𝐍𝐄𝐅𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒 | daryl dixon

- 𝟑𝟏

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     QUIETLY THE girl set the kit on the ground, pushing daryl backward so he'd fall onto the stump. he grunted knitting his eyebrows together in frustration, "what's this? hospital admissions?"

     rosaline rolled her eyes, "be quiet, you look like you've been punching a wall for hours with that hand. just let me handle it." she grabbed his larger hand and placed it in hers. taking some water, she rinsed through it carefully, wiping away at the dried blood with a clean rag.

     the marksman's mind flashed back to the time at the tent when she had come to redress his gunshot wound. her hands had worked the same way they did last time, freezing him into place. daryl couldn't help but feel his heart begin to pound faster. it was aggravating him, but he stayed still for her sake.

     rosaline took some balm, placing it on each knuckle, and began to massage his hand. they were so lucky that hershel had so many medical supplies back at the house, otherwise, they would've been screwed. of course, she didn't take it all for granted and used it sensibly.

     "try not to hit anything anymore, hmm?" rosaline directed, wrapping the knuckles neatly with the palm of his hand.

     daryl nodded, standing up. rosaline went to walk away but pulled her back, squeezing her small body into his for a moment before letting her go. he smelled of leather and the forest and a bit of smoke - probably from the fire. it was a smell that seemed so foreign to her, yet she craved more.

     that was also his way of thanking her. she gave him a gentle smile before slowly walking back over to where everyone else was.

     carl was hanging out at sophia's grave with rhaegar. something about seeing that made rosaline so sad, she had to look away for a moment. although carol beat her to walking over to the boy, uttering a few words of comfort to him. as of late, she had been quietly getting over the death of her daughter.

     the next action the little boy took made rosaline have a double take. he stood up angrily looking at carol, "no she's not! heaven is just another lie, if you believe - you're an idiot!"

     then he walked away. the german shepherd didn't follow as he saw his owner.

     carol seemed to also have the same reaction. rosaline approached her, "did i just hear him right?"

     "you did..." she whispered.

     the sounds of steps caused them both to turn around. rick and lori had just been making their way out of the barn. carol wasted no time in going up to them, "you need to control that boy."

    "carl? what happened?" rick asked, surprised.

    "he's disrespectful," she said.

     rick raised an eyebrow, "did he say something?"