Same Love

39: Settlement

Sunlight streamed into the room, bathing it in a honey glow. It illuminated Sam's face as he slept, the space in the bed beside him was empty, cold. Moments prior it had contained a certain burly Hunter named Daryl who was now down in the kitchen, a glass of water in his hand. He refused to wake Sam, thinking he seemed far too peaceful in sleep and so had dressed silently and left Sam a note in scruffy handwriting that said 'went out scouting'. The rest of the group were just leaving to explore the rest fo the settlement when he was about to go back upstairs.

"You should come with us, see where we are"

"I'm good, I'll go later"

And so he was left on the porch, staring out at the false peace that they had in the town. He was not a fan of this life, neither would Sam be but it was needed, it was what Judith needed, what Carl needed, to be stable. Daryl watched Carol step out of he other house dressed in a cardigan and Khakis, looking very casual and comfortable.

"My job, making meals, will let me get closer to them, to investigate. You really should make more of an effort appearance wise"

"I cut it" Daryl scowled, referring to his hair and Carol sighed, his reluctance all to clear.

"Wouldn't it be better short" She then walked away, leaving Daryl to stare after her with the same scowl. He failed to notice Sam until the groggy man had caught him in his arms from behind, awake enough to notice his discomfort.

"She doesn't know what she's saying. I like it long" Sam grinned, nuzzling into his neck and then releasing him.

"Doesn't bother me" 

Daryl grabbed Sam's hand as he made his way down the porch steps, not sure of where he was going. Sam had dressed in a grey v-neck t-shirt with skinny dark blue jeans. His normal combat boots and trusty jacket to accompany them. Daryl noted that he looked better clean-shaven.

"Where are ya goin'?" 

"Deanna said she wanted to interview me" Sam revealed before planting a kiss on Daryl's cheek and skipping off down the road joyfully. Daryl wondered how someone so emotionally intense could be so joyous and seemingly carefree and calm.

Sam arrived at Deanna's place within five minutes, ignoring all those that waved to him. Despite his joyful mood he was still not getting close to them, just like at the prison he would not get emotionally involved with anyone outside his group. He sat across from her. She noticed many things about him. He was similar to the night before only she noticed more. He was muscular, tall, well turned out. His eyes seemed to cut into her very soul, deep smouldering and searching and his body language was closed off, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Just a few questions" 

"Sure" She hadn't noticed before but he didn't have a very thick accent like the others, it was more of a city accent. His voice was firm and yet not at all threatening or unpleasant. He was surely a man who would make the female inhabitants here weak at the knees.

"Do you want to stay here?" She asked and, just like Daryl he evaded it skilfully.

"The group needs this. They need security, safety, especially Judith and Carl"

"What role would you say you play in your group, Sam?" She was phrasing them carefully so as not to scare him away. It seemed he'd put up his guard at any time.

"I'm an archer, a hunter. I help all around but...I'm not all that into working together." 

"Why would you say that?" 

"None of your concern" The wall went up almost instantly. He refused to divulge personal information and that Deanna commended, though it was a slight inconvenience. Sam left soon after that leaving Deanna to watch him walk back towards the houses, his stride sure and his step silent. She watched him walk into the armoury.

"I want my bow" Sam abruptly snapped when he walked through the doors to the armoury. The woman jumped in surprise and fear, taking in the very attractive man in front of her. Her heart sped up and she blushed, nodding and going to find it. She saw the only two bows in the store, a crossbow and a simple compound bow with two quivers of arrows beside them. She made an educated guess and picked up the compound bow and it's quiver, passing them through to Sam. The way he brandished them with such ease, the light touch he held them with struck her, she was well and truly shaken. After he left without so much as another word she took a few deep breaths and a moment just to calm her heartbeat. Sam stopped by the house to tell Daryl he was going outside and while Daryl insisted they go together Sam simply stressed he needed some alone time. Daryl thought nothing more of it, only saw how troubled he seemed and made a note to breacht he subject later.

"Be Safe" Carol yelled from across the road, causing many of the inhabitants that hadn't met the group members yet to look over at Sam's retreating figure.

"Don't need to be, just need to stay alive" He yelled back as he ran through the gate that had been opened for him by the gatekeeper. He just wanted to forget about it all. Deanna's question had really set something off in him and now he needed to think. As he advanced into the trees further he saw many burned walker corpses but passed on. Then, appreciative of his soft step he saw it, a grand stag standing majestically, watching him with dilated pupils. He slowed his breathing down, erasing all sound, dissolving into the foliage. He raised his bow, aiming and then releasing his arrow. it flew through the air, nailing the stag right between it's innocent eyes. It fell with a mighty thud, last cries stuck in it's throat. He grinned in glee before using some rope that was in his bag and tying the beast up, only just able to lift it's great weight. He then began to slog his way back. Upon his arrival the gatekeepers cried with joy as they let him in. He continued to drag the stag. Soon, everyone was out on the streets to see what all the commotion was. The Alexandrians cheered and Deanna rushed over, eyes wide.

"Whatever possessed you to-"

"I make decisions based on instinct. I gathered you didn't have fresh meat, this'll do one meal"

"Thank you" 

"Let me chop it up, guessing you don't have any butchers either"

"I'll help" Daryl volunteered and soon they had taken it to the industrial kitchen near the food store and were gutting it. Sam separated the different cuts of meat as Daryl sliced them, making idle conversation. 

"How d'ya find it?" 

"It was just there, majestic and stupid" 

"I'm glad"

"Why?"

"You seem happier now than when you set out"

"I have things to keep me busy" 

"Tell me what happened"

"Later"

Suddenly, Rick appeared before them decked out in a constable uniform and Sam smirked, trying to busy himself again with some other thoughts.

"Fancy, Constable Rick. I swear officer, I'm innocent"

Rick smiled but ignored the comments, puffing out his chest slightly in pride. He felt so pleased with himself and yet nervous of the responsibility.

"We should be fine to sleep in three houses now"

"Sure, We'll take the end one" Daryl cut in before Sam could answer. Rick walked away and at the tail end of the conversation Sam raised a bloody hand to Daryl, hitting him playfully across the jaw.

They had decided on what they were now it seemed, life was going to get better from here or at least...that's what the two had hoped. A relationship born from pain and death, the same love as anyone else's.

Hey hey hey. Okay, so....This is becoming a regular thing, these little notes but I will stop annoying you with them. I wanted to first apologise. Reading through again I realise that Daryl has not been the most in character through all this, he's a bit OOC to say the least but I think I'm fine with it as long as you are. I'm trying to make them seem not clingy in a way but I don't think I'm doing a great job. Anyway, this was more of an introduction to Alexandria Chapter and I hop you guys are enjoying the story. Any comments, criticisms and such are welcome and greatly appreciated.

I love you all my fluffy little marshmallows, Love from Amai, leader of the Marshmallows and proud hufflepuff