The cool air of Georgia wavered through Harli's air and the roaring vibrations of Daryl's motorcycle tickled her body. It felt so good being on the back of the bike for the first time in months. Every now and then, when Daryl revved the engine of the motorcycle, a shiver of nothing but sheer pleasure rolled up through her spine. When she was on the motorcycle with Daryl, she had no worries and she experienced brief freedom. It was the first time in days, since the Woodbury incident, that she felt somewhat like herself again. Even the incident with Greg the day before didn't bother her much. Harli didn't know why, but she accepted the fact that he was dead; dead by her hand. But it scared her even more that she was moving on from it so quickly.
She changed so much since escaping from Woodbury.
Harli's green eyes shifted from the blurry scenery to around her shoulder, seeing Rick and Hershel in the Hyundai close behind them. Her ponytail flapped in the turbulence, as well as the collar on her jacket, and her bangs tickled her face as she rolled her head back around to stare at the empty road ahead over Daryl's broad shoulder. Her hands glazed over the angel wings on his back and she pressed her forehead against the space in between his shoulders, letting out a deep breath. Closing her eyes and hearing nothing but the oddly soothing blare of the Triumph's engine, her mind drifted back to that morning before the four left the prison.
"Before Andrea left, she came to talk to me privately about The Governor wanting to meet and talk this out. I gave her specific instructions on a neutral place out in the countryside we passed by on our way to Woodbury. I told her if he really wanted to talk this out... he meet me there at high noon today." Rick stood in the cellblock, staring at the weary eyes of his fellow survivors with hands on his hips.
"Are you sure that's a good idea? Leaving us alone again? You remember what happened yesterday..." Carol stated meekly and looked over at Harli briefly, Harli ignoring her gaze. Rick nodded his head,
"The Governor isn't stupid... and even if it is a chance to kill me he won't be able to give it up. With him there, there's no way he'll try to attack." Rick reassured Carol and the rest of his group, "Just keep on watch. We've got plenty of guns now to compensate for our lack of manpower."
"Are you going alone?" Glenn asked the question everyone was thinking and Rick stared at him for a moment. Rick shook his head,
"No... I'm going to take Hershel and Daryl. They're all I'm gonna need." Rick walked forward towards the commons of cellblock, seeing the mass amount of arms spread out about the room. Daryl and Hershel quickly exchanged glances and Daryl brushed past Harli towards the stairs to the upper cells. Harli turned around through the doors and stepped after the broken king,
"Rick, can I talk to you?" He looked up from the rifle he was rigging ready for battle,
"About what?"
"I want to go, too." Harli said sternly, seeing his full attention brought down on her. He eyed the faded bruises on her face and neck,
"I don't think that's a very good idea... The Governor's gonna be there."
"So?"
"Can you handle seeing him, face to face, if it comes down to it?" He asked while narrowing his eyes. Harli stood tall and tried not to show her fear to him, knowing he would gauge it as her weakness.
"I can do it." Rick stared at her questioningly for a few moments and her own eyes narrowed at him, "I know I can. Running away from him won't help me at this point." Rick moved away from the table and stood only a couple feet from her,
"You say that now... but when you get there your entire outlook could change completely. Reliving your experiences... I don't want you to go through that all over again. Who knows what kind of damage it could lead to this time?" Harli knew that Rick was trying to scare her into staying behind at the prison not out of spite, but pure concern. He was right in some sense. Harli didn't know what would happen if he saw his face again; but it was a chance she was willing to take. With a gentle nod, words spilled off her lips encouragingly,
"I can do it, Rick. Give me a chance." Rick stood in a few moments of silence and then lifted his hand to scratch his head,
"You know Daryl ain't gonna be too crazy about the idea. You know how he can be..."
"I can be pretty persuasive."
As Harli opened her eyes, she saw that a tunnel of trees began to cradle around them and the road harden with years of old age. She leaned back and felt something poke at her back softly, looking down to see the crossbow hitched tightly behind her. The bright green and white fletching of the arrows flickered in the wind and her eyes glazed over the sleek black finish of Daryl's new and improved crossbow. She remembered the excitement he held once Rick presented it to him the night before; he was like a giddy child.
The momentum of the bike slowed and Harli looked over Daryl's shoulder, once again, to see an old, run down mill standing in the approaching distance. Finally, they reached their destination and Daryl circled the bike around until it came to a stop. He killed engine and Harli was first to step off, pulling the AR-15 off her back and propping it against her shoulder. Hershel parked the Hyundai next to them and the passenger's door opened to let Rick out of the SUV. Daryl retrieved his crossbow from the straps of the motorcycle and exchanged eye contact with Harli.
"Be careful."
"No... you be careful." Harli replied plainly, the soft wind tossing her ponytail about behind her head. With a reassuring nod, Daryl turned around and led Rick through the giant, cylindrical gins that stood tall against the survivors.
As the two men disappeared, Harli turned around and walked towards the road, stopping and looking both ways as if waiting for someone to drive by.
Hershel stayed in the SUV, helping keep watch with Harli while Daryl helped Rick get safely to the meeting place. There were no Walkers in sight, from what they could see, and neither any enemy Woodburians. Although they could be hiding in the trees, Harli continued to stand in the open behind the SUV. She couldn't tell if she was scared or not; a wide range of emotions flooded her body and she didn't know what to feel. Her leg shook anxiously as her green eyes scanned her surroundings, the cold air stale and noiseless around her. It was oddly cool for, what she could assume, was a summer day. Clouds muddled the sky above her and she briefly looked up every now and then to make sure it wouldn't start raining.
Psst!
Harli turned her heard at the soft hiss to see Hershel staring out through the window frame. Curiously, Harli's boots stepped through the dirt on the ground and she stopped at the driver's side door. Hershel's bright blue eyes stared at her out from under his thick white brows, "Let's canvas the area real quick and regroup with Daryl. It's been long enough."
"Alright." Harli nodded and quickly moved around the front of the SUV, hearing the engine quietly start to life. She opened the passenger's side door and ducked under the crutches resting on the seat, placing her rifle down and closing the door. Hershel slowly pulled off the dirt turn off and onto the pavement, Harli rolling down her window and keeping a cautious hand on her rifle.
Hershel slowly drove around the entire area, the two keeping a very watchful eye out for any enemy presence, whether it was Walker or Woodburian. But it was oddly quiet for the area they were in, making Hershel and Harli a bit edgy. Finally, Hershel found the small, dirt alleyway leading into the heart of the large cotton factory. Their bodies waved back and forth along with the vehicle as they hit the potholes that plagued the small road. Harli saw Daryl take notice to their appearance and stepped towards the dirt road, watching Hershel pull up to a stop. Hershel rolled down the window and looked out,
"The Governor's already in there... just sat down with Rick."
