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Here is a Daryl/Thaliana Chapter and a new character is introduced.
I don't own TWD – Please enjoy this chapter!
Anything in (( )) means it's spoken in a foreign language
….
Closer than Cool
We lost Jacqui… I had just started getting to know her – I liked her. I'd started becoming closer to everyone; after the camp, the Morales family and Jim, I didn't want to lose any more people . I begged her to reconsider, even if it was for my own selfish reasons, I didn't want her to just give up like that. Daryl came back and carried me off toward those that were escaping. He didn't let me get a word in after he put me down.
"I know you wanted Jacqui to keep goin'… I know you sick of losin' people… so am I" he said "But you think I'm gonna let you screw around an' die on me, Thaliana? Over you tryin' to save someone that decided to end it all?" he shook his head and moved closer, his eyes boring deep into mine "Naw…. naw, not after you made me an' Merle care about your ass – that I ain't havin'… so don't you fuckin' unravel on me."
Daryl spoke softly, but harshly. I was at a loss for words. I didn't realize how it would've affected Daryl if I had died in there, besides the obvious. And the last time Merle saw me, I was out cold. I just looked at him.
"You ain't losin' Merle… You ain't losin' me… we ain't losin' you."
"How can you make such a promise?" I asked quietly. I was still rather wound up. "The only sure thing now is death."
…
Without warning, Daryl clasped his hand on Thaliana's upper arm which caused her to look up at him.
"I ain't losin' you." he said firmly and walked over to his pickup.
He hadn't realized what he said until he got in his truck. "I"… "I'm not losing you." He didn't want to let that slip. He went back the moment he saw Thaliana wasn't with the group and carried her off. He put his life on the line for her. He hadn't quite realized how quickly he had grown to see her that way until that point, let alone liking someone of another race as a friend… but she was precious to him.
….
"You got your pills n' stuff?" Daryl asked gently.
"Yeah…" Thaliana answered quietly, twisting up the last of her hair before putting it into a ponytail. "Are you okay?"
Daryl nodded. He could tell she was still shaken up after the explosion. He was pretty shaken up himself. He wasn't sure how Thaliana was and the last thing he wanted was her "checking out" while driving. It was clear that she was wary of letting anyone else drive her car, for the sake of moving on, she handed her keys over to Glenn, since he was the only one that didn't have a vehicle. The ecstatic, almost hyperactive look on his face when he found out that he was going to drive that Maybach actually frightened her.
Sophia decided to ride with Daryl and Thaliana until the next time they stopped. Sophia liked being around Thaliana – saw her as a big sister of sorts. They talked and listened to music together, Sophia even started asking Thaliana to teach her Amharic. The girl was a very fast learner, took to it as if it were what she was born speaking.
((Daryl keeps looking at you, Thaliana.)) the young girl said with a small smile. ((He seems to worry about you a lot.))
((We worry about each other…)) Thaliana exhaled ((Like how you're mom worries about you.))
Sophia looked at Daryl for a bit and went back to grooming the doll Eliza gave her.
((Not sure about that…)) The little girl mused, making Thaliana chuckle a bit.
Daryl looked at them briefly before looking at the road. He may not have known what they were speaking, but he definitely heard his name.
"What're you two talkin' bout over there?" he asked, a little agitated.
"Nothing bad, I promise;" Thaliana said "She says you worry about me a lot and I told her we worry about each other."
Daryl nodded and just listened to them talk. As long it wasn't anything bad, they could say what they wanted, he supposed. He'd gotten used to Thaliana singing in that language, so hearing it in conversation was interesting. He was amazed at how Sophia picked it up so quickly; the two of them talking as if they knew each other for years. After a while the group stopped for a bathroom break.
….
Daryl and Thaliana rode in silence for the most part, unable to think of things to talk about for a while. Until Daryl broke the silence.
"Where in Florida did you live?" he asked
Thaliana looked out her window, enjoying the cool air. "The Glades."
"Sounds nice… like a resort or somethin'."
