#were gonna be alone forever!! - shane

[dreamdropsystemarchive]

lonely heart

[cultofdixon]

Falling for you…wasn’t meant to hurt

Daryl Dixon • She/Her Pronouns • The two of you grew close because the universe thought you were meant to be. But Daryl agreeing to let you help him find Carol’s daughter, he didn’t expect anything bad to happen • ANGST/SFW • TW: Impalement / Injuries / Anxiety / Restlessness

Requested by: Anon

“If you’re gonna go search for the kid, don’t go alone.”

“Fine” Daryl made his way toward the camp outside the farm house as Rick gave him a confused look.

“Who are yea takin’?”

“Y/N” He states without a second thought in mind as Rick quickly grabs his shoulder stopping him.

“You sure that’s your best option?”

“I trust her more than you, Rick. She’s more than the best choice” Daryl retracts from the man continuing his way over to the tent city they have going on as Y/N’s was on the side closest to Daryl’s.

________

“Who’s that?” Merle elbows his brother to look at the woman seated on top of the RV.

Daryl looked over trying to get a good look at her face but when he couldn’t. He gave up and told Merle not to go there knowing damn well his brother was going to holler at her.

Then later in the night, Daryl went over to the camp fire they always have going when dinner was made from whatever he and Merle caught. He went to get him and his brother some dinner only for the woman from the roof of the RV to hand him two prepared plates before he could ask somebody to.

“It’s Y/N by the way”

“What?”

“My name. I’m the “who’s that” from the other day” Y/N gave him a small short lived smile before looking down at the book laid in her lap.

Daryl stood there a bit awkward while holding the plates as he cleared his throat to get her beautiful E/C eyes to look up at him.

“Daryl”

Her smile shot back instantly making his heart beat quicken.

“Don’t be a stranger, Daryl”

________

“Do you trust Rick?” Y/N asks Daryl as he was getting one of the Greene’s horses strapped with a saddle.

“Don’t know yet, more than Shane if it came to that though”

“Ugh. In those terms I agree…I just. Don’t understand how he’s so blind to their nonsense” Y/N frowns looking over to the camp while Daryl did his thing but his attention seemed to always fixate on her when she didn’t seem alright.

“Ready. Least I think I got this shit on right”

“You ride a horse before?”

“Uh. No, shouldn’t be too hard”

“If we had the resources like the old world, I’d tell yea to wear boots. So your feet wouldn’t slip from the stirup” Y/N stared watching Daryl get on with ease extending his hand for her as he kept his cool when her smile practically shot him. “Don’t do anything too crazy, cowboy”

“Wouldn’t dream of it” Daryl chuckles lightly as his mind was running miles at everything she did, even if it was the smallest thing of wrapping her arms around his waist. “Alright, let’s get”

God I really hate horses Y/N thought as she held onto Daryl for dear life wishing they went on foot.

I can’t focus On the other hand, Daryl’s mind raced having her this close.

But a good thing can’t last forever in the end of the world.

________

Daryl cared, but he also didn’t. In the moment he didn’t care about anybody else except her when he returned from Atlanta to find out a herd was crashing through.

Not that she needed any help given every walker that came toward her, met the short end of the stick.

Once the horror show came to an end and many were mourning, Y/N dropped her axe before falling to her knees and trying to wrap her head over all the happened. Her mind was flooded until she felt hands carefully take a hold of her face. Her eyes instantly locked onto his piercing blues.

“Are yea bit?” Daryl frowns waiting for her to answer as she shook her head, bringing a whole wave of relief. “Alright, c’mon. Let’s get yea cleaned up”

________

They can handle anything

Daryl jolts awake in a bit of a haze feeling the pain in his side realizing he was impaled by his own arrow. But given the racing situation at hand, it didn’t remain in his side as he quickly pulled it out while scrambling to get his crossbow in order to shoot the walker getting dangerously to Y/N’s unconscious form.

The second he landed the shot, Daryl dropped his crossbow rushing the best he could over to Y/N and rolling her onto her back noticing the branch embedded in her side.

“Fuck” Daryl frowns removing his shirt wincing when he agitated his injury and wrapping it around her middle to secure the branch. “Wake up, wake up, WAKE UP” he didn’t meant to shout so loud at the last part but it got her to jolt awake wincing in pain immediately. “Sorry. I’m sorry”

“W-…What a way….t-to wake a dying p-p…person” Y/N scoffs wincing more feeling the branch move when she took a breath.

“Y-Yea ain’t dyin’”

“H-Hurts…though” Y/N finally got a deep breath in, exhaling slowly feeling his fingers press against the pulse point on her neck. “Mm still here…”

“Yea better be by the time we get back”

Y/N couldn’t even wrap her head around that thought. Of making it back alive. She thought she was going to die there or on the way back, but given how hard Daryl was trying and the anxiety laced in his voice. Even with how much he’s talking…she’s not going to feed into the seeds of doubt and let him try, hell…she’s still trying.

“Can’t move yea too much…gonna have to go the long way”

“H…How’d we even…?”

“Stupid goddamn h-horse” Daryl winced to his pain when he tried to get up so he could help her up. Y/N carefully pressed her hand to his injured side getting another wince out of him and when she removed her hand she saw the blood.

“You can’t die for me” The first clear thing she’s said since the fall and Daryl didn’t know what to say. The anger that always laid dormant in him at times, started to peak out when his mind raced to the conclusion that he’s not going to listen to her if she starts talking about leaving her behind.

“F-Find something”

“What?”

“F-…Find ah…” Y/N laid back again in the dirt looking around locking onto the walker he had killed to keep her from getting bitten. “S-Stop the bleeding. T…Ta…Take his s-shirt”

He would listen to her direction but find himself yelling at every moment she closed her eyes. They were both weak, but he’s the only one capable of getting them out of there.

Daryl took the shirt and secured it to stop the bleeding on his side. Then he decided to take the dead’s pants thinking if he could climb up from where they fell while Y/N was wrapped to his back, then they could follow the same tracks that got them there instead of trying a whole new route. But that meant having to cut the branch shorter and warning her was the easy part.

Feeling her nails dig into his arm as he used his knife to shorten the branch on either side…listening to her scream in agony and the blood continued to seep through his shirt that was supposedly secured around her. He was in hell.

Y/N tiredly watches the creek disappear as Daryl carries her on his back taking his sweet ass time climbing.

“Gonna get Hershel, to check on yea.”

“You…”

“Me? Me what? Me too? Yeah no shit. None of’em out there are gonna let me walk around bleedin’”

“…s-someone needs to care”

Daryl was reaching the last stretch in climbing when she said that. He was confused on what she meant but when he finally got onto the main path pulling the rest of her up and beside him. Y/N had gone unconscious again. She wasn’t finished and he wasn’t happy seeing her eyes closed.

“Come on” Daryl shakes her at first, trying to keep the yelling at a minimum because the only thing it’s going to do is draw more sickos toward them. But he wasn’t getting anything immediately. “Y/N?” His fear started to get him as he gently brushes the hair out of the way of her face shaking her head carefully. “Please. Please. I can’t lose you. I can’t.” His voice cracked, his tears were threatening to spill over.

It took a second but she tiredly opened her eyes reaching forward and grabbing a fist full of his tank top.

“Tired…” She sighs feeling his hands rest on her face. “Sorry”

“You’re not allowed to die, alright? I’ll kill yea if you do”

Even in a weak state she couldn’t help but laugh to such.

Soon they were on their feet, Y/N’s arm draped over Daryl’s shoulders as he kept her up the best he could while they made their way back.

“Walkers!” Andrea yells catching everyone who was outside’s attention.

As Rick, Shane, Glenn, and T-Dog grabbed their guns and made their way to the walkers given there was only two. But Andrea decided to take the hunting rifle and get ready to take at least one of them out.

“Andrea don’t”

“Shut up Dale”

Y/N groaned touching her side to see the fresh blood coming out as she gave Daryl a worried look while he kept a stern one. He wasn’t stopping. Then her anxiety got the best of her right when the four approached them aiming their gun.

“That’s the second time you aimed that thing at me” Daryl huffed.

“Oh my god Y/N” Glenn frowns noticing her injury then they all were startled by both Y/N shoving Daryl off and her falling back when the shot rang through. “Holy FUCK!”

The group that rushed over surrounded Y/N as Daryl weakly looks up from his fallen position noticing her unmoving form. He couldn’t quite pick out what they were saying as he tried to get himself off the ground. Eventually T-Dog approached him with an extended hand.

“C’mon man. We gotta get you checked out”

“Is she—-“

“She’s still breathing” T-Dog reassures him as he got Dixon back on his feet bringing his arm around his shoulders. “The hell happen?”

“Goddamn horse” he scoffs feeling his anger bubble inside himself when watching Shane carry Y/N sprinting toward the house.

Daryl found himself at the dining room table letting Maggie do his stitches while the room that once had Carl, now had Y/N being worked on by Hershel with help from Patricia. He anxiously waited and winced every now and then when Maggie pulled a bit too tight on her stitches. She’d apologized immediately.

“Yer dad is good right?”

“Yes. For someone who originally only worked on animals” Maggie states applying the bandage as Daryl immediately got up leaving the house and approaching the camp.

“Who the fuck fired?”

Everyone grew tense with the tone he took as it was obvious given her avoidance to eye contact when he brought it up.

“Who. Shot. Their. Gun.”

“Andrea” Glenn blurted as Dale smacked him in the arm. The guy was nervous. He wasn’t about to lie for her.

“I’m sorry Daryl! You two looked awful and from afar—like walkers. I had to protect—-“

“FOUR OF YALL CAME TOWARD US. WE DIDNT NEED SOME TRIGGER HAPPY BITCH TAKE CARE OF IT” Daryl snaps as Rick stepped between them pushing him back gently keeping mind of his own injuries.

“Look. You’re upset. We all are. We’re worried about—-“

“Nah. She wouldn’t have gotten hurt if you had just trusted me to take care of business by myself. I shouldn’t have taken the one person I care about in this goddamn apocalypse” Daryl clenched his jaw moving his gaze to the floor. “I’m leavin’ if I lose her” he whispered.

“Daryl”

The two quickly turned to Maggie as she kept a relaxed expression but the tension in her shoulders struck Daryl’s anxiety.

“We need you”

Daryl quickly ran toward the house and barging into the room noticing the branch was still in Y/N’s side.

“Why the fuck haven’t—-“

“I stabilized it but she woke up, screamed at us wondering where you were—-“

He didn’t say anything all he did was instantly to go to her side noticing the color that left her face from the blood loss, and the bullet graze on the side of her face.

“D-Daryl. It h-hurts” She whined with tears streaming down her face as Daryl held her hand trying not to fall apart.

“He’s gotta take it out and access yea, sunshine”

“P-Please. Don’t leave”

“Wouldn’t dream of it” Daryl states giving Hershel a look for him to get started as he watches the doc move the bandaging showing the branch that still needed to be pulled out. His heart was pounding in his chest holding Y/N’s hand knowing in a split second he’s going to have to hold her shoulders.

Which happened to be now. Hershel started to pull the branch out and Y/N tried to fight Hershel wanting him to stop but he kept repeating “almost there”. Daryl brought his hands to her shoulders pinning her down as Patricia held her legs down to keep the movement at a minimum. She clawed at Daryl’s arms crying in pain as he knew he would be hearing her screams whenever something went wrong in the future.

Once the branch was removed, the blood poured in new places that weren’t where the clamps were. Leading Hershel to apply pressure immediately while Patricia scrambled to get what they needed. Daryl relaxed but tensed instantly when Y/N’s breathing slowed…slower than normal.

“Goddamn it” Daryl frowns holding Y/N’s face shaking her slightly. “Come on come on come on!” He shouted startling everyone as Hershel took notice and quickly checked her pulse while Patricia kept the pressure.

“Son, you know CPR?!”

“What?! Nah. No she don’t need it. She’s just—-“

“You need to do it or she’ll die”

Then the sound went out in his head. Daryl instantly started to do CPR and tried his best not to instantly break her ribcage with the pressure he was building up to. His shoulder was grabbed when Hershel finished his work and checked her pulse. He did good. Daryl did good.

“She’s gonna be unconscious for a while” Hershel states, about a few hours later as it was now the evening. Daryl hasn’t left her side and he mainly said that in hopes he’d get up to walk around a bit. But he didn’t want to face anybody. “She lost a lot of blood and it’ll take a while—-“

“Use mine”

“Pardon?”

“I’m fucking universal. Take some of mine to help her”

________

“He seriously did that?” Y/N questions Daryl as the two were sitting alone in the room they were sharing at the CDC.

“Got a lot of money out of it”

“But that’s not safe. Taking three pints? How did you not go into shock?”

“Who said I didn’t?”

“Daryl, I’ll fucking kill you if you ever gave me your blood”

“Huh?” Daryl was confused on what she meant and Y/N was getting at, if the situation asked for it. She wouldn’t want him to bleed himself just for her to live. “You ain’t gonna lose a fuckton of blood. Won’t let it happen”

________

Three pints. Fucking moron.

But Hershel only took one a day and gave it to Y/N, letting Daryl take the couch in the living room to recuperate after each transfusion. He had to be a human blood bag, Hershel couldn’t calculate a pint so he had a cut off period. Meaning 3 pints could’ve been less than what was taken.

Daryl didn’t have to give anymore and found himself back in the chair beside the bed staring blankly at the window seeing the group take advantage of the luxury of the Greene farm. Part of him knew it wasn’t going to last. Something in him was leaning toward that, but he wasn’t going to lose her if something bad were to happen.

He flinched to feeling something as he brought himself to cross his arms turning toward her thinking it was just a breeze. But when he noticed her open eyes and extended hand, it was her.

“Holy shit. Holy SH—“ Daryl cut himself off when Y/N brought her finger to her lips to shush him as he leaped out of the chair dropping to his knees directly beside the bed dropping his head onto the bed. She instantly wrapped her arm around his shoulders as her other hand carefully reached over to run her fingers through his hair. “Thank god. Thank fucking god”

“Dar…your arm is bruised”

“Don’t…don’t worry about it, sunshine. I had to do what I had to do”

A sigh escaped her lips making him turn his face toward her as she gently caresses his face watching him relax to her touch.

“I’m always going to worry about you”

“Y/N…you almost died” His voice cracked as her expression saddened gripping the back of his shirt tugging at him. Daryl got the idea as he pulled himself up letting Y/N wrap her arms around him as they both kept in mind their injuries.

“I’m not going anywhere…has to take a lot to take me away from you”

“I love you…I loved yea since I first met you…”

Y/N held onto him with the strength she had feeling Daryl hide his face in the crook of her neck.

“Falling for you, wasn’t meant to be literal” She giggles feeling him pull away so he could get a good look at that smile of hers that he missed so much. “I love you Daryl”

The tears came back when he brought his lips to hers feeling her gently wipe away his tears not breaking the kiss they shared. She returned her arms around his shoulders parting from him to bring him close once again.

“I ain’t letting go, sunshine”

“Good…”

[deputygonebye]

@thexwinterxwidowxfromx1942 || Taken from here.

“Yeah… Yeah You’re right-“ She mumbled, Holding the bandage on her side. “It’s not a bite… I got trapped by a couple geeks, stabbed myself on rebar-“ she whispered as she stumbled a bit, grabbing onto Shane’s arm

An adventure for Anastasia and Rick alone, when the offer was made by Shane to join them, either member of the duo had politely refused. Were certain that their run into the city would be fast and quick, the camp's overall stock low but not barren. Food the primary objective - the stack of canned oranges and peas stashed in Dale's RV had started to loose their zest - another meal to fill starved bellies. Worried for them but confident in their abilities, Shane did as was asked of him and stayed behind at the camp, waited for the return of his two oldest and dearest friends. Rick and Anastasia always a part of his life; a bond that had been formed over the course of years and many light nights. Secured in the promise of a forever family, he stood guard and watched the scenery, the passings clouds and those still in the quarry. With stoic expression upon his face, shotgun held within his hands and carried, eyes of brown bloomed when he saw both Anastasia and Rick return. Widened with relief, glowed in happiness, teared in fear. Anastasia had been hurt.

"Thank the good Lord above that's all that happened." Shane said, placing his gun on the ground, easing Anastasia into a sitting position in one of the many lawn chairs that the group had saved from wreckage. "See, I told Rick I should've gone with y'all. Had I been there, you wouldn't be like this, all banged up and ugly. Well, banged up, anyways. You're still just as ugly as the day I met you."

He soothed, kneeling to the grasses, using his fingertips to inspect the damage further, gentle and delicate around the skin, "I'm kiddin'. Hell, everybody thought you were the prettiest officer that the Department ever had. Remember when we hosted that dance a couple years back? How many guys took their shot and tried gettin' you on the floor? 10? 15? I remember the number bein' high. But I also remember you steppin' on my toes during the slow songs. Least, now, you can't do that no more. No place to wear those obnoxious lady heels. Makes fightin' Walkers a bit of a challenge."

"Here, you sit tight. I'm gonna go check Dale's medical. He might have a cream or somethin' to heal you up in the bathroom." Shane announced, standing from his kneel. "Don't move. I'll be back before you know it. Try to keep pressure on that bandage."

[his-writing-blog]

Shane continued going with the flow of the song. He felt it was right in a way only caring about his dear chickens felt lately.

In the same time, a not-so-mysterious figure was watching him from further in the woods. Harvey stared at the image painted in front of him. A man of his interest was sitting in the center of a nature, bathed in the light oh the crescent moon, calmly smiling and singing about him of all people. If Harvey were more of an active person, he could see himslef just run up to Shane, take him in his arms and never let go. But he decided to watch and burn this scene in his memory just so he could come back to it later.

Staring at Shane, Harvey didn't notice when he started accompanying his love interest on the song. What startled him was the different lyrics that came out of his mouth, although having the same melody.

"Tell me, tell me you love me..." Harvey's version was more of a whisper than an actual sing. Oh how different yet quite fitting the versions were. Something deep down told him to lose himself to the song. His heart wnted to go loose and finally get what it wanted oh so badly. But his mind was still fighting the urges.

What if Shane didn't really thought about him that way? What if it was about some other Harvey? But what if Shane ment him but it was all just a dream and Harvey was to wake up and never feel the fulfilement it was about to be brought? He didn't think he could live with this. It was one thing to be sure he would be never able to live one of his dreams, let alone two. Harvey thought that he'd rather stay delusional and hope for the man in front of him rather than be crushed to the ground yet again. He thought that this time he might not be able to pick himself up. He longed after this man for such a long time.

But the melody grew stronger and steadily mushed his brain, constantly affirming that he should get out and sing along Shane. And with each second it was becoming harder to resist the urge.

But what if Shane cared and repricotiated the feelings? What if the other man also hid his feelings with the thought that he was the weird one? What if they could be happy with one another? The pressure was starting to be unbearable.

His brain told him that if it was a dream, it was gonna be apleasing one at last. Harvey took a few steps towards the other man and started properly sing.

At that, Shane got quiet and turned around. He tensed up and observed Harvey with a pain in his eyes. How could Shane be so stupid and think that there won't be someone around, it's not like he was drunk! Shane was ready to bite at the doctors words until he started to get that Harvey was singing and what he was singing about. That shut him up qucky and made his ears go red.

Shane stood up and started to sing again, this time more quietly. At the same time, Harvey crossed the distance between them, standing in front of the ther man. They sang their parts, with each line somehow they got closer and before they knew they were hand in hand, dancing to their songs.

For them the song could have been playing forever. Realistically everything was done after 4 minutes. As the song came to the end, they stood in the moonlight, holding hands, their foreheads touching. Both of them were red in the face. And neither of them wanted it to end.

Shane was the first one to break the silence. "So... What does that make us?" He wanted to scream in Harvey's face, tell him to never let go or Shane would make sure that Harvey's life would be over. That his life would be over and he couldn't live anymore without him. But he just asked.

Harvey responded. "Whatever you want it to be." He wanted to fall on his knees and beg Shane to never leave him. He wanted to cry, grab onto whatever he could and hold for as long as he was in strenght.

Shane looked at him with uncertanity. "I think I want me and you to be us". It wasn and unusual sight to see him this doubtful.

And this time Harvey deccided that he needs to be with the steady hand. "I'd want it to be us as well." He stated and smiled at the other man assuringly. "So tell me... Tell me you love me?" Harvey smiled.

"I'm crazy for you, my boy." Shane returned the smile.

Crazy for you, oh boy | Shane x Harvey

Quick tags not in tags: suicidal thoughts mentioned, getting together, mostly fluff, bit of dark humor, they were friends before that, ooc sewers

Shane stood by the Saloon's bar in his usual spot. Also as usual, he was holding a pint of beer in his arm. And in his usual manner, Shane took a sip of his drink. Usually, his mind would be plauged by the visions (getting to work at jojamarkt next day).

Yoba, how he hated that place. He wouldn't work there anymore if he had any say in it. Sadly, he needed that money. Plus, he can't just leave poor Sam alone within the land of Tartarus under the lead of Krotos (Morris).

What was unusuall tonight, was the lack of thoughts regarding his little hell. Tonight his mind was stuck in the purgatory of longing after a feeling. A feeling that he wished for harder with each gramm of the alcohol in his blood.

Shane wasn't prone to those soul minglings before being brought back from the dead at The Clinic. The sight of his momentary guardian asleep on the fucking plastic stool, leaned agains the wall, legs curled to his chest and prepped against Shane's bed frame, made the ex-alcocholic stirr something deep inside of his chest and reset in his brain. He didn't think he could go back to looking at the man the same way he did before. In seconds, Harvey got promoted from being this mystical doctor seen by Shane once when he was running late to his job, to a real person that Shane wanted to get closer to.

Shane wouldn't have known what to call his current feeling if it wasn't for the new farmer, Laura. For someone so disorganised as him, Laura could muster up some good advice when coherent enough.

"The desire to be desired. And the desire to desire that thing the same way." Laura told Shane. He stopped in his track after hearing that. And then he burst out laughing. "What? If I didn't desire to pass down my legacy and Guiliermo didn't desire to be owned by me specifically, we wouldn't have each other!" She picked up her cat up to Shane's face. The orange cat looked at him right in the eye, as if challenging him. To what, Shane had no idea. But the devil's youngling must have sensed his lack of defense and meowed loudly in victory. Shane just turned around and went back to Marnie after loosing the one sided battle. He heard the farmer's laughter goes quiet as he walked.

