Don't Leave Me -DISCONTINUED/READ NEWEST CHAPTER-

Oddball's Observations

Oddball had been observing the newly named 'Ducky' for a while now. Phoenix thought it was a stupid name and referred to him as 'Duck' but to honor the nickname choice, Oddball and the others stuck by his original. 

It started when Negan demanded that he go out and gather that weeks supply. The first time Ducky came back with splatters of blood on his face, Stick freaked out and vomited at the sticky red on Ducky's face. Ducky was too tired to do much and Phoenix had to help him wipe the blood off his face as the half asleep boy pushes him away. 

Oddball was given the job of helping a man named Martin while Phoenix was ordered to work in the shops. Stick and Cub were deemed to young to work and were stuck with Ducky as he did his thing. 

But they weren't allowed to leave the grounds with him. Ducky would prepare and energetically leave before coming back a bloody fatigued mess. 

He'd sometimes come back with the odd bruise or cut but wouldn't answer where they came from. 

Phoenix confronted Oddball about his secrecy, warning him to remember Stick and Cub's safety. 

Oddball smacked him on the back of the head and told him that Ducky was family now. That's how it was. 

In the fit of a nightmare, Ducky had referred to Phoenix as 'Carl', begging for his forgiveness. In a moment of rare softness for the boy, Phoenix had assured him that he was forgiven and carefully put the boy back to sleep. 

Then there was the incident. 

Cub had wandered from Stick and Ducky, eager to explore, unaware that he was entering the lions den. 

"Yous that boy." A scruffy bearded man steps in front of him who was heavily leaning on one leg. "That kids friend." 

Cub trips as he falls backwards away from the man. 

"Back off, John!" Ducky steps in, swooping to the rescue from where ever he had went. "Or I'll sever your whole fucking leg off this time!" 

Cub gasps, but only because Ducky had said a swear, not because of the threat. 

"He caused me to be punished by Negan!" John hissed. "Move your skinny ass out of the way so I can wrangle his neck!" 

It was the first time Cub saw Ducky with a gun. Ducky whips it out, cocking it and pointing it at John's forehead before the man even finished. 

"I had to go on a run earlier and per Dwight's request, I forgo my usual means and use a gun. I have yet to make my way to the armory to switch it back. I have four bullets and I can assure you that at least one will go in." Ducky's voice was cold and it sent shivers down Cub's spine as he hides behind him. Stick places a hand on Cub's shoulder, causing him to jump. 

"We need to find Oddball or Phoenix." Stick tells him. "This is going to get bad." 

Cub doesn't want to leave, but when the first gunshot echoes out, he hightails it out of there, going to search for Oddball. 

"Phoenix!" He finds the older boy in the shops. "Phoenix, it's Ducky!" 

Phoenix stands, moving to Cub's side. "What happened?" He demands. 

"He was trying to protect me and there's this guy and he's got a gun and he already shot it and Stick's there-" Cub starts to ramble before Phoenix cuts him off. 

"Stay behind me." He orders before making his way to the scene. 

To his surprise, there's a dead body and Ducky is gone.