#All Ways Lead to Hilltop Road

[yellow-faerie]

I desperately need to talk about my TMA au where several alternate universes with different Archivists starting the eyepocalypse, all meeting in the winding corridors of Hilltop Road as it exists in between universes, like I am literally lying awake thinking about it

There's Jon, of course, looking for Martin but there's also:

Archivist!Gertrude starting the apocalypse because she and Agnes were much closer than in canon and Gertrude will put herself in danger for one (1) person

Archivist!Melanie who joined the institute after several very weird encounters on the job and who Elias shoved into the archivist position because of her several marks; she screams and screams against it but doesn't leave because a small sliver of her is scared of death, and half believes she might be able to help other people

Archivist!Basira who takes over after Jon dies in the Unknowing and is sceptical and untrusting and ruthless, but too reckless not to get marked (and maybe she's friends with Rosie, out of lack of no-one else to be friends with, and maybe clinging to that friendship means she misses when Rosie's eyes subtly change colour)

Archivist!Sasha who is almost as sceptical as Jon but is more light-hearted, and has her own past, and whose journey mirrors Jon's so terribly but she still digs that hole anyway

Archivist!Elias, which was admittedly crack to begin with, but now I'm obsessed with whatever that would be like after Gertrude dies early - also weirdly got me into LonelyEyes so...I don't know how I feel about that

There are just so many twists and turns to all these aus and in my head they don't even interact all that much but....all the other characters who twist into new narrative positions when the Archivist changes...it fascinates me

Send me an ask with a character (literally any character from TMA) and I'll tell you how they change in each au, as well as maybe a few headcanons from the canon universe ;)

[the-fiction-witch]

Rescue

Media - Rings Of Power Character - Elrond Couple - Elrond X Reader Reader - Y/n (Elf Wife) Rating - 18 + Word Count - 1241

WARNING! SA / MENTIONS OF SA/ ABUSE/

The road had been long and difficult. But Elrond knew he couldn't give up.

While travelling to visit other elves, their travelling party was ambushed by orcs several died in the fight but some were captured, One of those captured was Elronds own wife, Y/n. The orcs carried her away with them and ever since Elrond had been stalking them desperate to save her. Elrond knew the horrific things orcs do to captured female elves. They torment them. Torture them. degrade them. And rape them to use as breeding slaves. And once they are out of use for them, they'll eat their flesh and leave them half dead. And Elrond knew that was not a fate he could allow Y/n to have.

But the days grew long, and he began to fear that he would never see her again, He couldn't sleep, he couldn't eat and he couldn't think of anything except saving her. No matter what he did hellish screams echoed in his ears, as if from miles away he could hear her fear and he prayed to all the gods of this world that she had only fear to cause her screams… And nothing worse.

he reached a hilltop and stopped to look across the moors, and even in the darkness, he saw them. The band of orcs walked towards the rocks, shuffling about the way orcs often did. And at the back of the pack, two of the four elves were captured from their party both of the women of course.

He saw Y/n and he felt a rage build inside him. She was stripped of her gown wearing only tattered rags to conceal her, forced to all barefoot on the rocks, her feet and body bleeding, rope around her wrists and her neck leading her forward with the orcs, her cheeks stained with tears. She tried to resist them but one orc slapped her across the face almost knocking her to the floor, before grabbing her chest to fondle while she screamed and he laughed at her fear,

Elrond watched as the orcs dragged Y/n along, his anger reaching a boiling point. Every fiber of his being ached with the desire to run down and grab her. The sight of them touching her and causing her pain was almost to much for him to bear. He had to force himself stand still and control his impulses. He wanted to jump down from the hills and run towards them, to grab her and take her away from this hellish nightmare. He wanted to kill every single orc that had touched her and make them suffer for what they had done to her,

His heart was beating faster than ever and his eyes were fixed on her. He couldn't stand to see her in harms way like this. Even her tears were too much for him. This was the woman he loved more than anything in the world and she was suffering at the hands of these monsters. He followed them at a safe distance until they made camp for the coming dawn hiding away in a low mountain cave. They set up their camp and let the prisoners linger outside,

Elrond kept himself hidden, taking note of every aspect of the camp. The cave, the orcs, the guards outside. He needed to find a way to save her. He had to. But the sight of her outside the cave was almost to much for him. He was just a few meters away and yet he felt like a world separated them. He wanted nothing more then to run towards her and hold her but he knew it was too dangerous, he had to bide his time till an oppourtunity came up,

the orcs began to hide away as the sun was set to rise but one large orc came out and looked over the captured prisoners He walked among them, sniffling them, touching them, to select whichever would be the victim of 'the pile'

The pile was a common torment orcs inflicted on female elves, they'd be stripped and tossed to a group no smaller than five, and they'd grab her limbs and take turns to violently rape her piling on her so she had no escape or resistance, they’d grope her, tickle her, humiliate and degrade her in whatever way they could

“That's not going to happen, I swear it. I won't let it” he thought to himself as he looked at the orc. His mind was racing trying to think of a way to save her before it was too late.

"This one." The orc demanded as he picked out the victim. It was Y/n

"No! No! Noo let me go!" She screamed

He watched as the orc picked Y/n. Rage and terror building up inside of him like never before. He couldn't let this happen he had to do something, There was no way he was going to let them hurt her. His heart was racing faster than ever as he frantically tried to think of a plan to stop them without alerting the orcs to his presence. This was the moment, if he didn't save her now he may never get another chance He knew that if he failed it could mean death for them both. But he was willing to risk it all. For her.

he picked up a rock and tossed it over to the other side of the pass, which caught the orcs attention, he grabbed a knife tossing Opheila to the floor before going to investigate leaving her and the other prisoners unattended,

He moved carefully as to not alert the other orcs to his presence and silently stepped towards where Y/n was lying on the ground His heart was in his mouth as he approached her.

She looked up at him and for a moment her eyes widened in disbelief, he could see the pain and fear she had endured in them, but as soon as she saw him a flicker of hope seemed to light them up. she began to silently cry tears of joy to see him, and she quickly moved to her feet, craning her head and holding up her arms so he could cut her binds

He gently began to cut through the ropes binding her with the swiftness of a practised hand. As soon as he removed the ropes he immediately pulled her into an embrace, holding her tight against him. He felt like he could finally breathe again now that she was in his arms. He never wanted to let her go

"Please…we have to get out of here…" she whispered her voice shaking from her broken and bruised lips

He nodded, knowing she was right. Time was running out, he couldn't afford to linger here and risk one of the Orcs coming back. Elrond helped to release the other prisoners letting them go free and he turned back to his beloved Y/n. He held her closer, his arm around her waist as he started backing away towards the mouth of the mountain pass. "Come on, we need to go. Can you run?"

she nodded "For you I can."

He smiled slightly at her response and placed a kiss on the top of her head. He was glad to see that her fighting spirit hadn't been broken even by the worst of torments. "Stay close to me, I'll keep you safe." He took her hand in his and they quickly made their escape into the night.

[xsolaresx]

daryl dixon.: love goes through the fire

pairings: daryl dixon x fem! reader wife!

summary: after being kidnapped and tortured by Negan, the reader does everything she can to make Daryl feel better.

warnings: angst! sad! graphic description of Glenn and Abraham's death! mention of torture! only depression from here on!

word count: 3,9k

Author @xsolaresx  

notes: English is not my first language, so there may be some grammatical errors.

ps.: if you want to translate any of my work, please send me a message and we'll talk about it.

The noise still bothered me every night. Whenever my eyes closed, even for just a second, the sound of the bat repeatedly hitting Abraham's skull and then Glenn's tormented me. 

One hit after another, and at the end Negan's diabolical laughter. 

I could still feel Glenn's blood dripping down to my knees, I was so close to him that after it was over I was covered in his blood and the scraps of skin that flew off. No matter how many baths I forced myself to take, that sticky feeling of fresh blood never left my skin. And sometimes I still found a patch of my skin with a crimson tinge impregnated in it. 

My dark circles told anyone who saw me that I hadn't slept for days. I kept reliving the moment like an endless loop in my head. I still remember how that day began, that week, that month, how the whole situation ended the way it did. 

Hilltop had enemies, and Alexandria needed food. One thing led to another. 

First the massacre at the outpost, then the kidnapping of Carol and Maggie. Everyone had questions about whether it was the right thing to do, whether killing so many people was worth it, whether it was worth seeing another sunrise under so much blood. 

But Carol felt more, the deaths she had caused were beyond counting on her hands. We all kill to survive, but she was molded in this world, she wasn't raised with Rick's hero instinct, or the strength that the trauma and torture that Daryl suffered at the hands of his father and brother did to him. It was too much for her, she couldn't look us in the eye anymore, so she ran away from everything and everyone. 

There was no concrete reason for so many deaths, they were evil, weren't they? They killed people, and they die at the hands of our people. We did what had to be done. We saved a community from the so-called Saviors, but it couldn't have been that easy, there were more of them, there always would be. 

Daryl had to see it first hand. Denise died in front of him by her crossbow. It made him furious, we saved Dwight in the burning bush, helped him and his wife only for him to do something terrible in the end. Daryl had shown them a way, but they couldn't believe that was salvation.

He had to go back there, he had to finish what he didn't finish. He thought it was his fault that Tara no longer had a girlfriend. If only I could have stopped him before...

Everything happened so fast, Maggie got sick, we had to get her to Hilltop. I thought I'd meet Daryl at night, in our room, I'd arrive and he'd be waiting for me, he'd apologize for leaving unannounced, we'd talk and make things right, and then we'd sleep together and have a new day. 

But that day never came. 

They surrounded us on the road, left us with no way out and took us exactly where they wanted us. The frightening whistles were the prelude to something much worse to come. After that I only remember seeing Daryl shot and bleeding being dragged to the wheel, Abraham offering himself up and dying by the bat. 

Little by little I saw the terror forming in Rick's eyes. In all the years I've been with him leading this group, this was the first time I'd seen the elder Grimes lost, with no way out and praying that this madman wouldn't take someone else from our family. 

But Dixon got angry, he tried to get to Negan. And the next thing I knew, the bat with the barbed wire was next to my face. Daryl screamed so much, screamed, cried. 

"It's all right, my love. I love you, it wasn't your fault” I could only look at him, knowing that he would be the last thing I saw before I left calmed me down. 

Negan started smiling and swinging his baseball bat between the two of us. "What the fuck! Let's see what we've got here, guys."  

“P-please... no-no” 

“You'd better shut the fuck up, Rick! Or your dear son's next.” Negan shouted when Grimes tried to intervene, he knew that if I died Daryl would never be the same. "So you're a couple? Dwight's best friend has a wife? hohoho this just gets more interesting!"

“If you lay a finger on her I'll kill you, you bastard!” Daryl wasn't the type to take a beating quietly, even though he was losing blood and had a gun to his head he was going to try and fight back.

“Ah, but I'll remember that very well, dear Daryl... You know what... I'm tired of all this, why don't we just get it over with, huh?” The next thing I saw was blood gushing everywhere. One second I had Glenn, my best friend, the person who had saved me in so many ways by my side, and the next I had a lifeless body. 

Daryl was taken away that night, as a guarantee that we would stay on the line. And only God knows what happened to him during those days.

I couldn't bear to see him so bruised and dirty the first time the Saviors came to Alexandria. That wasn't my Daryl anymore, he looked so fragile, wounded, defeated. He was no longer the survivor who could take it all.

“No! He's my servant now, you don't talk to him, you don't look at him, and I don't make you cut off any part of his body.” Negan shouted when Rick tried to talk to Dixon. “And that goes for everyone, even his wife, understand?” I couldn't walk away, I needed to hug Daryl, tell him that everything was going to be okay and that I was there, but I couldn't risk someone else in our family, so I just turned and walked to our house, mine and Daryl's, unable to hold back the tears any longer. The last thing I heard was Negan's shrill laughter. “That one knows how to take orders, Rick!”

A few days had passed since then, we hadn't heard from Daryl, Maggie was hiding in Hilltop, which was under threat from the Saviors. Rick went out every day in search of supplies for the Saviors, and I... couldn't leave the house. I couldn't leave the room, the bed where I could still smell Daryl.

Frantic knocks started at my door, and when I opened it, I saw Gabriel. "He's back, Y/N. He hasn't done anything yet, but he's back with Carl, they're at Rick's now and he's not back from his run with Aaron yet. I-I don't, we don't know what to do, Judith is there with them and..."

"Gabriel, breathe. It's okay.” I held the priest by the shoulders, trying to calm him down. Everyone was lost, scared. “Tell everyone to stay in their homes, they mustn't have come for anything else, so don't provoke them, okay?” 

“But Judith... I... I promised Rick I'd look after her...” 

“I'll go, okay?” I grabbed my sweater and left the house in the direction of Rick's. If Carl is back with Negan, it means that the boy went after him planning some revenge. He's so young, but he harbors so much anger, he's lost so much to this world. 

“Hold it right there, cutie,” one of Negan's henchmen stopped me on the front steps of the house. 

“I want to talk to him.”

“You can let her through, let's hear what the wife has to say” I stared at the man until he got out of my way. I was angry, the way he called me 'wife' only reminded me that every day Daryl was in prison, being tortured by him. “Hello, my dear, to what do I owe your presence in my humble abode?” Negan was sitting on the balcony with Judith on his lap asleep, Carl was next to him without the bandage on his eye with a sad and angry expression. I completely ignored the killer and turned to the boy.

“Are you all right, Carl?”

“Yeah. I'm fine, he didn't do anything,” he replied, lowering his head. I turned to Negan, who didn't look the least bit happy at being ignored. 

“I want to see him.”

“You're going to have to be more specific, sweetheart.”

"I want to see my husband, see if he's alive. You can search me, I don't have any weapons after you took them all. Take me with you to him." A devilish smile appeared on his face. 

“You know, I can see that you don't look so good after I took your man, but I don't know if I was very clear when I said that he's now my servant, maybe you won't like what you see, your husband isn't the most sociable.”

"I know he's not, but I've seen worse. I need to see him alive, it's okay if he's dirty." 

"Ah girl, you're a tough nut to crack. But I understand, I can't go too many days without seeing my wives, Carl here has met some of them and he can tell you how hot they are! Tell you what, I'll talk to Rick, we'll settle up and if I'm still in a good mood you can come with me." 

“Thanks”

“Oh how I like that word, thank you.” Then Spencer arrived, started his plan to take Rick out and ended up dying. Eugene was going to be taken away for making the bullet. 

“You're gonna take me, right?” I shouted as Negan neared the gate, about to leave. 

"Y/N... what? No." Rick tried to approach but I moved away, I needed to see Daryl.

“I almost forgot the wife, search her, you're coming with me in the truck”

I kept quiet the whole way, blindfolded, the truck had three seats, the driver was some kind of savior who kept quiet and Negan made me stay in the middle of them in case I decided to jump out during the journey. 

“I told them to give your husband a bath, you know, to make him look more presentable, but no intimate visits, I don't want him to get too comfortable with all this” Negan said when we stopped in front of a room. “I also took him out of his cell, that's no place for a lady like you, my love”. When the door opened I saw Daryl in the corner of the room, a little cleaner, but cowering in the dark with an angry look on his face, but when he saw me he turned away from the wall in anguish. Dwight was in the other corner, standing guard. “I thought you guys would be more comfortable with an acquaintance on guard.”

“Not the best, but thanks,” I said between my teeth, looking at Dwight, who couldn't take his eyes off Daryl.

"What the fuck, baby! If you thank me one more time I won't be able to let you go, you've become my favorite." Then he left, closing the door. I ran over to Dixon, throwing myself into his arms, but he didn't return the hug, still focused on the other man in the room. 

"No, no, please, look at me, darling. Don't focus on him, focus on me, please.” I ran my hands over his face and turned him towards me, tears starting to well up in my eyes when I saw the bandage on his shoulder where he had been shot. “I missed you so much, are you okay?”

“I don't think he's going to say much, he probably doesn't even remember how he does it, does he Daryl?” 

"Shut the fuck up Dwight! If you don't I'll come over there and smash your face in” I turned to him who just laughed weakly and left the room. 

“You have to get out of here, you can't stay, I can't protect you... them... them” his voice was broken, as if he hadn't spoken for days. 

“Shiii, it's okay, I just came to see you, he's taking me back, we made a deal... What did they do to you, darling?”

“It was my fault”

"What? No, it wasn't, everything's fine at home, everyone's fine” He pulled my hand away from his face, moving away from me. 

“It was my fault, Glenn, then Maggie, she died because of me” 

“My goodness, no” I moved closer to him so that no one would hear. "Maggie's fine, the baby's fine, we did it so he wouldn't get suspicious. Everyone's fine” Daryl pulled me into a long-suffering kiss and began to cry, grabbing me in a hug, I sat on the floor with him still clinging to me. Dixon looked so broken, he wasn't the same strong guy who did everything for Rick. We stayed like that for a few hours, I ran my fingers through his hair to calm him down, he didn't sleep, he was on the lookout for any threat, but he closed his eyes, enjoying the affection. Until our bubble burst when someone opened the door. Daryl got up at a speed I didn't think he could manage, weakened like that, and promptly stood in front of me, protecting me from whoever came in. 

