I love you all! Hope everyone had a safe and happy Christmas!
"I can cover the cost, Beth," Daryl insisted with a gravelly voice while they prepared to leave the hospital. Daryl was definitely worse for wear but he was acting more like himself. Meaning, he wouldn't stand for Beth taking care of him completely.
"If it were up to you, you wouldn't have even come here.. I made that decision so I should at least help pay the bill," Beth reasoned, rubbing the back of her neck and looking at Daryl where he sat on the edge of the bed.
"Ya made the right choice, Beth.. I don' know how many times I have ta tell ya," Daryl sighed and held out his hand that was partially wrapped but without the cast of the other.
Beth bit her lip and went to sit next to Daryl, placing her hand delicately in Daryl's. "I'm just.. Worried about what we're going to do about all of this," Beth admitted in a low voice.
Daryl wet his dry lips and stared down at this lap for a moment before saying, "we ain't got no choice but ta take one thing at a time. First, I pay the bill an' second, ya help me get home. If that's okay.." Daryl mumbled with a sheepish smile.
"Of course it is," Beth smiled back warmly. "Whether you like it or not, you're stuck with me as a nurse."
"Will ya be wearin' a sexy outfit, then?" Daryl barely lifted his brow and a smirk covered his lips.
"You are insufferable, even when you're in a pathetic injured state," Beth rolled her eyes fondly. "But I will think about it."
"That's all I'm askin'," Daryl grinned as wide as his swollen lip and jaw would allow.
_
"It doesn't seem like this is a safe place for you, at all," Beth worried as she shut the drapes on Daryl's large windows.
She had gotten Daryl into bed and set up with the essentials; food, water and painkillers were sitting atop the nightstand readily. Daryl watched her move about, double-checking the locks on the doors and windows and covering up anything that someone could look in.
Daryl lightly adjusted his propped up foot on a pillow and shook his head. "Girl, ya know he's goin' ta come fer me sooner er later.. There ain't no use tryin' hide from him."
Beth paused and looked at Daryl in surprise. "You're not even going to try to avoid him for as long as possible?
"What am I supposed ta do? I can barely walk, Beth," Daryl spoke bitterly and hissed in pain when he moved his torso in an effort to get more comfortable.
"I don't know.." Beth walked over and sat down on the end of Daryl's bed dejectedly, pursing her lips in thought. "We could leave town and go to a hotel or something until we figure something else out."
"An' what? Ya jus' quit school after all yer hard work? No, Darlin', yer already missing school today an' ya don' need ta miss anymore fer me," Daryl said resolutely.
"It wouldn't be for me.. It'd be for us," Beth said quietly, a shy blush on her cheeks.
Daryl looked at her face in quiet contemplation. "Com'ere.." Daryl motioned gently with a finger and Beth crawled up the bed obediently, very carefully settling against Daryl's side.
"You don' ever have ta give anythin' up fer me," Daryl spoke clearly, keeping his eyes right on Beth's. "Do ya know how much o' my life I've had ta give up fer other people?"
Beth nodded gently in understanding, a light frown on her lips. "Too much of it.."
"That's right. I don' ever want ta be the reason why ya don' do somethin' that's important ta ya," Daryl closed his eyes and let his forehead press to Beth's. He inhaled the scent of vanilla.
"Then what are we going to do?" Beth whispered helplessly, breathing warmly over Daryl's lips.
"We keep playin' his game until we figure a solid way out," Daryl replied slowly and Beth backed up.
"You mean.. You're going to keep fighting for him? Daryl, he almost got you killed.." Beth creased her brows.
"A mistake he won' be makin' again. Ya, I was shit in that fight but it's 'cause he put me 'gainst someone I never should have been 'gainst. He almost lost me an' that would cost him even more than the payday from jus' one big fight," Daryl explained.
"But.. God, Daryl," Beth groaned and put her hand over her eyes. "There's no way that Merle is gonna let me stick around after what I pulled. He won't want me but I don't think he'll let me go either.."
Daryl breathed in shortly, his gaze drifting away. "I hadn' thought 'bout that.."
"It's not like we can pretend like there's nothing between us anymore either. He saw the way I was with you," Beth murmured shakily.
"I don' plan on pretendin'. He'll jus'.. Have ta deal with it the way it is," Daryl stated firmly.
