ᶜᵃᵗᶜʰ ᵃ ᵗᶤᵍᵉʳˑ⁽ ᴬᵘᵗᵒᵖˡᵃʸ

This wasn’t fair.           A deeply rooted itch, rolled around in Daryls chest at Ricks words. Telling him to stay and deal with this ‘ King ‘ and his ‘ Kingdom ’, but this place felt it was just as BULLSHIT as Gregory and he didn’t want to stay. The anger he felt was pointless, Daryl knew that but it didn’t stop him from feeling it. All he wanted was his family to be SAFE and maybe to knock every Saviors teeth down their throats to chock. But the archer knew he couldn’t do that without these people.

With a heavy huff he looked to his twin, giving a look of blunt annoyance, “You seen how they just all walked out.” He grumbled, crossing limbs over his chest so that hands sat under his arm, “This King ain’t gonna help us, Dixon.” Words came matter of factly, as Daryl watched the gate. As if it would open and Rick would be back to really take him home. Daryl knew that WOULDN’T happen, “…And I don’t need you watchin’ my ass!”

Idle fingers laced through the archer’s knuckles while the gesture of comfort was returned, a release of locked away breath from her lungs was relieving to the blonde. The weight of his hand in hers was deeply missed in the moments she spent alone in the much to large home they shared. Although it already had it’s place in her mind, Beth recommitted the feeling of his rough palms to memory once more. His words were promising but even the hopeful woman knew that times were D I F F E R E N T now. 

All the Greene could manage was a timid, barely noticeable smile as her cerulean hues steadied on his features. The deep purple rings that surrounded his eyes must have been from sleep deprivation, but they were also much to discolored to be solely from his lack of rest – that alone made Beth’s blood boil. Even through her S I L E N T rage, she was gentle.

As his body shifted, she invited him in willingly and her delicate hands lifted to brush through the unwashed locks of the man’s hair. Other hand slipped from the grasp of his fingers and immediately her arm snaked around his middle to hold him upright, a rigid breath escaping her. “You aren’t. They’re gonna have’ta go through M E first if they try,” she murmured, her lighthearted tone detectable though it never lacked truth. There wasn’t a chance of them taking him away again, not if she could help it. Beth’s cheek rested on Daryl’s head as her eyes slipped close in a moment to just let themselves be. “We’re gonna be okay… you’re gonna be S A F E now.”

   Daryl doesn’t say anything for a long while, bathing in the warmth and security of Beth’s arms. The affection is gladly accepted after the PAIN AND HELL he had to ENDURE before he was freed, stuck in a cold everlasting nightmare that was Negan’s compound. She smells like peace and heaven, so different from his own sin and hellish musk that always would taint the air around them like pollution.

@outdccrcat​ / just wants to eff me up.

Serene hues took to the archer’s back as he complacently stood baring the window of the guest room the so called King had offered them. In some ways, he almost didn’t seem R E A L. She had pictured him standing before her so many times throughout the tedious two weeks that it all seemed a dream. He had been stilled looking through the glass for the past few minutes– motionless – and all Beth could do was stare. There would probably be no sleep this night with all the anxiety built up to hear the new found leader’s answer but as long as she spent it making up the time the pair had loss, Beth couldn’t mind.

Petite stature left the archway of the door and slowly, without arising any alarm to the escapee, she approached him from the side. The blonde’s doe like blues were warm, washed with the dim light of the oil lamp as they steadied on the Dixon. There were no words she could say, no apologies she could give because they meant N O T H I N G with what he had experienced. All she could do was offer a hesitant hand, dainty hands gripping the calloused fingers that rested at his side. He must’ve known what she meant– he always did.

    Outdoor scenery had not been the main source of Daryl’s focus, instead it was on his own worn out reflection. Two weeks had undone all that had been woven into the archer from the start. Since Atlanta. Since all the troubles and trials Daryl had went through to grow into a BETTER person, it all had come undone. His anger blazed like blue of his eyes, no one knowing how much DAMAGE HAD BEEN DONE in the course of those weeks. But Daryl figured Beth would -- that’s why he wasn’t surprised to feel her gaze boring into his back, his very SOUL.

