Thanks for all the feedback on the last chapter and the follows! I wasn't sure how a one-shot collection was going to be received and I am still discovering how to write Daryl.
Also even though this story is complete please I would still appreciate a review!
He fucked up again.
He began to suspect they would go through this familiar cycle for as long as they were in this group and they were together.
It had been a few days since the incident at the CDC.
The morning after, he knew Ashley was staring at him and looking for some type of acknowledge from him, but he kept his head down and focused on the hangover he was trying to get rid of along whatever Ashley was making him feel. Those symptoms were worse than the dreaded hangover. After breakfast, he knew Ashley was going to try and approach him so he made sure to avoid her room and his own room as she thought ahead of him and was waiting in his room to approach him, but he brushed her off even slamming the door before she even spoke. He thought at least he kept his mouth shut and didn't say anything in mock anger that he would regret.
Despite his avoidance of her, when Jenner tried to lock them in the building, his first and main concern really was to get Ashley out of the building and away from the suicidal man forcing everyone to take a swan dive.
It was such a close call – to close for his liking.
He still felt the vibration from the crash tickle his skin. He could still feel how tense and scared Ashley was underneath him as he had his body over her just in case there was shrapnel from the blast close enough to hit them. She fisted his shirt as if it was her lifeline as she buried her head into his chest. Her eyes squeezed tight like her thighs holding him to her the position reminiscent of his drunken splendor.
Leaving the desecrated building, they didn't talk in his rusted truck. They wordlessly unwrapped themselves from each other and followed the other vehicles to nowhere. Yet, as soon as they took their first stop she didn't hesitate to find another vehicle to ride in and worst of all it was Shane's jeep.
They stayed in Atlanta's city limit for a few days to gather supplies for their journey to Fort Benning and he soon discovered Ashley was officially ignoring, avoiding, and in his opinion frankly pissing him off.
She had begun to start getting too friendly with Rick's right hand man with all the talking in hushed tones, the laughter, and she was fucking smiling at him.
He didn't know what game she was trying to play, but she was going to be responsible for him killing a goddamn cop.
He knew he should have ignored it. If she wanted to fuck with someone who clearly was only using her as a rebound or distraction since the woman he couldn't have was treating him the same way Ashley was treating him. So be it.
Merle was right. Women were just fucking poison.
But he couldn't stop himself from not watching them. He knew she knew he was watching her as she made exaggerated hair flips and went out of her way of making sure they never were left alone or too close to each other.
Daryl knew he should have never kissed her.
He should have never bothered with her.
Daryl gnawed on his thumbnail as he watched her with squinty eyes as she was checking her bruised lips with a compact mirror she found in a store while Shane was next to her talking. The red had been replaced with yellow. Still seeing the bruise he wished he had been the one to kill Ed and he hated how he felt some satisfaction as he watched Carol cave her husband's head with a pick axe.
Daryl huffed as he shook his head and went to check his brother's bike.
Ashley wasn't his problem anymore.
He was doing her a favor.
She could flirt with Shane all she wanted.
Ashley sat in the back of the RV looking at the passing scenery. They were on their way to Fort Benning due to Shane's insistence. She thought it was pointless, but she wouldn't admit that fact aloud. From what they discovered at the CDC from Jenner it didn't look like their was any type of structure in the world, but she thought it had been pretty clear to see that when the government napalmed the city early on.
She speculated when they arrived at Fort Benning, it was just going to be deserted and looted to its capacity. It could be some type of home, but it wasn't going to be a salvation she knew Shane was hoping for.
However, Ashley's thoughts kept scanning to the man that led the procession to their new destination. She couldn't see him this far in the back, but she could hear the growl from his bike. She thought the bike was only going to cause unwanted attention, but it wasn't a gas guzzler like his truck.
Ashley brought her knees up to her chest as she thought about Daryl.
At first, she had no intention of anything transpiring between any of the Dixon brothers. When they arrived at camp she was only being friendly since they were offering to provide food. From first impression, Merle was loud, obnoxious, and clearly racist and sexist. Daryl was quiet and stayed in the background. He only spoke if his brother was about to step over a cliff because no line clearly existed for Merle.