"Daryl.. If.. If something happens to me then-" Beth began.
"Nothin' is goin' ta happen ta ya, okay? I may be laid out but if he tries ta put a finger on ya, I will kill him," Daryl growled and it made Beth shiver.
"He won't touch you either," Beth whispered against Daryl's cheek while she kissed it.
"We got each other's backs, 'member?" Daryl smiled kindly and held his breath when Beth walked her fingers gingerly down Daryl's bare chest, her gaze dropping to his wrapped ribs.
"You hurt your ribs in that first fight I saw you in, too," Beth recalled quietly.
"It's what most fighters go fer first.. If ya break the ribs then ya destroy a person's core. Ya can' twist an' duck an' block as effectively," Daryl mumbled in a low, smooth voice, watching Beth's curious fingertips trace along his stomach.
"You've been hurt too much," Beth whispered sadly and lifted her gaze to Daryl's face while she lightly tugged at the drawstrings of Daryl's sweatpants.
His breath caught and he shook his head gently. "I'll be alright.. I always am."
Beth licked her lips and let her thumb slide under the waistband on Daryl's pants, brushing it lightly along the firm skin of Daryl's hip. "Do you know what?"
"W-what?" Daryl replied shakily, his eyes not leaving the location of Beth's hand.
"Both of your hands are kind of messed up right now.. Which means you have lost the ability to do certain things," Beth bit her lip. "You know, like cooking," Beth slid more fingers under the waistband, "and writing, and.."
"What else? Tell me.." Daryl said huskily, his eyes darkening slightly.
Beth flushed faintly as she spoke, "I was just thinking about how your cock will miss your hand's attention."
A soft smirk hit Daryl's lips and he blinked slowly. "Is that one o' yer duties as my nurse? Ta make up fer that?"
"Oh, it's one of my top priorities as your personal nurse," Beth nodded with a little smile, dragging her teeth over her lower lip while she carefully tugged Daryl's pants and boxers down just enough to let his dick free, swallowing at the sight of his semi-hard length.
"Looks like it's tryin' ta git higher on yer priority list right now," Daryl chuckled, unashamed of how his cock was getting harder in front of Beth's eyes.
Beth shook her head with a smile and carefully straddled Daryl's legs, making sure to not touch his hurt ankle or put too much pressure on him. "Well, as your nurse, I take my job very seriously," Beth raised her brow and took Daryl's cock in her hand. "Good thing he didn't hit you here, eh?"
"God, ya don' know how grateful I am that he stayed away from my dick," Daryl sighed out shakily, lightly chewing on his lips while a low hum came from his throat.
Beth slowly stroked Daryl's cock to its full potential, watching the way his face twisted in pleasure when she would change the pressure or speed and listening to the rough moans Daryl produced.
"I think.. I'm not doing my job right," Beth sighed dramatically and took her hand away, causing Daryl to almost whine.
"Yer doin' it perfectly, come on," Daryl pleaded helplessly, not even able to lift his hips as it would hurt his ribs.
"I could do it better," Beth let a slow smile spread while she leaned down to hover her lips over Daryl's length.
When Daryl realized what she was doing he moaned in encouragement. "Yes, yer right. Ya could do it much better.."
Beth bit back a laugh and slipped her tongue out to lick Daryl's cock slowly from the base to tip, her little tongue pressing in with a pleasurable pressure. Daryl's whole body shuddered and he grimaced in pleasure and slight pain.
"Relax for me.." Beth whispered and blew on the head of his dick, holding it at the base and wrapping her full lips around the tip, giving it slow and purposeful sucks.
The tips of Daryl's fingers curled and he let out a deep moan when Beth slid her lips further down, hollowing her cheeks to create a firmer suction and swirling her tongue around Daryl's length tortuously.
"Fuck, Beth," Daryl whispered, his eyes shutting firmly and his breathing becoming shallow.
Beth traced her fingers over Daryl's hip and languidly moved her lips down and up for several moments, paying special attention to the head of Daryl's dick with her tongue.
Daryl's hips lifted up instinctively and he groaned in pain. "Ah, shit.."
Beth immediately pulled her lips off and looked at Daryl with worry. "You can't move like that.."
