Red ~ TWD (Daryl Dixon)

Make the World Disappear

Daryl was quiet on the walk back to the house. Not unusual for him, but this was a different kind of quiet. It wasn't silence for silence's sake. There was something on his mind, and based on the worry rolling off of him it had nothing to do with our newfound jobs.

Knowing Daryl he was probably ecstatic about that development, or as "ecstatic" as he ever got about anything. Recruiting suited him. It would give him the lifeline he needed in order to really give this place a chance. Having a way to spend time outside the walls, in the woods, where he felt most comfortable, was something he needed if we were ever going to call this community home.

Since I knew he wasn't worried about your jobs I turned my attention to other possible culprits. Maybe it was fear this place wouldn't work no matter what we did?  Maybe it was fear Carol had been discovered during her robbery?  Maybe he was trying to wrap his head around the physics of Eugene's mullet? The point was I didn't know, and that bothered me, a lot.

He stayed mute when we entered the house, nodding at Sasha and Ariel who were positioned at the windows on watch. He didn't stop to chat with Rick who was trying and failing to soothe a pissed off Nugget. He didn't try to pull Carol to the side so he could see how her mission to shoplift our weapons turned out. His BFF hardly had time to consider the odd dismissal, offering tips to Rick that only seemed to enrage the tiny human.

I was officially worried when Carl asked where we'd been and his only response was to pat the young man's shoulder dismissively.  Rick's son raised an eyebrow, looking to me for an explanation, and I shuddered.  Apparently the cop face was genetic.

I was downright freaked out when he barely smiled at Nugget who reached out her chubby arms, begging for the redneck to save her from purred peas.  My husband kept his head down, making a beeline for the basement before anyone could stop him. When the door shut everyone turned their attention to me.

"Everything alright?" Rick questioned.

"Yeah." I tried to keep the anxiety out of my voice, but failed miserably. If I couldn't reassure them I could most definitely change the subject. "We finally got our jobs."

"Oh?" Carol inquired.

"Recruiting." Rick and Carol exchanged what could only be categorized as a "look". Sasha and Ariel didn't even try to reign in their amusement, laughing. Since when were those two tight? "What?"

I'd recruited at the prison so it wasn't like this was a big leap. I was self-aware enough to admit I sucked at it, but that was neither here nor there. I officially had a job, just like everyone else.

"Nothing, it's just...sometimes your people skills are..."

"Are what?" I prodded Rick, cocking a hand on my hip.

"Shitty," Ariel finished.

"My people skills are not shitty." They were eccentric.

"Gorillas, Goggles, the 2nd amendment, and that's just the last two days. Shall I go on?" Ariel continued.

I stuck my tongue out at him, and he let loose a full-bellied laugh. Ignoring him I looked around the room for some kind of support. Certainly someone didn't find my people skills shitty. Right?

Rick busied himself doing abso-fucking-lutely nothing in order to avoid my glare. Sasha pursed her lips, not even attempting to soften the blow. I didn't put much stock in her assessment. Her anger management left something to be desired. Carl opened his mouth and my eyes lit up, finally, I knew he'd come through for me, but nothing happened. He just stuttered incomprehensibly for a few seconds then gave up, mouthing a silent "sorry". Not even Carol, the porn addicted pyromaniac, sided with me. She simply continued to silently drink her tea in her ugly Christmas sweater. My last hope was Nugget, but the tiny girl was too busy fighting the long arm of the law. She stuck her chubby fingers in the jar of peas while her father was distracted, scooping out the vile green mush and hurling it at his face. It might not be the support I was looking for, but it resulted in Rick covered in peas. I'd count that as a win.