Solitary: The Walking Dead

Chapter Sixty-one.

You look ridiculous.

Iris and Daryl sit on the porch, Iris sits in the corner sharpening her knives while Daryl sits on top of the banister above her and works on his crossbow, "ow" the man grumbles when he catches himself on the weapon, Iris looks up as the front door opens to see Carol, she stares at the woman dressed up. "Time to punch the clock and make the casseroles." Carol says.

"What?" Daryl asks, looking up at the woman taking in her new look, "Make dinner for the older people-- moms who need a break, people who can't cook. Get to meet a lot of the neighbours that way." Carol explains, Daryl scoffs at her words before speaking "All right." "Have either of you taken a shower yet?" Carol asks, looking at the two.

"Mm-hmm." Daryl mumbles, Carol glares at the two, "Take a shower. I'm gonna wash that vest. We need to keep up appearances, even you two." Carol says, walking down the porch steps, "I ain't starting now." Daryl says, "I'm gonna hose you both down in your sleep." the woman says, "You look ridiculous." Daryl says.

........

Iris and Daryl move their focus to Glenn, Tara and Noah standing with two people, Iris watches as Glenn has a tense conversation with one of the men, Iris quickly stands with Daryl and they make their way closer, then slowly walk up behind Glenn, ready to help him when they need to. "Look, I'm not having this conversation. You obey my orders out there." "Then we're just as screwed as your last run crew." Glenn snaps back, "Say that again." the man says as he steps up to Glenn.

"No, back off, Aiden." Tara says, Aiden shoves Glenn back in the chest "Come on. Come on, man. Just take a step back." Noah says, the man shoves Glenn again, "Come on, tough guy." he says "No one's impressed, man. Walk away." Glenn says, growing fed up with Aidens behaviour.

"Aiden! What is going on?" Deanna questions, joining the group of people that had gathered, "This guy's got a problem with the way we do things. Why did you let these people in?" "Because we actually know what we're doing out there." Glenn says, Aiden turns back and swings for Glenn but before his fist can collide with Glenns face he is already ducking, standing up straight again and punching Aiden, making the man fall to the floor.

Daryl quickly tackles the other man to the floor, holding him down, "Aiden, no! That's enough! I said that is enough!" Deanna shouts, Iris looks down at Aiden on the floor watching as he quickly stands, Iris and Michone step up in front of him blocking him from Glenn "You want to end up on your ass again?" Michonne asks, as Iris stands and glares at the man.

Rick manages to pull Daryl from the man, Iris stands in front of Daryl, watching the other man and making sure he doesn't try anything, Rick and Iris try and keep in front of Daryl as he paces left and right, trying to calm the man down, "I want everyone to hear me, okay?" Deanna says, Rick moves from Daryl and stands with Deanna, Iris keeps herself in front of Daryl, the two keeping their eyes on everyone "Rick and his people are part of this community now in all ways as equals. Understood?" Deanna questions.

"Understood." Aiden says, glaring at Iris, Daryl and Glenn, "All of you, turn in your weapons. Then you two come talk to me." the older woman says and her people walk away, "I told you I had a job for you. I'd like you to be our constable. That's what you were. That's what you are. And you, too. Will you accept?" Deanna asks Rick and Michonne "Okay." Rick answers "Yeah, I'm in." Michonne says. "I'm still waiting for Iris to agree but I have a feeling she will" Deanna says, looking at Iris, still tense and angry from the fight. Daryl scoffs before turning and picking up his crossbow, Iris follows him and they walk away from everyone.

When the sun goes down they stand together on the porch and share a cigarette, they both look up when they notice Rick walking out to them, "we good?" he asks them, Daryl looks to Iris before answering the man, "yeah. You a cop again?" Daryl asks, Rick sighs and looks down at his feet, "I'm trying it on for size." he says, as Carol joins them.

"So we're staying?" she asks "I think we can start sleeping in our own homes. Settle in." Rick says "If we get comfortable here, we let our guard down-- this place is gonna make us weak." Carol says "Carl said that. But it's not gonna happen. We won't get weak. That's not in us anymore. We'll make it work. And if they can't make it... then we'll just take this place." Rick explains, they look out at all the houses, Iris taking the cigarette from Daryl and taking a long drag from it before handing it back to the man.

The four split off, Iris and Daryl stay on the porch and continue smoking, "you gonna take the job?" Daryl asks, Iris shrugs her shoulders and looks over at the man, "is it bad i was happy when you got that asshole?" Iris asks, looking out at the start filled sky and thinking back to what the man said when she was trying to bury her dog "no, he deserved it" Daryl says.

Iris looks over at Daryl, glancing down at his lips, the man looking at hers nervously, Iris takes the cigarette from his free hand, bringing it to her mouth and taking a long drag, holding the smoke in her lungs, slowly releasing the smoke into the air.