"Visiting hours are over, honey. I hope you didn't take your clothes off after Dwight left." Negan entered the room with a smug smile, covering his eyes with his bat. 

“I'm very well dressed, much to your displeasure,” I said, getting up and standing next to Daryl, who promptly grabbed my hand. "I have to get back, but nobody's forgotten you here, okay? We'll get you out of this, sweetheart."

“I wouldn't be so sure, but now Laura will take you back, and I hope your puppy behaves better after the visit.” Negan left and a blonde woman came in, waving us out.

I hugged Daryl one last time, kissing his forehead and left the room. 

The days passed more melancholy and with preparations for the war against the Saviors approaching. Rick got help from the people at the Dump. We were on our way to Hilltop to talk to Maggie and get her support. 

But when the gates opened, my vision blurred with tears... Daryl was there, a little shy, but waiting for us halfway. 

I threw my backpack on the floor and ran as fast as I could to him, his arms already open waiting for me, and he kissed me with such urgency that I lost my breath. We stayed like that for a few minutes, crying and hugging, until Rick approached us in silence, his smile unmistakable. 

I broke away from Dixon, making room for Rick and the others to hug him. Joyful laughter with tears coming out of me. 

_______________________________

“We can't try anything without Hilltop's weapons, we have a lot of personnel, but it's still too little, and we're vulnerable that way.” Maggie said after we left Gregory's room, the asshole would rather spend his whole life under threat than fight back. 

“She's right, but maybe I know someone who'd be interested in helping... they call themselves The Kingdom.” Jesus intervenes, from the corner of the room, where we're hugging, Daryl squeezes my hand with an air of hope and I can't help but smile at him with confidence too.

“Do you think they'd be allies in the war?” Rick asks, shifting in his seat. The situation isn't the best, I realize that now. I was so numb from missing Daryl that I didn't focus on protecting the community, and Rick had to handle it alone. 

“They also suffer threats from the Saviors, but the community doesn't know about it, only the leader and people they trust.” 

“He doesn't want to create panic or riots for no reason,” I say and everyone agrees. “So, what are we waiting for?” With a nod from Rick, everyone leaves the mansion and heads for their cars. The whole time Daryl didn't let go of my hand and I didn't make a point of complaining, he wasn't one to show much affection in the midst of so many people, but after everything that happened to him, I understand. 

The Kingdom was very large, with many warriors training and many families, protected and happy. I squeeze Dixon's hand tighter when I see a couple with a newborn baby surrounded by elderly women. He stares at the couple and lowers his head.

When we enter the auditorium, the first thing that catches our eye is the huge tigress sitting next to a guy on a kind of throne. Rick shies away from approaching her, but they talk normally. Until Morgan appears, and Daryl asks me quietly where Carol is. “It's a delicate subject, but if Morgan's here she must be all right, you know she's tough.” He nods, even though his curiosity isn't quenched, he knows it's not time.

The King didn't accept our proposal, but gave Daryl the freedom to take refuge in the Kingdom for as long as he needed. 

“We need to go Y/N, they can go into Alexandria after Daryl.” Rick appeared next to us as I was saying goodbye to Dixon, I nodded and he walked away. 

“It's temporary, when this is over you're not leaving my side anymore, okay?” I held Daryl's cheeks and he bowed his head sadly. 

“I want to go with you, I want to help put an end to this”

"You'll help, my love. Staying here, safe. Maybe you can convince the King, we need him."

“You know I'm not that diplomatic”

“Let's look at this situation as an opportunity, what do you think?” I smile to break the mood, Daryl gives a sad smile. “I'll never leave you, my love” I say more seriously so that he feels the truth, these days away from him were the worst and I don't want it to happen again.

_______________________________

“Look, look, look, Rick Grimes has come to greet me on my doorstep!” Negan and his henchmen arrived shortly after we got back from the Kingdom, someone up there is surely on our side. "I love seeing your abandoned dog face, Rick, but today my business is with your little friend's wife. Why don't you bring her to me?" 

Rick nods begrudgingly, turns and starts walking towards the main house where we were all gathered, waiting for some sign of Grimes. 

“He wants to talk to you.” Rick approaches and says quietly. “Be careful, he's unpredictable.” 

"That's all right, Rick. I'll put him in his place, I've had enough of this.” I walk away quickly, anger overflowing just knowing that because of him my Daryl is shaken. 

“Y/N, no, wait.” Rick tries to stop me, but it's too late, I'm striding hard towards Negan. 

“I hear you want to talk to me.” That maniac's smile only gets wider when he sees me.   

"Oh, hello, darling. How are you? Miss your husband?" 

“You've got to be kidding... of course I miss him, if you don't remember you took him away from me and I'm very possessive of what's mine,” I say through my teeth. If he thinks I'm going to be compassionate and keep my mouth shut, he's mistaken.

"Wow, that's what I like about you, darling. You're tough as nails,” he says with a mischievous laugh. "The problem is that your husband was very moved by your visit, you know? And he must have thought it was a loophole for an escape." 

“Wait, what?” I say exasperated, I've always loved acting. “You mean you've lost my husband?” 

“I thought you could help me find him.” 

“You're unbelievable...” I whisper indignantly. “If you think he's here you can look, have your goons search every house, every manhole or cupboard in this place.”

“You're always a refreshment to me, darling, you always know what I want.” I roll my eyes as he sends his men to search Alexandria. 

As expected, they find nothing and leave, promising to return next week to collect supplies. 

“I have to go, Rick,” I warn Grimes. To avoid the risk of them following me, I waited a few hours after they left, and night came. I need to see Daryl, he won't stay another night thinking we've abandoned him. He gets up from the rocking chair on the porch of his house with Judith on his lap and approaches.

“Okay, but be careful, make sure no one's following you.” Rick hugs me in his fatherly way. We were always close like brothers, after I lost everything Rick was there as a leader for everyone. “And send him a hug, tell him we miss him.” 

“I will.” I say goodbye to him and kiss the head of a sleepy Judith, who gives me a smile. I grab a car and head out through the cellars of Alexandria, towards the Kingdom, towards Daryl.

_______________________________

“She's magnificent” Daryl was standing next to Shiva's cage when I arrived at the Kingdom. Quiet and shrunken, just stroking the snout of the tigress who melted at his touch.

“She is.” he confirms with a frown. I moved closer until I could see tears forming in his eyes. I quickly bent down, sat next to him and hugged him tightly, which he reciprocated. 

"It's all right now, my love. I'm here, you're not going to stay away from me any longer.” I tried to calm his crying, which was only getting more intense. I've never seen Daryl so broken, he seemed to be accumulating all the suffering, the pain, waiting to fall apart on me. He would never do that to anyone else. 

“I got scared.” Daryl says after he calms down. “I was afraid of losing you too, losing our family.” 

“You're not going to lose me, ever.” 

“But what if it does?” Daryl lifts his head with a more serious look. "When they tortured me, all I could think about was you, that you'd be alone out here, unprotected. They could do anything to you to make me accept the fact that I was nothing in that place. And I felt like nothing."

“No, no, no.” I pull Daryl's face so that he pays close attention to me. “You're not going to lose me, you know why? Because your wife is strong, she'll go through hell to pull you out of the fire and when I can't do it anymore I'll have our whole family helping me, because I love you, Daryl, we love you. That's what love does, it turns us into fighters, people who would do anything for the one they love. I love you, Daryl.” Tears flowed non-stop from my eyes and Daryl's.

“I love you, Y/N” His lips met mine fervently, it was a needy kiss, as if he had been thirsty for days and I was his oasis in the desert. I gave myself completely to him, wanting more and more all the time. 

We were too wrapped up in our bubble, completely forgetting that Shiva was still in the cage next door, and an imposing roar from her broke us out of this bubble of lust. 

“I don't think she likes not being the center of attention,” we laughed when we noticed the tigress's angry face at being left out. 

“She'll have to accept it, because now my only attention is on my wife.” 

[ghostboneswrites2]

Hii!!! This account has been my go-to for daryl fics since ive been into him. And i really love the way you write!! But since im a sucker for angst and anything cry-worthy, ive been wanting a fic where its in pre-negan and to negan's first appearance timeline— after rick decides to bring maggie to the hilltop to figure out what's wrong with her, the reader is to stay with gabriel to watch out for alexandria, but considering how her anxiety for daryl and the other's safety is eating her she went out to look for them, using the tracking skills daryl had taught her. The time she found the group was at the lineup, Abraham's head already bashed to a unidentifiable pulp. Due to the scene she couldnt help but act in fury and tried attacking negan but his men was able to catch up and before she could even lay a finger on negan, she was kneeling aswell. this triggers Daryl, not being able to see reader in such danger as he vowed to protect her at all cost and punched negan which causes him to stumble. And instead of glenn dying at Daryl's outburst, its the reader who gets a taste of lucille.

And i leave the rest to you! :DD

Well first of all anon I am HONORED to be your go to 🥹 please accept this flower as a token of my appreciation 🌸

Anyways, I’m an absolute sucker for angst and you have INSPIRED ME. I hope you’re ready for the b i g sad.

*ahem* *cracks knuckles*

The Man Who…

Masterlist || Taglist

(Fem!Reader) (Reader Description: has hair)

Warnings: blood, gore, profanity

With your teeth chewing tirelessly at your nail beds, the flesh had become raw. A faint hue of blood settled in between the cracks on your lips.

A deep pit had formed in your gut. It was vacuous, consuming. Your nerves were eating you alive. Nobody had come back yet. You knew it wouldn’t be a quick trip, but still. And nobody had radioed back in over an hour.

You sucked in a sharp breath, partially in hopes that the sensation of air filling your lungs would calm the rapid pace of your heart.

“Is something the matter?” Gabriel asked you, having picked up on your restlessness.

“We haven’t heard from them.” You said simply, foot tapping against the ground. Gabriel pressed his lips together and nodded.

“The Lord is with them. They’ll be okay.” He assured you. With a scoff, your rolled your eyes. Who was he to preach to you in times of need? What did he care? He left his entire congregation to be eaten alive.

“I have to use the bathroom.” You announced abruptly, pushing your chair back and exiting the room with haste. You stomped down the hall into the bathroom, locking the door behind you.

You stared at yourself for a while, begging your reflection for some guidance. Daryl told you to stay put. You made a deal with him a long time ago, never to break away from the plan unless you had no choice. However, would he sit idly by if he didn’t know you were safe? Surely not. You may have made a deal with him, but the two of you had also taken an oath to each other.

It was the silent, unspoken kind of promise. Neither of you needed to say it out loud, you just knew. You’d always protect each other, you’d always find each other, and you’d never leave the other behind. So why were you still standing there?

They would have contacted you by now if they were okay. That was the plan, and you never strayed away from the plan.

Without a second thought, you marched out of the bathroom and made hast to the armory, mapping out a plan in your mind as you did so.

……

The engine sputtered as you pulled the key from the ignition. You’d been driving for roughly an hour, following the route the others would have taken. You only pulled over when you saw the RV parked on the side of the road.

As you examined the scene around the vacant house-on-wheels, you were able to put Daryl’s teachings to use in identifying the tracks leading into the trees. The woods were eerily quiet as you followed the trail of disturbed undergrowth. Dusk was settling in, and the only sound to be identified were the rhythmic chirps of frogs and crickets.

Nightfall crept up on you quickly. Your breath had become visible in the moonlight, chills crawling all over you. Regardless, you pressed on. The night could throw anything your way, but you wouldn’t turn back. The idea that something was terribly wrong hadn’t eased. If anything, the feeling grew more dire, as if you were running out of time.

You had been consumed entirely by your thoughts at this point, worst case scenarios floating around in a sea of worry inside your mind. You were only brought back to the present when you caught a glimpse of shining lights just up ahead. Hurriedly, you crouched down into some shrubbery. The bright lights casted shadows through the leaves that danced over your face as you peered through the bushes to see what was going on.

It was hard to make out, but you could see a wall of people surrounding another RV. There was a voice, too, hidden behind the barricade of bodies. It was giving some kind of speech that you couldn’t quite pick up on. The people surrounding the scene were predatory in their demeanor, like a pack of hungry hyenas cornering their kill.

You watched for some time before you caught onto a second voice — one with more grit to it — and you recognized it immediately.

Rick was on the other side of these people, which meant the rest of your family was too. It meant Daryl would be there too.

As carefully as you could, you crawled closer, sticking low into to the shadows. You could almost make out what was being said when a strong pair of arms yolked you up by the waist. A gust of breath escaped you as your back impacted a solid chest. You flailed your arms and legs, hissing profanities in between your hunts and growls. Whoever it was struggled to contain you, but they were still just strong enough to hold you.

The people who previously had their backs to you parted, allowing entrance into their circle. The man who had your restrained dragged you into the middle. When you finally grew tired of struggling and had a chance to look around, you took it all in.

Your friends were all kneeling on the ground, shock and grief written all over their faces. People you’d never seen before surrounded you.

Your captor threw you down in to the dirt. You caught yourself with your hands. A pair of boots stepped in front of you. Your eyes followed them up to a face.

He was tall and menacing. A wide grin spear over his lips as he chuckled, swinging a bat over his shoulder.

“She was watching from the bushes, sir.” The man who found you reported.

“Huh.” He hummed, spinning on his heel to face Rick. “One of yours, I take it?”

Rick hesitated to nod. The man thought for a moment, as you continued to study the scene around you. When your eyes fell on Abraham — or, what used to be Abraham — a wave a nausea washed over you. You slapped your hand over your mouth to suppress a gag.

“Oh, shit.” The man chuckled. “Guess you missed that part. See, that’s payback for fucking with me.”

“You cocksucker.” You growled, scowling as you lunched up at the man. Arms wrapped around you again, shoving you back down into the dirt. He dragged you over to Rick and the others, kicking you into place.

That was all Daryl could bare. His chest tightened, a sharp feeling darting from his core down into he tips of his fingers. His face went numb with nerves. He had no time to think. Before you could even push yourself off the ground, Daryl sprung forward and landed a solid punch across Negan’s face.

Two men quickly dragged Daryl back into place, one of them holding a familiar crossbow to his head. “Let me do it, boss.” The man begged.

Negan recollected himself quickly, laughing at the audacity required to attack him under such circumstances. Had he not made himself clear?

“Nah. That’s not gonna work.” Negan shook his head. “I told you. No exceptions.”

In the blink of an eye his bat was raised. Time slowed down, nearly halted for those around you. You looked up, tears flowing softly down your cheeks. For a moment, you felt peace. The next moment, fear. Finally, pain. A searing, crushing, all-consuming kind of pain. A loud crunch echoed through the trees. Your ears rang loudly, vision blurry and red. You blinked rapidly, throwing to clear whatever was in your eyes.

Gasps and sobs followed. Your friends and family around you watched in horror as you struggled to sit back up. It didn’t seem like you really registered what happened. You were too disoriented from the first blow to feel the second one.

You gurgled as tried to speak, blood spurting from your lips. Daryl’s cries rattled his body, barely able to make a sound as his breath seemed to be knocked out every time the bat fell down on your skull.

The only thing you could see was a blur of lights and shadows, tainted red with your own blood. For everyone else, the view was much more gruesome. Bits of bone and brain were hanging from your frizz of hair, some of which had been snagged on Lucille’s barbed wire dressing and ripped out. Only two blows from the bat and your were fully incapacitated, reduced to a bloody blubbering lump on the ground with a dent in your skull.

Weak with horror, Daryl lost the strength to sit straight. He fell tot he ground, attempting to drag himself toward you. A heavy boot pressed into his back, holding him firmly down.

Even Negan seemed to falter at the sight of his own destruction. Killing women was a new low for him, even with his track record. Especially in such a barbaric fashion. A sniffed and frowned, gripping Lucille tightly. It was too late for second thoughts. Daryl had to be taught a lesson. He had to understand how things would be from now on. There would be no more bravery or heroism. There would only be Negan.

He raised the bat once more, glancing over to Daryl as he groveled and sobbed below Dwight’s boot. The pain in Daryl’s eyes struck a chord in Negan. It was an unmistakable kind of reaction. The kind you could only bring out of a man when you were taking away the person he loved. Negan knew that feeling all too well. His eyes fell back down to you, twitching and squeaking with pain and confusion. He decided the best thing he could do for you was to swing hard and end your misery.

The final blow was the loudest, the messiest, the one nobody could bare to watch. Blood and brain matter splattered across those close to you. Daryl, Rosita, Negan, Dwight. Everyone was silent, save for a few sobs and the only pairs of eyes that never left you were those of Daryl and Negan. The man who loved you, and the man that killed you.

……

On days like this, Daryl found his peace in the woods. His fondest memories were there.

It was the only place he could still be close to you. Near the small streams, he’d hear echoes of your laughter from years passed. He’d see the glow in your hair as the rays of sunlight filtered through the treetops, and he’d smell your sun baked scalp in the wind, just like when he’d hug you tight and press his nose into your hair.

You were everywhere around him, even if you were long gone. He’d visit this spot often. Some found this place to be haunted. Too many bad memories plagued the grounds. But, to Daryl, it was sacred. It was the last place he saw you, living and breathing.

Your body was gone from there, but your presence lingered. Your blood had soaked into the dirt long ago, mingling with the rain as it watered the earth to sprout new life. When he cremated you, he spread the ashes here. You’d be part of the earth now and forever, and he’d always have this place to visit when he missed you.

