.

Daryl took the plant from you, a pit in his stomach growing at your avoidance. 

“Hey Daryl.” Spencer approached the porch, his eyes boring holes into the space between you and Daryl.

Daryl was safe. He was a good man. “Keep going, you’re fine.” You give him a faint smile.

He shook his head. “S’not right.” He mumbled and set the plant down, making his way down the steps. He gave Spencer a quick nod before walking away.

It felt like the air was knocked out of your chest. Daryl left. 

“Y/n, what the fuck was that about, huh?” Spencer approached you with a low voice, his hands gently holding yours. A mere front to his real emotions, a show that he put on for others.

The next few days felt suffocating. Daryl hadn’t even seen you. Not even in the window. 

At least not until the little town event. A campfire sat in the middle of the town, with logs placed for seating and plenty of space for cooking whatever the group could come up with. 

With some tough love from Carol and a sliver of hope that he might see you there, Daryl decided to show up. 

In the time between when you last spoke with Daryl, it seemed like Spencer wasn’t the only plague on your life.

You laid on the couch the past few days, tears spilling from your eyes with no abandon. A blank, lost expression replaced your once hopeful self.

He left. Daryl left.

On particularly late nights, you would find yourself swimming in your own sea of thoughts. Maybe you weren’t being fair to him. How could he save you if you didn’t tell him you needed saving?

You wrote him letters with some scrap paper you had found on one of your runs. “I wish I had the courage to tell you. It kills me, y’know. Seeing you around, helping people.” You wrote, your expression bearing everything but joy.

“I wish many things, actually. I could finally tell you, scream it out that I’m not in control here. Tell you that you’re the first person to show me an ounce of fucking decency in months.” A flat chuckle left your mouth as you realized how juvenile these words may seem. 

But it was true.

“You really hurt me the other day. Seeing you walk away and leave me with Spencer felt like a stab in the chest.” Tears were falling freely now, dripping onto the paper and blending with the fresh ink from a pen.

You paused before writing your next sentence. This was too real, too real to be written down forever.

“Sometimes I wish I could feel your touch. A gentle touch, without pressure, without strings.” A heavy heat rose through your body, feeling an overwhelming sense of anxiety at the fact that this is reality.

“Maybe I’ll build up the courage to tell you today at the campfire. We’ll see.” With that, you slammed the book shut and slipped it underneath the floorboards of a corner in the house. With the large pile of letters you amassed over the past month of knowing Daryl, thoughts of scattering them across the house crossed your mind.

It was almost time for the campfire, and you definitely had some work to do in order to be presentable. You passed by the couch you had been lying on the last couple of days.

A deep sadness washed over you upon seeing it. The dent in the couch, unbothered by the hours spent sobbing and shaking uncontrollably.

Keep pushing. You shouted inwardly.

After a nice warm shower, you got dressed in whatever was clean and begrudgingly made your way to the campfire. Your heartbeat pounded incessantly, the sound clouding your ears.

Public appearances were always hard on you. The sheer exhaustion from keeping up your act. By the end of the night, your face always ached from the fake smiling.

“Ah, there she is! C’mere honey.” A grin crept onto your mouth as you sat next to Spencer on a log in front of the flames. Orange glowing embers flew into the air, threatening to land on the pair of you. Spencer wrapped an arm around you, “What were you up to, princess?” His eyes glanced down to meet yours.

“Workin’ miracles. You think I look this good by sheer luck?” Your laugh echoed across the neighborhood, alerting a certain man you had been longing for.

You pushed down the thought of how you sat in front of the mirror for 20 minutes today, fighting back tears as you put on your second layer of foundation over the bruises on your face and neck.

“Yeah, leave her be, Spence. A lady needs her girl time.” Maggie gave you a nod and smiled, a feature of hers that made you feel a sliver of warmth every time you saw it.

“She doesn’t even need a miracle. You’re gorgeous already, sweetheart!” 

Blood rushed to Daryl’s face as he realized why you had been so distant. It hurts to see you fawning over him, to see you hanging on his every word.

“Oh, hush, we’ll talk about it later.” You gave Spencer a wink and leaned against his chest, breaking eye contact to ease the burn you felt in your throat.

