Shane was enjoying a few "quiet ones" he said at the bar but at the rate those bottle of beers were going, things would only get quiet when he was pulled into a drunken slumber.
"S'cuse me. Move!" snapped Andrea using her elbows as she dug her way past her, there was plenty of room elsewhere, ugh it's not worth it.
Her heart did somersaults when she saw Daryl walk in, smiling she took a step closer going to take a step outside the bar but she was stopped by a grave shake of his head. What must have been Merle was tagging along with him clapping his hands loudly in success as they inched closer to the bar.
"Andrea." He smirked widely leaning towards her and surprisingly she jerked away, scowling, tossing him the middle finger as she stormed off.
It seemed she could say no. Shane's head shot up plastering a fake welcoming smile to Merle grasping his shoulder tightly with one hand. "Merle. Feel good to be out eh?"
He looked down with distaste at his hand, Shane quickly withdrew it while Merle shared a disbelieving look with Daryl who was looking away bored. "We ain't ever be friends Shane O boy and ye treat Deryl like shit, ye can dam well bet I'll treat ye like shit."
Shane scoffed at him banging his beer on the counter, "He been tattle tailing?"
She watched as Merle's whole body tensed, taking an over protective step in front of Daryl who was scowling in his usual dislike of Shane. "Merle."
He didn't move a muscle, "Merle come on. I want a fuckin beer." Daryl snapped a bit more insistently and Merle laughed loudly at him.
"Now he wants a fuckin beer."
She felt like she'd drank way too much caffeine, her hands were shaking she tried to not make her voice tremble as she turned to Merle. "What'll it be?" she smiled trying not to look at Daryl.
"Well aren't you a pretty little thing. See why Shane hired ye, sick little creep that he is. Just get us two of your finest beers huh darling?"
"Didn't know there was any fine beers." She smirked back reaching over to get a glass.
"Oh! She's quick!" he bellowed much too loudly for a small bar.
Daryl ripped his drink away from her, her eyes jerked down to her now cold hand "Come on Merle."
"Excuse my lil bruder doesn't know how to talk to a lady. Deryl she's a good looking woman, you telling me you don't wanna tap that?" he gestured to her his eyes seductively roaming her body.
Daryl finally looked at her holding her stare, his eyes apologetic and she felt her face lit up and a teasing smile flit across her face. "Leave her be Merle."
He sighed loudly, "Ye know I think he might be queer."
"Merle!" he growled.
"That'd be a shame." She smiled broadly before sliding away from them to deal with some other customers.
The bar was finally closing the only people left being Merle, Daryl, Shane and Andrea a dangerous group of people to have along together. She could smell trouble, "Hey Carol sit down and have a drink with us!" roared Shane who had Andrea whispering sweet nothing in his ear.
She shot back looking offended as she regretfully walked over to sit beside Shane daring a quick look at Daryl who was fuming. She kept drinking her beer much too quickly leaving no time in between sips, she didn't know what else to do with her hands.
Shane's hand crept underneath the table, putting his whole palm on her leg she looked to him hoping for an explanation but he was looking straight ahead still talking to Andrea.
His hand slid up excruciatingly slow up her leg, shuddering not in a good way, she shot to her feet, "I'll be back, just going bathroom."
No one looked up at her as she escape into the little hall of the bathrooms cut off from anybody, "Carol." She heard Daryl hiss and her head snapped up in surprise.
"Here." She hissed back feeling ridiculous they should be a loud talk, Merle didn't seem that bad and she liked how he stood up for Daryl even if he'd insist he didn't need it.
"Ye aright." It was a tight space with the both of them cramped in the hallway, sneaking around.
She nodded quickly, she was more than a little surprised when Daryl's finger gently tilted her head upwards so her eyes were directly in his vision. "Ye aright?"
She took a shallow breath, "Yeah Shane's a creep that's all. Merle seems nice."
Something that resembled a condescending laugh left his mouth, "Huh. Seems being the right word."
Daryl withdrew his hand dropping it to his side limply, "I hate this. Having to pretend like we don't know each other."
"Aren't we already pretending?"
She shook her head in disbelief, "What do you mean?"
"Nothin." He snapped gruffly looking unsure.
"No what is it." She prodded her eyes searching his jostling his arm lightly.
He looked up with a little smile lifting his whole face, shaking his head as a quiet laugh shook his body, "Nothin. Just bit odd not seeing ye every day is all."
"Now whose fault is that." She retorted.
