Synopsis: The story of Michonne and Andrea's fight for survival and each other's heart.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of The Walking Dead apart from loving it.
Katana and Curls
Chapter one
The blond had determination; that much was plainly obvious as she took down two of the three walkers. She looked exhausted, terrified, emotionally spent, and yet there she was, slamming her knife up the nose of the second walker.
Michonne would have smiled at such an impressive sight if it wasn't for what happened next.
The now double dead walker toppled backwards, and unfortunately the wild blond went with it, struggling to get away from the last, fast descending walker.
It was so close to its meal, crawling on top of the mysterious blond and desperately trying to feed on her flesh. She screamed hell fury at the snapping geek and in that scream the wild blond told Michonne all she needed to know.
This woman wants to live but if she has to die, she'll sure as hell go out fighting.
Michonne snapped out of her surprise as the woman screamed again and with quick steady hands sliced the head clean off the damned thing.
The woman on the floor remained still, wide searching, frightened eyes glistening up at Michonne. She breathed heavily for a few more moments, slightly scuffling back on her elbows as she continued her captivating stare. Michonne finally broke the silence. Something she rarely ever did.
'Come on.'
Michonne made to turn and keep walking, but realised swiftly the other woman had yet to move. Part of her wanted to run up to the blond, embrace her, calm her, and thank her to the ends of the earth for just being here. Because truth is, Michonne hadn't spoken or seen another living human in a very, very long time and this woman being here, breathing, sweating, shaking before her was the most beautiful thing Michonne had ever seen because of that. But the bigger part of her wanted to get moving as quick as they could. More walkers were surely on the way. So pushing aside her emotions, Michonne did what she did best and got to work. She suddenly bent and pulled the blond up and held her at arm's length for a moment to stop her tumbling down again.
'Are you bitten?' Michonne snapped quietly, reluctantly dropping her grip on the shorter woman, she hadn't touched another breathing person in so long.
'No.' The blond finally spoke.
'Then let's go.' Michonne turned and started walking, giving a slight tug to the chain leashing her 'boys' along with her.
She kept walking this time, but listened out for the other woman. She heard her stumble awkwardly, until finding her footing and treading quickly to catch up with her. Her breath was still sorely ragged.
'And...Andrea. I'm Andrea.' She gasped, clutching at her side. Her voice was dorky, Michonne thought, but sensual. She had a beautiful rasp to it. It was music to Michonne's ears, if she was honest with herself.
She stopped and turned to finally look at her.
'Michonne.' She made sure her voice sounded as unthreatening as possible considering Andrea's eyes still looked like saucers. She was still shaking Michonne noticed. Fishing into her pocket, she swiftly brought out a solitary hard boiled sweet. She had been saving it for a special occasion, but this poor woman before her looked like she needed it more.
'Here.' She said and passed it to Andrea.
Andrea stared at the hand like it was about to grab her.
'For the shock. It'll help with the adrenalin rush.' Michonne added. She had spoken more in the last minute than she had in days, weeks even. Her jaw ached from the effort.
'Thank you...' Andrea said quietly before adding in a whisper, 'And thanks also, for you know...' She began to falter, her emotions pushing dangerously close to the surface once more.
'Don't mention it.' Michonne answered swiftly. Feeling awkward in the presence of someone living, she didn't know how to act. So she simply undid the little plastic wrapper and placed it in Andrea's shaky hand.
She turned but risked a sideways glance a moment later to see if Andrea had eaten it.
The briefest flash of calm that washed over Andrea's face as she popped the sweet in her mouth warmed Michonne's heart. Maybe the human race wasn't completely lost.
They walked in silence for an hour; the only interaction between the two lost women was when they passed the diminishing water bottle to each other.
The full blare of the day's ironically cheery sun had begun to shine and Michonne felt now was the right time to stop. She scanned the area swiftly before stopping at the nearest tree and tying her docile eaters to it.
Behind her, Andrea stumbled to a stop, practically falling to the ground with a flump.
'Here.' Michonne passed Andrea a small duffle bag, inside was a little supply of food. 'Help yourself, and then rest.' It came out as an order but it was meant kindly.
Andrea nodded but more to herself. She couldn't really think much beyond how to keep breathing right now. Her mind would flash viciously to the faces of her friends. Rick, Lori, young Carl, Carol, Daryl and T-Dawg, all of them, the whole farm, her make do family. They had all been so overrun. She didn't know if any had made it. Sure they made it off the farm...but that didn't mean anything, not in the world they lived in now.
She was alone.
She'd lost everyone, everyone. An image of Amy and Dale smiling flashed through her mind and that was the moment the flood gates finally opened. Her tears came fast, streaming down her face; her composure abandoned her as she tried desperately to choke it all back down.
Michonne watched as she buried her head between her knees and sobbed her heart out. Michonne noticed with a sigh that even in her distraught state, Andrea tried to keep quiet.
That was it, Michonne thought, no more.
She walked up to Andrea and bent down in front of her. She hesitated for a second before finally laying a hand on her knee. Andrea jerked her head up, wide pale eyes meeting dark sympathetic ones.
'I'm alright.' Andrea choked, a lie which neither believed for a moment.
Michonne didn't say anything, just moved her other hand to Andrea's arm, tugging slightly, encouraging the blond into her arms. Andrea moved into Michonne's embrace, tentatively at first, before collapsing against the taller woman's chest, clutching at her vest like a child would a teddy bear, crying uncontrollably now.
'There, let it all out.' Michonne whispered after a few moments, awkwardly stroking Andrea's back. And Andrea did, she cried against Michonne until her eyes felt as if they'd burn away and her head pounded so hard, she felt as though she would have a stroke. Michonne remained quiet apart from the occasional shushing sound when Andrea's sobs echoed a little too loud for comfort. She stayed quiet, but she didn't want to. She wanted to cry too. She wanted to hold on to Andrea as tight as the blond held onto her. She wanted to share in this woman's grief because she had carried her own around for far too long now and it was killing her. But she also wanted to remain strong for her new companion; in the hope that maybe she would stay with her and not leave. So she settled for a lone solitary tear instead, letting it fall unashamedly into Andrea's soft curls.
In time, Andrea calmed and her cries turned into hiccups and shallow sobs. Michonne pulled back a little, noting briefly how stunning and clear Andrea's eyes were, like glass; so delicate and beautiful yet so breakable. Michonne knew however that despite Andrea appearing so breakable now, she was made of sturdier stuff. How else would she have survived this long?
'I'm sorry.' Andrea broke through Michonne's inner thoughts.
It took a moment for Michonne to settle for a suitable answer.
'Don't apologise. You're worn to the bone; I would have cried way before you did.' A painfully obvious lie from the warrior woman, but Andrea took comfort from it anyway.
She smiled a tiny, sad but promising smile at Michonne.
And Michonne, remembering the distant memory of smiling, managed a half smirk in return.
The day was far from over, they had to still find shelter and put more space between them and the known herd heading their way, but as both woman settled down for some food, they couldn't help but feel maybe things would be alright.
Chapter two coming soon, reviews really appreciated as this is my first TWD fiction.
Frailly :)