The Treasure of the Sea

3

Daryl followed the captain down a flight of stairs to their dining quarter. Daryl sniffed the scent of fish and something else wafting through his senses. "Sorry little fish this is a tad dark." Daryl eyed him a bit confused by the statement, it looked fine to him. He could see easily enough. He hummed to him in reply and Negan took his spot at the table like he always did his captain's hat on his head, Daryl went to sit beside him when he was pulled into his master's arms. "You sit with me guppy."

Daryl grunted, but this was better than his usual situation. He was usually forced to eat scraps, sometimes he would purposely not eat because of the food he was given. Usually old and fly ridden. He licked his lips watching the food get placed in front of him. He smiled and reached for the fish, Negan smiled watching him interested in his movements. Daryl began to nibble on it before practically consuming it whole like a whale shark. Negan cocked his head. "Joey, I think he likes it."

Daryl nodded enthusiastically as he ate the rest of his meal., Negan slid some of his fish to Daryl who devoured it quickly. "Did they starve you little fish?"

Everyone watched carefully. Daryl nodded again. "Mhm-hmm."

Negan stabbed the table with his knife. "Bastards."

"Why'd they have you?" One man asked, he remembered him as Shane. Daryl stammered unsure how to answer. Then Shane changed his question. "How long have they had you for?"

Daryl thought for a moment, and cradled his arms like he was holding a baby and began to rock his arms. "Since you were a baby?" Dwight asked wide eyed. Daryl nodded. He was able to communicate without words well enough.

"I didn't know the claimers had been together that long."

Daryl shook his head then. He hadn't always been with the claimers but he'd been a captive of his father and brother since he was a baby. Negan put two and two together quickly. "Are you a Dixon?"

Daryl nodded. "By Davy Jones he does have another boy."

"Daryl Dixon," Negan repeated a bit. "Damn bastards to abuse their own blood." They knew of the Dixon men, they were thieves and drunks before they met the Claimers.

"I didn't know they had another."

"He's much younger than his brother than."

Daryl nodded he was eleven and a half years younger. "How'd that all happen?"

Daryl shrugged. He just knew from the moment he had any memories of his life he was a slave. Stealing for his pa by sneaking into people's homes till he was about four and he started talking.

Then he didn't talk.

Because if he talked he was abused.

"Now boys let's eat and celebrate no more about my guppy." They nodded, soon Negan was handed a cup of grog. He drank about half before offering some to Daryl. He drank up and instantly regretted it. He hiccuped and shook his head in unsure confusion. Negan laughed. "Gotta get your land legs used to sea."

Daryl eyed him as he spoke, most of what he said not registering in Daryl's mind. The captain helped Daryl back to their room, Daryl promptly passed out from the alcohol.

Negan chuckled as he walked back down to his men. "Setting course captain?" Eugene asked, handing him a map.

"I heard rumors," the captain smiled, "of a sea cave filled with rubies and crystals. We are headed to the middle of the salt, starboard. I'm hoping my fish is small enough to swim to get in the cave for us. He is going to be mighty helpful."

They nodded and he marked out the map. "Start on course boys, I want to be the first to find it. We will stop for a supply pick up at the small village of Alexandria. Aye?"