Daryl took a steadying breath and licked his lips. "It's hard not ta when it feels so fuckin' good.."
"Should I stop then?" Beth frowned, glancing down at Daryl's throbbing erection.
"Hell no!" Daryl almost shouted and Beth chuckled.
"Alright, alright, just.. Be good and stay still," Beth admonished before resuming her work, using a hand to stroke along Daryl's length, her mouth following in her hand's path.
Daryl gritted his teeth and kept his hips still, his arm moving over his eyes at one point as a low and guttural moan slipped from his lips. "Fuck.. I'm gonna come," he breathed out.
Relaxing her jaw more, Beth took Daryl even further into her mouth and traced the tip of her tongue along the underside, her free hand cupping Daryl's balls as she moaned around him. With a low cry, Daryl was coming in short spurts into Beth's mouth. Beth kept her eyes on Daryl's face and noticed pleasure but also agony there; the orgasm was making Daryl tense his sore abdominal.
Beth smoothed her hand soothingly over Daryl's stomach and slowly slid her lips off, looking at Daryl while she swallowed.
"Oh God.." Daryl murmured, his lips parted. "It might be the hottest thing I've ever seen.. Ya swallowin' everythin' I gave ya."
Beth licked her lips and bit down on the bottom one, Daryl's words almost making her stomach swirl. "Well.. Are you okay?"
"I'm more than okay," Daryl said quietly, a soft smile on his lips. "That was worth any pain I felt, trust me," he laughed lightly.
"It seemed like it felt good," Beth smirked in amusement and carefully tucked Daryl back into his pants, leaning up to kiss his lips.
Daryl pressed his lips to Beth's as much as he could, wincing at the stinging of his lip. "Fuck it, I can' even kiss ya properly."
"You'll be able to soon," Beth brushed a finger over Daryl's cheek and reached for his bottle of pain pills. "You need to take one."
"No, it means I'll pass out fer hours," Daryl shook his head lightly. "I don' need them."
"Yes, you do," Beth insisted firmly. "I know you're used to not taking anything for your pain when you're a little injured, but this is more serious than that. Don't be a masochist," Beth raised her brow.
Daryl blinked and then rolled his eyes with a sigh. "Alright, alright. But only 'cause I know ya will bitch at me if I don' take it."
"Don't make me sound so horrible just for wanting you to not be in pain," Beth pursed her lips and handed Daryl the pill, helping him reach his water and watching him swallow it painfully. Beth's heart ached at the sight and she wanted so badly to take a portion of Daryl's suffering, if not all of it.
Daryl tilted his head back against the pillow and reached for Beth's hand, resting his inside of it. "Thank ya fer takin' care o' my pathetic ass, really."
"Nowhere I'd rather be," Beth smiled crookedly and moved to lay on the other side of the bed, facing Daryl. "I would just rather you were all better.."
"I heal fast, don'w orry," Daryl turned his head and looked over Beth's face. "Ya need ta talk ta yer friends an' let 'em know what's goin' on.. I'm sure they're really worried."
"Yeah," Beth sighed deeply. "I'm going to go over to Carl's while you're sleeping and talk to him and Maggie. But then I'll be right back, okay?"
"Don' worry," Daryl yawned and licked at his lip. "I'll be dead ta the world anyway an' they need ta know what's goin' on. It's better not ta keep things from the ones who are there fer ya," Daryl closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Beth felt a painful twinge of a reminder in her stomach; she still needed to tell Daryl about her thesis. "Hey, Daryl..?" Beth murmured. She had been so fixated on taking care of Daryl and trying to make him feel better that the elephant in the room of what she was hiding had literally become hidden to her.
"Hm?" the soft noise was Daryl's reply.
"I.. I need to talk to you about something.." Beth fretted, chewing on her lower lip.
"Mhmm," Daryl mumbled back.
Beth's gaze flashed to Daryl's face and his chest rising in steady breaths. "Are you asleep?" Beth whispered and very gently poked Daryl's arm.
He didn't even move in response, just continued to breathe peacefully as he drifted into sleep. He looked relaxed and without pain for the first time that day and there was no way Beth was going to wake him up to worry him with her bullshit. Beth would go and talk to her friends and then come back with a clear head, explain it all to Daryl about everything after his nap.