Closing his eyes, Shane could almost see Harvey's face staring at him fondly. His mind tried to imagine his expression change to more passionate one. Shane tried not to let his mind take control. The more thoughts of this calliber, the most likely he was to send his addictions to the bottom of the cliffs alongside with him.

He looked down at his glass, half full with a beer. It was supposed to be his first and only one tonight. But with how things were going, Shane was tempted to throw the glass across the whole local and preach the words of his soul. How he felt because of the booze. How the will feel because of the booze. How it could ruin their life as hard as it ruined his. How one drink led to another to another to another to another to another to another to anot-

Warm chocolate eyes blinked at him right before his face. Shane relaxed his grip on the glass. He pushed it towards Gus, dropped some coins on the counter and left. He ignored the looks given by the townfolks and let himself fall into the fresh breeze outside. He stood in front of the darkness that loomed over the town at the edge of the forest. Without any more thought, he let himself be swallowed by it. It wasn't long before his eyes got used to the lack of the warm radiation of laps lit up around the town. The sky was truely one of the main reasons why Shane didn't get with his plans. Constelations of unwandered paths streched right above his small and meaningless life. Glittering and saying that maybe it was worth being there even if just to marvel at their beauty for a fleeting moment.

Shane wandered around the forest, his gaze lost in the stars, mind still by the fond eyes it couldn't bare to leave behind. He didn't know how long he was out there untill he saw the edge of the cliffs. Instead of heading acrossthe grass, Shane followed the overgrown path. It led to a narrow stairs that led to the large pipe that finished (or started?) the maze of sewer canals spread under the town. Drunk Shane liked to joked that it was an underground mirror reflecting the spiralls and labirynths made by stars. As if an artist scribbled down the unseen paths between stars and the pages landed on the desk of a rough engineer who tried and failed to recreate their grace.

As Shane marveled upon the genius of the cosmic blueprint, a quiet song was to be heard. He looked around, trying to find its source. After seeing nobody at the forest's clearing and no soul on the beach below, Shane was sure that it was coming from inside the pipe. His body tensed up, ready to initiate a fight or flight revalation at whatever might come from the sewer. The thing is, Shane would be nothing wothout his brain. And his brain, soothed by the strange melody, didn't want to response accordingly. So he sat at the top of the stairs, entranced by how sweet the sounds were. He was almost lulled to sleep by it when he started to sway to the rythm lightly. He got startled when he heart someone sing along the tune. What shocked him more was the fact that the voice was coming from his mouth. The words to the song came to him with a blink of an eye. Shane let himself be taken by the melody's current. And with a small smile on his lips, he sang.

"Harvey, nobody knows what I see."

[shagatron]

Motorcycle Shane-anigans

Summary: Annoying Shane was your favourite thing to do, except this time he exacts his revenge....

Pairing: Shane Walsh x reader

Warnings: Smut, rough sex, public sex, degradation(?), caught in the act

The day Y/N met Shane Walsh was the day her life changed forever. Whether it changed for better or for worse was still to be determined.

She had been on her own for some time by then, her brother and her best friend having already succumbed to the virus. She had been doing well by herself, relying on the survival skills her late father had taught her and had no plans to ever ally with anyone, content to live out the rest of her days alone.

Originally from Alabama, Y/N had chosen to travel rather than stay in one place, her logic being that she would be less likely to run out of supplies. Eventually, she found herself in Altlanta, Georgia where she came across the ramshackle group of survivors she came to call her family.

Although she hadn't intended on staying long after they had deemed her a non-threat and welcomed her, she was eventually drawn in. Y/N hadn't realised just how much she had missed the warmth and love brought by good company.

Among the group, she had immediately bonded with Glenn and Lori, whereas she had some... issues with other certain people. Namely Shane Walsh. The man infuriated her to her core. The former deputy was a single-minded, fearless man, and although Y/N knew he had the groups best interests at heart, he had a funny fucking way of showing it.

Y/N herself was a headstrong individual and often found herself clashing with Shane and his controlling manner. She had previously been a surgical resident, over halfway in her journey in becoming a registered surgeon. Y/N had saved countless lives, run her own O. R and managed to maintain a relatively healthy work-life balance while doing so, and refused to be ordered around by some random deputy who believed he knew better than her.

The bastard knew what he was doing too. He purposely provoked Y/N, as if he enjoyed making her want to tear her hair out. However, she endured, finding creative ways to get back at him.

On this particular occasion, she had stolen Shane's distinctive knife and popped the tires on Daryl's motorcycle after the two men had had a rather explosive argument, effectively framing Shane.

The following day, after a vigorous fight with Daryl, Shane appeared in front of Y/N, with a dark purple eye, at around mid-day as she organised the small amount of medical equipment they had.

Y/N couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of his beaten face, quickly regretting it as he grabbed her by the wrist and marched her to a secluded spot at the edge of the forest that surrounded them.

With camp in the near distance, the only other visible object was Daryl's motorcycle, parked beside a large oak tree. The direction Y/N was being dragged to.

"What the fuck Shane! I was busy, what the hell do you want?", she demanded, attempting to resist as he carried on.

"You think you can get away with this shit?", he questioned, gesturing vaguely to his bruised face. Y/N began to grow apprehensive as her anger began to wear off, hearing the pure rage in Shane's tone.

"What are you going to do? Huh?", she shot back, unthinking. "Gonna hit me back?"

He froze and Y/N suddenly began to regret every word she had ever uttered. He turned around and his glare was icy. He had let go of her wrist by now and was slowly advancing toward her, intruding in her space until they were chest to chest.

"What the hell are you doi-", Y/N was cut off by Shane, capturing her mouth with his in a fierce kiss. Their teeth clashed as they fought for dominance, neither conceding to the to the other.

Jesus Christ, she thought, he kisses like he fights. Holding nothing back. With the harsh swipes of his tongue Y/N felt her underwear begin to dampen, this was the most action she had gotten in over a year. All thoughts of pushing him away, swearing him off, screaming at him, faded as the kiss grew more and more passionate.

The kiss broke off and they stood staring silently at each other, their breathless pants echoing throughout the empty space. With a frustrated groan, Y/N dove back into another kiss, this one somehow becoming more vigorous than before.

"Oh, I fuckin' hate you", she breathed out, as Shane moved his mouth down to her neck, eliciting a surprised chuckle from the man. Her words quickly escalated into breathy moans as sucked on her most sensitive spot just below her ear, while grasping at her tits, twisting her sensitive nipples through her thin shirt. She would bet that there was a wet spot forming on her underwear by now, as she grinded against his solid thigh, the denim rubbing at her throbbing clit.

As he moved down her body, he tore each item of clothing off of her like it was on fire, grabbing at every inch of exposed skin he could find, while she struggled to get his shirt off. Finally, tearing the shirt off Y/N raked her nails down his back, relishing in the pained groans Shane let out in response.

Y/N nearly screamed in a strange mixture of pain and pleasure as Shane exacted his revenge, beginning to suck and bite at her hardened nipples, causing shocks to travel down her body, directly to her pulsating clit.

Y/N had failed to notice that while they were locked together, they had managed to stagger back and she now found herself pressed tightly against Daryl's motorcycle as Shane pulled her jeans down, her underwear with it. She jumped as she suddenly felt his thick fingers explore her soaking pussy, collecting some of her wetness before driving into her greedy opening.

The stretch of his large digits was excruciating but so, so fucking good, as they started to scissor in and out of her. Y/N bit into Shane's shoulder, trying to silence her desperate screams as he nailed her g-spot over and over again. Tears started to run down her face as the pure pleasure overwhelmed her.

As she reached out to free his straining dick, wishing to reciprocate the pleasure she was experiencing, Shane's fingers pulled out of her, slapping her hands away and she felt as if the world had turned underneath her feet when she was roughly swivelled around, her stomach now resting, on the seat of the motorcycle. Shane's still clothed cock pressed into her bare ass. Y/N's face warmed as she listened to the slurping sounds of Shane licking his fingers that had previously been inside of her, while his remaining hand pressed her firmly into the seat.

"Fucking delicous. ", he stated. Y/N's blush reached her chest and ears by now as both embarrassment and some sick sort of pride shot through her.

"Christ, Shane", her moans were almost gutteral by now as she became increasingly desperate to feel his fat cock deep inside her.

"How'd you like me now, Y/N?", he questioned, grinding into her.

Y/N could only moan in response, practically dripping by this point. Goddammit, she despised this man. But she was beyond caring about that, only thinking about satiating the need he had sparked in her. For God's sake she was so wet, it had started leaking down her thighs.

Suddenly, he pulled away from her, ready to protest, she attempted to turn around but was halted by Shane forcing her legs to widen further and pressing his now bare cock between them, her juices dropping down onto his dick.

She felt him grab his length. Finally, she thought. Y/N let out a high-pitched yelp as his fat cock-head slapped her clit a few times.

"Get on with it, you fuckin' dick", she groaned, tired of his teasing, longing for something more.

This elicited another enraging chuckle from him.

"Is this what you wanted, darlin'?"

She hardly even registered his words when he positioned himself right at her drenched opening and oh. The only thought capable of running through Y/Ns mind in this crucial, world-bending moment was 'oh'. The feel of Shane's thick length as it split her open was bordering on painful and yet with the pain came indescribable pleasure. She swore she could feel him all the way in her stomach, she was so full. His calloused palms gripped her tits tightly, as he slowly but surely thrusted into her soaking core from behind, letting out barely audible groans of pleasure.

The thought of being bent over Daryl's motorcycle, ass out, as Shane fucked into her, on the edge of the green forest, where anyone back at camp could hear, was one that inspired intense anxiety and apprehension into Y/N, her worst nightmare. But the reality? Oh, the reality felt like the sweetest fucking dream.

"You like that? My cock pounding into your tight little cunt?" he panted out. She could feel herself flush, the heat reaching her ears. Shane's words sparked something deep inside her, making her grow wetter and wetter. The only sounds that could be heard throughout the desolate forest were the wet sounds of his hips slapping loudly against her ass and Y/N's desperate moans as her clit rubbed against the rough leather seat.

"Answer me.", his voice was rough as he took pleasure from her stilted gasps and pants.

"Yes, yes, I like it." Y/N stammered out, overwhelmed by the sensations. "I fucking like it."

His hands began pressing at the bulge in her stomach, feeling his dick fucking into her over and over again. Y/N didn't know if it felt so good because she hadn't gotten any in a while or if the bastard was just this damn good.

Shane chuckled, his voice gruff, amused by her enthusiasm. He rutted harder against her, reaching deeper and deeper inside, hitting her just right.

"Oh fucking, god!", a throaty scream erupted from deep within her.

"Nope, just me darlin'", Y/N didn't know how it was possible to loathe someone so deeply as they provided you with such indescribable pleasure.

Her soaking cunt began to clench on his cock, urging it deeper and deeper within her as the pleasure built up, the combined sensations of the aged leather scraping against her throbbing clit, Shane's rough hands rubbing into her hypersensitive nipples and his gigantic dick pounding into her g-spot, driving Y/N closer and closer to orgasm.

"Jesus, how tight are you? It's like a god damn vice grip", his deep voice was strained as he increased the speed of his powerful thrusts. He too, coming close to his release.

Y/N, swore she could hear a commotion, somewhere in the back of her mind, but was so clouded with pleasure she let the distant thought fly away.

"Are you going to be a good girl and cum for me? Huh?", he questioned her, pushing so deep, Y/N thought he had breached her cervix.

"Yes, fuck, yes.", she felt as if the response burst from her, as they both reached their climax.

Shane finally released her tits, choosing to grip on to her hips, bracing himself as he fucked into her, hitting her g-spot over and over again, leaving her tits to violently sway back and forth with the force of his thrusts.

"Shit, shit, shit. I'm so close, Shane.", Y/N was almost begging at this point, right on the edge she only needed a tiny bit more before she would be flying.

Shane reached one hand down to her pussy, quickly finding her clit and rubbing at a furoius pace.

The air was filled with their combined moans and grunts and the squelching of Y/Ns gushing core. Everything, every minute sensation was coming together.

Yes, yes, yes.

A scream exploded from her chest, a groan from Shane matching her as they arrived together.

"Oh, shi-"

"Y/N, where are you! We need y-", Glenn stopped short at the opening of the spot they were in, jaw hanging open as he stared at the sight that greeted him.

Y/N and Shane mid-orgasm could only stare back at the man in horror. Coming to their senses, the two swiftly parted, sharing an embarrassed glance as they rushed to reclothe themselves.

It seems Glenn was frozen as he stayed unmoving as they dressed, his expression becoming increasingly pained as he saw Y/N cover her tits with her torn and tattered shirt.

Y/N was shocked to see him there at all, for the obvious reason and because he was supposed to be on a supply run in the city with some of the others. Something must have gone wrong. Why else would they be back this early?

Shane seemed to reach a similar conclusion as they shared a concerned glance before realising the situation they were in.

Once they were clothed (mostly), Glenn appeared to come back to himself.

"There's a new-comer, we found in the city. Dude's a sheriff or something, saved my ass from a hoarde of walkers but he's pretty banged up. We need you to look at him Y/N", Glenn rushed out, looking like he'd rather be anywhere other than there.

"Just let me get a shirt and I'll be right on it.", Oh god, she could never look her friend in the eye again.

"Here just take mine. Go.", Shane intercepted, throwing her his shirt, he had soundlessly removed.

There was a silence as she shrugged it on.

"... Thanks. ", it quickly became awkward, as Y/N let out a small smile and rushed off back to camp, leaving Glenn and Shane staring at one another.

Shane levelled Glenn with a harsh look.

"You never speak of this. To anyone. If I hear you've even uttered a single word, I'll have your fuckin' head. Alright?"

Glenn's head nearly flew off his shoulders as he readily agreed.

"Okay then.", They strode off, on the short walk back to camp. Shane started interrogating Glenn, on the recent trip. "Tell me about this guy you picked up."

"Oh, it's insane. Guy woke up in an abandoned hospital, fresh out of a coma, to this shit. He's looking for his wife and kid."

Shane froze. It couldn't be. Wasn't possible.

"What's the guy's name?", Shane's breath began to tremble.

"Rick Grimes, he said. Why?", realising he had stopped, Glenn turned around, finding Shane looking vaguely ill.

"Shit."

[chiliiscereal]

Here’s your GIF for the writing challenge!

Prompt: “It’s not safe to be out here by yourself.”

Good luck and thanks for participating!💛

Thanks for letting me do this challenge again @crossbowking !

Pairing: father figure Daryl x reader AGAIN cause I’m a sucker for that lol

Setting: season 2

Type: fluff and angst I guess?

Summary: when looking for Sophia, Daryl finds reader holed up in a cabin. Reader doesn’t speak, doesn’t listen, and doesn’t trust them at all. No one can figure out why but reader sticks with them anyway. One day, Daryl follows reader when they sneak out of camp, hoping to find out what could possibly have happened to make them like that

——————-

Silent world

Sophia’s tracks had begun to fade like the afternoon sunlight. They had gotten faint but Daryl didn’t want to tell Carol the truth. Eventually they disappeared and he was only left with a direction.

He found a set of footsteps the size of Sophia’s about thirty minutes later. It had to be her. Judging by how they weren’t set in one specific direction, whoever it was must be lost.

He followed the footsteps to an old cabin. She had to be in there.

You, however, hadn’t realized you were followed until the door was opened. You felt the thumping of cautious footsteps on the floorboards and immediately jumped into action. You pulled yourself from the floor quickly and hid yourself beneath the dusty bed in the corner, dragging the blankets down to obscure you from their vision. If there was one thing you’d learned in this new world it was that you couldn’t trust people. Strangers, family, doesn’t matter.

“Sophia?” Daryl called out as he peered around the corner cautiously. He glanced about the room, taking in the living conditions.

Old food wrappers...

Empty water bottles...

A few blood stains...

An old backpack that CLEARLY wasn’t Sophia’s...

Whoever had been there it wasn’t Sophia. They’d been there longer than the girl had been lost.

He tightened his grip on his crossbow. “Whoever’s in here better come out now.” He ordered.

The only response was a slight shuffling noise from under the bed. If it had been Shane or Rick they wouldn’t have heard it. But Daryl had been hunting out in the woods since he was a child, trained in hearing the sounds of hiding creatures.

Whoever they were they were alive.

“Gonna hide forever?” He growled, raising the crossbow so it pointing at the bed.

Nothing.

He was absolutely tired of this person acting like their cover hadn’t been blown.

“Get out before I drag ya out myself.” He ordered, stepping closer.

Still nothing.

Finally, he had enough of it. He reached over and pulled the blanket away from the floor. He waited... thinking they’d come out.

No movement at all.

He grabbed the bed by its headboard and shoved it away from the wall, causing a small gasp to come from underneath it.

You were no longer in darkness.

You opened your wide eyes and backed up against the wall, chest heaving with panic.

This man looked dangerous to say the least.

Mean expression.

Weapon out and pointed at her face.

Knife hanging at his belt.

Suspicious blood stains on his shirt.

“You gotta be shittin’ me.” He groaned. “I go out lookin’ fer one kid and then I find a different one?”

You didn’t respond. You just watched him with wide eyes.

“Ya seen another girl ‘round here, kid?” He asked, trying to calm down.

Still nothing. You just pulled your legs closer and tried to press closer into the wall.

“Got a family?” He interrogated with a firmer tone. “A group? Parents? Hell, even a weapon?”

You watched him carefully. Almost too carefully in Daryl’s opinion. Once he’d finished you shook your head, eyes drifting back to the crossbow in his hand.

He hadn’t even realized it was still pointing at her. He lowered it but still kept the weapon in his grip. “The hell am I ‘sposed to do now?” He asked himself out loud. “Don’t need another mouth to feed.”

You didn’t offer any suggestions. All you did was stare.

After a moment he groaned, his morals speaking louder than the selfishness of a survivor. “Damn it. C’mon. Get up.” He waved you to follow after him.

You shook your head, backing away. You didn’t know this man! He could hurt you! Do bad things! No way in hell would you willingly go with him.

He frowned. “Can’t ya talk?”

Nothing.

Just wide eyes.

“Listen, I’m ‘bout to leave yer ass alone in the woods if ya don’t give me a good enough reason why ya can’t.” His temper began to flare. “Got a group, got food, got water, an’ other kids. Seems like a pretty good deal ta me.”

You seemed to react to the word ‘kids’. You sat up a bit and seemed to watch him with interest.

“Yeah. We got another kid at our camp.” He nodded. “It’s safe.” He swore he was about to leave right then when you said nothing.

You looked down at the floor, thinking. Was this a good idea? He could easily be lying. Very easily. He seemed to know exactly what to say. That was dangerous. Very dangerous.

But other kids... safety... and water... that was something you hadn’t seen in a good long while. Might as well give it a try, right? You could always run if things went south. You were good at that.

Needless to say, Daryl was surprised when you pulled yourself off the ground and picked up your bag. You gave him a wary look but followed him anyway.

“So, ya ever talk?” He asked as the two of you walked through the woods.

You didn’t answer. You just surveyed the woods carefully. He could have men out there waiting to jump you and do bad things. Or there could be walkers. You didn’t know.

Your racing thoughts were interrupted by a tap on your shoulder, flinching you out of your state of mind.

“Gonna answer me or what?” Daryl asked, getting more and more frustrated.

You just frowned at him, unsure of what he was saying. He was talking too fast for you to follow along with it.

“I asked if ya ever talk.” He shouldered his crossbow, no hope whatsoever in you answering.

All he got in return was a shrug.

“I’ll take that as a no.” He sighed. Whatever. At least he’d be able to walk to the farm in silence.

—————-

When they arrived everyone was confused on who you were or where you came from.

The people living in the farm house asked you many questions and you could only catch a few words here and there.

Where

Who

Name

Girl

Sophia

Seen

Group

Woods

You just stared at the floor, unsure of how to respond.

“Is there something wrong with her?” Maggie asked quietly. “She’s not answering anything.”

“Been like that since I found ‘er.” Daryl shrugged. “Ain’t sure ‘a her name, family, or if she even got anybody.”

“Where’d you find her?” Lori frowned. “Surely she has parents somewhere out there.”

Daryl wanted nothing more to leave and return to his tent. But he answered anyway. “Was in a cabin. By the looks ‘a it it’s just her.”

“Sweetie, can you tell us your name?” Lori bent down so she could see your face. “Or where your parents are?”

Your eyes didn’t leave the floor.

Lori sighed. “It’s almost as if she can’t hear me.”

“Or don’t want to.” Shane snorted, leaning against the wall. “Kid doesn’t seem too happy to be here. Probably just thinks ignorin’ us is gonna make us mad or some shit.”

“Damn right it’s makin’ me mad.” The hunter watched the kid in front of him. “Can’t tell if it’s on purpose.”

“I’ve heard ‘bout kids shutting down an’ not speak in’ when they’ve been through somethin’ traumatic.” Hershel informed the group. “It could be like what happened to Beth earlier, an’ it’ll just take some time for her to come around.”

That was the answer everyone seemed to settle on.

They gave you time as well as plenty of opportunities to talk to them. They tried asking questions or telling you things but you didn’t respond no matter how hard anyone tried.

Daryl began to suspect what the real case could be when you didn’t even respond when Shane yelled at you.

He’d been trying to hurry up the process by forcing you to talk. When he got no response he finally snapped.

You’d been reading a book Maggie let you borrow, unaware that anyone had been talking. But you caught on quickly when the book had been slapped from your hands.

You gasped and stumbled away, face to face with an angry Shane.

You weren’t close to anyone in the group so you ran to the person who had brought you there, hiding behind Daryl.

Daryl had been surprised. He didn’t think you liked anybody there at all. After all, you never talked to anybody. Never answered any questions. Being there for five days hadn’t changed anything.

“The hell’s yer problem man.” Daryl growled. “Ya always go ‘round tryin’ to scare kids or what?”