"Wait... he got here first?" Harli asked and Daryl nodded his head. Hershel looked around,
"We didn't see any cars..." Daryl glanced around the area cautiously and nodded his head softly,
"Yeah. It don't feel right... keep it runnin'." Harli yanked at the door handle and ducked back under Hershel's crutches, stepping out into the cool air. The noiseless air didn't last too much longer as the growling engine of a vehicle came bustling around the corner.
"Head's up!" Daryl smacked his hand on the hood and ran around the front of the SUV, bringing his crossbow up against his shoulder and pointing it at the large white truck that pulled to an abrupt stop. Hershel immediately began to get out of the SUV and Harli pointed her AR at the truck, seeing one of The Governor's top men stepping out of the driver's seat. Andrea, as well as a tall man with glasses, stepped out of the passengers seats of the truck. They were quiet as they faced the prison dwellers, Daryl stepping forward and glaring at the Latino man that stared back at him with an equal stare.
"What the hell? Why's your boy already in there!?" Daryl growled with demand and Andrea stared at him confusingly,
"He's here?" She seemed surprised at the fact that The Governor had arrived sooner than planned.
"Yeap..." Daryl replied and continued to point his crossbow at the two men. With a disappointed sigh, Andrea trudged towards the door to the warehouse and tore open the screaming door, disappearing into the shadows.
Harli studied the two men in her crosshairs, seeing that they were not on the careful offensive like she and Daryl were. She lowered her gun and stepped back, leaning against the side of the Hyundai. Harli was adamant about keeping her eyes on these Woodburians, her trigger finger ready while the rifle rested against her legs. The silence was tense and awkward, but she took that moment to gauge the men's characters just by their body movements and looks. Seeing movement out of the corner of her eye, she watched the taller man with glasses flip out a pocketbook and rest it on the hood of the truck, stealing a pen from his pocket and beginning to jot down unknown words. During her time in the shoddy dungeons of Woodbury, she hadn't seen him before. He didn't seem like an armed henchman, but the aura he gave off was awkward and meek. Harli didn't feel threatened by him.
But the Latino that continued to glare at Daryl, and briefly glance at Harli, was a different story. He was one of the men that had taken her, Maggie, and Glenn down into the shanties and kept an eye on them. He was a lot different. She could tell by his darkly colored eyes he held ruthless and malicious intent. He was like any good, loyal dog that listened to his master and there were plenty of violent, untold stories in his scruffy face.
Harli moved her eyes over to Daryl, who had begun to slowly pace about them anxiously. He kept a close eye on the Woodburians and stared at them curiously. Hershel leaned on the front bumper of the SUV, rifle in hand, showing that even with his handicap he was still someone willing to get down to business. With a sharp huff, Daryl finally stopped next to Hershel. Hershel saw his anxiousness and mediated,
"Maybe I should go inside..."
"The Governor thought it best if he and Rick spoke privately..." The meek man with glasses stated and looked up from his note-taking. Daryl tilted his head and stared at the man,
"Who the hell are you?" He asked matter-of-factly and the man looked over at him plainly,
"Milton Mamet." Milton returned his attention towards the note pad on the hood of the truck. Daryl scoffed with a soft nod, looking off into the distance and slowly turning around,
"Great... he brought his butler." Harli couldn't help but break a soft smile on her face at his comic relief.
"I'm his advisor." Milton stated, unfazed by Daryl's joke. Daryl turned back around to face him,
"What kind of advice?" Milton let out a slightly annoyed huffed and looked back at Daryl,
"Planning... biters, uh, you know I'm sorry... I don't feel like I need to explain myself to the henchman."
"You better watch your mouth, Sunshine." Daryl warned and the Latino man spoke for the first time.
"If we're not gonna be out here pointin' guns at each other all day then... do me a favor. Shut your mouth." Daryl didn't take his words too lightly and let out a deep breath, walking forward towards the Latino challengingly. The two brushed chests and glared into each other's eyes, Daryl easily gaining the height advantage by a couple inches.
"Okay there, boys." Harli pushed off the SUV and reached out, grabbing Daryl's jacket and tugging at him to back off.
"Martinez..." Milton mumbled from behind, but Martinez kept his eyes fixed on Daryl.
"We don't need this. If all goes South in there we'll all be at each other's throats soon enough." Hershel stated and the two hot-heads glared at each other violently before Daryl finally backed off. Feeling Harli's tight grip on his leather jacket, Daryl turned around to face the safe haven of her green eyes. He moved past her and Harli glanced back at Martinez,
"Better keep that mutt of yours on a tighter leash." He barked and Harli only glared back at him,
"Consider yourself lucky that I have to." She defended with warning and Martinez scoffed, watching her turn around and walk away from him. Harli stopped in front of Daryl and saw him glaring back at Martinez, "I know it's hard but try to keep your fists to yourself."
"Shit's takin' too long." Daryl huffed gruffly and Harli cocked her head,
"Rick and The Governor are here to try and figure something out. It's not going to take them ten minutes to think up a treaty." Harli breathed while staring into his blue eyes. She saw his jaw move tightly against his cheek as he began to chew on the inside of his mouth. Harli pressed her hand softly against his chest and pushed him back, "Come on, take a step back and ease up."
Daryl leaned up against the front bumper of the pale green SUV and sighed, shouldering his crossbow. Harli rested herself next to him for his comfort and the two waited patiently against their vehicle. Hershel moved and propped himself up against the side of the building where Rick, Andrea, and The Governor were held up in. Everyone waited quietly and patiently, Harli noticing Daryl's foot tapping impatiently against the ground.
A pair of footsteps walked from the shadows of the cracked door and Andrea appeared, her face in disarray. She looked up to see all eyes on her, and not knowing what to do, she moved over towards a makeshift bench on the wall of the building. She dipped her head in defeat and Martinez moved from his truck, closing the squeaky door to give the leaders their privacy. Once Martinez returned to his vehicle, Daryl couldn't take sitting still and pushed off the SUV, beginning to pace again. Harli knew she couldn't help his muddle anxiety and let his pacing go uninterrupted by her intervening. Daryl let out a deep sigh and turned around, continuing his pacing.
"There's no reason we can't take this time together to discuss the issues ourselves..." Milton finally stepped forward and cleared the air. Daryl stopped back next to Harli and stared back at Milton,
"I said sit tight and shut up." Martinez said while looking back at the meek scientist. Daryl glanced over his shoulder at Martinez,
"You mean The Governor?" His eyes shifted to Milton, who he directed his words to.
"It's a good thing. They're sitting down; especially after what happened. They're gonna work it out... I mean, nobody wants another battle."
"I wouldn't exactly call that a battle." Daryl's raspy voice echoed in everyone's ears and Milton stared back at the crossbow-wielder,
"I would call it a battle... and I did. I recorded it." Milton held up his small pocket book and Daryl turned fully to face him curiously,
"For what?"
