iamkingcole

[cosmic-ships]

Please help, he's just so sweet and so cute(His hair is always wind tousled and ahhh its cuuute!). I hate the little butterflies I get whenever he laughs or smiles- hell he does literally anything and I feel my cheeks get warm!

All it took was one little smile and I was like o///o o-oh... then got all awkward and laughed all nervously and my heart said "THAT'S THAT ONE! THAT ONE RIGHT THERE!" I was wondering if there was going to be some twist where he's actually not a great dude but nope, it didn't happen, he remain the adorable awkward happy and empathetic man he was at the start of the film.

Like he's an absolute dork in all the right ways and I can say without a doubt I did not slowly, and elegantly fall for him. I tripped over my own two feet and fell so fast for him, I hit the damn ground at his feet.

I've actually swooned over him when he was in a ramble about his little tradition about eating oranges. It was the most random anticlimactic thing in the word and there I was all dreamy eyes, chin in my palm, leaning closer to the screen with a stupid little idiotic smile on my face-

What did you do to me~?

[captainremmington-13]

𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖉𝖆𝖚𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖔𝖋 𝖉𝖊𝖆𝖙𝖍 - 𝖔𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖎𝖓 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞

show!Luke Castellan x daughter of thanatos!reader

DISCLAIMER: I don’t own the image above or any of Rick Riordan’s characters/world-building.

⚠️Warnings⚠️: attempted murder, swearing, parental neglect, overall sad vibes

A/N : this post is to set up context for the rest of the series (i have to set up the lore so everything makes sense lmao). this is my first time writing for luke, i promise i’ll get better at it with time :))

you essentially grew up at camp, having arrived at the young age of five

monsters began creeping their way into your life ever since you learned to speak. death seemed to be drawn to you.

first was the dracanea disguised as a nanny that tried to eat you while your mother was out of the house (she was a florist that prepared bouquets for funerals). you only survived because the dracanea was interrupted by your mortal older brother. when he saw you on the ground with the nanny about to wrap her hands around your tiny throat, he screamed so loud that the dracanea fled immediately. he then called the cops on her, but she’d long since disappeared. you were only three at the time.

the final straw was when an Aeternae attacked you on the preschool playground. it lept out from the large bushes near the fence and nearly ripped your face off. you would have died if your teacher, a satyr in disguise, hadn’t scared it off. 

your preschool teacher, Mr. Maciolli, escorted your to camp the next day. he had a long talk with your mother, who didn’t put up much of a fight to keep you at home. you attracted trouble that she had no time to deal with. 

with that, you were uprooted from your normal life and transported into the world of the Olympian gods. 

you were the youngest camper by far. the older campers took you under their wing, helping you adjust to camp life as best as they could. they gave you a wooden sword and taught you the basics of combat. they made sure to keep you away from anyone who could cause you harm. and most importantly, the many unclaimed demigods that you met while staying in Cabin 11 taught you that the gods didn’t give a flying fuck about their kids.

though it was difficult at first, you were happy. sure, you missed your mom sometimes, but you reminded yourself that she hadn’t been interested in keeping you around anyways. 

your first five years at camp were relatively peaceful. you developed your personality and learned your likes and dislikes, just like any “normal” kid. 

however, there were occasional incidents that were absolutely unexplainable. 

the worst one of all was this: a son of ares kept throwing pebbles at you while you were supposed to be picking strawberries. no matter what you said, he wouldn’t quit. after a particularly large pebble hit you in the back of the head, you turned around and screamed “stop it!”

the kid immediately collapsed, his skin turning pale. the other campers rushed him to the infirmary, and the apollo kids immediately got to work. 

they concluded that his heart had stopped. he had been dead to the world for almost a whole minute. if not for the nectar that had been poured down his throat, he probably wouldn’t have made it.

campers did their best not to anger you after that. nobody could explain what had happened, but clearly, you had caused the son of ares to have a close brush with death.

you were claimed by Thanatos, the god of death, at the age of ten. 

your social life turned on its head after that.

basically everyone except for Chiron and Mr. D avoided you like you were the walking Black Plague (which you kinda were)

after getting claimed, your powers increased. you could touch a small plant and kill it instantly if you wished to. wherever you sat, the grass would wither around you. you could even kill small animals with a simple touch (only if you wished it to die). 

nobody wanted to risk crossing you and getting killed. so nobody tried to get close to you. they would say the occasional “hello”, but that was it. 

you grew to resent not only your father, but all of the gods. they had everything, it seemed, while you had nothing. they didn’t even have the heart to check in on their own children. 

you learned to thrive without any companions. you spent your days sparring against invisible enemies, building muscle, and developing stamina. you rarely conversed with the other members of Cabin 11, staying in your bunk in the far corner of the cramped space. during your down time, you killed flowers, dried and pressed them, and used them to make collages. 

things were relatively stagnant for awhile.

until you turned fourteen. 

at age fourteen, luke castellan arrived at camp, and changed your life forever. 

Thank you for reading! Pls let me know what you think in the comments!!! I plan on making this a series, but I’m not sure how I’m going to format it yet. Stay tuned for the first official installment!

Let me know in the comments if you want to be added to the taglist!

[zeep-xanflorp]

so at this point everyone is accepting that rick and diane never had a healthy marriage right??

like i think what everyone assumed (including me) is that they retconned all the things about rick not believing in love in the first two seasons when they revealed rick's revenge quest in season 6. like i thought that because rick was doing all of that for diane and beth, that it was indicative of a healthy relationship. but i don't think that's the case anymore after looking into some old episodes. i truly believe it was the intentions of the writers to make him have a bad relationship w diane since the beginning.

so here's what i've been thinking right.

"listen morty, what people call love is just a chemical reaction that compels animals to breed. it hits hard, morty, and then it slowly fades, leaving you stranded in a failing marriage. i did it. your parents are gonna do it. break the cycle, morty. rise above. focus on science." (rick potion #9, ep 106)

the situation he describes is so specific. he describes "failing marriages" and compared his marriage to that of beth and jerry's which is infamously codependent and toxic.

"i couldn't make [marriage] work and i can turn a black hole into a sun, so..." (the wedding squanchers, ep 210)

he talks about how little he trusts in marriage. because despite his intelligence, he couldn't be happy in his own.

so these are the two hints we get about rick's marriage before diane even actually shows onscreen. both of these quotes demonstrate rather clearly that their relationship was dysfunctional in some capacity. that it was "failing".

so if we're call caught up let's move onto the season 3 premiere.

"why don't i go grab beth and we can go out for ice cream?" (the rickshank redemption, 301)

that's all she has to say after rick says he's giving up on science - his passion. which is rather odd because it was clearly something he was working on for some time and he just says he's giving it all up immediately. which is odd, right? this well seeming remark could be far more insidious than it seems.

i'm not the only one to point this out but that's it. she dismisses his feelings. she invites him out to a place with their daughter (where, with her present, they would be incapable of having an adult conversation which would put more distance between them) and in this regard, beth acts as a physical barrier between them both.

i'm not saying that diane is in the wrong here. i'm not saying rick is perfect. but that's one instance of their relationship where something pretty major had just happened. and it's immediately brushed off.

(abcs of beth, 309)

there are plenty of hints that rick was indeed an absentee father, even when he was still living with his daughter. take the abcs of beth, where rick talks about all the toys that child beth had to play with. beth insists that she asked him to make those because she wanted to spend time with him. let me repeat, beth explains that she wanted to spend time with her father so bad that she asked him to make lethal weapons for her to play with. plus the whole froopyland thing - an environment designed to be safe so he wouldn't have to keep an eye on her. it's obvious she channeled her neglect in a destructive way - aka in a way that she got from her father. but i digress.

the point is, rick has always been absent from his family in some capacity. whether it was emotionally as we see with diane or physically as we see with beth.

there are also some hints at infidelity on rick's end. take mr nimbus, who is confirmed to have known diane.

then when diane and beth die, he absolutely crumbled. and this scene does break my heart watching it bc we know it's not just a part of a fake memory now. it was all real. the pain he experienced in that moment - the hope he had of living a normal life and making everything up to his family - just got ripped away from him.

so even though on the surface, rick appears to have a healthy relationship w diane when she shows up in the show, that doesn't mean that's all there is. it's very unlikely based on all of the information presented in the earlier seasons that these two were stable together and i think that the presentation of diane as a perfect loving caring wife is intentional. it either represents how rick remembers her - as someone kind - or is only a small part of the equation.

oh and let's not forget the ghost ai that rick made for his dead wife. he designed her to berate him, to wear him down. to never let him move on from what happened. like that's something super messed up wow. maybe

in conclusion, rick has never had a stable family or home life. that thing didn't appeal or satisfy him. it caused him to neglect his daughter and continues to impact the relationship he has with his adult family members. by no means is this an excuse and that's hardly my point. i feel it's important that we know the reality of ricks marriage to understand how that impacts him in the show we're watching.

ofc this is just my take on what little we have seen from the two of them. i rlly want to see more so i can maybe make a better assessment. but yeah. whatever went on there? not healthy. no way in hell.

[sunkissedandseraphic]

oh! i meant u should create your own!! maybe daryl has a younger sister?

Family Ties || Daryl Dixon & oc!sister

Summary: Daryl Dixon loved his sister more than anything, and they'd give their lives for each other (their relationship throughout the course of the timeline)

Word Count: 3.7k

Warnings: mentions of child abuse, twd-type violence, brief eluding to sa

A/N: I had so much fun writing this request, lmk if you'd like to see more of this oc in the future!

From the moment the Dixons arrived at the quarry camp, judgments started flying. Glares were cast towards the two redneck brothers and the younger girl that followed them– particularly the one whose wardrobe consisted of flannels with the sleeves ripped off– around like a lost puppy.

The group conversed every moment the family of three was out of earshot, trying to decipher what lay underneath each one’s rough exterior.

“Is that his kid?”

“I feel bad for whatever woman had to carry his product for nine months,”

Lori and Andrea were seated by the water, working on the growing piles of laundry with Carol and Jacqui, sifting through different rumors that recently run throughout the quarry about the Dixons. They couldn’t help the laughing and the whispers hidden behind their hands, eyes flicking to the teen, Belle, across the water with the younger of the two Dixons.

“Belle’s their sister.” A voice came from behind the women. They all turned to see Carl standing to the side, smiling as he gestured over to where they had all just been staring. “She told me. She’s nice, she’s not like her brothers,”

It seemed that Carl had the final say because after his small input, all hushed conversations speculating the Dixons were shut down. Nobody particularly sought any of them out to talk, but the air around the camp shifted to a lighter tone.

Unlike her brothers, once the rumors were cut short, Belle’s sweet demeanor quickly shone. She never hesitated to help around with any job and never failed to provide a sense of relief in pressing moments– which often translated into cracking snide comments after one of Shane’s meltdowns. 

The night of the fish fry, Belle was by Carol and Carl when the walkers invaded. Her heart stopped from terror; Merle was gone, Daryl was out looking for him, and she was surrounded by people she hardly knew. It was no secret she could fight, but God, she just wanted Daryl back. 

Belle was taking down her third walker when she heard the gunfire. Her head whipped around to see Rick bursting into the camp, the few that had followed to Atlanta trailing behind. Everything was a blur, and though desperate to find Daryl’s face, there was too much to process who any of the people fighting were. 

As the last of the horde fell limp, she heard a familiar voice booming in the darkness. “Belle!” Was he back? Could it be him? “Where is she? Where’s my sister?” 

The knife fell from Belle’s grip as she ran, the urge to cry bubbling in her chest. “Daryl!” Her throat burned from screaming for her brother over and over again, and the moment she crashed into him, tears spilled over. 

Daryl wasted no time wrapping his arms around his sister, cradling her head, and rubbing a hand up and down her back. “Hey, s’okay, I’ve gotcha,” he whispered, attempting to provide Belle with any comfort. “I’m here, Bumblebee,”

The group was stunned, watching how dramatically Daryl’s behavior changed to a side of him nobody had ever seen before; they had never seen the redneck so gentle, so caring. They didn’t even know he could be. But, when they saw him walk Belle into a quiet corner of the camp and place her hand over his heart, aiding her back to less panicked breathing, they figured maybe the Dixon siblings weren’t so bad.

________________

“You look like whatever Hershel’s horse shits out,”

Belle heard her brother’s strained laugh as she entered the guest bedroom of the farmhouse, a towel and pitcher of water in her free hand. As she kicked the door closed, she caught sight of Daryl; bandages wrapped around his head, but dirt and blood still strong on his skin. “Feel like it too,” Daryl groaned, watching as the sixteen-year-old fluttered about the room.

Sighing, Belle towered over the bed and placed her hand on Daryl's forehead, relieved there was no fever in sight. “Maybe it’s a sign to take a break. Maybe it’s God fuckin’ with you so you learn to be careful when you do this shit.”

When Daryl heard the crack in his sister’s voice, his heart felt a pinch of agony. The search for Sophia had taken a toll on him, though no matter how much it hurt when Carol’s face swam with disappointment daily after returning empty-handed, it couldn’t compare to how guilty he was seeing Belle’s anxiety increase every new day.