“It’s not my damn fault she won’t talk.” Shane yelled. “She’s gonna learn some respect if she wants to stay here.”

“Yellin’ at her won’t get ya any damn respect.” Daryl bit back. “Hershel said it’d take time, didn’t he?” He glanced down at you as you hid your face from the fight.

“It’s takin’ too much in my opinion.” Shane rolled his eyes and turned to walk away.

From that day on you steered clear of Shane and stayed by Daryl’s side. He wasn’t too sure why you’d chosen him out of everyone else and neither were you. But it seemed to be the right choice. The man never forced you to talk. He never yelled at you when you didn’t react.

It seemed like he simply enjoyed peace and quiet.

You helped around the farm house by washing dishes and feeding chickens. You helped Maggie and Lori make dinner and always helped them clean up after.

You picked flowers for Lori.

You showed Carl how to climb a tree.

You played cards with Glenn.

If Daryl didn’t know better he’d say that you were enjoying your stay at the farm.

But you still weren’t talking.

You interacted with everyone, yeah, but you still never spoke.

Not even when the farm fell.

—————

You and everyone had spent almost a month out in the woods once the farm was gone. You bounced from house to house and never stayed in one spot longer than needed.

One house you stayed at, you found a pair of small batteries. Even wire and tweezers. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to give you hope.

So that night you snuck out to the back yard once you were sure everyone was asleep.

But everyone wasn’t.

Daryl wasn’t.

He’d noticed the moment you disappeared.

He’d gotten up and walked outside, crossbow in hand. Maybe you’d ran away. Or got taken. Maybe you went outside and gotten lost.

But he found you leaning against a tree instead.

“It’s not safe to be out here by yourself.” Daryl stated, even though he knew you wouldn’t respond.

You did however react to feeling his footsteps vibrating the ground. Quickly, you stuffed whatever had been in your hands into your pockets and looked at him with wide eyes.

“Damn, kid, I ain’t gonna bite.” He held up his hands in surrender. “The hell ya doin out here?”

As always, you didn’t say anything. You looked back at the forest floor almost guiltily.

“Somethin’ wrong?” He frowned.

You knew you should tell him. He’d proven himself trustworthy after all. You just... you were scared you were wrong. That he’d be just like every other adult I. Your life.

“What’d ya have in yer hand before?” He tried, gesturing to whatever you’d stuffed in your pocket.

You tore your gaze away from him and reached down to pull out an object wrapped in cloth.

Daryl sat down beside you. “Can I see it?”

You held it a bit closer, brain still thinking in circles.

“I ain’t gonna break it or nothin’ if that’s what yer worried about.” He rolled his eyes.

Finally your mind was made. You set it down in his hands and waiting for his reaction.

Carefully, aware that you were watching his every movement, he unwrapped whatever it was.

He didn’t know what it was at first. It was almost as long as his smallest finger and was colored silver and tan. He realized what it was when he finally turned it over.

“Hearin’ aids?” He asked, turning to you.

You took a deep breath and nodded. “D-deaf.” You spoke, nerves at how he’d react making you stutter.

He jerked back a bit in surprise. “Ya been deaf this entire time?”

Another nervous nod.

“Damn, that’s impressive.” He gave you a sort of half grin. “How’d no one catch on? An’ why didn’t ya tell nobody?”

You reached into your pocket and pulled out a notebook, scribbling on a couple sentences. You showed him once you were done.

‘Lip reading. And I didn’t trust you.’

“But why didn’t ya talk like ya did now?” He frowned. “I wouldn’t ‘a known the difference.”

You wrote down more, hesitantly.

‘I’ve been told I sound stupid when I talk. So I don’t.’

You fiddled with your shoelace as he read.

“Who the hell told ya that?” He practically growled. “And why don’t ya know any ‘a that sign language?”

You took the notebook back and wrote down a few more sentences.

“And why don’t ya use the hearin’ aids?” He added.

You turned the book back to face him, only one word written.

‘Dad’

You felt ashamed to be admitting this. This wasn’t anything he needed to know. He would probably react the same way your dad reacted when he was given the opportunity.

“Hell no yer gonna explain more than that.” Daryl pushed the book back into your arms. “Can’t just half ass an answer.”

You sighed and began again.

‘He thought being deaf was a weakness. No sign language, no hearing aids, and no talking the moment my mom turned. He broke them when I broke the rules.’

You swallowed the emotions rising back up in the back of your throat.

He was a horrible man.

It was sickening, but you were almost glad that he was gone.

Daryl’s expression darkened when he read those words. “Sounds like an ass to me.” He handed the notebook back to you again. “So you tryin’ ya fix ‘em?”

You nodded and pulled out the batteries and wire, shrugging.

Daryl sighed. “Sorry, but that won’t be enough to fix these.” He examined the hearing aids once more. The wires were pulled apart and some of the plastic had snapped.

“... I know.” You managed to speak again, summoning your bravery. “Just wanted to try.”

Daryl’s expression didn’t change when you spoke. Maybe your dad was wrong. Maybe you didn’t sound as stupid as he told you you did.

Daryl handed the hearing aids back to you gently. “M’sorry kid.”

You shrugged again, placing them back in your pocket carefully.

Suddenly, Daryl had an idea. I’d require a run for sure but it’d be worth it. For now, he’d keep quiet about it. He didn’t even know if it’d work. But he might as well try.

——-

For the next few weeks on the road Daryl was on every run. You were curious about why but you dismissed it as him trying to make sure everyone would survive the coming winter.

By now, everyone knew you were deaf. They all reacted as Daryl had and treated you the same as they always did.

It was relieving to be honest. And a bit of a surprise. But the bigger surprise came later when Daryl told you he wanted to show everyone something in the woods.

You’d followed along, assuming he’d found more supplies.

Instead of revealing more supplies, he knelt down so he was at your level.

“I know it’s been hard without yer hearin’...” he started, reaching into his back pocket, “an’ I hope ya don’t mind I did this without askin’...” he pulled out an object wrapped in a familiar cloth.

You realized what was happening the moment you saw it.

“I gave it my best shot.” He pulled away the fabric and revealed the newly repaired hearing aids. “Found a book an’ some supplies on the last run.”

You hadn’t even realized tears were running down your face until they dropped onto your shirt.

Daryl reaches over and placed the hearing aids in your hands. “Give ‘em a try?”

You glanced at the faces of your new group. They must have known. Not a single one of them looked surprised. Just expectant and...happy. Happy for you.

Slowly, you tucked your hair out of your way. You set the small machine in place. You placed your hand over the on button tentatively.

The Hunter you’d grown attached to gave you a nod.

Finally, you pressed the button.

You waited and held your breath.

It was as if everything came crashing in at once.

The wind that rushed through the trees was giving out hollow rattling noises.

The birds above were chirping shrilly, each whistle harmoniously fitting together like a puzzle.

And you... you could hear yourself gasping in surprise as you spun in circles. You could hear the leaves crunching beneath your feet. Did that always happen?

“I’ll take it that it works?” Your thought were interrupted by a raspy southern accent.

You spun around, facing Daryl once more.

He stood back up, tip of his mouth tipped up in a half smile.

You couldn’t speak.

You couldn’t even thank him with your words.

So you thanked him the only way you knew how: with actions.

You wasted no time in running in his direction, more tearing spilling down your face as you wrapped your arms around the surprised man.

He returned the gesture after a moment of hesitation. “Wasn’t no problem.”

You buried you face in his shoulder, overcome with emotion. “Thank you thank you thank you thank you!”

He rubbed your back comfortingly. “Was nothin’.”

You shook you head and hugged him harder. “No, it was everything.”

[walkerwords]

“Moment of Clarity” Rick Grimes x F!Reader

Summary: After arriving in Alexandria, Rick is on edge. The two of you had been together since the fall of the prison and after noticing his stressed demeanor, you decide to steal him away for a bit to try to see what is going on inside that head of his. 

Word Count: 3958

Warning: None

Song I Wrote To: “So Will I” by Ben Platt

Note: Set pre-negan, I just really wanted to write a cute little moment with Rick. I realized I don’t write him enough, but complain that there aren’t enough rick imagines so here ya go! NOTE: this is only a one-shot. 

----------

Alexandria was a lot more than you had expected. 

Since the only experience you and the rest of the group had when it came to “communities” were Woodbury and the nightmare that was Terminus, everyone was on edge.

You had been with the group since Atlanta and you and Rick had only grown closer since the day he stepped out of that truck and took Carl into his arms. Your romantic relationship with the former deputy had began on the road after the fall of the prison. You were worried about sharing your feelings with him because of what had happened to Lori, but the two of you just...fit and everyone else had seen it too. 

When Rick had first kissed you, it had taken you by surprise. You, Michonne, Carl, and Rick had been hiding out in a house when you had broken down in a spare room after everything had happened. Rick had found you and calmed you down and took you into his arms. As soon as you stopped crying, you pulled out of his embrace and then, without warning, Rick had taken your face in his hands and kissed you, pulling him against his chest. 

It was after that moment that you knew you were his forever. After Terminus, when you had seen him running from the slaughterhouse. You had run to him and you swore then that you’d never leave him again. 

Finding Alexandria had seemed like a dream. You hadn’t felt this safe and secure since the prison. Not to mention the reality that the safe zone was so...normal. 

The leader, Deanna, had welcomed you and your band of misfits easily. When she had interviewed you, you had Judith with you, giving her dad a break. You kept the child close to your chest as if shielding her from the stranger before her. Deanna had asked you routine questions and then eventually had you ask Daryl to join her. 

As you passed Dixon outside, he had pressed a kiss to Judith’s brow before entering the house and the sight alone had brought a warm smile to Rick’s worried face because he knew that no matter what happened next, his family would remain by his side.

You assured him that night that he was right and that if he needed them to, you, Daryl, Glenn, Maggie, and the others would by his side when something went wrong or if Alexandria was not what it seemed. And so far, you had kept that promise. 

You lay alone in the bed you shared with Rick. His constable uniform was draped over the chair in the corner and you couldn’t help but smile at the memory of the first time you saw him in it. Michonne and Rick were natural-born leaders, but there was something so odd about seeing them in a uniform like this. 

They were warriors and while you knew Rick was glad to always help people, he had admitted to you last night that he was feeling like a fraud with the jacket on. You understood that. It had been a long time since he wore a uniform, since he had held any authority that he didn’t have to take for himself. 

Rick was the best leader any of you could have asked for, but you knew it weighed on him heavily. Especially after losing people like Lori, Shane, and more recently with Tyreese and Beth. However, he did seem to forget that nobody expected him to be perfect, not even you or his children. You were hoping to make him see that which is how you found yourself planning to steal him away for the day.

Getting out of bed, you got ready for the day. Deanna still had your guns, but she still allowed you to carry your knives. As you strapped them to your thighs, you headed downstairs. 

Carl and Judith were at the table with Michonne. You ruffled Carl’s hair and kissed the top of Judith’s head. “Good morning,” you greeted. 

“Sleep well?” Michonne asked. You nodded, taking a seat next to her and grabbing some bread off the table. Olivia had brought some over the night before. 

“Better than I have in weeks. I think my body has finally realized a Walker isn’t waiting in my closet,” you said. Michonne laughed. 

“I hear that,” she said. “I guess we all have some adjusting to do.” 

“I keep forgetting we’re not still on the road,” Carl admitted, leaning back in his own seat. “Do you think we’ll be able to stay?”

“I don’t see why not, but we never know, Carl,” you said and he nodded. 

“I know, I’m just tired of running.” 

“Me too, kid,” you told him honestly. Carl was one of the only people who knew you as well as his dad did. He had to grow up very fast after the Turn and then when Lori died, he developed steel-like skin and never looked back. At times, it was hard to remember he was still just a teenager. 

“Do you have any plans today?” Michonne asked. 

“I was thinking of looking around some more,” you said with a shrug. “Do you know where your dad is, Carl?” 

“He went to talk to Deanna early this morning. He said he didn’t want to wake you,” Carl said. You smiled slightly. Even in the Apocalypse, Rick Grimes was still a gentleman. “I don’t know when he’ll be back.”

“Ah, don’t worry. I’ll find him,” you said, getting to your feet. “Be good for your brother, little one,” you said to Judith as she wrapped her little hand around your finger. Your heart melted at the action and gave her another kiss before waving to the others and heading out your door. 

The rest of Alexandria was waking up for the day and your new neighbors waved to you. You awkwardly waved back, but kept your focus on your search for your boyfriend. Walking down the main road, you scanned the many houses. 

Carol was speaking to Olivia on her porch as she fiddled with the cardigan around her shoulders. You and Daryl had both scoffed when you had seen her trying to play Martha Stewart. You knew why she was doing it, but it was too alien to see a woman like her so...clean. 

Speaking of Daryl, he was once again in Aaron’s garage, the door open, as he worked on his new bike. “She’s looking good,” you said, approaching him. Daryl looked up at you, a screwdriver locked between his teeth. He grunted in greeting. “How long till she’s up and running?” 

“Not much longer,” he said, taking the tool from his mouth. “Ya want first ride?”

“Obviously,” you said with a bright smile. Daryl rolled his eyes, but you could see the small smile on his face. “You seen Rick?” He nodded, pointing down the road. 

“He and Glenn are down by the gate. He’s tryin’ to convince the Monroe moron that we need more watch points,” Daryl explained. 

“How do you think that’s goin’?” 

“Like I said, he’s a moron,” Daryl said with a scoff. 

“Fair enough.” You knew he didn’t like Spencer. Hell, nobody did, but he was Deanna’s son and you all had to get along with him. Except for Daryl. He had nearly sucker-punched the guy a day earlier when he tried to make unwanted advances on Tara which were obviously futile. Spencer backed off immediately, but then and there was when Daryl labeled himself as the group’s main protector and nobody argued with him.

“Ya alright?” Daryl asked, wiping the grease from his hands as he stood. 

“Fine, why?”

“Dunno, ya got that look on yer face,” he said, flicking the hair out of his eyes. 

“What look?” 

“The look that means yer up to somethin’,” he teased. 

“So, my usual face?”

“Exactly,” he said and you bumped his shoulder. 

“Asshole,” you muttered. “I’m gonna go meet up with Grimes.”

“I’ll come with, I gotta talk to Glenn,” he said as he followed you. Your friendship with Daryl was something you cherished deeply. He had had your back since the quarry. His brother, Merle, had liked you too and since losing the older Dixon, the two of you had naturally gravitated towards one another. 

Walking down the street with him, however, felt...odd. It felt like something out of a bad movie. Two people who had seen enough horror to last a lifetime walking down a road with manicured lawns and laughing children seemed like some kind of long-winded joke. 

“Judith was restless last night,” Daryl said suddenly. 

“Yeah, makes sense. New place and all. She’s never actually been in a proper house now that I think about it.” 

“This place is good for her,” he said. “She and Carl need it.” 

“Then let’s try to make it work, okay?” Daryl nodded, chewing on his thumb. Something he had made a habit of. It drove you crazy, but you had come to accept his odd quirks. 

As you arrived at the gate, you could practically feel the tension rolling off both Rick and Glenn as they stared at Spencer. Nicholas stood behind his friend glaring down Glenn and you knew it was only a matter of time before those two got into it again. 

“We’re not a military base, Grimes,” Spencer was saying as you and Daryl grew closer. 

“No, you’re just an idiot,” Glenn said with a smile and Daryl snorted next to you, grabbing the others’ attention. 

“Alright,” you interjected, “break it up boys. I think there is enough hostility in this world already.” As soon as Rick saw you, he visibly relaxed. Spencer took a few steps back as you walked up to Rick and he opened his arm to you. “Hey, you.”

“Hey yourself,” Rick murmured. You looked back at Spencer and Nicholas. 

“I’m stealing him away for a bit, try not to need anything,” you said as you tugged him towards the gate. 

“What are you up to?” Rick asked, letting you lead him away. From the back of your jeans, you produced his colt and offered it to him. 

“I grabbed this on my way to see Daryl,” you said. “Are you up for a walk?” Rick took the gun and holstered it before glancing up at the walls and then back at you. You knew he was feeling claustrophobic and a smile slowly spread across his scruffy face. 

“Absolutely,” he said, turning to Daryl. “We’ll be back in a bit.” 

“Alright,” Daryl said with a nod. Spencer and Nicholas watched as you took Rick’s hand and led him out of Alexandria, Glenn locking up behind you. 

“Where are they going?” Spencer asked.

“Out,” Daryl said with a shrug. 

“It’s not exactly safe…” Nicholas added. Daryl just stared at them for a moment. 

“They have weapons, they’ll be fine,” he said before turning and walking over to Glenn. “Idiots,” he said as he met Glenn on the way back up the road. Glenn laughed and grabbed Daryl’s shoulder. 

“See, this is why we’re friends,” Glenn said. Daryl rolled his eyes.

“Whatever.” 

————

In the hot Virginian sun, you and Rick walked the perimeter around Alexandria. 

Taking his hand in yours, you let them swing between you as you kicked at the dry leaves that littered the forest floor. “You know,” you began, “I checked on Carl last night before I went to bed and it was so weird to see him tucked into an actual bed.” Rick chuckled, nodding his head. 

“I thought the same thing that first night. I hadn’t seen him that comfortable since this whole thing began,” Rick said. 

“Well, Alexandria is secure, Rick,” you said, “It’s about damn time he’s felt safe. Noah and Judith too. The prison, while it was safe, there was always the threat of the Walkers breaking down the fence and of course, the Governor. After all the time on the road, they deserve a bit of normalcy.”

“Normal, right,” Rick laughed. You rolled your eyes, knocking his shoulder with yours. 

“Okay, smart-ass. As normal as we can give them,” you said. Rick smiled at you, but then his face fell back to his usual worried expression. “What’s going on in that head of yours?” you asked.

“I just sometimes think this place, these people,” he said, “it’s just a bit too good to be true.” You nodded, understanding completely. Everyone in your group had been skeptic from the moment Aaron had brought you in. It felt like slipping into a Twilight Zone episode.

Oddly, Michonne was the one that was urging everyone to give Deanna and her community a chance, and considering she had immediately seen what Woodbury was from the start, you trusted her judgment. However, you knew that Rick still had his concerns. 

“Are you thinking about leaving?” you asked and your tone wasn’t accusatory or filled with malice. You were genuinely curious about where his head was at right now. Rick mulled over your words for a few moments before shaking his head. 

“No, but I can’t think of letting my guard down. A place like this can fall at any moment and if it does, we need to be gone before that can happen,” he explained. Rick’s thumb began creating circles over the back of your hand as you walked. 

“I know you’re worried,” you said, “and I hope you know that if it ever came to that, that I would be by your side. I’d go with you without question.” Rick smiled over at you and then pulled you into his side. 

“How did I get so lucky?” he whispered in your ear. 

“The world ended, baby,” you told him with a wink. Rick chuckled and kissed the side of your head. “And whether you like it or not, you’re stuck with me, Grimes.” 

“I got no issue with that, (Y/N),” he said.

“But you still have concerns,” you said. It wasn’t a question. Whether he realized it or not, you could read him like a book no matter what. “Our people are going to be fine. You have to give them more credit.”

“They aren’t who I’m worried about,” he revealed. 

“Then what is it, Rick?” you asked, pulling him to a stop. He sighed, glancing around at the trees as if he could see the answer between their trunks. 

“What if…,” he trailed off, trying to collect his thoughts. You waited patiently. “What if I lose myself again? After Shane and then Lori… Our family needs me now more than ever and what if I can’t handle it?” 

“That’s not going to happen, Rick,” you said. “And if does? We’ll handle it. Nobody expects you to be perfect all the time. We’ve all seen what this world has done to people. It has taken something from all of us, but we’ve always come back. Hell, we know loss too well.”

“I feel like I’m not doin’ enough,” he admitted. 

“It’s all in your head,” you assured him. “I know none of this has been easy, but I am not going anywhere. Do you hear me?” Taking his face in your hands, you made him look you in the eyes. “I’m. Right. Here.” Rick nodded and leans his forehead against yours. 

“I know,” he whispered. “This place is going to need a lot of work, (Y/N). We need to teach them how to survive or more people are going to die. And if we can’t? I don’t know how I’m going to keep them safe. I failed too many of us already.” 

“Is this about Beth?” you asked. Rick’s eyes fell close at her name. Beth’s death had affected all of you. Maggie, Rick, and Daryl had taken it particularly hard. You knew Rick had seen Beth as his responsibility for a while now. They had grown closer since he had saved her father from the Walker bite.

Rick hadn’t hesitated when Daryl had located the youngest Greene at Grady. He had done everything he could to get her back. You still remember the relief on his face when Dawn had let her go and he took her in his arm and kissed her head. Then everything had gone wrong with the exchange and you had to watch as Daryl nearly shattered right then and there in that hallway. “It wasn’t your fault, Rick,” you said softly. 

“I should have… I should have never trusted the deal. We should have gone in there fully armed and taken her back. I told Daryl and Maggie that I would bring her back to them.” 

“Nobody could have predicted what happened to her,” you said. “Beth was as strong as anyone I knew and I miss her with everything I have, but her death was not your fault.” 

“He cared about her,” Rick said and you knew he was talking about Daryl. 

“I know.” Rick leaned heavily on you as you ran your hands down his back. “You can’t carry the weight of everyone’s pain on your shoulders, Rick.” He pulled back and looked down at you, scanning your face with adoration in his eyes. 

“You always do know the right things to say, beautiful,” he whispered. You smiled up at him, letting your hands trail down his neck. He glanced at your lips, but before you could pull him to you, groans reached your ears. Rick sighed. “Never a good moment, huh?” he asked as he stepped back and pulled his knife from his belt as the Walkers stumbled towards you. 

“Wouldn’t be a good date without Walkers,” you joked, unsheathing your own weapons. 

“Is that what this is? A date?” he asked, with a slight chuckle. 

“What can I say? I’ll take what I can get,” you said before going after the Walker closest to you. It lunged at you, but you were faster, driving your blade into its skull before it could grab hold of your arm. Rick was taking out two on your left as you kicked out at the one that snuck up on your right. It fell to the ground and you drove your knife between its eyes. 