Hell, he always missed you. He never stopped thinking about you. The war was over years ago, and new threats had risen and fell. Still, you were all around him. He vowed to protect you always. He may have failed at that, but he’d never allow himself to stop honoring you. He was the man who loved you, and he’d be the man who remembered you even when no one else did.

He took a deep breath and looked down at the bouquet of flowers he’d picked at the Kingdom. A long time ago, when he first escaped the Sanctuary, he returned to this spot to decorate it. He’d lugged heavy stones and sturdy branches over and arranged them around the spot where you died. Every time he came back, he wove flowers into the crevices between the stones and twigs. He swept away fallen leaves and shooed away unwanted pests. He’d bring random trinkets and pieces of jewelry he thought you’d like and arrange them atop the stones. There was a blend of old tarnished items, dead flowers, and the new trinkets and floral arrangements he’d brought just now.

The most important thing, though, was the handwritten letter he’d always bring along. He’d wait until he had enough to tell you, then he’d write up a lengthy letter, just to sit and read it to you there. This time, he could only write of how much he missed you. How dreary life had become without you. How he missed your sarcasm, your giggle, your voice, your singing. He talked about Judith and RJ, and how he wished he could have had a child with you. He was always afraid of fatherhood, but somehow it seemed possible with you. If only you were there.

When he finished, he let the tears flow freely. He cried to you, cried for you. Eventually he’d clean himself up and place a kiss on the necklace draped over the biggest stone. It was your necklace, the one you had never taken off since he met you. It was the last tangible part of you he was able to touch.

“See ya later.” He whispered as he walked away.

tags: @kissmeunicornbaobei @thesadcatt0 @clairealeehelsing @duckybird101 @tmntfixationxreader @ryoujoking @blackvelveteen1339 @yondus-girl @ladylincoln @sunshinebug9 @saylum559 @yoowhatthefuck @duffmckagansbandana @celtic-crossbow @virginsexgod69 @dazzling-roaring-20s @l0kilaufeys0n7 @uhnanix @superbowlisgay @liizzygrant @eddiemunsonsupremecy

[annabelle--cane]

a few mag 110 creature feature thoughts:

number one - there are a lot of web related women with first names that start with an A sound and last names that start with a K sound. anna kasuma, annabelle cane, alexia crawley, alison killala. very possibly a coincidence, but anna kasuma's name seems to vary across hilltop road statements in the same way that the dates do, so maybe this is another effect of being near the crack in reality? having connections to a lot of scattered aspects of the same identity? idk.

number two - this is the second statement in a row that martin reads and ends by saying "hey, that's not actually so bad" after having had very negative reactions to all the other ones so far. I think this is at least partially a sign of him getting a bit archivist'ed, as he takes jess tyrell's live statement next season and it seems pretty coherent, but the two statements he says this about are lonely and web ones. lol. lmao, even.

number three -

anyone have any thoughts about this guy? the whole description of the movie scratches my brain, it echoes so much in the rest of this show, and I'm wondering what was up with this "lead" actor. he seems a bit like a web avatar, but he only came on the project after dexter banks got his hands on his spider leitner, so what's this guy's deal?

number four - there is a non-zero chance that alexia crawley burnt a guest for mr spider. queen.

[theanxiousghostartist]

TMAGP 23 Spoilers

[Error] has more eyes than a normal person, can compell people, and uses tape recorders - which leads a lot of theories (including my own) to say that they are with the Eye in some way (either a failed Archivist, Jon, another Avatar, ect). But what if their not? We know Annabelle Cane was near the Hilltop Road/the portal when the Eyepolcolypse ended, and she is known to do all of these things. Plus, the tape recorders were set upon the Archives Team in TMA by the Web! We also know that the Web guided the plot of TMA. So what if [Error] is Annabelle Cane, or a Web Avatar?

(I wanted to write this out before I listened to today's episode)

[bonzos-number-1-fan]

TMAGP 18 Thoughts: Dead Letters

Another really great episode. Feels like the show has hit its stride now and it just keeps getting better and better IMO. I can't say I entirely get the episode's title though. This one feels fairly strained to me and I feel like it must be because I'm missing something obvious.

Spoilers for episode 18, and some lightly implied spoilers for TMA, below the cut.

Teddy and Alice being Teddy and Alice isn't something I have a huge amount to say. I'm never 100% sure how you're meant to read these two. Teddy having his own little story in the background is interesting though because the framing of this implies he's very important to the narrative. His leaving is the instigation for two of our main characters to be able to join the OIAR, his leaving party is the opening scene of the show, and every time he's been in it since something about him has progressed. It could just be a grounding element so that not every character is wrapped up in it but it seems fairly obvious that his story is going somewhere.

Fun Fact: I've mentioned it before but as it was name dropped, Robert Smirke was an architect for the Royal Mint.

Lena continuing to be very Lena about everything really does warm my heart. She could just be entirely disinterested, distancing herself from the employees for their safety, or other reasons beside. Either way "Oh, is that its name?" is wonderful and she should never change.

This statement was really great. Augustus being back is a massive highlight. Tim Fearon has killed both of his episodes and I want more of him than we're getting. A haunted house narrated by him is really a treat to listen to. The literal contents of the experience we hear narrated back to us isn't something I have too much to say on. It's got some strong Hilltop Road vibes but is at Church Street. Church Street itself doesn't have anything too important to mention about it. Milton Court, however, is interesting. Violet was seemingly the victim of the same thing that killed Drowning Victim a few episodes back, likely [Error]. But what's interesting about the Milton Court Open Space is that it's about 20 miles from where Drowning Victim was. These cases happened 3 days apart which is ample time to cover that distance but it's interesting because it's largely along the path you'd drive if you were coming from Manchester, where the Institute's ruins were, back to London and taking the M40. You'd drive passed Ickenham. I would not be surprised if we see a similar case from early further north along that route. Another thing of note here is the extreme malnutrition. I think a lot of people are going to link this back to Darrien from the last episode but I think it's more obviously a physical symptom of reliving said experience. Violet wandered though a house with no exit until she starved, like how Drowning Victim, well, drowned. No notes otherwise, great incident. Well, "Some figure reaching asking questions in an alley?" is curious phrasing but I won't get to into that.

Alice and Sam's chat directly addressing the contents of the case is something I love to see. Alice is trying her best to bury all that, bless her, but Sam is for sure never letting this drop. It's just great to see this stuff not washing over them now and it's all becoming more and more relevant. Although it does bring into question why Augustus read this one out. Chester seems to read things that nudge people to act a certain way but this one seemed almost cruel. Like Augustus was trying to get under Alice's skin. In any case its hard to find a thread between this and Taking Notes, at least as far as "motivation" goes.

Oh Gwen. Poor, poor Gwen. Finally opens up about her truly fucking awful experiences and Sam laughs in her face about it. To be fair to Sam leading with Mr. Bonzo is a perfect wind up and I would've laughed too. We all would've laughed if our co-worker said that. To be fair to Gwen, Mr. Bonzo has traumatised the shit out of her and who else is there to really lead with? And as always Anusia killed it here. What a glorious F-bomb too.

Backing up just a little bit, there is this quote during that interaction:

GWEN In the cases, you know how there are often things or places or people or whatever who… aren’t right? Who seem to be causing all the awful things to happen.

Which is fairly interesting if you've been reading theories. Specially about what CAT# means. The most common theory by far is "Person/Place/Object". Meaning that CAT1 indicates a supernatural person in the incident, CAT2 a place, etc. Now, I have written an essay all about this subject entitled "Putting the CAT# Back in the Bag: The Flaws With Person/Place/Object". So, y'know, I don't buy it. Gwen mentioning it now feels like a red herring too given how early it is. Obviously that feeling is rooted in my current belief about said theory. If I don't think it holds water I won't think this is a clue about that. But it's not just that. I think this is too early from a narrative stand point, CAT# standing for those things pointless from a narrative standpoint, and if Gwen has settled on those three things it's not much of a stretch to link it back the the case numbers and part of the point of them is they're inscrutable to everyone there.

Because all of the above isn't enough for this already stellar episode we meet two new characters. Georgie and Jack. Both at long last as they've both come up before. It's hard to talk about this without getting into TMA stuff. I'll try to be light on TMA spoilers but Celia and Georgie have history. Now, unlike with Celia, this very much seems like TMP's version of Georgie. She's a conspiracy theorist instead of a ghost hunt, she's paranoid instead of fearless, and she seems to know as little about Celia as you'd expect. The conspiracy angle is also really clever. TMA was very much just about supernatural encounters but TMP has the cast working for the government. So Georgie has stayed fairly consistent in this regard it's just the shows themes that changed. Celia finding Georgie makes a lot of sense to me though. Their history makes her a good touchstone here and as she's still podcasting about strange things it's a good cover as any. However whatever is happening with Celia is clearly getting worse and she's not lying about it well.

GEORGIE Celia, I’m saying you don’t need to lie to me. CELIA I’m not! [zzzzzt]

Sure you're not, Celia. Sure you're not.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Incident/CAT#R#DPHW Master Sheet and Terminology Sheet

DPHW Theory: 2374 not much to explain on this one I don't think. Spooky house that you can't escape from gets you spooky house you can't escape from numbers.

CAT# Theory: CAT1 is semi-interesting for the theory I think it definitely isn't (see here). Because for that theory to remain consistent corpses end up as objects. Which you'd think would put this in CAT3 if assessors were applying those themselves, and if they aren't all headers of this type being people seems very farfetched when we've seem objects that compel already.

R# Theory: C seems reasonably to me. Having a spooky memory and talking about it seems like the sort of thing no one would care about.

Header talk: Memory (Derelict) -/- Compulsion. Two interesting things here. Firstly, the section being Memory implies that this experience actually happened. Either to Violet or someone else. It could be a ham-fisted section choice if there isn't anything for hallucinatory experiences of this nature but I'd assume there must be. This system is so specific and as that would be a large oversight it seems unlikely that it isn't there. But it's hard to say how much any given assessor knows about what they're picking. Misfiles are always possible. The subsection is the other interesting thing. Derelict is such a specific subsection here that Memory must have 100s of them.

[crimebell]

MAGp - 007

"It's not like we're wrestling with tape recorders and manilla folders." Ayyyy fingerguns. They're trying to kill me.

Fuck yeah Celia I also think the spoken ones have a connection! God we're awesome wanna go out sometime

"Is there any way to look up specific cases? Like ones about being buried alive, or meat, or whatever..." Again, they are trying to kill me. Celia what do you know please stay safe my knowledgeable queen

Hilltop Center - Hilltop road? God there's enough references here to send me into cardiac arrest

"All for a good cause." okay evil agenda

With the burning destruction and subsequent bloody deaths this case leads to I wanted to stray from it, but the specificity of feeling suffocated felt so Buried I couldn't quite let it go. Also that was definitely Starkwall that rescued the victim; with how cagey and negatively they were spoken about earlier, I believe they are not, nor have they ever been, in good standing with the O.I.A.R. Because they rescued the victim here, even more credence to our fellas working for a Not Good.

Celia recognizes Jon's voice! God we have so much in common are you free next Saturday

Sam got an intentional email from a 'Jon' with a name and address- as much as I want my little guy to stay safe, I wanna find out about my other littler guy even more.

Lena girlfailed at killing 'Klaus' ! Should've gone with the metal pipe method. Never fails

[lairde-lampblack]

welcome to an au i like to call oops all avatars, where all the s1 archives staff all come from branching timelines back in time to try fixing the mistakes, but each timeline is a little different in a few ways. details under the cut

jon (eye): follows canon mainly up to the eyepocalypse, whereupon he's sent back in time to s1

martin (lonely): is largely the same up until the lonely aside from tim getting got by the not!them and sasha dying in the unknowing, and jon himself not being too far along in avatarhood where it's easily missed by martin, where jon getting lost in the lonely is the catalyst to martin becoming and in his rage he exits the lonely to murder elias and plukas in a blind rage, ending his timeline w the dead man's switch taking martin down in the process

tim (spiral): in this timeline, it's martin gotten by the not!them. sasha gets killed by jane prentiss during an investigation after being the one trapped in her flat, leading to both jon and tim spiralling and seeking revenge. tim takes to the corridors to find answers, and his door is what saves him at the end of the unknowing where jon dies. tim becomes as a spiral avatar and takes to tormenting the archive replacement staff and elias until he and helen end up warring and leading to the collapse of both avatars and ending the timeline

sasha (web): biggest divergence. jon is claimed bt the not!them in this timeline, leading to sasha investigating the house on hilltop road. martin was kidnapped by the not!jon, and tim was killed in the prentiss attack, leaving sasha all by herself to try fixing things. sasha meets annabelle cane and was learning to be a web avatar, where elias basically serves sasha on a silver platter to the circus because hes sick of spiders in his archives, ending the timeline w her death in the unknowing, where she falls through the crack in hilltop road and sends out panicked web strands and inadvertently brings all the othere back

it doesn't take long for the three archival assistants to realize they all know more than they should and that they're all from different timelines, but all three assume jon knows nothing because he died in all three of the timelines, and that he's just an ordinary human. thry do not know that he knows the actual most of all of them

[yellow-faerie]

@wormsontoast I do indeed have some thoughts about Archivist!Georgie (from the au vaguely outlined here) and since you showed a mild interest in it, I shall now tell you all about it here haha

So there are two things I kinda want to say before I keep going because this au has been changing and shifting in my head a lot and I want to get a bit more of it out into the world.

The first is that each archivist au is based off of as few changes as possible to the canon timeline, aiming (ideally) for only one change that causes ripples throughout the timeline. For example, in the Gertrude-causes-the-apocalypse au, the one change is that Agnes and Gertrude get bound when they are both much younger and the web manipulates things from there, yada yada that's not why we're here BUT you see the vision.

The other thing is that my initial intention was that most people would have a pair, forming some sort of couple or QPR, two people against the world kinda thing - one of them would be the Archivist and one of them would be their apocalypse + 1. This was mostly because (in my head at least) I saw one very eye-aligned character in each couple.

BUT I have recently been doing a re-listen and one thing that stands out to me is that so many of the main characters want to know things, that I think a lot of them could have ended up in the Archivist position in fact. Martin seems to actively encourage reading statements in S3, and Tim definitely has the motivation (when the circus gets involved at least) to be manipulated into the position - more curious though are Daisy and Georgie.

I'll leave a potential archivist!Daisy post for another day (because that's a wild au and a half haha) and talk instead about Georgie, who was meant to be the purpose of this post lol (I'll pop it under a readmore)

So, Georgie - the first thing is how does she become the Archivist? I think the point of divergence for this au would be that Georgie and Jon don't break up during Uni (or just after) and keep their relationship kinda going for a while, and when Jon mentions joining the Magnus Institute, Georgie goes with him.

The real question is why. Georgie in the podcast is fairly avidly against chasing the monsters, so I can see her as taking a job there as a way of keeping Jon safe - I think she sees him as quite naive for his scepticisim and knows that she will not talk him out of it, so she better just be there to stop him from going somewhere he shouldn't.

Jon and Georgie do break-up though, although fairly amicably. They keep living together because it's way cheaper than living alone in London and they are friends. Georgie also starts WTG but it's very much a side project to work (one that she keeps putting off making her full time job, even though she wants to, because the Institute's library is just too good for research).

She's also the one to push him towards the cute librarian with whom Jon has several cringefail attempts to woo before they start tentatively dating.

I reckon that during the course of being in research (with Jon and Tim and Sasha), Georgie gets marked by the web. They'd marked Jon but then Georgie had come, and so they saw an opportunity in her (or wanted a back-up just in case).

Either way, by the time that Gertrude dies, Georgie is the one that Elias chooses as the next Archivist (and I honestly think that Gertrude might have thought that Georgie would be the next Archivist too - Sasha is good but you can't beat actual fearlessness coupled with good sense).

She gets to take with her Jon and Sasha and Tim (Elias is like...let's make sure I have plenty of hostages to work with when the time is right) and that's the Archives team sorted. They're fairly competent, considering the fact that none of them have a library science degree.

Season 1 goes much the same but we meet Martin when he escapes Prentiss. Jon has been going to the library for Georgie, getting out books on archiving and the like and periodically finding references, mostly because he's the one who's closest to the library staff (well, one library staff member in particular).

But Jon mentions that Georgie assigned him the Vittery statement - something about facing his fears - and he hates it, so Martin suggests they go together after work, and he would deal with any remaining spiders for Jon. (Who is Martin, if not down bad for Jon?)

(That is, of course, a rhetorical question lol)

Something something, Martin gets trapped in his apartment for two weeks by the Worm Woman despite not actually being in the Archives. Then he comes straight to the Archives to give a statement, where Jon is working late and waiting for Georgie to finish so they can go home. Jon is the one that suggests Martin stay in the Archives, after he turned down the offer of staying on their sofa.

So Martin lives in document storage and continues working in the library with the rest of his coworkers none-the-wiser, and gets kinda absorbed into the Archives nonsense as Sasha meets Michael etc. etc. And Martin and Jon get really close, from late nights and evenings and weird little dates.