There was quite an age gap between the Dixon siblings: though Merle was only six years older than Daryl, Daryl was nearly twelve years older than Belle. Despite this, the two younger Dixons’ bond was unbreakable; when living with their father, Daryl had always taken the brunt of the abuse for her, and because of that, she clung to Daryl. He was the reason she left the house at such a young age, never having to spend too much of her childhood in that hell. Merle on the other hand was… well, he was Merle. The two were never as close.

“Bee…” Daryl’s voice instantly trailed off, unsure of how to ease her frustrations. As Belle dampened the towel to begin scrubbing the grime from his face, he remained quiet, afraid he would only aggravate his sister further. Once the cloth got dry, Belle set it back in the bowl, and Daryl said the only thing that came to mind.

“I saw Merle.” “What? Where? When? Did he–” Belle spat out, tipping the bowl and splashing water onto the hardwood. She rushed forward, frantic for more information, though stopped short of the bed when Daryl waved his hand.

“Nah, not actually. Hallucinated him.” The explanation was brief, but it still managed to crush Belle’s heart. Even if the two had never gotten along, had never been particularly close, Merle was still her brother. She was allowed to miss him. She was allowed to be scared.

Silence fell over the room once more when Belle returned to scrubbing the filth covering Daryl’s skin. Tension was crushing, and guilt was swirling in Daryl’s stomach. He loved his sister, and he knew she was scared, and he hated to admit it, but so was he. 

“Thought I was gon’ die out there.” 

His words cut deep. Hesitantly, Belle glanced at Daryl and set the rag back in its holder. “You still have family to come back for, y’know,” She mumbled, focusing down and away from Daryl while she sat on the edge of the bed.

Daryl wasted no time extending his arms out to his sister. The moment she accepted, Daryl squeezed her as tight as he could manage, minding his wounds, and pressed his lips to her temple.  

“Always gonna come back for you, Bee,”

_______________________

When the prison fell Daryl escaped with Beth, and Belle found their way out alongside Tyrese and the kids, though neither knew where the other was. Every moment Daryl spent with the younger Greene, his mind drifted to his sister; what if she was dead? What if she had gotten hurt? Or bitten?

Daryl lost count of how many nights he spent staring at the sky, his stomach in knots thinking about where Belle could be. She was seventeen now, but she was still his baby sister. 

When Beth was taken, the last piece of hope within Daryl died. If Beth was gone, Belle had to be. They were gone just like all the others. Then, when he found Rick, Carl, and Michonne after the group he had become included in, The Claimers, ambushed their small camp, a flicker of possibility rekindled. With that spark, though, was the deep horror that came from watching those… monsters put their hands on Carl– what if that was happening to Belle and he couldn’t be there to stop it? What kind of big brother would he be then?

Rick had done everything to reach the older man, but it was useless. His walls towered higher than anything in sight, and Daryl had no plans to let a soul inside them.

Daryl’s stone facade– scarily reminiscent of the person he was back at the quarry– remained until after Terminus, when during the joyous reunion with Carol, she informed him Belle was with Tyrese and Judith that very moment.

Daryl Dixon spent his life running from shadows and screams, but when he watched Belle exit a tiny cabin with those two, his feet moved so fast he was convinced he was flying. In the blink of an eye, Daryl was cradling his sister in his hold, not ashamed of the sob ripped from his throat. “God…” He choked out, face concealed in Belle’s shoulder. It felt like a dream, as though when he opened his eyes, she would be gone again. 

They were both shaking, crying like there was no tomorrow. Despite the multitude of reuniting happening, right then, it was only Daryl and Belle in those woods. They were together again, and goddamnit, that was the only thing that mattered. 

Past fears rushing back, Daryl suddenly pulled away from the embrace and steadied his hands

on Belle, searching up and down for any bite marks or bruises. Belle tried to dismiss the frantic scanning, but when Daryl traced over a fairly fresh cut running down the underside of her forearm, she shook her head and grabbed his hands. “It’s not a walker scratch, I’m okay. I’m okay, Daryl,” Belle smiled. 

This time, Belle trapped Daryl inside a hug, and he put up no fight. He was like putty in her hands, just grateful that his sister was breathing and standing before him. “Didn’t think I was ever gonna see you again,” he admitted, voice cracking. He had almost forgotten what her voice sounded like. “I can't lose you. I can’t lose the only family I got left.”

______________________

“My goodness! Look at this pretty little thing, thinkin’ she can swing her fist wherever she pleases!”Negan– the real Negan, not one of his bullshit goons– taunted, sliding his index finger underneath Belle’s chin. Her jaw grinding shut, eyes glaring into his soul, almost challenging him. Her group, her family, had watched two of their own brutally murdered, so who could blame her for throwing a fist in retaliation? 

The teen caught the leader’s attention. He sauntered over, a smug smile plastered across his lips; he had ideas for Belle in mind. She was headstrong and stubborn, you’d have to be blind and deaf to miss it, but he knew she was scared at her core. 

There was a disgusting gleam in Negan’s eyes. “Well, there is only one correct response for that, right?” He chuckled, turning his head toward the man behind him. “Dwighty-Boy, load her up.”

Belle’s throat constricted the moment Dwight took a single step forward, but before he could get near her, a gruff voice stopped him in his tracks.“No!” Daryl screamed, all gazes settling on him. Negan took his protest as a dare and stooped in front of Daryl, waiting for what Daryl would demand. He wasn’t afraid, though, because he knew it was an act. He had known men like Negan, and there was no way in hell he would let someone like this near his sister. “You take me. You keep your hands off her and you take me.”

In all honesty, Negan couldn’t give two shits which Dixon was kept at The Sanctuary. So, with no opposition, he shrugged and moved aside so Dwight could tie Daryl up and get him into their truck, prepared for the ride back. As he was dragged across the pavement, Daryl snuck one sad grin to Belle, leaving her with something she could remember him by. “No! No, please, take me! Take me! Leave him! Take me!” Belle’s voice was giving out, too afraid to hold back. She couldn’t lose Daryl. Losing the only family she had left would certainly be the end. 

While Daryl gave no resistance, Belle’s wails grew louder, and Negan only rolled his eyes. His baseball bat swung between her and Daryl as a gesture to the siblings, Glenn’s blood stuck to the wood splattering on her top. “You two must be either screwing or from the same litter with your obnoxious indecisiveness, but seein’ those resemblances, that must be your big brother, am I right?” His hand found its way to Belle’s cheek, and she flinched as Negan caressed her. “Well, darling, though very tempting to get another beautiful face at my Sanctuary, I already have my men loading your brother up,”

It had been almost three weeks since the lineup, since Daryl had been ripped away from Belle. She had no idea if her brother was okay, let alone alive at this point– she had seen him once when the Saviors came to collect from Alexandria, but Negan had made sure there was no way she could get to him. 

When Belle saw Daryl in Alexandria that day, she barely recognized the man. Obviously deprived of basic hygiene, he was skittish and silent– seeing Daryl that day was like looking at Daryl when living with their father. He was not himself, and it brought Belle pain to know the scared little boy reappeared from the shadows of his past.

Whoever claimed absence made the heart grow fonder was built on bullshit. Her brother’s absence whisked Belle into a surreal state of hardly eating or sleeping through the weeks, while the nervous habit of picking at the skin around her nails left her fingers cracked and bloody. It would have been easy to mistake her for a walker rather than a living teenager. 

Carol had dragged Belle from the mountain of blankets she trapped herself under to join the group in traveling to Hilltop. Her limbs were heavy, and her mind was somehow more sluggish. She spent the whole ride to the colony with her eyes glued out the window, no thoughts passing through, yet at the same time, everything weighed on her.

As Hilltop’s gates revealed Maggie, Sacha, and Enid, there was no doubt relief touched her heart to see them safe. She welcomed the embraces, but as a man stepped out from behind a row of trailer homes nestled in the heart of Hilltop, Jesus only steps behind, her attitude changed its tune. 

“Daryl!” 

Belle’s voice echoed as she took off, going towards her brother at full speed. She disregarded the tears traveling down her cheeks and barreled into Daryl’s arms, her hands clutching his shirt with all the strength in her body. 

Stumbling backward from the sudden contact, the older Dixon chuckled, ignoring his own misty eyes. “I know, I know…” he cooed, hands combing through her curls, “I’m alright, Bumblebee, I’m okay…”

_______________________

“Plannin’ on goin’ south more past the river, ‘s been a while since I’ve searched that area. Thought maybe I could find somethin’.”

The babble of the stream provided no aid in calming Belle’s fury. Nearly four years had passed since the explosion at the bridge, since Rick had passed– or, as Daryl insisted on believing, disappeared. Once the rubble of the structure settled that tragic day, Daryl set out in search of his missing brother, whether it be as a man or a walker. 

Belle had seen her brother self-destruct her entire life; to cope with their father’s abuse, to cope with those they lost along the way, and to punish himself for what he viewed as failing the ones he loved. She had seen Daryl push himself, but never like this. These were uncharted waters, and she despised the stubborn glimmer of determination.

For six years, Daryl called these woods home and gave his life to find Rick, to bring him home to his community, his wife, and his kids. For six years, Belle had begged for her brother to come home, each plea to no avail. 

“Are you ever gonna come home?” Belle spat venom with her tone, refusing eye contact and instead showering Dog with some greatly deserved attention. If Daryl wouldn’t come home for her, certainly the guilt card could be applied. “Carol keeps asking for you, Judith keeps asking for you; everyone misses you, Daryl.”

However, her guilt-tripping fell deaf on Daryl’s ears as she listened to his persistent, yet predictable, argument for what felt like the hundredth time. “We don’t know if he’s out there, Belle, we never found a body. If I keep lookin’, I might find–” “That’s just it, you don’t know if you’ll ever actually find him!” Every ounce of frustration, the resentment of not being able to convince Daryl to return to where he belonged, toppled over. The wall crumbled down, and there was no blocking the ugly truth that spilled. “You need to accept that, you need to accept he might just be dead!” “Nah! No fuckin’ way!” Their faces were suddenly inches apart, the jab of his finger on her chest earning a flinch from Belle. “Rick ain’t dead, and I ain’t gonna stop looking for him. Alexandria deserves their leader, Michonne don’t deserve to raise her kids alone!”

“She is not alone! Everyone pitches in, but you’d know that if you actually ever came home.” A crack in Belle’s voice gave room for rage to melt into heartache. Daryl needed to understand how badly this was hurting her, hurting their community. “They ask about you all the damn time, Daryl. Judith wants to see you again. They deserve their uncle, Michonne deserves to have you supporting her.”

A conversation meant to just be a check-in on each Dixon sibling had dissolved into a war, and knowing no positive outcome would result, Daryl’s whistle signaled to Dog it was time to take their leave. With a pat on the thigh, Dog trotted beside his owner, and in one last desperate attempt, Belle pulled the final ace from her sleeve. 

“I know you lost a brother on that bridge, but you left a sister.”

Belle shot to kill and damn, she never missed a target. Realizing the effect of his isolation felt like being dunked in cold water, waking him up to what he had been so blind to before. He’d thrown himself into searching for Rick and never paid mind to the family he had left, so convinced that this was what could help those same people. 

Michonne survived on what was real. Judith and RJ survived on their community. Alexandria survived on those bold enough to step up. Belle survived on her family; her brother. Rick may have been all of those things, but so was Daryl. They all needed him, now more than ever, and Belle was no exception.

His footsteps paused, and with a heavy sigh and keeping his back to his sister, Daryl gave his final word on the matter. 

“Tell Judith I’ll see her tomorrow,” _______________________

The air surrounding Hilltop that night was unfamiliar, uneasy. It stirred up memories of the war against the Saviors for many of its inhabitants, and while unwelcome, there was no avoiding it. 

This battle in retaliation to the attacks of the Whisperers was rumored to become the turning point of the bloodshed. Each community had settled on the land to prepare their defense. There were militia stationed around every corner, weapons at the ready for the moment it all began, and tension was inescapable. 

Now twenty-seven, Belle Dixon was willing to lay down her life to defend her people. It was impossible to miss how quickly she had grown from a skittish teenager equipped with hand-me-down survival basics into a warrior, with no restraints of fear or lingering doubts when it came to the new way of life. Belle had become a force of nature overnight, and Daryl never held more pride in the Dixon name. 

“Hey, y’alright?”

Daryl’s voice startled Belle from her spaced-out trance as she scanned the tables of weapons. Her hand reached for her bow and arrow, while also grabbing the set of knives she carried with her at all times. Adjusting her arsenal, Belle cast a grin at her brother while taking note of the setting sun. “Yeah. Let’s fuckin’ go.” _______________________

As the clocks ticked on, just over two years had gone by since Alpha’s reign was defeated, and now, Alexandria had been returned to its former glory and stood as a Commonwealth neighbor. A general sense of serenity ruled each community now, and with the ease of knowing their people rested in capable hands, Daryl decided it was time to continue the search for Rick.

“Please be safe,” Belle fussed, adjusting Daryl’s poncho.