       Their silence is thick and heavy, almost peaceful considering the endless days and nights he was subjected to hearing EASY STREET play on a constant repeat. It still HAUNTS him, he just doesn’t say anything to anyone. Daryl knows the female’s touch is close by, he can sense the need and want billowing from her lithe form standing so close to his own. And just like that, her fingers are finding his and instantly the archer is reciprocating the gesture, knowing what she meant indeed.

   The meeting at the Kingdom didn’t go like the group had hoped and it had left them all sour and disheartened. Dixon had mostly been quiet throughout the entire ordeal, listening to the others voice their opinions and even scowl when the offer was declined. Maybe his mind had been mostly on the well-being of his brother who had said more than Dixon has heard in a long while. The snark and retorts hadn’t gone unnoticed by the feral twin, which prompted him to remain ever so close in case the other lashed out.

     It’s only when they are leaving does Dixon hear what Rick tells Daryl and his entire gut sinks even lower if that’s even possible. Yes, this was the BEST choice to keep Daryl safe, but Dixon couldn’t dare think of being away from the other again. Not this time. Not this damn soon. “ Ya go on without me, “ Dixon says to Rick once they’re nearly out the gates, offering the leader a small smile. It’s quick and a bit without emotion as he steps back to stand beside Daryl. “ I’ll stay here, keep an eye on ‘im. “ That was the truth -- half of it at least. No one needed to know how scared Dixon was of losing Daryl again.

Rosita had been heading out on a run, when her car broke down, she was too far to just walk back to Alexandria. Getting out of the car, she walked around to the hood of the car and popped it as the steam flew from the car. “Great.” She grumbled to herself as she started to look around for the source of the issue. Looking around at the passenger in the car. “We’re might as walk, it’s not far. It will give the engine time to cool, we can fix it and drive back after.” She suggested, wanting to just get the supplies.

       The yelling was nothing new, the words bleeding into Daryl as he sat there. Remembering finding Dixon and all the shit they’d gone threw, it was a merical they even made it this far alive. A shaking sigh escaped Daryls lips, as the twin said his peace. Yet it wasn’t until the mentioning of Maggie that Daryl looked at him fully, guided by Dixons hand blue eyes met his, wide with surprise and relief. A crushing weight that hung over Daryl was still there, but knowing Maggie was still alive and safe at Hilltop…. It did help, even if it was just a little.

       Tilting his head into Dixons touch, there was another sigh. Daryl even thought to show him the picture Dwight had left, taped to the wall to show Glenn’s blood and brains painting gravel. Anything to prove his guilt. Daryl felt sick at the thought, with himself as a whole. Yet Dixon still came all this way, argued with him and even now was clinging to Daryl. It still felt wrong to him, but Daryl wished desperately that it didn’t. His own arms coming up to cling to his twin, wrapping tight around his middle holding him in place. There wasn’t much to be said now, regardless of what Daryl deserved or even wanted. There was a new mission at hand, one that Daryl silently swore would end in success, “h–….How are we gonna get out ah here?” Daryl needed to get Dixon out of Sanctuary alive.

  “ I got a plan, “ He half murmurs against his twin’s neck, still conflicted with his pending emotions to really even form a full sentence. Dixon had never been the one to cry in front of people -- especially in front of the people he wanted to ALWAYS appear STRONG for. Daryl would always be the main one, because that was his brother. His other half. He would face a million Negans if it meant keeping Daryl safe and sound from anyone’s cruel clutches. “ Jesus is here too. But we gotta wait until he gives us the signal. “

     ❛  jesus christ, daryl !  ❜  she leveled him with a glare as she lowered her pistol, taking a beat to slide it back into its proper holster.  ❛  you scared the shit outta me. what are you doing out here ? ❜