Beth nodded to herself, the feeling of panic still present inside of her but acknowledging that this was her only option.
_
"You look like shit," Maggie observed bluntly.
Beth scoffed and rubbed over the skin along her jaw. "I feel worse than I look, I assure you," Beth sipped at her tea and looked over her shoulder far too often. She had brought them to an obscure coffee shop so that she wouldn't risk Merle somehow showing up at Carls place, because it really did seem like that guy was everywhere at once.
"Relax a bit, man. Nobody followed us here," Carl sighed. He was sober and Beth couldn't remember the last time she'd seen him like that.
"I know, I just.. I can't stay long. Daryl is alone at his place and sleeping, so," Beth swallowed. "I just wanted to explain everything I can."
"Well, Maggie filled me in on as much as he knew," Carl shrugged, his lips pursed.
"Except what the fuck ever happened a few days ago.. Glad I wasn't there for that, to be honest," Maggie admitted and took a big bite of a blueberry muffin, roughly brushing away the stray crumbs on her shirt.
"I'm sorry you had to see it," Beth looked at Carl apologetically, setting her cup down. "I didn't expect it to get so bad."
"I don't get why that dude was so angry.. Seriously, what the hell is his problem? He looked like his head might blow off from all the rage," Carl leaned back in his chair with a huff.
"Merle has.." Beth glanced around at the mention of the name, just in case. "He has issues and he's selfish and.." Beth's lip curled up in a snarl. "I don't care what he can do to me anymore, I have to get him the hell out of my life by getting away from here."
"So, you got mixed up in this fighting shit because of Merle and now you wanna just leave and change your life again because of him?" Maggie shook her head. "And what about school, huh? What about your friends.."
Beth felt pained by guilt and the inability to come up with a plan that wouldn't hurt anybody. "I haven't worked it all out yet, but it's not safe here for me anymore. I know that much."
Beth glanced at her watch. "I really need to get back.. But, Mags, I was thinking that we should move apartments for now.. Since Merle knows where I live and I really don't want to put you in danger."
"You can fucking uproot your life because of him but I'm not going to," Maggie replied firmly. "I'm not afraid of him."
"Yeah, man, that seems a little excessive. Merle is intense but he doesn't know what Maggie is capable of. I mean, have you ever been around the girl when she's really hungry? Once I thought she was gonna kill me because I ate the last of the Lucky Charms," Carl widened his eyes and Maggie nodded in agreement while she chewed her last bite of muffin.
Beth sighed wistfully. "I guess we'll figure it all out.. For now, I've gotta get back and tell Daryl the truth about my schoolwork. Maybe he won't even want anything to do with me after that.."
"Don't say that, I can tell the dude cares about you," Maggie sighed. "Good luck and for God's sake, be careful. You get in trouble way too often," Maggie stood up and gave her roommate's shoulder a brief squeeze. "I'll stay with Carl for the next couple of days if that makes you feel any better. If you need me, that's where I'll be."
"Yeah, dude, she's bunking with Larry," Carl cracked a smile. "Little guy loves having a roommate."
Beth couldn't help but smile at the thought of Maggie and Larry shacking up, even if the lizard gave her the heebies. "Thanks for playing on the safe side, guys. It's for the best right now," Beth nodded slowly and tapped her index finger against her teacup.
"Oh, almost forgot," Carl started reaching into the pocket where he usually kept Larry and Beth wrinkled her nose, not really wanting to have lizard eye contact right then. But Carl pulled out a phone instead. "I saw what happened to yours, so here. I had an extra one and I got it set up for you," Carl slipped it into Beth's hand.
Beth bit her lip, feeling overwhelmed with gratitude as she took the phone. "Thank you so much.." Beth looked up at her friends and stood to abruptly wrap her arms around them. "You are the best friends I could ask for.."
Maggie patted Beth on the back. "Yeah, yeah, we love you too."
Carl chuckled. "We'll see you later, yeah? I put our numbers in the phone for you so we're easy to reach."
"Sounds good.. I'll see you later, mhm." Beth watched her friends leave and the feeling of doom returned as soon as they shut the door of the tiny coffee shop; their presence had provided comfort that was immediately absent with their departure. "Fuck it," Beth breathed deeply, covering her face with her hands.