Daryl knew that Belle had doubts about him leaving the Commonwealth’s safety, but he knew she understood why he had to set out once more. It wouldn’t be like before, this time it was different; this time there was nobody to push away, no crushing fear of needing to repay some sort of debt. These were Daryl’s terms, and the calling was too strong to push aside. “Always am, Belle,” Belle scoffed at her brother’s blatant lie, shoving him once he laughed with admission. “No, you’re not. I don’t know how many times you’ve landed in the infirmary or I’ve had to stitch you up myself,” 

Daryl made his first attempt to escape but was stopped by Belle running through the mental checklist she crafted for Daryl’s journey one final time. His second was cut short when she questioned the marked pathways on his map, the same ones she had approved barely fifteen minutes ago. The third, however, was interrupted when Belle asked to check the brakes of his motorcycle, convinced someone may have tampered with them.

“I promise I’ll be fine, Bee,” Daryl assured her, placing his hand on her cheek and smiling, wondering when his baby sister had grown up so fast. “You’ll radio so I know you’re alive?” “I’ll radio so you know I’m alive.”

After hearing the final confirmation, Belle wrapped her arms around Daryl and buried her head into his chest, savoring every last moment she had with her brother. “I love you, Daryl,” she muttered, eyelids falling closed, finding comfort in her brother’s hugs just like she had when she was a child. “Love ya more, Bumblebee.”

[beaker1636]

I'll Be Home For Christmas - Ricky Angst

AN: I am really proud of how this one came out, I genuinely love it! Thank you for the request @tearfallpixie ! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

“What do you mean that you won’t be here in time for Christmas?! This is why I didn’t want you to book a flight home on fucking Christmas eve?” 

You want to yell, to scream out your frustration and grief towards your boyfriend, who is telling you yet again that he is missing something important to you but instead you find yourself getting quieter, almost in a whisper as you fight back your tears from his news.

“You-you promised me that you would be home for Christmas after having to miss our anniversary, my birthday, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. Rick, you fucking promised me,” you mumble, lip trembling as you try to keep your tears back.

“I know I did baby, we’re all currently trying to figure out how to get home.  It’s not our fault that the flight was canceled, it just happens unfortunately.  In fact Chris is currently fighting with someone trying to figure out what the fuck we can all do to get home. Ryan, Vin, Chris and I were all booked on this flight and are stuck here.  I know I promised you to be back for your favorite holiday, I’m so fucking sorry and wish I could do more right now,” you can hear the remorse and frustration in his voice, that he was just as upset as you are.

You let out a sigh before responding, “It’s part of being with you, I have to accept that, I am working on accepting that, but it’s hard Rick it is really hard.”

“I know baby, I know.  At least we are taking time off after the holidays for our next album so I will be home for a while,” he says, sounding sad as well which just makes you feel worse.

“Yeah, I hope you make it home soon.  Rick, I’ve got to go, mom is calling me,” you say softly. “I love you.”

“I love you too baby, I’ll keep you updated,” he answers before hanging up.

Your mother isn't really calling, you just need to end the call before you say something that you will regret during your emotions at the time.  You have to take some time to think about what is going on in your mind before you speak about it, not wanting to take your frustrations out on your boyfriend. 

You make your way to your bed, laying down on his side before you give in, letting your tears finally escape your eyes as a couple sobs escape as it all finally hits you.  Grief from missing him so much the last couple months Anger because he is missing another important thing. Anger because he promised you and broke it. Frustration from spending your favorite holiday alone. But most important, and probably the hardest thing is the loneliness that you feel.  

Your anger winds up winning as everything runs through your head, angry at yourself for trusting his words when he has failed you before.  And angry at yourself because he failed at keeping his promise.

You groan in annoyance, getting up and finding yourself in your living room.  Glaring at all the decorations that are mocking you, at the tree you had to decorate yourself this year.  You let out a growl before you begin ripping all of the ornaments off the tree, crying and frustrated.  Letting a couple break as you drop them while throwing them in a bag so you can be rid of the thing.  When that is done you tear the tree back down, taking it and the ornaments back down into the basement.  You wind up taking everything down in a fury, pissed off and annoyed and hurt.  So fucking hurt, you debated going home with your family but he fucking promised you.

You thought taking everything down would make you feel better, because then you wouldn’t have to sit and look at them when you know you won’t enjoy your Christmas now.. But instead it has made everything feel more real, breaking your heart even more as you sit on the floor where your tree once stood bawling, questioning if your love for Rick will always be enough to get you through the loneliness and heartbreak that you feel so deep.

Meanwhile

Chris walks back to the group, looking a little less pissed off than he was when he went up to the poor lady working the desk, but also frustrated.

“Okay, I got somewhere with her, we may still have a chance at getting home.  The airline has a flight to Philadelphia that leaves in 6 hours out of an airport that is a 4 hour drive away and she was able to get the four of us on it.  So if we can get a rental car, drive to the other airport in time, take the flight we would land in Philly at about 2 in the morning and would all get home around 430 if we can get someone to meet us at that airport to drive us home.  So let’s all start calling all the rental car places around here and see if we can find one last minute on a holiday and make this happen,” Chris says, giving a hopeful smile to his bandmates and friends.

Rick lets out a sigh, praying to a god he doesn’t believe in that they can somehow make this happen and get home for Christmas before pulling out his phone and starting to make calls.

They have no luck and now 15 minutes later Ryan is calling the last place, all feeling defeated and awful when he finally has a breakthrough.

“I’ve got one, it’s a car so we will be cramped with all of us and our luggage but it’s better than nothing.  They are holding it for me so let’s get a taxi and get there before its too late,” he exclaims, getting up from his seat.

Everyone cheers, thankful that they finally found something that will work, hoping everything goes as planned and despite the fact they’ll all be exhausted they will finally be on their way.  Eventually getting to the rental place and now on their way, Ryan drives.

Everyone’s moods have lifted at the prospect that they may have pulled this off and be home in time to be with their families.

While sitting in the car headed towards the new airport Rick’s mind wanders towards you, he tried calling you but you didn’t answer him.  He hopes that you are alright, able to hear you trembling when you speak and it really hurts him to know that you were hurting, especially when he feels like it is all his fault. But the part that killed him the most, that broke his own heart was when you said that it was part of being with him, that you have to accept that.  He honestly hates that he puts you through that, it is hard on him but he knows it is worse on you because you are stuck at home alone when he is off.  You had moved away from your family for him, so you are truly alone and he feels awful that he might not even be there for you at the holidays.  He would do anything if he knew he could erase all your pain and grief, but he knows he can’t.

He hopes that you aren’t taking it too badly, that you will be happy when he surprises you in the morning.  He also selfishly hopes that you are sleeping when he arrives home, that you will wake up and find him in your bed and get the gift he knows that you want the most this year, himself.

Back To You

You find yourself sitting on the couch, feeling a little numb as you continue to look around the room at the emptiness.  You and Rick should be getting home from the airport about now and instead you are sitting here, waiting for him to arrive but knowing he probably won’t tonight, which brings you back to your sorrow. 

You had things all planned for tomorrow, knowing he would be tired and sleep in, you planned to make a big breakfast for him in bed with all his favorites, but not until later in the day.  The two of you would have a lazy day, watching movies curled up together before enjoying a nice dinner.  You had already picked up both his and your favorite Christmas movie from the store, had bought everything, hell you even got some new lingerie for that night once the two of you were relaxed and ready to ahem spend time together.  You had everything figured out for a nice holiday and now you are alone. 

Your mother even begged you to come home for the holiday and you said no because you wanted a nice time with Rick, being his first day home from tour and now you wasted what could be a nice trip home. 

You get a call from him but you don’t answer it, given the time you figure it is bad and that you’ll be disappointed all over again, plus you just don’t want to for a moment, needing this time to figure out what you want.

You finally give up, deciding that you want to go to bed and forget about everything.  You can deal with this tomorrow, maybe if you are lucky he will be home tomorrow night and it won’t be a complete waste of the day.

The Next Morning 

Rick finally arrives home around 5 in the morning, thanks to Vinny's mom who spent her night picking them up from the airport and giving everyone a ride to their houses.  He makes sure to give her a smile and huge hug as thanks before grabbing his bag and making his way up the walkway.  He lets out a huff, before trying his hardest to unlock the door quietly so that he doesn’t wake you up.  He stops in his tracks when he notices that there is no tree up, no decorations anymore, and he knows how much time you spent putting everything up.  You facetimed him the entire time to try and make him still feel like he had a part in it with you. He sighs in disappointment before making his way into the bedroom to be with you.

His heart breaks when he sees you sleeping on his side of the bed, holding his pillow to your chest. He can tell that you were crying, your eyes slightly red and puffy in your sleep.  He shuffles out of his jeans and shirt, quietly sliding on a pair of sweatpants to sleep in before laying down behind you and wrapping his arm around you, smiling when you instinctively roll over and nuzzle your face in his neck but not waking up.  

When you wake up around 9 you are confused at first, you can tell someone is holding you before you even open your eyes.  You shoot up, concerned that someone has broken in, or who knows what but then you notice it is Rick and can’t help the excited squeal that escapes your mouth.

You can’t believe he made it on time, he told you he wouldn’t and you thought you would be alone.  You just watch him sleep for a while, not wanting to move and risk waking him up because you know he had to have arrived late.  But also because you can’t believe that he is currently home, in bed with you.

He stirs after a while, slowly stretching before opening his eyes and looking at you where you lay curled up in his side.  Rather than speaking he moves some of your hair, which is a mess from sleeping, out of your face before leaning in and giving you a soft kiss, both of you lingering in the kiss, not wanting to separate after finally seeing you for the first time in a long time before he finally sleepily pulls away with a smile.

“Merry Christmas Y/N,” he says quietly, neither of you moving nor having the desire to.  He just gave you your favorite Christmas gift, himself, and you couldn’t be happier to be laying here with him, having a lazy morning.  It may not have been the big breakfast and everything you had originally planned but this?  This is better.

[final-girl96]

Broken World: Chapter Thirty-Seven

Later That Night

Everyone was back inside to give a final vote on what to do with Randall. Dale was able to change the mind of Andrea and partially Glenn but everyone else was on the side to kill him. Dale is a good man with a good heart, but that just isn't good enough for this world anymore. It was too great of a chance to keep Randall alive. He knows where the farm is so he could go back to his group and bring them here. And from what Daryl told me about what Randall told him about those men I did not want that happening.

Dale had stormed out of the house and walked off. Shane, Rick, and Daryl went out to get Randall to take him to the barn. Rick had decided the most humane way to do it was to shoot Randall. One bullet in the head. It was clean, painless, and quick. The rest of us minus Dale stood and sat around the fire waiting for it to be over. I paced back and forth waiting to hear a gunshot that never came. It was only maybe five or ten minutes when Shane and Rick came walking towards us with Carl in tow. Daryl came a few minutes later.

Randall was still alive and in the shed. They didn't get to do anything because Carl had come in telling his dad to do it. Shane was the one to drag him back out. It's not surprising that Lori didn't have her eye on him. When Rick told us that he and Daryl would be taking Randall eighteen miles out like the original plan, maybe even go a little further than that. When Andrea heard that, she took off to find Dale. A few minutes later, we heard a gunshot. We all took off towards the field with Rick in the lead. When I finally made it, pushing my way past everyone to get to the front, the sight in front of me had me turning back around.

Dale was laying on the ground with his stomach ripped apart. The walker who had done it was lying not far away. He was suffering, we could all see it in his eyes. There was nothing Hershel could do for him. Dale pleaded with Rick with his eyes. He was begging for him to give him mercy and put him out of the pain he was in. When Rick hesitated Daryl stepped forward. He took a few seconds until Dale gave him a slight nod and then he pulled the trigger.

The next day after we buried Dale with Sophia and Hershel's wife and stepson, it was decided that we would all move into the house. It would be cramped but it was the best choice. Not only would it be safer but the weather was getting colder. Shane didn't agree to letting Randall go. He wanted to stick to killing him but Rick's mind was made up after what happened to Dale. I was helping pack supplies into the car when Daryl came up to me. “Can I talk to ya?”

I set the stuff I had in my hands into a box and turned to him. “Yeah, sure, what's up?” I asked. Daryl shuffled from one foot to the other while he bit the side of his thumb nail. He couldn't even make eye contact with me, which told me he was nervous. “I see you still have the bad habit of chewing on your thumb nail.” His head snapped up, blue Eyes meeting mine, and he dropped his hand down to his side. “I need ya to stay outta trouble while I'm gone. Don't do anything stupid.” I raised my right eyebrow at him and then narrowed my eyes. “Excuse me?”

“Don't go get yourself killed while I'm gone.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I know damn well you are not trying to tell me what to do. How about instead of being an asshole towards me, you maybe, I don't know, treat me like a human being and kindly ask me to be safe while you're gone. I am so sick of these mood swings of yours, Dixon. If you hate me so much, maybe try not talking to me at all. I am sick of your mood swings!”

“Everything okay here?”