"I better go. Merle is going to turn into a handful right about now." He let his back collapse against the wall looking defeated, her hand found his arm and comfortingly stroked it up and down.
It seemed to work a bit as his hunched shoulders drooped, a grateful smile playing on his lip and his body rocked forward closer to hers. She felt as if she had her eyes closed and was no longer sure if she was still standing straight, not knowing if her body was in fact tilting forward or she was in the exact position she was before.
"Deryl!" Merle roared banging loudly on the wall into the corridor, they sprang apart guilty eyes diverting each other as she scampered out of the hallway, giving Merle a polite smile as she sped past him.
It was time to go home before Shane had a bit too much to drink and his wandering hands finally reached the destination they were always seeking but Shane had a beer waiting and a forceful hand on her shoulder when she got back. This felt too familiar.
"Ye trying sweet talk that woman, huh?" he prodded knocking his shoulder with his fist causing him to sway and rock back on his heels.
"No Merle. Nothin like that, barely talked to the woman." He snapped gripping the beer tighter in his hand, they'd been out for a smoke way longer than he would've liked.
Andrea wasn't with them, she was impatiently tapping her foot with that constant scowl he'd seen her wear all night, except when she was trying to get in Shane's pants.
He had enough he had a feeling gnawing at his stomach, almost tasting bile every time he gulped back some beer but that could also be cause the beer was shitty. Shooting to his feet he strode angrily towards the door he didn't need to look behind him to know Merle was there, confused and intrigued.
"Shane stop." He heard her snap before he saw her.
Her slight hands pushed up against his chest arms nearly bent back into her own chest with the pressure, angry tears clinging to her eyes. She was gritting her teeth wishing she was stronger, he didn't have time to think anyway sane about this.
His focus already centred on Shane quickening his pace he advanced on him practically growling ignoring the protests from Merle, who was probably just confused and drunk off his ass.
He took a handful of Shane's jumper in his hand hauling him backwards so fast he ended up face first in the concrete gagging on some rubble, desperate dribble on his chin.
Wincing and moaning he got to his feet eyes heavy, much too unfocused with drink he laughed boldly at him facing him, fists up jokingly. "Wanna do this Dixon?"
"It's okay." He heard her quietly say as if it was whispered in his ear but his blood pressure was sky high he felt fluid building in his ear drums making it difficult to hear, body trembling with rage he threw his fist forward with everything he had.
Shane was propelled backwards managing to stay upright for a second before he was on him again and the second punch landed him in the gutter, blood gushing from his now broken nose.
Merle's booming laugh was sending him mad he felt his feet pacing when he wasn't really going anywhere, "Lil bruder." He lay a hand on his shoulder but he already whipped it off.
"Get off me!" he growled turning on his eyes still brewing with rage.
"Hey, hey calm down." He coaxed trying to grab him again, ducking and diving away from arms reach.
"I'm okay." She repeated stepping away from the wall putting a hand on his arm, "It's Daryl right?"
Merle was looking disbelieving between the both of them, thank god one of them was able to keep up with this dam act they were playing.
He nodded quickly taking a deep breath, he needed to fucking calm down.
She found his eyes looking at him in a way she only could, "Thank you he's an ass. But you need to relax." She laughed lightly her eyes flicking to Merle's.
He stepped away from her with a shake of his head, she retreated probably heading home and it was taking everything not to go after her and check she was okay.
Why'd he have to have such a fucked up family?
Merle was quiet when they got back that was never good. Sitting on the edge of the couch with his hands clasped between his legs, teeth still gritted, he could feel Merle reading him like a dam book. Merle knew him to well, he wasn't stupid no matter what people might say about him and he knew he didn't react like that for some stranger.
"Ye still got your panties in a twist or….?"
He collapsed back on the couch sighing, "M'fine."
Merle leaned back in his armchair looking sideways at him, "Ye know I'm usually the one causin trouble, ye normally the one dragging me down."
"Dragging ye down is that what ye'd call it?"
"Ye I would." He smirked.
"More like saving your ass." He scoffed.
"Well ye sure do like being a hero, helping that woman tonight. You got a cape round here maybe a spandex uniform cause that's something I'd sure like to see."
"Wasn't gonna let that asshole take advantage of anyone." He grumbled.
Merle eyed him, he didn't wanna look at him he'd tell it all just by doing that, shifting so his feet were propped up he collapsed his head on the back of the couch.