_
"Look who finally decided to join us.." Merle's grim voice greeted Beth as she walked into the apartment with a cup of to-go tea for Daryl, which she nearly dropped in surprise.
Beth' lips set in a tight line and her eyes glared. "What the fuck are you doing here?" She feigned courage but she was actually terrified.
"We have things ta discuss, so come here," Merle pointed to the couch where Daryl was sitting and leaning against the armrest for support, a sleepy look on his face.
"Why did you make him get out of bed?" Beth hurried over and sat beside him, putting her hand on his cheek.
"'m okay," Daryl cleared his throat, moving his head away from Beth's touch and glancing at Merle. Apparently now that he wasn't knocked out cold or alone with Beth, he was wary of being close around Merle and looking weak.
Beth frowned and set Daryl's tea on the table, looking at Merle with a highly raised eyebrow. "What do you want?"
Merle laughed evilly. "Oh, so much, ya don' even know.. But first, I believe ya have somethin' ta tell Dixon, no?"
Beth blinked quickly and glanced at Daryl who had a confused expression on his face. "What's he talkin' 'bout?" Daryl questioned.
"I was gonna tell him alone, if you don't mind.." Beth asserted toward Merle and laced her fingers, looking down.
"Let me put it this way, if ya don' tell him in the next five seconds then I will tell him fer ya. I ain't a fancy educated person like ya so I'm sure my words won' be so nice," Merle sat down in an adjacent chair with a pleased smirk on his lips.
"Fuck you," Beth fumed under her breath and then turned to Daryl, rubbing her lips together and sighing before letting their eyes meet. Her heart nearly broke at the look of fear that was leaking through Daryl's carefully composed expression.
"I don't even know where to start.." Beth straightened up her shoulders while shifting on the couch. "You know I'm in graduate school, and I have to do a thesis project, right?"
Daryl simply nodded, his brow creasing and the bruising and swelling of his features making it even more difficult for Beth to just fess up. "It's.. It's really time consuming and I-"
"Oh, fuckin' spit it out!" Merle growled and Beth jumped, shooting the man a glare.
"I-I'm doing my thesis project on all of this.." Beth murmured, her eyes closing.
"What do ya mean?" Daryl whispered, unsure.
"God, I.." Beth slowly opened her eyes. "I mean I'm writing a paper about the fighting and about my experience being around.. All of you guys."
Daryl stayed silent for a moment and Beth glanced between him and Merle who looked beyond pleased. "But Daryl, I won't ever mention you specifically, and-"
Daryl held up his wrapped hand. "This whole time.. Ya were jus' gettin' close ta me so ya could write some interestin' paper 'bout how ya taught a cold-hearted streetfighter how ta love er somethin'?"
"What..? No! It isn't like that at all!" Beth insisted quickly, shaking her head.
"So, yer saying that ya haven't been observing my behavior an' making note o' it fer yer little project?" Daryl raised his eyebrows.
"That.." Beth paused. "That's not exactly-"
"She's been playin' us," Merle spoke up. "Shee's been writin' a paper the whole time an' usin' us ta git a good grade."
"Hey, you know it's not like that, asshole! I explained to you what the project is about and how I'm not using personal information about any of you," Beth raised her voice.
"Wait, wait," Daryl spoke harshly. "Ya told Merle 'bout this already, but not me?"
Beth gulped. "He.. He only found out because my professor stopped by while I was talking to Merle, and he talked about the project and-"
"An' why didn' ya tell me right after that happened? Hell, why didn' ya tell me from the start? Instead ya let me fuckin' fall fer ya an' ya were jus' trickin' me the whole time!" Daryl breathed out shakily, his fists flexing and making him wince from the pain.
"Please," Beth said desperately. "Just let me show you my research and what I'm doing, it's nothing like what you think! I wasn't tricking you!"
"It's everythin' that ya think," Merle said smoothly, cracking his knuckles. "She's been usin' ya completely."
"Merle, shut the hell up! He's lying, I swear," Beth looked at Daryl pleadingly.
Daryl looked at Beth with hard eyes. "Maybe he ain't."
"You said.. You said that I should never believe anything that comes out of his mouth. Why would you believe him over me?" Beth murmured nervously.
"'cause up until now I thought I could trust ya 100%, but ya hid this from me an' who knows what else," Daryl's voice was cold in a way that Beth hadn't heard it in a long time.