"Somebody's gotta keep a record of what we've gone through. It'll be a part of our history." Milton explained and Hershel stared at him heartily,
"That makes sense." Milton looked over at Hershel and felt as if he had connected to someone. He walked towards Hershel,
"I've got... dozens of interviews and-"
A loud snarl erupted from the maze of giant gins behind Martinez's truck and everyone's eyes searched for the culprit. Harli pushed off the car and readied her rifle as Daryl and Martinez were already on the trail, Martinez grabbing his bat from the driver's seat. Andrea jumped to her feet and flicked out her knife, the two women quickly jogging after the men and leaving Hershel and Milton behind.
They each followed each other in tight formation, Daryl breaking from around a corner with his crossbow drawn. Walkers took notice to their appearance and made way towards the four survivors, their snarls and hisses echoing off the metal cylinders. Daryl lowered his crossbow and looked at Martinez, bowing his head and swinging his arm forward, "After you!"
"No way..." Martinez glared back at Daryl and pointed his aluminum bat at the Walkers, "You first."
Andrea sighed at the two men's childishness and shoved herself through them. She reached her forearm up and slammed a Walker against the metal gin with brute force, bringing her free hand up and stabbing it through the eye. Harli watched as it fell to the ground and her ears picked up yet another gurgle. Her eyes turned to see a Walker lunging at her and she jumped back, flipping the gun in her hands and gripping the barrel tightly. With as much force as her body would let her, she swung the butt of her gun and broke the Walker's neck. It fell to the ground and clawed at the air, trying to get back to its feet. Harli yanked the knife from her belt and hovered over the Walker, jabbing it into its temple and avoid the mashed face in which her rifle obliterated. Daryl and Martinez stared back at Harli as she stood to her feet, seeing their eyes on her.
"Pussy." Martinez breathed while looking back at Daryl, moving from his side and twirling his bat cockily in his fingers. Martinez slammed the heavy bat against a Walkers head, its brain and skull matter splattering all over the rusted metal of the gin. Martinez smiled and looked back at Daryl, who rolled his shoulder and cocked his head challengingly, knowing that the competition was on.
Daryl powered past Martinez while drawing his crossbow, and like the bulls-eye of a target, he pressed the trigger and the bowstring released his bolt between the dead center of the Walkers eyes. Martinez brushed the lame kill off his shoulder and twirled the bat expertly in his hand, stopping the handle briefly in his hand and whacking a Walker against the head. Its head imploded from the impact and the Walker's body fell to the ground with a loud thud.
Andrea sighed and shook her head, turning around to walk back towards the meeting building. Harli watched Andrea walk past her and then brought her eyes back to Daryl and Martinez, who were disappearing into the maze of gins. With a deep sigh, she returned her rifle into the original position in her hands and turned around to follow after Andrea.
Martinez moved around a set of metal bearings and continued to twirl his bat in his fingers. Just as Martinez went to swing at the next Walker, Daryl moved forward quickly and took the Walkers head in his sights. With another pull of a trigger, the bolt whisked from its position and struck completely through the Walkers head. It fell to the ground in defeat and Martinez stared at his stolen Walker kill, moving quickly towards the next one and eyeballing the crossbow bolt protruding from the Walker's neck. Daryl swiped his knife hastily from the sheath on his belt and he took the blade in his hand, his backwoods instincts rapidly calculating in his mind. Reaching his arm back, he flung the long blade from his fingertips and it whirled through the air, making a deadline path into the Walkers head.
Martinez looked back at Daryl, who stood tall and narrowed his eyes triumphantly at the Latino. Daryl couldn't help but smirk cockily to himself, showing exactly who the tougher man was. Martinez's eyes shifted back to the down Walkers Daryl's weapons had stolen and scoffed, stepping over them and out into the dwindling sunlight. Daryl soon pressed on and retrieved his bolts and trusty knife, returning them to their rightful places to wait to be used again. He followed Martinez's faded footsteps in the half dead grass below his boots, stepping out from the forest of gin's to see Martinez leaning on a telephone pole.
The black crossbow dangled from his hand lazily and swung along with his arms as he walked. He narrowed his eyes when he saw a freshly killed Walker lying into the grass a few feet from Martinez. Daryl cursed mentally to himself; half wishing he had followed Martinez more closely to steal this Walker kill as well. Daryl looked into Martinez's redeemed black eyes briefly as he walked past him, glancing down at the Walker. He knelt down next to it and saw a familiar sight peeking out from under the shadows of its chest pocket. Daryl's fingers greedily searched the pocket and his lips cocked into half a smirk as he saw what he scavenged for. It was half a box of Camel's and he held it over his shoulder, showing Martinez his find,
"Look what he's got." Martinez looked at them curiously and Daryl stood to his feet, plucking one of the cigarettes from the box and securing the filter in between his lips. He turned around and elevated the box towards Martinez with friendly intent, Martinez leaning forward and staring at the cigs. With a shake of his head, he leaned back on the pole,
"Nah... I prefer menthols." Martinez looked up at the sky and Daryl scoffed, tucking the box of the cancer sticks in the back pocket of his pants.
"Douchebag." He switched the box of cigarettes for his zippo lighter and snapped open the top. With a flick of the ignition, the flame spirited to life and he brought the mini inferno to the tip of the cigarette, sucking on the end of the filter as it began to burn. The inhale of the nicotine freshened Daryl's spirit and calmed his anxious demeanor. He finally let out the smoke filling his lungs and the secondhand smolder blew away in the wind. Looking back at Martinez, he remembered seeing the angered and crazy look in his eyes as he killed the Walkers,
"You army or somethin'?" Daryl pulled the cigarette from his mouth and the smoke clouded his view of Martinez. The Latino tapped the bat against the ground and looked down,
"Nah... just hate these things." Martinez spoke of the Walkers. Daryl stared at Martinez as he knew he wasn't done talking, "After what they did. You know... wife... kids." Martinez didn't meet Daryl's gaze and only looked past him. Daryl looked down grimly upon hearing Martinez's burden's, understanding where he was coming from.
"That sucks..." Daryl brought the cigarette back to his lips and took another deep inhale of the intoxicating smoke. Martinez nodded to himself and looked down,
"Thanks..." He mumbled more to himself than Daryl, knowing that he was actually apologizing for the incident. The two men stood in comfortable silence, Daryl blowing out curdling smoke from his lips and looking out into a long grass field. Martinez looked back at Daryl and sighed to himself,
"You know this is a joke, right?" Martinez asked and Daryl looked over at him, taking the cigarette from his mouth. Martinez scoffed, "They ain't gonna work anything out. Sure, they'll do their little dance and tomorrow... the next day... they'll give the word."