"No, literally, The Everglades – population of 500 or so… that's not including the alligators." She sighed. "My parents came into the country dirt poor… and left the same. Not for lack of trying, I will say that."
Daryl gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, unsure if he should ask the next question.
"With what happened to you… I know you hated your Pa, but… what about your Mom?"
Thaliana looked at the younger Dixon for a moment, before gazing out of the front windshield. The bright light made her squint a little.
"I felt bad for her… was angry at her… but I never hated her;" she answered "I guess… I guess I understood what she did to an extent… but her decisions affected me, too."
The young woman looked at one of the rear view mirrors and saw Glenn driving her car with pretty much the same expression he had when she gave him the keys. she scoffed and shook her head before placing it in her hand.
"Glenn is enjoying my car waaaay too much." She mused
Daryl snorted out a chuckle. "Can't say I blame him."
The moment Daryl looked at his gas gauge, which caused him to curse under his breath and honk his horn. He was just past empty. Daryl looked back to his brother's bike and then to his passenger.
"You good with ridin' back?" he sighed.
"I've never ridden before." She said, feeling unsure "I'm supposed to look to the inside curve, right?" she asked, prompting Daryl to nod. "You can put your things in my car." She added.
She motioned to Glenn to pop the trunk, which he did so quickly and she pulled a firearm. As Daryl packed his small pile of things to the trunk, Glenn walked up to Thaliana.
"Your car rides really smooth." He chuckled.
"Thank you; it's probably one of my favorite things about Ziggy."
"Who?" Glenn was confused.
"Ziggy Stardust…my car."
"David Bowie's alter ego… unusual name for a car." He stated. "Then again, you're unusual yourself – i-in a good way… I mean."
Thaliana smirked and leaned against her vehicle.
"I, uh… I-I noticed you have some gaming consoles installed in the front. I didn't know you played." Glenn said.
Before Thaliana could respond, Daryl stopped beside her and told her he was finished packing up and he got the bike off the truck.
"Time to get back on the road." he muttered. "You sure you okay ridin'? You can take your car if you're up to it."
Thaliana viewed the bike. It was in great condition, but she irked visibly at the Schutzstaffel insignia on the tank. It seemed sort of far from the Merle that she had come to know. Certainly further from the Daryl she knows now. The archer saw her reaction – it was justifiable. Merle was a white male supremacist to his core. Though he taught Daryl to share in his beliefs, the younger Dixon never really took hold to them as firmly as his big brother did, since Daryl spent a great part of his life a without anyone that cared for him. However, Daryl noticed a change after Merle got to know Thaliana… but knowing his brother, the former assassin might have just been "the exception" to his beliefs.
"It's somethin' how pointless things become when you get to know people." Daryl said as he turned to Thaliana.
"Yeah…" she responded.
"You sure you wanna ride?" he asked again.
Thaliana zipped up her jacket and put her hat in the passenger seat of the Maybach.
"Life is short… might as well live it, right?" Thaliana said with a small smirk.
….
Daryl kept his eyes on the caravan, riding beside it in order to easily get ahead if he needed to do some scouting and assess the conditions ahead. Any walkers that were too close, Thaliana gave them a quick bullet between the eyes. It was seamless… natural, like the flow of a river. Daryl was impressed with his passenger, for someone who never rode before, she took to it pretty well.
He wasn't used to the feeling of warmth against his back, of another body pressed to his when he rode. Thaliana held tightly to him – probably out of nervousness. He could feel her body rise and fall as she breathed, her arm wrapped securely around him, her face against his shoulder to try to block the wind. It made his skin tingle. Daryl peered over his shoulder at her to see if she was okay, only to see her eyes looking back at him, telling him she was fine with a nod before he turned back to the road. He decided it felt nice… no, it felt good to have Thaliana ride with him.
….
The RV slowed to a stop and the caravan followed suit. The RV had broken down. As Dale tried to fix it, everyone started going through the abandoned vehicles. Thaliana looked around for what she could; she ended up finding some clothes, food here and there, batteries, and flashlights. Then she saw a figure further up the road. Daryl and Shane noticed as well and followed behind Thaliana as she moved briskly.