It goes from like...dating to being genuinely quite serious; they have been together for probably like 2 or 3 years by this point but this is a tipping point in their relationship. They keep talking about how they'll move in together after all this is over, so Georgie can finally have her home studio and Martin doesn't have to go back to his flat.

Anyway-

There's also Melanie. She comes in because Georgie was one of the people she contacted in her search for answers and Georgie was like...come and make a statement, maybe we can do something.

Melanie is slightly less derisive of the Magnus Institute (only slightly) mostly because she likes Georgie more lol

Martin is in the library when Prentiss attacks, and is the one that Sasha finds when she runs up from the Archives. Jon and Georgie and Tim are down in the archives, knocking in walls and fighting off worms, and Sasha and Martin go find the CO2 suppression system.

Sasha turns the right corner; Martin doesn't and ends up in Artefact Storage.

Tim finds Gertrude's body. The tide of worms split him off from Georgie and Jon who end up getting wormed in the archives before the fire suppression system gets set off.

They have a few weeks off. Not!Martin and Jon do move in together as had been planned, staying at Georgie's while sorting out a place together. Before everyone returns to the Institute (Martin got the time off too because he was deemed sufficiently traumatised by it all), Jon and Martin move in together, Sasha and Tim have another ill-advised hook-up and Georgie ends up...alone.

Queue the paranoia arc. Georgie might not be able to feel fear but I think that would make a paranoia arc even funnier, because she is convinced that she is seeing things Rationally only for her very much not doing that.

So the thoughts get a bit vague from here. I have some thoughts for each character though!

Martin is obviously taken by the Not!Them in this and so that really fucks Jon up. Jon is Georgie's oldest friend and very much her closest support net, often being the one to feel fear in her place (like she uses him to gauge how she should react to a situation, something that developed because there hasn't really been a time since Georgie returned to Uni where they haven't been in relatively close proximity).

So Jon goes off the deep-end after the revelation of Martin's death and the fact that he wasn't even living with the guy. He takes the responsibility of Martin's mother onto his shoulders, he literally ties up all of Martin's loose ends and then I think he just...stops caring.

It's a mix between Tim's complete S3 despair and Jon's S2 paranoia. He literally cannot trust anyone anymore, no matter how hard he tries, except maybe Georgie because of the whole Archivist thing. And so he goes to the circus with Georgie and Tim and Basira and Daisy.

And he is the one to press the button and die.

I don't usually like taking that away from Tim, because it is a decision so tightly linked to his backstory but I actually put him as ending up in the Coffin in this, shoved in there by a well-meaning Gerogie with her mind being twisted by the Unknowing.

I like the idea of Georgie having a bit of a superiority complex in this AU, where she is sure that she knows better than everyone else because she can't feel fear so she can see things Rationally and Correctly (she wildly underestimates how much other emotions can influence you).

Anyway, back to Tim. He wasn't as depressed during S3 because Georgie's own mini-paranoia arc involved a lot more of digging into statements because she is much more certain that the knowledge of who killed Gertrude is in there, and also Sasha is very much alive and well.

I mean, Jon's rancid vibes are definitely off-putting but like this is at the point where they realise they can't leave and the dread powers exist so the vibes aren't great anyway.

So Tim ends up in the Buried. How does he get out you ask?

Sasha.

I have been waiting for a potential AU in which to put Vast!Sasha and I have decided this is the one. No I don't know how yet but this is my decision - I love the idea of Buried!Tim and Vast!Sasha being something of a couple.

Beyond that for them though, it's mostly vibes.

I think Basira might actually choose to work with Peter Lukas in this one. I wouldn't have Georgie go into a coma post-Unknowing because she's already touched by the End and I don't think she would choose to wake up again, because she simply doesn't have the fear of death that influenced Jon, so she's around for the inter-season shenanigans that occurred.

So Basira doesn't trust her or Elias or Peter, but she decides that as she knows Elias and Georgie, and she's been offered this position by Peter, she'll take it.

(She's trying to ignore the pull of Daisy, hunting out there somewhere, lost after the circus - she never even got the chance to fight against it)

Melanie would be a very interesting one indeed, because part of what attracted her to Georgie in the first place (I think) is that Georgie knows about the entities and can understand her trauma, but is determined to not be a part of it, so they would be so much more messy than in canon.

I honestly couldn't say how her story would thus change. Melanie is a very fascinating character to me and I struggle to sort her out in my head without writing her (and so is Georgie - that's the problem with not writing them as much as some other characters :/) - that said, I do think she doesn't go full eye gouging because she does really love Georgie and doesn't want to leave her in hell alone.

(Hand in unlovable hand and all)

(I also think that Tim and Sasha might decide to do some eye-gouging with friends, as not-quite fully realised avatars of other powers, and try and settle down together somewhere, just in time for the apocalypse)

I'm not sure what all of Georgie's marks would be, or how she'd get them, and if you've got this far I am sure you understand my thoughts are vague and disjointed; but know it will be tragic and upsetting because I refuse to let myself write happy AUs lol

ANYWAY, thank you for showing an interest in this AU :)

[bubbl3s-dot-jpg]

My thoughts about TMAGP 7 before reading anyone else's:

Oh my god we got a lot of stuff today

Celia recognizes Chester's voice which could imply a few things: One, Jon is alive in this universe and she met/knew/heard of him. Two, Jonny Sims is playing an entirely different character with whom Celia has met/known/heard. OR three, Celia has previous experience with the fears. All three are equally likely in my opinion, IF it weren't for the next piece of information.

Sam got an email from someone named John. (I checked the spelling on the official transcript and that is how it is spelled). The email was internal. I'm not going to jump to conclusions about this because of how this is spelt and because Jonny is known to reuse names. (See Jared and Gerard, and Michael). However, if I were a writer, I wouldn't mind using common names for smaller characters that may or may not show up again, but would mind severely if a major character shared a name with a minor character. Jury's still out on this for me.

Colin doesn't allow external devices into his workspace. I didn't think about it much in earlier episodes, but I think it is notable that we only hear him occasionally and never from his own devices. Sam brings in external devices, or he's out and about, in a place where devices can hear him. He could be worried that they interfere with his work, but Sam had described him as otherwise paranoid and worrying about interference seems to be something not worth fighting about. This leads me to believe Colin knows something is going on.

The mention of hilltop road is interesting. I'm aware that Hilltop road is a road an therefore could have multiple addresses, but since it was such a significant part of MAG, I think it is worth noting what happened there. To me, it feels like a bunch of avatars, or a cult, similar to that of the Lifeless Flame attempted to bring a bunch of items that could possibly be fear-adjacent (like Leitner books) into a place of power. That's pure speculation, however.

Lena has attempted to murder at least two different people, and they both suggest "disappearing again". I have no idea what this could mean, but it feels relevant to me. I'm keeping this in mind for future refrence.

Lena makes mention of "real work" which leads me to wonder what everyone is doing there. People have speculated that the OIAR is feeding the eye in the same way the Magnus Institute was and I think I agree with that. However, Magnus' goal with the institute was to start the eyepocalypse. Is this what Lena is doing? If so, how? Is she doing it the same way Magnus was, by taking a already fear-touched person and using them as their avatar? If that's the case, what is the point of the files that they are reading?

Gwen's family is rich. I don't know if it was mentioned in MAG that the Bouchards had money, but I think it's more relevant here. It also explains her entitlement and the fact that she watched two attempted (and one successful?) murders and decided that this was the line of employment she wanted to continue. I'm biased because I have a history with the name, but we're only seven episodes in and I already don't like her.

Last and very least, Alice thinks Norris's voice (possibly aka Martin's voice) is whiny.

This was a way longer post than I meant to write, but I'm interested in seeing where the fan discussion goes. This was such a plot-heavy episode that I'm still taking time to digest it. I'm also really interested in seeing how my theories and thoughts evolve.

[paintyoureyeswithavividmind]

close to home | chapter fifty nine

close to home | chapter fifty nine

plot: the reader loses a loved one

series masterlist

Pairing: Eventual Daryl Dixon x f!reader Word Count: 593 Warnings: violence, blood, typical twd, character death (ya'll know what time it is) A/N: thank you for reading!!! It's a shortie so I'm gonna try and update twice, but fumigating my house is taking up a lot of my time so fingers crossed. If not today, then tomorrow! I know ya'll are anxious about what's coming 😏

Later that day, Rick got a call about Maggie going off to Alexandria, and Daryl offered him a ride. They left together, and you hadn’t seen either in a few hours. With over half the workforce gone, Carol told you she was taking her people home. She offered you a place in the Kingdom whenever you wanted, and you thanked her but wanted to discuss it with Daryl.

Then, a savior group came, and a gunfight ensued. You got clipped by one of the bullets, and it stung like hell, but it was just a graze on your arm. Another scar to add to your collection, and your face hadn’t yet healed. 

Most of the saviors had since run off, and Carol was working at patching you up when you heard a motorcycle and knew Daryl was back. 

“The hell happen’?” Daryl yelled as he approached you and saw your arm. 

“Saviors. It’s just a graze. I’m fine.” You said. 

“Don’t have a heart attack.” Carol said. 

“Well, ya ‘bout to. Herd’s headin’ our way ‘cause of the gun fire.”

“Where’s Rick?” You asked. 

“Leadin’ ‘em away.”

As soon as Carol finished, you were up and grabbing your weapons. You didn’t have time to grab everything, and Daryl wouldn’t have let you anyway. He was yellin’ at you to get to the bike every two seconds. But you had to work with Carol and get everyone out of the camp, which took longer than expected. 

Finally, Daryl got tired of waiting for you and dragged you to the bike, forcing you on it. You couldn’t get a word in before he took off, and you had no choice but to hope that Carol got everyone out in time.

You’d only just made it to the rendezvous point that had been determined over a month ago when you got the call. Rick was in trouble. 

***

As soon as you got off the bike, you ran like hell. You could hear the horde of walkers, but you didn’t care. Rick was in trouble; he needed help. Everyone was on your trail, and you skidded to a stop when you got to the water’s edge. 

You finally spotted Rick limping, and you could see a mass amount of blood on the left side of his body. You covered your mouth with your hand. 

“What is he doing?” Maggie yelled. 

“He’s hurt!”

“That herd will run right through Hilltop. He’s trying to bring down the bridge.”

You shook your head and grabbed your gun as you heard Maggie yelling to turn the herd. You followed her lead through the trees and toward the road. You stood in a row with your family, firing every last bullet you had to get the herd to run, but it wasn’t working. 

An explosion shook the ground, and you felt the wave of heat. You stumbled into Maggie and watched as fire burned high through the tree line.

“No,” You mumbled and shook your head. “No.”

Michonne started screaming, and you stumbled backward, dropping your gun as tears fell. You were vaguely aware of Carol and Maggie holding Michonne, and you looked around for Daryl, but he wasn’t there. You could hear words of anguish and cries, but you ignored them all as you retraced your steps. 

You finally spotted Daryl, the crossbow hanging low. You choked out a sob that resembled his name, and he turned to you. You ran into his arms, and he dropped the crossbow, hugging you tightly as you both sobbed. 

Rick Grimes, your brother, family, and one of your biggest protectors, was dead.

[walker-bait-1973]

The Cornfield

A Daryl Dixon & Y/N Fanfiction

Photo edited by me

Warnings: None. Just Fluff

AN: It's been a while since I've written anything. This is just a little happy moment that I enjoyed coming up with.

Daryl and Y/N will do just about anything to spend a few precious moments together. Takes place at Hilltop.

Y/N laughed as she ran through the straight rows of corn. They were well over her head, growing tall and strong. She heard the rapid succession of fast footfalls as she wove between two stalks into a row. Looking back, she thought she spied a glint of Daryl’s belt buckle.

 “Where are ya, Y/N?” He called out. She covered her mouth to squelch the giggles and moved into another row.

“Gonna find ya, might wanna give up now,” his eyes scanned up and down the row he was in, “I think I’m gettin’ warmer!”

“No, you’re not!” Her voice squeaked. Suddenly she was tackled down into the tall grass between the rows. She threw her head back, laughing hysterically as Daryl held her there for a moment. He gazed into her eyes, smiling.

“Told ya I’d get ‘cha.”

“I gave myself away,” she replied nonplussed, “I was sick of you going the wrong way.” He tickled her.

“Goin’ the wrong way, my eye.” He rolled to the side plucking a tall blade of grass and brushing it over her lips. She grinned, her white teeth shining. Both were breathing taxed, but happy all the same—hearts beating a mile a minute.

“We’re supposed to be havin’ a meetin’.”

“We are,” she winked, “a meeting concerning these sickly stalks of corn.”

“Pah!” he exclaimed, “planted these myself. Nice straight rows, healthy crop.”

“You’re missing the point,” she whispered.

“Oh no, I ain’t.” He caressed her cheek before lowering his mouth to cup hers. She rubbed his shoulder as they kissed passionately, lost in one another. When he lifted his head she exhaled.

“You take my breath away,” she whispered, tucking his hair behind his ear.

“I’ve been holdin’ mine for a long time now.”

She traced the line of his jaw with her index finger, around his fuzzy chin, and over his lips. He searched her eyes. The sky above reflected in them causing an almost turquoise effect mixing with the green. He lay there a while longer, enjoying her facial caresses before kissing her on the forehead and rising to his feet.

“C’mon.” He offered her his hand.

Once she was standing, she asked, “is the meeting over?”

He laughed, shaking his head, “Not yet.” His large hand slid down around her waist as he gave her one last peck on the lips. He picked some grass from her hair. She smoothed down his t-shirt and straightened his vest.

“Daryl, before we go back out there, I want to say something.”

“Sure.”

“This isn’t me just wasting time. I know it may seem like it, but it’s not.”

“I never thought it was,” he responded in earnest, “It ain’t for me either. But I know what ya been through, and I ain’t gonna put no pressure on ya or rush ya.”

She nodded, “you know how much I appreciate that, right?”

“I know,” he smiled, “I wouldn’t do it any other way. C’mon, back to reality. We got pigs to check.”

She smiled following him towards the dirt road leading to the field.

“Yes, pigs to check,” she smirked.

Master List

[thewritersaddictions]

The Wanderers: Negan Smith- Oh, Hell P2

Pairing: Negan Smith x Fem!Reader, Rick grimes & Platonic!Reader, Daryl Dixon & Platonic!Reader

Pov: Reader

Warnings: Smut, 18+, sex shops (Talk of sex toys), Negan is a warning you can't change my mind, Negan being a dick as usual, violence, physical abuse, sex, reader talking to themselves, fears.

Summary: On a search for things you find a sex shop; coming back to Alexandria you put the items you found amount the other things going to Negan. It leads to an interesting conversation with Negan.

A/n- Firefly-graphics for dividers. I might have gone overboard, but when the thoughts keep coming you just gotta keep writing.

WC- 6.2k

The Walking Dead Master List // The Wanderers Master List

I grabbed more clothes than I think I’d ever held in my entire life. Anything and everything on the racks. The bags that I had leftover were filling up quickly. Daryl watched as I gazed over the kid's clothes. Baby's clothes had been untouched for so long that a thin layer of dust was on all of the, “We should grab some stuff for Judith.” Daryl said looking over at me through the clothes racks. Including everything I had I stuffed so many clothes into the three bags that I wasn’t able to properly close any of them. It would have been easier if I could fold them and then put them in the bag, but Daryl and I knew we didn’t have time to be so OCD about the moment. 

I gave the three bags I had to Daryl. There was a shop that had caught my eye when he first arrived. In big bold pink letters above the shops doors read “Right Spot” A clever name for type of shop it was. A sex shop was in this small little town. Probably not there because anyone in the town wanted it there, but because people were always passing through, and what do you see on the side of the road all of the time when driving through hilltops and country roads. Sex shops.

I thought for a moment. If I walked over here and grabbed anything I might have to explain myself to Daryl, but maybe I wouldn’t. I had to take the chance, and anyways I had heard through the grape vine when we all sat on our knees that fateful night that Negan had many wives. Five or more wives, so maybe if I grabbed something to be helpful and nice to the ladies and to Negan then he wouldn’t be giving me thought unwanted winks, and stares. I was slow to enter the building. The window displays still showed a little bit of lace thrown on plastic frame. 

My gun drawn. No way there was any walkers in this building. When the zombies hit the world it was nearly twelve at night. Not a soul should or would be here. I pushed the door open. When I opened the door, it looked like this building had never been touched. Not a thing was a disrupted on the walls. Racks filled with things that helped out during sex, or just helped out during your own private sessions.

Dildos, lube, vibrators and evrything else you would see in a sex shop was littered all around me. It was hard to take in the smell. It was perfect to the what the world smelt like before the zombies came and devoured half the damn population. I needed to be quick about this or Darly would come looking for me. I ran to the back table. Looking around for one of those black bags. When I found one, i grabbed more then one. I looked out into the aisle that I was now taking for my own. 

I reached for the first thing that I saw. A few dildos all different sizes and skin tones. Anything that would pleasure any women that was alone by herself. If Negan was shit to us then I could only imainge what he was like to his wives, or how he acted in bed. 