A wave of nausea hit Daryl as he sat just feet away from you. You truly loved him. He thought. 

He eyed Spencer as he placed a hand over your thigh, rubbing small circles into your denim jeans as he listened to Rick’s exaggerated story about something the group had gone through. 

The story didn’t matter. He didn’t even fucking hear it.

He heard the blood rushing in his ears, commanding him to look away as Spencer’s hand drifted further up your leg, squeezing your thigh with possessiveness. 

With a dejected sigh, Daryl faced a familiar friend.

“See something you like over there? You’re whipped, honey.” Carol mumbled, her eyes drifting to Spencer with a raised eyebrow.

“Nah I ain’t.” He grunted, glancing back in your direction to see you placing a quick kiss onto Spencer’s lips, a gigantic smile plastered across your face.

The beer he was sipping was left on the log bench as he strutted off into the recesses of the neighborhood. God, he couldn’t take it anymore. 

His stomach twisted in raw emotion. The anger, the jealousy, and even some sadness ripped out any thought of you ever being his.

How could he ever win you over? A rugged man who looked like he’d been a lifelong stray.

How could he ever compete with pretty-boy, Spencer? Hell, he’d probably be the type to wake you up with breakfast in bed.

And he was just goddamn useless.

“Daryl, stop being such a baby.” Carol’s words brought him back from the ledge of spiraling into self-hatred, at least for now.

“Quit it, will ya?” He turned away, sulking in his own self-pity. The sight of this grown man sulking like a child earned a snicker from Carol.

“Look, you wanna be around her, right? Well, how can you possibly do that from all the way over here? She’s taken, Daryl. But let me tell you from experience, a ring ain’t always forever.” Daryl paused his thoughts to process Carol’s words.

“Ya’ think I should try?” Daryl’s voice quieted as he asked.

“I think you should be there for her.” Carol glanced back at the campfire, a sad, knowing look in her eyes.

“Like stick around?” Daryl didn’t quite understand. How would being close help?

“Just do it. Be what she needs, be there.” Carol’s words were cryptic, and left Daryl wondering what his next steps were.

Daryl’s feet felt heavy as he tracked his way back to the campfire. Reluctant, unsure eyes met yours. A stare that spoke of late-night chats on the porch, of figuring things out together, of exploring this new broken world with someone by your side.

You shifted in your seat to ease the ache in your back from holding a pose with Spencer while you pretended everything was okay. Under his grasp, you felt his chest rise as his breath hitched in rising anger.

“So Y/n, you’ve been doing some runs out west, what have you seen so far? Any kind of facilities or factories that might have potential?” Rick tossed you a smile with his question, a quiet reminder of what a true smile actually looked like.

Not a facade.

“Oh, I actually-”

“Well, yesterday, Y/n and I found some kind of grain processing facility. Might be worth checking out.” Spencer interrupted you. The eyes of the group seemed to breeze over that fact, questioning Spencer now instead of you.

Looking down at your shoes, you listened to the conversation slowly fade out of your ears with every new thought that popped up.

No one noticed. No one checked in. 

Courage rose in your chest as you finally looked up at the group. No eyes on you.

None except Daryl’s.

The night crept in faster than anyone anticipated, stragglers leaving with every passing hour. Eventually, it was just Rick, Daryl, Deanna, and the two lovebirds.

“We could definitely use any resources we can get. I’d love to organize some kind of-”

You weren’t even listening to Rick and Deanna’s conversation at that point. The old log began to feel painful after hours of sitting. You shifted in your seat, briefly standing up to stretch your body. 

Upon sitting back down, Spencer raised his hand-

You flinched. Flinched.

Ever so slightly, but Spencer continued his movement to brush hair out of your face. “Wasn’t gonna poke your face, honey. Might just have to now!” He laughs and pokes your nose, playing off the fact that you had just flinched away from him in front of practically everyone.

Well, the one person who mattered.

Daryl, who felt like he was consistently intruding on your relationship, noticed the flinch.

A flicker in the perfect pair. Just a small movement, really. Except that wasn’t normal. You weren’t one to break easily, weren’t one to become fearful.

You were resilient, brave, and one of the loudest people in the room. What is happening?