In time, Thaliana got a better look at the person: Tall, medium muscle build, thick, wavy salt-and-pepper hair pulled into a ponytail, olive green t-shirt, black jeans and boots. When he lifted his head from under the hood of his car, she saw his face. He had very chiseled, angular features, smoldering brown eyes – the left had a scar through his brow. She knew this man and she was pissed that he was in Atlanta. Daryl and Shane kept their weapons fixed on him.
"What are you doing here, Lucien?"
The man cursed under his breath. He was so focused on getting his car to work that he hadn't heard her or the men behind her walk up. His weapon was in the seat right in front of him – knowing how quick she was, there was no way he'd be able to grab it in time. He moved from the car with his hands raised.
"I should know better than to let my guard down." He chuckled, his voice thick with his Portuguese accent.
"You know this guy?" Shane asked quickly.
Thaliana didn't look back to the men that followed her; she knew if she had, Lucien would take advantage.
"Lucien Davi – he was my mentor's weapon fabricator… and a torture specialist."
"I'm LeSabre's best friend… and you don't trust me?" he pouted.
"I don't trust any of LeSabre's friends." Thaliana said matter-of-factly.
"He taught you well." Lucien grinned
Daryl nudged the guy with his crossbow and it caused the Portuguese man to jump a little.
"Lady asked what you're doin' here." The archer rumbled.
"If you'll permit me?" he asked, pointing to his satchel in the backseat.
Shane cocked his gun and told him not to try anything funny. Lucien reached into the satchel and he pulled an envelope out of the back and handed it to Thaliana. When she opened it, she saw pictures of herself as she ran errands and touring the house she was about to buy. Pictures of her with Emiko as well.
"You've been following me?!" she asked coolly, preparing to unholster her pistol.
Lucien immediately offered an explanation.
"Phineas wanted me to follow you… to make sure you were okay and that no one hurt you."
Thaliana continued to look through the photos as she explained who Phineas Wade was to Shane and Daryl. She couldn't believe that Wade sent Lucien.
"So, Wade was paying you to play guardian angel?" she prodded.
Davi just nodded. Thaliana put the photos back in the envelope and crossed her arms in thought. If he was sent to kill her, he could have done it at any time then. Still, he could be playing her now. She rubbed her thumb against the side of her chin.
"What do we do with him, Thaliana? It's your call." Shane asked. Lucien was her mentor's friend, after all. It wouldn't be right of him to make that decision.
Thaliana handed the envelope back to Lucien and looked him square in his eyes unwaveringly.
"Don't make me regret it, Lucien." She said firmly ((Otherwise, you'll wish one of these men shot you.)) she added in Portuguese. "Get your things; we're going to talk when we get to a safer place."
Davi nodded his understanding and followed them back to the group. Rick walked up and looked the man over.
"Who's this?" he asked.
"Lucien Davi – a friend of my mentor's. " Thaliana responded.
Lucien's eyes landed on Carol immediately. Thaliana saw this and immediately shook her head. She'd known Lucien to fall head over heels for a beautiful woman the minute he saw her… and he had a thing for women with short hair. How he was able to remain such a hopeless romantic after being jilted and cheated on so much was a wonder to Thaliana. Davi made a beeline for Carol and began complimenting her in Portuguese. Carol pulled back, unsure of what to make of Lucien.
"Take it easy, Lucien; at least learn..." Thaliana was cut off by the sight of the oncoming herd of walkers.
...
Everyone scattered and hid as best they could. There were dozens of zombies passing through. The only sounds heard was the incessant groaning and snarling of walkers as their feet scraped along the asphalt in their search for fresh flesh. It seemed like it would never end - throngs of walkers shuffling by. They all waited and waited until they were sure that the groans faded enough for everyone to re-emerge safely.
Sophia wasn't so lucky….
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Sooo Lucien hasn't been here for a minute and he's already got eyes for Carol.
That's it for this chapter, I really hope you liked it!
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As always – thank you, thank you, thank you for sticking with me!