Daryl and I turned our heads towards the voice. Rick stood there, hands on his hips. “Fucking peachy,” I replied. Rick looked over at Daryl, who wouldn't make eye contact or say anything. “Okay, well, if you say so. You ready to head out then, Daryl?” Daryl gave a nod and a small grunt as an answer. “Hwy, T-dog, mind going and getting Randall?” Rick yelled over to T. “You got it!” He said and walked off towards the shed.

“He's gone! Randall is gone!” T-dog said, running back towards us. The whole group followed him to the shed. I pushed past everyone walking into the shed to see the handcuffs hanging from the pipe. I walked over to them, kneeling down to look closer to them. “How did he get out of these?” I asked no one in particular. It's possible but it's not easy to get out of cuffs. The cuffs were covered in blood so he had been trying for a while.

“He's been trying for a while to get out of these cuffs,” I told Rick. He nodded his head. He was about to say something until we heard his name being called. “Rick!” Shane walked out of the woods, a cut on top of his nose, and blood running down his nose to his chin. “Son of a bitch snuck up behind me and clocked me. He has my piece, man.” I narrowed my eyes and looked over at Daryl, who was already looking at me. It was clear neither of us believed that Randall could take Shane. “You're telling me that Randall, a guy who weighs maybe a buck twenty-five, was able to sneak up on you?” Daryl asked, full of suspension.

Shane just gave him a look before talking to Rick. “We need to go after Him,” he said. Rick nodded and turned to the rest of the group. “Glenn, Daryl, and yn, you three head one way and Shane and I will go the other. The rest of you go back to the house.” Daryl shook his head, “Nah, she's staying here,” he said. I turned my head and glared at him. “You don't get to decide what I can and can't fucking do.” Daryl threw his hands in the air. “Ya just got shot a few days ago! Not even healed all the way!”

“I'm going and that is final!”

I walked past Rick and Shane and headed into the woods. I pulled my flashlight from the pocket on the side of my pant leg and turned it on, then pulled my knife from my belt. I pointed the light to the ground and looked for footprints and any other signs of which way Randall might have gone. “Hey, yn, wait up!” I stopped and looked behind me. Glenn was walking towards me with Daryl behind him. I sighed and turned back to looking at the ground. “Watch your step. There are tracks on the ground; two sets of them.” Daryl moved past Glenn and came up beside me. “I don't believe Shane. There is no way Randall was able to get a jump on him.”

We kept walking through the dark woods following the tracks that eventually turned into one set; one set of tracks that changed from normal to all over the place, like someone was dragging their feet. I saw movement up ahead and bumped my elbow into Daryl's arm, nodding my in the direction of movement. We walked closer, getting a better look, seeing it was a walker. But when that walker turned around we noticed it was Randall. Daryl brought his crossbow up and put a bolt through his head. When we went to check where he was bitten we couldn't find anything. “His neck was broken; someone purposely broke his neck. And how did he turn when he doesn't have any bites or scratches on him?”

[puppypopcornpizza]

Compound

Warnings ➳ blood, descriptions of injury, pregnancy loss scare, violence

Pairing ➳ Daryl Dixon x F!reader

Word Count ➳ 738

Her heartbeat matched the gunshots. Fingers tightening over the grip as her back hit the concrete wall, air knocked from her lungs. 

Alarms blared from the other side of the building. Another shot. Glenn and Heath ran to the end of the hall, she hadn't heard from them since. It was supposed to be easy. 

Another savior, her lungs hurt from running. Ammo was low. Daryl and Rick's voices echoed off the walls. Where was Abraham? 

"Shit, I hope they found the armory."

The hallways darkened the more she ran, head feeling faint. She needed to move. Shirt sticking to the red, they'd make a fuss over it. Everything was fine. It would be stupid to hide it. 

"Rick!" Head turning her way, another savior fell behind him. The rifle clicked empty. 

"Are you okay? We need to get outta here." 

"Let's go." 

Adrenaline wore off with each step, it was light outside. The ground rushed up and Daryl's arms were around her. She cried out. 

"Shit, we need'a get you home." 

Distant mumbles to her ears, she scraped up all the strength she had left. 

"It went straight through, I'm fine." 

"You ain't arguing this-" 

A back door shot open, motorcycle speeding out. She hung onto Glenn for support while Daryl tackled the man from the bike, he wouldn't stop hitting. 

"Hey. Hey! I need you to stay with me. Heath's gonna take you home, okay?" 

She wanted to laugh at him, everything was fine. Why would Glenn be so worried? Another arm wrapped over her waist - she cried out once more. There wasn't even a pain anymore, she just wanted to sleep. Her eyes drifted off into the nothingness. It was peaceful. Quiet. 

"Rick! We're losing her!" 

"Lower your gun, prick."

Voices faded in slowly, a steady beeping in the background. The room felt sterile, scents of medication in the air. Something wrapped tightly over her stomach. 

Consciousness suddenly reeling in, everything was fast. Someone was on the walkie-talkie, they didn't know if Maggie and Carol were alright - if the saviors came back. 

She shot up with a gasp, a sharp pain shooting throughout her abdomen down to her legs. Denise was there in a second.

"Hey, you're alright. Maybe don't do that." 

"T-the saviors, what happened to them? Did everyone make it out? Are they okay? Where are-" 

"Everyone's alright, sunshine." 

Daryl stood leaning against the doorway, weariness in his voice. He looked like he hadn't slept. 

"I'll go check on Maggie." 

Heart racing - she pushed herself up. Daryl at her side instantly, a hand on her shoulder and more pillows for support. 

"What happened, is Maggie okay?" 

"Had some trouble but everything's fine." 

"What trouble?" 

Steady beeping turned rapid, Daryl's eyes shot from her to the screen. She pleaded at him. 

"Everyone got out, we'll talk about it later." 

"What happened to Maggie?" 

He sighed, chair scraping the floors. Fingers picked at skin while he spoke, knuckles still bloody. He didn't want to talk. 

"Carol and Maggie got taken by their guys and shit happened." 

"What happened?" 

Daryl eyed her carefully. Leaning back, his pinky drew a line across his lower abdomen. Her heart sank. 

"She'll be okay." 

"Christ." 

She ran her fingers along the bandage of her own injury. Maggie's voice came through the other room. She felt the tears. 

"Why didn't you say somethin'?" 

"What?" 

"Blood was dry when we walked out." 

"Wasn't a big deal." 

"You passed out." 

"Minor inconvenience." 

Daryl's head fell to the sheets with a heavy sigh, his shoulders sinking. All she wanted to do was get up and give the woman in the other room a hug. Daryl's fingers held onto hers. 

"She's not okay, Daryl."

"I know." 

Denise helped Maggie to the door, a gasp when they locked eyes and a blur of hugs and questions. 

"Oh my god, you're awake. Are you okay?" 

"Are you?" Maggie's eyes lowered to the rip in her shirt, a long sigh followed by a nod. Daryl peeked from behind his arms. 

"Get your rest, I'll be around." 

She couldn't miss the emptiness in the other woman's eyes, the kind that have seen too much. Lost too much. It broke her heart. 

Daryl's finger ran along hers at the door clicking shut. Bitten down nails drawing patterns into her skin. She knew he was trying to help.

"Have you been here all night?" 

"Nah." 

"I think you're lying." 

"Might be."

[barnavilleemily]

Monster pt.2

Warning: smut, p in v, sort of forced sex, dom!rick, breeding kink

you stood there, shocked. The man you saw as you husband, your life long partner had changed. You handed your daughter to Rosita hoping she would be safe.

“we’re leavin’ now!” Rick roared at you.

you began to follow him out of the house without Judith because you knew what came next.

“what ‘re you doin, go get Judith for fuck sake” he said to you, his tone dead serious.

you nodded not wanting to cause a scene. You walked back in, head hung low and took Judith from Rositas arms

as you two walked quietly back to the house you kept your distance from him. He swung the door open and went straight to the kitchen, pouring himself a glass of scotch.

“go put Judith to bed, I’ll be up in a minute” his words already slurring from the alcohol

You took Judith upstairs and put her into bed. As you closed her door you also locked it, incase anything happened tonight that you didn’t want her to see

you heard ricks heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. Your heart pounding in your chest

“Rick can we please just talk about this” you tried to reason with him

he came closer to you, caging you against the wall of your shared bedroom

��you looked so good tonight with Judith, your amazing with kids so how bout we have another” you couldn’t hear that he was drunk but you knew this was not something he would say sober

“It’s late-” trying to get that idea out of his head

“but baby, look at what you do to me” he grabbed your hand placing it on his cock.

“Rick” your voice barely above a whisper

“I know baby, I know. I’m sorry for everything. I just, I guess I don’t understand you ‘cause your younger than me sweetie and I can’t keep up with you” his breath hot on your cheeks

“rick, your own daughter was terrified of you after she watched you rip a man’s throat out with your teeth for gods sake” you tried to push your way out of his cage but he wasn’t letting you go

“I know, I understand why you took her from me, now let me make it up to you”

“rick your drunk”

“no I’m not, now show me that pretty pussy sweetie”

trying to stay mad at him was hard when everything he did made you horny. The thoughts of him fucking into you ruthlessly made you let out a soft moan, but you came back to your consciousness and tried to walk away

he grabbed your hand tightly

“I’ve been patient with you but you just don’t seem to get it, now your gonna let me fuck you or I’ll shoot you”

“rick your being insane”

he pulled down the straps of your dress, letting your breasts fall out of it.

“fuck, I could get drunk off these tits” his mouth attaching to one while his hand fondled the other

moans falling from your mouth, giving him everything he wanted

without another thought he ripped your dress off your body making it fall to the floor in pieces. Your black lacy underwear now on display for him

“sometimes I forget your so much younger than me” he laughed

your body going against your mind, you began to unbutton his shirt. Now you both stood naked before eachother.

rick forced you down on your knees, coming face to face with his rock hard cock.

“open” he said as he pushed his cock into your mouth.

gagging as it hit the back of your throat. He fucked your face mercilessly. Your hands firmly on his thighs attempting to push him away

once he came in your mouth, you spat it out making it fall all down your breasts.

“normally I’d be mad you didn’t swallow but fuck me, my cum looks good on your tits”

You couldn’t help but blush

he dragged you to the bed, pushing your face down into a pillow, hands on your hips as he pushed his cock into you tight cunt

you let out a scream as he began thrusting into you, not giving you time to adjust. His thrusts ruthless causing the room to fill with skin slapping together. You felt his hand grip your hair, pushing your head further into the pillow to completely stop your screams. He couldn’t keep a steady pace, at times he was going slow and others he was going fast. You felt his thrusts get sloppy, you knew he was close finishing. He began groaning loudly, gripping your hair and waist harder. He finished inside you

he flipped you around to face him and then pulled you onto his lap, his cock still inside you. You wrapped your arms around him and rested your head on his shoulder. His arms automatically wrapped around your waist. You say that way for several minutes.

he got up and left your lifeless body on the bed. He showered and came back to his beautiful “wife” lying on the bed stuffed with his seed.

he bent down whispering into your ear “now you know how much of a monster I can be” before embracing you in a hug

[tundesweb]

Hey guys as you know I’m a writer who is trying to get back into le groove of things soooooo, I’m doing a story a day challenge.

If any other writers want to join me here’s the prompt I used today :

Imagine a near-death experience. Someone saves you, and you fall in love with them at first sight. Write about how the relationship can develop.

(Each prompt may not always be romance some may be you know shadow work etc)

Here’s today’s story:

It was a cold, wet, rainy day in New York when actress Lotus Dove angrily stormed out of her now ex-boyfriend’s apartment. She had to find out through checking her TikTok and realized everyone kept tagging her in the comments of a post. What she saw ripped her heart into shreds; her bestie Jez Label was seen sneaking into a hotel room with her man, Adonis McIntyre. The worst part of it all was that it was the night of her birthday. Her mind starts to recount the day, the weird vibes she sensed now adding up. Flashback to the birthday trip to the villa in St Barts. The group, which consisted of JD, Lotus, Jez, Adonis, and Pepper (JD her manager and Pepper the stylist/publicist/close childhood friend), were playing silly pool and card games, and for some reason, they decided the birthday would have to take twice the penalty. She had gotten so drunk she fell asleep on one of the lounge chairs at the pool. She was woken up at sunrise by one of the resort cleaners and went to her room to wash off the sins of the night. When she got to her room, she noticed the bed didn’t look slept in, and she wondered what happened to Adonis and how come he didn’t carry her to bed. While in the shower, he tiptoed his way in still in the clothing she last saw him in. He entered the bathroom and asked if he could join her in the shower. She said sure and noticed he had a guilty aura about him. She assumed it was because he left her to sleep practically outside. “Where’d you sleep?” She asks. He says in JD’s room. She thinks nothing of it and they shower in silence, get dressed, and head to breakfast. Flashback over*

Lotus, also known as L, realized Adonis didn’t carry her to bed because he was too busy fucking her bestie to care about her well-being. It’s one thing to be a cheater, but to do it with her best friend, that is an automatic burned bridge. She grabbed her phone and her coat, and promptly left his apartment. She was not the “gimme my stuff” type; everything is replaceable. On her way down, she did wish she had grabbed an umbrella as it was pouring rain and she could barely see where her chauffeur had parked. The one good thing was that the rain masked her tears. Regretting giving her security the day of, she frantically looked for her driver, who texted her now dead phone that he would come get her and for her not to move. With her mind replaying the betrayal, she hadn’t noticed the big gap between the sidewalk and the street. She twists her ankle in front of a car that just so happened to be reversing. Luckily, a handsome (not that she could see his face at the time) stranger picks her up, cradling her in his arms, and gives her the jacket off his back for cover. Why was the reversing car he chauffeur parking so he can exit the car to come get her? Realizing what happened, Rick the chauffeur apologizes profusely. “Miss Lotus, Miss Lotus, I am so sorry; visibility is so shitty right now, which I know is no excuse… Miss Lotus, are you alright, who is this?” Rick realized the man holding her was not Adonis. Lotus exclaims that she is alright and she just wants to get home so she can put up her ankle. Adonis comes down in his pajamas holding an umbrella and starts yelling at the handsome stranger to put his girl down. The whole fiasco becomes a front-page hit for the tabloids. “I can see it now,” she thinks, “The Plot Thickens in Sweetheart Actress’s new Love Drama,” “Is this Love Triangle Now A Square?” She groans at the thought. The handsome stranger looks down at Lotus and asks her, “do you want me to put you down, Miss Lotus?” She felt the vibration of his deep baritone voice in her skull as her head was close to his chest. She requests that he place her in the car, and that Rick can drive him home as well, it’s the least she can do for him saving her life. He tells her he actually lives in the same building as Adonis and is basically already home. He owns the penthouse (that Adonis couldn’t get which he then settled for the smaller one). That’s when Lotus realized the man holding her was none other than billionaire mogul Boas Bushwick, the eldest son of the Bushwick family, the first black-owned tech empire in New York City. His family has hospital wings named after them; yep, they were THAT rich.