"I know." Daryl nodded, knowing that this journey was a total bust on both of their ends. Things happened to both of the groups that the other had done unforgivingly and there was nothing more that could be done between them.
Martinez nodded towards Daryl and motioned for the box of cigarettes, Daryl quickly reaching into his pocket and sliding them out. He elevated the smashed box towards Martinez and the Latino rested his baseball bat on the pole, pulling a cig out and popping it in his mouth. Daryl quickly exchanged the box with his zippo once again, flicking the ignition and bringing out the flame. Martinez leaned down and poked the end of the cigarette into the fire, puffing on the filter until it lit. Smoke curled up from his cigarette, and eventually exited out through his nostrils. He leaned back on the telephone pole and took another deep inhale of the cig, pulling it out of his mouth and letting it dwindle in his fingers. Martinez looked back at Daryl with contemplation, glancing down at the dead grass he stood on.
"Was wondering where that girl went."
"What girl?" Daryl asked curiously and Martinez looked up at him, nodding his head back towards their meeting place.
"The green eyed one back there... she escaped from Woodbury, right?" He asked and Daryl narrowed his eyes with a hesitant nod. Martinez nodded, "Glad she got outta there. Don't think I'd be able to kill a woman." He popped the cigarette back in his mouth and puffed on it, trying to regain the intense nicotine fix riddling through his body.
"Yeah... me too." Daryl mumbled to himself and sucked on his own cigarette. Martinez looked over at him curiously,
"She with you?" Martinez asked with a smirk, resting the back of his head on the pole behind him. Daryl felt the smoke curling out of his lips and up past his eyes, his vision on the ground blurred,
"Guess you could say that..." Martinez looked to Daryl from the corner of his eyes, seeing the sudden awkwardness in Daryl's stature.
"All I can say is hold onto her tight. If this world hasn't gotten her yet, it will eventually."
.:=:.
Harli was leaning over the hood of the Hyundai, her elbows resting on the dirty green paint. She watched Hershel and Milton exchanging conversation back against the gate by the truck Milton arrived in. She kept a look out for Daryl and Martinez, knowing it probably wasn't the smartest idea to let the two hot heads run off with each other. They should have made it back by now and Harli half wanted to go and look for them. She hated being a worrywart; but they were the musclemen of the two groups. If something were to happen with Rick and The Governor they were going to need Daryl and Martinez.
Harli found herself glancing along her shoulder line and seeing Andrea sitting by herself on a shady bench next to the door. Brief flashes of their conflicts in the past ran through Harli's head like a streaming movie. She could see the turmoil and grittiness in Andrea's face; knowing that she was taking this harder than anyone. Harli sighed and picked at her thumbnail in boredom,
"How you doin' over there, Andrea?" Andrea looked over at Harli and sat up straight on her bench, rubbing her hand across her forehead.
"I just want this to be over already."
"You and I both." Harli stood upright and moved towards her, planting herself softly on the old wooden bench. Harli leaned back and rested her arm across the back of the bench, staring off into the distance, "You think this is going to work?"
"I don't know I just... want them to figure something out." Andrea looked over at her, "I'm tired of all this meaningless bloodshed. We shouldn't be fighting with each other when there's a much bigger threat out there." Harli nodded and agreed with Andrea. It was odd to do such a thing since the two women never saw anything eye to eye. Harli rested her rifle down against the building,
"And what if it doesn't work. What will you do then?"
"I don't know..." She rested her face in the palms of her hands and let out a deep sigh. Andrea clasped her hands together and rested her forehead on her fingers, glancing at Harli from the corner of her eyes.
"What will you do? I know you don't want to watch anyone else die." Harli glanced over at her with her green eyes,
"I'll do what I have to do to protect those close to me. I mean... I killed a good friend of mine yesterday to save Daryl... Merle... and the welfare of the group." Harli hunched over her knees and fiddled with her fingers, letting out a sigh. Andrea's brows creased on her face,
"Who was it?"
"A person I worked with at the prison when the world was all puppies and sunshine. I ran into him in the depths of the prison when it got overrun; the day Lori and T-Dog died. He was a good man, just... things took a turn for the worst in his darkest days. He had Daryl at the throat with a knife and I couldn't hesitate or I knew he would've killed him." Harli found herself looking into Andrea's eyes, seeing the surprise in them. Andrea nodded,
"That must've been hard." Harli took a deep breath,
"It was, but... one of the main rules we all live by now is that we can't dwell too much on the deaths of our people anymore. I know it sounds harsh, but that's the only thing we know these days. It's going to get us killed."
"I'm sorry I wasn't there... for all of it." Andrea apologized, dwelling on the fact that her fellow comrades died in her absence.
"It's not your fault. Don't beat yourself up too bad about it. If it makes you feel any better... I wasn't there either." The two sat in silence for a few moments and Andrea couldn't help smirk to herself. Her eyes stared off into the distance and then moved to Harli, who fiddled with her clasped fingers.
"The last time I remember us talking civilly like this was back when we were still in the rock quarry outside Atlanta." Harli met her gaze and smirked to herself,
"Back before we tried to kill each other? Good times..."
"Oh god... I almost forgot about that." Andrea laughed under her breath and Harli reached to the flap of her shorts, lifting it up,
"I still have the scar from you slashing my leg before Daryl pulled me off of you." Harli rubbed her thumb across the small knife scar and Andrea looked at it, seeing the light upheaval of skin that formed into the blemish.
"We really didn't like each other back then, huh?" The two women's eyes met once again and Harli shrugged with a smirk,
"I still don't like you much now."
"Eh... I don't like you much, either." Andrea and Harli laughed softly to themselves while sitting on the bench next to the meeting building. Andrea took a light breath and dropped her smile, as well as her gaze, remembering what Rick had said while she was with them.
"What happened to you... in Woodbury?" She looked over at Harli and saw the unknown look in her soft green irises, "Rick said "he knew" about the raids... you and Maggie. What did he mean by that?" Harli's throat suddenly became dry and she quickly stemmed up a lie in her head,
"Beat me up really bad... threatened to kill me, Maggie, and Glenn if I didn't tell him where we were held up. He even tried to cut my finger off... but I just wouldn't tell him." Andrea half believed the lie but Harli could see the look in the blonde's blue eyes that she knew Harli wasn't telling her everything. Harli waited for another question but Andrea didn't give her one. Harli sighed to herself and stood to her feet, grabbing her leaning rifle and tossing the strap over her shoulder, "When the time comes for you to figure out what you're going to do... you'll know. I'm not going to sit here and preach and beg you to come back to the prison with us. That's something you'll need to figure out on your own."
Harli moved away as she noticed Hershel meandering over towards Andrea on his crutches. Harli leaned on the far side of the Hyundai, looking out among the shambles of the large cotton factory in order to find some type of movement. She didn't want to worry too much about Daryl; he could handle his own. No gunshots meant that Martinez hadn't tried to kill him. He wouldn't have been stupid enough to try and take Daryl on with just an aluminum baseball bat.