Daryl’s grip on the beer bottle began to tighten. His vision tunneled, as if nothing else mattered in that moment. Right now, he could only focus on you.

How your body was instinctively turned away from you. How you hadn’t looked at him since the flinch.

And how your hands began to shake.

Daryl felt a crack beneath his hand. Fuck

The bottle shattered in his grasp, the shards slicing his skin and leaving his hand dripping with blood. Instinctively, you rose to go grab your emergency kit. As if a force pulled you, it felt like this could be your break.

Then Spencer grabbed your wrist. “Damn Daryl, that looks bad. Y/n and I are probably going to head back home. Let us know if there’s anything we need to do.” He played it off, the arrogant asshole. His grip on your wrist was impossibly tight, a silent punishment for even thinking of leaving him.

Daryl let Rick and Deanna patch him up, but his eyes remained glued on you and Spencer.

The events of the campfire remained in Daryl’s mind, hanging over him like a dark cloud.

Spencer’s hand around your thigh, his close proximity, his affection, made his stomach churn in jealousy. Except now, that jealousy mixed with something else. A nasty cocktail that burned through his brain, filling his thoughts with worry.

That flinch.

Daryl ran over the memories he had with you. Because now, there was a different angle, a perspective that made his head spin with rage.

Every memory was tainted. That night on the porch, how you rushed home at the sound of a slamming door. The bruise he saw on that run to the gas station with you. And finally, the way you flinched from his hand coming up to brush hair out of your face.

Maybe she was telling the truth. That she was just a jumpy person, a clumsy woman who was eager to prove herself to everyone.

And yet. When Daryl was with you, you were courageous, strong, and goddamn intentional with everything you did. Hell, you could slash through any walker without a single thought. Nothing could make you flinch.

But Spencer did.

And the longer Daryl sat around thinking about it, the more his thoughts consumed him. He’d have to see for himself.

Daryl made it way outside to see an argument happening between Spencer and Rick. “No fucking way, man! I got things going for me here. I’m not fucking it up for some goddamn outsiders?” Several gasps echoed out from across the lawn.

Daryl observed the argument, but his eyes focused on only you. The new perspective wrecked him.

Not only was Spencer’s hand around your waist, but if you tried to move away, he’d only hold you tighter. 

Rick sighed and looked at you. “Alright then, Y/n. What do you think? Spencer’s the only person here who hasn’t been on a run for a few weeks. Do you think we could borrow him?” Rick chuckled at the scenario of asking permission from Spencer’s fiancee. 

Opening your mouth to talk, you almost let out a yelp as Spencer pinched your side, hard.

“She’s got nothing to do with this-”

“Actually, I think he should go. C’mon babe, you need a little time outside to spice things up!” Your smile pleaded innocence but Spencer could hear the venom coating the backend of your words.

And that is why, he pinched your side again, feeling the tiniest bit of satisfaction at your quiet whimper.

Daryl was fucking fuming. You were the most fascinating woman he’d ever met.

And yet Spencer couldn’t see it. Instead, he interrupted you and hurt you.

Rick kept pushing Spencer until he eventually gave in and decided to go on the run. Daryl walked back to his porch to observe the aftermath of the argument. 

Maybe there was some kind of explanation, some reason for him to treat you like shit.

Although, Daryl knew there was no excuse. In some small part of his mind, he hoped that his inkling wasn’t correct.

The sun began to set, mere hours before Spencer was supposed to be leaving with Rick and a group to go investigate a facility nearby the community. The same Spencer that had a death grip on your hand as you walked back to your apartment with him.

A strike of impulsiveness hit Daryl in the chest, his voice calling you over before his mind registered. “Hey Y/n, come over here for a second.” Daryl watched your fiancee stare daggers into him.

At first, your movement stuttered, as if weighing the options in your mind. And then it happened.

You let go of Spencer’s hand.

Surprised wedged a dent into Spencer’s rage-filled exterior, making him reach out instinctively to grab you.

“Better make it fast, Dixon. Wanna spend some quality time with my girl before I deploy.” His smile was joyful, but the emotion didn’t quite reach his eyes this time.

Pride settled deep into Daryl when you took a seat next to him on his porch. Spencer made his way inside, surely heading to the kitchen counter to glance out the window at you.

