Red ~ TWD (Daryl Dixon)

The Lies that Bind

"Ya wanna run that by me one more time?"

Daryl and I shared an uneasy look.  Merle was by far the most morally questionable person we knew, myself included.  If he was questioning the validity of our choices we were in serious trouble.

"It's no secret everyone isn't on the kumbaya bandwagon," I replied, shifting my weight from foot-to-foot.  Even in my head the answer seemed thin.  Yesterday morning we promised Rick we'd try, and last night we promised Beth, Maggie, and Glenn we'd "help" in their attempt to assassinate Negan.  "They want the chance to look him in the eye and make their choice.  We owe them that much.  We owe Beth that much."

In reality there was simply no denying Beth.  She carried herself with poise and grace despite her loss, but I saw the grief and anguish she couldn't conceal in her eyes.  All it took was imagining our positions reversed and I was shaking my head yes and agreeing to lie to one friend in order to help another.

"So, lemme get this straight, y'all don't wanna keep fighting a war ain't no one gonna win."  I grimaced as Daryl bit his thumb at my side.  Hearing it out loud made me feel foolish.  "But ya sent the Three Amigos to Alexandria on a mission to kill a man the group decided to spare."  His disappointment in us was palpable, and I felt myself shrink under his intense glare.  "I'll admit I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed, but that don't make a lick of sense.  Did you two dumbasses just feel like you needed another challenge or somethin'?"

"The group didn't decide shit!" Daryl exploded, "Rick made the call."

The churning in my gut intensified because that wasn't true.  It wasn't only Rick that stayed my hand the day the war ended.  It was Carl words, Beth's eyes, and my husband's expression.  It was the group.  They all had different reasons for wanting to spare Negan, but they did want to spare him.  They wanted a life that wasn't based solely around violence and death.  They wanted a second chance.

The brother's stood nose-to-nose screaming at each other.  Francine looked nervous they would come to blows.  I did my best to reassure her, but the simple truth was, they might.  I was 90 percent sure if that happened no one would die.  As for bodily harm, well...

"He's right," I mumbled.

The brother's stopped shouting immediately, staring at me. 

"What?" they said in unison.

"Merle's right."  The smug smile on my brother-in-law's face made me want to reverse my opinion.  "Don't let it go to your head Captain Hook.  Even a deaf dog finds a bone every now and again."

Daryl covered his face with his hands, mumbling words I couldn't make out while his brother pinched the bridge of his nose like my attempt to speak their native tongue physically hurt him. 

"Red," Daryl sighed, letting his hands drop to his side, "The dog's a pig and it ain't deaf.  It's blind."

"It also didn't find a damn bone.  It's an acron."

I looked between the brothers, confused.  "I have no idea what you guys are talking about."

"At least we agree on one thing," Merle commented with a huff.  "What are y'all gonna do?"

"We have to tell him.  We gave him our word and we didn't follow through.  We owe him more than that.  We owe everyone more than that."  Ourselves included.  My husband's eyes went wide.  I was by no means a hillbilly whisperer but I was pretty sure that look meant "not it".  "And by we, I mean you."

"Course ya do," Merle smiled, amused at the predicament we found ourselves in. 

This was some kind of weird alternate reality where Merle Dixon made sense and gave good advice.  I didn't like it one bit.