Let The Flames Begin [COMPLETE]

Part 17

What are you guys thinking of the flashbacks I keep putting in? Do you like them? I really like putting young Daryl in here and also times where the boys interacted with Charlene before all of this.

Are you guys liking this story so far? I'm loving writing it to be honest.

Some flooof for you lovelies.

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"Wait in the car," Daryl grumped, glaring at his brother. Merle just snorted holding his hands up in surrender. He had just finished a brief 3-month stint in jail and Daryl felt like he was a fucking caretaker. Having to make sure he behaved himself so he didn't go back. That and also, he really didn't want Merle to harass the girl in the store. He hated when Merle would go in there with him, watching as Merle flirted shamelessly with her, said all kind of crude fucking shit to her. It made him so ashamed of being a fucking Dixon.

"Don't worry little brother, I'mma stay right here," he grinned, grabbing a little bag of coke out of his pocket. Daryl clenched his jaw, shaking his head as he hopped out of the truck and slammed the door. The few months his brother had been away were peaceful. He felt bad for feeling some sort of relief when his brother was in prison, but it was the only time he could just chill the fuck out and not be bailing his ass out every five minutes.

He walked into the store, his eyes glancing over to the counter and seeing the girl. Charlene, that's what he had learnt her name was just the week before. His friend Billy's sister was apparently friends with her. She didn't look happy today though. Usually, she looked cheery even without smiling but today she looked troubled, worn down. There were dark rings around her eyes and she looked tired. He had found out a lot of shit from Billy's sister who loved to talk about anything and everything. He hadn't even mentioned the girl but since she was friends with her, when he went to see Billy, he would end up hearing about her. He knew she was having a hard time since her preacher dad had become a drunk. She was working numerous jobs to keep the house and pay the bills by herself.

He felt nervous as he looked at things he didn't really need. He always did this. He only came here for her. Every time she smiled at him, said anything to him, it made him feel a little less worthless. He knew it was pathetic, that this was what his life had resorted to. Fucking going to the store for no reason so the sweet pretty girl would smile at him. He walked further through the aisles, grabbing some potato chips and some other snacks he didn't really care about. He couldn't see the counter from where he was but then he heard his brothers booming voice and he stilled completely.

He swallowed thickly as he walked around and saw Merle at the counter, approaching the pair warily.

"Ya heard this Daryl? Some fuckin' loan sharks came in and took a bunch of their shit last night. Threatened her," Merle seethed, turning to look at his brother with his wild eyes. Daryl's own eyes widened a little, looking to Charlene. She looked so fucking sad and stressed and he frowned. The thought of assholes like that in her house, intimidating her like that, it sent a surge of rage through his body.

"They hurt ya?" he rasped, making her eyes turn to him. He hadn't actually ever spoke to her before now and she was a little shocked. She shook her head, running a shaky hand through her long wavy brown hair.

"No. They just pushed me around a little, took some of our stuff. They said if I didn't have the money by the end of the week they were gonna break my knee caps," she lamented, looking spooked.

Daryl's jaw clenched as he looked to his brother. He was shocked to see his brother just as mad. It seemed that despite his constant harassment and the girl's constant rebuffs, he still didn't like the idea of her being hurt. Men hurting women was something both he and Merle could never stand by.