'Can you handle seeing him, face to face, if it comes down to it?'
Rick's words mumbled through the back of her mind like a soothing, broken record. Harli rubbed a hand over her face and clenched her eyes shut from a sudden headache. The Governor's face flashed in her head, making her eyes open to make she was still in the same spot she was standing. She was. Seeing movement out of the corner of her eyes, Harli saw the familiar bobbing head of Daryl approaching through the forest of gins, Martinez not far behind the crossbow-wielder. From what she could see, the two were completely fine and in good health. Harli didn't move from her position, which made Daryl walk over and stop next to her. She looked into his blue eyes curiously,
"Have fun?" She asked, smelling the far too familiar scent of cigarettes on his body. He nodded,
"Just had to prove who the bigger man was." He glanced over his shoulder at Martinez, who rested next to the driver's side door of his white truck of destruction. Hershel and Milton regrouped with each other and spoke quietly with one another, Milton flashing another one of his booklets.
"Think they're done in there, yet?" Harli asked and as if speaking of the devil himself, the squealing broadside door of the large building ripped open. Out stepped The Governor, who made a slow and steady beeline towards the truck as if nothing even happened. Everyone watched his careless footsteps and stared back at Rick as he emerged from the shadows behind him.
The Governor's unpatched eye glared at Harli as he passed by, a halfcocked smile of faulty charm crossing his cheeks. Harli felt like a knife stabbed her in the heart and she had to lean back on the vehicle to avoid plunging to the ground. She couldn't tell if she was scared, angry, or dejected at the sight of his present face; it made her suddenly faint and sick to her stomach. A flash of white moved in front of her face and she noticed the worn out stitching of Daryl's angel wing vest reassuring her comfort. Finally remembering where she was, all her mixed feelings burned away as The Governor stepped into the truck and shut the driver's side door. Harli took a much needed, deep breath and reestablished her strength and confidence.
Rick moved towards the Hyundai, and with one last look to The Governor, he jumped into the prison members vehicle. Andrea and Harli exchanged quick glances; Andrea searching for some sort of consolation from her, but Harli didn't offer it. It was up to Andrea now.
Harli heard the engine of Daryl's motorcycle chuckle to life and saw Andrea turn around, heading back to the passenger's seat of The Governor's transportation.
Daryl slowly pulled up next to Harli and flicked his head behind him. Harli swung a leg around the bike and rested it on a peg, steadying herself and hearing Daryl rev the engine. Daryl scowled at The Governor as he passed by, leading the Hyundai behind him, wishing he could plant his knife into The Governor's good eye. Ripping it out, along with his bare hand, and hearing The Governor's desperate cries would be completely satisfying.
.:=:.
"Let's get inside." Rick ordered as everyone flooded outside the prison in greetings to their arrival. Daryl put the bike on its kickstand as Harli pulled herself off the motorcycle. Daryl watched her careful movements as she followed the flooding crowd back into the cellblock. She hadn't spoken a word since their departure from the rundown factory. Hooking the crossbow's strap over his shoulder, he pursued after everyone and shut the heavy block door behind him.
Harli leaned on the cold concrete wall of the cellblock, everyone standing around in an awkward gathering. Their weary eyes stared at their leader for answers and they were tempted to flood him with questions. Rick moved towards the armory cell and reached in, grabbing a long ranged rifle and securing it tightly in his hands. Harli wanted to hear what Rick had to say; she wanted to know what he and The Governor had discussed, but knew he wouldn't address the details. Rick looked into each and everyone one of his group members eyes, stopping briefly at Harli,
"So I met this "Governor"..." He paused for a moment and contemplated on his next words, "Sat with him for quite a while."
"Just the two of ya?" Merle asked and Rick nodded towards him. Merle pushed through the group to make a point, "Should've got 'em when we had the chance, bro..." Harli could tell there was disappointment in his voice as he turned back around. Her gaze moved back towards Rick,
"He wants the prison. He wants us gone... dead. He wants us dead." Rick repeated, his voice now becoming hostile, "For what we did to Woodbury." Another long pause of silence brewed around them and everyone knew what was coming next. Rick barely had to say a thing, "We're goin' to war."
The way Rick said it made goose bumps roll across her skin and her head bow towards the ground. As she felt Rick's presence leave the group, she chewed on her lip and looked up, seeing the forlorn look on her fellow survivors faces. They were desolate and grim in their movements, knowing that they could surely die the next day, the day after that, or maybe the next week. They didn't know and that scared them the most.
Harli watched as Daryl moved up the stairs to the perch and into the prison cell next to hers. She turned her head around her shoulder and saw Merle leaning back on a wall, his blue Dixon eyes boring into the wall across from him. Harli's eyes dropped to the floor and her ears heard the casual shifting of everyone's feet, clothes, and weapons. The boots on her feet moved out of the cellblock and her eyes stared forward, trying to find any sign of Rick. She noticed Carl staring at the heavy door leading to the long cat walk in between cellblock C and B, knowing he must have been out there.
She shoved open the squealing, rusty door and saw Rick, the loyal rifle leaning on the fencing next to him, staring out in the midst of prison yards. His fingers grappled the welded wire lazily; his face the worst of them all. Harli stopped next to him and hooked her fingers in the wire, following his gaze out into the courtyards. The two stood in comfortable silence with one another, Harli hearing Rick's rough and tired breathing pushing and pulling through Rick's lips.
"The groups taking it as good as we can expect. Merle and Michonne are convinced we should hit first." Harli broke the stale air and looked over at Rick, "Carol and Hershel, of course, think we should take our chances on the road." Rick finally looked to her and she nodded in his acknowledgment, "We're in this together. So if we stay and fight... so be it."
Rick stared at her solemnly and nodded, kicking his boot softly against the fencing, "And what do you think we should do?"
"Personally... I think we've come too far to run away. We've lost people here; fought our way in to make it ours. It would've been a waste to our lives and those we've lost. I'm willing to stay and fight; to die here trying to protect all of you."
The two stood in silence once again and her words sunk into Rick's skin. He leaned back and forth from the fence, one hand still hooked in the fence and the other on his pocket. Harli's green eyes moved out into the horizon and her hand adjusted the itchy strap on her shoulder to a more comfortable position. Rick looked up, "He gave me a choice... a way out."
"What does he want?" Harli grew curious at The Governor's demands and stared sternly at Rick.
"Michonne." His blue eyes met her gaze and she narrowed her eyes at him. She remembered the things that Michonne had done in the little time she had been with them. The things that Carl was telling Harli she did when they went on the gun run the day prior. Michonne was very smart and savvy for the group, and in Harli's eyes, she made her place. Even if Harli hadn't spoken to her much since she had been there, she was not a member of Team Prison.