"I.." Beth licked her lips, her eyes threatening to water. "I was gonna tell you before the fight and then after and.. Well, shit just kept coming up and there was never a good time.."
"Beth, ya had a million opportunities ta tell me 'bout this. If ya weren' hidin' anythin' bad, then ya woulda said somethin'. If it's jus' some innocent research project, then ya an' yer big fuckin' mouth would have already told me!" Daryl stood up shakily, almost falling back onto the couch in pain. Beth reached to help steady him and Daryl pulled away.
"Don' fuckin' touch me right now," he growled and Beth cowered back while Daryl hobbled over to rest his weight against the wall.
"Daryl, I'm so sorry.. I'm so sorry! I still promise that it's not what you think.. I didn't tell you before because I knew you would take it wrong and I was trying to figure out the best way to explain it," Beth put her hand over her mouth, sniffing softly.
"Oh, stop bein' such a fuckin' pussy. Both o' ya," Merle stood up and rolled his eyes.
Beth dropped her hand and glared hard at Merle. "How fucking could you?" Beth charged over and shoved Merle on the shoulders, making Merle swing back and punch Beth in the jaw.
Daryl flinched but stood still, not saying anything to defend Beth or trying to help. Beth held her hand over her jaw and tears ran down her cheeks from the pain of the blow and Daryl not even reacting to it.
"Ya don' touch me, ever," Merle's voice was angry and low. "This is how it's goin' ta work, ya two cost me a fuckin' lotta money an' yer goin' ta git it back."
Beth scoffed through her inner and outer pain. "I'm not doing shit for you. I'm done!"
Merle cackled and shook his head. "Oh Priss, we're jus' gettin' started."
"This isn't even about your daughter anymore, you want the money for yourself!" Beth seethed and looked at Daryl. "Yeah, did you know he's been hiding a daughter from you all? He claims that's why he's using you, to get money to take care of her," the secret flowed out without a second thought. Beth was so angry and just looking to point Daryl's disappointment away from her a bit.
Daryl lifted a brow from where he leaned against the wall, his eyes on Merle. "That's true? Ya have a daughter an' ya didn' even tell me. Was it Carol?"
The angry vein in Merle's forehead looked like it was going to pop. "Yer such a fuckin' liar.. Listen ta the shit ya make up jus' ta try ta make me look worse!"
Beth widened her eyes in disbelief. "W-what? I'm not lying, I saw her!" Beth looked at Daryl, nodding and still holding her aching jaw.
"Beth, jus'... Stop," Daryl closed his eyes.
"You don't believe me? Why the hell would I lie about something like this?" Beth's voice came out high.
"I don' even fuckin' know anymore," Daryl replied numbly. "But if it's true then it's jus' another thing ya kept from me."
"Yeah, Priss, he don' trust ya. I don' either," Merle added arbitrarily.
"Shut the fuck up, Merle," Daryl snarled. "I don' trust ya an' I really don' give a shit 'bout earnin' yer money back. I almost died 'cause o' ya."
Merle held up his hands. "Alright, I'll admit it was a bad call on my part."
Beth rolled her eyes hard. "That's a fucking understatement," she bit her lip and looked at Daryl brokenly. "I'm telling you the truth about Merle and about my project, I swear to you. I have reasons why I didn't tell you about his daughter earlier.."
"I really couldn' care less if Merle has a daughter er not, okay? All I can think 'bout is.." Daryl's jaw went tight and his gaze dropped down. "I told ya everythin', I didn' hide a single thing from ya."
"I know, and you don't know how much it meant to me.." Beth murmured, taking a staggering breath and shaking her head morosely.
"Alright, I've had 'bout enough o' this sappy horseshit," Merle grumbled. "Do ya two wanna know how yer gonna earn my money back, er not?"
"No!," both replied at once and Merle laughed.
"Oh, come on, it's gonna be so cool," he rubbed his hands together like an excited child. "I really don' think y'all say no."
Beth rubbed at her jaw delicately and flared her nostrils with a slow exhale, muttering, "I highly doubt that."
"Just fuckin' tell us so ya two can git out," Daryl held his hand over his ribs, gritting his teeth. It did not escape Beth that Daryl said he wanted her to leave too.