When she brought the brothers water it was just her being friendly. She didn't expect to have any future interactions passed that.
Yet, as the days passed, she saw how everyone went out of their way to ignore their existence despite the brothers supplying food that wasn't out of a metal can. So she started doing little things like thanking the brothers and making sure they ate.
She could admit she never fully adjusted to Merle. It seemed he was intent on pushing her buttons, but he never outright disrespected her. Yes, he said some sexist remarks that he thought constituted as flirting, but she just brushed him off. Since she moved down to the South, she had developed a thick skin to certain views from the citizens of where she lived. But most of all, it was clear to see that Merle was high of his rocker when he was at the quarry.
Daryl rarely talked at their time in the quarry, but she knew he watched and observed. She suspected he didn't even know he was doing it most of the time with his infamous scowl. She definitely knew he was watching her before he mentioned it on their botched target practice lesson.
He also showed her respect and would scold his brother if he did say something too offensive to her, but he kept quiet. He also always had something in his hands to keep him occupied especially his crossbow. He was either oiling the wire or cleaning it and its bolts. It was like an extra limb to him.
She will say the truth that she didn't find Daryl outright attractive. He was a attractive man, but Ashley wasn't really looking. Considering the state of the world she was more focused at the time on how to defend herself and waiting for Glenn to finally bring her some jeans.
It wasn't until she asked Daryl to teach her how to skin that she began noticing Daryl Dixon. She had been noticed his arms that were on display since it seemed sleeves were banned in his wardrobe and she knew that exclusively since she washed his clothes. Daryl was actually a handsome man. She liked that he looked like a man. She would admit she liked his ruggedness. He was always covered in dirt and sweat, it suited him perfectly.
She liked to think her feelings happened slowly. They didn't hit her like a wave threatening to drown her, but one that was built up over time. She didn't know how she even developed any type of feelings considering when he was watching over her cleaning his game he barely utter syllables. She attributed how she just felt relaxed and safe in his presence.
Plus, unlike the other men, he didn't act like she couldn't do anything because she was woman, Merle sure said sexist comments, but she knew he was impressed she was trying to learn survival tips from him and Daryl.
But before even that botched target practice, she knew Daryl wasn't the most experience or was rather uncomfortable when it either came to women or just plain attention. He blushed very easily which she thought was amusing considering his temperament.
Ashley could admit when he was showing her how to use his crossbow she intentionally brushed back against him more than needed be.
She didn't just expect the reaction she got so she decided it was best to leave him alone and most of it was because of her embarrassment.
It was clear to see beyond the redneck exterior that Daryl and Merle suffered. It was more obvious with Daryl as Merle's obnoxious exposition deflected you from getting too close. She saw how if she made some sudden movements Daryl would flinch. He also seemed uneasy and tense. It seemed he wanted to give off the vibe of general irritation and disinterest in everything and everyone. He also seemed unsure of himself. She knew when she would be in his camp he wanted to talk to her, but he seemed not able to find the words.
She didn't mean to not talk to Daryl for the rest of their duration at the quarry, but with the feelings the were blossoming and her embarrassment it prevented her from apologizing even though she wasn't sure how to apologize for crossing an boundary.
So in that time, she drove herself crazy with how she ruined a possible friendship with Daryl. So she tried to become more friendlier with everyone at camp. Not to say she wasn't friendly with them already, but she just didn't necessarily click with them especially once she began socializing with the Dixon brothers and they would talk down on the brothers as if they would hurt her.
Ashley never cared for Shane. Sure, he was nice and projected the macho man stereotype, but she hated how he talked down to her because she was one of the youngest adult girls next to Amy. With Amy, they were just two different people. Amy still had a childlike mentality. Andrea she didn't necessarily mind and her heart broke for her having to watch her sister be attacked from a walker and then be the one to put her down. Same went for Jim. She didn't interact with him too much, but he was nice and polite and she hoped he was at peace. Dale was like a grandpa to her. Glenn would always just have a soft spot in her heart due to her saving his Korean ass and he was nice. Lori she didn't have a clear synopsis of. She didn't want to judge the poor woman with how she grieved , but Ashley thought it was fucked up that Lori started sleeping with Shane and Ashley was still waiting for that shoe to drop.