"He's going to kill her." Harli turned her body and leaned her shoulder on the fence to face him. Rick shook his head,
"He's gonna kill us anyway..." Rick took another moment of silence and bowed his head, "But what if he doesn't? What if this is the answer?"
"Why didn't you tell the others?" Harli asked, crossing her arms. She felt a soft wind blow and the bangs curled around her face tickle her cheeks childishly. She waited for his answer patiently,
"They need... to be scared. Would you have killed those men you did in Woodbury if you weren't?" Rick asked and stared at her. Quick flashes of the men's dead faces flashed in her mind and she rubbed her hand on her cheek, shaking her head. He was right; the fear she felt while trying to escape Woodbury was overwhelming and her survival instincts kicked into overdrive.
"They are scared." Harli looked down at the boots on her feet, tapping the tip on the ground softly. Rick nodded his head,
"Good. 'Cause that's the only way they're gonna accept it." She saw his jaw tightening under the scruff on his face. Harli sighed to herself,
"She's done good here... Rick. She's saved Hershel's life; Merle, Glenn, Maggie... Me. If she hadn't come here, you guys would've never known we were taken. She's earned her place... and so has Merle." Rick let out a silent sigh and nodded more to himself than Harli,
"Yes... yes they have." Another longer, tenser silence between them brewed and a storm of thoughts erupted in Rick's mind. He was torn; piece by piece, not knowing what to do. Finally, he broke his hazy glare from the prison yard back to Harli, "Are you willing to sacrifice Daryl's life, and everyone else's, for her?" Rick struck a low blow but Harli knew he was right. He knew she had strong ties with everyone in the group like they were family; the strongest between her and Daryl. She narrowed her eyes at Rick and words halted on her tongue before escaping her lips. Harli didn't know what to say to him and ignored the question,
"Why are you telling me all this?" She asked credulously and brought her eyes out into the horizon of trees cradled around the prison. Rick finally moved his body for the first time and he faced her,
"Because... I'm hopin' you can talk me out of it." Rick and Harli stared at each other so long she lost track. It felt like forever as she stared in the broken turmoil of his eyes. Letting out a deep sigh, closing her eyes, and turning to lean her forehead on the cold steel of the fencing, Harli tried desperately to give him an answer; to form up a valid argument to protect Michonne's welfare in the group and stop Rick from using her as a bargaining chip.
Rick was like her surrogate father; saving her more than once. He was a strong leader, misjudged many times by the group, but never once did Harli doubt a move he made. Everything Rick did was for the welfare of the group: trying to find Sophia, killing Shane, killing most of the prisoners, and leading them through hell and back in the winter months. Harli couldn't offer answers to his leading questions, couldn't help him make decisions for the groups welfare. That was Daryl's job. But she did learn, with whatever skills she had left from her working days, that she could provide comfort and mental solace to those around her; especially Rick.
"I don't..." Harli opened her eyes and looked back at Rick, "I don't know if I can..."
.:=:.
Harli leaned her forehead on the dirty glass of the guard tower, her eyes closed and her mind dwindling. Rick's dejected face crowded in her mind; she felt bad for not knowing what to say to him when he really needed her advice. Her eyes narrowed open as she heard a discontented grumble coming from her stomach, signaling its annoyed hunger. Harli ignored her stomachs pleas and sighed to herself, not feeling much for scavenging for whatever mediocre food the prison had left.
She heard the door snap open and practically jumped out of her skin, her frightened eyes turning to meet Daryl as he stepped in. Harli let out her deeply held breath and put a hand on her chest, taking a couple breaths to steady herself. Daryl cocked an eyebrow, "You alright?"
"Yeah... just scared me, is all." She replied and Daryl closed the door behind him. He grew even more curious at her jumpiness; it had been a long time since he startled her and something like a door opening shouldn't have caused it. He rested his crossbow on the side of the standing table in the middle of the room and jumped up on the table, sitting on the edge. His hands rested in between his legs, "Should go inside and get some sleep; I'll take watch for a bit."
"No... I wouldn't be able to if I tried." Harli stood with her back to him, beginning to look back out the window. Knowing another question was about to be thrown her way, she briefly glanced over her shoulder at Daryl, "I'm just not tired right now."
Daryl saw the tenseness in her shoulders and fiddled with his fingers, looking down at them. He recalled the brief conversation he had with Rick in privacy about what their next move was. Rick had told him that he talked to Harli about it and Daryl was sure that's what was bothering her. "You worried about the exchange in a couple days."
"I guess you could say that." Daryl barely made out the words as her voice was so low. He nodded,
"You're scared."
"Yes... yes I am." She admitted, turning to lean her shoulder on the window. With a tired sigh, Harli met Daryl's gaze, "You talked to Rick?" Daryl nodded at her and she looked down, "He's right, you know... The Governor's gonna kill us, regardless if we give him Michonne..."
"Yeah... Merle says the same."
A strong silence brewed between the two and Harli shifted on her feet, turning around to face him completely. Daryl looked up once he noticed she had moved, but didn't realize she was already standing in front of him. She placed her hands on his knees and gripped them tightly, lifting her legs and resting her knees on the table on either side of him. Harli sat down on his lap and draped her arms loosely around his neck, staring into his bright blue eyes. Before he knew it, his lips were consumed by hers into a deep kiss. She pressed her body up against his and Daryl's head followed wherever her lips took him. Harli felt his hands brush up the back of her legs and stop at her hips; she could feel the sparking lust in his touch.
Harli yanked the flaps of her jacket open and peeled the clothing off her skin; tossing it against the wall and hearing it fall with a soft clang from the heavy zipper and metal buttons clad on the material. Her hand returned to his neck and she rubbed her palms all the way down under the flaps of his leather jacket onto his shoulders. Daryl's skin tingled at the touch of her delicate fingers and emotions overwhelmed his brain. He knew what she wanted, what was coming, and he was ready to become overcome with her pleasure. But he knew, somewhere in her core, that the traumatized women hiding in the shadows could lash out at any second.
Grabbing her wrists as he felt her fingers tug at his shirt, Daryl opened his eyes and pulled back from her intoxicating lips. Harli narrowed her eyes, confused, and breathed towards him, "What's wrong?"
"You sure?" He asked quietly back, clearing his mind for a few moments. Harli looked down past him and a soft nod came from her head, her green eyes staring back at him confidently,
"Yeah..."
"I don't want to hurt you." Daryl said with hesitation and Harli couldn't help but smile at his protective nature,
"You won't..." She pressed her lips back against his and Daryl took that cue to yank his jacket violently off his body.