Daryl shifted his body to block you from his view, already anticipating the moves of a man with no control over the woman he loves. Or loathes in this case.

“What did you need?” You etched a smile onto your face, the corners turning downward with every ounce of energy that left your body.

“He hurts ya, don’t he?” Even speaking those words had Daryl’s stomach dropping.

You chuckle and look past Daryl, staring into the kitchen window where Spencer was indeed watching you. “What? He would never. What is this a fucking interrogation?”

There it was, that tenacity that Daryl had been missing. Only, this time it was directed at him. You bounced your knee as your eyes met with Daryl again.

“S’that why you flinched?” You froze, eyes drifting to the floor. Your suffering was public, shown and humiliated in front of everyone. And Daryl noticed.

Of course he did.

“Daryl, you drop it right now. You hear me?” Chewing the inside of your cheeks, you took even slow breaths to calm down your rising panic.

“Because he loves you, right?” Daryl knew that you were aware of what he meant.

“I can’t do this right now.” You ran a hand through your hair and stood up from your seat. “Daryl please-”

You choked back a sob, taking a deep breath with closed eyes to push the tears back into your subconscious. “Please you have to promise me that you’ll drop it.” Daryl began shaking his head, and you placed a hand on his knee.

Normally, Daryl would be a blushing mess at this gesture. But his stomach and mind were in knots, taking in your pain and suffering tenfold as he truly understood your experience.

“He’ll-” You started.

“Please.” You begged him.

“Alright, dropped.” He grunted, watching you clean up your eyes and your composure. 

“I have to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.” You couldn’t even muster a smile as you turned on your heel and jogged over to your apartment.

The lion’s den.

Tag List:

@magz3strikes

Daryl's boots dragged quietly through the grass as he circled around the house, antsy, cigarette long forgotten between his fingers. He told himself that it didn't matter, he shouldn't be hearing that, that he'd forget it, that he'd just head to the RV or maybe check on the bikes, sleep it off, something. Anything but face it. Before he knew it, Glenn was right there crouched beside a toolbox near Dale's camper, fiddling with some busted flashlight.

"Hey." Daryl grunted. Glenn looked up immediately, unable to hide his suprise. "Uh... hey?" Daryl shifted awkwardly, eyes darting anywhere but his face. Glenn waited patiently, eventually shaking his hands in a way that said 'spill it'.

"Gotta ask ya somethin'." Daryl finally blurted out. That alone made Glenn grin a little, responding with a curious. "Okay..." in motion for Daryl to keep going.

He hated how childish he felt. "That girl, Maggie's friend." he says your name embarrassed, in secrecy.

Glenn's smile widened instantly and Daryl nearly walked away right there, cheeks burning red. "Oh my God."

"Shut up." Daryl snapped quickly, pointing at him. "Ain't nothin' like that."

"Sure." his smile was still there, stamped wide on his face.

Daryl glared hard enough to kill the poor kid where he stood. Glenn lifted his hands defensively, still laughing under his breath before calming himself down enough to answer.

"What about her?"

Daryl rubbed a hand over the back of his neck roughly. "Heard her an' Maggie talkin'."

Glenn blinked once, then his expression shifted into something almost guilty.

That made Daryl narrow his eyes. "What?"

"Nothin'."

"What is it?"

Glenn hesitated only for a second before sighing, only acquiring a single look to make him break, it was common knowledge he wasn't the greatest example on keeping secrets. "She's mentioned you before."

Daryl felt his stomach twist strangely. "Mentioned what?"

Glenn stood up straighter now, clearly enjoying this way too much. "That she thought you were cute."

Daryl stared at him like he'd spoken another language. "Cute?" he repeated slowly, deeply offended by the word itself.

"Yeah." Glenn laughed softly. "And she said she'd like to get to know you better sometime, but you don't seem like you'd down for it so she was scared to try."

For a second Daryl's brain short circuited entirely, he felt the heat climbing up his neck so fast he prayed the darkness hid it. Glenn watched him carefully before snorting.

"You good?"

"I'm fine." he spits out, only playing tough.

"I'm just saying, man, you actually have a chance here."

Daryl scoffed hard, stepping back already. "Ain't nobody said nothin' 'bout chances."

