RATING: THERE WILL BE TRIGGERS IN THIS STORY. THIS INCLUDES MENTIONS OF RAPE, BLOOD, AND POSSIBLY MORE.
PAIRING: Daryl/Rick
SETTING: This will take place AFTER season 3 but BEFORE season 4b.
Men Like Us
Chapter 2: A Soldier On My Own
Daryl was getting annoyed. The woman he had helped didn't even seem to realize this as she continues to speak. Her idle chatter making him agitated within a very short time. Even his glare didn't seem to stop her words. It had been an hour since he had returned the others downstairs already saying they were going to sleep.
Joe was going to be on watch until Lou got back from scavenging the nearby homes. Lou always had a tendency to go off on his own to find whatever the hell he could. Daryl was sure he was mostly searching for any kind of drugs he could. He had noticed the small prickly markings on the man's arm, making Daryl assume he had at least found something recently.
Daryl would have gone with him just to call him out on it, he instead was babysitting the woman in the room with him.
"Will ya shut the fuck up?!" Daryl finally snaps getting at the end of his rope. He had listened to her drone on long enough.
The woman just gives him a tautly glare back, "I was just trying to strike up conversation."
"I really don' care. Your voice is jus' annoyin' the hell out o' me." Daryl mutters, leaning his head back against the wall behind him. His bow was still at his side much like it always is. She had after all been pestering for him for his name for a good half an hour. She had already stated her name was 'Carol', not that Daryl cared much at all.
"I just… I want understand you." The woman tells him.
Daryl rolls his eyes, "Nothin' much to understand. I ain't gonna tell ya shit now go into the closet an sleep."
Carol sighs, but does stand up making her way over to the closet to stay hidden. "I just want to know the name of the man who is helping me. It is the least I could ask."
The hick tries not to snort back at her words. He wasn't really helping her much. Hell, all he did was keep his mouth shut, which she couldn't seem to do. The words did however make him shift uncomfortably. He never was good with being thanked for what he did. Most of the time, he was cursed at or told to rot in hell for what he did. Not that he didn't disagree with them.
After five minutes of silence, he lets out a sigh. "Daryl."
The woman's head snaps in in surprise having not expected the response. "Well then Daryl, I thank you. Not many people would do what you are doing."
"I ain't doin' nothin'." He shrugs his shoulders, waving off whatever thanks the woman could give him.
"No, you are doing a lot. I don't think you understand how much this helps." Carol insists as if He had to know.
Daryl shakes his head, "Stop yammerin'! I said I ain't doi-"
A call rang out through the house, making Daryl stiffen quickly. A warning to all the others, Daryl give the woman one more dry look before jumping up. He grasps onto his bow and slams the door open. He rushes down the stairs, holding his weapon up ready to attack.
A shot rings out to one side of the house making Daryl turn towards it. His eyes narrowing as he takes careful steps towards the group outside. He only freezes when he feels a gun to the back of his head.
"Lower your weapon." The voice was rough and dark. It was the sound of someone who was full of power and control. The individual must have learned a lot over the years to sneak up on Daryl. He had been silent enough to get past Daryl's hearing. His gaze heated as he lowers the weapon slowly to the ground. He tries to come up with a way to use his knife against him.
There was an audible click of the safety of the gun. A threat in and of it's own. "If you so much as think of turning around, you will get a bullet in your head." The man commands calmly, yet cold as ice. "I am looking for a woman. What did you do to her?"
"I don' know nothin' about a woman." Daryl states back, his own voice showing no form of concern. The gun pushes harder against his head. "Maybe she is dead." He deliberately pushes the man back. "That is where most o' them end up."
The man didn't seem to like that response, already about to push the trigger on his gun. Daryl wouldn't have expected to go out this way, but it wasn't the worst. He still hadn't found Merle however. The idiot had probably gotten himself killed anyways.
"Rick, don't!" Carol's voice echoes down the stairs as she rushes down them. The pressure that had been placed on the trigger quickly released.
"Carol, where the hell were you." The man questions, Daryl can tell he is glancing between the two of them.
"I was going to go back to the trucks, but I got caught upstairs when they came in." Carol explains quickly, pushing the gun away from Daryl's head. It was, however placed back there just as soon. "I would have been caught if it wasn't for Daryl here."
"And who the hell is he?" The words are gruff and slightly confused.
Daryl bites the inside of cheek, "Yer friendly neighborhood Spiderman." He knows the taunt would just agrivate the man further.
"Shut up. I didn't ask you." The man hisses, pushing the man forward slightly with his gun. "Speak again and I won't hesitate."
"Rick, we don't have time for this we have to go before –"
Just as the words were spoken a loud call from outside is heard. The other Claimers making their way to re-enter the home.
"We need to leave now." Carol states as he begins to pull the man… Rick, away. The gun finally away from Daryl's head. Without waiting to see what would happen he uses his quick reflexes to grasp onto his crossbow. He turns aiming it right at the two. The man seems to have the same idea, his gun aimed perfectly still even as he walks towards the back door of the home.
Daryl rests his finger on the trigger. Instead of taking the shot, he just looks right at the man. The man appeared to have grown weary with the past year. A rough, gray beard adoring the individual's face. Daryl would have pulled the trigger if not for the look in the man's eyes. It wasn't the same as the other's who survive. The light blue eyes showing intelligence and drive, reminding Daryl of Joe's own hazel colored ones. He had a dark edge, ready to do what was necessary.
This man was a leader. Daryl would already tell. He should have taken the shot then and there, only he couldn't. The look made the bowman shiver in suppression. He knew if he were that man's enemy, he wouldn't last long at all. Daryl's eyes never leave the gun wielder until they turn off out of the home.
A door slamming open finally brought Daryl out of his daze. His body snapping into motion before he had time to process who had opened the door. Joe enters, his face dark with anger.
"How dare that man." He growls out gruffly. Daryl had never seen the man act in such a way. It makes Daryl cringe as he was reminded of how his own father spoke. "Were packing up boys." He calls out behind him, the others already entering the home. "Were goin' huntin'."
Daryl relaxes finally, turning his bow down. "What the hell was that? Ya tryin' to bring a herd to us?" He questions, noticing the lack of one member of their group. "An' we ain't leavin' without Lou. The crack head is part o' us."
"Lou won't me joining us any longer." Joe speaks up again, "Some son of a bitch killed him. Murdered him. You are right Daryl, we take care of our own. We won't stand for that." The leader of their group spoke with distain. "Tony managed to catch a glimpse of the bastard. We have to follow whatever trial they leave."
Daryl can't help but look through the back door where the two people had left through. He had managed to save the woman, but now they were going to hunt them down? He couldn't help but feel a small tinge of concern. He hadn't felt such a thing since joining the small group.
"Hurry it up, Daryl. Don't make us wait." Len was already done packing all his stuff, and just trying to annoy the bowman.
Daryl glares at him before turning up the stairs, to go grab his stuff. He could maybe help get the group off Carol's and… Rick's tracks.
Another lovely chapter done and over with~! I already have all the chapters planned out, but hopefully I don't try and put to much in one. I had fun with this chapter. The next one will also be fun to write~!
Song for this chapter: "Iron" by Woodkid