I shook my head at the thought of Negan in bed. He probably had that hot dad bod. Not cut but toned perfectly. From there I started to shove vibrators into the bag grabbing a few bottles of lube. My own over shoulder bag, was empty of something for myself. Should I even grab something? ‘Y/n just grab a damn vibrator, your fingers aren’t cutting it anymore.’ The thought ran so fast past my head that I just reached out for whatever I could find. Grabbing them and shoving them into my shoulde bag. I shook my head and tied the back shut before walking out back into the horribly smelly world we now lived in. 

I threw the bags into the back of the sedans back seat. My own over shoulder bag hitting the floorboard. “so , Right spot?” Daryl said as he turned the engine over. I looked over at him, “Don’t even D.” I said looking back onto the long street. The sun was half way through the sky when we started out drive back to Alexandria. 

When we arrived, the gates to Alexandria open letting us in. It was dark outside by now, and not many people where awake beside the guards that sat near the gates. Daryl pulled the car to stop, and without a word spoken between the two of us. We both got out, I grabbed the bags of food, while Daryl grabbed the many bags worth of clothes. We walked in sync to the storage garage. Dropping the bags. I went back to the car to grab the black bag, and my own personal bag. With that I took it all back to my house. 

Negan would be back in just a few days. Five days to gather anything else that we could find. Another group went out the next day. Rick and Michonne stuffed themselves into a car saying goodbye to Carl and Judith. That morning I went over to the storage garage and put all the food up on the metal shelves. Diving everything would be the hopes of what Negan would be asking for. 

As I packed things away in their resepted spots I heard the light walking behind me. Carol was behind me, baby judith on her hip. “Hey Y/n, you and Daryl managed to get rather a large load.” She said, bouncing Judith on her hip. I looked up, “Yeah, we found a town that hadn’t even been ransacked. It was nice.” I said, turning back to sorting the can foods. “We all saw Negan give you that look.” Carol said. Her tone was softer then usual. Like even she didn’t want him to see him the next time he came by Alexandria. 

I hummed along with her. “Everyone?” I asked, if everyone had seen it then that meant that Negan was fine with being a dick infront of everyone on a different level. Different level of dick then before. “Yeah and we are family so we won’t let that dirt bag touch you.” Carol said, walking over towards me. Her hand resting softly on my shoulder. Carol was like the mother of our whole group, the comforting person that all of us came to when we were in need. 

My thoughts took me over when Carol and Judith left. Had everyone seen the seductive way that Negan had winked at me, how he licked his lips. As if I was some great meal that he was just waiting to eat. Was I terrified to see him the next time? No, I wasn’t terrified, I was worried that this would gett out of hand. That Negan was going to have no boundaries and want to see or talk to me. 

Alone. What could possibly happen if we were alone? 

 For the next few days a whole new set of groups went out. Thinking that the more we grabbed the longer that Negan would hopefully leave us alone. I did everything I could to take my mind off Negan and his crew coming to our gates in just a few days. I orginaized the clothes into genders, and I grabbed the baby clothes I got for Judith and took them to where Rick and Michonne were staying. I wasn’t aware just how quiet I had gotten over the past  several days since i talked to Carol. When I got to Ricks. I softly knocked on the door, not sure if Judith was asleep or not. 

Rick answered the door and let me in. “Y/n? Everything alright?” Rick said as I stood in his living room. I shook my head, “yeah I’m fine I just wanted to give you these clothes I grabbed for Judith while Daryl and I went out.” I said, setting the folded clothes on to the couch. “Oh, thank you Y/n, I was just starting to think that we didn’t have anything for Judith to size up into.” Rick said coming over. He scanne through the clothes before looking back over at me. 

“He comes back today.” I said. I was scared, I didn’t know what was going to happen. Personally I was scared for myself, but then the idea that we were even in this situation it was even worse to think about. “Yeah he comes back today.” Rick said, sitting down. “But I think from everyone who went out we got enough ohold him off.” Rick said patting the couch cushion for me to sit down next to him. 

“But what if it’s not enough, Rick?” I asked, looking over him. Rick never looked like he didn’t have a plan. Rick never looked like he was speechless. But right now Rick looked like he wasn’t sure what would happen if Negan wasn’t satfiifed with everything we had grabbed. “I’m not sure Y/m, but whatever happens we’ll all be together.” After that I left Ricks and went back home. 

I tried my hardest not to think about the dreading feeling that was seeping through my body, into my bones. The horrible feeling that was sinking further and further into my mind. By every passing second, and sound the the worry growing within me. 

The gates groaned in horror when Negan showed up. I know that there wasn’t a single way of getting out of seeing Negan today. We would all be forced to be apart of this day. I still had things that I needed to add, hopefully I would be able to put the bag in a box and leave the situation alone. I never wanted to be the center of attention, but it’s hard when the guy that you’re sorta attrated to is just a massive dick. I threw myself off the couch grabbing the black bag. I tied it a million times, I knew that if they really wanted to know what was in the bag that they would tear in to right there.

So, I shoved the black bag into a trashbag. ‘I’d write a note… No don’t write a note’ ‘Writing a note would be like saying that you want him to come back to Alexandria and pick you out of a line up just so he can get you alone in your house’ I wrote the note anyways. 

“Be careful with this bag.” That was all I wrote. If Negan wanted to investigate then he’d have to take it up with everyone. There would be no way for him to know that it was from me, or that it was my own handwriting.It would take Negan and his people a minute to surround us, so I walked fast. My heels hitting the ground quick and hard. I dumped the bag next to a set of other boxes. I wasn’t dressed to be out in the morning air. Cool and breezing past everyone. 

I was standing next to Rick. His demanor changed immediately when he saw Negan. Our leader fell so quickly. Went from looking straight and forward a sense of noblity to him, to looking down at the ground like a puppy that had been scorned for getting into the garbage. I tried to conceal myself. “You should go back inside.” I heard Rick under his breathe. “What? No, I’m not leaving everyone else out here to deal with this dick.” I said shock ripping through my body. 

This day instead of a leather jacket, Negan had on a nice white t-shirt. Lucille hung over his shoulder, and he somehow looked cockier. It was like a waterfall of disgust and cocky attitude that fell down from him and all over Alexandria. I looked over negan and his eyes were on me. I wasn’t wearing the right thing for this. 

My sleep wear. A tight fitting shirt that gave nothing to imagination to my breasts, and a pair of loose fitting sweats the last thing that I had from before this whole thing started. Something that I tried to keep clean. Bare feet on the ground. I really wasn’t meant to be here right now, but there was no backing out now. 

“Oh look at you two.” Negan said pointing to the two of us with Lucille. I had been instinct wrapped my arm around Ricks arm. I was trying to disappear behind him, but two small people can’t hide behind each other. Can they? 

“We got everything..” Rick went to say. Negan was still walking closer and closer to the both of us. “I didn’t ask you talk yet.” Negan said to Rick. I swallowed hard, fear wasn’t the word for what Negan made most of us feel. Negan made most of us feel like out stomachs where going to flip inside out, we all dreaded seeing him, all for our own reasons. 

Some just simply disliked him, some loathed him because he had killed a close and loved one. Some people where apprehensive of who Negan was, aware of just how diabolical he  truely was. 

“What’s got you two so close huh?” He asked. I went to open my mouth but nothing came out. “Oh, I see there’s something going on between the two of you.” He said laughing. Michonne wasn’t far away from the two of us. I looked through my peripheral trying to see what her face looked like. ‘She knew that wasn’t true’ Negan was just a shit starter, the best at the game I was coming to realize. 

I took a large breathe, “Negan, can we get on with business.” I said, unhooking my hand from Rick’s arm. Gasps were heard around Alexandria. Rick tried to grab onto me, but I was already walking towards Negan. “You aren’t here to gossip. Are you?” I asked. Negan laughed, that laugh that would echo through my mind for the rest of my life. “Aren’t you the business women of the fuckin’ year.” He said. “Gossip or supplies Negan.” I said. Looking over at the pile of shit we had gathered for this asshat. 

Whatever was going to happen might as well get it over sooner then later. “Supplies, doll.” It was short and cut throat. “Good, there’s enough food to last at least a few months. Clothes and not just for you and your gang. But for babies and children too.” I said looking up him. He was just gazing down at me. Staring at me, brown eyes boring into me. I licked my lips and returned to everything that was infront of us. “Tools,and other michalleous shit for you too Negan. Take your shit and get out.” Negan arched him brow looking down at me. 

He would never let Rick talk to him like this. Rick would never talk to Negan like this. Negan had broken something in that man when they both left in the trailer that morning after. It was scary to look at either man. One that would do anything for the right reason, and the other that would do anything for his own self gain. “Did old ricky boy send you to do his work.” He asked. 

I just stood there. There was nowhere else to go. Standing next to Negan was just where I had to be at this point. With a nod of his head Negan gaggle of boys came over grabbing boxes and crates worth of shit we had grabbed for him. 

“Six solid days it took for us to grab this must shit you Negan.” I said, as men passed the two of us. Negan looked down at me. He was trying to work out what to do behind him his eye I would tell. Like he didn’t know what to do to me. We were close no doubt. As close had you had to be to have a conversation at a party. It all happened so fast, his hand came up and slapped me cross the face. The breathe was taken out of me, as I cupped my cheek. Tears wre threatening to pour by the time I looked back up to Negan. “A good reminder of who you’re talkin’ to doll.” He said smirking as he walked away. The last of thing had been grabbed, but I didn’t move from my position. I shook my head, following after him. “You know Negan for whatever type of dick you are. You forget that we.” I said pointing towards my group behind me. “We are the ones that make you have a cushy ass life you live. We are your back bone. Slap me all you want but remember that you don’t live if we don’t.” I said turning back around. My cheek hurt like bitch, but I wasn’t turning around until I walked into my house. 

I didn’t give a shit if Negan wasn’t gone. I didn’t care if the gates to Alexandria opened to let Negan out. I didn’t give a god damn shit. I slammed my front door. My cheek was burning, the tears that had threatened to fall had already run down my cheeks. ‘That was stupid idea.’ Was all I could think. It was on repeat in my brain. I went to my bathroom. He had a left a damn bruise. The blood vessels had popped and this wasn’t going away anytime soon. I heard my front door open, but honestly I didn’t care who was at the door. 

Boots clicked on the floor. ‘Rick’. “Are you okay?” He asked. His shoulder leaning up against the doorframe. I turned and look at him. My cheek was bright red. There was no ignoring that Negan had slapped me with all of his might. “He’ll be back next week. Said he doesn’t want any more of that.” Rick said. My eyes, and ears were tired of hearing bullshit. 

“We have a choice. We always have a fuckin’ choice, Rick.” I was startingto get angeir and angier by the second. The fact that we were in this dumb of an issue was driving me up the wall. Rick just stared at me, as I fumbled around under my sink for some sort of first aid kit. “All of this is bull Rick.” I said sloamming the cabinet doors shut. I sat down on the floor. 

I was already drained of all energy for the day. Negan had slapped me infront of everyone to make an example of me. To show that that shit didn’t fly, and honestly I don’t even know why I stood up and starting in the first place. Maybe it was to protect Rick from any more humiliation, maybe I was just tired of not being able to talk to Negan. It could be a thousand and one things. 

All I knew was that I didn’t want to see that man ever again. If I didn’t have to I wasn’t going to. But atlast my frivolous thinking that I would never see that man again were smashed. It wasn’t even a week later and Negan was banging on our gates. I had at point forgotten about the sex shop, and all the sex toys that I had placed in that trashbag. I wanted that memory to float away from me. Like dreams do, where you just simply start to forget the details. 

The banging didn’t stop til someone let him in. It was just early morning, and I was barely awake. When I heard the muffled shouts coming from outside. I tossed and turned in my makeshift bed on the floor. From the past few days I had yet to sleep nicely. My thoughts seeping into my dreams, Negan was everywhere and nowhere all at the same time. When I was awake I wished that I never had to see him again, but when I closed my eyes at night I yearned for the touch of him. Softer this time, but still the touch of him all over me. I shifted in my sleep at one point and heard shouting that was only growing louder and louder by the minute. “I fuckin’ already told you, Rick. I’m going to see her regardless.” It sounded like Negan, but I doubted that he would come back. He had made his rules clear when he left after slapping me. “Negan, please ever you need to talk to Y/n you can do it with me.” I heard Rick plead. The more I listened the more I arose from my sleeplike status. 

I yawned and stretched out between the sheets. “For fuck sake Rick. I’m not gonna say it again.” I heard Negan shout. It’s as if they were right in front of my house. Partially walking in through the doors. “If you don’t go get Y/n right now… We are going to have problems.” I heard Negan say. I heard the knock on my door but stayed still. Hoping that it would all go away. “Y/n.” I heard, rick had let himself in but there was only one pair of hard footsteps walking and getting closer to my room. 

I shut my eye, hoping that it was all just a bad dream. A nightmare that would eventually go away. I hoped it was but that hope was stripped away from me when I felt Rick touch my shoulder. Gently shaking me awake. I fluttered my eyes open. “Y/n, I’m sorry but…” Rick paused, “I need you to come downstairs” I hissed as I turned to hit my face on the carpet. The slap that Negan had given me was still bruised, and red around the corners. 

Negan had marked me his long ago, this was just physical proof that he had some sort of problem with me. I huffed as I got out of the tangle of blankets. My clothes were a little different compared to the clothes I wore the morning Negan came to Alexandria. Sleep shorts, that my ass filled out nicely. A sweatshirt I had found at the start of all of this. Rick started to go down the stairs. “Rick, don’t leave me alone with me,” I said, my voice quieter than normal. For a split second, I saw the face of someone who would do absolutely anything for me or anyone else, then it changed. “I’ll stay outside, you can just holler if you need me.” He said softly before descending the stairs. Disappearing, I got myself up off the floor, pulling my hair out of my face. Before pulling down my shorts, and my sweatshirt.

When I made it down the stairs, I could hear the rhythm of tapping on someones knuckle on my countertop. I turned and expected it to be Rick, but Negan was who I was greeted with. The slap on my face hurt just from looking at him. “Don’t you just take your sweet fuckin’ ti..” His words were cut short. He was staring at me again. I move to be hidden behind my countertop. That would at least cover my exposed thighs. “Your face, doll?” He questioned me. I had no real or true expression on my face. I didn’t feel like playing games. “Why are you here Negan?” I asked ignoring his question. A heavy sigh left Negan and for the first time I saw a different side of him. 

There was something dangerous seeing him like this. How vulnerable he was acting right now. “Did I do that?” he asked. As much as I hated playing games with him, he wasn’t the truth right? “Yeah Negan, now what are you doing in my house?” I asked my fingers drumming along the counter top. “I came.. I came to ask about a bag that was dropped into last weeks pick up.” He said and just like the dick of what Negan was back. “Hm. I don’t know Negan there was a ton of fuckin’ shit there.” I barked back. The stinging in my face was coming back and faster the longer I stared at his devilosly handsome face. He looked more and more tired each time I saw him. Was he just as tired living in this world as I was? 

‘God, Y/n. You just don’t know when to stop talkin. The damn bag you dropped off before you thought nobody was lookin’ nobody was watchin’.” Negan said. “All I fuckin’ want is for you say what I already know.” Negan said. It was smug coming from him, but a demand regardless. A hot demanding demand. “What you wanna know where I got all that shit so you can get more for your stupid wives. I bet you just loved that I grabbed all that shit huh?” I said, was I spitting venom. Calling him out for having other women in his life. 

I was driving myself crazy with my idolization over him. He was just a older hot gentleman that was fuckin’ crazy. I breathed heavy. Rubbing my sweaty palms together. Trying to calm down with Negan in my presence was harder then ever. He was all around me. His collonge was wrapping itself around my thoughts. My straight thoughts were running for a breath of fresh of air. 

“So, you do admit it. You walked into a sex shop grabbed whatever your little heart wanted.” Negan said, I was so in my head I didn’t noticed the shift in the room. I didn’t notice just how close Negan had managed to get to me. Bu when I felt his body behind mine I felt like was going to hell and heaven all at the same time. I tried to get away from his touch, “You aren’t going anywhere doll.” He said his arm coming to trap me between the countertop and his large and stiff body. 

I could feel the growing erection within his pants. Rough jean fabric scratching at my exposed skin. “Negan.” I tired to say, but everything felt like I was floating. A true reality of what dreams felt like. Floating with Negan wrapped all over me. “Did you keep any toys for yourself?” Negan asked as he rutted himself closer and closer to me. I was squashed between the two hard surfaces. “I… I uh.. Yeah.. I kept a few things for myself.” I said, the truth pouring out of my lips without any needed force. 

He turned me in his grasp. My back hitting the countertop edge. Groaning in pain, I was finally so close to him that I could see everything that negan had to give up. Dark brown eyes, flicks of gray that was peppering his bread. Sorrow an dpain behind his large eyes, tired lines that covered his handsome face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Negan said as his fingers grazed softly over the mark on my face. I shut my eyes tightly under the intense gaze. “It doesn’t matter anymore.” I said trying to leave the conversation alone. His pointer finger shifted to my chin forcing me to look back him. Our eyes connected and we just looked at each for a moment. “Y/n, doll it does matter. It’s was simply for the guys behind me and your people. A show of.”Negan said, “power” We said together, “I know that Negan, but what we are doing now?” I questioned him. 