Rick shouted behind you as he fell to the ground with a large Walker falling on top of him. You ran over and tackled the creature, rolling it off of Grimes. It snapped its jaws at you but you jammed your knife into its mouth, cutting through the rotten pallet. Black blood dripped onto your face as you shoved it off of you. “Ugh!” you groaned as you sat up. 

“Are you okay?” he asked. You nodded, trying to wipe the thick substance from your face. “Here,” he said, offering his hand. Rick helped you up and examined your face, trying not to laugh. 

“It’s not funny,” you said with a scowl. 

“No, no, definitely not,” he said as he took the canteen that hung around his shoulder. “Head back.” You tilted your chin to the sky as he poured cool water on your face, rinsing the foul blood from your skin. “Thanks for the save.”

“And look what I got for it,” you said with a pout. Rick used his sleeve to wipe the blood from your face and then rinsed your hair out as well. 

“Not really how I imagined washing your hair,” he said in a low voice. 

“I’m sure we can do something about that later,” you said as you shook out your hair and looked up at him. He was still trying not to laugh and eventually you gave in, laughing along with him. “Okay, maybe it’s a bit funny.” Rick began laughing louder as he slung the canteen back over his back. Taking you in his arms, he smoothed your hair from your face and tilted your chin up. 

“It’s very funny,” he said as he leaned in and kissed you softly. You melted into the kiss, clutching at his wrinkled shirt. Even with the many corpses that surrounded you, you never felt happier than when you were in his arms. Rick’s hand cupped your jaw as he kissed you deeper, sighing between your lips. 

When he pulled back, he slid his hands down to your sides and began swaying back and forth. “What are you doing?’ you asked.

“Dancing with you,” he said with a smile.

“You’re insane, you know that?” you asked, but rolled your hands over his shoulders and played along.

“I know.” He leaned his head on top of yours as you swayed. Dropping your head to his shoulder, you breathed him in. You never thought that you would ever have this, have something like him and every moment you spent together, it made you feel whole.

Rick took hold of your arm and spun you out only to spin you back into his chest. You giggled as he took hold of you again. “Only you would want to dance in the middle of woods surrounded by dead Walkers.” 

“Don’t act so surprised, (Y/N). You knew what you were getting into when you kissed me the first time.” 

“Actually, you kissed me.” 

“Did I? Huh,” Rick said with a cheeky smile. “That makes sense, I always was a good judge of character.”

“Keep telling yourself that, Grimes,” you said, tapping his nose playfully. Suddenly, his expression turned serious again. 

“I should have told you before, (Y/N),” Rick said, tilting his head and sliding his hand up to caress your cheek. 

“What?” you asked. 

“I love you,” he said softly. As soon as the words left his lips, you were near to tears. You had waited for him to say those three words for a while now. You had wanted to say it first, but you didn’t think he was ready yet and you didn’t want to push him. “I love you so much.” 

You took his face in your hands as well and as a tear rolled from your eye, you smiled. “I love you, Rick Grimes. I have for a long while.” 

“I’m sorry it took me so long to say it,” he said. 

“Don’t apologize,” you whispered, “but say it again.” Rick grinned at you.

“I love you,” he said with a kiss to your forehead. “I love you.” He kissed your cheek. “I. Love. You,” he said as he placed a firm kiss on your lips. You threw your arms around him as he lifted you up. You wrapped your legs around his waist and he backed you up to a tree. He kissed you fiercely, trailing kisses down your neck and back up. He made the circle three times before you were breathless.

“I hope this means we can make this work,” you said as he peered up at you.

“I think we can,” he said. “And like you said, we’re stuck with each other now.” 

“No going back,” you promised. 

“No going back,” he repeated. You leaned down and kissed his softly, just the slightest pressure on his lips. 

“You know,” you whispered, “I kind of miss the beard.” Rick let out a laugh as he grabbed you around the waist and threw you over his shoulder. “Rick!” you yelled out as he gripped the back of your legs. 

“I think I’m going to want that shower now,” he said with a grin. You laughed at that, running your nails down his back. “Come on, beautiful, let’s go home.” 

Rick set you down and took you by the hand and together, you headed back to Alexandria with a new outlook on your future. Because no matter what happened next, you would face it together with your family behind you. Always.

TAGS: @felicisimor​ @thanossexual​ @yes-sir-hotchner​

[fandomficsnstuff]

Guardian Angel - Part 7

Daryl Dixon x Reader

(Warnings: Alright, the group arrives at the prison at the end so time skips are gonna be less frequent from now on, but they are still there for now, I still have a lot to cover. But other than that, I don’t think so. Also defensive Daryl mode activated:3)

You scoffed as you watched Daryl being fussed over, and hating it, it made you smirk, biting back a laugh as you watched him swat away Hershel’s hand as he tried to check the wound on his side, “said I’m fine, jesus” you couldn’t hold back the amused giggle, your arms crossed over your chest as you were slouched back in the chair in the room, watching him. You received a glare from him “what? Whatchu laughin’ at?” you shrugged and got up as Hershel left, closing the door after him, leaving you two alone in the room, “oh nothing special, just amused that you, you know, basically got a free piercing in your side by your own arrow, so nothing really that big” you shrugged again, sitting on the bedside, an amused look on your face as he scoffed and laid on his side, turning his back to you “so I get hurt ‘n you just laugh, is that it?” you laughed low “pretty much, yeah” he scoffed again and you laid down beside him, wrapping your arm around him from behind, feeling him freeze for a moment “whatchu doin’?” he grumbled “spooning you, you’re the little spoon now, don’t want you to lay on that side until it’s healed” he made a noise that let you know that he wasn’t pleased, but he didn’t move away from you, quite the opposite, so you knew that he was just playing tough.

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

You quickly pulled out your gun as Shane let the walkers in the barn loose, you gave Maggie and Beth a quick glance, you didn’t like them this close but, it was their farm, they had their own beliefs, but now you didn’t have a choice. You weren’t the best at shooting but you were okay, you hoped. You raised the gun and pointed it at a walker that came closer, out of the corner of your eye you saw Daryl, he kept an eye on you, ready to jump in if needed, but he didn’t, like he knew you needed to learn, so you pulled the trigger, hitting the heart of the walker that was slowly making it’s way towards you, it barely even slowed it’s pace. You pulled the trigger again, seeing it drop as you hit dead center in the middle, you looked to Daryl who gave you a brief, subtle smirk, one you copied before looking back at the barn, shooting a few more walkers, getting better with each shot.

You raised your gun as the barn door was pushed more open, but seeing who it was you let the gun drop to your side, eyes wide in horror, and Daryl ran quickly to catch Carol before she got too close, Carol screamed and cried, you felt your own tears spill down your cheeks, hearing Carl cry behind you as well. You felt like you couldn’t breathe, your head gently shaking as you watched her, seeing that little form, that little girl stumble forward, a bite on her neck as her dead, glossed over eyes caught you, all of you, emotionless at seeing her mother screaming and crying. You felt yourself stumble to Carol, your arms wrapping around her as you hugged her, your knees digging into the dirt beneath you, Carol still screaming and crying, your own sobs tearing their way through your throat. You heard a shot ring out and flinched, hugging Carol tighter as she screamed, fighting against your grip as well as Daryl’s.

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

You bit your nail, watching the darkness outside, your leg bobbing nervously, you nearly jumped when you heard someone behind you, seeing Maggie with a sad smile on her face “sorry, didn’t mean to scare you” you looked back over the fields in the darkness “it’s alright, sorry for jumping” she shrugged at your response, sitting down next to you outside, handing you a glass of water which you took, but you didn’t take a sip, you just kept your eyes on the darkness, watching for any sign of him, it’d been so long, the kid couldn’t have gone far, and Daryl was an excellent tracker, so why was this taking so long?

You and Maggie sat in silence, you hadn’t really talked or gotten to know her, but you knew that Glenn liked her, so you gave her a chance, Glenn meant so much to you, and he was such a good person, so if he really cared for Maggie, you’d give her a chance. After a while of silence you finally tore your eyes away from the darkness, staring at the water in the glass before taking a sip, though rather reluctantly, but you couldn’t stare at the darkness for forever, “thank you, by the way, for the water” she gave you a warm smile, about to say something when Lori came out, panicked “have you seen Carl? I can’t find him” you instantly put your glass down on the floor, quickly appearing at Lori’s side, holding her shoulders to keep her grounded, or at least try to.

“It’s okay, where have you checked?” you kept as calm as possible, it wouldn’t help if you panicked as well, “I-I checked in t-the house he’s not there, (Y/N), he’s not-” You all heard a shot ring out, your eyes widening as you looked over the field, seeing small figures in the distance, and Lori screamed Carl’s name, calling for her son, he had already gotten shot once and he barely made it through that, you couldn’t imagine, as hard to think of it as it was, that he’d live through another gunshot wound.

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

You groaned at the pain in your ankle as you kicked a walker in the face, it was already down but was clawing at you, and you were quite busy, no thanks to it’s wonderful dead friends, with fighting off another walker. You finally managed to kill the walker in front of you, turning around and stepping on the walker at your feet, crushing it’s skull, you looked towards T-Dog who waved you over, and you bolted, barely managing to get into the car before a walker slammed into the window, trying to claw and bite it’s way to you, the sight was horrific but you couldn’t tear your eyes away from it, now even when the car started and you sped off, your eyes still glued to the window in horror. You managed to tear your eyes away after a while, turning to look at T-Dog through the rearview mirror before finally relaxing into the car seat, or at least trying to. You exhaled heavily, feeling sick at the blood on your hands, but at least it wasn't yours, and that’s when a thought hit you, Daryl. Daryl had to make it out, he had to, of course he made it out he’s Daryl Dixon, he made it out, no worries, he made it out. You barely noticed that you were going the wrong way, or that you suddenly turned around, it was only when you saw all the cars and the highway that you realized where you were, and before the car even stopped you flung the door open, running to a certain archer who turned just in time to catch you, quite literally picking you up, forcing you to wrap your legs around him to stay up, it still surprised you how strong he actually was.

You let yourself breathe again “oh my god” you whispered finally, a part of you wanting to get down, but he held on tight, not allowing you to get down, it almost served to convince you that he wasn’t struggling to keep you up. After a few more minutes of this you broke away from his broke, looking at him with tears in your eyes, leaning in and letting your lips touch, it wasn’t anything rushed, this was slow, passionate and gentle, like it was your first time seeing each other after years apart. But you had to part, mostly due to the lack of air “you have to let me down Daryl, you’ll break your back” you whispered, trying to lighten the tense mood, but he just scoffed “nah, never letting you go again, never” he mumbled before kissing you again, and you almost forgot about the small audience you had gathered, that is until Carl saw and made a disgusted noise, like he was ready to vomit. You chuckled low, and Daryl finally let you down, letting you stand on your own feet, but he still held you, making sure you didn’t put too much pressure on your ankle, and also because he really did mean what he said, he never wanted to let go of you, ever again.

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

You sighed seeing the prison yard, littered with walkers, but you could take them, you just needed to be quick, work together, maybe you could use those watch towers, they’d be a great way to create distance from the walkers and take a lot of them out at the same time. You felt someone behind you and turned to see Daryl, watching the walkers in the courtyard, probably thinking what you were thinking, figuring out a way to best clear the area and secure it. You leaned against him and received a kiss on your shoulder in return, the gesture making you smile, and you caught Carol’s gaze, she gave you a knowing smile and you blushed a bit, smiling back at her before following Rick to the entrance. You were about to go in with the others when Daryl stopped you “nah, you’re staying with Lori and Carl” you stared at him with wide eyes “what?? No! Daryl-”

“Please?” he lowered his voice, like he didn’t want the others to know that the Daryl Dixon just said ‘please’ with puppy eyes, and you were about to argue with him when Lori put a hand on your shoulder, making you look at her “please, if there should come any walkers we’ll need protection” you chewed on your lip at her words, thinking it over before nodding, sending Daryl a glare, or at least it was meant to be a glare, but it probably came off more annoyed than angry.

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

You laughed at something Carol said, she had told you a story from when she were in school, but you were, pleasantly, interrupted by a certain archer who walked into the room, making you look at him, but your smile dropped seeing some strangers follow him, you instantly got up and frowned, reaching Daryl who gave your hand a quick, reassuring but subtle squeeze. You looked between him and the strangers as Rick talked to them “sooo, who are they?” you questioned in a low tone, hearing Daryl scoff as he eyed them carefully “neighbors, I guess” you hummed at his response, seeing one of the men stare at you with a smirk on his creepy lips, he looked hipanic, and he creeped you out like nothing else, not even Merle gave you these vibes. You unintentionally leaned closer to Daryl, but he still picked up on it, looking between you and the man staring shamelessly at you, and oh boy he was boiling. You had to grab Daryl’s arm to keep him from charging at the man, but that didn’t really stop him, “the hell you lookin’ at huh?! Fuckin’ piece of shit don’t fucking look at her!” he yelled, he didn’t fight against your grip, he didn’t want to accidentally hurt you or push you away, but he still wasn’t pleased.

“Daryl, just leave it, it’s alright, he can’t get to me” you tried to calm him down but all it rewarded you with was Daryl gripping your hips tightly, almost with a certain possessiveness, but most certainly protectively “nah it ain’t alright, who he think he is? Lookin’ at you like that!” you did your best to not smile at the thought of him defending you, you and Daryl hadn’t really made anything official, but it was clear that you cared about each other, maybe it was even deeper than that, and you didn’t want to risk that by putting on a label. You carefully led Daryl away before he ripped the man to shreds, but you still couldn’t help but smile “Daryl, Daryl it’s okay” you led him out of sight and made him sit down on a bed in an empty cell, clearly still fuming.

“How the hell is it okay for him to look at you like that? Like you’re some fuckin’ piece of meat!” he was about to get up again when you pushed his shoulders down and straight up straddled him, like you had done that night at the CDC, which instantly shut him up. “Because, it doesn't matter to me, I have you” you leaned down and gave his lips a quick peck, feeling his hands resting on your hips, a small smirk making it’s way onto his lips, his body slowly relaxing “damn right you do girl” he leaned up and kissed you, the kiss was slow, like after you had met back up after the farm, but it did had more passion in it, rushed and heated, and you loved every second of it.

[ofjcnnys]

closed starter: @theshanemartis​ when: day seven, late afternoon where: beach, close-ish to camp 

After all the events of the day Jenny felt as though they were standing before a minefield of their own thoughts. Any wrong move and they could be blown to pieces. The line between reality and fiction was already blurring for Jenny. Today had felt like an anxious nightmare. The sort where everything you did was wrong, and it just kept building and building until either someone stabbed you or you fell from a high place and woke up gasping for air and questioning how old you were. Only they hadn’t woken up yet. 

They tried to focus on cleaning themselves. They’d started with their clothes. Shirt and shorts first. Taking the shirt off to scrub the mud and dirt from it and lying it out on the sand to dry in the afternoon sun, but awkwardly trying to do the shorts without taking them off. Left in sports bra and shorts they cleaned themselves. Taking extra care with their hands, back to the group while they delicately washed their burn clean. Then, the hoodie. That took longer than the rest. Not only did the item hold a lot of meaning as an item from their brother, something that kept them company when they felt alone. Now it was something Shane had saved from being lost forever. And for no reason. Maybe Shane didn’t trust them to say she was gonna disappear half the day, and to have inside jokes with Joss after they’d been so honest about their paranoid thoughts– but if Shane hated Jenny, and it was all a ploy, why save the hoodie? What was the point in that? The only person it meant anything to was Jenny. That thought, as cheesy as it was, was keeping them from misstepping in the minefield.

Though still properly soaked, they pulled it on to cover themselves as they walked back to the shore. They were concerned about approaching Shane so soon after their disappearance, everyone would surely be watching her like a hawk. But they were also concerned if they left it too long their thanks would mean nothing. So, most of their caution to the wind, they approached her anyway. “ Hey, ” they said softly, sitting beside them on the sand, wrapping arms around their legs like they often did. “ Thanks for fishing this out of the mud– I know I already said it, but it was a shit thanks so, thank you. ” They walked a fine line between sounding like they were joking and being serious. They were serious, completely, it was just embarrassing. “ It’s dumb, it’s important to me and, I don’t know, it means a lot that you would do that. ” 

Okay, so, their shit was out of the way. They took a breath, assuming it was gonna be harder to get Shane to be honest after the day they’d had than it was for Jenny to say thank you. “ So, I’m guessing you’re probably sick of being asked but how are you doing? ” They looked to her, watching for response that might come before she decided on her words. “ In regards to today, anyway. ” Wouldn’t take a genius to figure out out that big picture, none of them were doing great.

[vintagedolan]

cross country (gbd)

description: when you get stuck in california during quarantine with a dwindling lease at the dolan’s house, grayson wants nothing more than for you to get to new jersey with him

word count: 4.5k

warnings/tags: fluff, this is literally um the softest thing i’ve written???, quarantine/COVID, grayson spoiling Y/N, you get the picture hehe

feel free to send in requests! i’ll write most things! hope you enjoy, send me some feedback and I’ll give you my eternal love :)

You never wanted to lift another box in your whole life, that was for damn sure. There was sweat running down your forehead as you lifted the next one, carrying the cardboard all the way through the house into the living room, which was becoming a huge pile of everything that the twins had acquired over their years in LA. 

The plan was simple: the boys were going home to jersey to see their mom before the quarantine got too serious, and then they were coming right back because they needed to find a place in LA, seeing that their lease was ending. 

Well, needless to say, that plan had gone to absolute shit. And that meant you were thousands of miles away from Grayson, and had three days before you would be homeless. 

Lovely. 

The nice thing about it was that you didn’t have much time to mope - since the boys were still in jersey, all the packing was left up to you. And while you were efficient, it didn’t mean it wasn’t a lot of fucking work. 

You went back into Ethan’s room, getting another box of clothes. As you walked, your phone vibrated in the pocket on the side of your leggings. You knew who it was, but you waited until you got to the living room and sat the box down to answer it. 

A facetime from Grayson. That brightened your mood considerably. 

When you swiped over, you immediately relaxed a bit at the sight of his face. His hair was getting so long during quarantine, and it was pushed back with a headband he’d borrowed from his mom, no doubt. He was in a tshirt, which was different than the rest of the times he’d called you. Which was about ten times a day.

“Hey baby,” you smiled at him, catching your breath as you walked back to your shared room. As much as you wanted to sit down and relax and talk to your boyfriend, there wasn’t enough time for all that.  

“You look exhausted,” was the first thing he said. 

“Wow, thank you so much, love you too,” you teased. 

“You look beautiful, you know that’s not what I meant. I’m just saying that-”

“I’m kidding Gray. And before you start worrying for the hundredth time today, I’m fine,” you reminded him as you pulled out a dresser drawer you shared, beginning to transfer the clothes into yet another box. He watched you work with sad eyes, and you knew what was coming before he said it.

“I feel like shit that you’re doing all this work.”

“You shouldn’t.”

“But I do.”

“Would you do it for me? If you were stuck across the country in my house-”

“Our house,” he corrected. You couldn’t tell if he was referring to sharing with you or with Ethan, or both, but you kept going regardless.

“Okay, stuck in our house, and I needed to pack it all up, would you do it for me?”

He hesitated, and you knew he didn’t have a good response to that.

“That’s different,” was his only comeback, and you laughed a bit.

“Bullshit. You’re just mad because I’m gonna have to wear all your clothes cause none of mine will fit over my new muscles,” you joked, flexing your scrawny arms. You knew you looked dumb, but it got the laugh out of Grayson that you were hoping for, and that’s all that mattered.

“Right, you act like you don’t just wear my clothes all the time anyways. I’m not even sure you have any clothes of your own,” he teased, running a hand through his hair.

“Oh really? I could have sworn these were mine.” You dug around the drawer, finding a particularly nice pair of lace panties, holding them up to the screen. He groaned, falling out of screen for a moment. It took a second for you to realize he’d fallen back on the bed. 

“You don’t play fair,” he said once he moved his phone back to his face. “I miss you so fuckin’ much, you have no idea.” 

You were pretty sure you had an idea. This was now week four without seeing him in person, and it was actually awful. You’d known it would suck, but you didn’t think it would hurt to be away from him. And you were doing everything you both could - facetime dates, phone calls, texting, he’d even written a letter to you. But there was just something about being in his arms, hearing his laugh without the distortion of a phone speaker, waking up next to him; it couldn’t be replaced. 

Which meant you needed to mention your plan. 

“I wanna come to jersey,” you started.

“You know I would kill to have you here baby, you know that.”

“Grayson, the lease is ending. I think that counts as a reason for emergency travel. I mean, I’m technically gonna be homeless,” you reminded him. “And I know I can stay with Shane, or with Jeffree.” They had been nice enough to offer. Hell, Jeffree was letting the boys store everything at his house, even the cars. “But I wanna be with you.” 

“I don’t want you on a plane. You could get sick.”

“I won’t fly. I’ll take the van. I mean, that’s why you built it, isn’t it?” 

“Y/N...”

“I know, it seems crazy. But if I split it up into three days, I could do it. I’d be careful at gas stations, pack up enough food to last me. You know I can drive for forever, I could probably pull 15 hours or so a day, that would get me back pretty quick, and I’d be safe.”

“Safe,” he breathed, shaking his head. “Y/N, I was sketched out sleeping in that thing with two other grown men with me. The thought of you sleeping in there, alone in some parking lot...” he trailed off. “No. It’s too risky.”

“Gray-”

“Baby I want you here more than anything. Not knowing when I’m gonna see you again is actually killing me, but I’m not putting you at risk over that.”

“Okay, well, let’s compromise then. What would make you feel safer about it?” 

“You not doing it,” he said bluntly.

“Be serious babe.”

“You sleeping alone out there. I know you’d be fine with the driving, but I’m not okay with you sleeping in the van by yourself.”

“Okay...” you paused for a minute, trying to think of a solution. “Okay, what if I drove at night, and then I slept during the day? Less people on the roads, and I think we’d both feel safer if I was sleeping during the daylight. Would that work?” 

“That’s better. I still don’t love it. I’m not trying to be difficult, I just, I don’t want anything to happen to you,” he mumbled, picking at the fabric on his blanket.