Really, Ashley hung out with the kids and began to form a kinship with Carol.
It was clear that the woman was being abused and she didn't understand how everyone at camp turned a blind eye especially a cop. Ashley wouldn't tell Daryl, but Ed punching her in the mouth was deliberate as she had approached Ed multiple times about the way he treated his family and looked at his own daughter. She hated to say it, but she was glad Ed was torn apart by walkers.
But Carol was really nice to talk to. She didn't really engage in the gossip about what her relationship was with the Dixons and instead just asked her straight which she appreciated.
Though when she wasn't busy with other camp members, her thoughts went back to Daryl. At one point, she concluded for his behavior was that Daryl must have some girl already. Ashley made herself believe that story until he saw what Ed did to her face.
If he didn't care for her he wouldn't have threaten to gut a man for her. Despite it being morbid, Ashley was a little bit flattered Daryl would go to that depth in protecting her.
She thought something was happening between them as he ordered her to move her things in his tent and how he cared for her after the carnage. She would admit she felt mortified he let her cry so violently in his arms especially when she noticed Merle didn't return with him. The following morning, he didn't back away. He made sure she was okay before he went to handle the bodies.
Then they left for the CDC.
She rode with him in his truck. There wasn't any hand holding or anything. They just sat in a comfortable silence. She knew most people were unnerved by silence, but she didn't see the need for the constant chatter. After having her hand outside of the truck though, he did snap and barked at her to keep her hands inside the truck as if they were at an amusement park going on a ride.
Ashley gave him a mischievous smile as he scowled at her before she brought her hand back in. Then she remembered what Glenn told her about Merle when she was helping pack up before they left.
She knew Merle was hot-headed, but Rick didn't need to handcuff him to the roof even if he was asking for it. Her heart broke even more for Daryl as not only did Merle cut off his own hand, but he stole the guys' van and didn't even come back to the camp. Merle simply left him.
She told him if it was any consolation that she believed Merle was still alive out there surviving. She expected him to maybe snap at her for breaching a sensitive subject with him instead Daryl looked at her with his squinty eyes, but didn't say anything. Instead, he reached over and took her hand.
She lied.
There was some hand holding.
...
Arriving at the CDC, she didn't participate in the group indulging in alcohol. She wasn't much of a drinker before the apocalypse and she wasn't going to start it now. Instead, she just watched everyone let loose especially after what they went through. She could admit it was nice seeing Daryl unwind and some tension be released from his body. Yet, she didn't expect how much he would unwind.
She had just finished her shower when a knock came from her door. She creaked it open a little considering her attire, but she wasn't prepared for the site of Daryl Dixon leaning against her doorframe with a smile on his face.
Then he launched at her.
He began a sweet assault on her lips. She ignored that they were still tender as she became delirious from need and want for Daryl. She knew in the back of her mind that Daryl indeed was drunk and he probably wouldn't be this bold sober. But she did remember that drunken words and actions were sober thoughts. If he needed some liquid courage she wasn't going to object.
His calloused hands were roaming her body like a nomad causing a familiar pool of heat to stir inside her. However, when her hands crept under his shirt it all ended and he left her confused and feeling rejected.
The following morning, she expected something from him, but all she got was radio silence. Instead of being understanding she was pissed after he blatantly brushed her off when she sat waiting in his room for him.
She felt used.
He kissed her and now he was ignoring her.
And two could play that game.
The only thing she didn't account for was the added bonus of Shane. Shane was trying to flirt with her and she didn't necessary lead it on or anything. It honestly came out of left field. Maybe it was petty of her, but she noticed how Daryl was glaring at Shane. So she would interact with Shane – not flirting though – she just interacted back and maybe threw a few forced smiles and laugh.
Daryl needed to make up his mind, as the world was already uncertain and she wasn't interested in having a guessing game with her emotions on top of it.
Maybe it was wrong for her to provoke him, but she didn't care.
She didn't need the confusing emotions especially after he dragged her out of the CDC and became her personal body armor. The impression of his skin against hers would be something she would never forget.
Ashley laid out her legs and accidentally kicked her backpack to the ground. Picking it up an object fell to the ground. Ashley leaned over curiously as she didn't necessarily have anything heavy in her bag. Her heart nearly leaped to her throat when she picked up a never used sketchbook covering a pack of pencils.
