Brother's Keeper ¹ || The walking dead

34.

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Weeks flew by in the blink of an eye. The people of Woodbury settled in, making themselves at home, and it was like a small peaceful community, but with the fact that the governor was still around, somewhere out there hung over them.

Riven has been in and out of the prison, barely seen most days as he kept searching for the governor, or he simply just went out with Daryl, hunting for everyone else, and if he wasn't searching for the governor, and hunting with Daryl, he was going out on supply runs with Riley,

After his leg healed a bit, of course. Hershel had sternly told him no and told everyone else the exact same thing, forbidding Riven to leave the prison until he was a bit healed.

The second he was slightly healed, he was running out of the prison, only stopping to place a gentle kiss to judith's head, and flicking Beth off, who stuck out her tongue and flicked him back,

It became a normal routine of theirs. It was a distraction for both of them, a distraction of the death, grief, and everything that was happening around them.

Ever since Riven was barely seen, and if he was, he was mostly with Judith, except for today, he was still at the prison, cleaning the armory per Rick's request,

Rick didn't trust Riley cleaning the guns even though Riley was great with guns. He was clumsy, and he would get distracted.

Riven didn't mind cleaning the guns. It gave him something to do other than being left in his thoughts.

"..hey." Riven lifted his head and saw Daryl sitting down in front of him, placing his crossbow down on the table, before placing a bloody gun in front of him.

Riven grimaced as he grabbed it, "Riley?" Daryl nodded, and Riven shook his head,

Riley was great with guns, but that didn't stop him from sticking them into walkers.

Riven seriously needed to have a talk with Riley about what goes in a walker and what doesn't.

"You haven't eaten anything all day." Daryl quietly spoke, and Riven shrugged as he cleaned a handgun.

"I'll eat something later," He mumbled, shaking his head, "the hell did Riley do to this gun?" he grimaced as he pulled off a piece of walker skin, "Gross."

"Riven, go eat something, I'll finish this." Daryl told him, and Riven shook his head,

"I'm good."

Daryl sighs, "Riven.."

"Daryl, stop." Riven interrupted him, and Daryl nodded, and Riven sighed,

"If it makes you feel better, Michonne practically shoved a granola bar down my throat eariler.."

Daryl stared at Riven as he cleaned Riley's gun. The dark circles under his eyes became more visible, his cheek bones started showing, and Daryl knew it was because of the lack of sleep and the lack of food.

Riven was having a hard time after Merle's death, and Daryl has been trying his best, but he didn't know what to do anymore. He was grateful for Michonne for forcing food into Riven's mouth,

He was grateful for Maggie, who took the more gentle side of forcing Riven to eat. She guilt tripped him into eating, just like Beth did at most times,

Beth would tell Riven, "How are you supposed to hold Judith if you're practically bones? If you don't eat, then no Judith."

Everyone found it amusing how Riven and Beth fought over judith. It was all playful, no actual heat behind it.

Daryl just felt like he kept failing Riven, even after everything, he just kept failing as an older brother, and it makes him jealous when he sees how easy Riley makes it.

"Riven!" Daryl turns his attention to a little girl who runs over, barley stopping before she crashes into the table.

He's seen her around but never learned her name.

"Hey, Mika." Riven greeted, giving her a small smile. Usually, that smile was reserved for Judith, Daryl guess Riven made Mika an exception.

"Hi, Daryl," Mika greeted with a smile, and Daryl nodded in greeting, Mika looked at Riven,

"Carol said you should come and eat before she comes, drags you, and spoon feds you in front of everyone." Mika told him, her eyes turning pleading,

"And the rest of us want you there, please come eat with us? Pretty please?" Mika pleaded, doing her best puppy dog eyes as Michonne called it.

Riven stared at her a moment before sighing, "Alright."

"Awesome!" Mika cheered, "I'll go tell the others and hurry before Carol grabs the spoon." Mika ran off, and Riven stood up and looked at Daryl,

"You comin'?" Daryl nodded,

"In a minute." Riven nodded before walking away, needing to wash his hands before going with the others.

⭐️

"..can you tell us that story about how Merle got stabbed in the butt?" Patrick questioned, looking at Riven, who was outside, eating under the watching eye of Carol, as kids surrounded him.

The other kids giggled, and Riven grins, "Okay, so.."

Daryl looked over as he walked out of the prison, "Hey, that better be the appropriate version." Riven simply waves him off as he continues to tell the children the story of how Merle got stabbed in the ass.

Daryl walks over to Carol, who chuckles, "Those kids love that story about Merle."

"He been telling stories about Merle?" Daryl quietly asked, and Carol nodded, a small smile on her face,

"Uh-huh, and they all make Merle look like a great guy, "she frowned, crossing her arms over her chest,

"He looks more pale than before." She commented, and Daryl looked over at Riven as the kids all burst out laughing.

Their laughter was innocent and contagious as most adults around them started chuckling, smiling as they saw the children laughing, and Riven, he was laughing,

Daryl smiles a little as he hears Riven's laughter, "It's good to hear his laugh. It's adorable." Carol said with a smile.

"Yeah."

"..did I ever tell you the story of how Daryl used poison ivy to wipe his butt?" Carol let's out a small laugh while Daryl shook his head,

"Really?! Why would he do that!?" Mika questioned, laughing, and Riven grins,

"Because he.."

⭐️

1038 words

It's just a small chapter
Thoughts?