"He is an ass but ye sure were mad. Ain't seeing nothing like that since dear old dad."
He flinched and Merle saw it but he didn't say nothing.
"Well I'm gonna hit the hay, I'll make sure if I find your cape to hang it up nice and neat for ye wouldn't want ye losing it." He smiled propping his hands on his knees so he could drag his lazy drunken body up.
"Whatever."
Just before he reached the room he turned with an interested smile, "Her name was Carol wasn't it?"
"How'd I know?"
"Just when ye have all those wet dreams about her thought ye might want her name."
Chucking a pillow at him, he muttered a "fuck off," under his breath until he finally heard the door click close and he could allow himself to relax.
He dodged a fuckin bullet there. Couldn't have some fucked up disease like dementia or something, no he was the nosiest sharpest tool in the box.
Goddam it now that he mentioned it he bloody well might have a wet dream about her now and not be able to look at Carol afterwards.
"You're late tonight." Her voice was croaky with sleep as she tucked Sophia's fallen doll back under her arm, and she breathed in the comfort of it.
"I know I'm sorry. Things just got a bit messy, Shane broke his nose and Andrea had to bring him to hospital, so I had to close up."
Sophia giggled evilly, she pushed her arm playfully trying to hide her own smirk "Don't be mean."
"You don't like him either and I heard Daryl say once that he was an ass that looked like someone boiled him mistaking him as an egg and then shat all over him." She was already covering her mouth with her blanket knowing she shouldn't be saying things like that and collapsing in laughter.
She went to scold her but Sophia was already cutting across her "His words not mine."
Her own laugh burst from her mouth before she managed to reign it back in, "Now that's not very nice. Daryl isn't the most generous with his words."
"Or he's too generous."
"Get some sleep." She shot back tucking her blanket closer to her trying to make her own weary body gain enough energy to rise from the side of the bed.
"You can sleep with me. I've got plenty of room."
She was already lifting up the blanket her face hopeful, she didn't need much convincing. Smiling gratefully she kicked off her shoes, pulling Sophia tight to her side resting her forehead against hers.
"Night mom."
"Night sweetie."
After a few long minutes when sleep had almost grabbed her, she heard a curious "Mom… Mom…."
"Mhmm."
"When can we see Daryl again?"
Her heart jolted at the words a sadness clinging to her gut, "Soon sweetie."
"I really miss him."
"Me too sweetie."
Shane had oddly accepted her apologise which she'd reluctantly given, gracefully he said sorry to her first and not even objecting to when Daryl and Merle would come in for a drink.
Which was a lot, Daryl wouldn't drink too much but Merle always seemed crazed until he got at least a drink in his system and his eyes took on this calmness.
"Another?" she asked amused as Merle leaned into her the smell of whiskey hitting her strong.
"Ye know me."
"Starting to." She shot back reaching for the nearly empty bottle.
"Ye sure ye don't know my bruder?"
His comment frazzled her for a second but she could be a good actress, an easy smile was already covering her lie. "Not well. Why? Tryina set me up Merle?"
He studied her for a second before taking his drink with a smile. "Naw what if ye decided ye finally wanted me huh."
"There's that."
The truck made a strange unhealthy sound, that even though she'd no clue told her it was fucked, she hit the steering wheel angrily slamming the door as she jumped out.
It caught Merle's attention, "Not starting?"
She shook her head, biting down on her lip. "My bruder sure knows his way round his hoods he'll have a look tomorrow. He can drive ye back for now."
The offering was a little too kind, he might be trying to play them but she did really wanna see Daryl properly without having to make sure she didn't stare too long.
"If you don't mind."
"Naw not at all. What about u?" he turned to Merle so she was left shuffling as she waited anxiously to get in Daryl's truck her old safe haven.
"I'll sweet talk Andrea."
"Good luck with that. Come on." He gestured towards the truck neither saying anything.
Finally parked outside her new place, she smiled boldly a little proud she was able to pull off this lie without a problem, it was actually quite exciting.
"What ye smiling at?"
"Us. Able to do this whole stranger act, if it wasn't so annoying it'd be fun."
"Ye an adrenaline junkie now?"
She smiled playfully leaning back contently, he broke their comfortable silence which she had really missed the only other person she had that with was Sophia and she was never quiet for long.
"Ye alright, after the other night?"
He didn't need to explain which night, she'd never looked at Daryl and thought he was dangerous until that night, not to her or Sophia of course but she'd seen a blind rage that had never existed on his face before. He was crazed. "I'm fine. Are you?"
