Walking Dead Imagines

Don't Leave Me... - Daryl

Prompt: Reader and Daryl broke up and she began hooking up with a new guy casually. Daryl comes by the morning after with news, what happens next...?

Warnings: A lot of angst, angry Daryl, mentions of violence, adult language & themes

Word Count: 3093

*not entirely accurate to plot of the show

Daryl had some sort of effect on you that just drove you crazy. Every little thing about him drew you into him. So when he ended things between the two of you - you were crushed, to say the least. It had taken you since the farm to earn his trust, and only a few moments to destroy it.

It was no secret that Daryl was not one to trust easily, and it only made you feel worse that you managed to completely push him away. You hadn't realized that your actions would have such a serious affect, but they had.

You and Daryl had taken your relationship to the next level shortly before arriving in Alexandria, although it had been in the works since the prison. It was a very slow process of getting him to let his walls down enough to let you in in any romantic way. It felt like you had accomplished mission impossible - and you had never been happier with anyone in your whole life. Your relationship was simple - you had his back, he had yours. You were his and he was yours.

It wasn't a PDA filled, childish mess - just a simple understanding. Your emotions were deep enough to understand he relent to showing any sort of PDA, and even in private he wasn't overly affectionate. You had only slept together two times in the year that you had been together, but it made each time that much better. It was good between the two of you, something you'd never intentionally sacrifice in a million years.

So when you and Daryl got into a very heated argument, you knew that you had fucked up. It all started because of the Saviors. Obviously things were tense with the war going on. Carl had just passed, Alexandria was partially burnt down, Hilltop was starving, everyone was feeling beat. Your relationship had been strained since Daryl was taken prisoner - he was affected by it more than he let on. He was distant for a few weeks after escaping, but eventually he let you back in. He needed you - you helped him get through it.

But with Rick and Maggie growing so desperate to end the war, to kill Negan - and the Saviors attacks becoming worse, things were looking bad. You had no time to worry about your relationship because everyone was always so busy planning for their next attack, scavenging or being on guard. The only time you saw Daryl was out on a run, or occasionally late at night after you had both finished watch. It had taken a toll, but you leaned on each other to get through it.

One day, Rosita was sneaking out on her own, planning on taking out Negan herself, like she had tried before with Sasha. You caught her, and when you couldn't stop her, decided to tag along. You only had a few minutes to gather a handful of supplies for the trip, and Daryl was nowhere to be found. Truth be told, it was probably better that way. He'd never let you go.

So you went with Rosita to the Sanctuary to kill Negan by yourselves, without telling Daryl or anyone else. Long story short, people noticed that the two of you were nowhere to be found by nightfall, and Daryl was livid. Where the hell could you have gone without telling him?! He and a few others went out searching for you guys, but it was useless. It was too dark, they had no clues whatsoever, and the Saviors could be anywhere.

It took both Rick and Michonne to get him back to Alexandria, but they managed to convince him. He didn't sleep the whole night - instead pacing around the walls, searching your shared house, looking for any clues as to how he could locate you. The second the sun came up, he was back out there looking for you.