"But you're smiling."

Daryl's expression dropped instantly.

"I ain't smilin'."

"You literally are."

He flips off, vanishing into the night before giving the younger man more space to tease him, leaving a giggly Glenn behind.

You were rinsing out a few dishes at the sink the next day after breakfast when the screen door creaked behind you. "Mags, can you peel the potatoes for me? I'm doing dishes of a battalion here, if you-" you cut yourself, embarrased, you expected Maggie, as usual, to be the one walking into the kitchen to help you out, but when you looked just slightly over your shoulder, there he stood, the archer, shifting awkwardly between his feet, unsure if he should've announced his arival to you.

"Oh." you blinked. "Hi."

"Sorry if I scared ya." he rubs the back of his neck.

"You didn't, don't worry, I was just... not expecting it, s'all." you dry your hands slowly on a towel, and you turned to face him, trying not to notice how strangely tense he looked, not that you'd ever seen him relaxed. Daryl tenses even more when he realizes he had your full attention, suddenly to self aware about the dirt and grime he collected in the woods earlier that same morning.

"What can I do for ya?" you ask, giving him a thin lipped polite smile.

"Y'uh..." he cleared his throat roughly, looking nowhere near you so the words could make it out of his mouth. "Y'ever hunted before?"

You frowned a little in confusion. Whatever you expected him to say, that wasn't amongst the options. "Hunted?"

"Yeah."

"I mean, yeah. A little bit when I was younger. My daddy tried to teach me once but I felt too much for the animals." you scoff "He used to call me a pussy f'that."

Daryl nodded, archiving in his brain another information about you. Apparently your father was a dick just like his. But he didn't insist on that topic, seemed to soon to go on about family matters.

"Would ya' maybe be interested on learning it now? I mean, circumstances changed. It's kinda... important." he struggled to find the last word. "I could teach ya." he stated finally.

You furrowed your eyebrows lightly. Was that an excuse to spend time with you? Sure sounded like it.

Daryl immediately looked irritated with himself after saying it out loud, shoulders tightening as he shoved his hands deeper into his pockets. "I mean– if y'wanted." he muttered. "It's a good thing t'know.".

There was a brief silence, you looked up at him, considering his idea, corner of your mouth tugged upward before you could stop it, unable to hold your pinning comment before any response. "You offering to spend time with me, Dixon?" His ears burned red instantly. Cute.

"Ain't what I said."

You laughed softly, and Daryl swore it was one of the prettiest sounds he'd ever heard.

"I'd like that." you answered gently. "The hunting lessons, I mean."

Daryl finally looked at you then, blue eyes meeting yours for half a second before dropping again.

"A'right." he mumbled. "Tomorrow mornin' then."

how hard could it be to take you beyond the walls without incident? so far it's proven to be a little too easy in daryl's opinion. things were never just an in and out thing nowadays, especially not when it came to going outside of sanctuary. and especially not when he had his walker-fied girlfriend with him.

there was a lot more he needed to focus on, which he came to learn quickly as you both trudged through the thick greenery of the forest just surrounding alexandria. the vastness made his throat tighten and anxiety spike for what felt like the first time ever. to say it scared him was an understatement.

every feeling was amplified everytime he turned to see you a little ways behind him, unable to keep up in your state as you shuffle your feet gently but loudly against the crunchy leaves and snapping twigs. he knew that you were indeed a little bit faster than ordinary walkers, but god were you still slow.

the last thing he needed was for you to fall so far behind that there was a chance something could over take you in your more fragile and slow state. point noted again: you definitely weren't as sharp as you used to be, however you still had somewhat of a reflex to danger left over in your cloudy mind.

"sweetheart, ya need to try to keep up. can ya do that f'me?" he asked gently, pausing his heavy steps and allowing time for you to catch up. he couldn't help but reach for you, encouraging you to try and walk at his pace.

you ended up just frowning at daryl, saddened by the fact that you were slowing him down. it made tears brim from your waterline, threatening to spill at the fact that you're disappointing your partner— brain not comprehending that he just wanted to give a gentle reminder and that he was, in fact, not mad.

the tiniest noise fell from your lips, resembling the whine of a kicked puppy as you reached out for him. you needed to make it known that you were sorry in any way or form possible— even taking it as far as to shakily point in the direction of alexandria as if asking if he wanted to turn back. daryl only shook his head.