Merle crossed his arms over his chest and looked between Daryl and Beth. "I been thinkin' long an' hard 'bout how ta git all the money back an' punish ya both fer screwin' up."
"Daryl didn't screw up! He did nothing but obey you and-" Beth immediately started.
"Beth, I don' need ya defendin' me! Stop," he sighed tiredly and looked back to Merle. "Continue."
"How kind o' ya ta let me," Merle glared at Beth. "Anyway, here's what's goin' ta happen. The next fight I put on is goin' ta be a big one, it'll draw a huge crowd bl'cause it's so controversial an' there's a great story b'hind it," Merle grinned and Beth gulped. "I'll charge admission an' I can guarantee that some big names in fightin' will be there, 'cause somethin' like this has never happened 'fore."
Beth spared Daryl a glance and saw a similar worry on his face to her own. Merle let his words sink in for a moment before continuing on. "The next fight is goin' ta be.. Wait fer it!" Merle paused and flashed a big smile. "Between y two."
"No fuckin' way! No, no. I won' do it," Daryl said gruffly.
"Yeah, that's not going to happen. So much for your brilliant plan, idiot," Beth huffed, incredulous at the idea.
"Think o' it, two heartbroken lovers from the same fightin' team, dukin' it out in front o' hundreds o' people.. It's almost poetic, ain't it? I mean, there's only been a handful I' male an' female fights..." Merle wiped a fake tear from his cheek, unphased by Daryl's and Beth's reactions.
"Did ya not hear me? I won' do it. Forget it. I ain't goin' ta fight her," Daryl insisted in a deep voice.
Beth felt slightly relieved that at least Daryl wasn't mad enough to want to fight her. "Really, it's not going to happen," he said tersely.
"See, I thought this is how it would go down," Merle kept the smile on his face. "So, there's another part ta sweeten the deal."
"I don' want ta hear more, go the fuck home so I can git back in bed," Daryl put his hand over his face.
"No wait.. Y'all wanna hear this," Merle cracked his knuckles. "If ya two fight an' Priss here wins.. She gits her freedom from me."
Both went silent, their lips parting and their eyes widening. "Wh-what?" Beth finally spoke up.
"See, yer really gettin' on my nerves an' this whole school project yer doin' rubs me the wrong way. So, if I have the chance ta git rid o' ya, I think I'm gonna take it. Ya won' git ta do any more research an' I will no longer have ya constantly fuckin' up. Win-win fer me."
"But, you could just let me go then!" Beth yelled out. "Not make me fight Daryl."
"Nah, then I wouldn' make any money. Yer not keepin' up. Really, I thought ya were clever, Mrs. Graduate School," Merle chortled.
"Well, you'll have to figure something else out because you're not making money or getting rid of me that way," Beth said defiantly.
"We'll do it," Daryl spoke quietly.
Beth snapped her head to look at him. "Daryl.. What?"
"I said, we will do it. The fight is going to happen," Daryl replied resolutely.
"No, no, no!" Beth insisted. "There is no way we are fighting each other. Please, Daryl.. I'm sorry for everything, but.."
Daryl shot Beth a look that told her to shut up and then glanced at Merle. "You have a deal."
"I just knew ya would come 'round!" Merle clapped his hands.
"Daryl, this is.." Beth went on.
"We are fightin' Beth, whether ya fuckin' like it er not," Daryl spoke, his eyes hard.
"Oh good! The rivalry is beginnin' an' it's sure to bring in a lot o' people. Gotta love the tension," Merle walked to the door, swinging it open. "Dixon, ya better take care o' yerself so ya can start preparin' t put on a hell of a show. Priss, stop bein' such a whiny bitch an' train fer real. Dixon could kick yer ass easily, even in this state. An' yes, ya do both actually have ta try ta win. If ya don' then the deal is off," he left unceremoniously and the remaining awkward silence between Beth and Daryl was palpable.
Beth twisted her lips to the side and shoved a hand in her pocket. "Do you mind explaining what just happened..?"
Daryl's eyes met Beth's harshly. "We fight an' yer free, there ain't nothin' ta explain. Easiest decision."
"Daryl.. I don't need to be free if you aren't. I don't want to leave you in this situation.." Beth spoke sadly.
