I didn't think I would have time to post since today is my birthday but I got home earlier than I thought I would. I already had this typed up so I just had to read it over real fast. I'm going to try and update Hell Ain't a Bad Place To Be next. Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Merle was raiding Daryl's fridge. For someone who never cooked a damn thing he always had food. Always. Whether it was leftover take out or sandwich shit it was there. He wasn't surprised his brother couldn't cook with the way Will cooked and by cooked he meant try to poison them as they were growing up. He inherited that shit straight from their dad. Not that Merle himself was a great chef but atleast he hadn't almost killed himself with fucking breakfast food. That was something Daryl was never going to live down, ever- not even if there was a fire. A fire though would just make it funnier. Maybe if they got lucky Daryl would try to cook again after all.

KNOCK

Merle looked up with with a piece of ham hanging from his mouth. His eyes were on the side door that went to the kitchen to the patio. He didn't think his antisocial fuckknuckle brother was supposed to have company. Technically he didn't even know Merle was here so he wasn't sure who this could be. Will would have just walked in and so would have Travis. His few friends would have walked in as well so he wasn't sure who was actually knocking. Who the hell had manners they knew? No one, that was the answer. Everyone was rude except maybe Jesus but he knew that he wasn't here because he was likely still at work.

He jerked the door open and the ham fell from his mouth. He raised a brow at the petite woman. "Betty what a pleasant surprise. Come to darken his other eye or did you miss me?"

"Do you live here?" She questioned.

"No." He said slowly. "So you came to finish him off then?" He laughed at that.

Betty pursed her lips at him. He couldn't remember her name. He turned and heard his brother coming. He stepped into the kitchen and Merle stepped to the side.

"She's come to finish you off."

Daryl raised a brow but then Betty stepped in. She looked down at the piece of ham he'd dropped and shook her head. Merle made no move to get it. These two were like live wires. If he he looked away he'd miss something good.

"You're late." Daryl huffed. "I expected you after your shift."

"It is after my shift." She retorted.

"I thought you'd be here a little after six." He said.

"And here I am." She held her arms wide, "Just a few hours AFTER six like you said. After six." She stressed her words while glaring at his brother.

He watched his brother scowl and smiled. Oh she was amazing. How had he not seen this coming? When did Daryl see her again? The sneaky little fucker. Daryl moved to the door that was still open and shut it before he bent to pick the ham up. He glared at it to Merle. Merle shrugged and just smiled. Daryl huffed at him.

"I just thought you'd be here sooner since I was doing you a favor."

"A favor?" She said slowly. "If that's what this is then I don't need no damn favors! I've made it this far on my own I don't need help now."

Merle's brows shot up and he looked between them. He picked up his drink and took a swig. The whiskey burned his throat and he smiled at Daryl's face flushed in anger. Alcohol was another great thing about Daryl's house. He'd been a heavy drinker when he'd been a few years younger. He loved whiskey, all kinds of whiskey, and that was what a lot of people would give him as birthday presents. Now that he hardly ever drank there were fuck tons of whiskey left over. Just gathering dust and begging to be drank so of course Merle had to help them. It was a crime not to! Daryl wasn't going to drink the shit after all. He'd seen him regift it more than a few times.

"God you're such a prick."

"He is isn't he." Merle agreed.

Betty tried to spin and leave but his brothers arm shot blocking the path. His arm was literally barring the door. Merle watched him closely. Daryl's temper was worse than people realized. He didn't think his brother would hurt her but he wasn't about to stand by and chance him not verbally tearing her apart. That'd just escalate and she'd hit him again. He wasn't even opposed to that either really because he hadn't expected her to deck his ass last time. What shocked him more though was that Daryl hadn't lost his shit on her. He'd seen Daryl get his by a woman once before and he'd blown up on her. He hadn't put hands on her but he'd been seconds from doing it if she'd thought to hit him again. He didn't know what it was about his brother that made women think it'd be a good idea to hit him but he'd been hit by a good share and not a damn bit had he deserved. Crazy bitches.

"Rents due the on the first of the month, bank holiday or not. All the utilities are in my name you'll just hand me the money-"

"Hold on just a minute!" Betty huffed with a scowl. "What makes you think I even want the room? Hmm? I haven't even seen it! You could be a rapist for all I know or hiding bodies in your basement. This could be a trap."

Merle snorted and Daryl's eyes darkened. He could tell Daryl was getting tired of her attitude. There was something about his brother that just made this girl react extreme. He wasn't sure what to call it but it was grating his brothers nerves. He'd heard about her slinging pop on him for no reason and then her hitting him. Now she was accusing him of being a rapist murderer.

"Because otherwise you'll be jobless and we both know the other reasons."

Betty's face paled slightly and she looked fit to be tied. She hissed through her teeth. Betty tried to get out the door but Daryl's grip held it firm.

"Move." she ordered.

"No." He huffed. "Stop being an idiot!"

"I don't need your fucking help!" She barked.

"Yes you do!" He sneered right back. "You can't just go out there and be homeless!"

Merle's eyes widened at that and he swallowed. He looked at the girl standing off against his brother who was a slip of a thing; more of wraith compared to the shadow his brother was throwing over her. She was a small thing and standing in his brother's shadow just made it jump out even more at him. Even so she was holding her head and her shoulders were back. He hadn't seen many people willing to spar with Daryl. She looked ready to black his other eye. She puffed up immediately at someone tell her what to do and his brothers eyebrows jumped up at her combativeness. Merle was surprised it was obvious she didn't like being told what to do.

"And who died and made you fucking lord of the manor!"

He scowled at her overly insulting use of air quotes and his grip white knuckled.

"You can't be serious right now Carol." Carol was her name, Merle would have to remember that. "You don't want to be out of a job and homeless." There was no malice in his words.

Carol huffed. "Maybe not but I'll be damned if I let you make any life altering decisions on my behalf, Lord." She hissed.

"Holy shit she's going to deck you again." Merle chuckled.

Daryl shot him a wide eyed look. "Look, woman, don't be foolish—"

"LOOK, MAN, don't call me foolish!"

"You're just being stupid and difficult for no reason!"

"And you're just stupid with your—your—stupid face!"

Daryl''s knuckles tightened on the door and it creaked slightly. "My stupid fa—the fuck, are you five?"

They were nose to nose now and Merle realized it was like watching a train wreck. So of course he sipped his whiskey and grinned at the scene. It was rare to see someone get Daryl so riled up. He couldn't get under his feathers and if there was one thing merle was good at besides pussy and motors it was pissing people off.

"DO you want to be homeless you asshole?" Daryl snapped.

"NO!" She barked back. "OF course not you idiot!"

"And do you relish being fucking jobless?"

"No, you mouthy jerk."

"Then would like the fucking room here or not!" Daryl snapped harshly, his breaths ragged.

"YES!" Carol snapped back.

"Then it's yours." Daryl growled.

"Fine! Can I see it then?" Carol grit out.

"Yes." Daryl glowered.

Daryl thrust his arm for her to go towards the hall. Merle stood wide eyed not sure what the fuck he just witnessed. His head was hurting. These two were fucking weird. Betty Carol threw her hair over her shoulder and spun on her heel. Daryl grit his teeth and followed her without even glancing at his brother. Merle snorted and knocked back the drink and shook his head. These two were going to be better than ring side seats at the UFC. He could hear them moving up the stairs and still arguing.

"Obliged." Carol hissed and Merle snorted.

"My fucking pleasure." He sneered back.

That didn't end how merle thought it would. Not in the slightest. They were both insane.