"Always."
"Wanna come in for a sec, Sophia really misses you."
His finger tapped the steering wheel as he contemplated it, she silently prayed he would and was thrilled when he finally looked at her nodding quickly.
She led him as quiet as they could through the house, "In here." She gestured poking her head into Sophia's room which still had one of her lamps on.
Her head shot down much too quickly under the covers, oh yeah she was a sleep.
"I saw that. It's okay. Someone is here to see you."
Hearing the smile in her voice her head sprang up and she was already springing to her feet, urgently kicking off blankets that were tangled at her feet and jumping at Daryl.
His eyes widened as a bone crunching hug from Sophia had him nearly falling backwards, "Where've you been." She was trying to sound mad but it was muffled by happy tears.
"Just been busy kid."
They both forced her back into bed, watching Daryl argue playfully with Sophia tossing a warning finger at her every time she jerked out of bed when they retreated was breaking her heart. He lowered his usual rough, raspy voice as much as he could when he was talking to her like he was afraid he might hurt her.
They both sighed in tiredness dropping to the couch with a beer, "She's hard work." He muttered downing half of it tryina hide a smile.
"You can't talk."
"Either can you."
Smiling they look sadly at their bottles of beer draining to fast, he'd have to go otherwise Merle would catch on to them.
Both reaching the same conclusion she walked out to the porch with him, "Look at us sneaking around like teenagers when were not even doing anything." She groaned in frustration hiding her face in her hands.
He pulled them off her face gently with his own his calloused rough hands still lightly touching hers and she couldn't think of a dam reason not to do it. She looked down at his lips and back up to his eyes that were looking at her like no one else ever had. "Daryl." She whispered.
"Yeah." His voice louder than usual in the darkness the moonlight creating a silhouette of them.
"Can I just…." She leaned into him hopeful that this wouldn't ruin everything only touching her lips lightly against his, testing the waters as it were.
Allowing him the time he needed to adjust as he did, she leaned back dreading his reaction but his eyes looked dark and hungry. Lightly placing his hands at either side of her face, cupping her jaw, his thumb gently grazed her cheek and he pulled her into him eagerly. His lips captured hers and they moulded together finally, each seeking a way to extinguish the hunger that had been building since maybe even the day they first met.
Both of them trying to fight dominance over the other, they broke apart breathing heavily his hands still on her jaw, his eyes finally looking into hers. "Well that was about time." She laughed freely.
"Coulda told me that a long time ago no." he scowled lightly at her dropping his hands her face now feeling empty.
"Are you seriously giving out to me. Only you."
Now able to do so, she leaned in to kiss him again and he responded instantly pulling her closer to him but then sighing loudly he pulled away. "I have to go."
"I know." She leaned in to him again.
"I ain't gonna be able to if ye keep doing that…." He stood with his head bowed his forehead just touching hers, "M'gonna wring Merle's neck when I get home, that stupid bastard." He growled his breath hitting her face.
She stepped back regretfully, allowing him the will to leave. He sighed again starting to walk down their little stairs with angry stomps. "Shush Sophia. You're like a bull." She laughed.
"Ain't seen nothing yet."
She saw him blush the minute the comment left his lips, clasping a hand over her mouth as she laughed, "You stole my line."
She turned to go back into the house beaming but a soft "Hey Carol," Stopped her.
"Yes…"
"This ain't just a one-time thing….is it?" looking up unsurely from his bangs, she wanted to fully convince him.
"We were never a one-time thing. I'll see you tomorrow Daryl."
Hershel's house was beside the house which Carol was staying in, a very nice lady and a great edition to the town. His wife doted on Sophia wanting to spend every minute she had with her and Carol needed some help, she deserved it after the bad start she'd gotten, he wasn't sorry he was standing on the porch when he saw Daryl and Carol come out of the house together. He didn't know him well, he was quiet and quite ill-mannered when he wanted to be but he suspected it was cause of the reputation hanging over his head. Poor man didn't have it easy. But he sure hadn't seen Carol smile like that since she got to the town and he sure had never seen Daryl Dixon look at anybody the way he looked at her especially when he thought no one was looking.
"What ye out here for dear?" Lucy joined his side tucking in her usual place beside him.
"Just the young kids in love. Making me feel old." He laughed pulling her tighter to him.
"We're the same age. If you're old I'm old. And I certainly amen't." she challenged.
"No of course not."
"Well then. Back inside we go."
