The sun beat down on Daryl's back, as he worked on his motorcycle. Sweat dripped from his forehead, and dotted the ground below. He started to head back to the prison, when Rick stopped him. "I need to go on a run, you in?" Rick asked. Daryl knew that he had a ton of shit to do, but happily agreed. He and Rick made their way back to the prison.
Once they'd arrived, Rick went off to get some weapons, leaving Daryl to himself. He went to his cell, and put on his poncho. Rick always took forever to get ready. He shook his head. He cringed, as felt a smile creep up on him. He forced it away. He knew that he couldn't. He heard the familiar footsteps of Rick draw nearer.
Daryl pulls back the curtain only to be greeted by Rick's face in his. "Ready? We gotta leave now, so we can get back before dark." Rick informs him. Daryl nods and follows Rick out to the car. Rick took the driver's seat. Daryl got in the dusty car, and instantly Rick started to pull out of the entrance. "Ain't the others comin?" Daryl asked. "No, we didn't need 'em. They gotta watch the prison." Daryl thought it was sweet how Rick took him instead of one of the others. The rest of the car ride was mostly silent. It was only broken by a few walkers on the side of the road. The group wasn't too large, but just large enough to stop them. "Fuck." Daryl mutters, grabbing his crossbow. Rick layed a hand on his knee. Daryl quickly spun around. Rick's face was inches from his. "Hold up." Rick said. A sudden gunshot took down a walker. The crowd redirected toward the gunman. Screams echoed through the wooded area to their right. Rick jumped out of the car, and raced to the source.
"The hell, man?!" Daryl screamed after Rick. He kicked open the car door, and bolted into the forest. The crowd was dense, but once he found Rick, they started to take them down. Walkers poured out of the forest behind them and started to close them in. As the crowd grew nearer, so did Rick and Daryl. In a split second, their shoulder blades were touching. With their backs pressed together, Daryl felt a safe, despite the sudden death around him. "Shit!" Daryl screamed. Walkers were coming up fast. Daryl's face caught fire, as Rick took his hand. He pulled him to a break in the circle. They slashed and stabbed their way back to the road. The screams stopped. Rick scanned the area, obviously forgetting that his hand in Daryl's. The herd began to turn around. "We have to go to the woods." Rick spoke calmly. "You crazy?! Just run 'em over!" Daryl was still extremely flustered. He stuttered a bit, but hoped it didn't sound. The crowd was gaining up. "It's the only way. They'd just get stuck in the tires." Rick tugged on his hand again towards the thick forest. Daryl busted the window off the car setting off the alarm. Rick finally dropped his hand, and they sped off into the forestry.
-time skip-
" 'Re we lost?" Daryl asked. The sun began to slip behind the trees, casting long shadows of trees and undergrowth. They'd been walking for at least two hours, now and they were both exhausted. "Well. . ." Rick started. "Yeah." Daryl gave him a salty look. "We need to set up a camp, and stay here for the night." Rick said. Daryl let out a grunt.
Once they had a fire started, the sun had sunken behind the horizon. The bitter night air caused Rick to shiver a bit. He sat against a tree, his ankle bandaged up from the herd they'd encountered earlier. "Sorry 'bout yer foot." The bones of the squirrels he had caught now sit in a pile to the left of the flame. "Might as well get some rest. You had a long day." Rick told the archer. "You don' look to good 'rself." that earned a small chuckle from Rick. Daryl felt his heart melt. It was the sweetest thing he had heard in forever. Rick shivered again. Daryl stripped himself of his poncho and walked over to Rick. He draped it around his shoulders. "Thanks." Daryl nodded and started off the his original spot. "Daryl," he turned around. "What?" Rick pats the ground next to him. Daryl rolled his eyes, and walked back over to Rick. He sat closer than he ever had before, their thighs and shoulders almost touching. Rick wrapped half of the poncho around Daryl's shoulder, and pulled him closer. Their bodies pressed against each other, heat conducting from one another. Rick throws an arm around Daryl's waist. He melts into the embrace, wrapping his arms around Rick's chest. Blush crept up Daryl's neck, as he felt his eyes begin to tear up. He'd never known what this had felt like. His rough past had kept him from any physical contact that was not violent. Rick kissed the top of his head, Daryl's already burning face was now as if it was doused in gasoline. Finally, Daryl feel asleep. He'd never been happier in his entire existence. Rick smiled at the grin that stretched across Daryl's face.
Rick awoke to the sight of Daryl roasting a pair of rabbits over the open flame. He sat up, and stood up to his full height. He stretched and walked over to Daryl. "Should we head back yet?" Rick asked, returning the poncho. "Yeah." Daryl said, handing a rabbit to him. "'m sure a lil' longer ain't gonna hurt." Rick smiled. Daryl slid his poncho back on, and enjoyed his breakfast with Rick.
-time skip-
Carol opened the gates for Rick and Daryl.
Rick drove the car through the gates and parked it in a ways. Rick exited the car, as did Daryl. She saw Rick's ankle and walked over to him. "It's fine. Just a small sprain." Rick explained. She looked a bit puzzled, but then smirked. Carol walked away, and left them to them selves. Rick intertwined his fingers with Daryl's. He turned his head, and was met with Rick's smile. Rick leaned in and unexpectedly kissed him. Daryl knew he was doomed. As much as he tried to hide it, a smile grew on his lips. Rick broke the kiss and pulled him into a hug. Daryl buried his face in his neck, as they stood together. Various cat calls from the group were to be heard, as the two men embraced.
After all of the hype was over, Rick went of to garden with Hershel. Daryl just stood alone, not really knowing what to do. He saw a silhouette move in the shadows. Daryl studied the figure, and quickly saw that it was Carl. He emerged from the darkness, and waited a moment before speaking. "Thanks." he said plainly. "For taking my dad's mind off mom." Without warning, Carl ran up and hugged Daryl. He hugged Carl back. Rick stood in the darkness behind them and grinned. His heart was about to burst. Seeing his son accepting this huge change, was the best thing he'd seen since the world went to shit. He walked out of the darkness. Daryl and Carl jumped away from each other, returning to their tough-guy fronts. Rick laughed. "I could use some help at the fences." Carl grabbed his knife and Daryl ran into his cell, returning with his own. The three of them set off to the fences, and Daryl wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
*update* I just re read this and WTF GUYS THIS IS BAD. WHY DO YOU LIKE IT.