“I know that baby, to be honest the thought of sleeping in there alone scares me a little bit too. But I’m willing to do it if it means I get to see you.” 

Grayson was silent for a while. You knew he was fighting with himself, and that he probably felt selfish for even considering giving in. But you also knew, deep down, you were going to do it no matter how much he protested. So you were glad when he finally conceded with a simple “I love you”. 

Now, with the realization that you were going to see him in just a few days, your motivation was renewed ten fold, and you got to work.

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

night one

You would have thought it wouldn’t be hard to get to sleep after the day you’d had. 

You were wrong.

The furniture had been moved out - Jeffree had been nice enough to hire a few movers to come get the furniture and the cars. Now, the house lay empty besides your bags that would go with you in the van, and you couldn’t wait to get on the road. Correction; you couldn’t wait to get to Grayson. The thought of seeing him again gave you butterflies. 

Once everything was done and final, you drug a few of the cushions out of the bed in the van, bringing them into the air conditioning so you could try to snag a few hours of sleep. 

While you managed to get a bit of rest, it was mostly futile. The quicker you got on the road, the quicker you’d get to jersey.

So with that, you packed up the van with all the food and snacks you had, reassembled the bed, tossed your bag in and climbed in the drivers seat.

I’m leaving, see you so soon!!!!!! you sent to Grayson, not being able to contain your excitement. 

4pm is not a night drive... he responded quickly.

shut up im excited BE EXCITED

you know i’m excited. be careful, I’ll call you in a little while x

With that, you drove out of the driveway for the last time, with New Jersey in the GPS. 

And the drive wasn’t as bad as you thought it would be. Grayson called you around 7pm to check on you and keep you company. You ate the sandwich you’d made as the sun set, and you continued down the road. It was peaceful if you were honest, and the van drove so nicely - Grayson really had done a good job. 

Although he tried to stay up, Grayson’s snoring took over around 11pm (2am jersey time you reminded yourself), so you hung up and starting blasting some of your favorite tunes to keep you alert and awake. Not having any traffic was a bonus, and you were amazed with the progress you were making. By the time the sun came up, you were already in Colorado. You resorted to driving until around ten, which landed you about at the border of Nebraska after a whopping 18 hours. You pulled into a non-sketchy looking parking lot, relieved that you’d found one.

I’m stopping to sleep for a few hours. I love you!

You sent it and started rummaging around in your bag, finding your toothbrush, toothpaste and pajamas. You brushed your teeth outside using your water bottle, changing in the car and cuddling up in bed. The bedding smelled a bit like the boys, which was comforting. Just as you started the settle down, your phone rang, Grayson’s contact photo popping up. You swiped over to open it, happy to see his face. 

“Hey baby, I was just about to get some sleep actually,” you said. And now that you had laid down, you realized how tired you truly were.

“I know. I’ll mute my side so I don’t keep you up, but I’ll be here in case you need me,” he said casually.

“Grayson you don’t have to-”

“I want to. It’ll make me feel better, knowing someone is watching out for you while you’re asleep.” 

It was so sweet that you started to tear up, so you just buried your face in the pillow instead.

“I love you.”

“I love you too baby, get some sleep.”

And you did.

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

night two

You woke up around five, fully refreshed - other than feeling like you needed a shower. You stretched out before getting up and heading to brush your teeth. When you got back in the van you got changed into some of the clothes you brought, happy to have on something fresh.

“That’s my hoodie.” The male voice startled you and you squealed, covering yourself.

“Baby it’s just me! It’s me!” It took you a minute to realize that it was Grayson speaking to you from your phone, which also was pointed where he could see you.

“Jesus, you scared the shit out of me!” You huffed, pulling the fabric over your head.

“Sorry, I was just enjoying the show,” he blushed, smirking at you a bit. You rolled your eyes, but giggled with him as you climbed into the drivers seat once again, pulling out the dinner you had packed, deciding to eat a bit before getting back on the road. 

“I can’t wait to see you,” Grayson sighed. You looked at your screen closely and realized he was in his workshop.

“I’ll be there so soon. Now, go build some stuff, I’m all safe and awake now. I love you,” you smiled, knowing he would never be the first to hang up. 

“Okay baby. Drive safe, call me if you get bored.” 

“I will, love you!” 

And so you took off, heading through Nebraska. The states seemed to be getting quicker now as you passed through Iowa, then Illinois, and even Indiana. Grayson called, and even Ethan kept you company for a few hours on the drive, making it go by fast. By the time you got to Ohio, the sun was high in the sky and you realized you actually weren’t that far from jersey. Only another seven hours, and if you kept driving, it would put you at their house around 7pm. You thought about the cold brew that you’d stashed in the fridge in case you’d struggled through the nights.

You could use it, and you could make it. In all honesty, you weren’t even that tired as the excitement started to mount. 

But you also knew that Grayson would rather you just sleep, and that he was going to call you again. So, you had to hatch a plan. 

You pulled into a nice looking parking lot, prepared to set it into motion.

You changed into your pajama shirt, taking your hair out of it’s bun so it looked like you were getting ready to go to bed. Taking a deep breath, you facetimed Gray.

“Is it bedtime?” was how he answered, making you laugh. He was in the kitchen at home, making lunch you were sure.

“Yeah, I made some good progress! I should be getting in around 8am or so tomorrow morning,” you explained, hoping he couldn’t see through you. 

“I can’t wait. I’m gonna pamper you so hard for all the work you did, that’s a promise.” 

Your heart fluttered at his words.

“I can’t wait. But I’ve got sad news.”

He perked up at that, putting down the spatula he was using.

“My phone is kinda low on battery, so I don’t think we can facetime tonight. I don’t want it to be dead in the morning, and I can’t run the van,” you sighed, faking sadness. 

“Are you in a safe area?” 

“Yeah, I feel totally safe here. See, look.” You turned the phone around, showing him the lot you were in. 

He wasn’t happy about it you could tell, but he trusted you. And thinking about how excited he would be made you feel less bad about your white lie. 

“Well, okay. Just text me when you wake up okay? I love you.”

“Love you more!”

“Doubtful. Get some rest,” he smiled, hanging up. 

“Ha!” you exclaimed to yourself, smiling and fist pumping the air. Wow. You really were going crazy after being alone so long. You climbed in the driver’s seat again, pulling the cold brew out of the fridge and popping it open as you started to drive again. 

At first you were so excited that it felt like time was flying, but by the last few hours it was dragging by. The sun set, and the kiss of dusk was hanging over the trees as you got closer and closer. 

But when the GPS changed from hours to minutes, and the roads changed from interstates to back roads, you were fully awake once again. You’d actually managed to pull off almost 24 hours of straight driving. When you pulled into the driveway, there was a gate and armed security - the same ones that the boys had hired in LA.

“Hey guys, I’m early, I’m here to surprise Gray,” you explained. They were sweet like usual and happily let you through, closing the gate behind you. With some renewed energy, you stopped the van and brushed your teeth again - in all honesty, you felt disgusting and couldn’t wait for a shower, but the coffee breath was a definite no go. If you were going to kiss Grayson for the first time in a freakin month, you didn’t want to be worried about anything. 

Once you were back in the drivers seat, it was time for a little fun. 

You pulled your phone out, facetiming Grayson and driving super slow. He picked up quickly, concern on his face.

“Is something wrong?” was the first thing he asked.

“No, i’m okay. I started driving again cause I couldn’t sleep, but now I’m lost. My GPS took me onto some long ass gravel road, and now I’m surrounded by trees and I have no clue where I am,” you ranted, using every ounce of acting ability you had to not tip him off. 

“Slow down, hey it’s alright. Why don’t you just turn around and go back the way you came, and then we can figure it out.”

“I don’t know, I think theres a building or something up ahead of me, maybe a store? I could ask somebody for directions?”

“I’d rather you just go back. I don’t trust some random store at the end of some sus ass road. Just turn around baby,” he pleaded, getting a bit panicked. Luckily, you knew it wouldn’t last long because you were already in front of the house. You cut the lights on the van.

“Here, you tell me if it’s sus. What do you think?” You flipped the camera around, showing him the house. 

“I mean - wait. WAIT. WHAT? WHAT!? NO FUCKIN WAY,” he yelled, obviously freaking out. You laughed, hanging up the call and waiting for the inevitable. Sure enough, you’d barely gotten the driver door open when Grayson came barreling out of the front door. 

You couldn’t contain your excitement as you unbuckled your seatbelt and started to climb down. Grayson beat you to it, coming to the opening of the door and reaching up to pull you out of the car. You were laughing as he grabbed you, wrapping you up in his arms. 

“No fuckin way, no fuckin way that you’re actually here right now! What the fuck!” 

“Surprise!” 

“Did you drive all night? Or all day? I just... WHAT!?” He was truly speechless and it was the most adorable thing in the world. He leaned back slightly so he could look at you, eyes wide with amazement.

“Maybe,” you grinned, shrugging. 

“God I love you. C’mere.” His hands slid down to your hips, then around to your ass and you knew exactly what he wanted. You jumped and he caught you as your legs went around his waist, and then his lips were on yours.

It was like the best first kiss you could possibly imagine. You’d thought about kissing him constantly while you were apart, but you were realizing that it had done this no justice. His lips were soft and warm against yours, the taste of him familiar and wonderful. Your hair started to move in the wind and you realized that he was spinning the two of you around, his boots crunching on the gravel beneath you. You could feel the smile on his face as you kissed him, never wanting it to end.

“Ewwwww,” was the only thing that could have brought you out of it, and sure enough, it did. Ethan was on the porch, leaning against the pillars. Despite his words, he was grinning from ear to ear. 

“Hey E,” you smiled, laughing a bit at how you must look right now, waving at him while Grayson was still holding you up. 

“Go say hi, I’ll get your stuff,” Grayson smiled, kissing your temple and putting you down. You turned and jogged towards Ethan, who gave you the biggest bear hug, even spinning you around a little bit.

“Missed you squirt,” he teased, swaying back and forth a bit.

“Missed you too,” you grinned, squeezing him tightly.

“Thanks again for uh saving all our possessions and moving all our shit.”

“You’re very welcome. And you also have a shoe problem, just so you know,” you teased.

“I do not!” He exclaimed, putting you in a bit of a head lock and rustling your hair. You pushed against him but it was futile, and you were stuck until Grayson came back and saved you.

“C’mon, let’s go say hi to mom and get you to a nice bed,” he smiled, putting an arm around your shoulders and leading you inside. You’d only been to the house in Jersey a few times, and it was under renovation, so the finished product was a very welcome sight. It was all light walls and tables with dark finishes, cozy yet bright at the same time, even at night. 

Lisa came around the corner, lighting up when she noticed you were there.

“Y/N! Grayson told me you weren’t gonna be here until tomorrow!” She gave him a bit of a scolding look, which made you laugh.

“That’s on me Li, I got a little too impatient and decide to drive on through,” you explained, accepting the hug she gave you.

“Well you must be exhausted, you go on upstairs and get some rest, we can catch up tomorrow,” she assured you, giving  you another squeeze before letting you go.

You didn’t even try for the boys bedroom - you knew that Grayson had been sleeping in the laundry room. So you headed in that direction, Gray in tow with your duffle bag in hand. As you saw the coziness of the bed, every last bit of energy you had drained from you. The crash was coming, and it was coming soon.

“You ready to sleep?”

“As tempting as that sounds, I really need to shower, I feel disgusting,” you mumbled. Just twenty minutes, and you would be able to sleep. You could do that, for sure. 

“Okay, here I’ll get you a towel and stuff, you remember where it is?” 

“Yep, I’ll be there in a second.” 

You rummaged through your bag, finding your toiletries and some clothes. But when you saw Grayson’s stack of shirts, you couldn’t help but snag one. Everything you’d had at the house had lost it’s scent, and you couldn’t help but breathe it in for a second before heading to the bathroom.

When you got there, Grayson was laying out two towels, and already had his shirt off. You stared for a moment, taking it all in, but even with the view your eyelids were heavy. You were fading, fast, and you had the sudden realization that if you all tried to have reunion sex later, you would probably be so exhausted you wouldn’t be able to enjoy it. And you really wanted to enjoy it. 

“Gray,” you said, walking over to him.

“Did you find everything you needed? I’m sure mom has some extra stuff if you need it.”

“No I’m good, I have everything. It’s just-” 

He looked up then, cocking an eyebrow. It took him a minute, but when it clicked you saw him smile softly, coming over to you.

“It’s not about that. I just wanna take care of you, that’s all. I figured you’d be too tired,” he explained.

“I’m sorry baby.”

He just kissed you, hands finding the hem of your shirt and pulling it over your head.

“No apologies necessary. C’mon, let’s get you clean.” 

You both stripped down the rest of the way and he turned on the shower, which was huge. The tile was white and marble like, and the water pressure made you feel like you were in a spa as you brought your toiletries in. Grayson washed his hair quickly while you let the water run over you, and when he was done you felt his hands find your shoulders, rubbing at the knots he found with his thumbs. You relaxed back into his touch, closing your eyes and resting your back on his chest. 

“Let me get your hair,” he said, reaching behind him to get the shampoo. You didn’t have a care in the world as he worked the suds through your scalp, making sure to get every bit of it before he started to rinse it out. By the time he made it to washing your body you were practically melted, so lost in the relaxation that you weren’t even sure it was real.

“You’re humming,” Grayson teased, pressing a kiss to your shoulder after you were rinsed off.

“Am I?” You mumbled, eyes still closed.

“Let’s get you dry before you pass out on me.” You could hear the smile in his voice as he helped you out of the shower, wrapping you up in a towel and kissing your nose. “You should let me do this more often.”

“What do you mean?” you asked, his statement waking you up a bit as you started drying yourself off.

“Well, you are miss independent you know. Miss ‘I can pack up an entire house with nobody’s help’ and ‘I can drive across the country solo, no big deal.’ I like when you let me take care of you sometimes,” he mused, rubbing his towel over his body and hair quickly before pulling on his boxers.

“Does that mean I get a free ride to bed?” You teased, keeping it light hearted even though you were melting at his words.

“Not dripping wet you don’t,” he smiled, taking your towel and running it over your hair, making you giggle. You were sure it looked something like Albert Einstein when he pulled the fabric away, but he kissed you anyways, passing you a shirt, shorts and your undies. You put them all on quickly, your limbs heavy with fatigue.

“Alright, off to bed.” With that, he scooped you up bridal style, carrying you out the door, down the hall and into the laundry room. He sat you down gently on your feet for a moment, pulling the covers back and climbing in, immediately opening his arms for you. 

“I know you’re not tired,” you mumbled, crawling into bed and immediately resting your cheek on his chest. You put one leg over his, wrapping your arms around his bare chest as he pulled you closer to him, burying his face in your hair.

“Doesn’t matter. Not a place in the world I would rather be. Now sleep so I can spoil you like I had planned to tomorrow.”

If you’d had any energy left you would have questioned him, but instead you lulled off to sleep in his arms, more content than you could remember being in a long, long time. 

[skepticbeliever-bookclub]

With it being the most wonderful time of the year, I was wondering if I could have your favourite spooky fics for the holiday? I'd be ever so grateful.

Hello dear friend, 

We packed up our gear and went ghoul hunting for you, and boy did we ever find some! 

Edge of Town - Justspookythingz | T, 24k, complete Ryan slammed the breaks, jarring them both against their seatbelts.

“Dude, what—“ Shane began, looking annoyed.

“I saw something,” Ryan’s voice was strained as he peered desperately outside the windshield. “Something ran in front of the car.”

“What, like, a person?”

“I don’t know. It was big, like huge, and dark, I couldn’t make it out,” Ryan sounded spooked.

Calming if you look at it right - Agf | Not Rated, 2.3k, complete There's no reason to panic. None at all. He's woken up in bed beside his boyfriend- partner- ghoulfriend, like always. It's a nice day. Shane is wearing the blue shirt. Like always.

In the Woods Somewhere - sequence_fairy | M, 3.6k, complete “I’m Ryan,” Ryan says, into the quiet. “This is Shane. We’d like to make contact with anyone still here and able to speak.”

Across the table, Shane shifts. “Come out, come out, wherever you are,” he sing-songs. Ryan can’t help the way his mouth curves into a grin.

“I’m gonna open the floor,” Ryan says, after another moment of silence. “So, if anyone’s here who has something to say, now’s the time.”

“Yeah,” Shane agrees, “speak now or forever hold your peace.” Ryan kicks him under the table, but Shane chuckles, unrepentant.

Or: The house on Jackdaw Hill has a history, and Shane and Ryan get more than they bargained for.

two to fall apart - literalmetaphor | T, 38k, complete “I know you’re sitting over there, probably like, ‘oh, Ryan’s such an idiot, he’s afraid of ghosts but not serial killers.’”

“I’m thinking your sense of self-preservation is a sham. You absolutely seek out things that you believe are a danger to your person.”

“And you're so incredibly invested in my person?”

“I am! I enjoy your person. I would like it not to be carved up and put on a Christmas display.”

Ryan laughs, and Shane can’t begin to fathom how that’s even remotely funny.

or

Ryan wants to investigate a case that's just a little too recent for Shane's tastes.

in the room where you sleep - blurhawaii | M, 8.9k, complete Hunched over on himself on the bottom step of the staircase, Ryan throws out the term ‘tulpa’ for the camera and then has to backtrack when Shane cuts in, wait, wait, wait, just a second here, a what?

A tulpa, Ryan explains in the thoughtfully stressed voice he uses to info-dump, is a Tibetan concept where a thought or an object has been manifested through an intense focus of spiritual or mental energy.

The idea is simply that if enough people believe this house has the ability to swallow them whole then, unknowingly, they might have given life to the very concept itself.

Ihidaya - Fraudgara | E, 20k, complete Ryan gets it in his head to try a non traditional exorcism episode, but even with all the research involved, few translations or texts could prepare him for the machinations of a demon with a simple game in mind.

A Burial on Box Hill - InkStainsOnMyHands | Not Rated, 718 words, complete The Celtics believed that the yew flower symbolized both immortality and death. Meanwhile, for centuries, the buxus flower was seen as a symbol for safe passage into the afterlife.

Or,

Shane and Ryan were never the same after investigating the Black Forest of Germany alone.

The Lesser of Two Evils - HeavyMetalMothman | E, 23k, complete Shane was unsure of what he was getting into, he told himself this was no different from the rest of his cases. But there was something he couldn’t shrug about this one. A few too many stones were left unturned.

The thing that made this case interesting was the strange occurrences people could not explain. Many claimed Ryan was possessed by a demon, or that he possessed abnormal abilities, frivolous and ridiculous claims on their part.

But a dead doctor was a new turn of events, and Shane couldn’t keep his skeptical nose out it any longer. It was like it haunted him, begging him to dig deeper.

We’re not that different, you and I

Host of Sheets - whiskeyjuniper | T, 56k, complete Something forces its way into Shane after a shoot, and Shane's not particularly fond of it. Ryan likes it even less. ......

“I’d say like… 30 percent of my thoughts are ones I recognize?” Shane said after careful consideration, idly tapping his lower lip. “I still care about you, my job, my parents... but I also seem to be caring about a lot of other things I never used to care about.”“...Like what?” Ryan asked, softly. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know, and by the dead-eyed stare Shane gave him, he figured he was right.

Join Us - saturdayskeptic | T, 1.5k, complete Don’t go into the concrete structures in the woods. You may go in, but something will follow you out.

Lost a fic? Send us an ask!

[theonetheycallhannah]

The Treatment of Captain Syverson-Chapter 10: Myofascial Release

Characters: Captain Syverson x OFC (Shane Benton)

Summary: Shane and Sy decompress after an emotional evening, Shane finds it difficult to get out of her own head and live in the moment, but Sy knows exactly how to help her, and not to be a complete hoe and spoil things, but…things get steamier than ever between our favorite therapist and patient duo.

Oh snap! You’re behind! Get on track here!

Word Count: 3.4k

Warnings:  Language, mature themes, alcohol consumption, the smut you’ve all been waiting for so patiently! (I hope it lives up to your undoubtedly high expectations!)

Author’s Note: Oh gosh, y’all, I am so nervous to post this. Somehow it doesn’t feel like my smuttiest smut. And like, all previous chapters have been kind of leading up to this moment. The good news is, I’ve decided to continue writing this story after the sex. I’ve got some ideas about where to go from here, and I want to keep it going. Plus, it feels wrong to write all of this and then just drop them without a big picture resolution. They’re gonna go through some shit, though. You have been warned.

Disclaimer: Unfortunately for me, Henry is not mine, le sigh, and all mention of him, his characters, any characters from his films, or his precious doggy, Kal, are strictly for transformative and recreational use. I neither ask for, nor accept payment for the work I post on Tumblr or AO3. Unbeta’d because this is for fun and escapism.

Tags: 

@onlyhenrys

@cavillryarchive

@summersong69

@titty-teetee

@bloodyinspiredfuck

@agniavateira

@oddsnendsfanfics

@omgkatinka

@thisismysecretthirstblog

@misslaland

@speakerforthedead0

@tumblnewby

@suavechops

@radkesgirl83

Hope I’m not forgetting anyone! If you want to be notified when I post a new chapter or work, I’ll be happy to add you to my tag list! Stricken blogs are getting personal messages from me when a new chapter is uploaded because Tumblr’s faulty tagging system will not stand in the way of me delivering what the people want!(?) lol! (Although…their lackadaisical notification system might…sorry for that. I have no control. lol!)

X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@X@

Her living room was cast in the low light of the floor lamp she had left on. Intending to come home after dark. Alone. She hated walking into a dark house by herself.

Well, tonight, she wasn’t alone. And although Sy had been to her house before, this was different. They were officially a couple, and they were no longer waiting to express, to the fullest extent, their true affection for one another.

Ever the hostess, despite her nervous tension, Shane asked Sy if he wanted anything to drink, rambling off several options somewhat awkwardly.

“I’m fine, darlin.’” He assured her, stopping her at some point in the rant, before she was completely done. “Do you need something?”

“Umm, I think I should have a glass of wine.” Her eyes darted to the kitchen across her serve-through counter space and landed on her fridge. “I’m…I’m really nervous.”

"Why don't we watch a little TV for a while? You get you some wine, and I'll put somethin' on. What are we watchin', sunshine?"

