ribs || carl grimes x reader

cornerstore - arctic monkeys

6 years later...

You swing your feet off your bed, a bit too forcefully and wince as your heels hit the bed frame with a loud bonk. 

"Shit..." you hiss to yourself. Carefully, you let your feet touch the ragged carpet below, and stand yourself up. Your back aches as you stretch, and your eyes can barely keep themselves open. You stumble down the hall, using the walls as guidance, and make your way to the bathroom. You look to yourself in the mirror. You notice your complexion hardening, losing your more childlike features, and earning a tired, grizzly look. You decide to wash the dread away and splash your face with the freezing cold water. Your breath catches in your throat a bit as you reach for your towel, and dab the chill away. Next you reach for your toothbrush. Your hand shudders as you grab the lone toothbrush from the cup.

The cool air of the August morning flows through your lungs as you step outside. You tighten your grip on your bag as you head to Michonne's. Walking through town, a few members greet you, and you flash them your fake jovial smile. Though it's been years, you'll never get used to the so-called "fame" you've earned as the official Alexandria Ambassador. You were the first friendly face to anyone who'd shown up in the past six years, which wasn't many, but you still couldn't remember half of their names to save your life. 

The day had finally come to send Magna's group to the Kingdom. Daryl had shown up days before with the group after coming across Judith trying to save them, and you were glad to finally convince Michonne to let them heal here. But now comes the second problem...

"You aren't sending an escort with them?" you look at Michonne with disgust. 

"We can't risk our own people. They'll make it there just before sundown if they leave asap." Michonne says coldly, adding a slight glare to you at the end.

"They are our own people. They're humans. Daryl can't handle everything on his own! If they need an escort I'm SURE we have more than enough people-"

"How about you? Since you wanted them here so bad." Without another word Michonne walks away. You want to be angry so bad, but your heart hurts too much. A woman you used to call mom, now scorned and callous. You try to quell your emotions with a deep breath. You turn to face the group who was packing and getting ready to leave by the gate.

"I'll escort you guys back..." you say, the lump in your throat already forming. 

You tug on the straps of your knapsack, which was starting to dig into your shoulders a bit, as you make your way down the road with the group, walking alongside the cart full of Magna's group.

"Want me to get that for you?" a gruff voice approaches you from behind. Daryl was sporting a soft, kind face towards you, something you weren't used to seeing from anyone. Regardless to how much pain your shoulders were going to be later, you readjust your knapsack and continue along.

"I'm ok...thanks..." He nods silently, but keeps up pace with you, creating an awkward silence only filled by the sound of horse hooves on the road. That is, until he clears his throat a few minutes later.

"How's Alexandria?" he asks you. 

"Pretty much same old same old. I'm trying to keep people happy and Michonne just rains straight shit on everyone's parade. The council's bullshit it's just a way for Michonne to make things LOOK fair. AND-" you catch yourself ranting, maybe a bit too loud. You begin to bite your lip to keep yourself from saying more, and you end your sentence with a shrug. Daryl nods and grunts in response, enjoying your outburst of emotion, something that was rare nowadays.