Boas gently places her in the backseat and wishes her well. He says, “I hope we can keep in touch, but if not, it was a pleasure meeting you.” She replies, “let’s leave that up to fate,” blows him a kiss, and presses the button to close the door of her Rolls Royce Phantom.

I hope yall noticeeeeee the intentional symbolism of the names like Jez Label LMAOOOO (that one was def too on the nose 😭)

[foxy--stoat]

Could u do a poly fic with all the roomates (young ones) pls

They were just going to see a film. Just a few guys, going out on the town. Nothing poofy whatsoever going on. (They were all, as a matter of fact, extremely poofy.)

Rick was wearing his most yellow overalls, and his boots that Neil said made him look like a woman. He stood by the door, posture proud and open, waiting for the rest of the roommates to come downstairs.

"You all had better hurry up, you know! The movie starts in fifteen minutes!"

"You can't rush magnificence." Called Mike from the bathroom. Neil sighed so loudly that it hurt even Vyvyan's head, who was pacing back and forth looking for his bracelet sharpener.

He stomped down the stairs, clearly in distress.

"Have you seen my bracelet sharpener?"

"I don't understand what you need it for, Vyvyan, are they not sharp enough?" Rick threw his hands in the air, a motion that went entirely unnoticed by Vyvyan, who was now ripping open and throwing the couch cushions across the room.

"I need them to be sharp, Rick. What if you're being a twat and I need to hit you? That wouldn't be much fun with a dull bracelet, now, would it?"

"Well, try asking SPG. He seemed a bit shifty earlier."

"Thanks Rick!" Vyv ran past Rick back up the stairs, punching him on the arm. This was Vyvyan's equivalent of a kiss on the cheek.

It had taken some getting used to, the whole dating thing. Rick had never dated anybody before, so he had expected flowers and chocolates and pampering. Instead, he got Vyvyan.

A few days after they announced their relationship to the house, Mike made a proposition and Neil agreed, and now look at them. A conglomerate of confused university students who also dated.

He was happy, as were the other boys. Their behavior hadn't changed much, save for leaning heads on shoulders, or holding hands. But he was happy this way, with his friends and his boyfriends.

He'd be happier, though, if they would hurry up!!! He was starting to get impatient.

Just as he was rolling his eyes, Neil moped down the stairs, barefoot.

"Where are your shoes, hippie?" Neil frowned.

"Can't find them. Just typical, of all the shoes in this house, of course mine go missing."

"I'll help you find them."

"Really? That's really sweet of you, Rick!"

"Not for you!" Rick blushed at the implication that he'd do something kind for Neil. "I just want to get out of here quicker."

"Oh."

Rick felt bad. "Well, don't look so sad! I don't hate you, you know."

"You don't?"

"Neil, we're dating. Would I date someone I don't like?" Rick shook his head in exasperation, as if this were supposed to be obvious to Neil.

"Oh. Thanks, Rick."

"You're welcome."

---

The streets smelled like roses and gasoline. Vyvyan picked a flower from a bush and handed it to Rick, who blushed, before looking inside it to see a gargantuan bee.

"Did you see it?"

"Yes, Vyvyan, I saw the bee. God forbid you do something kind for me for once, honestly."

"What do you think I was doing?" Vyvyan shook his head in disbelief that Rick could be so thick-skulled.

Behind the quarreling pair, Neil and Mike walked slowly. Mike noticed Neil admiring the rosebushes, and carefully snapped one off of its stem. Neil saw this, and moped. Mike was probably going to catch up to Vyv or Rick and give it to one of them. It wasn't his fault they all hated him, after all- His train of thought was interrupted by Mike tucking the flower behind his ear. He stopped walking in surprise.

"What's wrong, Neil?"

"I thought that was for Vyvyan. Or Rick."

"No, of course not! They hate flowers."

"Well, thanks, Mike. It's really pretty."

"Of course, babes. Anytime."

When they got home, Neil would press the flower under an untouched stack of dusty textbooks, and keep it on his bedside table, smiling every time he saw it.

---

They were 15 minutes late to the movie, but only Rick complained (without much heart). After all, it was hard to beat the time they'd been weeks late to University Challenge. They barged into the theater with their usual lack of regard for others. Vyvyan led the way down the aisle and clambered over a family of disgruntled filmgoers. They sat down, arms over the backs of the chairs, feet up on the chairs in front of them. Vyvyan pulled out a bag of popcorn, and they shared it, loudly chewing.

"What's going on?" Neil asked.

"Shh, pay attention." Mike said. Neil frowned.

The rest of the film was relatively calm, interrupted only occasionally by a bout of raucous laughter from Vyvyan, or a cry of "Fascist!" from Rick.

As they left the theater, they got many a glare, but they ignored it.

Neil and Vyvyan were used to being criticized, to the point where they'd stopped listening and done what they wanted. Obviously, they had gone to two very different extremes, but the sentiment behind it was the same.

Rick and Mike, however, were very conscious of how they were perceived, and Rick plastered a sneer on his face to disguise the discomfort.

---

The warm air hit them as they emerged from the theater, and Rick took his blazer off and tied it around his waist.

"I'm cold." Vyvyan complained.

"How are you cold? It's nearly 20 degrees!"

"I'm not as warm as you, Rick. Give me your jacket."

Rick spluttered. "I'm not letting you near my blazer, Vyvyan, it's for anarchists only." He turned his nose up, and Vyvyan hit Rick over the head. While he was distracted with the potential concussion, Vyvyan snatched the blazer, and shrugged it over his shoulders.

"Much better." He smiled triumphantly, and immediately his attention was taken by a squirrel across the street.

Rick stood in place, blushing, trying not to blush, and smiling. Mike and Neil kept walking, and Neil collided with Rick. He wasn't the best at watching where he was going. "I know that look, Rick. What's happened?" Mike grinned. Rick looked down, and saw that Mike and Neil were holding hands. A bold move, especially on such a public street. He supposed that Mike was used to bold moves.

"What makes you think anything's happened, fascist? Can a man not be happy? Well, certainly not under Thatcher, that's for sure." He crossed his arms.

"Mike, look, Vyvyan's wearing, like, Rick's jacket." Neil pointed out with his free hand.

Mike's eyes widened and he grinned. "Ah, I see. You should try on his vest sometime, I bet it'd suit you."

Rick gasped. "I would never. That man stinks like a fish. I, on the other hand, keep myself at my hygienic and physical peak at all times.

"Rick, you haven't showered since last month." Neil commented, to which Rick responded by shushing him frantically.

"Whatever. Hippie. When was the last time you showered, anyway?"

"That's beside the point, Rick. Anyway, I think he, like, looks cute with your jacket."

"Yes. Well. Me too, I suppose. I still want it back, though!" He shouted that last part in a very pointed manner, directed toward Vyvyan, who was now trying to climb a fence and reach the squirrel. It laughed down at him, and Vyvyan was getting more and more agitated by the second.

"Alright, that's it." He snarled, and picked up a chainsaw that was conveniently sitting on the curb a few feet away.

"Vyvyan, what are you doing? That's an innocent creature, and I'm not talking about Neil."

"Hey, I'm not innocent!"

"Whatever you say, babes."

"I'm hungry." Complained Rick.

"Oh, shut up." The other 3 chorused.

"Let's go home. Rick may be annoying, but he is correct. It's getting late. Neil, do we have lentils?"

"Yes, Mike. You guys have to help clean the dishes, though, because, like, it's getting pretty heavy, having to do all of them myself every day."

"But Neil, I have to feed the goldfish and water the plants!" Vyv nodded sagely, and Rick backed him up with a wide eyed smile.

"Vyv, you know I cooked those months ago."

"Oh. Well, fine. I'm watching the Bastard Squad after dinner though, none of that nature bollocks you like."

"Fine."

"Ugh, Vyvyan, you know I don't like Bastard Squad, it's just so reactionary!"

"Shut up, poof." Rick scowled.

They resumed the short walk home, continuing to chatter all the way.

***

my ao3 is @paper_chefs_hat :))) this is published in the series "the young ones ficlets"

[mcltiples]

@countlessrealities sent; The holidays had once again rolled around and, for the second time in his life, Rick had found himself forced to take them into serious consideration. His partner enjoyed them so-very much and that meant that he had to meet the other's expectations for the event.

Gift giving was hardly one of his well honed skills, it wasn't a skill he possessed at all, even if he had been slowly trying to learn it. Thankfully, there were plenty of resources he could consult to find good ideas for presents. And, of course, he always made sure to give them a little personalised twist.

Eventually his choice had fallen on something that could once again be both useful and pleasant to the eye. The gift that was presented to his alternate was impeccably wrapped in glassy black paper, adorned with a blood red ribbon. Underneath, what looked like an elegant cylindrical flask, made of slick, dark gray metal that matched the colour palette of his partner's outfit.

Of course, it wasn't just a beautiful water-bottle. The central section could be used to hold drinks and it was designed to keep them at any set temperature, but the rest of it was made of small compartments, made to carry small objects, pieces of technology or anything else his alternate might have wanted to fit into them.

Most were currently empty, but Rick had left a few, smaller gifts in some of them. Vials with samples of his toxins. A spare crystal that could be used as a part of a weapon. A bunch of very small pearls that were, in truth, explosives.

"I-I hope that this gift is of your liking, beloved," he spoke, grey blue eyes trained on his partner's face, studying every twitch of his features. "H-Happy holidays."

[[ Evil Rick for Weird Rick~ ]]

When presented with the present, Rick took his time to carefully unwrap it. The wrapping paper looked too pretty to just rip open and he didn't want to accidentally offend his partner for being so careless. So he managed to open it with only just a few tears here and there.

He examined the water bottle, pressing it's buttons to unlock the small compartments. Eyes lit up at the even more smaller gifts left behind in it. It was so well thought out and his heart swelled at the feeling.

Logically, he knew that his partner couldn't feel love, but some days he was utterly convinced that the other was in love with him. Specifically due to how much he was willing to put up with and all of the things that was given.

"Oh, darling~ you've made me so happy with this," His voice went low, almost to a whisper.

Sliding himself up against the side of his alternate, he wrapped both arms around that waist, pulling closely with a harsh grip. Gently pressing a small kiss at the corners of those lips.

"Happy holidays, my sweet kitten~"

[advnterccs-archive]

@countlessrealities sent; Just as his boyfriend, Morty had waited for the party to die down, before deciding that it was time to deliver his present. However, his counterpart had preceded him, hardly giving him the time to grab the gift he had prepared before he was led upstairs to witness the sweet private moment the other had prepared for him.

And there they were, sharing the cupcake that his boyfriend had baked for him. Morty was trying his hardest not to fidget in his spot on the floor, but doing so became harder and harder with every second that ticked away. He had been waiting for a good moment to offer his own present, but he was quickly reaching the conclusion that it would have never come. Not unless he created him.

So, when his counterpart took the next bite of his half of the cupcake, smearing a hint of frosting next to the side of his lips, Morty reached out to wipe it off with his thumb, using the gesture as an excuse to catch his boyfriend's attention.

"Uh, I-I got your something too," he hurried to say, before his counterpart could react.

Licking the bit of frosting off his finger, the teen stuffed his hand inside his pocket. After a moment, he pulled out a small object, wrapped in bright yellow paper wrap. Inside it there was a small spherical projector that, activated, when shown stars and planets.

