Observe (the walking dead)

It begins

Michonne sat in the van-like car with Ava reading in her lap. Carl sat in the front seat looking back to the women. His eyes never left Ava, hoping to be there for her when she woke up and needed someone.

Roman was still behind the car, still on his back. He stared blankly at the sky as he listened to the incoherent conversation of Rick and Daryl. He didn't care that he killed that man, he was only worried about the image he had made for himself. He worried about what Ava would think of him, now.

Ava woke up and looked up, seeing Michonne smiling down at her, softly yet sadly. She saw Carl too, who looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.

She sat up and stretched her limbs, saying nothing as she stepped out of the car. She walked around to find Daryl and Rick, who were previously talking but stopped once they saw her. She nodded to the rag, which Rick reach to her. She took it and walked behind the car, where she knew Roman would be. She rummaged through his bag that was sat in the trunk and pulled out a pair of jeans, a spare jacket, and an old but far less dirty tshirt than his current one.

Ava pulled him to his feet, neither of them saying a single word as she guided him into the woods and down to a creek.

"Up," she tapped his arms. He lifted them and she pulled his jacket from his body, then his shirt over his head.

Ava took the rag and dipped into the water next to them, guiding Roman to sit on the leaves as she worked. He followed her commands thoughtlessly and watched her face as her brows furrowed while she wiped the blood off of his torso and face. Ava rubbed the ends of his hair with some of the water, working the dried blood out of it.

She pulled the shirt from the ground and demanded he lift his arms again before pulling it over his head and onto his body, followed by the jacket.

"Put these on," Ava whispers softly as she gave him the jeans, standing up and turning around while he got dressed.

She knew he was done when he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, causing her to flinch and the feeling of last night rush back. She had to remind herself that she was safe with Roman, and he wouldn't do that to her. It only slightly eased her mind, though.

She turned around in his grasp, deciding that hugging him front facing would be less of a reminder. Ava wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in as he did the same, his arms still around her waist.

"I'm sorry," she whispered shakily, tears pricking her eyes.

Roman pulled away, his brows furrowed, "for what?"

"The- the things I said to you. I was awful," She cried.

He shook his head and shushed her softly, "it's behind us. You were stressed. God knows I've said some things and done some things when I was stressed so.. we're even, okay?" He reassures her, swiping the tears from her cheek with his thumb.

"You don't hate me?" She looks up at him finally.

He smiles softly at her and shakes his head before pulling her into a hug again, "I could never hate you, Octavia."

-

The group, that now included Daryl, walked along the tracks. Ava and Roman were attached at the hip, literally. They were walking with an arm around the other's waist, not wanting to let go. They let go before, the worst thing possible happened. Roman decided to never leave her alone again, not even when she shouted or said hurtful things.

They came up on a sign that was fallen down, a terminus sign. "We're close. We'll be there before sundown." Daryl stated, looking ahead at the tracks.