The Remains of Tomorrow #wattys2019

Chapter 7

Being home was one of the best things in my life; I was curled up in my bed snuggled with my stuffed penguin and Bandit enjoying the first decent night sleep I'd had in a while. My dreams were no longer full off nightmares but of the shadow of a man; his hands rubbing my shoulders while he placed little kisses along my neck. The smell of motorbike oil surrounded me while sweet nothings were whispered in my ears by the southern Red Neck drawl as the kisses turned into nibbles along my neck. I turned to kiss this shadow man when a loud bang permeated my dreams waking me so suddenly I fell off my bed as the insistent knocking comes again.

"I'm coming dammit." Rubbing my head I pulled myself up using the counter and stumbled to the door; "what the fuck..." I say as I saw my very own shadow man at the door. "...do you want?" Anger laced my voice, while dream Daryl was hot but sweet this icy facsimile before me was really pissing me off lately.

"Came to see if y'all wanted food?" He asked gruffly. Thinking of something scathing to say I saw he was kicking the step ever so slightly; wait a minute is that blush that was creeping up his cheeks. Leaned back against the frame I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes at him,

"Why the fuck would I want to have food with the person who has been ignoring me for going on two weeks." He shrugged before turning away,

"Your choice" He replied before he disappeared off into the chilly night followed by Bandit, who heard the word food. Watching him move I had an insane notion to following him. Shaking myself I grabbed the two boxes of cigarettes off my cabinet top and closed the door behind me to run after him. As I got to him, I could see he had shut down so I put my hand on his arm and made him look at me.

"Food would be nice." I said handing him one of the cigarette boxes as a peace offering, "are you cooking?" As I asked him he smiled before resting an arm across my shoulder

"Sure am sweetheart."

So here I was sat in Daryl's kitchen eating squirrels and carrots; he got very quiet as we entered through the front door but at least he was now looking at me and having a conversation. As we finished eating he handed me a whiskey and led me to the porch steps to take a seat and look at the night,

"Thank you for tonight; I was worried you were never going to speak to me again." Stating this fact I leaned back against the post as I saw the tension in his back increase. Laying my hand on his back I rubbed it in little circular movements.

"I'm not good Kenzie." He said looking at me with deep blue eyes, "I've killed people." Looking at him I edged myself closer so I could hold onto his hands.

"Tell me how many people you have killed Daryl?" I said rubbing his hands in my own, "How many of those were to protect the people you love." He looked up at me with confusion in his eyes,

"I've killed lots of people Kenzie; I'm bad and rotten to my core." He said trying to pull his hands away from me but I held on tight

"No, you would be bad if you remembered exactly how many people you have killed. You would be bad if you killed them for no reason. These hands..." Lifting them up, I placed a gentle kiss along one of his scarred knuckles, "...have held children while they have cried because of the monsters under their beds. They have been there to hold back the hair of someone throwing up just because she couldn't do it herself. They have made so many people feel protected yet their owner will not let anyone realize how soft he actually is inside." Smoothing the hair back from his face I placed my hand on his stubbled cheek, "They have carried me from A to B, held me when I cried because of my nightmares." Finally, he pulled away and stood up. Following his lead, I walked towards him so he backed up, eventually coming to rest with the house wall at his back. Leaning into him I laid my hands on his chest and felt the heart beating under there,