"I-It's...I asked the Ricks, uh, help me make this an-and program an hologram o-of the stars visible from your favourite places," he explained with a slightly nervous grin. "B-But there's also...uh, this is very cheesy, but I...I added something."

Taking back the projector, he hit a small yellow button near the lower edge of the device and the stars projected changed, moving to form words instead of constellations.

Happy birthday, Morty <3, the first line said and underneath...

"I-I love you," Morty forced out, with just the slightest trembling in his voice. "I-I know that we haven't been...I-I meant, we haven't been together long an-and this is my first long lasting, serious relationship, an-and I don't want to fuck it up, but..."

A deep steadying breath and then the words finally came out steadier even despite his usual stuttering.

"I-I know all that, and I just can't...not say it anymore. I-I don't expect you to, uh, say it back or anything but...Y-You're amazing, the best boyfriend ever, an-and you're...so great. I-I really admire you. So...I had to say it."

[[ Morty for your Morty 💛 || They both went for something cute and sweet and I love it~ Also because it's enough to make them happy 🤭 ]]

The smooth wipe of a finger against the corner of Morty's lips brought his attention over to his counterpart. That simple action enough to cause a pink tint to his cheeks. He hoped that the dark ambient lighting in the bedroom could cover it. It certainly wasn't any time to embarrass himself. Especially in a time like this.

He didn't have much time to say anything. Too blissfully stunned by the way that frosting covered thumb disappeared in his counterpart's mouth. As well as the promise of a gift about to be revealed.

For a moment, he stayed silent. Curious about what his boyfriend had planned for him. He couldn't even guess what it could be, but he knew that it would have been special. Causing his heart to pitter-patter against his chest.

He took the small object and carefully ripped open the yellow wrapping paper. On first glance, he could tell it was a projector of some kind. Even if smaller than one that he usually has seen.

Hearing the explanation for it, however, brought stars into his brown softened gaze. A little speechless for the time being as he watched it turn on. Showing off the words written in the constellations.

Tears lined at the ducts of his eyes. Shit, he didn't mean to get this emotional. Especially on his birthday, especially at such a declaration such as this. It was perfect. So god damn perfect.

And he couldn't imagine it any other way.

He knew that his counterpart was rambling now, but it didn't matter. It was endearing and so very thoughtful. That made the moment even more magical.

So, when the last lines were spoken, he propelled himself forward. Both hands placed on the other's chest, knocking them both onto the ground.

Soft kisses were pressed all over his boyfriend's face. Covering every inch of cheek, forehead, and jaw with small little kisses. As a few tear drops fell and landed.

And when he finally calmed himself down, fully settling himself comfortably on top of his boyfriend's body, he sighed. "I-I love you, too. M-More than I can say a-and for a while now,"

With a gentle smile, he laid his head on his boyfriend's collar bone. Closing his eyes, snuggling up close. "I-I hope it's... not to weird or too soon to say this, but y-you're.... y-you're my forever, PM."

An arm wrapped around tight along that waist line, pulling in the body closer to himself. "Th-Thank you a-and happy birthday."

[mlobsters]

supernatural s7e9 how to win friends and influence monsters (w. ben edlund)

this whole electricity to the house they're squatting in situation, i commented on it was weird how they were squatting in houses with power here recently but i can't find the post(s) womp womp.

DEAN Weeks, guys. Weeks. We've been living with cold showers, cold Hot Pockets, cold freaking everything. I mean, this is the bottom that we're living in. You guys get that, right?

like. thawed but not microwaved hot pockets?? not good food safety right there, friend 😂

DEAN That's just great. This is stupid. Our quality of life is crap. We got Purgatory's least wanted everywhere, and we're on our third "The World's Screwed" issue in, what, three years? We've steered the bus away from the cliff twice already. SAM Someone's got to do it. DEAN What if the bus wants to go over the cliff? SAM You think the world wants to end?

team free will!

haha jersey devil, goofy ass og xfiles episode about it.

attack of the Pass Word again. are they going to kinkos to make color printouts of webpages, while also off the grid. gnawing on frozen hot pockets.

BRANDON Sidewinder soup and salad combo goes to Big Bird. TDK slammer to Ken Doll. And a little heart-smart for creepy uncle.

i have no idea what's happening. but ken doll dean. getting the turducken whammy?

DEAN You used to take us hunting. Remember? Dad had a case, he'd just dump us on you. Shoot, you must have taught us most of the outdoor tracking we know. BOBBY Yeah, what I could get to stick. I never could get you little grubs to pull a trigger on a single deer.

more morsels of backstory, thank you

"man, i liked rick" with bonus chopsurveillance

this is very xfiles bogus alien autopsy. very slimy

DEAN That's funny, right? I could give two shakes of a rat's ass. Is that right? Do rats shake their ass, or is it something else? Eh.

i guess this was out of character enough to make them realize something's up :P this oozing sandwich is beyond, BEYOND dumb.

LOL wait is this the plot of serenity? drugging the masses to keep them calm but then a few of them turned into reavers/hyperaggressive cannibals oops?

SAM Yeah, I kind of mean more like, uh... more like ever since my head broke... and we lost Cas. I mean, you ever feel like he's -- he's going through the same motions but he's not the same Dean, you know? BOBBY How could he be? SAM Right, yeah, but what if -- BOBBY What if what, Sam? You know, you worry about him. All he does is worry about you. Who's left to live their own life here? The two of you -- aren't you full up just playing Snuffleupagus with the Devil all the live long? SAM I don't know, Bobby. Seeing Lucifer's fine with me. BOBBY Come again? SAM Look, I'm not saying it's fun. I mean, to be honest with you, I-I kind of see it as the best-case scenario. I mean... SAM presses the hand he injured in 7.01 Meet the New Boss. SAM ...at least all my crazy's under one umbrella, you know? I kind of know what I'm dealing with. A lot of people got it worse.

thank you ben edlund for these conversations

BOBBY I've seen a lot of hunters live and die. You're starting to talk like one of the dead ones, Dean. DEAN No, I'm talking the way a person talks when they've had it, when they can't figure out why they used to think all this mattered.

one thing that's always really hurt to watch about dean is how burnt out and overwhelmed and ready to die/self destructive he gets. i think the feeling is too relatable and all the more painful.

BOBBY Come on, now. You tried to hang it up and be a person with Lisa and Ben. And now here you are with a mean old coot and a van full of guns. That ain't person behavior, son. You're a hunter, meaning you're whatever the job you're doing today. Now, you get a case of the Anne Sextons, something's gonna come up behind you and rip your fool head off. Now, you find your reasons to get back in the game. I don't care if it's love or spite or a ten-dollar bet. I've been to enough funerals. I mean it. You die before me, and I'll kill you.

bobby doesn't get a punch in the face for bringing up lisa and ben i guess. and i mean, is it not love for sam that's what's always keeping his head in the game?

🤦

these photoshopped roman pictures are terrible...

EXCUSE ME 😂 other two are bad but this is just. egregious! did they change who they use for graphics or something i wonder

well, bobby. shot in the head and all that mushy talk and extra screentime. doesn't bode well. i knew he didn't make it intact but also know he's around in some incarnation at points after. don't have to worry about dean dying first now, when he might have otherwise, right?

i'm sure dean would handle bobby's death well.

[jordynclover]

Bleeding Heart-Chapter Nine

I marched away from the scene, flicking the blood off my Katana, sheathing it, and placing back on my back. Daryl grabbed my arm. "Where are you going" his voice was low, slightly angry.

"Going to get a shovel to start digging graves," I replied; he dropped my hand and nodded. "Take care of Carol," I said, walking off. "I'm going hunting with Willow; Hershel asked me to, low of food and everything."

I turned around. "Willow? I thought she took care of herself." I said flatly, not liking that Daryl was leaving with her alone. "I thought so, too," he responded as we walked to the farmhouse.

I stopped Daryl, grabbing his arm. "Daryl, about what happened earlier," I trailed off. He nodded and ripped his arm away from me. "Yeah, I know it was a mistake, and to think nothing of it," he huffed and stormed off.

"I never said that," I said sincerely, jogging up to him. he shook his head. "But that's what you mean." He muttered. I shook my head quickly. "That's not what I mean at all" He turned to me.

"Then what, huh, what about earlier," he yelled. I froze, looking down at my feet. "I just wanted to know how you felt about me," he grunted; shaking his head, he left me alone.

I walked back to my hammock and laid my katana down, sitting in front of the fireplace, staring into the bearly lit coals. I put my head on my knees and felt a few tears slip down my cheek; I sat there and cried.

"Sybil, Hey, I need your help." Ricks's voice broke through my nearly silent sobs. I looked up at him and wiped my face, nodding. I stood up, putting my Katana on my back, and walked up to him.

"Are you okay? Why are you crying" Rick asked, grabbing my arms and making me look at him; I shook my head. "Just a fight with Daryl" he nodded and pulled me into a hug. "Give him time; he'll come around," he mumbled and released me.

I nodded, and we started walking. "What are we doing," I asked. "Hershel can't be found, and Beth is in shock; we're going to get him," Rick explained. I nodded in response "recuse mission," I muttered.

I slid into the back seat and waited on Rick to get in. Glenn came outside with maggie, gave her a kiss, and made his way to the truck. Sliding into the front seat, Rick got in the driver, and we headed off.

The ride was silent; I stared out the window; the silence broke when we got into town. "Maggie said she loves me." Glenn said, exasperated, "She doesn't mean it. I mean, she can't. I mean.. well... She.. she's upset or confused. She's probably feeling, like." Glenn trailed off, not knowing what to say.

"I think she's smart enough to know what she's feeling." Rick stated, "No. No. No, you know what? She wants to be in love, so she needs something, like... to hold onto." Glenn replied, unsure of himself

"Glenn, it's pretty obvious to everyone Maggie loves you, and not just because you're one of the last men standing. So what's the problem?" Rick asked.

"I didn't say it back. I've never had a woman say that to me, except my mom and sisters. But with Maggie, it's different. We barely know each other. What... what does she really know about me?" Glenn asked desperately

"Nothing. We're practically strangers. But I... I didn't know what to do with it. I just stood there like a jerk." Glenn stated after answering his own question. Rick laughed at Glenn's shyness and then stared at him.

"Hey. Hey, this is a good thing, something we don't get enough of these days. Enjoy it. And when we get back, return the favor. It's not like she's going anywhere." Rick said, turning his eyes back to the road.

"He's right, Glenn; if you know how you feel about her, then take the chance; it's not like you're gonna fall in love a lot in this world," I muttered to Glenn; he snorted in response. "Yeah, like you and Daryl." Rick and Glenn laughed.

"At least I have the balls to tell Daryl how I feel," I smirked back, making Glenn quiet. "So why haven't you," Rick asked, looking at me in the rearview "Because he won't talk to me; he says I'll regret it or something," I responded.

Rick nodded and pulled up in front of a bar "Rick? I know about Lori, her being pregnant. I got her those pills." Glenn said, Defeated, "I figured." Rick replied, getting out  of the truck, "Hey, I'm sorry I kept it from you." Glenn apologized. "Don't be. You did what you thought was right. It just so happens it wasn't." Rick said flatly.

"Hershel," Rick said as we opened the door and stepped in. "Who's with you?" Hershel replied. "Glenn and Sybil," Rick provided, "Maggie sent him?" Hershel asked. "He volunteered. He's good like that. How many have you had?" Rick commented.

"Not enough." Hershel retorted while taking a drink, "Let's finish this up back home. Beth collapsed and is in some state. Must be in shock. I think you are too." Rick stated plainly, "Maggie's with her?" Hershel asked stoically

"Yeah, but Beth needs you," Rick replied. "What could I do? She needs her mother. Or rather to mourn like she should've done weeks ago. I robbed her of that. I see that now." Hershel said sadly; I almost felt bad for him

"You thought there was a cure. Can't blame yourself for holding out for hope. Hope?" Rick started trying to help. When I first saw you running across my field with your boy in Sybil's arms, I had little hope he would survive. But he did." Hershel said

"He did. Even though we lost Otis. Your man Shane made it back, and we saved your boy. That was the miracle that proved to me miracles do exist. Only it was a sham, a bait, and switch. I was a fool, Rick, and you people saw that. My daughters deserve better than that," Hershel started taking another drink.

. "So what do we do? Just wait for him to pass out?" Glenn stated. Rick shook his head. "Sybil, we need supplies; I hate to send you out on your own," I shook my head. "I got it, Rick; take care of Hershel," I said dismissively and walked out the door.

I headed down the road, looking for a store that hadn't been picked clean; I didn't have much luck. However, I opted for houses instead; walking into the first one, I noticed blood all over the walls, completely trashed.

I went into the kitchen, searching through cabinets, finding canned green beans, Corn, and some peas; I laid them on the kitchen table and kept looking. I opened the spice cabinet, and it was stocked, surprisingly.

I grabbed the essentials, salt, and pepper; I saw different types of spices; I laid those on the counter and looked in the pantry to find more canned goods. I found some paper bags and loaded everything up.

