A/N: The first four chapters are Daryl's POV only. Glenn is added later. Daryl is written in second person and Glenn in first person. Second person is rarely used but it felt right for Daryl.

Tenderness

Daryl

There is something still tender within you, hidden from a world that wouldn't believe it could exist in the man you've become. You would deny it fiercely, not that anybody would dare suggest it. You don't understand it and never consciously think of it but you've protected it for years, something private that you keep safe from Merle because there has to be a piece of you uncorrupted by your brother. You love and admire Merle but you know that not much about him is lovable or admirable to others. Merle, so many years older, had in his rough way looked out for you when you were young and maybe that inspired a loyalty he didn't fully deserve.

Family was all you had. You've got no experience beyond blood bond but you're coming to realize that family takes other forms. You met up with some people who are short on necessary skills but they aren't stupid and they aren't assholes like you and your brother. You joined forces to survive and that means having each other's backs and while you don't really trust anybody but Merle for that, you've been surprised a few times by the new crew.

The Chinaman for example. Okay, you know he's Korean but what the fuck does it matter? You aren't going around declaring yourself Scottish. You think there's Irish in the Dixon family tree as well. Does that make you Celtic? Maybe you'll bring that up the next time ethnicity is discussed. But the kid Glenn is interesting. You heard how he got Grimes out of the tank and you witnessed his plan to retrieve the gun bag. The kid is a strategist. Where did that come from ...

"Hey, you play chess?"

Glenn looks up, surprised. "Yeah. Do you?"

"I been thinking of taking it up." You had no such intention, it just popped out.

Glenn looks pleased. "Maybe I could help. Dale is the only other one who plays and he doesn't really think it's worth the time now. It'd be great to have a game."

"Maybe we could trade. You know, if there's something I could show you." Where the fuck did that come from? You don't consider yourself teacher material.

"I'd like to learn how to shoot that crossbow." Glenn must see something in your face because he backs off right away. "Sorry, forget it, I know the crossbow is sacred."

"No, it's a good idea," you say grudgingly. You have to be realistic. "With Merle gone, if I go down someone else should know how to use it. It's a valuable weapon."

"Merle will probably be back eventually. You don't think he's dead."

"No, but let me rephrase. With Merle's fucking hand gone, someone else should know how to use the crossbow. It requires a different mindset than the point and shoot mentality for guns."

"You think I have it?"

"We'll see."

You lapse back into your thoughts. What was a smart kid doing delivering pizza? Why wasn't he in college? You wonder if Glenn was messing with you. You don't think the kid was lying but it probably wasn't the whole truth. Maybe he's a math genius. Aren't Asians good with numbers? Yeah, you're aware that you might be stereotyping there. But still, it's likely that Glenn delivered pizza to supplement a scholarship.

It's a well-guarded secret that you did two years at the local community college way back. You might even have finished but life intervened. Actually Merle intervened. He was dishonorably discharged and came home. Backing up your brother, you started getting into trouble right along with him after that. Most of your life you've felt like a pale copy of Merle, a lesser version of the one and only original, accept no substitutes. You've only recently considered that the inner voice telling you over the years that you aren't your brother is a compliment not an insult.

As time permits during the day you instruct Glenn in the art of the crossbow. Evenings Glenn does the same with chess. It goes well. You both want to learn so motivation isn't a problem. You discover that Glenn has a good eye and an affinity for weapons. Glenn admits that you're brighter than you act or sound and have the kind of mind that plots moves in advance.

Inevitably you get to be friends. You can't keep snarling at someone under these circumstances. You start respecting him and shit like that and then one day he makes a shot you wouldn't be ashamed to claim and you feel proud of him. Later you checkmate him at chess and you can tell he's astonished because he didn't see it coming.

And then you begin recognizing moods from his expression and reading thoughts in his eyes. You watch for his smile. You think he needs a haircut before he mentions it himself. You see his arms flexing with muscle that wasn't there until he started hefting the crossbow. Then you start noticing the line of his lips and the curve of his cheek. And yeah, his ass, and you take a step back mentally to assess this fucked up situation. It doesn't seem wrong because the whole world has changed and why shouldn't this change, too? But just because you changed doesn't mean he feels the same. Until you see him watching you. And then it's impossible to think of anything else because it's in both your minds and bodies and there's a hunger that won't go away.

