The silence in the small room was deafening; it was only broken by the occasional sound of the young girl shifting in her seat as she nervously tugged on her braid. A quick sideways glance confirmed that her silent companion was still deep in thought sorting out the events that she had just recounted. At any moment she expected him to fly into the same sort of rage she'd witnessed first-hand from his brother but so far he was stone-faced and silent.
He is angry…at you… for what you've done to his brother…and when he finds out what you really did…and what you really are… A wave of panic washed over her at the thought of the entire truth coming out. She had spent her entire life trying to keep that part of her a secret; it had gotten out and nearly cost her family everything one time before. She stole another glance at the young man trying to gain some hint as to what he was about to do. Nothing but the sound of him breathing told her that he was anything other than alive. One arm propped him up from his bed she'd made while a cigarette burned forgotten between his fingers. Its ash showing it had gone undisturbed for a long time and the cherry-red fire all but ready to burn its owner.
A quiet "Fuck" signaled he'd been torn from his reverie by the burning embers of his cig. Waste of a smoke…damn He quickly snubbed it out in the makeshift ashtray while watching the reaction of his rescuer as she studied him. She's worried… and scared. Worried for what? he shot back at the voice in his head. You, dumbass, that is what she is worried about. Your brother kicked her ass, and then yours, and she had to defend herself and now you set here like a fucking lump.
He was torn. He knew the kind of person his brother was and there was no doubt as to Merle's intentions when Daryl interrupted him. But Merle was kin and family was all you ever had in this world that you could depend upon. His family would flay him alive if they knew he'd even thought about letting what she did to his brother go without some sort of retribution. He knew it was wrong but if Merle was alive Daryl knew that'd he'd come for revenge; revenge on them both if Daryl didn't act.
Are you fucking serious? Why would you do this? You know your brother is the biggest piece of shit on this planet and you're gonna defend his honor? What honor does that shitstain have left to defend? Daryl rolled over and winced in pain; the feeling a sharp reminder of what his brother had done. Through the pain, slowly, he rose to his feet.
"You cut my brother's hand off." He stated flatly and the girl's eyes grew wide with fear. He staggered and swayed a bit while trying to keep her in focus. She knew what was coming and her breath came quicker as she clutched Daryl's knife to her chest. "You cut his hand…off?" He looked around the room while trying to keep his balance. "… the fuck you do that?" His face was red from the exertion of standing through the injury despite the painkillers Elsa had given him to ease his suffering. He stepped forward on unsteady legs toward the girl and she stepped backward matching him step for step. He was almost babbling now, gesturing toward the outside world while trying to keep his balance.
"He was…my brother…my only one left. All I had left now." His voice took on an angrier tone as his pain and fury began to wear him down. "You left him alone! To die! Who fuckin' does that?" he stumbled further, one arm wrapped around his torso guarding his injured side while the other sought out something to help hold him upright. "Now he's dead… and you did it to him!" he bellowed as he fell forward and collapsed into a heap at the girl's feet.
Daryl's eyes opened to sunlight streaming through the partially boarded windows; squinting he picked out a familiar shape setting opposite of him in her usual spot. His head felt clearer; the pain was there but the effects of whatever drug she'd given him to ease that pain was gone. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes drinking in the quiet and feeling relaxed and safe for the first time in forever…but the breath caught in his throat as he remembered his outburst from earlier.
His eyes shot open again and he looked toward the girl…toward Elsa. "I…" his voice croaked "I'm sorry…" he began as he felt a tidal wave of guilt wash over him but before he could continue she cut him off.
"Yes… you are sorry." Daryl's head shot backward as if he'd been slapped; his eyes wide with surprise. "Of all the things you could have done or said, you blamed me for your brother's condition." She pointed toward a spot beside his head. It was all his gear and provisions piled neatly beside his clothes. Her face was void of expression and her voice was cold. "Leave" she stated, the slightest hint of disappointment crossing her features before returning to that icy demeanor she had before.
She turned on her heel and headed toward the exit on the roof where your fucking brother tried to rape her, by the way. The same brother you just went all asshole for toward the one fucking person that actually appeared to give a shit about you. He watched her go; mismatched shoes, backpack, blue hoodie and old fatigues…the same clothes she'd worn when they'd first encountered each other. A few seconds after she was out of sight came the sound of the slamming door echoing throughout the old house.
" Fuck! You are a fucking dick, Daryl" he cussed himself. He pushed himself to his feet and slowly started to gather himself together. Clothes are on, gear packed and everything in its place. It was a familiar feeling, being left behind or kicked out after disappointing people, one Daryl had experienced time and again. You think you'd know better by now, asshole. People that almost got raped by your dick of a brother don't tend to like to hear how it was their fault they had to defend themselves. He smirked and huffed out a breath of air in agreement.
So you are just leaving? Ain't gonna try to stop her? Make up? Admit you're a giant dick? Nothing? "She ain't gonna want to hear shit like that from somebody like me." He spent the next few moments looking around the place, gathering a sense of the young and beautiful girl he'd only just met. And pissed the fuck off, too asshole. Another smirk in agreement and another look around. Snowmen, a picture of some cute redheaded girl, a few clothes and books; that was it. He thought to leave a note At least show her you got some fucking sense of decency but before he could act a scream from outside pierced the quiet.
He rushed to the boarded windows and began to frantically scan the ground looking for the source…even though he knew who it was. He'd only heard her voice a precious few times but he recognized it instantly.
He caught a glimpse of her dashing into an alleyway and then she was gone. Almost instantly she was followed by a swarm of the rotting and stinking undead that had been patrolling her area. He stood still for a moment until the second scream cut through the air.