Leaving the food in the kitchen, I headed upstairs and found the bathroom, looking for anything medical-related; finding only some bandages and alcohol, I headed downstairs.

Grabbing the bags, I headed out the door and walked to the house behind me; I sat the bags down as I walked in the front door. Sighing for the hell of it.

I went to the kitchen, mostly the same, a few cans of this, a few cans of that; I sat everything on the kitchen table and laid my head on the table.

What did Daryl mean? It meant nothing. It meant something to me. I smacked my forehead in anger; why does he act friendly and then turn around and act like a dick.

I shook my head, walked back to the counter, and began opening another cabinet, Grabbing everything eatable. Laying it where I could grab it.

I ran upstairs and checked the bathroom, a small bottle of lidocaine, band-aids, and gauze; I walked out of the bathroom and started to pass a bedroom.

A box on the nightstand caught my eye; I paused and slowly walked into the room, keeping an eye on my surroundings. I picked up the box and opened it, carefully unsure of what id find.

Two silver daggers lay in the box; I laid everything on the bed and took out the daggers to inspect them; they looked brand new; I grabbed one out of the box and messed with it.

I grabbed the other dagger, swinging it around; I saw on the closet door a long black coat that looked my size; walking over, I grabbed it, sliding it on.

It was leather and fell almost to my ankles; I was pretty tall, so that was indeed a surprise, but it fits; I was small in most things, but that may be my diet; I would never know.

I grabbed my newfound belongings, headed back downstairs, grabbed my other bags, and headed to the truck, hoping it was time to leave. I needed to talk to Daryl.

The sun had set just before I went into the second house; walking back to the truck, I heard the shots. Muffled as they were, they were loud and clear to me.

I quickly shoved my collection in the back of the truck and silently whisked my way over to the bar; I almost got to the door before I heard men from behind me.

I ran to the back of the bar and didn't see anyone; I leaped on top of the bar roof, landing with a light thud, and then peered over the side.

Three men, all carrying guns, walked up to the front of the bar; Rick screamed from inside, and they shot; then heard a gunshot from behind me and feared the worst.

I sped, looking over the other ledge, and saw Glenn hiding behind a trash can. "Hey, Glenn, you okay" I whispered-yelled not to alert the other guys.

"Sybil, oh my god, can you get the truck and bring it over here" I recoiled; I had never driven anything before, but I nodded and looked over where the truck was.

I jumped off the roof, sprinted toward the truck, hopped, and turned the ignition, just like I saw Rick do; I popped the gear into D, thinking it was drive; thankfully, it was.

I pressed the accelerator, and the car jerked forward; I pulled up where Glenn was; Hershel and Rick had joined him. I put the truck in park, jumped out of the car, and ran to where Glenn was, "You guys ready" before Rick could answer, a car pulled up by the pharmacy. "Let's get out of here! Roamers are all over the place! Hurry up!" one man yelled.

"We gotta get out of here!" He yelled again, "What about Sean?" Roof boy yelled, "They shot him." The guy in the truck yelled back, "We gotta go. Roamers are everywhere." He added

"We're leaving?" Roof boy asked, "Jump! Hurry up, jump already." The man yelled back. A scream followed after the jump, "Dude didn't make it." another guy in the truck said, "Help me! Help... help me!" the boy screamed, "I've gotta go. I've gotta go. - I'm sorry!" the guy yelled as the truck sped off "No no, don't leave! Please help me! No! No!" The frightened boy yelled back

'Get Hershel." I said, looking at Rick before running across the street. "Help! Please help me! - No! No!" the boy was still yelling as I got over to him, I looked at his leg, and it was impaled with the point of the fence.

"Hershel. Hershel." I yelled, looking behind me. "Shh! I'm sorry, son. We have to go." Hershel said, looking at the boy, "No, no, don't leave me, please." He said, frightened, "We have to go." Glenn said

"We can't." Rick said, coming up. "He was just shooting at us!" Glenn said, "he's a kid." Rick replied, "Please help me." the kid cried, "This place is crawling with walkers!" Glenn said, looking around

"We can't leave him!" Rick Yelled, looking over at the boy. "The fence went clean through. We cannot get the leg off in one piece." Hershel said, looking at Rick while the boy screamed in pain

"Shut up, or I will shoot you!" Rick said, pointing his gun at him. "That may be the answer. We're not gonna get that leg off without tearing the muscle to shreds. He certainly can't run. He may bleed out." Hershel said.

"Shut up." Rick said to the boy, "I'm sorry. Sh-sh... shut up. - Shut up," Rick hissed. "Maybe we should put him down. I don't wanna see any more killed, but this is cruel." Hershel said

"Can't we take the leg off? That hatchet still in the car?" Rick asked, looking at me. I nodded. "No, no, don't... don't... Don't cut my leg off, please. Please, not my leg." the boy cried

"Will this cut through the bone?" Rick asked Hershel, "I'll have to sever the ligaments below the kneecap, cut above the tibia. He's going to lose his lower leg."

"No, don't. No." the boy pleaded. "When we get clear of here, we're gonna have to find some tinder, cauterize the wound, so he doesn't bleed out." Hershel finished, "All right, no choice. Hurry up." Rick replied

"Oh God, oh God. No! " the boy screamed. " Ah! Guys, walkers. Hurry up!" I yelled, taking a fighting stance. "Shut up!" Rick hissed, "Oh God. They're everywhere. Hershel, how are we doing over there?" I yelled

I need more hands!" Hershel yelled, "Come on, we gotta go! I'm almost out of ammo! We don't have much time! Come on; we've gotta go! Can't hold 'em off!" Glenn yelled. Panicked

"Hershel, do it now! Come on, Hershel! There is no time!" Glenn yelled, losing his gun again. "Hershel, come on!" Ricked yelled, running past Hershel. "Please don't leave me! Please! No! Please don't leave me! Please! Please don't leave me!" the boy repeated; Rick went to the fence, looked at the boy, and shoved his leg up as hard as he could, freeing the limb from the spike.

Well, today has just been a series of events

Next Chapter

[final-girl96]

Broken World: Chapter Forty-One

Daryl

Flashback

Mountains of Georgia 2010

Daryl was with his father, Will, and his Uncle Jess up at the cabin on a hunting trip. Everything was quiet and peaceful. Merle was locked up in the county jail for a couple of nights, which isn't anything new.  He got locked up for starting another bar fight.

Right now, Daryl, Jess, and Will were out in the woods hunting. Daryl was off on his own but not too far from where his father and Jess were. He could hear Jess telling Will about some blood. He heard the comment, “Has blood always been this dark?” He too had noticed some blood trails where the blood seemed to be much darker than he's ever seen before. Fresh kills always see a bright red. The blood he has been seeing is dark red, almost black, and it's still wet. He knows blood darkens as it dries and starts to coagulate, but this blood is still freshly wet.

It was all but a few minutes that he'd continued walking when he heard several gunshots go off, then Jess yelling out for him. It didn't take more than two minutes to reach his father and uncle. Will was laying on the ground, blood seeping from his neck. “Dad!” He ran over to him with mixed emotions running through him. “We have to get help for him.” Jess shook his head and looked at his own arm. “There ain't nothing we can do for him. Ya gotta put him down.”

Daryl's hand shook as he took the pistol from his uncle's hand. He brought it up, raising it to his father's head. He couldn't do it; he couldn't shoot his father. He wouldn't stand here and say he's never thought about doing it before. Because he has; he has thought about killing his father before just to be able to get away from the abuse. But here he was, standing above his father with a gun pointed at him, and he couldn't do it.

“I can't…I can't do it,” he said, dropping his arm. Jess took the gun from him and brought it up to look at his best friend; his brother. “Sorry brother,” were his final words to him as he pulled the trigger. Daryl flinched and looked away. There was no time to pick Will up to give him a proper burial, not when there were sick people…dead people?

Daryl wasn't really sure what was going on. All he knew was that these people were violent, and the only way to put them down was to shoot them in the head. He had learned that very quickly when he and Jess were running for their lives.

Daryl had fired the rifle in his hands, hitting one in the chest, right in the heart. A normal person would have gone down. But this one kept coming. They weren't even affected by it. They were surrounded by the time they got back to the truck. Jess was getting weaker and weaker. “Go! Get 8n the truck and go, Daryl! Find Merle and get outta here!” That was the last thing he said to Daryl before distracting the mob of infected. Daryl got in the truck and watched the only man he knew as an uncle be ripped apart.

The Prison

Spring 2011

YN

We had cleared the prison yard. It didn't take that long to do it either. Some of us went up into the towers, and the rest spread out on the other side of the fence. Rick was the one to make a run to the other gate that led to cell block C. Once that gate was closed and locked, we were able to relax for a little while and enjoy ourselves. After we got the cars pulled in, we gathered the bodies and put them in a pile on the other side of the yard far from where we planned to set up for the night.

A fire was built as the sky grew darker, and the air grew a little chiller. The squirrels Daryl had shot were cooked up and evenly portioned out. I was sitting by myself when Carol came into my line of sight. She held out a bowl with a small amount of meat in it. “I was going to take this to Daryl, but I think you should go do it.” I looked up at her and shook my head. “No, I think it would be better if you took it to him. He doesn't want anything to do with me.”

“Get up, you're going to go take this to him. Come on, stand up!” I raised my eyebrows at her. “Now. You can not keep avoiding each other.” I put my hands up and slowly raised to my feet. She handed me the bowl and pushed me a little to make me start walking towards the overturned bus Daryl was standing on.

“Brought you something to eat,” I said when I grew closer. I reached up and set the bowl down and started to climb up onto the tire. Surprisingly, Daryl helped me up the rest of the way. “Carol made me bring you this,” I said, handing him the bowl. “It's not much, but if you don't eat now, you won't eat at all.” He took the bowl with a head nod. “Guess little Shane over there has quiet and appetite.” I snorted at his comment, catching the smallest pull at  the corner of his mouth.”

Silence fell between us as Daryl ate. I looked behind us at our group; our family. That's what they are, right? They're our family. We've been through some much together for the past year. “Where were you when the outbreak happened?” I asked before I could stop myself. Daryl licked his fingers as he side eyed me. “Was at the cabin with my dad and Jess.” I nodded my head, looking down at my boots.

“Dad was the first to get bitten. Had his neck ripped out. Jess handed me his pistol to put him out of his misery but…I was too much of a coward to do it. Jess shot him, and we ran. When we got closer to the truck, we had a group of walkers on us. Jess had been bitten when he tried to save dad, so he sacrificed himself for me to get away. I hopped in the truck and took off.”

It was surprising that Daryl opened up to me at all. “What–what about Merle? Where was he?” I asked, wrapping my arms around myself. “County jail.” I hummed, nodding my head slightly. “Starting fights at the bar?” I asked him, and he nodded with a grunt. “But you were able to get him out. That's a good thing. He didn't end up like these prisoners. Yet again, Merle would have found his way out of there one way or another.” Daryl scoffed out a laugh and started to climb down from the bus. “Come on.”

[ddaz3d-and-cc0nfused]

I have a request for Daryl Dixon x Plus Size Shy!Reader (any gender). Daryl and Reader are on a multiple-day run, just the two of them.

They both have liked each other for a long time.

Both too afraid to act on it.

Then they are forced together for a while. (maybe someone is playing matchmaker? (wink, wink)

Angst/Fluff? (Please fluff)

First kisses + confession?

Smut if you want, but not necessary.

༉‧₊˚. 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 || 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐱𝐨𝐧

― pairings: daryl dixon x plus size!reader

― era: early season 9

― summary: you loved daryl, it was as if he was perfectly handcrafted by whatever existed out there. you felt like a high school girl again, and your friend michonne has had enough of watching you shoot heart eyes at the man, so she takes it upon herself to take the next step for you.

― warnings: generally, none! some empty threats at most but they're used in a friendly context (if that makes any sense).

― wc: 3177

⋆ a/n: ohemgee, i am so sorry that i got to you so late, it's as if my life hadn't wanted to give me a break for the last couple of days, but i had recently found some time to finish it! so here this is, i really hoped this lived up to your expectations seeing as though you had to wait so long :]

masterlist | AO3

You felt like you were in high school all over again; always wondering if you were too obvious, or if they might like you back, looking into everything that the person said or did while they were around you, desperately wondering— and hoping — it meant anything. Daryl was an uncontrollable force, one that prevented you from being able to tell how he was feeling or what was going on through that head of his. It didn't help that you were too shy for your own good, constantly tripping over yourself and your words whenever you were around him, only speaking to him out of necessity.

You were partially grateful for the distraction that Negan had brought to your group, but now that it was over and everyone was slowly rebuilding their communities, you were left to face your feelings once again. Almost everyone's hands were needed, either that be for collecting wood, building, setting up blueprints, teaching the children, etc. So, that meant that you were forced to be around him more often than what you were comfortable with, almost exploding every time he needed your assistance.

“I just don't know what to do, Michonne.” You had practically whined. Daryl was away at the Sanctuary for the day, but he was due to show up soon to investigate a new location that may be stocked with some food. “It's like he's so close but so far. Like— he's in front of me, right living and breathing, but whenever I go to interact with him it's like he's out of my reach.” You groaned in embarrassment, hiding your face in your hands. “How am I supposed to help our communities and allies if I can't even function around one man, a man that I've known for literally years mind you.”