Daryl briefly lost himself in a blur of clothing as Harli tore off her tank top and tossed it on the floor. It was the first time he saw her full figure; the skin on her chest dipping in a V from the cleavage generated by her breasts. The black bra on her chest teased him cruelly and he suddenly became overzealous. The "Look-Don't-Touch" rule didn't apply and his hands greedily grappled around her hips and yanked her forward towards him. A soft huff came from her lips and he looked back to her face, not seeing any hint of pain of hesitation in her eyes. All doubts escaped his mind as soon as her rosy lips latched back onto his, her fingers pulling viciously at the buttons on his sleeveless shirt. Daryl's heart leapt at the thought of her hands touching his chest, and more importantly, his scars. He had to pry his hands from her enthralling hips and dropped his shirt to the floor. As soon as he returned his grip, he found his thumb caressing the scar just above the lip on her shorts, remembering briefly the brutal story behind it.
'Fuckin' shorts...' Daryl growled in his mind, knowing they were the barrier to the moment he had been waiting for far too long. Harli ran her fingernails down his chest and she smiled at the sound of the escaped hiss that escaped from between his lips. With his hands on her hips for so long, she knew what he wanted and her fingers quickly found the button on her black shorts. Daryl watched her long legs pull out from the shorts, along with her black underwear, and he smiled at the thought of her reading his mind. The only thing he wondered was how she so sneakily slipped out of her boots. Harli's index finger scraped up his neck, sending shivers down his spine as her fingertip ended at the bottom of his scruffy chin. She pushed his head up to face hers and he grabbed her lips into his once again, this time, the kiss deeper and feverish. Harli beat him to it.
He felt her taunting tongue trail across his bottom lip and his fingers tangled into her chocolate brown hair. Daryl wasn't one to be teased, and frankly, he didn't like it much. He pressed his lips forcefully into hers and she bowed back, his hand sliding up the dip in her back until they stopped at the strap of her bra. Harli pressed back with her own force and placed one hand on his scruffy cheek, the other gripping tightly on the back of his neck and digging her fingernails into his skin. Daryl's tongue licked her lips with reply and Harli let him in, their tongues dancing lustfully against each other. Daryl smiled lightly to himself in the midst of their kiss, feeling victorious once the bra strap around her chest snapped loose.
Daryl's body began to shake with anticipation, his other brain beginning to take over. The throbbing swell in his pants begged him to continue, to take it to the next level for which they both waited for. Daryl pulled away from her lips, seeing the clouded look in her eyes. He swore they were begging and he liked the look she was giving him. He pulled down his zipper and tugged down on his pants, knowing he didn't have to take them completely off. There was no time for something so insignificant. Daryl closed his eyes and took a deep breath, looking up into Harli's awaiting eyes slowly. As if asking for permission, he searched for an answer but she didn't give him one. She took it on her own accord.
Harli lowered herself back onto his lap, a barely audible whimper forcing its way through her throat once he was fully inside her. There was so much pain, but yet, so much pleasure riddling through her body she didn't know which one to pay attention to. Harli pressed her forehead against Daryl's and heard him growling to himself, his fingers tightening around her hips like the handlebars on his motorcycle. Before attempting to make any rocking movement, he gauged her reaction by looking into her face. If she were hurting at all, she was doing a hell of a good job masking it. He gasped sharply as Harli took the reins sooner than he expected, rolling her hips and tightening herself around him. Daryl rolled his head around hers and his teeth bit down yearningly on her neck, hearing her groan. He swirled his tongue around slowly on her skin, feeling the shivers coming from her body.
Daryl moved with her rhythms, moving in and out slowly and smiling to himself at the sounds of her gasps and groans. It was all so inebriating, everything about her made him want to break loose. Her smell, her taste, and the way she felt under his touch; it was difficult for him to be so delicate with her as if she was his fragile porcelain doll.
Harli continued to feel the sharp pain in the lower pit of her stomach, trying her best to ignore it. But as she blinked her eyes, all she could see were striking flashes of his face. She pressed her lips onto Daryl's to try and calm the brewing storm in her body. 'It's just Daryl; It's only Daryl' she continued to relay over and over until she convinced herself it were true. But she didn't have to. Daryl's hand wrapped around her back and brought her in closely, his other hand trailing up her neck and stopping at the base of her jaw.
Her pain numbly began to vanish and Daryl lifted her light figure, jumping to his feet. He swung her around and laid her down on the table. Taking control for the first time, Daryl swung his hips against her and felt her legs wrap around his waist, bringing him in closer. He sped up his motions slowly, staring into her eyes to find some time of painful reply to his thrusts. She leaned up and kissed him deeply, feeling the lust in her mouth that begged him even more than he expected. Taking that as his resolve, he pushed forward heavier for the first time, feeling her body jaw twitch in delight. Every time he pulled out, Daryl pushed back in harder and deeper, watching her body jolt at every strike. His face hovered over her chest and his lips brushed over her breasts; his hot breath caressing her nipples as he passed by. As he watched her body shiver from his steaming breath, the warm walls of her insides squeezed tightly around him, making him grunt and curl his fingers against her skin. His hips pumped harder and he continued to keep the deteriorating control of his animal; Daryl leaned his head back down, wanting to do it all over again.
His rough hand brushed against the delicate skin on her chest, his other hand sliding up the back of her leg and pressing it against his hip. Once feeling that his breath was beginning to have no effect on her pleasured response, Daryl wrapped his lips around his nipple and she practically jumped with delight. He growled at the excruciating pleasure of her tightness and his hips began to act on their own; no longer responding to his pleading brain to keep them gentle. Daryl's feverish lips switched breasts and her lips wrapped around the new plaything, this time, his tongue sliding back and forth across the tantalizing skin.
Harli felt an odd sensation in the pit of her stomach and she found herself holding her breath. Her wide, green eyes stared at the ceiling and her vision became cloudy; her fingernails clawing against the hard table. Daryl's body thumped against her and it was riveting; she felt every one of his movements all the way into his fingertips. Her muscles began to twitch, "Daryl!"
He looked to her face and felt her hand wrap around the back of his neck once again, her forehead pressing against his, "I like it when you say my name like that..." He breathed and Harli's breathing became erratic,
"Then don't... stop." She whispered with a hot breath in his ear and Daryl lost it. His hips smacked vigorously against Harli and he heard her breath catch up in her throat. Harli's head dipped back behind her shoulders and slowly, he felt her body beginning to tense up around him. Her arms wrapped up under his arms and her nails dug into his back.
Harli pressed upwards and Daryl backed off, her arms gripping him as tightly as she could and her face pressing into his chest. Daryl panted and smiled in triumph at the sound of her whimpering moan vibrating against his skin. As the orgasm tore through Harli's body, from the tip of her toes to the top of her head, the ecstasy of its wake halted her lungs and froze her tight muscles in place. Daryl took in his own deep breath upon feeling him throb inside her wet tightness, groaning to himself and resting his forehead on the top of her head. He took in her sweet scent once again, feeling oddly accomplished. He didn't need to finish off along with her; the sheer extent of experiencing her pleasure, hearing her sounds, and exploring her flawless body was just enough for him.