It was quiet as the two trekked through the woods at night. The sound of cicadas highlighted the silence. It had been a day since Sophia got lost in the woods and hours since they were informed of Carl's gunshot injury . Daryl couldn't sleep as Andrea was making it a point to clean and put her gun back together rather loudly and Carol was weeping in the back curled in a ball. Then he realized he didn't know where Ashley was as he only heard one pair of footsteps atop of the RV.
Daryl got up from the floor and made his way out of the RV and told Dale he was going to head into the woods when her voice entered the conversation inviting herself. He immediately glared at Ashley as she was half the reason he couldn't sleep, but he felt some relief shoot through him as he knew where she was, but then he frowned as he didn't like the fact she was out here alone having Dale cover for her.
Yet, he just nodded his head and made his way over to the ramp and waited for her to cross over as they began walking in the woods.
Daryl would admit he was nervous. He knew yesterday before that herd came through she was about to approach him and then Sophia went missing and he left to go find her and she had been tending to Carol.
Daryl headed out further in the search for gasoline and maybe something useful for the group. A part of him still wanted to leave the group, but he knew safety was in numbers. However, to be honest with himself he couldn't leave her. Despite them being at odds or whatever someone would label it, he knew he couldn't just up and leave. Daryl kicked at a discarded shirt on the ground. He hated how she got under his skin. All his life he had been able to avoid this. Women were just something to keep his dick wet and warm, according to Merle, but Daryl didn't find the satisfaction in just sleeping around disregarding how he felt about his physical body.
That's why he couldn't let Ashley get this close. She would eventually see him the way he saw himself. He was nothing, but a redneck asshole.
Daryl stuck the hose in his mouth to siphon some gasoline. He grinned internally as this car wasn't a bust. Yet, he felt a tingle in his spine causing him to turn his head and then he saw her weaving quietly in between the cars and decomposing corpses. Her knife out ready for an attack.
Their eyes met and she gave him a timid smile the first interaction they had in days, but his eyes flicked passed her and his body filled with dread.
Daryl left his red gasoline can and with rushed footsteps met up with Ashley. She went to speak, but he immediately put his fingers to his lips and mouthed to her "don't turn around." He saw the fear clear in her chocolate eyes. Daryl's eyes scanned the deserted highway and saw most of the group were laying low under the cars then he noticed a frantic T-Dog trying to hide, but covered in blood.
"Ya need ta get under the car," Daryl ordered Ashley.
"Where are you going?" Ashley asked fearfully.
Daryl swallowed the lump that was forming in his throat. "Just git under the car, girl, I'll be back fer ya." Daryl demanded his eyes imploring into hers. "Do ya trust me?"
Ashley didn't hesitate in nodding her head.
Daryl directed her under a car and he tried to in ignore the pit that was forming in his stomach. "Stay quiet and don't move until I come back fer ya okay?"
Ashley nodded her head at him and Daryl forced himself up as he stabbed a corpse in it's head making sure it was officially dead sliding it in front of Ashley's view.
Daryl realized he set himself up for a confrontation.
He knew Ashley was waiting for the moment to have him alone.
Women were fucking slick.
"Thank you for the sketchpad." She said softly.
Daryl glanced back at her with the flashlight shining on her as she looked at him with those chocolate eyes. When they were looting a store, the sketchbook caught his eyes and he remembered the longing look Ashley had when she talked about her affinity for drawing. Before he realized it he had grabbed the damn thing and hid it from everyone's view and discreetly slipped it in her bag. He nodded his head, "Was nothin'." He muttered.
"It's something to me." She replied softly.
He merely scoffed as he didn't have time for some emotional powwow.
Nevertheless, his response seemed to piss her off as she marched in front him blocking his path and they engaged in a stare down. The tension was palpable and Daryl was sure it wasn't because they were both pissed.
"You kissed me," Ashley pointed out breaking the stare down pointing her finger at him jabbing him in the chest.
Daryl scowled. "Ya kissed back," Daryl countered as he gripped the strap to his crossbow.
