Welcome To Evangrove - A Walking Dead ff

Chapter 10 - There Is A Change

With a certain aimless approach, Daryl watches carefully from atop the roof. Blue eyes are intent and serious, yes, but there’s just a feeling that he knew this, and was so content that he was right he would allow this moment to wash over him for as long as it would.

He wasn’t overjoyed his hypothesis was correct; and even now there wasn’t much evidence to prove it was. She might’ve just been coming back from a late night booty call, she might’ve been tending to the sick, there was a million and one things she could’ve been doing but he felt he was right in the assumption it was seedy, and thus the smile on his face was, in his opinion, well deserved. It’s a few more minutes until he rouses himself off the ledge, specifically when he can spot her no longer, and he trots back down into his peaceful little bedroom. The man with his brother’s face had gone to bed the hour earlier, and so the house was all to himself if he kept quiet. Not that there was a need to be loud, but he did want to cheer a bit.

The door opens up below him a few more minutes later, and he briefly considers feigning sleep. No, however, it would’ve been much better to see her face in the light of the stained-by-age-lamps that gave sight to this place. So he waits, patiently so, by the doorway of his room, her room, and curiously peeks down the stairs. He could wait for eternity for this but it wasn’t necessary because she appeared, wet and silent, staring down at the floor just seconds later.

“You alright?” He questions half heartedly. His victory wouldn't as fulfilling had the loser been unable to face it with a morsel of confidence.

“Yeah.” She answers, just as listlessly as he had asked.

That’s all of their interactions for the remainder of the night, as she had no reason to go upstairs and talk to him and Daryl resisted the urge to pummel her with questions on her whereabouts. Something was painfully familiar about that dead look in her eyes, one he himself once stared at the world with in his younger years that he could no longer remember, although he forgot his own past on purpose, and it would’ve been morally wrong to ask.

The morning was no different, except for Merle’s revolting happiness at waking up every morning and seeing her. Like their Woodbury days, days Daryl had not been given the gift of seeing, she made them breakfast and went about her own doings, while Merle chomped away and Daryl nibbled like a wary rabbit. She, on the other hand, was content to watch them eat from across the table rather than sit beside them, but nobody objected and nobody cared, so everybody sat in silence and ate.

“Where’dja go las’ night?” Finally inquires a mouth full of food from a one handed man still stuffing more in, bright eyes oblivious to the true natures of her evening. Daryl choked momentarily; at least he didn’t have to ask.

“Hmm?” She inquires innocently. Finally a morsel of food finds it’s way into her mouth and Daryl assumes she’s buying time; clever. The truth would come out either way.

“You jus’ left real quick, didn’t tell nobody why.” Merle continues, eyes narrowing at the girl across from him. She doesn’t bat an eye, just stares right back and slides another piece of food between her lips. Daryl is beyond entertained with that shit eating grin on his face, awaiting something, something close to some sort of blow up because it’s a long, long time coming and he wants to be the first to witness the sparks fly.

“Had something to do.” Quinn replies, licking whatever few crumbs were left on her mouth. They engage in a glaring match of sorts, not too intense, but suspicious, and Daryl is nearly incapable of hiding his joy.

“Meetin’ with your boyfriend -?”

She lowers her eyes and sighs, one of relief but irritation, and the youngest Dixon resumes his stoic, blank expression. This wasn’t right, this wasn’t what was meant to be said by either one and it was terribly upsetting. “He’s not my boyfriend, Merle. We’re - it’s hard to explain.”