"Ummmm, something light? Funny? Something I've seen." She wouldn't be able to process anything new or heavy right now.

"I'm on it." he kissed the top of her head and left her side for the sofa, where he plopped himself down like a comfy hound dog, and picked up the remote to her Smart TV.

She smiled as she busied herself in the kitchen. She decided she wanted a snack with her wine. She got a plate of cheese and crackers together first. Then she remembered she had some venison sausage one of her coworkers had brought in, and put that on the plate, too. She got out a chilled bottle of her favorite, cheap moscato and a stemless glass. She couldn't go in there without something for Sy, so she also got a glass of ice water ready for him. She put the whole spread on her big serving tray and took it to the living room.

Sy was already halfway through the first episode of Parks and Recreation.

"I saw this in your 'Watch it again' group, and thought maybe you'd like to re-watch it. I've heard you talk about it a lot, and I've never seen it." He didn't complain at her for taking forever. He just lit up when he saw her. Like it was the first time. And not the hundredth.

"That's perfect, babe. I brought some snacks out, too. Some cheese and crackers, and this really good sausage one of my coworkers brought me. You like deer?" she asked.

"One of my favorite pet names." he teased. "I do, though, yes."

They ate, and laughed, and watched about four or five episodes, it was hard to keep track. But after approximately half the bottle, Shane had summoned some courage. She started playing at the texture of Sy's jeans, running a fingernail across the coarse fabric.

"Hang on, love bug. I want to know somethin.'" she looked up at him, mildly confused. "I'm trying to think of a reason you need to get tipsy to sleep with me that I shouldn't take personally." he rubbed her upper arm, comforting her as no one had done since she was a small child. At least not that she could remember.

"No, Sy. It's not like that. You aren't the problem at all!" she paused. He let her gather her thoughts. She appreciated that he knew she intended to continue and that he didn't rush her to do it. He was patient. And kind. And all of that should have made this whole night easier. But somehow it didn’t.

“I’m the problem." She confessed after a long pause and a deep sigh. "I mean, I’m in my head about it all, I know. But it’s been…almost six years since I’ve slept with anyone, five and a half, at least, and I can’t seem to wrap my head around it now that I know it’s going to happen again.”

He pulled her body into his, squeezing her tightly for one of his soul cleansing hugs.

“Sunshine. Everything will come back to ya. We’ll just go as slow as ya want. I got all night.”

“Okay. Well, I guess, since I’m a bit sleepy from the wine, we should head to bed.”

Sy affirmed the idea, and made to help her put their snacks away in the kitchen.

She got out containers for their leftover food while Sy stoppered the wine, put it in the fridge, and washed their glasses.

She felt his warmth before she felt his touch. He stood behind her, radiating his particular brand of heat for a moment, and taking in the scent of her hair near her right ear. She heard a low rumble from someplace deep in him which slowed her efforts at the counter. His hands were light but very much present on her hips. A whisper against the fabric of the casual but feminine floral dress she’d chosen for the night. But she felt it like the weight of her favorite old blanket, heavy with years and warm comfort.

He kissed her temple, chaste and unassuming. But still full of desperation. She could tell that he was ready. Even without the alignment of their bodies completely giving him away.

“Don’tcha think this stuff can wait a couple hours, darlin'?"

His baritone, breathless in her ear, was soothing her back into the mindset of being with him. His feather touch still lingering at her hips and waist. She thought back to those seminars she'd gone to on manual therapy where the speaker talked in depth about the fascial tissues running all across the various muscles in the human body and how trauma to one part could cause tension in another like a snag in a sweater and how he taught the participants techniques to undo that trauma through myofascial release. Sy was slowly managing to unwind and unbind the taut fibers of her heart and relieve that pain that Elliott, in particular had set into place so firmly when he'd hurt her. Lied to her. Cheated on her. Gaslit her. Made her feel like she'd never be loved if she left him. Made her question the very idea of what love meant. Because if what they'd had was truly love, she didn't want it. Wanted no part of the games or the abuse or the manipulation.

Without fully realizing it, during this time of reflection and healing, Shane had given up the task at her hands and turned to Sy, open to his treatment, as he'd always been so open to hers…or mostly. And she let him kiss her, reciprocating. And hold her, returning his enveloping embrace. She even let him pick her up, wrapping her legs around his waist, resting them on his…all too well-defined bilateral gluteus maximus that she'd had to pretend to ignore for weeks. In the therapist side of her brain, alarm bells were going off. "His knee isn't fully healed! You're gonna undo all of the work you've both done so far! He's gonna hurt himself carrying you around!" but she ignored them and trusted him as he walked to her room.

Shane wanted to say that her bedroom was one of splendor. Immaculately made bed, and overall, the picture of tidiness. The reality was much, MUCH different. Glasses half full of water were everywhere (she may be forgetful, but at least she was optimistic), at least one coffee mug sat on the nightstand from the previous weekend when she took a morning cup of tea in bed with her George Harrison biography. Laundry overflowed from a sorting hamper in the corner, and her bed sat, unmade, littered with crumpled pillows, sheets, blankets, and the pajamas she'd slept in last night. She wasn't the kind of person to make her bed for reasons other than having company over, like the fancy company you had to give a tour of your whole house. She'd tried to be that person numerous times, but it never seemed to stick.

Tonight, though, the guilt that came with sub-par housekeeping skills wasn't plaguing her. Right now, all she felt was the weightlessness of being with Sy, wrapped in him, kissing him, and fully ready for what was about to happen between them, as he fell with her onto her bed. Their heads clunked together awkwardly, invoking a mutual wince, followed by bouts of laughter and playful kisses.

He hovered over her a moment, just taking her in. His fingers ghosting her forehead and cheeks to clear it of the whisps of hair obscuring her face. He seemed to examine her in methodical quadrants. Learning the curves and colors and every wrinkle, freckle, and pore. She was still fully clothed, but she'd never felt so bare and vulnerable.

He left her eyes for last. His gaze drowning her delightfully. Random song lyrics came to mind, "the serenity of a clear blue mountain lake" and she thought yes. That is the precise aesthetic of this man's stare. His expression was inscrutable. She wanted to say he looked happy and content, but she didn't want to presume.

He began tracing the floral pattern on her dress with his fingers, and said, "I really like this dress on you."

She laughed, "Oh, that's the beginning of the oldest line in the book. You know you've already got me in bed, right?"

"No, I…" he chuckled, embarrased. "I mean it sincerely. Seeing you in flowers like this…makes me think they bloom right from ya."

She propped herself up on her elbows, dumbstruck by this uncharacteristically poetic side of him she'd just been shown. She stroked the side of his face.

"The man who came up with the original pickup line is rolling over in his grave attempting to kick himself for not thinking of something so beautiful."

"Yeah?"

"HELL yeah. He would have gotten WAY more lucky with a statement like that."

"You're probably right." he said, pulling her up to hold her in his arms.

"If for no other reason that it would have landed him a higher caliber woman than the floozies that he probably got."

He moaned his ascent against her neck, and continued, "Which would have meant a lot more getting lucky down the road, right?"

"Traditionally speaking, I'd say yes." she laughed, her fingers in his hair, which was barely long enough for the action.

"Okay, I know I said I liked the dress, but…" he tugged at the hemline tucked just under her hips and pulled it off her willing body.

"About time, cowboy!" she smiled, breathless.

He continued kissing her as he unhooked her strapless bra and tossed it aside, into the abyss, where the dress had gone. She was so dizzy from him that she barely noticed he was laying her down until her warm back hit cool sheets. She could feel his touch everywhere at once, despite the fact that he was really only making two or three points of contact.

Shane trembled as Sy peppered her soft body with kisses. She couldn't recall shivering like this before, especially when there was nothing but warmth, even heat, around her. His beard grazing her hips and thighs was sending tremors through her unlike anything she'd ever felt. She was a goner, and he hadn't even truly begun.

His breath against her skin was like lightning in the clouds. A storm began forming within, and all around them from his work on her…and eventually in her. He took the time to remove both of the shirts he was wearing--plaid cotton blend and thick white jersey. She reached out to run her fingertips over his chest, covered in a manly stand of thick, dark hair. It ran over his pecs and down his abdomen…farther, she knew, than was exposed right now.

She wanted to touch him. To return the favor. To stir in him the same tempest he'd stirred in her. She unbuckled his belt and unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans. She was a little surprised he wasn't resisting her, but pleased, all the same. She took the heavy weight of him out in some shock…she'd caught outlines and silhouettes often since they'd been together, but he hadn't let her go this far yet. It had made her feel a little slutty at the time, but now, she understood. He was…protecting her, in a way. She handled him curiously, gently, as he'd been with her. Her apprehension, however, grew with him.

"Sy, you're…I…" she wasn't sure what to say. But she had concerns about being rent in two by him.

"I think I remember tellin' ya you wouldn't be laughin,' sunshine." he grinned at her, breathless as she stroked him.

"You were right. But don't get too used to me saying so." she smirked back at him.

He pulled away from her, reluctantly, but eager to get back to tasting her.

She couldn't comprehend what he was doing. But it felt incredible. No one she'd ever been with had made her feel like this. Like her blood was effervescent and her body was aglow like embers. His reaction to her was as much a part of the pleasure as his ministrations themselves. She could tell he was enjoying himself which fed her desire.

She felt a tension coiling inside her, something similar to climaxes past but she could tell, much more intense. What was different? Other than Sy, she didn't know. But it was working. She moaned and writhed into him.

"Yeah, sugar. Let that out. I wanna hear it." he quickened, driving her mad and sending her spinning into her bliss, incomprehensible words and sounds escaping her, growls of satisfaction escaping him, but he didn't stop.

She felt his fingers working inside her to pull another climax from deep within her. This was new for her, as well. Not only was he putting her first, but he was making her a priority in double measure before taking anything for himself. As that pressure built in her again, she felt his gaze on her, hungry and adoring, and she heard his grunts of exertion and she thought, lust. She wasn't sure how many of his digits he'd managed to slide into her, but it felt splendid, and she wanted more. She gripped his arms to convey this desire, words caught in her throat. He dove headlong back down to her, adding his mouth to the onslaught of his hand, and before she could get out more than a "Fuuuu" she was falling apart again, her body spasming and writhing beneath his utter oral perfection. Eventually, she finished the word when she ran out of air and had to take in a large gasp on the "uck."

She watched him kiss around her thighs and hips, in awe of him in his entirety.

Breathless, she asked, "Why are you so good to me, Sy?"

"Well, a wise woman once told me, 'good go to heaven.'" he looked coyly up at her. "I think I'm there, sunshine."

"Ya know, you're the best patient I've ever had." she smiled.

"Well, I should hope so." he boasted as he kissed at her breasts, nipping at the taut, dark bud in the center. She gasped. He let go and continued his ascent.

He had a point. Who could have qualified as a "better" patient than him when he'd given her so much? Even more than what they were doing tonight. His kindness. The love he had always shown her, even when she wasn't ready to see it. His strength, but also his vulnerability that she seemed to be the only one ever to see. Combine that with the fact that his mind was basically a steel trap for her every word and it would have made him more than perfect enough for her.

But as he broke away from her kiss to take off his jeans, she marveled at the shape and size of his whole body. Those thick, strong arms, the broad, defined torso, the massive, powerful legs of an avid runner, and a face that God Himself would probably be jealous of, if He was capable of the feeling. This gorgeous exterior that Michelangelo would have killed to sculpt, combined with all of his other amazing qualities, and he was almost too perfect.

He cuddled up next to her, reached up, and caressed her face, still flush with pleasure.

"I could look at this face, and nothin' else for…damn… hours. Maybe days."

She blushed and cast her eyes down, and half whispered, "The feeling is mutual."

"Then why're you lookin' away, darlin'?" he tilted her chin up. "That shy business is cute and all, but you don't have to hide from me, sweetheart."

"Again, it's not you, it's me." she chuckled, nervously.

"You wanna call it a night, for now?" he asked without a hint of disappointment in his voice.

"You're kidding, right?" she raised her eyebrows. "You did all that work getting me ready for you, and I won't let that be a wasted effort." she pulled him to her and into a deep kiss, rolling onto her back and bringing him with her.

"Oh, sugar, that wasn't no wasted effort. That was time well spent. No matter what." he said in short bursts when he could pull away from her lips.

He lifted himself up and over her, kneeling between her legs, already open for him. She thought he should know how ready she was. Thought it should be painfully obvious. But he asked anyway.

"You ready, sunshine?" he asked, as he opened the condom and rolled it on…damn he was slick! She hadn't even noticed him get it from wherever he'd had it. She presumed his jeans pocket, which would explain much. She had been very distracted by his naked perfection.

"Yes. Please." she had been struck with an urgency as they stood here on the verge of everything.

He sunk slowly into her, the contentment of coming home spread over his face, the bliss of being whole spreading over hers. No, she thought. She was more than whole. She'd always felt mostly whole during sex. Sy made her feel as though she was overflowing with herself. And not just because she was overflowing with him. The way he moved in her, over her, with her, it was like he was afraid she'd turn to vapor around him before he could finish. Like she was nothing more substantial than a bubble full of smoke, and he thought she may burst and disappear. Although, you couldn't tell from the tight grip he kept on her. A bruising grip that she thought might have had a chance of popping a football. She didn't care. She wanted him to touch and hold her like this until they had no more to give each other.

As they built toward their mutual undoing, the world and everything in it faded away. There was no personal drama or injury. Nothing but the euphoria of this newfound oneness. The caresses and thrusts and groans of pleasure were the only things that mattered. Each other, and what they found therein.

“Shane.” He whispered to her, his pinnacle nigh.

“Sy!” She whimpered, that familiar tension approaching its apex.

He kissed her, as if he meant to permanently emboss her onto the bedding and onto his lips. She reeled as she came undone, little sparks of light obscuring her vision for a fraction of a second. He followed her closely, breathless and spent.

He laid down beside her, as close to her as possible, and began drawing mindless circular patterns on her stomach and around her breasts.

“Wow.” She said, almost under her breath.

“How ya feelin,’ sunshine?”

“Mmm, boneless. Dazed. Half wishing we’d done that weeks ago. I didn’t have a clue what I was missing.”

“Oh, I think you had an idea.” He said as he neatly doffed and disposed of the prophylactic in the waste can by her bed.

“Okay, a bit.” She chuckled. “It’s not like you can hide that…thing.”

“And I don’t try to, darlin’!” He kissed her forehead “Well, I don’t hide it just anywhere, put it that way.” He smirked at his dirty joke and she swatted him for it.

“You’re bad!”

“And you love it.”

She couldn’t argue. She loved his badness and his goodness and everything in between.

Up Next: Chapter Eleven- Discharge Plan 

[chain-unchained]

December 17

The rustic twang of country guitar played over the jukebox in the Saloon. Sundays were far from the busiest days for the establishment, but there was always a handful of regulars that would come by, and someone would always plonk a few coins into the machine. The music was never loud enough to make conversation difficult; it was just there as background ambience.

It was a familiar song to Ashe as he stepped in through the door. By this point he’d visited so many times that he knew just about every track on the old machine. And this was one that he remembered fondly; he would often listen to it with his mother. Before the illness.

“Hey, there you are!”

Emily’s smile was a mile wide as she hastened around the counter to greet him. “It’s been forever since you stopped by.”

“Emily!” The hug they shared was mutual. “Sorry, just—I’ve been so busy.”

“No need to apologize. I’m just happy to see you again.” She held him back at arm’s length to study him with a critical eye. “You doing okay now?”

“Ah—” His cheeks flushed, and he looked anywhere but at her. “Yeah. I’m better. Definitely better.”

The smile was half-forced, half-genuine, and 100% embarrassed. It felt so awkward, having so many people ask him how he was doing these last few days. The same kind of awkwardness as standing there while people sang happy birthday.

“I’m glad to hear that. Don’t start pushing yourself too hard again, okay?” She gave his shoulders a squeeze. “You’ve got people you can talk to.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

“Good.” With another smile she let him go. “Well then, let me show you to the back. Shane’s waiting for you.”

The blush deepened. “He is? Am I late or something?”

“No no. He just got here early. Right this way.”

She led Ashe through the short swinging saloon doors to the left of the room. His heart began to flutter in his chest; it wasn’t their first date, but… this felt different to the gridball game. He didn’t know what to expect.

They made their way down the hall and to the private dining room. A ‘reserved’ sign hung from the hook in the center of the door, which sat slightly ajar. A different song was playing through the crack; it was softer, melodic.

‘Oh no—was I supposed to dress fancier?’

A nervous thought raced through Ashe’s mind as they drew near. The music sounded almost classical, and he couldn’t help but feel like maybe he should have dressed up a bit more.

“Hey, Emily?”

She stopped and turned back to him. “Yeah?”

“Um, is my outfit okay?”

“Hmm…” She observed him again. “Do a little spin for me.”

He did, the anxiety rising at the unreadable expression on her face. It wasn’t like he’d come here in his farming best— dark-washed bootcut jeans, his lavender turtleneck beneath a white sleeveless vest, his good boots—but the insecurity was there. He couldn’t help but doubt.

After a moment, Emily’s face split into another smile. “Very cute—Shane’s going to go crazy.”

“Really?” Ashe’s face lit up at the praise and prediction both. It was a relief for a worry that he knew was unfounded. “Whew… Thank you~”

“Hey, there’s that sunshine smile! I was getting worried I wouldn’t get to see it before winter ends.”

 The private room was small, and quaint, styled much the same as the bar area. Paintings decorated the walls, and one of Emily’s own hand-woven rugs adorned the floor, upon which an aged oak table rested. The music was coming from a smaller radio resting atop a matching end table in the corner; candle wall sconces cast a warm and gentle glow upon the red hues of wood and fabric both.

Shane was already there, of course—and Ashe’s face turned several shades of tomato red as his eyes fell upon him. Though his back was to the door, it was clear that he’d cleaned up for tonight. His hair, which he’d been letting grow out, was freshly washed and styled; he wore a well-fitted, plain dark sweater tucked into new jeans, with a black leather belt. He turned his head in response to the door opening—he’d even gone so far as to shave.

“Hey, you made it…”

His own voice trailed off as his eyes fell on Ashe, and there was a moment of silence as they both just stared at each other, somewhat slack-jawed.

“Wow,” Emily looked between the two of them, “you really are made for each other. I’ll go and grab some menus and some drinks to get you started.”

She traipsed out, shutting the door quietly behind her. Shane cleared his throat, his face nearly as red as Ashe’s at that point.

“You, uh… you look good, chickadee.”

“Th-thanks.” Rubbing the back of his neck, Ashe shyly added, “you do too.”

Shane grinned self-consciously. “Heh, you think so? Kinda feels like my gut’s gonna bust through this sweater…”

Ashe tip-toed closer until he was completely leaning against him, and his voice trailed off. “You look amazing,” the farmer mumbled, his face hidden in the fabric of Shane’s chest. “I can’t handle it.”

That was enough to silence Shane’s self-doubt—or at least keep him from vocalizing it further. “Yoba, you’re too cute.” He took the opportunity to steal both a hug and a kiss from his boyfriend, lingering perhaps a bit longer thank he intended to upon his lips. “So… d’you wanna sit down?”

“Y-Yes, please.”

It was with only minor reluctance that Shane stepped away from him to pull one of the chairs out from the table. He gestured for Ashe to sit, and pushed the chair back into place when he did. All the while, he had to fight to keep his hands from shaking. It had been at least a decade since he’d been on a fancy dinner date like this before, let alone with someone he cared so deeply about. He wanted it to be perfect.

By the time he’d taken his own seat opposite Ashe, Emily had returned with glasses of ice water—lemon slices included—and two menus. “Here you go,” she said with another smile. “Take your time, and press the buzzer when you’re ready to order.”

“Thanks, Emily.”

She dipped back out the door again, and for a moment there was silence as they both skimmed the menu. “Order whatever you want,” Shane said, glancing up to see the conflicted look on Ashe’s face. “Don’t worry about prices. It’s my treat.”

“But—”

“No buts.” He grinned. “I can afford to splurge on my favorite dweeb every now and then.”

Ashe hid his blushing pout behind the menu. It was hard to focus on choosing, because every few seconds he couldn’t help peeking over the top to get another look at Shane.

“… What?” Shane caught him staring. “Did I nick myself when I was shaving or something?”

“N-No no—It’s just—” He hid behind the menu again, face redder than it had been before. “I-I never realized how good you look with long hair. Sorry, I’ll stop.”

Now it was Shane’s turn to become a tomato head. “Bud, you’re gonna give me an ego with all these compliments.” He looked through the menu a bit more. To be honest, he was in the mood for pizza, but he wanted to impress Ashe—

“Would you judge me if I said I wanted pizza?”

He lowered the menu to look at him again. There was a meek sort of grin on the farmer’s face, which he was quick to hide once more behind his own.

“Nevermind, I’ll—pick something else.”

“Actually, I was literally just thinking the same thing.” Shane dropped the menu onto the table. “Do you just wanna order a large and split it?”

“Oh my Yoba, yes please.”

So much for a romantic dinner. Shane’s expectations went out the door, and with them the hesitant awkwardness that hung in the air. It was like they both settled back into their skins, and once the 16-inch pie was on the table they dug in. No forks, no plates, just greasy slices in hand and a couple of paper napkins.

“Ahh, I’m in heaven~” Ashe practically melted into his chair. “Sssooo good…”

“Yeah, it’s been awhile since I had one of his pizzas.” A long strand of cheese stretched out from Shane’s mouth to the slice he’d taken a bite from. The sign of a quality cheese pie. “This cheese didn’t come from Hanako, did it?” He joked.

“I wish it did! She’s still just a baby though. I was kind of thinking I might see about getting a full-grown cow in the meantime—sometimes I worry that she’s lonely, being in that big barn all by herself at night.”

“What about Silva?”

“Oh, well… Silva kind of picks on her a bit. I had Robin build her a stable.”

Shane sighed. “Bugaboo, I’m not gonna lie—that horse scares me.”

“I’m not giving her up.”

“I wasn’t going to suggest that—” even though he really thought that was the best idea, “—I just want you to be extra careful with her. Please.”