"no my sweet girl, we aren't going back because of that. just needa keep ya safe is all." he lifted a comforting hand to your cheek, something he had grown to know that you appreciated— something that visibly calmed you down without fail since you turned. it also comforted him in a way, still being able to regulate himself as long as he could touch you. it kept his emotions at bay.

"how 'bout i slow down with ya instead?" his question made your ears perk up and your mood change in the snap of a finger— as if he knew that his offer would cheer you up. you offered him a sweet and knowing smile, bouncing on the balls of your feet lightly in excitement. he swore if you had a tail it'd be wagging. "yeah, ya like that idea sweetheart? then let's continue."

you nodded slowly, groaning out in content as you continued walking— every so often sneaking a glance at daryl as if to see if he was truly happy at your pace and speed. he noticed but didn't chose to say much, just reciprocating the short glances and taking in the differences he's noticed once more; like he couldn't get enough of you even now.

he found beauty in your paling skin, noticing how it's started to take almost a light grey tinge. your veins were still red beneath your flesh, confirming that the infection hadn't fully taken over. when he looked into your eyes he noticed how even though they were completely frosted over, they still shined with so much light. even when he dragged his gaze down to your lips, still pink as ever, his heart melted.

he found himself wanting to kiss you again, wanting to love you the way he did before. he missed it, missed your loving touch so much it hurt his soul. his face faltered as his heart pounded in a sad rhythm from the restraint of his ribcage. daryl never considered himself the type to yearn for anyone, but god damnit you had such a hold on him it was far from funny.

why did whatever's up above have to curse his life so much that he felt he couldn't have anything good anymore? he definitely picked the short straw throughout his entire existence— it was maddening so much so that he couldn't even focus anymore if he wanted to. he was too deep in thought now that he couldn't stop his hands from shaking.

however, as he was fighting for control over his mind he hadn't realized that you had unwanted visitors— that is until he heard you growl like a dog, jumping in front of him to shield him from whatever was out there. to say he was shocked was an understatement— never have you done this before, daryl was always the one that shielded you.

"don't do that. ya get behind me ya understand?" his voice was stern, concern and worry laced with every word. he couldn't help himself— taking in the view of the walker stumbling clumsily diagonally from the two of you.

you turn around to look at him, but he didn't see the you he saw moments ago. your eyes, though expressionless, had somehow become more blank than before as your eyes trace where his landed on the threat. your face was scrunched up like a wild animal, hands braced and tight like you were ready to claw and kill anything that crossed your path— like nothing could stop you.

as if on queue, another twig snapped from somewhere too close for comfort and daryl watched as your head snapped in that direction. you growled and continued scanning where you assumed the noise had come from before milky eyes sharply land on another walker headed your direction this time.

bingo.

another snarl left your lips, quickly glancing at daryl with a defiant look in your eye.

without another moment, you start a fast pace over towards the male walker— still not being able to run at full speed, just a steady speed walk. it was the fastest that you had moved since turning, and as much of a tense moment this was daryl couldn't help but note that progress within you. marking it as your instincts heightened while in the face of the enemy.

"hey! stop, get back here!" you subconsciously heard him call you, but you couldn't stop until the threat was eliminated even if you tried. your sights were locked in and nothing would break that— not even the possibility of you being over run. daryl wasn't sure yet if the walkers knew what was wrong with you— still detected you as a human or not.

but to answer his question he watched as the walker turned in your direction, ignoring you completely and focusing on him as he got closer. another note to make; walkers don't care for you. at least that made him feel somewhat better— even if you were going head on into a situation you didn't need to put yourself in.

the walker clearly made you angry, evident in the way you lunge at the much beefier body and knock him over all while growling and moaning and sounding like a true monster. you went down with him, straddling his chest as you began ripping and clawing flesh and bone until you were a filthy, bloody mess— taking it as far to use your teeth when your fingers failed you.