"Yeah and you walked away and ignored me the following day. So I feel I am the only one entitled to feel hurt in this scenario," Ashley spat as she cocked her hips and placed her hands on them looking at him for an explanation.
Daryl released an frustrated sigh in response.
A part of him loathed himself for being a little turned on by a pissed off Ashley and how he would take her against a tree in the dark woods. It didn't help her jeans were practically painted onto her legs and her tight V-neck t-shirt showed some of her midriff as well emphasized her large breasts.
Walkers be damned.
All the same, his mind flashed of her and Shane making him grip his strap tighter making his knuckles white.
"Ya don't seem that hurt since yer all buddy buddy with that dick Shane." Daryl snarled.
"Well at least he has no problem showing he wants me." Ashley fired back. She knew she was playing with fire as her words made Daryl physically recoil from her.
"Ya fuckin' him that it?" Daryl snarled at her.
"Why do you care?" Ashley replied with an arched eyebrow.
Daryl's nostrils flared as he clenched his jaw and didn't reply. Instead he moved around her and continued to search for some trail for Sophia. All Ashley was doing was pissing him off and uncapping emotions he didn't want to deal with.
He heard her rushed footsteps coming after him and he felt her hand grip his arm. His usual response would be to remove himself from anyone's grasp and shake them off, but instead he stopped and waited for whatever she had to say.
Ashley sighed and gave him a humbled look. "I'm not messing around with Shane."
Daryl laughed. "Well ya could have fooled me."
"I'm not. I don't even like him. He is only paying attention to me because Lori is all about her husband now, Andrea is suicidal, and I don't think Carol is his cup of tea."
Daryl didn't say anything, but he narrowed his eyes at her when she began laughing.
"What are ya laughing fer?" Now she was really getting under his skin.
"You're jealous," she pointed out.
Daryl wasn't going to even entertain her accusation, but he was glad the darkness concealed his blush. He wasn't prepared for her to step closer to him where her chest was brushing against his. "You have no need to be jealous." She told him seriously and he just blinked at her and she quickly stepped back from him and wrapped her arms around herself protectively before continuing. Her voice hardening as she spoke seriously. "But you can't kiss me and then just avoid me without giving me any type of explanation. I understand the world is precarious just like our lives. It's not ideal for whatever we are… but tell me that. I think its obvious I have feelings for you but if you just want to be friends, I will accept it. I would rather be your friend than nothing at all. If you want me Daryl you got to tell me. I'm not expecting anything now especially since our group is scattered, but I will want something from you soon okay."
Daryl's mind swirled with what Ashley was telling him. She liked him. Now, their relationship was held in his hands. He appreciated though she wasn't rushing anything with him, but letting him take time to figure out what he wanted even though he already knew. But she was right their group was scattered. Sophia was missing. Carl got shot. They needed to be secured before he could really focus on this despite him knowing what he wanted.
Daryl didn't say, but walked up to her and placed a chaste kiss to her lips shocking both of them and nodded his head.
They walked in silence with their hands firmly clasped together before Ashley shared a story of how when she was about 6 she got lost in the woods with a group of friends when camping with friends and family. He swapped one with her about his time in the woods that left him with an itchy ass causing her to laugh even though he saw the sad eyes afterwards when he mentioned where his dad and Merle was through this ordeal. It made him think how he was different from her. They lived in two separate worlds. He could tell she came from a loving family. She had an relatively easy and normal childhood. She had a family that cared for her and didn't show their affection with fists and belts.
They didn't speak after discovering a walker hanging from the tree or on the walk back.
He liked how she was okay with silence. She didn't see the need for constant chatter.
Before they reached the road, she did pull him back giving him a kiss that did nothing for his new-found craving for her before telling him she would be waiting for his answer.
Daryl was irritable, cranky, angry, grumpy, and whatever the hell else could describe his mood as he scowled at Ashley.
He didn't mean to take what he was feeling out on her, but she was prodding and wouldn't just leave so he snapped.
He knew she was only trying to help.
He could barely move with this hole in his side, but he wasn't ready to reveal a side to himself to her. If he could barely look at them in the mirror how could she. He didn't want to see the look of pity or disgust on her face because then it would ruin everything.