The plea made Ashe deflate a bit. He picked up a strand of cheese that had fallen and nibbled on it before answering. “I will. Don’t worry, I haven’t tried to ride her yet. And I still really believe that she wouldn’t ever actually hurt me.”

“I sure hope that’s the case.”

Shane helped himself to another slice, hesitating only briefly in contemplation—it was going to be more calories to burn in the gym later—and taking a bite when he decided it was worth it.

After a minute, Ashe spoke again. “I, uh… I saw Dr. Vance yesterday.”

“Oh, that’s why you were gone. I was wondering.” Shane licked a bit of sauce from the corner of his mouth. “You don’t have to answer, but how’d it go?”

“It went… good.” The farmer began to gently rock back and forth in his chair. “A lot of talking. It was harder than I thought it would be.”

Shane could see that he was getting nervous. Wiping his hand on one of the napkins, he held it out to Ashe across the table; after a moment, Ashe took hold of it. “Yeah, it can be like that sometimes. But it’ll get better. Might not ever be easy, but better.”

“I hope so.” The warmth of Shane’s hand was comforting, and the rocking ceased after a minute. Ashe even managed to smile as he added, “I’m getting really tired of crying my eyes out already.”

“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s part of the process.”

“Did you cry?”

“Oh yeah. More than I’m comfortable admitting, honestly.” He laughed. “So yeah, don’t feel bad about it. It’s different for everyone, and some of us just gotta cry before we can start moving on.”

“Yeah… I guess so.” Ashe shifted in his seat. “… I know I’m the one who brought it up, but… can we talk about something else?”  

“Of course. Uhhh…” A stream of air blew past Shane’s lips as he fished around for a different topic. Of course now of all times he was drawing a blank.

“You still haven’t told me what you want for Christmas.”

Shit, that was the one he was hoping to avoid. “Cos I don’t want anything. I’ve already got all that I could ask for.”

“Shane,” Ashe leaned forward a bit, a very serious expression on his face, “I’m gonna get you something. It might as well be something you actually want.”

“Oh! Shit, that reminds me. Would it be okay if Jas hung out at the farm with you tomorrow?”

Ashe blinked. “Uh—of course. Why?”

“Because me and Marnie are gonna get some shopping done in Zuzu. And both Penny and Jodi are gonna be busy, and I feel bad for all the times they babysit her already. We’ll pay you for it, of course.”

“Oh, nonono you won’t.” He shook his head.

“You sure?”

“Yes I’m sure. Use that money to get Jas an extra present.”

“Bud, believe me, she’s gonna have more presents than she knows what to do with.” Shane wiped his hands on his napkin again and took a sip of lemon water. “What about you? You haven’t told me what you want.”

Ashe went quiet. The truth was, what he wanted more than anything was something that he knew he could never get back. But… well, there was one other thing…

“I just don’t want to be alone. That… That’s all…”

This time Shane gently took hold of both hands. “Who says you will be? The Feast lasts all day, and you can hang out at the ranch with us after. Okay? Don’t even worry about that.”

“I-I’ll try.” Ashe drew a shuddering breath. The emotions had utterly blindsided him, but at least he’d managed to keep from crying… again. But he was going to end up with whiplash with how all over the place his emotions were.

“You know, there’s gonna be a big countdown in Zuzu on New Years’ Eve. Would you feel up to going?”

“… Y-Yeah.” He managed a small smile. “Yeah, that sounds nice.”  

[werezmastarbucks]

Whitmore Guy - the letter

Part One

Kai Parker x fem!Reader slowburn

whatever gifs I’m going to use on this one, I hope the creators are okay with that

The Mystic Falls team decide they want to get rid of Kai Parker for good - and in a way that would ensure he won’t be able to come back. Death is not secure enough this time, so they go with Malivore. Who knows what the poor bastard is doing down there, but six months later, a new guy comes to work at the college - and meets the reader seemingly for the first time.

word count: 1189

warnings: Damon’s still a dick and also bitter

Damon was clutching a piece of paper in his hand. He could hear his brother, perched up against the doorframe, waiting for him to say something. But both vampires kept silent. Stefan ran out of patience first.

“What’s that?”

He blinked, and folded the letter, putting it in the drawer, under his neatly folded shirts – all black.

“You said you don’t want to know, little brother”.

Stefan cocked his head, lazily, his marble face covered with the dark fog.

“It’s got something to do with Malivore and why we all were there?” he guessed.

“Yes. And you said”, Damon repeated gravely, “that you don’t want to know. So, go, and don’t… I’d say forget about it, but you kinda already did, so…”

Stefan shifted a little, closing his self-embrace, encircling his elbows. He sighed.

“Was it a horrible thing we did? Why wouldn’t I want to know what happened?”

“It wasn’t horrible. It was the right thing to do”.

“Does you letter from the past state so?”

“Exactly”.

“Who else knows?”

Damon said nothing, but gazed at him, his manly jaw moving forward. Why does it always have to be him?

Listen here, Damon, it’s me. I mean, you. You’re sitting in your car outside the cave in Georgia right now, confused about what you’re doing here. The first thing you do now is, you leave and read this completely and utterly alone. Bon Bon wanted to know, too, because she’s a brave soul, but honestly, he’s not worth it. Don’t tell her.

Are you completely alone? Are you sure?

You were at the pit because you were dealing with the baddest scum on Earth. Let me tell you a story.

In 1994, a guy, a siphoner witch, killed his whole family – well, almost all of them – in cold blood like a freak he is, for power. He was locked away in a magical prison world and spent almost twenty years there, but he got out – not gonna mention how, or else you’ll be real angry.

Anyway, upon being released, the guy went for Mystic Falls. The guy’s name was Malachai Parker, but everybody called him Kai. Remember it. Remember this name and know that he’s the worst crap headed, the most violent, the most fucked up, the craziest, filthiest and absolutely the most annoying little shit you’ve ever met in your life. I’m not being dramatic, Damon, he’s the absolute worst. What??? Worse than Katherine? you ask. Are you annoyed yet? I had to spend TIME with him. He was pretty damn near to Katherine, man. You completely lost all hope when he met Y/N. He tricked her into loving him when he solved the problem of difficult relationships with her father by killing him. Seeing that we let it slide, he proceeded with killing her grandmother, too. All the bullcrap about him loving someone is complete nonsense because Kai’s a diagnosed sociopath. He did not love her. He’s used her because she has magic and they had some kind of connection which allowed him to siphon her as much as he wanted. All that is not relevant anymore, thank Fuck. I never managed to fully grasp that vessel-siphoner witchy tofu. Who cares?

That’s the main reason you all actually gathered to get rid of him: he was turning your friend, a girl you swore to protect ten years ago, into a murderer. Together, they have burned a house with living people inside. Y/N killed Shane Atticus while being with him, and she also killed Katherine to get back at YOU when you tore his head off. Yes, you have killed him before, but the bastard crawled right back from hell and dived his claws deep inside of her. She was turning violent, erratic, selfish. She manipulated you to send Rebekah to hell so that Klaus had a reason to open the gates – and let him out.

Y/N was transforming into this beast he’s been grooming, making her just like him.

You threw him in Malivore because he was that bad. Here’s the list of other things Kai did that led to this day:

He killed his pregnant sister, together with her two unborn children. She was Ric’s fiancée.

He killed the surviving members of his family and coven, hunting them down like animals, one by one, in a sadistic way.

He left Bonnie in the prison world for months, and she nearly killed herself there.

He stabbed her several times.

He tried to kill YOU and your brother.

He tortured Elena. For fun.

He shredded a Grill bartender’s neck because he was talking to Y/N.

He has turned himself into a vampire to become a heretic.

He was an abomination of a vampire, and he didn’t drink human blood, he fed on supernatural creatures. He’s been turning people in the town so that they served as his blood bags.

He was slaughtering the citizens of Mystic Falls for fun.

He killed Matt Donovan (the male blonde guy with sad life).

Those are just the things off the top of our head. There’s more I can’t think of.

Remember, Damon, you’ve all decided that it would be the best thing for her and for the rest of the goddamn PLANET if he was gone. You all decided that throwing him into the pit of oblivion would be the most suitable thing. He never existed, as far as we know. There’s no Kai Parker, and there has never been. You have cleared Y/N’s phone, the house, her computer, so there’s no evidence of him in her life. It’s all gone now. She’ll be much much better off… it’s done. Kai Parker is gone forever, and I can’t express how much relief it is (gonna be when you do it). You gotta believe me, Damon, he was worse than Klaus, nastier than travelers and bitchier than the sirens. On the scale of badness he was like 10 poisonous snakes that eat your balls and set you on fire and make you shit yourself while singing Michael Bolton. He was obnoxious, loud, annoying, intrusive and just outright evil. His eating habits… There was never hope for that man, if that’s what you’re asking yourself.

I’m writing it a bit ahead, but I’m pretty sure he’ll kick, and scream, and beg when I drag that monster to the pit. This will be the happiest day of my life.

It was the right thing to do, Damon.

P.S.

Nobody else wanted to remember about this, except Bonnie, but I’d rather you kept it from her, too. She deserves much better than live with even a shade of this in her life. The guys specifically said they don’t want to remember him and what we did to him: Blondie vamp, Elena, Alaric and Stefan. So, keep it from them, you owe them that much. Tell them you don’t remember anything either, and what a bloody shame that nobody thought to leave a note. What a bunch of idiots!

P.P.S.

Keep an eye on Y/N. Tell her she had food poisoning or whatever so that’s why she wasn’t at the Malivore pit with everybody.

Damon

11/11/19

[ddixons-angel]

Fated: Season 2

Summary: Gloria Rhee narrowly escapes Atlanta with her brother as the outbreak reaches the city. Luckily, they find a camp outside the city and together, they fend through encounters with the living and undead.

Starts a little before Season 1 and then follows the main storyline of the show.

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Glenn Sister!OC

Warnings: major TWD spoilers, language, violence (the typical TWD stuff), major character death

A/N: Only 2 more chapters left of Season 2! And then we’re off to the Prison with Season 3! I love the Prison era, haha~! The finale of Season 2 will be up this Friday!

Chapter 8

Gloria was in Dale’s RV, putting back her first aid kit in the compartment. She limps back out as she left the crutches outside, deeming it a hassle to go into the RV with the crutches. She’s greeted by Dale who helps her down the steps of the RV, handing her the crutches which she mounts once she’s out, thanking him.

“I wanted to ask you about something.” Dale says, his expression serious.

“What’s up?” Gloria says, looking at him, returning a serious expression.

“What are your thoughts on the execution?” he asks, crossing his arms, ready to listen intently.

“Honestly, I don’t think it’s right, but regardless of what we think, it’s going to happen.” she sighs.

“Well shouldn’t you say something if you think it’s wrong? More people need to voice out their opinion if they don’t agree with it, I can’t be the only one! Staying silent is the same as agreeing with killing the poor kid!” Dale rants, throwing his arms in the air in frustration.

Gloria takes a breath, “Dale, what else can we do? If we let him out there, he might bring back his entire group and kill us all in our sleep. We keep him here, we’ll have one more mouth to feed and I don’t think the others are willing to spare any more of our resources, or we starve him which is an even crueler way of execution in my personal opinion. I hate to say it, but killing him is the only clean way to guarantee our safety from his group.”

Dale’s face falls, defeated, he nods as he understands Gloria’s point. He climbs into the RV, Gloria gives him an apologetic look then goes off herself. She hobbles around the farm in deep thought about the entire situation with Randall that she didn’t even realize she had walked to the side of the barn he was kept in. 

“Your mom out here too? You’re lucky, still got your family.” Gloria overhears Randall speaking to someone, she hobbles closer to the barn, “Hey, I-I don’t know what people have been saying about me, but I didn’t do nothing, I swear! Your dad was gonna let me go until his friend started fighting with him.”

She looks around the outside walls of the barn, searching for a hole or crack she can peek through to see who he’s speaking to, finally spotting one, she puts her eye to the crack and looks in, she gasps, “Carl...”

“It got pretty bad, I was kinda worried. My camp, we got lots of supplies, you help me, I’ll take you and your folks back to my people. We’ll take good care of you.” he continues.

Gloria frowns as she feels anger towards Randall, “asshole’s trying to manipulate Carl...” she’s about to go into the barn when she saw that Shane had barged into the barn, shouting at Carl to get out, then proceeds to interrogate Randall about what he said to Carl.

---

Back at the house, the meeting was taking place as the group discusses what to do about Randall. It’s evident that most of the group is on the side of execution as they have no other good alternatives to guarantee their safety.

“So, how do we do this? Do we take a vote?” Glenn questions.

“Apparently only me, Glenn, and Gloria are opposed to this.” Dale says, looking at the siblings, Glenn waivers hesitantly, “Glenn! They’ve got you scared!” 

Glenn stutters, “Wha- h-he isn’t one of us!” 

Gloria takes a breath, “I originally was opposed to it, but now... now I think it really is the right call.” 

Dale looks at her with wide eyes, enraged and disappointed, “What changed?!”

“Well...” Gloria looks around, everyone’s eyes on her and she hesitates, deciding not to tell them that Carl was in the barn, “I spoke with Randall.” 

Glenn turns to look at her immediately while Daryl pushes himself off the wall he was leaning on, “he tried to manipulate me, saying that if I helped him, he'd take me back to his people, that they’re good people and they’d treat me well. The complete opposite of what Daryl told us when he interrogated the kid. He’s up to no good, and I don’t trust him.”

“You went into the barn?!” Glenn shouts, upset that she would take that risk.

“I told ya to stay outta there!” Daryl joins in, fuming. 

Gloria rolls her eyes and groans, “I’ll deal with you two later! Right now, we have to deal with the piece of shit in the barn!”

“Why the hell were you even in the barn in the first place?” T-Dog asks, a frown on his face as he’s also worried about her safety.

She sighs, knowing she’s going to get into trouble with Daryl after she says this, “I was gonna patch up the kid, just in case... You know, we decide not to kill him, but after he started trying to manipulate me, I just left him.”

At that, Daryl storms out of the house, his vote was already clear. The rest of the group proceeds with their votes, and with Gloria’s new information, the results were all in favor of the execution. It was decided that Rick and Shane as well as Daryl would do it tonight in the barn. Gloria makes her way out of the house, wanting to find Daryl when Glenn stops her. 

“What the hell were you thinking, going into the barn without letting anyone know first? Are you crazy?!” Glenn scolds, the last part in Korean. 

Gloria sighs, “the kid wasn’t speaking with me, it was with the sheriff’s son.” she responds in Korean, referring to Carl.

Glenn frowns, “then why didn’t you just say that you overheard their conversation?” 

“Are you crazy?” she rolls her eyes, “both his parents were in there, and if I told them that their son was in the barn alone with the kid, you really think they’d be calm? Also, I don’t want to be the reason he gets grounded forever.” 

Finally, Glenn nods in understanding, then a thought dawns on him, “hey, I know I keep asking you this, but seriously, is there something going on between you and the archer? He looked pretty upset when you told us all you talked to the kid.”

Gloria sighs, “he’s probably just upset that I didn’t listen to him when he told me not to go into the barn, and now I’m gonna have to explain it to him.” she responds in English, “wish me luck.” 

She starts to make her way to find Daryl when Glenn calls out to her, “You still didn’t answer my question!”

“That’s a discussion for another day.” Gloria calls back without turning around. 

She makes her way to the stone structure where Daryl had first moved his tent when they had found Sophia. He was sitting on a rock, shaving pieces of wood with his knife to make more arrows. Gloria hobbles towards him, sighing when he purposely ignores her call. 

“Daryl, will you just listen to me, please?” she pleads, looking down at him.

“When the hell will ya listen to me, then?” he retorts, not even looking up at her.

“I did.” Gloria starts, “I did listen to you, I didn’t go into the barn and I didn’t talk to Randall.”

“Then why the hell d’ya say ya did?!” Daryl yells, facing her finally.

Gloria looks around and makes sure the others are far enough to not hear what she was about to tell Daryl, “because it was Carl. He snuck into the barn somehow, and Randall was trying to manipulate him, not me. I couldn’t tell Rick and Lori that, Lori’d most likely freak out and nothing would have gotten done.” 

Daryl purses his lips as he looks at her, “so ya’d rather freak out me an’ Glenn instead?”

“Hey, in my defense, Lori’s still pregnant and I doubt the news would sit well with her.” Gloria shrugs. 

Daryl nods and stays quiet. He goes back to making arrows, only looking up at Gloria when she starts chuckling, he raises an eyebrow at her. 

“Did you just indirectly admit that you care about me, Daryl Dixon?” she smiles at him.

Daryl scoffs at that then looks away, trying to hide his blush, “nah.”

Gloria takes a seat beside Daryl and nudges him, making him glance at her, “I think you care.”

“Ya think what ya want.” he tries to hide a smile growing on his lips.

She takes a stick from the ground, one that Daryl would use to make arrows and watches as Daryl shaves the wood. Taking out one of her own daggers, she tries to imitate his blade work. Daryl gives her some pointers and ends up teaching her how to make his arrows. 

---

The group is resting in their campsite as they wait for Rick, Shane, and Daryl to return from the barn after they execute Randall. Dale had walked off, unable to be around them as he strongly disagrees with the execution. Shortly after, Rick and Shane return to the tents with Carl, both of them seemingly very frustrated.

“He was watching, he was telling me to do it.” Rick tells Lori, shaking his head, “I couldn’t with him watching...”

She soothes her husband, holding him to her. Shane looks away from the two, sighing at the sight. Gloria looks over to Carl who’s sitting down near his family’s tent, making sure that he’s alright, she sees him pout. She sighs as she thinks that he’s probably pouting because he wanted to witness the execution first hand. She shakes her head at the thought, a child his age should never have to witness something like that. Gloria’s thoughts are interrupted as well as everyone else’s conversations as a blood curdling scream sounds throughout the night air. Everyone looks in the direction the scream had emitted from, seeing Daryl who had stayed in the barn with Randall dashing to the middle of the field. He sees a walker and tackles it down, immediately stabbing it in the head. He rushes over to the man it had attacked, Dale. 

“Help! Over here!” Daryl waves his arms towards the rest of the group, shouting loudly, “it’ll be okay, buddy.” he says down to Dale, comforting him as best he could given the circumstances.

Everyone rushes over, Gloria’s standing beside Glenn, she had left her crutches back by the tents due to the frantic situation, Glenn had helped her limp over. Gloria gasps at the scene, Dale had his abdomen ripped open, his intestines and guts spilling out as he laid there, groaning in pain and agony. Andrea kneels by his side, crying helplessly.

Glenn turns to Gloria, “y-you gotta do something...” he chokes out a sob.

“I... I can’t... we won’t be able to move him... h-he’s lost too much blood.” Gloria breathes out, her body shaking; even if she’s worked in a hospital, she’s never seen anything as gruesome as this. 

Hershel rushes over to the scene as Rick had been frantically yelling out for him, “oh my God...”

“Hershel, we gotta do something, anything!” Rick pleads, tears falling from his eyes.

“He’s passed saving... I’m sorry.” Hershel says regretfully, looking away. 

Dale reaches his hand out to Andrea as he continues to groan, unable to form words from all the pain, “He’s suffering... somebody do something!” she sobs out. 

Rick wipes his face with his hand and sniffles, taking out his gun and aims it straight at Dale’s head. He stares at Dale and struggles, regret written all over his face. Daryl takes the gun from Rick, nodding to him, telling him it’s fine, that he doesn’t have to do it. 

Daryl kneels down, putting the gun directly on Dale’s forehead and cocks the gun, “Sorry, brother.” with those final words, he pulls the trigger.

---

Next Chapter

I felt like this was a rather eventful chapter, with the voting, to a little fluffy moment, then Dale dies... sigh... well, as I said before, one more chapter left until Season 3! What do you guys think is gonna happen? Let me know what you thought of this too!

I hope everyone stays safe and healthy, please don’t panic, we will get through this!

And as always, I would really appreciate any comments left for me! I’ll be replying to any comments in a new post because this is a sideblog!

Taglist (please let me know if you’d list to be added/removed!):

@twdeadfanfic​ | @fandomfanatic97​ | @crossbowking​ | @watchmeaspire​ | @spidergirla5​ | @kamieshep​ | @letsstarsfalling​ | @molethemollie​

[walkerwords]

“The Unimaginable” - Shane Walsh x F!Reader

GIF CREDIT: http://gph.is/2dJNy3i

Summary: Follows the after and before of when you and Shane lost your only son to the cruelness of the new world and how anger turns to forgiveness. 

Word Count: 5246

Warning: Death of a child, gore, description of death of a child, blood, angst

Song I Wrote To: “It’s Quiet Uptown” by Hamilton Original Cast

Note: Okay, so this idea came to me after I was thinking of some kind of imagine with Shane. I just so happened to hear this song from Hamilton and I got...sucked in. I have never lost a child, but this is how I see the reaction from both parents. Please don’t read if this is something too difficult. Thank you. 

--------

After

When the world ended, you weren't alone.

Running through the fire-lit streets, your family was there beside you. Your husband Shane, and your son, Logan. Instinct had taken over and all you thought about was protecting your boys.

Then, you had found the quarry. You were finally safe, Logan was out of the line of fire, and Shane had gotten both Lori and Carl out of the terror that was the city. The Walkers were sparse and when they did show, they were usually alone, maybe three at the most, and they would be taken care of quickly.

Logan was older than Carl by a couple of years but still, the boys were the best of friends and looked out for each other. Just as their fathers were, they were partners through and through. And just like Lori was to Carl, you were Logan's protector and nothing was going to take your baby away.

At least that is what you told yourself before the Dead began to rise.

Nothing was certain anymore. Not safety, not life, not even having enough to eat. You had to be alert every second of every day. Logan was in your sight, or Shane's, at all times of the day. When you and Shane went for water, Logan was to stay with Lori while Dale and the Dixons watched for Walkers. It was a clear system. One that worked.

Until it didn’t.

Everything around you seemed too...cold. You wondered if what you were feeling was how the Dead now felt. If they could feel anything at all, that is. The world around you was dull, lifeless, and nothing seemed to want the sun to shine again. 