She smiled, continuing to brush through Judith's beautiful blonde hair. She was on babysitting duty, Rick out and about as he planned on expanding some of the walls of Alexandria to make more space for another greenhouse. The vegetables and other plants were thriving, the people taking care of them, and doing hell of a good job so far. You usually took times like these to rant about your life, laying on your back on the couple's shared bed, limbs extended out like a starfish as you talked.

“I may have never showed it, but I was shy around Rick sometimes as well.” You dramatically blew a raspberry in disbelief. “I'm not kidding!” She said with a smile. “Sometimes when he'd say my name, I would get all tingly.” You smiled as well, imagining the big bad Michonne that had first shown up at the fences of the prison holding baby food, now a mother that completely melted into a puddle for the ex-sheriff. Your smile quickly fell as you realized that duty called, ripping yourself from the sheets as you sat up.

“I've got a few things that Rick needs me to check on. Thanks again for listening.” You bid her and little Judith a farewell, placing a kiss on her head as well as giving Michonne a hug. “You know I'd be happy to help you with him.” You just rolled your eyes and snorted. “I know you are, ‘Chonne.”

As you left the room, the woman had a mischievous glint in her eye, a plan brewing in her mind as she decided she would have a little chat with Rick tonight, and the man was more than easy to persuade.

Hearing that it would just be you and Daryl going on this trip caused you to freeze in place, a feeling of panic twisting in your gut as you stared at Rick with wide eyes. “R- Rick, are you sure? We've got many other highly skilled people that would be happy to go out,” You desperately tried to convince him, “Don't you need someone to keep track of the trading routes, or- or training or something?” Rick just shook his head. “Don't worry, we've got those covered. You guys shouldn't be gone long, maybe for a few days, probably even shorter if you find something.” Oh, yeah, and did you fail to mention that it was miles away from home?

Gulping with a nod, you accepted your fate. Rick placed an encouraging hand on your shoulder, a knowing look on his face as he watched Daryl chatting with Michonne and Maggie, standing near his motorcycle. As you stood in place, you realized that were so royally fucked.

You were extremely hesitant to approach him, gripping onto your backpack straps for dear life as you made sure to keep yourself balanced. “One foot in front of the other” you repeatedly chanted in your head. Just breathe. You've known him for years, since the quarry, so it wasn't like you were strangers, you had almost gotten eaten by cannibals together, you can't get much closer than that. You winced at the idea, maybe that shouldn't have been your most encouraging thought.

As you approached the very dangerous, and suffocating vehicle, you greeted your best friend with a tight-lipped smile.

“I'll miss you.” Michonne said with a shit-eating grin on her face. As she pulled you into her arms you whispered, “When I get back, I'm going to fucking kill you.” Pulling back with that same look on your face. “Oh, I don't doubt it!” She said fakely. You could've sworn your eye twitched as you turned to Maggie.

“So, you guys know what we're looking for, right?” She asked. “Yeah. Food, baby shit, the usual.” Daryl grumbled. “Alright, well I shouldn't keep ya here then, you're losin’ daylight.” Maggie finished, tugging you into her embrace as well. “Be safe.” She said, giving you a sweet smile. “I will, Maggie. You too. And I mean, you two.” Gesturing to her stomach. She let out an airy laugh at your horrible play on words.

As they ventured away from the both of you, you were brought back to your reality. You and Daryl were going to be alone, together, on his bike, where your body would be to close to his. Was it hot out here, or was it just you? It shouldn't have been, it was almost breaching December, at least that's what the beat up calendar you found had said.

“So, uh—” You said awkwardly. “Jus’ get on.” He drawled, throwing his legs over the sides of the bike expertly as he waited for you to do the same. “Right, right. Just get on the death machine.” You said more to yourself than to him. You had tried your best to get on without having to hold onto him, but you quickly succumbed when your backpack almost dragged you down. As your hand touched his shoulder, his whole body tensed. Noticing the small change, you quickly let go, weirdly sitting yourself on the back as you gripped the seat.

“Ya might wanna hold onto me.” Before you could reject his offer, he reached around him, gripping your arms and tugging you forward so that you fell on his back. Face first. You could literally explode. No, you were going to explode.

Had his body always been this firm? You knew the man was strong, you've seen him bulk up as he had gotten older, but your imagination was nothing compared to this, compared to the warmth that he radiated. He smelled so good, like cigarettes, motor oil, and the forest with a hint of sweat. Your heart was beating a mile a minute as you got up, sheepishly wrapping your arms around his waist, your forearms brushing against his muscular stomach that had softened with age.

“Sorry.” You whispered, eyes trained on the wings of his vest. “'S fine.” He grumbled, revving up the engine as he took off.

You weren't going to lie and say your grip on him didn't tighten, or that you had buried your face in his back once again, which earned you tensed shoulders before they relaxed.

You felt the wind kiss certain parts of your body, caressing the skin under your shirt that had ridden up, the flesh of your neck that wasn't protected by the winter's coat you wore. As he drove, it had grew dark right before your very eyes, which meant that it was getting chillier. You couldn't help but cuddle yourself closer to the older man in front you, completely forgetting about your internal battle.

Unknowingly to you, Daryl was fighting off the blush that threatened to grow on his face, stomach twisting pleasantly as he listened to your small gasps whenever he would take a turn. You soon felt yourselves come to a stop.

“’S too dark to keep goin’.” He spoke, sitting up from his hunched over position. “Um, okay. We're kind of in the middle of no where.” You were desperate to make conversation with him, the urge to scream out that you'd go anywhere he'd take you clawing at the back of your throat. As he got off first, you hadn't realized how truly cold it was until you began to shiver, Daryl's body heat having been a blanket for the last couple of hours.

“C'mon.” He reached a hand out for you to take, which you did. “Damn, girl,” He murmured, “Yer fingers are gunna fall off.” His large, calloused and worked palm covered yours. “I guess there was only so much of your heat to go around I guess.” You attempted to joke, but quickly shut up as you looked at his face. “Sorry, not like you're like not warm enough or anything— you're actually super comfortable and—” Daryl stared at you incredulously as you rambled. “Okay I'll shut up now."

He hadn't let go of your hand, even as he was forced to fire his crossbow with one hand, he always had you tucked away behind him, shielding you with his body.

“There's a cabin up ahead.” He gestured, tugging you along behind him as a sign for you to pick up the pace. You did of course, even though your focus had been set on the fact that he was protecting you most of the time.

“You wait out ‘ere.” He whispered as you approached the shack. “Daryl, I wanna help.” He just shook his head. “Nah, I got it.” As much as you liked Daryl, sometimes his overprotectiveness was suffocating. “Daryl, listen, as much as I appreciate you wanting to put yourself in front of the danger, I'm feeling a bit useless back here.” You whispered back with a crooked smile. The last thing Daryl wanted to do was make you feel useless, no matter how hard you tried to play your feelings down.

That was one thing that Daryl hated but also admired about you; he admired that you were willing to put others before you, but he also wished that you wouldn't do that with the small things because, he feels like you tend to forget that how you feel matters too. He wanted to tell you this, but everytime he tried to, his throat closed up and he would just grumble something to you before walking away, mentally kicking himself. It was as though he had grown the balls to talk to everyone else but you, and sometimes he feared that you were afraid of him.

“Alrigh’ but if anything looks strange, you tell me.” You crossed your heart. “Scout's honor." Scout's honor? What are you, twelve? You cringed at yourself as you raised your knife cautiously, scanning the area as you shivered, the temperature seemingly dropping as soon as you stepped into the wood made home. Houses like these never had a/c or a heater, but one thing they did have was a fire place.

“Daryl, look!” You called to him quietly, “There's a fire place.” His eyes softened as you stared at the stone architecture with childlike wonder. “You think Santa will shove his ass down the chimney this year?” You asked with a smile. Daryl snorted, checking behind the bathroom door. “I don’ know. 'Don’ think I'm on his nice list.” It was your turn to laugh. “Who is now and days?” That was one thing that you were right about, it was hard to determine who was good and who was bad when it came to the apocalypse.

“Maybe I'll have Rick dress up as Santa and we'll go out to get the kids some gifts.” You spoke through the kitchen, your anxiety being relieved as you realized that there were no walkers inside the cabin. It looked as though it hadn't been touched, having been kept in pristine shape. You felt like you were watching a Hallmark movie, stuck inside of a cabin with the guy you're in love with, forced to keep your feelings at bay so you don't risk your friendship you have with them.

“Come’ta think of it, I think Rick might even like it.” You heard Daryl snicker from the living room. He had been prodding at the firewood that had been left in there, attempting to set a fire. After a few more tries, it successfully lit.

“There's some cans of beans in here!” You said triumphantly, walking out and holding the food over your head. “Is there a pot or sumthin’ in there? ‘Cause I can set it up over the fire, make us some dinner.” You were quick to check, and we're presented with yet another win. “Yep! Right here!”

The rest of the night was calm as you watched him seperate your portions into some old bowls that were carved out of wood. You didn't mention that you saw him put more food into yours than his, your body simply too tired to as you stared at the yellow and orange flames. The ambiance was peaceful, you body sinking into the old dusty cushions of the sofa, hands warmed by the bowl of food that you were given.

“Thank you.” You said with a smile, your voice faint as you began to dig into your beans. “Ain’ no problem.” He spoke, his ears turning a bright red at your praise. He dug into his food, which was a little more civilized this time as he ate with a spoon. Back at the quarry leading up to Alexandria, he had all but eaten with his hands.

“What're you starin’ at?” Your body flushed at the fact that you had gotten caught staring. “Oh! Um— I was just thinking about when I had first met you, that uh— utensils weren't even a word in your vocabulary.” The red bled onto his face as he looked everywhere but you, focusing on the fire. “I didn't mean it in a bad way, it's just— ugh!” You groaned, placing your bowl in your lap to cover your face.

You heard shuffling then the cushion on the right side of you dipping. “Aye, wha’s wrong?” He asked, placing his own on the coffee table next to him. “I just—” Was this it? “I just hate how I can't speak around you.” Oh fuck, this was it.

“Whaddya mean?” His own nerves were fluttering around in his body, proving so as he sat anxiously in his seat. He was turned towards you, one of his legs tucked under the other as it hung off the couch, his arm propped up on the back of it.

“What I mean is that I like you okay? I like you so much to the point where I can't even think straight! It's like you're in the back of my mind all the time, every single day. I can't help but think, “Does he think I'm weird?” Or “Does he think I'm pretty?” Or “Am I even his type?” It's like you make me feel so many things at once, and there's nothing I can do about it because I know you'd never like me back.” You brain vomited as you spoke, it was as if a dam had broken loose and almost every single thought in your mind came tumbling out.

He sat there in silence, his heart beating out his chest as he stared at you. You liked him? Since when? Since how? Since why? Did that even make any grammatical sense? He himself found it hard to believe as he processed your words, and then he had realized that he had left though there in silence.

“What do ya mean “I wouldn't like ya?” Have ya seen yourself?” He peeled your hands away from your face, forcing you to face him as well. “You don't know how crazy ya make me too. You're perfect. If anything, I wouldn't have thought ya would've liked me back.” You had this look of shock on your face, as if his words had burned you.

“Not like you? Daryl, you're everything I want and more! Ever since I had met you, ever since you were out there looking for Sophia almost every single day until the barn was opened— almost killing yourself in the process might I add— I knew that you were special, that you weren't just some dirty redneck that everyone thought you were,” You placed a hand on his cheek, stroking the stubble on his face with your thumb, “You're kind, selfless, self-sacrificial, and so goddamn heroic. If you thought I wouldn't like you then you're just fucking stupid.” You finished off with a giggle.

“Ya thought I was sum dirty ol’ redneck?” He asked with a smirk. “That's what you took away from that?” You asked with a grin. “Nah, not jus’ that.” His voice had gotten deeper, his gaze falling from your eyes, to your lips, then right back up to your eyes again.

“Are you gonna keep staring, or are you going to kiss me, Dixon?” He grabbed you by your waist, tugging you closer to him so now we're perched on your side as well. As his face lowered down to yours, he gave you a chance to pull away, insecurities and unsureness still actively plaguing his mind.

You took the initiative, pressing your lips against his as his scruff scratched at your chin. His large hand cupped your cheek, the other one tangling in your hair as you pressed yourself against him. He felt so nice, and he was a damn good kisser too. The kiss was sweet, Daryl saying more with the way his tongue had explored your mouth than what he had said earlier, even though him calling you perfect was more than enough.

As you sperated, you both rested your foreheads against the others.

“Who knew you were such a hopeless romantic?” You asked, a breathless chuckle following up close behind. “Shut it.” He murmured, pressing his lips against yours once more. He pushed you down onto the couch, crawling over your body.

“You look cold.” He teased. “Then I guess you'll need to warm me up.” You said as you twirled a piece of his hair around your finger before pulling him down to kiss him with a shit-eating grin on your face.

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