Since that walk in the woods it seemed their relationship went back on track as it was in the quarry, but it was different. Now she would give him discreet hooded glances and caresses. He still hadn't given her a whole answer considering his mind was solely focused on finding Sophia, but it didn't stop her from making sure he had his bolts, clean clothes, and was properly fed before he went off to search for Sophia.
Daryl could admit he wasn't used to someone openly caring for him and just doing things for him because they wanted too. He was used to fending for himself. It was always him and Merle despite Merle being high out his mind and his own guidance was questionable, Merle still made sure Daryl was taken care of and knew how to take care of himself.
He also couldn't take how she seemed genuinely worried that he went off alone in the woods and he suspected now that he impaled himself on his own bolt wasn't helping her worries now either.
Yet, as they stared at each other after him snapping at her for trying to check his wound which would require for her to see his back, Merle's words swirled in his head about how people viewed them and how Ashley didn't really care for him. She was just doing all this for protection and she would leave him for guys like Rick, Shane, Glenn, and even T-Dog. He knew Merle was an hallucination from the blood loss and just voicing his insecurities, but there had to be a truth in them somewhere.
Ashley could have been using him just for protection. Whose to say when he left she didn't go mess around with Shane. Or she was laughing behind his back. He knew his mind was being irrational, but he knew sooner or later she wasn't going to see him but other than the redneck piece of trash he was.
A part of him was scared she would see that. He wondered why she wanted him when he had nothing to offer. Hell, he never been in a real relationship. He couldn't understand why she chose him out of all the guys here.
Now they were in a standoff as he had the covers wrapped around him hiding his torso and back while Ashley stood at the edge of the bed her hand running through her long brown hair that was down. His fingers itched to run through it as he remembered how soft it was at the CDC. Ashley had taken to wearing her shorts on the farm since it seemed relatively safe and she had a tight grey cami on with one of his button downs over it.
Daryl could admit he felt a little smug knowing she was wearing his clothes.
He watched as she sighed in defeat and her hand smacked against her thigh as she took a seat in one of the lounge chairs.
Ashley sat down and ran her agitated hands through her hair as she avoided looking at Daryl as she pursed her lips. She didn't know where his hostility was coming from. All she wanted to do was to change his dressing on his wound. He wouldn't be able to do it himself and she volunteered for Hershel after he explained what to look for if an infection was evident.
But it was like pulling teeth with Daryl. She wiped her bangs out of her face and she needed to figure out if she was going to cut them or grow them out as she looked back at Daryl who was looking at her apprehensively.
"You have to give me something here, Daryl." She said quietly. He could bitch all he wanted, but he was going to explain to her why he was acting the way he was.
"Why can't ya just go. All ya women do is nag and nag. Just git the fuck out." He grumbled. Ashley thought it was at least nice he wasn't yelling anymore.
Ashley looked at him with narrowed and she saw how he was clenching the blanket. He was hiding something. "Fuck it." She exclaimed. "Let me see the wound Daryl." She ordered leaving no room for protest.
Daryl looked down at her and he knew he wasn't going to get out of this.
"Fine," he spat pissed off and dropped the sheet and turned around.
He waited for the pity and that "I'm sorry" but all that happened was she began removing his dressing in silence. Now he was pissed she was not even acknowledging his marred back.
"When you take your shower don't soak these and when you come out I can put the ointment on them." She finally said while throwing away his old dressings. Her voice was distant. "I'll be back with some clean clothes alright."
Daryl looked at her in confusion laced with irritation when he latched on her arm, "So yer not going to say anything?" He asked hotly.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked back to which he gave no answer to. "Yeah, that's what I thought." She said ripping her arms out of his grasp suddenly angry leaving him baffled as she walked towards the door, but stopped and turned to face him. "I know, Daryl, that you obviously went through some shit in your life I know I probably will never be able to relate to and maybe understand. I don't expect you to lay it all out for me either, stuff like that takes time and we just met. But instead of getting defensive and rude just talk and tell me your uncomfortable or its a sensitive subject to you that your not ready to talk about. Or did you think I would be so cruel to judge you and look at you in disgust because that hurts me, that you would think so low of me. Your past – your pain and struggles – won't change how I feel about you. But I can't do this if you keep trying to push me away or shut me out. Stop looking at me if I am just going to walk away or stop caring." Her voice cracked at the end before she walked out the room.