Rain clouds rolled in the distance as you crouched in the damp dirt next to the camp. People, your new family, wandered throughout your homestead, carefully watching you as if they were waiting for you to crumble into dust and bones. 

The only thing you could hear was a muffle of voices and the occasional branch that rustled in the cold wind. You couldn’t remember the last time you slept, let alone ate and you were starting to wonder if anyone could still see you. Or had you truly become a part of a dying world, too lost to see and understand?

Looking up at the sky, you were thrown back into the memory of the worst day of your life. One that changed your world forever and one that you never thought you would see.

———-

Before

Logan was adjusting to the world as well as could be expected. 

He played with the other kids, helped out when he was asked, and never once complained about living in the woods. He had grown closer to Carl in the time since the first Dead began lumbering through the streets. They were as close as two young boys could get while not being brothers. 

He played in the water with Shane, laughing as his father dunked him over and over, trying to get all the dirt and mud out of his hair. Sometimes, when you watched the two of them you could try and imagine that you were on some odd vacation. Maybe there wasn’t actually a virus spreading like wildfire and one day you would be safe again. 

However, the fantasy never lasted very long. 

It was late in the afternoon one day when you couldn’t find your son. You had been with Daryl Dixon, helping him clean the game he had brought back for the group. Daryl was a quiet one, but you preferred that. He didn’t expect you to talk and you were grateful for his silent company when he offered it. 

Once you had finished with the deer, you went in search of Logan. The last time you had seen him, he had been with Carol and Andrea down by the water, helping with the laundry. Amy had been showing him how to skip rocks unsuccessfully. You have called his name and he had waved back, grinning broadly. 

That was the last time you had seen your boy smile. 

Walking through the camp, you checked every tent and in the RV, looking for Logan. “Dale?” You called up to the man on watch. 

“What can I do you for, (Y/N)?” Dale asked. 

“You seen Logan lately?” You asked and Dale shook his head. From his spot on top of the RV, he put his head on a swivel, searching the area, but he couldn’t spot the dark curls of your son. The same curls his daddy had. 

“Sorry, girl, don’t see him,” Dale said and something twitched in your chest. You kept searching for him, but still, he was nowhere to be seen. 

“I think he’s with Shane,” Jacqui said as she folded a couple of shirts.

“What?” You asked.

“I saw him following after his daddy when Shane went to go get more water,” she explained, but you were already shaking your head. 

“No, he knows he’s not allowed to leave the camp. Not even with one of us,” you said, looking around, starting to panic. Logan knew the rules. There wasn’t much that you had to explain to him in the new world, but one thing always remained the same: stay at the camp. “Logan!” You yelled as you did another turn around the camp.

“Logan!” You yelled again, but his voice never returned. It was only a few more minutes that the sound of Shane’s car reached your ears. You ran to him as he got out. He looked at you confused. 

“What’s wrong?” He asked, reaching for you.

“Where’s Logan? Is he with you?” You asked, leaning over to look in the car, but it was empty. 

“Baby, what are you talking about?”

“I can’t find him and Jacqui said he went with you to get the water,” you explained in a rush. Shane’s face changed then from confusion to instant worry. His eyes flicked around the campsite and then he began shaking his head. 

“He….he…” Shane stuttered. 

“What?” You asked, trying to get him to focus. 

“He tried to come with me, but I told him no. I told him to go back to you. He was only a few yards from the camp, (Y/N). He was supposed to go right back,” Shane explained. You stepped away from him, your hands shaking.

“He didn’t,” you told him, “I was with Daryl and he was supposed to stay put. I thought he was with Carl or Amy this whole time...oh my god.”

“He was supposed to come right back,” Shane repeated.

“Then where the hell is my son!” You screamed at him. Shane just kept shaking his head as you yelled at him. Just then, you felt arms wrap around you as Lori appeared and tried to get you to calm down. 

“Shh, it’s okay, we’re gonna find him,” Lori said in your ear, but you pushed away from her. Carl was standing a few feet away and he looked just as worried as you felt. Shane looked at Lori and she at him and something felt...wrong.

“I can’t...I can’t breathe,” you said, your hands going into your hair. “Logan!” You yelled, but again, only the wind answered. Andrea, who stood by the fire, watched on with worry. She then looked over at Daryl and then nodded her head towards the woods. 

Without being asked, Daryl picked up his crossbow and then unceremoniously grabbed his brother by his collar and dragged him towards the woods. Merle cursed at his younger brother, but followed him nonetheless. Whether he admitted it or not, Merle liked Logan and Logan liked him. 

You turned back to your husband, staring up at him with wide eyes. “Find him.” He didn’t answer you and instead grabbed his gun and quickly went in the opposite direction the Dixons had gone in, Glenn followed quickly after, holding a baseball bat. 

Feeling frozen in your own body, you collapsed by the fire. You knew you needed to get up and do something, but your legs wouldn’t cooperate. You tried to remember the last thing you had said to your son. Was it, “I love you” or did you just simply say his name? It was all a blur in your mind. 

You felt the eyes of the rest of the camp on you as you sat there. Carol sat not too far from you with Sophia in her arms and Lori kept Carl close to her as well. Watching the mothers with their children had you snap out of whatever trance you had been in. 

Before the Turn you had been a Park Ranger. You knew how to navigate woods and you damn well knew how to kill Walkers and track. Getting to your feet, you went to your tent and grabbed the gun Shane had given you, his backup service weapon. Clicking off the safety, you grabbed a knife and slipped it through your belt. 

You ignored the looks from the others as you followed the path the Dixons had gone down. Daryl was the better tracker, but you could track almost as well and it didn’t take long for you to find their trail. Growing up in the woods of Georgia, the brothers knew how to stay hidden so you didn’t expect them to show themselves. 

Walking among the trees, you kept your knife at the ready. Everyone had quickly learned that sound attracted the Dead like a moth to a flame. You rarely used the bullets when it was just a couple of Walkers.

Stepping around another corner, a slow-moving corpse appeared through the trees, stumbling towards you. You didn’t hesitate as you rammed your blade into its skull, kicking it away from you. Looking down at the monster, bile rose in your throat.

There was fresh blood on its mouth. 

“Could be a deer,” you said softly to yourself, but then you saw something sticking out of its rotting ribs. Kneeling down, you grasped the handle of the knife that jutted from the Walker’s torso. Pulling it out, a silent scream came from your mouth. 

It was Logan’s knife. 

You and Shane weren’t comfortable with letting Logan handle a firearm just yet. Rick and Shane had always said once the boys turned fifteen and they wanted to learn, then they would teach them in a controlled setting. You had given the knife to Logan shortly after you reached the quarry. It was the one you always carried as a ranger. 

He never let it go. He said it was as if you were always there to keep him safe. 

Gripping it tightly in your hand, you struggled to your feet. “Logan?” You rasped out, unable to call for him. Every word seemed to die in your throat. Looking past the monster on the ground, you could see a blood trail. 

If you weren’t looking for it, it wouldn’t look like anything, but you knew what blood looked like. Especially when it was from a wounded animal. “It’s a deer, it’s a deer, it’s a deer,” you repeated as you pushed on through the trees. 

Blood was speckled through the leaves on the ground and smeared on a nearby tree trunk. Placing your hand against the stain, it was still warm and not yet congealed. Your hand fell to your side as you walked on.

Ahead of you, a fallen tree lay between two dying oaks. Blood was splashed across the top of it and as you moved closer, something was behind the trunk and it wasn’t moving. 

“A deer,” you said again, your feet moving on autopilot. “It’s...it’s a…” your voice petered out as you reached the trunk and looked down. 

There was Logan, your baby boy, covered in blood, and his chest was torn open.

Wailing echoed around you as if Banshees had come to take your soul. It took you a few moments to realize that you were the one screaming. Falling towards your son, blood coated your hands and your clothes. The sound called the Dead near, but you couldn’t care about them as your baby’s vacant eyes stared up at the canopy, his right hand still curled as if he was holding his knife. 

“No, no, no, no,” you repeated over and over, trying to reach for him, but you didn’t know where to touch. Low growls echoed around you as two Walkers staggered toward you. You looked at them through the blur of your tears. 

Suddenly, the first one dropped, a bolt protruding from its head. It didn't take long for the next one to fall the same way. Out of the trees came the Dixon brothers and when they saw what was before them, Daryl turned to his brother in shock.

“Get Walsh,” Daryl said to Merle who turned and ran, calling for the deputy. Daryl approached you slowly as if trying not to startle a mother bear with her cub. His eyes were on Logan’s body, carefully monitoring it. Some people changed within minutes, others took longer. “(Y/N),” Daryl began, kneeling down to you. 

“I found his knife,” you said, staring at nothing in particular. “He tried to kill it, Daryl. He missed the head, Why wouldn’t he go for the head? We all taught him to go for the head, right?” 

“We did,” Daryl assured you, trying to take the blade from your hands, but you pulled it against your chest.

“What are you doing? This is Logan’s,” you said, defensively. “This is Logan’s, you can’t have it.”

“Alright,” Daryl said, putting his hands up. “We need to step back, alright? Just a bit, girl.” You looked at him, confused. 

“Why?” 

“Because Logan is…he’s hurt and we don’t want him to hurt anyone else,” Daryl tried. 

“My son would never hurt anyone,” you said, staring back down at his face. “He’s an angel.” Reaching out slowly, you gently pushed his hair back. “My soft, beautiful, angel.” Daryl watched on with concern, but also ready to pull you back at a moment's notice. 

“(Y/N)!” Shane’s voice called through the woods as he and Lori ran towards you, Merle just behind them. 

“Walsh!” Daryl yelled as he stood. Shane stumbled as he approached, his eyes widening at the sight. Shane looked at Daryl and then back at you and then down at his child. His knees buckled and Daryl caught him before he could hit the ground. “I need ya to listen,” Daryl said, trying to get the deputy’s attention. “We gotta move him away from her.”

“That’s my boy…” Shane said.

“I know,” said Daryl. Shane pushed away from him, walking towards you. 

“I found him,” you whispered as Shane knelt next to you. “I knew I could find him.” Shane reached out lay his hand over his boy’s face and then he was sobbing. 

“Oh god,” he cried, falling over his child, his only son. “My boy…” Lori was crying too and Merle and Daryl were watching the whole thing, not knowing what to do. “I’m so sorry, Logan,” Shane cried. 

“Why wasn’t he with you?” You whispered and Shane looked at you in surprise. “Why didn’t you protect him? Shane? Why didn’t you protect him! Why is he….why was he here and not with you? Why? Why!” Shane tried to grab onto you, but you shoved him back. “No!”

“I’m sorry, baby,” he cried, his tears still flowing off his chin. “I thought… He was supposed to come right back.”

“You killed my baby!” You yelled, pushing him back again and Shane took the hit as he continued to cry. 

“We have to move him,” Shane said, but you were shaking your head. You went to argue when movement caught your eye. Freezing, you looking down to see your baby looking back at you but without those warm brown eyes of his.

Instead, they were milky white. 

A ghostly hand moved towards you as Logan reached out, but before you could take his hand, Shane had wrapped you in his arms. “No!” You screamed as he hauled you away. “No, no! That’s my baby! Logan! Logan!”

“It’s not him anymore, baby, it’s not him,” Shane said as he gripped you tight. You screamed in his arms, trying to fight back, but no fight was left in your bones. Shane kept pulling you away as you watched Merle lean over your boy. 

“No!” You yelled as the older Dixon pulled his knife. Lori followed the two of you, keeping your view of Logan blocked. Shane sobbed in your neck as he lifted you up into his arms and walked you away from your child who was being put to rest for the final time.

————

Nobody spoke to you as you sat on the edge of camp. 

Shane sat next to you, unable to move, let alone speak. Everything in his world had just gone out like a light. The way Logan had looked so...broken on the floor of the forest. He felt hatred rise in him, all of it directed at himself. How could he have let this happen? Logan was gone because of him.

Sitting there, you could hear the quiet sobs of your husband, but they did not fully resonate with you.

Why was crying? Had something happened? Was someone hurt?

It took your mind a while to catch up to your body as you too, were sobbing silent tears. You followed the path of your tears as they rolled off your face and onto the material of your pants, leaving small dark spots behind. 

You began to wonder if a person could ever run out of tears. Was that possible? You couldn’t be sure. You did know, however, that when a person cried a lot, it was important to stay hydrated. Looking down at your waist, you searched for your canteen, but it wasn’t there. 

Dried blood was stuck to the side of your shirt and you gently grasped the ruin fabric in your fingers. It felt like a strange paint, one you weren’t sure you would choose to paint with. 

Looking back over at the camp, you could see the others glancing over at you and Shane who sat with his back towards your companions. You didn’t know much longer the two of you sat there before you heard the familiar tread of Daryl and Merle’s boots. 

Daryl entered the camp and approached you. In his arms was your son. His face was covered, but you could see the tuft of dark hair sticking out of the blanket Daryl had wrapped him in. The younger Dixon gently walked towards you and Shane and placed Logan before you. 

“I’m sorry,” Daryl said gently before turning away to go wash the blood from his hands. 

Your son’s blood. 

You couldn’t bring yourself to look at him, only staring at the space right above him. Shane, however, moved closer to the body, laying his hands over the wool blanket as if he could feel the life that was no longer there. Shane’s cries turned from silent to hoarse chokes of emotion. 

Keeping your eyes on the same spot above Logan, you couldn’t look at him or your husband. You didn’t know if it was anger you felt or guilt, but right then it was too overwhelming to bear. Logan’s knife was still in your hand as your thumb worried at the handle, feeling the smooth wood against your calloused skin. 

The sun began to dip over the hills and Shane got up. “I’m going to walk the perimeter. Make sure no more Walkers get through,” he said, though you weren’t sure you actually heard him or whether he knew that he had said anything at all. 

Shane walked away, picking up his gun and you stayed put, still keeping your eyes on the horizon. The cold set in rather quickly and shook your bones. Your breath was visible before you, but you couldn’t move and anytime you shut your eyes for more than two seconds, all you could see were the milky white eyes of the creature that had become your son. 

It was well into the night when Glenn approached you, a blanket in his hands. He gently placed it around your shoulders, making sure you were wrapped up tight before leaving you alone. 

You knew you should eat something, but you couldn’t feel the hunger either. You couldn’t feel anything. 

When Shane returned, he sat down across from you on the other side of Logan. “(Y/N),” he called, but you remained frozen. “Please, (Y/N), look at me.” 

This time you did and what you saw confused you. You blinked multiple times, but the man in front of you did not look like your husband. This Shane was a shell, something had gone out in those eyes of his. A flame that could never fully burn again. 

The two of you stared at each other for a moment, hearing the crackling of the fire in the background. “Shane,” you whispered, your throat dry as a bone. 

“Logan,” Shane began, sending a rush of ice to your chest, “he needs to be buried, sweetheart.” Finally looking down, you stared at the bundle that was your child. You reached a hand out, but pulled it back at the last second. It didn’t feel right to touch him.

Not like this. 

“He’s supposed to be in a cemetery,” you whispered into the night. 

“I know, Darlin’,” Shane said. 

“He’s not supposed to be buried in some unmarked grave,” you said. “He’s not supposed to be buried at all.” Shane crawled over to where you sat and pulled you into his side. You barely felt the weight of his body as he pressed a kiss to the side of your head. 

“This is all my fault,” Shane said into your hair. “I am so sorry.” Dropping your head, you once again couldn’t look him in the face. Why hadn’t he walked Logan back to the camp? Why was he alone? Why had he gone off without telling anyone? Was he looking for you?

“If…” Shane continued, “if I could switch places with him…” he trailed off again and then was silent. You didn’t want to hear anymore. Not after today, today was too much already. 

Though, you did agree on one thing. Logan needed to be laid to rest.

———-

Dawn brought light and neither of you had moved, but you knew it was time to get up. You knew you would mourn for the rest of your life, but Logan deserved better than being wrapped in a makeshift shroud before his crying parents. 

You found a quiet place far from where the incident had occurred. Close enough to the water, but not too close that someone would accidently ruin the ground. 

Shane dug the grave alone. Lori had offered to help, as did Glenn and Morales, but Shane had said no. He had to do this on his own. You sat next to Logan’s body, listening to the breeze, his knife still in your hands as you used it to cut away at a piece of wood to keep your hands busy. 

As soon as Shane had finished, you rose to your feet. The others from the camp approached you both, offering a moment of silence as Shane bent down and lifted Logan into his arms. Carefully, he placed your son in the ground, adjusting the blanket to keep his face covered. 

Looking down at him like this, you were reminded of when he would play in the blanket forts you and Shane use to build with him. The one time he had gotten trapped under the roof of one and claimed to be a ghost, chasing the both of you around the house. 

You could imagine the smile on his face when you had tackled him on the couch, laughing. Shane had followed up with jumping on both of you as he used his best impression of a “scary monster”. Logan had laughed, slipping off the couch and telling Monster-Shane that his daddy was a cop and he fought monsters.

You had watched on with a grin from the couch as your boys wrestled on the ground. Shane as the monster and Logan as the cop. The moment had ended with a massive pillow fight that you had successfully won, and the prize? Hearing Logan’s laugh echo throughout the house. 

It had been music to your ears. 

Tears flowed again as you turned your face to the heavens, letting the memory wash over you with warmth. Slowly, you picked up a handful of dirt and sprinkled it over the grave. 

Soon after, Shane did the same. “Goodbye my sweet boy,” you whispered to him and then one by one, the rest of the camp began filling in the grave to say goodbye to the laughing boy with the dark curly hair and the goofy grin. 

You and Shane sat nearby, not speaking and not touching. The Walsh family was now fractured and nobody knew what to do about it. The others had pity and any time they would look at you and your husband, they were reminded that the new world would not stop taking until it had stolen all the light in the world. 

As the dirt was smoothed over and the shovels were put down, you stood from your spot next to your husband, passing your new friends in silent. You ignored everyone as you kneeled down on the soft soil, pressing your hands into the ground. 

Logan was finally at rest.

———-

After

Coming back into yourself, you shook your head as the memory once again settled in the back of your mind. 

Logan had been buried for some time now and whether you chose to acknowledge it or not, you and Shane were still not quite...whole. 

There were days when you never left his grave. Grass has slowly grown through the surface and the rain has made it the color of emeralds and while there was no marker, you knew exactly where your boy was. 

Lori was kind as always, bringing you water if you needed it or offering to help Daryl with the hunts, but you continued to shake your head. You had always helped Daryl clean his game and you weren’t going to stop now. 

Logan wouldn’t have wanted that. 

Carl Grimes was the one, however, that constantly checked on you. You could see how much he missed his friend. He had many nightmares that would wake you up in the next tent over and then you would hear Lori’s soft voice coaxing him back to sleep. 

Carl would sit with you by the grave and draw or just listen to the birds and the wind. When it was time to eat, he would convince you to finally take some food and wouldn’t leave until you proved to him that you were full enough. You had always liked the kid, but now? He was one of the only things that kept you together most days. 

Shane was trying to give you space as he was still mourning in his own way. Shortly after the makeshift funeral, he had drowned himself in responsibility. He took on more watch shifts than before and went on more water runs too. He had become the group’s main protector, next to the Dixon brothers, and it was clear to everyone that he was doing it to keep his mind busy. 

As for Daryl, he had just gone on a hunt that would last at least until tomorrow. He was going to see if he could find any larger game and decided to go alone. He did, however, ask if you were going to be okay while he was gone. You had assured your friend that you could handle his absence for a day or so. He had rolled his eyes and offered a small smile and then left with his bow on his back.

Looking out over the quarry, you heard footsteps and you didn’t need to turn around to see who it was. 

Shane joined you on the ground, leaning back on his forearms. “Glenn is heading out with some others for a run,” Shane said. 

“In the city?” You asked, keeping your eyes forward. 

“Yeah, I guess they’re takin’ Merle this time. T-Dog isn’t thrilled,” Shane sighed. 

“Are you going with them?” You asked. 

“No,” Shane said and then paused. “Did you want me to?” It was silent for a moment before you shook your head. 

“No, we need you here,” you whispered. Shane sat up straighter, folding his legs beneath him. You could see him out of the corner of your eye as he looked over at you, trying to see your face. 

“I don’t know how many more times I can apologize, (Y/N),” Shane said after a moment, his eyes void of tears now. “I can’t stop thinking about that day and if I had just let him come with me or taken him back myself… I don’t know how to stop wondering about what I should have done.” 

“He was stubborn,” you said. “He would have found a way to follow you anyways.” Shane’s mouth fell slightly open at your words, not expecting you to defend his actions. 

“It should’ve been me. I should be the one lying in the ground and if I was, then he would be here next to you and you would be smiling.” 

“No,” you shook your head, finally looking at him. “I would have Logan, but I wouldn’t have you. Do you honestly think I would be happy about that?”

“He was your baby,” Shane reasoned. 

“And you are my...you are my person, Shane. I would never wish you to die, no matter how angry or sad I am. Never.” Shane let out a breath, letting your words sink in. He nodded silently. 

“I had thought about joining in on the run,” he admitted, “but I’m staying right here. I’m not going anywhere.” You returned the gesture and looked out at the grave again. 

“He’s gone, Shane,” you whispered, your fingers playing with the grass. 

“I know.”

“He would have liked it here, don’t you think? It’s so quiet.” 

“Yeah, he would have,” said Shane. “Baby, I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I need you to know that I never…” he once again let the words fizzle out, staring down at his hands. 

Slowly, your reached over and placed your hand on top of his, touching him for the first time in a long time. Shane froze beneath your touch and then just as slow, laced your fingers with his. 

“Please don’t leave me,” you choked out and looked back at him, a desperation in your eyes. Shane shook his head and then leaned in, kissing you softly. You let it happen, finding peace in the feel of his lips on yours.

“Never, Darlin’,” Shane whispered. “I’m never leavin’ you.” 

Curling up in his arms, the two of you sat there in the shadow of Logan’s grave, trying to feel the presence of your boy. Looking down at your boots, you noticed a small stem pushing its way through the emerald-green grass. The beginnings of a wildflower. 

Staring at the start of new life, you leaned against your person and you smiled.

Tags: 

@thanossexual​ @yes-sir-hotchner​ @felicisimor​ @amaroho​