When you finally get a day alone together you go to the most secure bolt-hole farthest away. You've found a few places no one else knows about and once out of sight of camp you can touch each other. Just a hand on an arm at first, arm across shoulder, hips bumping as if you're on a fucking date. Which you are and both of you know it. You stop to kiss because hands aren't enough now, mouths must follow. Your stubble rasps against his smooth face. He seems to like it. Finally a little one room shack half falling down but there's a rough bench in the corner big enough for both of you.

You don't undress, just shove your pants down and your shirts up and wrap yourselves around each other, humping with cocks pressed together until pre-come makes it slick and easy and you reach between to rub each other. It's been a long time since you had a partner. In fact it's been a while since you laid hands on yourself and everything seems more sensitive and the friction is fucking incredible. Glenn gasps that he's coming. He's younger and can't hold back and you don't want him to anyway. You're just as excited but have a slight measure of control and you're happy to hold him as he arches against you. He's quiet for a moment then his hand is moving to help you finish when the shambling figure appears at the open window. You're always careful so even now the crossbow is beside you. You lift it and shoot and the figure drops. You hope there aren't any more, at least not close, because you can't reload and come at the same time. Learn something new about yourself every day.

Thankfully there are no more so you have a little time together.

"Have you been with a guy before?" Glenn asks.

"No."

"Me neither. And I've only had a couple of girlfriends."

You've fucked quite a few women over the years but it doesn't seem like a necessary addition to the conversation so you ask, "You like girls?"

"Not as much as I like you."

You notice he says 'you' not 'this' which seems to indicate it's the man as much as the action. Why does this kid have to be the one?

"Can we do this again?" he asks.

"You probably can but I need some recovery time."

Glenn grins. "I actually meant at another time but now sounds better. Or, you know, in a little while."

You both laugh. It's comfortable between you and you feel like recovery time may not be an issue after all.

"You ever get a blowjob?"

"Once. No, twice."

"With only two possibilities, you're not sure?"

"It's twice."

"I guess one of them wasn't so memorable."

You kiss down his body, almost hairless chest, flat hard belly. He's already erect by the time you reach his cock. As your mouth encloses him you reach up and the rough tips of your fingers brush his nipples and he moans. You've never done this before but you know what you like and you're already learning what he likes. This seems more natural than you expected. Glenn is enjoying it all. His hands grip your hair and he's practically having convulsions. And that's before he actually comes.

After he stops shuddering he says shakily, "I won't forget that one."

"Third time's the charm."

He starts exploring and you remember something you've been meaning to ask. If you don't ask now you'll probably forget by the time you're done fucking his mouth.

"What else did you do besides deliver pizza?"

He smiles. You can tell the little shit is proud of having played you. But he doesn't reveal much. "Some stuff that might surprise you."

"What stuff?" You're losing interest in the topic but it seems rude to let it drop.

Glenn has lost interest, too. "We'll talk later. Would it be okay if I sucked you now?" He doesn't wait for an answer.

It's not long before you understand Glenn's earlier convulsions because suddenly it feels like you're having a seizure of your own. You're not sure you didn't black out for a second.

Eventually you head back, alert for meat or game. This was supposed to be a hunting trip but you've contributed a lot lately and coming back empty handed won't be remarkable, especially since this is also Glenn's first hunt with the crossbow. But you get lucky and Glenn takes a nice plump rabbit. The hunting high evaporates as you get closer to camp. You're moving apart because neither of you wants to make this thing public. It's too new and it's just between you. But you hate seeing the way Glenn looks, like maybe you only used him because you were horny and he was convenient, so you do the only thing you can think of.

You stop and cup his face and say, "I love you" and kiss him. You know he's surprised, you know he expected to say it first, you know he wondered if you would ever say it. And all that is why you did it. He whispers, "Love you back" into your mouth and you both break the kiss pretty soon after because christ, if you don't, there will be no way to hide what you mean to each other now. Glenn smiles, reassured. He holds up the rabbit and moves ahead. Good. You can watch his ass the rest of the way back to camp.

There is something tender within you but it's not nearly as hidden as it used to be.