It seemed their relationship hit another roadblock. She had returned to the room with his clothes placed neatly on the edge of the bed, but she was nowhere to be seen. He decided to place the antibacterial ointment on himself after she didn't come to his room.
He was worried he may have finally pushed her away. What she said was partially true. He didn't understand why someone like her was drawn to him. He was nothing. He was a nobody yet the way she looked at him made him feel like he was somebody. He was worth something. He was something to her.
She did return and she pursed her lips in a thin line as he went ahead and exerted himself in putting the ointment on while she apparently was getting his tent clean and ready for him as after a day coped up in Hershel's house was driving him crazy.
He thought she was still upset with him as she kept quiet as Rick helped him out the house while she stayed in the back following them. She was quiet as she made sure he was comfortable on his cot and had important items like water and some food to snack on his small side table.
He knew he should have been the first to say something, but he was emotionally constipated when it came to this.
However, before she left, she planted a soft lingering kiss on his lips.
Daryl sat and looked at the dancing flames as the darkness cloaked him.
He couldn't exactly describe what he was feeling after seeing the result of his overzealous search for Sophia. He looked for that little girl everyday disregarding the cold hard facts that with each passing day the possibility of her being alive slimmed. Sure, she had a multitude of people looking for her, but now they had walkers.
Daryl felt a surge of anger burst through him towards Carol. Maybe her little girl would have survived if she wasn't so meek and didn't coddle the little girl into being like her. On top of that, Carol couldn't even attend her own daughter's funeral, which pissed him off even more.
Daryl just didn't know if he was just projecting his anger on the distraught mother. She could grieve in her own damn way.
However, Olive Oyl had the nerve to demand that he should go look for her husband like he was a search dog. He didn't understand why she didn't go ask her boyfriend, Shane.
He was tired of it. He was tired of all these people.
This group was a fucking mess. It was broken.
He didn't know how long he was staring into that fire when he heard her footsteps approaching hesitantly. He didn't say anything as she walked closer before taking a seat next to him on the ground.
He honestly was so focused in on his anger regarding his wounded vain in Sophia that he didn't even register that he barely interacted with Ashley all day, but maybe that was good for her because he knew if she tried to cosset him he would have snapped and said some nasty things. Hell, she was already slightly pissed with him when she caught him trying to use a horse to look for Sophia again causing him to throw the saddle in frustration. He didn't even know why he threw it. Maybe it was out of pride because he couldn't deal with being injured and she was overwhelming him.
As his eyes wondered over to her form wrapped in a black hoodie, he suspected she knew he needed space and if he really needed her she would know like now.
"Missed you at dinner," she said softly looking into the flames.
Daryl scoffed at the thought of eating dinner and acting like today didn't happen wasn't on his mind.
Ashley brought her legs up and rested her chin on her knees as she looked at him with sad eyes. "Don't shut me out, Daryl."
Daryl removed his gaze from the fire and looked at her. "What do ya want from me, girl?"
"You. Just you," she replied with a smile that even lit up her eyes.
Brown and blue clashed as they stared silently at each other. Daryl broke his gaze away first as he stood up and extended his head for her to grab as he led her back to his tent.
Daryl could admit he was nervous as he thought about what he was actually doing.
He wasn't drunk. He was fully aware of his actions. His palms were sweating as he thought about where he was going from here. She had turned on the light when he zipped his tent. The low light was dim and he was thankful it was dark enough to hide his blush, but light enough to highlight her body.
She wasn't unsure like he was.
She was waiting for him to make the move.
Daryl moved closer to her, his eyes roaming her body like prey. Her scent of rain flooded his senses calming him somewhat, but he was sure his heart could be heard pounding against his chest.
Ashley smiled up at him, "Put your hands on me." She whispered as her body was still, wanting him to take the lead to be in charge.
Daryl looked at her with uncertainty before she grabbed his hand and placed it right on her left breast protected by her bra urging him.
This wasn't the frantic and heated session they had at the CDC. Daryl came closer and moved his hand from her breast and he heard her mewl at the loss of his touch before his hands found the zipper to her black hoodie removing it from her body.
