Fighting for our Future {TWD Daryl Dixon}

25: Protection

Warning: Smut

The next morning I woke up with Sebastian still in my arms. He was so terrified after his nightmare last night that I wasn't going to force him to sleep alone in his cell. He had enough changes yesterday, so if he needed me to comfort him during the night I would.

I sat up in the bed and stretched my arms out, accidentally waking Seb up in the process. He jumped up, and looked around the room frantically. The same frightened look on his face as yesterday, until his eyes met mine. I then saw him calm down, as his eyes scanned my face.

"You're okay Buddy." I reassured him.

He nodded. "I.... I forgot where I was for a second." He admitted to me, his body still shaking a tiny bit.

That is very understandable. I've had a few of those moments myself. I remember my freakout right after I moved to Atlanta with Glenn. Our first night there I had a massive panic attack that he had to calm me down from. I hadn't felt fully safe for years before that, so when I finally was I somehow couldn't believe it.

"I get it, it's okay." I said to him. I don't want him to feel like he needs to hide his fear. Not from me anyway. I have gotten so good at hiding fear, and I know that's a great trait to have in this world, but it also sucks. I got so good at hiding it that I stopped dealing with it in a healthy way. I could talk to someone about it, but instead I bottle up any fear I have and hold it inside me because I'm afraid of letting people get to close. Glenn has been my one and only constant for years, and that is changing. I know I can trust most of the people around me now, but the fear of being hurt either physically or emotionally keeps my walls up, even if I desperately want to tear them down.

I sent Sebastian downstairs to grab himself breakfast so that I can change into different clothes. I put on a pair of light blue jean shorts, and a forest green corset style crop top. I would do a better job at hiding the scars Hudson has left on me, but I think I've finally stopped caring. Now that he's here, I've finally found the courage to not give a single shit. If he sees me out and about, which I know he will, he will be forced to look at the pain he caused me. Him and my mother won't be able to deny it like they did yesterday.

After throwing my long copper hair into a high ponytail, I finally made my way downstairs. When I got to the dining/gathering area, I made myself a bowl of oatmeal and sat down at one of the tables and started eating.

Everything was silent. Too silent. I know I'm not the only person in this room. Hell most of my family is in here. My dad, Carl, Glenn, Daryl, Merle, Sophia, Sebastian, Beth, Maggie, Hershel, and some new people as well, but why is everyone so silent?

I looked up to see everyone quickly avert their heads away from my direction, as if being caught looking at me would somehow turn them to stone. God I feel like I'm in highschool again, and everyone is talking about me.

Someone finally came over to talk to me. It was Daryl. I smiled when he sat next to me, but then the words he said made me frown. "The hell ya wearin'?"

"Does it matter?" I asked. "It's hot outside."

He grunted. "Yeah it matters. Other men are lookin' at ya like yer a piece of meat."

"Does that mean you like what you see?" I looked up into his eyes seductively while nibbling on my bottom lip. Which just resulted in him grunting again. I immediately rolled my eyes. "Let them stare. I don't really give a shit."

"Well I do. Go change." Excuse me? I know he did not just say that to me.

I glared at him. "No."

"Mae, I'm not asking."

"I don't remember needing your fucking permission." I said as I finished my oatmeal, and walking over to Sebastian, leaving Daryl sitting there staring at me. I know he's not happy, but he has no right to tell me what I can and can't wear.