Catch Fire | Daryl Dixon

FLIRTING WITH DANGER

Kennedy's POV

As the first light of morning began to fill the room, I decided it was finally time to take a shower. The thought of hot water and soap sounded like heaven. I sat up, stretching out the kinks from sleeping on the floor. Daryl was already awake, watching me with those intense eyes of his.

I turned, nudging him gently. "I'm gonna shower. You should join me."

He shook his head, a stubborn look on his face. "Nah, I'm good."

I rolled my eyes, a teasing smile on my lips. "Fine, but just know you can't touch me until you do. You stink, Dixon."

I left him grumbling to himself and made my way to the bathroom. Closing the door behind me, I took a moment to soak in the sight of the clean, white tiles and the neatly arranged bottles of soap and shampoo. It was such a stark contrast to the grime and filth we were used to.

I turned on the shower, undressing as I waited for the water to steam, and then stepped in. The hot water hit my skin, and I let out a sigh of relief. The warmth seeped into my muscles, loosening the knots and washing away the dirt and tension. I reached for the soap, the scent of lavender filling the air as I lathered it over my body. The suds felt luxurious against my skin, a small slice of normalcy in our chaotic world.

As I rinsed off, I watched the dirty water swirl down the drain, a reminder of just how long it had been since I'd had a proper wash. I grabbed the shampoo next, massaging it into my scalp and relishing the feel of the suds and the clean scent that replaced the grime and sweat.

I stayed under the water longer than necessary, savouring every moment, but eventually, I turned it off and stepped out. I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror and looked at my naked body, noticing all the flaws I'd gained over the past year. Scars, bruises, and the lean muscle I'd built up from constant fighting and running.

Turning to the side, I tried to see if there was any sign of a belly yet. Instead, all I noticed was that I was way too skinny. If it wasn't for the morning sickness and positive test, I'd find it hard to believe I was pregnant.

I ran a finger over the scar on my shoulder, where Merle had shot me over a year ago. So much had changed since then. I'd become stronger, but I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness for the person I used to be.

The door creaked open, and Daryl entered, his eyes locking onto mine in the mirror. He saw me examining my own body and walked up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. His touch was comforting, but I stepped away with a laugh.

"Ah, ah, remember what I said," I teased. "No touching until you shower."

He grinned, shaking his head. "Fine, I'll shower. But only because you asked."

I watched as he started to undress, feeling a sense of normalcy and affection wash over me. In this new world, moments like these were precious, and I intended to hold onto them as tightly as I could.

I stayed undressed in the bathroom, grabbing a toothbrush and some toothpaste from the counter. As I began to brush my teeth, I watched Daryl step into the shower, the steam quickly filling the small space.

"Feels like forever since I've had a real shower."

I nodded, my mouth full of toothpaste. "Mmhmm," I managed to mumble, the minty foam spreading through my mouth.

Daryl stood under the water, his head bowed as the hot stream cascaded over his body, washing away the grime of the past months. The dirt and sweat flushed off him, swirling around the drain just as it had for me. I watched him lather up the soap, working it into his hair and over his skin.