"Let me put it this way," Daryl leaned against the doorway of his room carefully, his eyes on Beth's face. "The sooner ya are free from Merle, the sooner ya are out o' my life, too."
Beth blinked rapidly, her lower lip quivering and her voice weak, "Daryl.. I'm so sorry that I didn't tell you.." Beth had thought that Daryl's decision was purely chivalrous because he wanted her to be free from danger, but she thought wrong.
"Look, 'm tired an' in so much fuckin' pain. I really.. I can' look at yer face anymore today without it tearin' me up inside.." Daryl muttered, his eyes closing.
"But.." Beth swallowed thickly. "Can we talk about it tomorrow then? ...Please."
"I think I need some space.. Ya know, ta heal an' git my strength back," Daryl lifted one shoulder lightly with a slow bob of his head.
"Please, I.." Beth rolled her lips in, knowing she should just shut up.
"After I am healed up, we will meet ta choreograph the fight. Until then, ya focus on school shit an' yer life apart from all o' this," Daryl said slowly.
Beth furrowed her brow. "What do you mean choreograph?"
Daryl rolled his eyes with a sigh. "We are goin' ta have ta make it look convincin', ain't we?"
"You mean.. We're going to fake it?" Beth questioned.
"The best we can, yeah. I'll show ya where ya can hit me without causin' too much damage, an' I will figure out where ta hit ya so that it looks like 'm actually tryin' ta win," Daryl replied simply. "We'll rehearse it an' put the fight on like we are performin' a play. But it has ta look completely legitimate, Beth. Which means that we will have ya hurt each other some."
"I thought when you said we would fight, you meant a real fight.." Beth trailed off.
"Beth, despite how I'm feelin' 'bout ya right now.. I could never bring myself ta intentionally hurt ya like that.." Daryl said wryly. "Even though that would make this a lot fuckin' easier if I wanted ta Plus, if I really went fer it, there ain't no way ya would win."
Beth bit her lip and nodded, seeing Daryl's logic clearly. "But then.. Daryl, do you think you can forgive me? Maybe I can show you in a few days all about my research and stuff, so you can see it's nothing bad.."
Daryl kept his eyes trained on Beth's face and his lips turned downward before he spoke slowly. "I'm willin' ta fake this fight so ya can be free an' live yer life without fear.. But I'm also willin' ta do it 'cause.. I ain't meant ta be with someone, Darlin'. I ain't ever was, an' I ain't ever will be. We need t be out o' each other's lives an' stop kiddin' ourselves."
"No," Beth shook her head, putting her hand on her chest. "That's not true, you have opened up so much and changed, and.."
"An' I got betrayed, once again," Daryl said dryly.
"I didn't mean to do that.." Beth's voice shook.
"Look.. I know y didn' mean ta but ya did an' that can' be changed. I actually do believe ya that yer research ain't goin' ta fuck me over, but I can' let this go.." Daryl sighed and bit the inside of his cheek. "Please jus' go, we'll talk soon 'bout the fight."
Beth felt tears gathering in her eyes but refused to let them fall in front of Daryl; she was already looking pathetic enough. Instead she sniffed and nodded quickly. "Alright, um.. I have a new number, so.." She awkwardly reached into her pocket and fumbled for her phone while walking to the kitchen table to scribble the number on the corner of a newspaper.
Daryl watched her carefully, his Adam's apple bobbing with a rough swallow. His voice was hoarse when he said, "I'll git in contact with ya."
"Yeah.. Thanks," Beth mumbled, sliding her fingers through her hair and working her sore jaw. "Are you.. Are you sure that you're going to be okay here alone?"
"I have people I can call if I need help," Daryl replied quickly, addressing Beth like an almost stranger.
"Yeah, of course you do.." Beth nodded wearily and put her hand on the doorknob, sparing Daryl one last glance. "You don't know how sorry I am.."
"Ya, 'm sorry too. I really am, Beth..." Daryl mumbled sadly and Beth could feel that he really meant it.
Beth left him there with the close of the door before wandering back home, numb with thoughts of her completely dismantled life that had broken apart into tragic fragments due to her own bad choices. Somehow, the idea of gaining her freedom didn't sound as appealing as it would have earlier that day. Because being free didn't matter if the price she had to pay was losing Daryl completely.