The sound of Eddie Vedder's Hard Sun blared around him as he focused on what he was doing. The beat echoing against the garage walls and around his skull drowning out last night. He didn't go into the shop but instead stayed in his own. It wasn't the size of the one he worked in almost six days a week but it was bigger than your average. He had everything here he needed to never need to take a vehicle in to be fixed. A hobby became an obsession at a young age. A hobby he'd often used to distract himself and it was doing good, somewhat.
He was good at his job. No he was great. He wasn't Merle or Mac that would brag but he knew he was fucking good. It'd been easy from a young age but that didn't mean he didn't bust his fucking ass at it and more than a few knuckles. It was hard work and at times he got so fucking mad he'd rather burn the piece of shit someone brought in down then look at it. When he was doing it for fun though it was something else. He could lose himself in it and not think about the shit that was happening. He just blanked out. And after the night he'd had that's exactly what he wanted. He didn't want to think. Not about the shit Merle said or done. Not about the shit Carol had said behind his back to his own fucking brothers. No, he'd rather do this than deal with anyone.
Still the slam of a car door told him someone was here and he ignored it. There was no one he wanted to talk to. He grit his teeth as the song changed and Bill Withers song Ain't No Sunshine came over the radio. Great. Just what he needed.
"I'll admit this is even depressing for your ass."
Daryl looked up and swiped at the sweat beading on his forehead threatening to run into his eyes. He felt the oil smear and grimaced. Fuck it. He pushed his hand through his hair and breathed out as he felt cool air start pouring into the shop.
"What are you working on?" Will questioned leaning against the workbench.
Daryl grimaced. "A car."
"Obviously." His tone was so bored that Daryl thought he'd almost fell asleep talking.
He didn't want to tell his dad that he was working on Carol's car. Not after last night. How pathetic was he really? The woman thought he was a psycho murdering queer and wiped her hand on her jeans when she touched him. Yeah he should just keep his distance. But to do that she needed her vehicle fixed where she wouldn't need to come to him. And where he wouldn't be looking forward to those morning's when he did drop her off and pick her up. Because he didn't look forward to those morning...which was a fucking lie and he knew it and his own subconscious wouldn't even shut the fuck up. He was a fucked.
"Are we going to talk about the flame in the room?"
"Not funny." Daryl snapped.
Will nodded and met his eyes. "You know she wasn't trying to start trouble."
"Do I?" Daryl stood. "All she's done since I met her has been trouble!"
"Daryl." Will's voice was calm. "She's genuinely upset. She thought because Merle was saying those things that he was serious. A few people have- you can't hold that against her."
"I can him." Daryl sneered.
"Oh no doubt." Will chuckled. "She's terrified of you being so mad you'd kick her out."
Daryl paled at that. He wasn't heartless. He shook his head and sighed. "I wouldn't."
"I know that. She doesn't. I think you all need to talk." Will said before turning to leave. "I just dropped her off back here."
Daryl looked over and frowned. He knew that she didn't have work today. Her schedule was the same as his now thinks to his dad. The meddling fuck. Will paused at the door when Daryl tossed the old oil filter away. He refused to look at him because he knew the look his dad would be giving him. He'd already heard this fucking speech about his temper. It wasn't that his temper was out of control it was more than he just wanted to bust his brothers fucking teeth out of his head. He wouldn't take shit out on Carol because his brothers thought it'd be funny to have a man swing a dick in his face.
"By the way- you should make a point to go check on her." Will looked over his shoulder. "In her room."
Daryl stared at him but Will said nothing else. Daryl looked towards the house and his stomach grumbled. He was starving. He'd woken up and instead of eating like usual or drinking coffee he'd come out here to avoid her. He was being petulant but he needed to get the fog cleared from his mind and the best way to do that was being elbow deep in a project. Of course it was something for her so it didn't help as much as he wanted but he'd take it.