your movements never once halted even as you noticed the walker went slack beneath you, finally dead as you use closed fists to bash its skull in; ignoring the sound of cracking bone and the squelching of flesh like you were used to it. you simply couldn't resist the urge to tear it apart, all in the name of protecting daryl— who stood there with shock laced upon his face after taking down the second walker.

this was worse than the first time he seen you kill, it was like a massacre with one body only.

it was like you weren't conscious. like you're mind had been shut off completely and all you could focus on was 'kill, kill, kill'. this was the type of thing that he subconsciously worried about, you losing control like this. but in the name of figuring out how you function now he couldn't help but just take everything in.

once your eyes landed on daryl again, you stood up and made your way to him like nothing happened— smile once again accentuating your pretty face though smeared in darkened walker blood. it was as if you were proud of what you did, reaching up to place a sticky hand on top of his shoulder in a comforting way.

your head tilted to the side once you noticed that he didn't reciprocate the proudness you felt deep within for protecting him— instead you gathered that he was quite stunned and could barely speak. it made you suddenly sink into yourself, embarrassment creeping up in the form of a red flush to your paled cheeks; seen even through the now drying blood.

taking a stumbling step back, you raised your hand to your own face and viciously started to try to rub the blood off as if that could fix what daryl saw you do. he didn't know that you couldn't control it, that something unworldly took over in the midst of him even possibly being in any ounce of trouble. it made you feral, made you want to do things you'd normally never do.

new tears sprung on as you continued, using the bottom of your now dirtied tee to try and wipe even more muck off. it became like a frenzy for you, tears spilling and hands trying so hard to clean yourself that it turned your skin into a rash. once daryl snapped to, he rushed to your side and grabbed your hands go still your motions. your chest heaved as a loud growl left your lips.

"hey, hey, it's alrigh'. stop, yer only hurtin' yerself." he brought your hands down with force as you tried to rip them from his grasp so you could clean yourself once again. you groaned loudly, almost like you were in distress as you sobbed through it. you didn't know how to regulate yourself anymore, that went out the window with many other things that dreadful day.

"sweet girl... it'll be okay. stop fightin'." the hunter tried his best to keep you from harming yourself any further, but you were so strong and he was losing the will to keep your shaky hands at bay, "it's okay! ya were protecting me weren't ya? keepin' me safe?"

his words of acknowledgment gained your attention as you were able to nod gently, strangled cries and whines still escaping you— though you were able to finally drop your shirt, subconsciously rubbing the backs of your hands against the cotton fabric instead of using it to scrub your face.

"there ya go— good girl," daryl praised, smiling sadly at you, "thank ya for protecting me sweetheart. that was good. ya did good." he knew this was what you wanted to hear so desperately, needing the confirmation. he couldn't help but pair you with the likes of a puppy trailing after and protecting its owner, the contrast too strong.

daryl wrapped his arms around you, shoving your face to his chest as his grip tightens. you melted instantly, body shaking as you cried it out. it felt nice, making you wish that you could thank him even though he most likely knew you were so thankful already for him.

but despite anything, you wanted to show him how much it meant to you— even if you couldn’t speak. and your mind was able to remember that kissing was a form of thankfulness, so you made the decision that was what you’d do.

and daryl would be lying if the way you pushed against his chest, propping up in your tippy toes, and planting a soft kiss to his cheek, didn't make his heart beat so fast he swore you could hear it. he didn't think you'd know what that meant until now, what it would do to him at just the slight of intimate contact with him.

“hmmm…” you hum out in content, body finally relaxing after the comfort daryl offered.

“ya feel better?” he questioned, steel blues staring so deeply into your eyes that he thought if he looked hard enough that he’d see your soul.

you nodded quickly, looking down at the state of your clothes and then back up to daryl— once again pointing in the direction of alexandria with a sad smile braced onto your lips.

he knew what you wanted now, to go back and clean up. he didn’t blame you one bit, but was saddened by the fact his time with his girl in a free setting was over. maybe it was for the best, of course he thought that; but he couldn’t help but want to spend more one on one time.

especially after that soft little kiss that you’d lay upon his cheek, making his heart race and making him feel like a giddy teen again. god he hadn’t realized how much he missed it until it happened, wishing you would have kissed his lips instead— but he’d be willing to take anything at this point. desperate for it.

“i’m glad, can head home now. clean up time.”