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Summary: Years before the outbreak, Daryl and Rick met at a club. They fell in love but were forced apart by life. When they met up in Atlanta they both tried to deny the smoldered embers still burning with in them, agreeing that it was best to leave the past where it lies. However, while they are at the prison and incident occurs and sparks those embers back into a raging inferno. Secrets are revealed and relationships are tested but in the end, they just might find some peace in this walker-filled world. AU Vamp! Daryl Overprotective! Merle
Disclaimer: Don't Own.
Chapter One
This was his escape.
The music was pounding all around him, hundreds of sweaty bodies moving against each other in a filthy dance that left his heart racing. The air was heavy with arousal and musk, titillating and addicting to his senses.
This was his haven, his escape from the cruel reality that was his life. Away from Merle's steadily increasing impatience and distance. Away from their fathers angry fists and hate-filled eyes. This was home.
Fuscia.
It was one of the most popular underground clubs in Atlanta and with good reason. It was dimly lit, with a very eclectic music selection and kind employees. He loved it here and in the five years he'd been working here he'd never once wished to be anywhere else.
Slipping backstage, he began to get ready. After all his performance was next.
"This is the place."
Rick raised an eyebrow as he followed his friend Johnathan into the small dimly lit building. The older boy had wanted to hang out with him and they had decided to hit up an underground club called Fuscia, which was supposed to be the best club in town. Rick had decided to go, seeing as his only other option was to go home and listen to his mom bitch about how he needed to find a girlfriend to marry and stop with this "gay phase". He sighed.
A year had passed since he'd admitted to his parents that he was gay and while his father had accepted it with an open mind, his mother had blown a gasket, believing it was just a phase and would pass over soon. It hurt but he put up with it as much as he was able to, spending as much time as possible away from the house just to escape that angry gaze.
Making their way over to the bar was bit of a struggle but once they took a seat the lights dimmed and the crowd around them began to roar. The music began to play and a spotlight appeared on the stage and Rick's eyes landed on the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen.
Tight black jeans clung to long shapely legs, short messy blond hair framed a soft, almost roguish face, and a black t-shirt clung to a slender lithely muscled frame. The creature's cyan eyes seemed to glow eerily in the club's dim light as they appraised the crowd and his full pink lips were curled into a small smirk.
"Who's that?"
He whispered to Johnathan. His friend followed his gaze, his green eyes widening.
"That's Daryl Dixon. He's the club's best performer but he only comes here on occasion. About twice a month or so."
"He's gorgeous." Rick mumbled and Johnathan chuckled.
"That he is. He doesn't date though."
Up on the stage music began to play and Daryl started to sing.
Beyond cruel received
The comfort in a broken heart
Now palette shades
An image after life
Alone, surrounded by a million faces
One by one
I see the judgment in your eyes
Rick swallowed thickly as he watched the singer sway to the beat in stage. The man's voice was amazing.
Like a disease
I'm always in the wrong
And now the numbness wearing off
Can't stand the pain
I get in line, I always do
Need to be patient while perfecting
That's the sign
I cannot help it, can't decline
It's always better down the line
I'm in the wrong and I've done it all before
And I wish I'd never been
And I know it's just a dream
Now I'm blind, I can open my eyes
The anger and pain in his words contrasted the deep hypnotic beat of the music drawing in the people around him. Some of the audience members were even singing along.
Can't stay awake, burning alive
I cannot breathe this poison air filled with lies
I cannot see what's done to me
Live in fear, the sun is falling from the sky
Can't stay awake
Daryl's smalt eyes moved over the crowd as he sang and his body moved in tune with the music around him. Rick found his own body moving to the beat in response yet his gaze never left the beautiful musician's slender form.
Nothing left to break my rivals
In a thousand pieces, million reasons
Why should I keep myself away?
Hard to define
It always is
It's hard to scream with a throat full of glass
I cannot help it, can't decline
It's always better down the line
I'm in the wrong and I've done it all before
And I wish I'd never been
And I know it's just a dream
Now I'm blind I can open my eyes
Can't stay awake, burning alive
I cannot breathe this poison air filled with lies
I cannot see what's done to me
Live in fear, the sun is falling from the sky
Can't stay awake, can't stay awake
Can't stay awake, burning alive
I cannot breathe this poison air filled with lies
I cannot see what's done to me
Live in fear, the sun is falling from the sky
Can't stay awake, burning alive
I cannot breathe this poison air filled with lies
I cannot see what's done to me
Live in fear, the sun is falling from the sky
Can't stay awake
The song came to an end and the crowd roared their approval shouting for another. Rick's voice joined those of the crowd and Johnathan laugh beside him. A shy smile crossed the lips of the singer on the stage, his cyan gaze running over them all. Suddenly their eyes met and Rick knew in that moment, that he was gone.
Daryl smiled shyly as the crowd before him cheered loudly at him and his music.
Here he wasn't the useless boy that could never do anything correct in life. He wasn't Merle's stupid little brother or that stupid Dixon boy. He was his own person. He made people happy with his music. It was here, that he found his purpose in life. He let his gaze sweep over the people around him and his heart swelled briefly.
Then, as if by fate, his electric hues met dark stormy blue ones and his heart came to a sudden stop.
The owner of them was a tall dark haired teen, only a year or two his senior, with messy mop of mahogany curls, and a frame only slightly more muscular that his own, emphasized by his white wife beater and worn dark wash jeans.
What was more was the teen's gaze was focused on him!
Flushing slightly he tried to throw off the feelings flooding him from the realization. Instead he spoke, his soft gravelly voice still managing to silence the crowd.
"Thank you. Unfortunately, I don' have 'nuff time fer another song so this'll just have to do. Have a nice night."
The crowd cheered one last time and his eyes met that of the handsome stranger from before. The man sent him a small, barely noticeable smile and watched as he left the stage.
A few moments later he found himself sitting at the bar nursing a glass of whiskey, those beautiful cerulean eyes still dancing behind his eyelids.
"Can I sit here?"
The singer started slightly and looked up, only to find himself looking at the object of his thoughts. He opened his mouth to speak but his mouth went dry and he couldn't find anything to say. His cheeks burned in embarrassment and he looked away swiftly so the other man wouldn't see it.
"S-Sure." Shit! What the hell was wrong with him?! Why was he sitting here and blushing, reacting to this stranger like this?!
"Thanks. I'm Rick." He introduced and Daryl shivered at the smooth southern drawl coating the words.
"Daryl." He responded softly, not daring to look back at his new companion.
"Daryl." Rick repeated as if testing the name on his tongue.
"Well you're a wonderful performer, Daryl."
The musician swallowed then forced himself to finally meet the other's eyes.
"Thank you."
"Can I buy you a drink? I know it's cheesy but I'd really like to get to know you."
Daryl's naturally suspicious nature reared its head despite the fact that his heart was telling him to trust Rick and he frowned.
"Why? What's in it for you?"
Instead of being offended like he expected him to be, Rick laughed quietly, a light nearly invisible flush lighting his cheeks.
"Honestly? A boyfriend, hopefully." He replied bluntly and Daryl blushed vividly, intrigued by the man beside him. He thought about it for a moment before giving Rick a small, shy smile.
"Jack, please."
Rick beamed at him.
TBC…