Locked Away (Daryl X Reader)

I Will Not Be Haunted

After soaking in Carol's advice, it was time to let Bram go and reclaim your life. Your E/C eyes scanned Daryl's cell, observing how little was truly inside. The bare table was dusty and the only personal items in the room were all shoved in a small corner.

You pushed yourself up from the floor and stepped over to the pile, crouching down to inspect its contents. A few broken arrows from his crossbow were held together by twine, awaiting his steady hands to be fixed. Next to them sat a few flannels with the sleeves cut off, mostly covered in dirt and grime. Nothing in the room seemed to be of importance and your mind began to wonder if Daryl stayed in here at all.

Carol's words rang in your head as you moved to your feet and brushed off your knees. The archer had been abused and likely faced the same struggles you did. It now made sense why he had shied away from the attention you gave him. It was probably something had hadn't experienced in years, to be looked up to and treated with kindness.

After letting out a sigh, you decided it was time to find Daryl and set things straight. Your hands pushed back the curtain and you timidly peered out into the cell block. At the end stood a thin blonde-haired girl who rocked a baby back and forth. The song she sang brought a gentle smile to your lips, briefly distracting you from your task at hand.

You hadn't seen a baby in years and the little coos that echoed through the hall made your nose sting. 'No,' you thought to yourself, shaking your head in an attempt to control your emotions. Carol was right when she assumed that your past still haunted you, but that needed to change. The experiences you missed would just have to be completed now.

You forced your legs to pull you forward, clearing your throat lightly. The girl whipped around, her icy blue eyes surprised, but soon creased with a smile. "H-hi," you spoke hesitantly, letting out a clipped breath before starting again with more confidence. "Hi, I'm Y/N. This is my first day here and I wanted to introduce myself."

The girl relaxed her posture and nodded. "Nice to meet you. I'm Beth and this is Judith," she responded with an intense southern drawl, looking down at the bundle in her arms with maternal admiration.

You couldn't help but step closer to get a better view of the little girl, your heart swelling when you saw her big brown eyes looking back at you. "She's beautiful," you whispered, relaxing for the first time since you arrived at the prison.

Beth watched you with interest, an unreadable expression on her face before speaking. "She's Rick's little girl. Her momma passed when she was born." She looked towards the direction you came from, eyes glinting with curiosity. "Daryl calls her Little Ass Kicker."

Your gaze jumped up to meet hers at the mention of the archer and you blushed before a laugh ripped from your chest. Instinctively, your hand raised to cover your mouth as the act seemed so foreign; however, that only made it worse. You couldn't stop the laughter from flowing out, and eventually, Beth joined in with you.

You both received some odd looks but you couldn't find it in yourself to care. "I'm sorry," you got out between breaths, attempting to calm down. "I haven't laughed in years."

Her expression was good-natured as she shook her head in understanding. "We all need a little humor now and then. I'm glad we could give it to you." You both stood in silence for a moment before Beth spoke up again. "He's in the guard tower by the way."

Your brows scrunched slightly in confusion before she said Daryl's name to clarify. "H-how did you know I was looking for him?"

Her eyes held a soft understanding as she nodded towards his cell block. "I saw you come out. Plus the whole prisons been takin' bout the girl he brought back who seems to have caught his attention." Her wise persona contrasted the mischievous tone in which she spoke, and you let out a soft chuckle.

"Ahh... That makes sense." You couldn't hide the wild blush that covered your body, suddenly becoming too hot in Daryl's flannel; however, you couldn't bring yourself to remove it. "Thank you, for everything," you said nodding to Beth and taking one last look at Judith before turning and heading towards the exit.

-

Daryl sat up on the guard tower, looking over the prison's yard. A few walkers pushed their way up against the metal gates, but the afternoon patrol efficiently picked them off. He couldn't seem to get you out of his mind as the hot Georgia sun beat down on his head. No matter where he went, or what he was doing, he had this natural urge to be by your side. He knew you were strong, but the inexperience you had with the new world concerned him. For some reason, the thought of you getting hurt, or God forbid being bit, made his chest ache.

The way he had snapped at you earlier in the day still ate away at his mind, making him feel guilty for writing you off. You hadn't done anything wrong, and he wished he would've said that in the moment instead of letting you ponder on the thought. 

He gnawed on his lip in thought, not noticing the sound of footsteps on the metal stairs behind him. You pushed the heavy door open and stepped out onto the enclosed platform where Daryl sat. Your eyes pulled immediately to the angel wings that rest on his back, which quickly moved out of sight as he whipped around to face you. 

"Daryl-" 

"M' sorry." The archer quickly cut you off, now standing at your side. "M' not the best with words an' I don't have a lot of people who make me want to use em' like you do."

Your brows scrunched together as you listened to him, mind processing what he had just admitted. Daryl's eyes were trained on his boots as he examined the dirt that clung to them like it was the most interesting thing in the world. Your expression softened and you reached forward, gently turning his head up with your hand to meet your gaze. 

"You are the first person to give me hope for a better life. You saved me, and nothing will change that." As you examined his eyes, you couldn't help but think of a swirling blue sea crashing over you. "But you're broken too, and it's okay to want to be alone sometimes."

Your E/C eyes scanned his face, appreciating every rugged feature. He seemed to be deep in thought, his expression not giving away what was occurring in his mind. His hand suddenly grasped yours, which still rest under his chin. 

"I don't wanna be alone." You took in a short breath at the way Daryl looked at you. His eyes were filled with desperation, desire, and something else you couldn't quite discern. He pulled you closer, leaning down to whisper into your ear. "I said I'd protect you an' I will... But I want to know who you are before I let you in."

His voice was gravelly and his shallow breath blew through your H/C hair, leaving a warm sensation with every exhale. Your heart raced at his proximity, the urge to pull him even closer so intense that your arms shook at the restraint. 

You turned your head so that your eyes met, nose brushing his lightly. "I understand," you said, voice shaking. "But I have one request."

Daryl watched you with a careful admiration, the setting sun lighting up your entire face in a way that caused his breath to hitch. "M'hm," was all he could get out as he waited for you to clarify. 

Your mouth turned up at the edges, and you couldn't help but look down at his rosy lips that were parted in anticipation. "Let me protect you too. You don't have to be alone."

He contemplated what you had said, nodding in agreement, unable to speak. For a moment, it felt like you were the only two people on earth, standing an inch away from one another. The sun didn't account for the heat that stirred between you and it would only take one small step forward to close the distance. 

A bead of sweat rolled off Daryl's nose and landed on your cheek, snapping you both from the heated moment. You noted an adorable blush resting on his cheeks, his teeth grasping for his bottom lip. You had to force the thoughts that arose at the scene back down into the depths of your mind. 

"We should go grab some dinner, then you can show me around before bed." You held back a chuckle at his mortified expression when you mentioned the act of sleeping, even though you had already slept together.

It amused you at how shy and intimate Daryl truly was, but just as soon as it came it disappeared. His normal grumpy expression returned to his lips as he heard your stifled laugh. You turned, walking towards the door, not seeing how the archer admired your form before following you down the staircase.