Don't Fear The Reaper (R. Grimes & D. Dixon)

26

Everyone packed up their belongings in the morning, loading them into the cars, making it look like they had moved out. The air was tense and silent, no one knowing what to say or how today would go. Beth, Hershel, carl, and Judith were being sent out to a safe spot away from harm. Kit approached Daryl, who was sitting on the ground next to the bike staring at merle, who was helping rick.

"you know merle never did nothing like that his whole life," he grunted kit hummed.

"why do you think I wouldn't let him go out after one good deed. martyr merle didn't sound right." Daryl shook his head, the corner of his lip quirking as he looked back down, fiddling with his poncho. Kit looked around at everyone t-dog was helping Michonne. She paused briefly on an angry carl stomping around before merle caught her eye as he gave her a subtle nod before going back to what he was doing. "the bike wasn't the only thing that was part of our deal. it was to clean himself up too. he agreed" she could feel Daryls eyes piercing her. 

"thank you," it came out in a whisper. She looked back at him, her eyes softening, a small smile gracing her face before nodding. Kit knew that wasn't just a simple thank you from the emotions crashing over his face, his Dixon blues full of vulnerability. She stuck her hand out "come on; we got a cyclops to get ready for," she said with a cheeky smile. Daryl huffed out a laugh as he took her hand.

"aunt K, Daryl " they both turned to face carl.

"can you talk to my dad? It's a mistake. I can do this," he pleaded 

kit shook her head "carl-" "No, I can! I can kill them too! I can help!" he turned to stomp away again, but kit pulled him back, a stern terrifying look on her face

"carl joseph grimes, if I ever hear that come out of your mouth again, I'm going to make a worse concoction than I did, merle! Killing people can be an easy split-second thing, but that shit stays with you! It changes you! You should have never even been the one to put your mother down. Yeah, I know the whole loved one spiel, but look at you, carl, it's changed you and not in a good way. I love you dearly, carl, but you're not that brave little boy with his heart on his sleeve anymore. You've turned cold, reckless, and disconnected. I just want my short stack back." heartbroken, tears forming in her eyes, and she looked at her godson; Carl looked down, ashamed, tears of his own. kit knelt, rubbing his arms. "these people are being led by fear and fear alone conjured by lies. Most of them are sick, old, or kids. Kids, carl, that's just sick in itself. Some of these people don't even want to fight. Not everyone is evil. Just look at Sasha and Tyreese. that was your decision that we needed to save them, and now they are part of our family. I need you to be smart, carl, in here, out there, everywhere. I don't give a shit what your dad said. He doesn't even have his own head lately. If you see someone, think carl, assess the situation, and think clearly. Please do not do it to prove how capable you are cause we all already know. Can you do that for me?" carl nodded, sniffling, wrapping his arms kit's neck, hugging her tight, Daryl catching his hat before it could hit the ground. Kit's gaze focused on rick, who was silently watching them from the cars, hand on his hip, trying to wipe his tears away discreetly. Kit pulled carl back, wiping his tears away and kissing his forehead; Daryl put his hat back on when she pulled back. "All right, time to get in the car," she whispered, taking Daryl's hand; he helped her to stand. Carl did so this time without fighting anyone or huffing.

Kit, Merle, and Daryl went down to open the tomb gate kit had locked to block off the breach. They each whistled loudly at the entrance before leaving to hide in their designated areas. They sat there for a good while, all silent so as to not attract walkers and block themselves in. before long, though, they could hear distant explosions and gunfire, whispers in the darkened hallway followed by more gunfire. Merle set off the alarms to the hall; kit and Daryl put on their gas masks, tossing flashbangs and smoke grenades into the hall before shutting and locking the door again. They waited till there was no more gunfire and everything settled before they left the room, relocking the breached gate and leaving the tombs, killing any walkers they came across till they all made it back outside.