She was in a tight fitted t-shirt and black jeans. His hands found his place at her hips as his thumbs slipped under the fabric of her shirt feeling her soft smooth skin and he felt her shiver.
Daryl never really appreciated the female form formally. In the past everything was rushed. He didn't take time to marvel in their beauty and a part of him was glad as he didn't want to know another's body like he would Ashley's.
A part of him was scared his seasoned hands would somehow lacerate her blemish free skin. His hands traveled up from his hips to her ribcage then underneath her breasts before he removed her shirt all together and from the light he could see that she was wearing a bright blue neon bra.
"They match your eyes." She whispered.
It caused Daryl to snort while she released a quiet laugh as he played with the strap and his hands went to the back and unclipped her bra freeing her mounds. Ashley let the bra fall before throwing it not caring where it landed.
Daryl eyes were glued to her chests and the metallic glint located on her nipples.
"Do you trust me?" Daryl's ogling was broken by her voice and he looked at her confused before he nodded his head bemused. The words similar to what he uttered to her on the highway.
Ashley stepped forward causing him to flinch on instinct and she placed a deep kiss on his lips as her hands made work in unbuttoning his flannel. She didn't remove it fully, but as it was undone he felt her hands snake inside causing him to stiffen as they graced over his scars. The kiss was broken slightly as she whispered against his lips, "It's only me, Daryl."
Daryl didn't reply, but pressed an persistent kiss to her lips as she removed his flannel completely. The proximity of the kiss brought their naked chests together causing them both to groan as he brought her down to his cot. Him fitting snug in between her thighs as he remembered.
Daryl groaned in Ashley's mouth as she grinded herself into the friction of their respective jeans making them both gasp. It wasn't helping Ashley's hands were roaming everywhere on his body over stimulating him especially as she snaked her hands down in his jeans after unbuttoning them.
"Fuck, Ash," Daryl hoarsely whispered as he removed his lips from hers burying his head in her neck as he sucked harshly on her skin before soothing it with his tongue. A deep chuckle laced with a moan was her response and before he blew his load too quickly he grabbed both of her hands pinning them above her head.
Her lips were glistening and swollen from his. He could see her skin was flushed as her brown eyes looked black like a demon's eyes from arousal.
He licked his lips as he brought his lips down enclosing them over one of her pierced orbs causing her to arch her back in satisfaction. Daryl released her arms and her hands immediately went to his short hair tugging on them as his free hand kneading the hard bud to a peak on her other breasts. Daryl lapped at the rosebud and provided friction enclosing his teeth bringing her a sharp pinch of pain.
"Daryl," she moaned in response bucking her hips making him smile releasing the nipple with a loud pop.
Daryl pulled back from her as he unbuttoned her jeans sliding them down her legs with her underwear. She immediately went to close her legs together, but he immediately stopped them.
"No need ta be shy, girl." He said as he rubbing circles on her thigh while his other hand found her hot sodden center causing her whole back to arch of the cot. "Shit, girl, your fucking soakin'." Daryl murmured.
"Because I'm horny as fuck," he heard her whine as he worked her before inserting a second finger. "Fuck, Daryl."
Daryl wasn't exactly experienced in giving pleasure he could admit in the past he was more of a selfish lover it was all about getting him off, but damn he didn't know it was such a turn on watching a girl coming undone.
"Fuck, Daryl, stop," Ashley said making him stop abruptly as she squeezed her quivering thighs around his arm trapping his hand.
Daryl looked at her confused before she clarified seeing his confusion, "I want you inside me, now."
Daryl didn't need to be told twice as he removed his hand sucking her juices real quick as he undone his zipper. He kicked off his pants and boxers and settled back in between her thighs and was coating himself in her juices when she stopped him.
"What-" He asked as fear coated him that she suddenly realized she may not have wanted this. She didn't want him.
"What do you want from me, Daryl?" She whispered interrupting him. Her dark eyes clashing with his blues ones a part of him was scared at what he was receiving and giving.
Daryl swallowed the lump in his throat. "You. Just you." He replied echoing her words.
He wondered if she ever inflicted anyone the way she had him.