Finally, Harli took a deep breath and he pulled back, feeling her body twitch under his touch. Letting the long breath out slowly in a deep sigh, her glazy green eyes stared up at him tiredly and a soft smile crossed her face. She ran a hand through her hair and her tired neck drooped her head back against the base of Daryl's neck, her ears picking up his erratic heartbeat. She kissed his collar bone and she dropped her hands from his back, narrowing her brows when she felt a strange presence on her fingertips. Bringing her hand around his thick arm, her eyes widened slightly at the sight of light blood staining her fingernails. "Oh man..." She breathed and leaned back up, now staring at both her hands.
"What?" Daryl asked curiously and grabbed her hands, observing the blood on them. He glanced over his shoulder and swiped his hand across the skin on his back, feeling the sting of the shallow abrasions on his skin as his fingers passed by. He scoffed amusedly and Harli looked up at him meekly,
"Sorry..."
"Never thought you're claws were that sharp." He laughed slightly and Harli cringed with embarrassment. Daryl fixed his pants back to original position on his hips and leaned down to grab something. Harli timidly squeezed her legs back together and tried to cover up her chest with her arms. Daryl yanked on an article of clothing and brought it back up to his level, holding it in front of Harli. "Here... you can put this on."
Harli noticed the worn out, black leather of the angel wing jacket being held out to her. Harli looked up into Daryl's blue eyes and he nodded, Harli grabbing the leather chest and rubbing the soft material in between her fingers. He pressed a kiss on her forehead and turned around to give her privacy. He reached into his back pocket and stepped towards the door leading out onto the steel walkway. Harli watched Daryl pop a cigarette in his mouth and open the door, stepping out and putting on the wadded up shirt in his free hand. She saw the scratches from her fingernails and the healed up scars on his back briefly before he covered them with his sleeveless top.
Harli looked at the leather vest in her hands and flipped it around her back, stretching her arms through the sleeveless slots.
.:=:.
Harli's legs dangled from the guard tower's steel walkway, her arms resting on the lower rod of the railway and her chin resting on her wrists. She stared out into the burning horizon; its colors could be so easily mistaken as a forest fire in the distance. She had put her shorts and bra back on, not wanting to descend out of the private confines of the room completely naked. Daryl sat a couple feet away from her, his legs dangling off the sides as well with his hands rested in his lap. The two sat in silence for quite some time after their hot endeavor; but it was a comfortable and tender silence. The leather of the biker vest continued to cool her hot skin, a sweeping breeze blowing by in order to aid the heavy vest. Harli rubbed her neck, feeling the warm, swollen area in which Daryl had bit down on.
"Merle's gonna give you shit if he sees this..." Harli mumbled and Daryl looked over at her, smiling at his handiwork as he eyed the mark on his neck.
"He can mind his own damn business." Daryl huffed and looked down to his hands, knowing that Merle was as dirty as a dog could get. Harli laughed to herself and brushed her hair over the love wound to mask its presence,
"He'll just be jealous anyways." She laughed and heard Daryl scoff amusingly as her eyes moved back out into the sunset, her eyes flickering along with the warm colors. Harli stared down at the concrete below them, curling her toes and then stretching them out. Words hesitated in her mouth and she looked over at Daryl sitting casually next to her from the corner of her eyes. Biting on her bottom lip, she let out a deep sigh, "You think we're gonna make it through this?"
Daryl looked over at her, seeing a brief spark of fear in her eyes. His eyes lowered at the thought of a straight answer, "Yeah... we will. We always will."
Harli knew he was just as unsure as she was. She smiled at a thought and laughed under her breath, "I didn't do that with you because I thought I might die tomorrow... by the way." Harli clarified and Daryl shrugged a shoulder with a cocked smile,
"Yeah, neither did I." Harli leaned back on her hands and took a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds before letting it out slowly. Her eyes stared up at the sky that constantly changed colors, her skin tingling from the warm wind. She felt rejuvenated; felt safe and secure for the first time in days.
"You know..." Daryl heard her speak and looked over at her curiously, her naked belly peeking out from behind the flaps of his biker vest, "I'm sort of glad the... end of the world happened." She nodded and met his gaze, seeing the confused look on Daryl's face.
"Why?" His scruffy voice asked and Harli laughed to herself,
"I know it sounds crazy... but I'm kinda glad it did. I think about it every day, you know? If this all wouldn't have happened I wouldn't be as strong as I am now, wouldn't have met Rick, Hershel, Glenn, Maggie... you." Her voice softened and she shook her head, "I would still be a boring psychologist... living by myself and working with people who want to do nothing but kill me. When I think about it, I never can ever picture myself anywhere but here."
Daryl listened to her words, taking them into account. She was right in every sense of her words; if it weren't for this ending world, the two never would have met and he wouldn't have known Harli ever existed. It was so weird thinking about it. The most important thing he couldn't get off his mind was what type of man he would be without Rick's influence. Rick was like the brother Daryl never had. Sure, Merle was blood family and Daryl loved him with every fiber of his being, no matter what he did. But Merle was still Merle; the man who left him behind when he was a child, the man who didn't stop their father from beating on Daryl, and the man who taught him that no one cares about you more than family. But people relied on Daryl now. He was a new man born into this world: a man that cared for what happened to himself, what happened to the people around him, and where he was going to lead these people to safety.
He felt his shirt being slid off from his shoulders and his hand instantly snatched it before falling from his back. Daryl's blue eyes glanced over his shoulder to see Harli sitting on her knees behind him, her fingers gripping softly of the dirty fabric. "I don't want you to be ashamed... not around me." He knew what she spoke of and he felt the dry lump in his throat slowly roll down to his stomach. With hesitation, he let go of the shirt and closed his eyes, feeling the shirt being peeled off his back. He pulled his arms from the sleeveless holes of his flannel top and felt Harli's warm body press up against his back. A wave of goose bumps surged across his skin from her warmth and her light arms wrapped around his neck. She pressed a kiss on his cheek and he looked in her direction from the corner of his eyes, her chin resting on his shoulder.
Daryl glared back at the dwindling sunset, chewing on the inside of his lip. Everything happening around them: Walkers, The Governor, and the war they were beginning to wage, were beginning to stretch the wire as thin as it would. Daryl knew it would snap at any time and massacres would ensue on either side of the fence. The one thing he was done witnessing were those people he cared for dying in front of him. Harli was his biggest concern. Watching what she had gone through since finding her half-dead on that river bank, it made his blood boil just thinking about the tragedy's that she had to experience, all because he wasn't there for her.
"As long as I'm still breathin', I ain't gonna let nothin' bad happen to you... not anymore."