The Walking Dead ~ Daryl x Reader x Negan

5) We're going to be friends

I didn't actually sleep that night. Insomnia has always been a problem, but I decided that I was going to leave before anyone woke up. Especially Daryl. I didn't want anyone to come with me, on runs I didn't need the extra stress of looking out for someone else. In my eyes it's more efficient if I go by myself. I know Daryl thinks otherwise but it's not for him to say. I just want to spend a day with myself.

I don't want him to freak out though when he finds I'm not there so I leave him a little note. I find a small bit if paper in my bag and a broken Spiderman pencil that came with the bag itself.

Hey sorry, will be back before dark. Good luck.

I leave it on the floor in my tent, anywhere else and it probably wouldn't be noticed or make much sense.

As I'm driving I dig into my bag that's placed on the seat next to me and I pull out that vodka. "Come to Mama." I can't help but say to myself, laughing as I do so. Drinking and driving isn't such a big deal when there are no other cars on the road - plus, I'm not going to drink too much. Just enough to get the bad thoughts out my head.

I don't know how long I was traveling on the road before I came to a small town. Looks quaint. I wonder the quiet streets looking at all the shops as I go past, they look almost untouched. Obviously raided by locals who were just trying to get the fuck away. I only stumbled into six or seven walkers, just taking a look round to see if I should be on the constant look out or not. I like being alone in certain situations. When I'm outside. I enjoy the sound of birds. Since humanity fell, the birds have chirped a little louder. That, or noise pollution isn't a big deal anymore.

I turn a corner and see a pet shop. My heart breaks with the thought that these animals were trapped with no-one looking after them. It takes a while for me to open the door. It was locked. I don't know why I'm in here. I'm just going to upset myself.

I walk along looking over the shelves, running my hand along the bags of dry dog food. A few had been knocked on the floor and had spilled. I sigh kicking it out of my way only to freeze as I hear a growl from behind me.

"Why, hey there, buddy!" I turn and see an angry looking dog.

I had just kicked his food to be fair. I'm not sure what to do. I flinch a little as the dog ducks down into a playful position. My heart is melting. I kneel down and give him head pats.

"Woah, you look like a bear don't you! Oh yes you do!" I can't help but praise him, rubbing his belly. "Oh you are such a good boy."

His ears perk up at that and he gets to his feet, before leaping onto my shoulders pushing me over and giving my kisses.

"Stop, I'll cry!" I pushed him off and give him some more fuss. "How have you survived here then, all alone?"

I walk around, food bags on the floor and fish bowls dry. There were also dead animals in their cages. One big one was open, looks like the fluffy boy really wanted to get out.

"You're such a smart boy." I stroke the fur on his head and he leans into my leg. He is tall to the height of midway up my thigh. I kneel down again taking his face in my hands. "Who are you then? What's your name? What breed are you?"

I ask questions and watch as his head tilts from side to side.

"We should call you..." I think for a while looking into his big brown eyes. "Stórbjörn, because you are a big bear." Duolingo does come in handy sometimes.

I pick out a nice dog lead and attach a harness onto him, he's very excitable and I don't want him breaking his neck. I put the handle of the lead on my belt, I think holding him would just pull me over; If it's on my belt I have a bit more strength against him. I also pick out a few big bags of dog food and a few bags of treats. It's going to be difficult to carry back to the pick up but I'll be okay.

We exit the shop and I was right, he started pulling away instantly. "Please be careful." I mumble but he doesn't know English so why bother. He seems like he knows a few things though, he acts as if he's nicely trained. He sat next to me like a good boy while I picked everything up.

We walked for a little while and he suddenly kept to my side, a smile still on his face but placing a timid paw on my calf. He did this a few times, before I turned around. A cannibal corpse. It was far away and limping so I'll be fine for now. I place the heavy bags on the floor and ruffle the top of his head.

"You're such a good boy aren't you!" I momentarily abandon the bags, skipping to the walker and putting it out of its misery.

I go back to the bags and Stórbjörn seems fine again, happily going about his day. I once again feel my heart melt at the sight of his pretty little happy boy face.

I spend a few hours going into a few different shops taking whatever was left. I found some herbs - powdered garlic, paprika, cumin and curry. Fuck yes. I also picked up some insoles for shoes, see if that'll help Daryl. The best find - of course - was my big fluffy friend.

Stórbjörn warned me every time a corpse was nearby, his powerful nose being able to smell them from far away. I look at the sky, the sun was slowly going down. I still had a little time left. I had some of the stuff I came for. There wasn't too much in the shops but enough to keep me happy.

I decide to loop around one last time before I went back. An outdoors shop? Fucking sweet. I crossed my fingers and prayed a cool bow would be in there to replace the one I had recently lost. I opened the door, waiting for my puppy (all dogs are puppies) to give me any kind of sign.

"What do you think, Stórbjörn." I looked only at him, waiting for any kind of reaction.

His ears perked up, a sweet expression on his face. He bowed and lightly tapped my calf.

"You're a good boy." I pull out my knife and cautiously head inside.

It seemed empty as a stalked the isles. I shoved a few things I came across into my pockets, some bigger things in my bag; torches, matches, ect. A corpse eventually found its way to us, a tap on my leg warned me. I killed it as soon as it was in range but
Stórbjörn kept hitting my leg.

Yeah... fuck that. I trust this dog more than myself. then and there I just turn and leave, heading straight to the pickup and hopping in, Stórbjörn jumped into the passenger side and sat like the good boy he was.

"Here you go Bubs." I tip a bit of my water into a little bowl I found in the corner shop. "You did good today."

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