‘Come on sweetheart, you know what we are doing. I’ve been thinking about you for the past few days and waking up this morning to find dildos, vibrators, and all other sort things in a bag from my new favorite stop… You’ve got me growing hard in my jeans princess.” Negan said dipping his head into my neck. 

From there the words no longer mattered, only the physical motion between the two of us. My sweatshirt came flying off, landing on the hardwood floor. Negans mouth was on my skin so fast that I was able to feel his heartbeat against my skin. Wet kisses, hard bites, and scattered hickies littered my skin before Negan was satisfied. My hand gripped and pulled in Negan’s hair. Bucking when Negan would suck harder and then lick the wound like a kitten. 

Everything about him right now was hot, a devil in wolfs clothing was what Negan was and sadly right now it didn’t matter at all. My breasts were in his path, one nipple got teased, a mouth sucking and tugging at the bud. Licking, and blowing all while he was groping and massaging the other, teasing all at the same time. I groaned and moaned in response, pulling harder on his hair. “Fuck, Negan. You’ve got to stop or I’mma cum right here and now..” I groaned out. Negan pulled away, his eyes looking up at me. “Oh no doll. We don’t want that.” Negan teased me. 

“Negan please. I just… I haven’t in such a long time.” I said. Negan picked me up and throw me onto the cold countertop. My ass hitting the countertop slapped agasint the walls. I giggled at sound, but Negan was intent on getting my shorts off. I played a little, wiggling my legs as the fabric fell off of them. He stared me, a funny look on his face. 

Negan was still wearing clothes. I pawed at the fabric. “Please, you can’t be wearing all those clothes.” I whined. He rolled his eyes, a huff. “Please.” I begged him. “Fine, I’ll take off my shirt, I just know you want to see my body.” He said, shucking off his jacket and shirt. Toned frame, that was cut, some slices from after all the zombies. My fingers grazzed over little slices and divots in his skin. His rough hand came to stop mine. “Come on doll we’ve got more important things to do.” He said winking at me before he was right between my thighs. 

His fingers teased at my pussy. A thin layer of wetness covering them as he teased at my clit. Rubbing soft and czlculated circles around. I moaned out in pleasure as he continued his ministrations. Like he was trying out a new toy. And with every flick on his fingers to every movement of his wole hand he got everything right. Negan had me cumming right there on my counter top in no time. My back hit the cold counter top, and the thoughts of the some random daily looking throug this lot before the whole world went to shit bleeped through my mind. I hoped for something the moment as I came down from my high. I hope for a good and healthy family for on ethat wasn’t going to have to deal with horrible world that it was now, but I also hoped and wished for more moment like this. Moment where all I gave a shit about was amyself and my pleasure. I didn’t want to have to think anymore. I wanted to let go and that was what Negan was doing for me. Regardless of how fucked up it was that he had not just but a few weeks ago killed memebers of our group, he had fingers like a god. I could only imagine just how good his cock must be. 

I floated in my world before a nudge from negan brought me back to reality. The reality of cold marble hitting my back. The reality that I still desperately wanted him to sleeve his cock into me. I wanted to be teased but that could be for later on. I just wanted to be fucked and for right now my fasination with Negan was enough to get me through. 

“Come back to reality doll.” I heard Negan’s voice lull. “Do you still want this cock?” He questioned me. Negan was negan regardless of what he was doing. Still the cocky shit that thought he knew everything and he got everything he wanted. “Yeh, come on Negan don’t tease me just fuck me.” I said as I heard the sound of his zipper, then the shuffle of his jeans. Then finally the fall of his jeans. Bare and bare we stared at each other. His cock was bigger then I imaigned. Pinker then I thought, but regardless I wanted it in me and I wanted it now. 

I wanted to feel the girth of his cock push my pussy wider and wider until I was crying with tears. I wanted to feel his balls slap against my ass, when Negan wasn’t able to control his desire anymore. I wanted anything that he could give to me. I felt the head of his cock nudge at my swollen clit. “Oh, Fuck… Neg.. Just.. just put it in already.” I said trying to latch my legs around his waist to pull him and his cock in. I was stopped, A stern expression passing Negans face. “You went to a sex shop and forgot the most important thing.” He said, a raised brow. I was so foggy brained that I wasn;t able to truly answer or think of an answer for Negan. 

All in one quick solid motion. I received an answer. “Condoms, you fuckin’ forgot condoms doll.” He said grunting in, as his cock came to it hilt. His balls sittign perfectly on my ass, and he hovered over me. Our breathes were fast and shallow. Barely trying to catch each other. I hadn’t felt this full in such a long time, was it wrong that the man that was currently fucking my life up was the man that was currently making me come undone. 

He fucked me hard agasint the marble countertop. Whatever else was going on around us it just didn’t matter. I didn’t care if Rick was sitting outside, listening to me moan out in pleasure. I didn’t care if the whole town heard me moan out Negan’s name in pleasure. I could feel his cock twitch within my pussy. “Fuck Negan, you gonna cum?” I half asked him, looking up at him. He was biting his lip, his fingers coming up from my hips to surround my throat. 

“Just be quiet and let me use you. Be a good girl and take my cock huh?” He grunted, as he continued to fuck me. My body ached as he continued to thrust into my pussy. Hot and deep, the sound of skin slappingtogether could be heard as it echoed off the kitchens walls. I was so in my head that I didn’t hear Negan’s grunts became closer and heavier. He was trying to not cum befroe me. 

‘What a gentlemen. We ca. Cum together.” I suggested through breaths, and gasps as his fingers came to play at my clit. “Look at you, for the first time cooking up a good ole idea.” He said, his fingers teasing at my clit, my pussy clenched around his cock forcing his thurst to be rougher and harder. 

My world went black as I hit my high. Eyes rolled back as I felt his seed hit the back of my womb. Negan wasn’t screaming my name or devoting his love to me. A hard squeeze around my throat was the last thing I felt before Negan was pulling his cock from my pussy. 

He was throwing his clothes back, the cold marble countertop was a wonderful feeling. “You’re just going to leave me on the countertop naked and defendless.” I said, the coolness wrapping around my body like a cool blanket. 

“Oh now you want to be treated like a princess, huh?” Negan said cockly. “I don’t know sir, you were pretty okay with slapping me across the face a few days ago.” I said turning on the countertop. Using my arm as a support. I looked at the man that was dressing in front of me. “You aren’t going to let that go are you?” He said rolling his eyes as he slipped back on his leather jacket. 

“Hmm.” I hummed, “I’ll just keep that dangled over your head, cause I know for sure that I wanna fuck you again.” I said, winking at him. “Yeah I figured a slut like you would dangle my ungentlemenly actions over my head, You just wanna make sure I keep fuckin’ you.” Negan said. A short laugh leaving him before he came over and kissed me hard. His tongue nearly choking me as he fucked my mouth with his tongue. When he pulled away, he had a light layer of blush covering his cheeks and a growing erection. My body was ready for another round, but I knew that the longer we stayed here the longer I would fall for this horribly scary gentle man. 

“Don’t you go falling in love with me now doll?” Negan said, “You better get dressed too because when I walk out those doors I’m sending dear old Rick in.” Negan said. I jumped from my position on the countertop and grabbed my scattered clothes, I had found almost everything, besides my panties so I just slipped on my shorts and sweatshirt before I heard Rick come inside, with that, I saw Negans ass walk away and my panties shoved in his back pocket.

Completed on: 01/19/23

Posted on: 01/20/23

The Wanderers- @yourfavdummy

[mydarllinglover]

Alone || Cabins and Cobbler

Previous

A group of Kingdom people; including King Ezekiel, Morgan, Benjamin, Richard and Diane had gone out, Daryl and Natalia were waiting for them when they got back.

"Hey, uh, do you want to head to the infirmary?" Benjamin, the teenager who was stood with Jerry in the auditorium, asked Morgan, who kept touching his left ear.

"No. I'm okay." He replied.

"Hey." Daryl called out to them. "Where'd you go in them trucks?"

"I need to speak to Daryl and Natalia alone." Morgan told Benjamin. "That okay?"

"Yeah, I'll get you something for that cut." Benjamin said, walking away.

"The Saviours, right?" Natalia asked, when they met. "You went to do a trade, huh?"

"Yeah." Morgan confirmed.

"Part of your deal?" Daryl asked.

He didn't answer.

"What the hell's wrong with you?" Daryl stepped toward him. "You're bleeding."

He touched his ear.

"They did that to you. You know what they are."

"I do."

"I thought you would've learned after the wolves, after what they did." Natalia told him.

"You know, if Carol were here, she saw all that... if she knew about Abraham... and Glenn... she'd be leading us right to them, ready to kill them all." Daryl said.

"She would." Morgan agreed. "And that's why she left, man."

Daryl stared him down.

"Come on, its a waste of time trying to talk to him." Natalia decided, tugging the man away.

He scoffed, before following.

They headed to the archery area, finding Richard there.

"I'm practicing." He told the pair. "Gonna have to start using these more. The Saviours are smart enough to know I shouldn't have a gun around them."

If Natalia was being honest, he was pretty shit.

"Morgan said you're a bowman." He looked at Daryl.

He picked up a crossbow, handing it to him.

"He says thank you." Natalia said, taking it, because Daryl was too busy staring, trying to figure him out.

"Why?" He finally answered, taking it off her hands.

"'Cause we want the same things. I need your help, both of yours, actually." He looked at Natalia. "Morgan also tells me you are highly skilled in combat and a quick thinker."

"I'm not doing anything until I get my own weapons." She told him.

"That'll be arranged." He nodded.

Richard had got a hold of some knifes and sheathes as well as a hand gun and holster. Natalia would of preferred her own, but considering she couldn't just waltz into the Sanctuary and retrieve them, it would have to do.

He had led the pair to an secret place, it was small, hidden behind a no camping sign.

In a wardrobe, there were guns.

"We need something to move Ezekiel." He had explained. "This is it. Alexandria, the Hilltop, and the Kingdom hitting first, hitting hard, and then we wipe the Saviours from the Earth. Dozens and dozens and dozens of good people... keeping them safe."

Once they had finished at the place, they left walking towards two large lorries.

"They ride this road. If we see cars, its the Saviours." He told them. "They've been coming in packs of two or three lately. That's why I need the two of you. I can't take them alone. We're gonna hit them with the guns first and then the Molotovs. Then back to the guns until they're dead."

Natalia thought this was a ridiculous idea and could not believe she had let herself get dragged into it, for once, she wished she listened to Rick and Michonne.

"Why the fire?" Daryl asked.

"Needs to look bad. The Saviours who discover what's left... we want them to be angry." He answered. "I left a trail from here to the weapons cache I planted to the cabin of that someone Ezekiel cares about."

"Who?" Natalia asked him.

"Its just some loner he met. Sometimes he brings food."

"Why don't they live in the Kingdom, with you guys?" She dug further.

"I don't know. She lives out there, she'll die out there."

Natalia got a sour taste in her mouth.

"Its a woman?" Daryl asked.

"What does that matter? She's got more balls than you and me. She's gonna die either way. When the Saviours come and find their buddies dead, if they know their elbow from their asshole and can follow an obvious spoor, they're gonna go to the weapons cache and then to the cabin, and they're gonna attack this woman."

"You sick fuck." Natalia scowled.

Natalia felt bile rise up in her throat, she pulled out a knife, but Daryl clamped a hand around her wrist before the other man could realise.

"What's her name?" He asked.

"Maybe they kill her, maybe they don't, but it's gonna show Ezekiel what he needs to do."

"Her name. What is it?" Daryl repeated.

"She's tough. Maybe she'll live."

"Say her damn name!" Daryl raised his voice.

He sighed, looking away before answering.

"Carol. I hoped you didn't know her, but I didn't think you'd care, 'cause you know what needs to happen."

"No." Daryl walked forward still holding on to the woman.

"Maybe she'll live. Look, this, this is how... this is how this could happen. This is how we can get rid of the Saviours how we all can have a future."

Daryl picked up the weapons, ignoring him.

"She's living out there on her own just waiting to die."

"No!"

"If we don't do anything a hell of a lot more people are gonna die people who want to live!"

"Go to hell!" Natalia told him, she was sick to her teeth of women being a pawn in every bastards tactics, what he was saying was barbaric, she was growing real tired of men in this world, was it not enough that they were existing along with dead people trying to rip them to pieces.

"This is what needs to happen." He tried reasoning with them.

Daryl dropped his hold on Natalia, stepping up to the man.

"You stay the hell away from Carol, you hear me?" He said.

The sound of cars approaching, caught their attention.

Richard went to the edge of the lorry, checking it.

"Its them." He turned to the pair. "Look, we can wait for things to go bad, we lose people... or we can do the hard thing... and choose our fate for ourselves."

"No." Natalia told him. "We ain't cowards like you."

"Sorry." He shrugged, carrying on to initiate his plan.

Natalia nodded at Daryl, he listened, walking ahead and grabbing the man, tackling him to the floor.

The cars drove by as they fought, Daryl landing punches across his face.

Natalia kept a lookout, making sure no one had spotted them.

Richard managed to grab a hold of something, hitting Daryl across the head with it, sending him to the ground.

Natalia pulled out her gun, aiming it at the man as they grabbed their weapons, pointing it at each other.

"There'll be more." Richard said, his mouth was bleeding profusely.

Daryl's eyebrow had also begun bleeding from where he hit him, Natalia wanted to shoot the man for that alone.

"Or those. They're gonna ride back this way later. We'll have another chance."

"No, we won't." Natalia told him.

"We're running out of time." He tried reasoning with Daryl. "If you and your people want to move against the Saviours... you need to do it soon, and you need the Kingdom. What we have to do requires sacrifice one way or another. Guys like us... we've already lost so much."

"You don't know me." Daryl told him.

"I know... that Carol, living on her own like that... she might as well be dead right now."

Natalia stepped towards him, putting all her strength into hitting the man over the head with the back of her gun, causing him to drop to the ground.

Daryl looked at her before crouching down, checking he was still alive.

"Prick." She grumbled.

"Still breathing." He told her, standing up.

"Then lets get out of here before he wakes up, he's lucky I didn't kill him." She told him, walking away from the lorry.

Daryl picked up the backpack, following her.

They had tracked their way to the cabin, to Carol, it was in a graveyard.

They had to sneak past the Kingdom people as they had just been talking to her, dropping off a cobbler.

Daryl knocked on the door, they waited silently for her to open it.

When she did, her shock and surprise was made obvious on her face as she looked at the pair.

Natalia was ecstatic to see her friend, who she hadn't seen since they got back from dealing with Dwight on the train tracks.

Carol walked away from the door, hugging them tightly as she teared up.

"Jesus took us to the Kingdom." Daryl explained when she pulled away. "Morgan said you just left. We were out here, and we saw you."

Natalia didn't understand why Daryl was lying to her, but she kept her cool, going along with it.

"Why'd you leave?" Natalia asked.

"I had to." She whispered.

Carol invited them in to her home, setting a fire as it was starting to get dark.

"I couldn't lose anyone." Carol said. "I couldn't lose any of them. I couldn't lose the two of you. I couldn't kill them. I could. I would. If they hurt any of our people, any more of them, that's what I would do. And there wouldn't be anything left of me after that."

"You're wrong." Natalia told her. "You're still who you are, if we didn't do what we had to do, we wouldn't be here at all, for ourselves, or to help other people, even if it feels shitty, it's mandatory, now. I'm a better person than what I was before this, because I'm able to be here and save my family."

"Why are you out here?" Carol asked Natalia.

"'Cause Jesus took us here." She continued the lie Daryl started.

"Why aren't you at home with Evie?"

"She's safe, right now, I'm here, because here's where I should be."

"The Saviours, did they come?" Carol moved on.

"Yeah." Daryl answered.

Carol turned around, facing them as she began tearing up, waiting to hear the inevitable news.

Natalia chewed her nail, not wanting to be the one to tell her friend in her obvious delicate state right now.

"Did anyone get hurt?" She asked. "Is everybody okay? Did the Saviours... Is everybody back home okay?"

Neither of them answered her.

"Nat... Daryl..." She tried.

"They came." Daryl started. "We got them all."

Natalia looked up at him, from where she was sat in front of the couch, she hid her confused expression quickly before Carol could notice and realise he just lied to her.

"Made a deal with the rest of them, like Ezekiel." He continued as Carol let out a sob of relief. "Everyone's alright. Everyone's alright."

He then tapped the table.

"We gonna eat or... or I got to be a king or something to get food around here?"

Carol laughed, getting up from the floor.

"Shut up." She brought over the pan she was heating up. "Natalia, come on, come eat."

She listened, taking a seat at the table as Carol dished up the food.

"Ezekiel... is he okay?" Daryl asked.

Natalia didn't want to join in on the conversation, she was tired, she was missing home, her bed, Evie, and Sully, she also just wanted to leave the cabin, a lump was forming in her throat at their previous conversation.

"Yeah, I think he is."

When Carol handed her a bowl, she accepted it, quietly thanking the woman, who gasped suddenly.

"What?" She asked.

Carol grabbed a hold of her hand.

"Are you..." She looked between the pair, then back down at Natalia's left hand. "Did you guys... get married?"

Natalia pulled away, smiling shortly as she hid her hand under the table, spinning the ring around her finger.

"Yeah, two days ago." She answered.

