The Walking Dead One-Shots

in my imagination, you're waitin' lyin' on your side (Daryl x Reader)

The safety of the farm had quickly become one of your favourite places in the prison to spend your free time. Admittedly it wasn't much, just a few patches of land you'd managed to sow with help from Hershel's farming experience and the small few animal pens that had recently been built to house the horses and chickens found by the community but you found it peaceful there. Sometimes all you needed was an escape from the constant reminders of the broken thing the world beyond these fences had become and tending to the farm let you provide food for your people without ever having to go out on a run, the physical work in the soil helping to calm your mind. 

When you'd found Beth in your usual spot you offered to help her for the morning. That's how you found yourself kneeling in the dirt, digging around in the soil to pull loose the tangled roots of the weeds that had now started to show among the vegetables. The early autumn sun was warm against your skin while you worked out in the open but you didn't mind. The heat and easy conversation offered you an escape from the thoughts that had been plaguing your mind worse than usual since you woke that morning.

You were sure that by now your attraction to Daryl Dixon was no secret among the community of the prison, after all, you were far from shy about it. You'd developed a puppy dog crush on him that first day that he and the group welcomed you into the prison and it had only spiralled out of control since then. It was more than just butterflies and flushed cheeks every time you talked now, it was a need that had grown into something stronger, an undeniable pull towards the man.

Everyone that took the time to look in your direction was aware of the not-so-secret flirting on your end, the teasing comments you'd pester him with at every meal that would have him snapping at anyone that wasn't you. They'd all seen the subtle touches to his arms and shoulders, the longing stares whenever he was around. It was far from hidden but it seemed the only person who wasn't aware of your attraction was Daryl himself.

He remained oblivious to any and all of your attempts. No matter how much you tried to hint at what you really wanted from the archer it all seemed to fall on deaf ears as all you got in response were friendly but awkward compliments mumbled in return and nothing more. You hoped that it was him being unable to pick up on the social cues of your flirting and not that he was simply uninterested in you like that.

One of these days you were going to have a make a proper move on him. Something bold and obvious enough even to him, something that he wouldn't be able to deny that you wanted him anymore. Something that would finally show him what everyone else around you already saw but for now, you simply didn't have the courage. 

 You were lost in the thought of it, only being pulled back to reality by a low noise approaching the prison. You recognised it immediately, the rumble of tires as they rolled over the gravel. You had spent one too many days standing out here, waiting for that sound while you held your breath, waiting for the safe return of your people. You looked up from the clump of weeds in your hand to see the van Daryl and Rick had taken out that morning rolling to a stop just a few feet away from you.

There were certain spots in the fence that were growing weaker than anyone was comfortable with because of the number of walkers that had been attracted to the prison recently, the chain links threatening to give out under their weight as they pressed against it. Daryl and Rick headed out early that morning, tasked with finding the resources to reinforce the fence in any way they could. You watched as they exited the van one by one and your eyes locked on Daryl the second his feet hit the ground, following his movements as he made his way around the back of the van to release the door.

You leaned back sitting on your heels in the dirt as you slid off your gloves, watching Daryl bend over to try and pull one of the heavy wooden pallets they'd found on the scavenge from the van. From where you were sitting you couldn't see what they'd managed to bring home, Daryl's broad back blocking your view but you certainly weren't complaining. He leaned further into the back and propped one foot up onto the van trying to give himself some leverage as he reached for the back corner of the pallet sliding it towards Rick but in the process the movement made his shirt ride up, giving you the perfect view of his lower back.