The rumble of Will's truck told him all he needed to know about his father. Cutting the radio off Daryl walked to the house. Rocky started barking immediately at him from inside where he could see him from the patio doors. Daryl smiled and picked his pace up. Carol swung the door open her eyes wide. Her hands came up and she gestured but nothing came out of her mouth. She looked like she was going to freak out on him if she could figure out her basic motor skills again.
"Oh thank god. I thought you'd took off and was avoiding me."
He faltered and avoided her eyes. "Was working."
He stepped around her into the house and a yowl greeted him along with Rocky's barks. He scooped Rocky up and hissed when he felt claws dig into his leg as Catrick climbed up him. Rocky was wiggling in his arms.
"You could have come out fatass." Daryl chuckled. "You have a dog door."
He put the dog down and plucked the kitten from his leg getting a hiss in return. He handed the kitten off to Carol and she smiled at him. He walked into the kitchen when his stomach growled again. He was starving.
"I can cook if you want." Carol offered.
YES his mind supplied with ease.
"Nah." Daryl shook his head and pulled out old take out. When did he buy this?
He barely heated it before he started eating. Carol looked nervous. Finally she sighed and set right in front of him. Will's words were digging into him. He knew he needed to talk to her but it wasn't that. There was something about her room Will wanted him to see. He was pretty sure his dad wasn't telling him to fuck her so there was no other reason he could see for his dad telling him pointedly to go to her room. There was something going on. He didn't like having shit kept from him and he hated goddamn surprises. Bad or good he hated it.
At her sigh again he looked up. "I'm not going to kick you out for thinking I'm gay."
Carol deflated. "I'm really sorry Daryl."
"It's fine."
"It's really not." Carol shrugged, "I made assumptions about you that Merle only made worse."
"He likes to do that." Daryl sneered. "You aren't the first person to believe the shit he says. I'm use to it."
"You were so upset. I was afraid you were going-"
"I'm pissed off at my brothers for buying a male stripper covered oil and glitter for me. It has nothing to do with you."
It was the truth. His anger wasn't at her. He was shocked Carol listened to his brothers bullshit but still. It bothered him that the woman he's attracted to had thought he was a queer but he'd get over it. He had too. Daryl stood up after stuffing another roll in his mouth and motioned her to stand. Carol raised a brow but done as he asked. He started up the stairs and Carol was quiet walking with him. He stopped in front of her door and Carol blanched. Something told him that she knew Will said something. Carol gave him a desperate look.
"Listen I now Will is just concerned but really I'm okay."
"Carol."
She sighed and pushed her door open. Daryl looked in and it hit him. She'd been homeless. How the fuck would have expected her to have a bed? He was a fucking idiot. He felt sick to his stomach. He looked at her and he knew she seen his thoughts right there on his face.
She smiled at him easily. "I'm okay Daryl. I've had a lot worse."
He shook his head and spun dragging her with him. Carol yelped and he was down the stairs. He stepped outside and cussed. He'd forgotten his truck was still at the shop. It didn't matter. He swung his leg over the bike and Carol stared at him wide eyed.
"I can't get on there!"
"Why?" He questioned.
"I could fall off."
Daryl laughed loudly and pulled her forward. Carol glared but slipped her leg over. Her grip on his hand tightened. He waited till she was comfortable and then started the bike. She panicked and yelped.
"Where do I hold on?"
Daryl caught her hands that were on her lap and drug them around his waist. He ignored the part of him that was starting to heat at her being pressed completely against him now. She didn't want to be against him. She'd thought he was gay. That was worse than the friend zone. He needed to get it through his head he'd could only have her as a friend.
He turned just as he seen Merle pull through his gates. He ignored his brother and gunned it out the driveway. Merle would have to get turned before he could catch him and Daryl planned to be long gone by then. Let him fucking stew. He heard Carol's laugh behind him and she pulled tighter against him while her thighs tightened against his waist. He smiled for the first time that day and let himself relax.