"Forgot to mention it" Daryl added, digging into the food, taking notice of Natalia's weird behaviour.

"Congratulations, the both of you, I'm happy for you guys." Carol smiled widely, she had known of Daryl's crush on Natalia for a long while, she had been the one encouraging him to go for it, obviously, he had never listened to her.

After they had eaten, Daryl and Natalia decided to leave, bidding goodbye to Carol, leaving her to live alone in peace.

Daryl had gone back for one last hug, terrified for his best friend, her being on her own, after what Richard had tried pulling.

"Watch out for yourself, all right?" He told her.

The couple then left.

Natalia walked ahead of him.

"Going to bed." She said, when they reached the Kingdom.

"You alright?" He asked her, lifting her chin since she was refusing to look at him.

"Why'd you lie to her?"

He was thrown off by her question.

"Cause, Nat, she don't wanna be apart of this, so she ain't gonna."

"But it's not alright, none of this is alright, no ones safe, we're never really safe. She deserved to know what happened, that..." Her voice broke, she couldn't say it. "That they're gone."

"Nat." He shook his head, "We're gonna get out of this, I promised you, we're gonna kill him, he's gonna pay, for all of it, but she doesn't need to be apart of that. She wasn't in the first place."

"I'm just so tired, I'm so sick of fighting, I just want all this to be over, I wanna go home. Not be terrified I'm gonna see more graves."

"I know, C'mere." He pulled her in, kissing her head as she wept silently, wrapping her arms around him.

Eventually, she had stopped crying, continuing to their room to get some rest, whilst Daryl decided to look around, ending up sat in front of Shiva's cage until Morgan walked in on him.

Natalia was asleep by the time he had got into bed beside her, he wondered if she regretted their decision to get married, after the way she acted when Carol found out, even if it didn't seem like such a big thing, but to him, It was everything, she was everything.

The next morning, the two departed, starting their journey to the Hilltop, Richard was stood on a watch post.

So he managed to get back after all, Natalia thought to herself.

"I'm sorry." Natalia started, during their walk, she linked her fingers with Daryl's.

"What for?" He asked, looking at her.

"Last night, I was being a bitch. I don't know, I'm just really stressed at the moment, I shouldn't of got shitty with you."

"Nah, you're good." He shook his head. "I get it."

"I love you." She stopped him from walking, cupping his face.

"Love you." He replied, leaning in to give her a quick kiss. "When this is all over, gonna take you on a trip, find a place, somewhere quiet, just me an' you, catch up on all the time we don't get to spend together, show you how much I missed ya, an' your perfect body." He trailed his hand down her back, reaching her ass. "It'll be our honeymoon."

"Then lets hurry up and train those farmers so we can kill those Saviours and their fuckhead of a boss." Natalia smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck, reaching on her tip toes to kiss him again. "I want you all to myself, ASAP."

"Yes, Ma'am." He agreed, stepping back, taking a hold of her hand so they could continue their way to Hilltop.

When they had gotten back to the Hilltop, Jesus was confused to see them, considering Rick had told the pair to stay put, and that they would come back for them.

Daryl had explained that they would be more useful here, and so he took it, not like there was anything he could do about it anyway, he was equally threatened by the both of them.

Natalia didn't even know they were going to the Hilltop until he told her the same morning, she was just glad to be far away from the tiger, the last thing she thought she'd ever have to worry about in the apocalypse.

She clued in quicky that Sasha was hiding something, she was making a plan, but every time Natalia asked her about it, or even Jesus, they told her it was nothing and not to worry, Enid wasn't as good of a liar as them, but she had refused to go into detail, telling the woman that she made an oath and that it'd be in her best interest to mind her business.

At night, Maggie had started a barbecue outside of Jesus's home, where they shared their meals.

Natalia decided that she wanted to have some alone time, it always took her a while to process things, considering she preferred to push it away and force herself into something else, but due to the fact that Maggie refused to let either "prisoner" leave Hilltop for their own safety, there wasn't much else to do.

She had found herself at the graves of her two friends, the two friends that Negan had said were brutally murdered because of her actions.

She felt she had been relatively close to each of them, they were family to her, like the annoying brothers she never had.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, she doubted they could hear her, but in case they could in the after life, she wanted to apologise. "I'm sorry for all of it, I thought it was going to be me, I thought he was going to kill me. I wish he did, and not either of you, I'm so sorry, for everything. It's all my fault. If I knew, if I knew he was going to take you guys... I would've never... I wanted him to pick me, if he did, you guys would still be here, the baby... it would.... the baby would have a father, and it doesn't, because of me. I- just... nothing I do is ever going to make up for what happened, I'm so sorry, Glenn, Abraham, I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure he's put down, I swear, I have to, it's what's right, I want to make sure that baby's born in a world where he doesn't exist, I promise. You were both so beautiful, and strong fighters, I never thought I'd be living in a world where neither of you were in it." She thumbed the two darts that were placed on their graves, she could still remember what Abraham had told her when she passed them out.

"Sweetheart, now's not really the time for a game of darts."

The darts from the country club Beth had led them to, on her mission for alcohol, Natalia still felt an ache in her chest every time she thought about the girl, who she had also believed to be dead because of her. Natalia could be reminded a million times by her friends about the times she had saved their lives without thought, yet, that meant nothing to her when she remembered the people that were also gone because of her.

She could feel a presence behind her, it was Maggie.

Natalia went to get up, to leave the woman in peace to be with her husband, but instead, she layed a hand on her shoulder, gesturing for her to sit back down whilst she got comfortable beside her.

"He loved you a lot." Maggie said. "Respected you, as well, even when he was terrified you were gonna kill us all in our sleep."

The corner of Natalia's lip lifted at that.

"He was a good person, one of the best." She replied.

"He was." Maggie nodded, taking a hold of her hand, she had made sure to scrub her hands thoroughly, with her current craving being peanut butter and apples, Daryl had even tested her when she left the trailer, if anyone was on top of Natalia's deadly allergy, it was Daryl.

"Y'know, before Jesus took us here for the first time, Glenn, he... he walked in on me and Daryl by accident." Natalia winced at the memory. "Before we were together, together."

Maggie laughed to herself, it was quiet and short, but it was something.

"I am well aware, he practically begged for my forgiveness at seeing you half naked, before I even knew what happened, claiming that he didn't mean to, he just ran in, didn't realise you'd even be awake." Maggie rolled her eyes with a smile.

"How'd he know Daryl was at my house, then?" Natalia wondered.

Maggie raised a brow as she looked at her.

"Come on, I think you were the last person to know that you and Daryl were gonna end up together, well, 'Cept Rick. We were all waiting on it, everyone knew he had a thing for ya, going back to since Judith was still in Lori, I don't think he realised it till the prison though. Then, of course, it took you ages to wake up and look at him as anything but a friend, I'm surprised you guys tied the knot so quickly." She poked the rings on Natalia's left hand. "Abraham always said he was like a lost puppy without ya, and when you were around, he never let you out of his sight."

Natalia chuckled at this.

"It took me a while, but I'm glad I finally let myself open my eyes, I think he's the best thing that happened to me since this whole shitshow happened, and meeting you, Rick, Glenn, Carol, Carl... and the others, I'm glad I decided to let you people in, you brought me back, all of you, from where I was."

"He told us what happened, when Negan took you to Alexandria, about Sully, I'm sorry."

"Maggie, you're the last person who should be saying that to me, he was my dog, the last remaining thing I had before walkers and war and fighting, and I loved him with every fibre of my being, but he was just a dog, after what I did, what I caused you, it's not even comparable."

"Natalia, it wasn't your fault, none of that was your fault, any of it." Maggie turned the woman to face her. "I heard what you said, if Glenn was here, hell, if even Abraham was here, and heard you say what you said, lets just say it's a good thing they're not. I don't blame you, nobody does, that was all Negan, him and the Saviours, you suffered as well, what he did to you, taking you to the Sanctuary, I don't even want to imagine what you've been through, but anything he said, it was all bullshit, okay, you had nothing to do with his actions, please don't put it all on yourself."

Natalia hugged her tightly, wiping at her eyes, she hadn't even realised she started crying.

"It was Arat. She was the one who shot Sully, right in front of me, even if I'm not the one to kill Negan, I wanna make sure she suffers, she's going to go down with the rest of them, because we're going to win this."

"We will, we have to." Maggie assured. "We're getting stronger everyday, he and the rest of the Saviours are going to burn in hell."

The next morning, Natalia was sat at one of the benches, cleaning the gun Richard had given her, whilst Daryl sat on top of it, whittling.

Cal was on guard duty, when he began hitting metal poles together, causing a loud clanging sound, the pair looked up as Enid ran towards them.

"The Saviours are coming!" He shouted to them. "The Saviours are coming!"

"We have to get Maggie." Enid said when they both got up.

"Where is she?" Daryl asked, as Natalia tucked the gun in her belt, hiding it under her shirt.

"Come on!" She then ran off in the other direction, as they followed.

If the Saviours found them, they were royally fucked, or worse, dead.

They found Maggie as she attempted to lead them into hiding.

"We'll never make it in time." She said.

"Come on!" Enid ran ahead again.

They ran behind a building as the cars entered the gates.

Enid lifted the doors to an underground bunker

"Just stay down there. I'll keep them away." She told the three adults.

"No way!" Natalia told her, as Daryl and Maggie entered. "Not by yourself."

"I'll be fine. They aren't the same ones who came to Alexandria. If they find you, they'll kill you."

"Enid, no!"

"You haven't got time, go." She pressed, closing one of the doors.

Daryl grabbed a hold of Natalia, pulling her into the bunker, when he had spotted them.

Enid locked the door from above.

"She's gonna be fine, she can handle herself well." Maggie assured.

"Yeah, she's also just a kid."

Maggie had moved to the back of the bunker, it's where they kept a lot of their food, moving the shelves out of the way as Daryl kept an eye on the doors, Natalia began pacing, a knife, borrowed from the Kingdom, in her hand in case anyone came down and she had to deal with them.

"Daryl." Maggie whispered. "Nat." She waved them to the back, both followed as Daryl moved the shelf to hide them from view.

The three listened closely for sounds outside, the loud sounds of footsteps catching their attention.

"Hi" The voice of Enid said, in a sickly sweet tone. "Uh, I've got fresh veggies."

"Stop." A man told her. "They're vegetables. Use the whole word. We have time."

Bile rose in Natalia's throat at the way the man was speaking to the teenager.

She hadn't realised she'd moved forward when Daryl looped his fingers in her belt, holding her still, whilst Maggie clamped her hand on the her wrist, of the hand that was holding the knife.

"Uh, okay. I have these vegetables they told me to bring over, uh, and the basket's pretty heavy. For me, I mean. Probably not you. Uh, here. Load them in the truck, and, uh, If you meet me by the garden, I can get you the rest..."

"Stop." He cut her off again. "I don't know who you think I am or who we are. Load them yourself. I'm busy." Then followed the sound of something clattering to the floor.

"Oh. Sorry. I'm sorry." She apologised profusely.

"Girl, pick that shit up right now and scram." His voice then got lower, they could barely hear it. "Don't make me cut it off you, girl."

The door then creaked before light poked in to the dark area.

Daryl moved Natalia to stand behind him, as well as Maggie, ready in case the man found them, which she slightly hoped he did, just so she could kill him for the way he spoke to Enid.

Footsteps came down the steps.

The man walked around, looking at the food before picking up an apple, sniffing it then placing it back in the basket, picking the whole thing up.

He then looked around again, his hand on his gun, Enid's sheath was attached to his belt.

The man approached where they were hiding, taking another box off the shelves.

Daryl went to move out of the hiding place, to go after the man, Natalia grabbed a hold of him, so had Maggie, shaking her head, he was by the door, if Daryl did anything, he could easily catch another Saviours attention.

Eventually, the man grabbed the things he had taken, leaving the bunker and closing the doors again.

Daryl was the first to leave the spot, checking he had actually gone through the slits in the door.

"You were gonna kill that guy." Maggie sighed.

"Too right." Natalia said. "If he wasn't gonna get caught, I wouldn't of stopped him."

"He was gonna find us." Daryl answered for himself.

"He wasn't, and he didn't." Maggie replied.

"He deserved to die." Daryl still hadn't faced either of them, still staring at the door.

Natalia hadn't bothered telling him the conversation she had with Maggie last night, she wanted to keep it just between them.

"Ever since you got here, you haven't said a word to me, Nat has, but you won't." She looked at the other woman, who busied herself with rearranging the stuff the man had touched, wanting to escape from the beginning of their private conversation.

Daryl had barely spoken about his feelings, the line up or even his time at the Sanctuary, it seemed like the only thing he was interested in talking about, was her, she was worried about him, but she was also very aware of his temper, and she had backed up evidence of his frequent habit of disappearing, from her own knowledge and what the others had told her before they met.

"Would you look at me?" Maggie asked him. "Please."

When she heard the familiar sounds of his sniffles, that he was crying, her stomach lurched, she wanted to comfort him, but knew they needed to have this conversation without her interrupting, just like she needed it last night.

"Daryl..." Maggie stepped towards him.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. "I'm sorry."

Natalia chewed her lips as she tried to disappear, she wanted to be anywhere but there.

"It wasn't your fault." Maggie felt like a broken record, with the newly formed Dixons.

"It was."

"No." She said forcefully. "It wasn't. You're one of the good things in this world. That's what Glenn thought. And he would know, 'cause he was one of the good things, too."

Natalia looked at her, and she glanced back, wanting her to hear as well.

"And, uh... I wanted to kill that guy too. I wanted to string them all up and watch them die. But we have to win."

She then approached the man, bringing him into a hug.

"Help me win, both of you." She glanced at Natalia again, who nodded, so had Daryl.

They'd both do anything for Maggie Rhee.

Next

[dahliarose2]

KINDRED SPIRITS - PART 2

summary: you and daryl reunite at the line-up, as yous all are introduced for the first time to 'the man behind it all,' negan. everyone is left broken by the events; some more so than others

daryl dixon x reader

part 1

You were crouched down next to Maggie, who was now in very poor condition, laid out on a stretcher as Abraham kneeled on the opposite side of her. You shushed her, calming her worries as she tried to tell people not to go to the trouble for her to which all of you ignored. The Saviors had been making it increasingly difficult to get her safely to the Hilltop, causing blockages in the road. You chewed the inside of your cheek as you worried that might've meant for Daryl and the others. 'They're strong. Daryl is strong. They can handle themselves,' you told yourself attempting to calm your nerves,

You were brought back to reality as Rick finished filling up the RV with gas, that Eugene was about to use as a decoy to get Maggie to the Hilltop on foot. Sasha paced back and forth, stealing glances at Abraham every once in a while, clearly worried about how we were going to pull this off. "If you see a car, try to siphon the gas. Other than that, you keep moving," Rick explained to Eugene as he nodded. You didn't hear much of the conversation as you tried to tend to Maggie and kept selfishly thinking of Daryl and how he would know where you were,

Abraham and Rick moved to take Maggie's head and feet, while Sasha and Aaron flanked the sides. You voted to stay in front with Carl and keep a lookout on either side, leading the way and killing the oncoming walkers. Just as you were making your way through the dark forest, a man whistling halted you in your tracks. You all looked fearfully at one another, peering through the trees to see men surrounding the group. You were the first to jump into action, taking a fearful look at Maggie who was weakening further. "Go!" you yelled as the others heeded, sprinting with Maggie in tow, as you attempted to make a getaway,

You weaved in and out of the trees, attempting to stick together which was made harder by the stretcher. A flash of car headlights that yous stumbled upon put a stop in your tracks as you all struggled to catch your breath after the chase. You looked around in horror to see that you were surrounded and you realized that there was no fighting your way out of this one. You were outmanned and outgunned. The Saviors stood still, all of their shadows looming over you and the group. You eyes darted to each one, nerves growing as you again looked at Maggie in her condition, wondering what it would mean for her now,

"Good. You made it!" Simon's voice bellowed, flinching as you broke out of your worried trance. You recognized him as the man who yous had met earlier at the first road blockage and your blood ran cold at the sight of him. "We'll take your weapons now," he shouted with a sinister smile that made your blood run cold. You glanced at Rick, somehow thinking he'd have a backup plan. But there was no backup plan, there was no way out. You knew it, and so did Rick who sent you a blank expression, still in shock at being cornered. Simon trudged over as you heard the footsteps get louder, before you felt a coolness against your temple. "Now!" he yelled, holding his pistol to your head,

"Okay, okay. Alright!" Rick yelled in defiance at Simon's sudden actions, showing he was serious and he wasn't coming to play. Yous handed over your guns as Simon retracted his weapon from your head, allowing you to breathe a bit easier. Simon sauntered towards each of us, taunting Carl, before his eyes landed on Maggie. "Let's get her down and get you all down on your knees," he commanded, all with that sickly sweet voice that made you feel ill. Abraham reluctantly got Maggie down off the stretcher, his face fueled with rage,

Abraham held Maggie up, carrying her over and helping her kneel in the designated spot. When you stood for a moment too long, one of the Saviors grabbed your forearms, causing you to yelp as he forced you down onto your knees next to Abraham with a shove. Rick continued to stand, challenging Simon, but as soon as he saw all of us on our knees, he knelt down begrudgingly, face still frozen in horror. You looked at Sasha as she exchanged a concerned glance with you. Simon whistled and gestured to the man you recognized as Dwight from meeting him in the woods with Daryl when he had betrayed the two of you. Your face hardened as you watched him in anger, him locking eyes with you for only a moment, but you knew he remembered you,

However, your anger fell quickly as you saw him tug your friends, one by one, out of the van, having hoped they had gotten away. Michonne and Rosita were dragged out while Glenn was thrown to the floor. Finally, to your dread, a pale-faced, injured Daryl was pulled out of the van and dumped next to you in the line. His face fell as your face came into his vision. Suddenly, his bullet wound was nonexistent and his pain was gone. The only thing he was focused on was you. You couldn't help it, as tears spilled down your cheeks seeing him in such a terrible condition, so different than when he left. You hadn't seen him since he left without telling you, but that wasn't important anymore,

You looked around at the Saviors before you reached your shaky hand to link your pinky with his, being careful not to squeeze it hard so that you wouldn't hurt him. You felt his pinky twitch within your hold i. his weak attempt to squeeze yours back, and it broke your heart as you tried to send him a small smile, despite the situation. He tried to hide the tears in his eyes despite trying to mask it as anger like he usually did. You assumed that it was from the pain of the bullet shot wound you noticed on his shoulder, it being the reason for his condition. Your heart strings tugged between sadness and anger at whoever had fired the bullet and how they could let him sit here now, losing blood as time went on. However, what you didn't know and what he couldn't tell you, was that the tears he was attempting to swallow down, were not for his wound, or for himself; they were for you, for the fact that you were put here in this situation all because you wanted to go looking for him. He knew it was his fault, even though he knew you wouldn’t agree,

And in that moment, for the stoic, impassive, 'man of few words' Daryl Dixon, his only wish was to tell you all the things he's always wanted to tell you. To tell you he shouldn't have left without telling you, that he shouldn't have lied, that he was sorry and that he loved you. All the things he would've said eventually, and he wanted to say them all now, at the one time he couldn't. And as always, it was as if you read his mind, giving him a sympathetic smile, holding his pinky tighter, your way of letting him know you were right there, even though he didn't want you to be. He wanted you safe back in Alexandria. "It's okay," you whispered to him,

Suddenly, a Savior had shoved their gun into your back as you let out a yelp, your finger falling from Daryl's hold as you leaned forward slightly from the swift blow. Daryl's face darkened as he glared at the perpetrator, as his blood boiled, teeth practically gritting against one another. You sat back up straight, ignoring the pain burning through your spine. "Okay! Let's meet the man," Simon exclaimed, smiling brightly as he knocked on the RV door loudly, all of you looking at each other and then at the door which swung open. You watched as the infamous Negan sauntered out, a bat encased in barbed wire slung over his shoulder as he wore a giant smirk on his face,

You couldn't help but be fearful of him, watching his psychotic smile as he trudged out in his black leather boots, matching his jacket. "Pissin' our pants yet?" he joked, his voice sending shivers down your already bruised spine. "Boy do I have a feeling we're getting close." He walked closer to the line of people, Carl, Sasha, Rick, Aaron, Maggie, Abraham, You, Daryl, Michonne, Rosita and Glenn; all in that order, gazing both in fear and curiosity at the man in front of us, dumbfounded by his surprisingly aloof, eccentric nature, expecting more of a serious type for all the talk you’ve heard about him. The car headlights made his face clearer in the dark night as you all took it in,

Negan paced tauntingly, swinging his bat around as if it were a mere yo-yo, making you uneasy. "Which one of you pricks is the leader?" he asked with a haunting laugh, to which Simon pointed Rick out, making us all glance over at him. "Hey," he greeted almost nicely, nothing short of shaking hands with him, giving Rick a scary, yet charming smile, "Rick right? I'm Negan. I don't appreciate you killing my men." The last part came out with a bit more venom than the rest. "Not cool," he stated coolly, smile disappearing from his face, though his voice still remained quiet, making it even more chilling. “You have no idea how not cool that is but I think you will get it shortly, don't you worry. You are so gonna regret crossing me in a few minutes," he threatened, creepy smile back adorning his face,

Rick quivered and I didn't blame him, we were all speechless at the man behind it all. Somehow, the way he was talking, his demeanor, and even his smile alone, let you know he was serious with his threats, which scared you as you tried to remain straight-faced. "See the new order is very simple Rick, even for you. Give me your shit," he boomed, as he menacingly swung his bat next to Rick's face, narrowly missing him a few times, "or I will kill you. You work for me now." The whole time, Daryl's eyes were on you, as if he was frightened to let you out of his sight for even a moment, which in this scenario, he probably should be,

"I want half of your shit. Truth is, Rick, you think you're safe. But you are most. certainly. not," he chanted in a sing-song voice, "you work for us now. You are pegged." You all watched on, listening to his lengthy speech on how fucked you all are. "You didn't think you wouldn't get punished for this now, did you?" he asked loudly, clearly rhetorically, as he bent down beside Carl and Sasha, looking at them in mock shock before standing back up to lumber further down the line, stopping in front of Rick again. "I don't wanna kill you. But you killed a lottt of my people," he explained in mock sympathy, putting a feigned hand on his heart, elongating the word 'lot,'

"So," he yelled, making you and a few others flinch again., "now... I'm gonna beat the holy hell out of one of you." He spun the bat expertly in his hand, making you all fearful. "This is Lucille by the way. She is awesome. Let's see who gets the honor." Negan threw his bat over his shoulder once again as he strolled nonchalantly down the line-up towards you. You glanced down at the floor, attempting to zone out the entire time, to wake yourself up from this if it was a nightmare but it was no use. You watched his boots stop in front of you. Breaking you from your thoughts, you felt a sharp sensation under your chin as he used Lucille to guide your face up to his eyeline, much to Daryl’s dislike,

You attempted to look as unwavering as possible, staring right back at him. When his face came into your vision, he was smirking hungrily down at you, making you feel sick. "Look at what we have here," he remarked loudly, voice laced with sensuality that made your hard gaze falter under his taunting. "Well aren't you gorgeous," he proclaimed in that sing-song voice again, using Lucille to tilt your face to either side, trying to get a proper look at you. "How would you feel about me showing you a darn good time after this, sweetheart? You would make a great, hot wife for me. You'd fit right in," he asked you lustfully, face coming too close to yours for your liking,

And instead of a witty retort coming out like you’d usually give people trying to mess with you, your mouth stayed shut, not being able to muster any words despite the battle you had with yourself in your head. You were frozen and it's like you couldn't speak, forcing your tears back down. Negan only laughed mockingly, as he looked at the enraged reactions he was eliciting from the rest of the group, before landing on Daryl who looked angrier than all the rest, glaring back up at him. Negan let out an exaggerated gasp, pulling Lucille away from your face so quickly, you let out a yelp as you left with scrape on your cheek, a few drips of blood falling. Daryl noticed this and his blood boiled even more, struggling not to lash out, scared that Negan would only end up taking it out on you or one of the other group members. "Oh God, don't tell me," he began, throwing a hand over his mouth in faux shock, pointing his bat between the two of you,

"You together?" he asked, taking the two of you offguard, seeing as this situation happened before you could fully decide that. Hiding your expressions wasn't really your strong suit, and in this moment, it wasn't Daryl's either, as both of your mouths gaped, struggling to even answer, not sure which was better for the occasion. Daryl didn't want him to use it against either of you, but saying he felt nothing for you wasn't something he was able to do either, he couldn't bring himself to say it. "Ah I see, a bit of unresolved business," Negan pretends to play a caring role, "definitely feelings there though,"

Negan swung his bat quickly once again, dangerously close to your head. "I mean, you'd wanna see the look on loverboy's face here when I told you exactly what I want to do with you," he jeered, winking at you suggestively. "Boy, did he look like he wanted to murder me! Let me play Cupid for a moment. He has feelings for you," he assured you, but his smile told you that him having that piece of information was not a good idea. Daryl managed to hold his tongue, though he was glowering with rage. Your eyes bore into him until he looked at you, as your eyebrows turned downward, looking at him full of sorrow, tears spilling now that Negan's eyes were no longer on you,

Daryl's gaze softened as he saw your tears, wanting nothing more than to hug you right now, something he would never want to do with anyone else. He wanted to shield you from this whole thing, making sure you didn't have to look or hear any of it. His mind was transported to how blissful last night was compared to now, you curled up against him, placing gentle touches on your hair, stroking your head. How he wanted to be there right now. You were both brought away from each other at the hearing of Negan finishing his game, his bat landing on Abraham next to you. "Eenie, minie... mo," Negan declared, licking his teeth, somehow excited by all this,

"Anybody moves, anybody says anything, cut the other boy's eye out and feed it to his father," he promised, sending you and a few others a smirk, "you can breathe, you can cry. Hell, you're all gonna be doing that." Before you could even register it, his bat was above his head and then it wasn't as it crashed down on Abraham's skull. You let out a pained scream at the sight right next to you as he tried to take it as strong as he could, sitting back up before muttering some sort of comeback. You didn't hear it, you couldn't focus as your breath quickened. Out of the corner of your eye, you watched Daryl fall forward slightly, leaping at the force of the blow that Abraham had suffered,

You had no time to register what had happened before he was dealt a second blow, and then a third, and one after the other until you lost count. You cried loudly, not being able to turn away from it. Abraham who was once kneeling strong beside you, was now in a heap in the floor, in what was left of him. You stared on in disbelief as your whole body shook, your face losing all of its color. Everyone cried and stared on in shock at the scene. You looked at Daryl, attempting to find some sort of comfort which you did, but you had never seen him more broken. His eyes filled with tears as he glanced at your fearfully at the antics of the man in front of him, who continued to laugh,

"Take a look sweetheart," Negan ordered sweetly, bringing the bat in front of Rosita, who stared on in disbelief, too traumatized to comprehend what he was saying. "Your little boyfriend just took 6 or 7 for the team. So. take. a damn. LOOK," he yelled, his calm persona gone. Just as he uttered the last word, before you could do anything to stop it, Daryl leapt up from his spot, puncing Negan square in the jaw before being roughly tackled to the floor. You let out a shout as you cried at his state, being held down by 2 Saviors as Negan pulled his hair back roughly to which he grunted, Daryl keeping his gaze on you the entire time,

Dwight stumbled into the middle with Daryl's crossbow, confidently pointing it at Daryl. "Should I kill him?" he asked, and you wanted to take the crossbow and shoot an arrow right through his skull just like Daryl taught you to aim. But you knew doing anything would hurt someone in the group, so you bit your tongue staying silent. You bit your lip as you tried to contain your anger. Eventually, Daryl was flung back into the line beside you as he winced, his wound clearly becoming unbearable. All you wanted to do was help him,

You had zoned out, watching Daryl in pain as he tried to tell you he was fine with his eyes but you didn't believe him. "Now back to it!" Negan bellowed as you turned your head but wished you hadn't as his bat came down even harder on Glenn's head. You let out a scream as your whole body shock, as he took hit after hit, now looking the same as Abraham did. You didn't try act tough anymore, letting sobs wrack your body as Daryl tried to get you to look at him through his own grief as tears streamed down his face. You weren't sure how much time had passed, but all you could hear were Maggie's cries and Daryl whispering your name somewhere in the distance but you weren't quite sure where you were anymore,

Your eyes threatened to close as you had cried more than you ever had, cheeks still wet. In your daze, you were grounded once again by the feeling of bile rising in your throat and before you could stop it, you turned your body away from everyone allowing yourself to empty your throat, your chest heaving as you wiped the corner of your mouth. You could feel Rick and Carl's eyes on you in worry as Daryl tried to move towards you to help you or hold your hair but was stopped by the gun at the back of his head. Your hands shook as you struggled to keep yourself up,

Before you knew it, Negan was laughing mockingly at you and the others, watching you gather yourself again. "Was the joke that bad?" he asked with a hearty laugh, swinging the blood that was now dripping with blood. Everyone stayed silent, apart from the odd sniffle or cry that could be heard after what had just happened. "You know what? I didn't really got the response I was looking for from my little performance? Maybe I'll just have to do one more. Third time's the charm, am I right?" he joked, as the cries got louder at the thoughts of another scene like that. "Okay eenie, meenie-" he began once again before you finally spoke,

"No!" you yelled, your voice hoarse from crying as you crawled further out of the line towards him to get his attention, scared he wouldn't hear you. "No. Please. N-no more. W-we u-understand," you begged as you gazed up at him pleadingly from where you knelt. He simply tilted his head, sticking his bottom lip out and looking at you with a false caring expression. "Oh angel," he cooed, making you want to be sick again, as he leaned took your chin in his hand tilting it up, as your face shivered in his touch, fearful of what he might do next. 'Had you done the wrong thing by stepping forward?' you thought to yourself fearfully,

"I'm sorry, I really am. But I just have to do it," he explained, saying it with zero remorse as he smiled. "I think I'll go with the boy in the cobwboy hat. Carl, right?" he declared cheerfully, swinging his bat as he went to step towards Carl as your heart stopped for a second, you felt your face pale. "No!" you shouted even louder this time but it came out as more of a cry as you whimpered, not caring that it might look embarrassing to him. If it saved any one of your friends, you'd beg him until the sun came up; you'd do anything for your family. You grabbed at the leg of his jeans making him stop,

"I just don't see any way around it, honey," he tutted in disappointment. You would do anything to save your family. "Take me back with you," you cried out, tears still streaming. This stopped even Negan in his tracks as he looked at you in confusion. "i'm sorry, what did you say?" he let out a scoff, as you were worried he wasn't happy with your suggestion now and you might've made it worse. "No!" Daryl shouted out moving to get up again. "Dwight, handle him will you? I'm tryna hear the lady out," he said with a 'pfft' as he waved to Dwight,

Dwight grabbed Daryl, kneeing him in the abdomen roughly a few time, as he let out pained grunts that he tried to suppress, though he was secretly glad their attention was off of you and on him now. "Stop! Tell him to stop and I'll explain," you demanded now, trying to remain confident though your trembling was giving you away. Negan stared down at you, almost as a challenge, and you stared right back. After a few seconds, he finally let up, snickering. "Wow you're tougher than you look, Strawberry Shortcake," he laughed, as you grimaced at the nickname but chose to ignore it,

"You told me you wanted me to be your wife. I'll do it. I'll do anything. I'll clean, I'll cook. Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it. But you have to promise that no one else will get hurt," you pleaded desperately, your tear stained cheeks starting to dry. Negan looked as though he was contemplating it before looking back at you. "You've got a deal," he announces victoriously, raising his hands in the air slightly, as if I've just won an medal. At this, Daryl ignores his wound and begins to thrash around in the hold of 2 Saviors now, growling deeply as you tried to ignore his fighting, knowing he would never be happy with this,

"Promise," you stated venomously, all sadness void in your voice, a serious expression settling in. He only laughed at your seemingly childish look on deals. "What? You want me to say 'I promise.' People break your word before or something?" he inquired teasingly to which you didn't smile in the slightest. "Many people, more than you know. But I will say this, most people who have are already dead now. So I'd advise you not to do the same thing," you spat, trying to sound as menacing as possible. For a moment, he looked almost like he listened, before he snickered, looking at you like a lost puppy again. "I promise sweetheart," he assured with that charming smile of his,

Michonne looked like she wanted to save you from your fate, shaking her head at you, practically begging you not to do it, not to go with him but you only smiled at her, letting her know you would be fine. "Okay now that's settled, see you in a week Ricky boy. And I expect great things," he taunted, sending Rick a wink who glowered at him as he watched Negan loom over you. Daryl still thrashed and fought as you looked at him. Realizing this could be the last time, you let out a sigh. 'I love you,' you mouthed to him as he halted his movements,

"Let's roll out. You're riding with me sweetheart," he said to you cheerfully with a sickening smile as if he didn't just murder 2 of your friends in cold blood. But as long as your family was safe, you'd live the life you had now gladly as much as it pained you. Carl looked like he wanted to be brave but you shook your head at him, smiling as he sat there dejected, letting his shoulders fall. "Y'know what, Dwight get Daryl in there too. I could still do great things with him," Negan declared happily, gesturing to the van that they had came in as he guided you by the small of your back to the car,

Once you heard this, however, you tensed, before turning around, watching Daryl be hauled back into the vehicle before you could even say a word. "You. You promised," you muttered, glaring at him, tears pricking your eyes once again, trying to sound intimidating but your shaky voice betraying you. "Hmm see I promised not to hurt anyone else, not that I wouldn't take anyone else," he clarified evilly, loving how he had taken you off guard as your tears fell, “besides, can’t separate the star-crossed lovers, now can we?” You debated putting up a fight, but realized it would do more harm than good now that they had Daryl. You were going to get your own back, you vowed it to yourself. You just had to be strategic and wait it out for now, as much as it pained me you. “Get in the car, sweetheart," he ordered in a dangerous whisper, with a smile, yet still forcefully,

You got in the car, and before you knew it you were driving off to your new home as you stared out the window, refusing to look at your soon to be husband

PART 3 POSTED ON MY MASTERLIST (IN BIO) ;) let me know if you want to be added to the taglist <3