The Truth Will Out

Jesus thought he had left his past as Malcolm Bright buried in the remains of New York. He thought wrong.

Fandom: Prodigal Son, Walking Dead

Tags: crossover, Jesus was Malcolm Bright, pre-Daryl/Jesus/Rick, spoilers for up to episode 11 of Prodigal Son, Paul is good with kids and they like him as well, canon level violence

Chapter 4

"So what do you think?" Carl asked Paul, excitedly bouncing on the balls of his feet as Paul tapped his fingers against his chin thoughtfully.

"I don't know, what does your dad think about this?" Paul said slowly as he weighed the pros and cons of what Carl had proposed.

"I think it's a good idea," Rick spoke up making Paul twist his torso around and something settled in his chest at the sight of Rick standing there with Judith carefully balanced on his hip. The little girl began to babble happily when she spotted Paul and her brother as Rick just smiled and began to bounce around to calm her.

"See! Come on Paul, I'm a good learner!" Carl pleaded and Paul couldn't help but smile.

"You Grimes I swear," Paul said good-naturedly. "Fine, I'll teach you how to be a 'ninja' as you call it."

"Yes! Thanks, Paul!" Carl cheered and Paul couldn't help but smile at the sight of the teenager and the fond smile Rick was now wearing at the sight and somehow he felt like he fit, in a way he hadn't felt since he and the NYPD team began to get into their groove properly.

"You can use the clearing down the road, Daryl's been using it as target practice," Rick suggested.

"Sounds perfect, don't worry Rick I'll make sure he comes back with all limbs intact," Paul teased and Rick chuckled as Carl rolled his eyes.

"I know you will Jesus, oh and if you see an unfamiliar face around today don't be worried. He's a newcomer that was found on a supply run and we are seeing if he will be a good fit or not." Rick gave a heads up and Paul hummed, he completely understood what it was like to see if people were good fits for a community.

"Thanks for the heads up, we'll keep an eye out," Paul said as he started to search around for a hair tie, he usually kept one on his wrist but it was missing and he couldn't train if his hair kept falling in his face. He was fine with it during a fight but if he was going to be training he wanted it out of his face.

"Oy, Paul you lose something?" Daryl came lumbering into the living room, holding up a familiar hair tie.

"You're a lifesaver, Daryl, thanks!" Paul brightened up as he took the hair tie and he twisted his hair up into his usual topknot. He didn't notice the way the two men's eyes tracked his movements and then down his exposed neck.

"We'll be back before the sun sets," Paul promised as he double-checked his belts and knives before pulling on his leather gloves as he walked towards the door where Carl was waiting.

"Be safe and have fun!" Rick called out and Paul flashed a smile over his shoulder as the two left the Grimes house and towards the clearing Rick suggested.

"Knives are not the same as pointing a gun and shooting. Knives require skill and precision, they are both a close range and long-range weapon. I began using them when ammo was running low at Hilltop and let the other's use them." Paul began to explain as he stood across from Carl, pulling his knives out of their sheaths and twisting the blades around before flipping one to hand it to Carl.

Carl took the knife with reverence, as he knew that Paul kept them on his body at all times and he had seen him completely lethal with them. Carl tested the weight of the knife and swung it carefully while Paul watched with his arms crossed and a smile tugging at his lips.

"Knives are always good for backup, bullets run out but knives always stay sharp and will always help you out in a pinch," Paul explained as he slipped out another knife and took up a stance a few feet away from Carl taking a calming breath.

"Makes sense," Carl agreed before pausing to watch as Paul moved. His eyes were firm with concentration and his movements, swift and fluid. His arms and legs moved together in well-practiced movements and the knife shone in the setting sun, Carl wondered if Paul had ever truly shown his true skills. He had never seen him in a full-on fight, he had seen the man take out walkers, sneak around and use his knives however he had never seen him in a fight with someone who could challenge him. Carl somehow knew that whomever Paul would fight would not be coming out winning.

Paul's movements slowed and he let out a puff of air before turning to Carl with a small smile on his lips.

"What did you see while I was moving?" Paul inquired as he slipped his knives away, including the one he had given Carl.

"You were like water, always in motion and it was like the knife was apart of you," Carl blurted out before he closed his mouth and looked away shyly.

"You're right, when you're fighting in close combat you always need to be moving. You stand still and you get hit. The knife needs to be an extension of your own body, treat it as such and you will never fail to hit your target." Paul advised as he placed his hands on his hips as he took in the targets Daryl had set up and noted the placement of the slowly setting sun.

"Oh, hey that must be the new guy," Carls spoke up, looking over Paul's shoulder. Paul turned, mustering up a smile but it froze on his face when his eyes landed on the man's face.

"Carl, I need you to get out of here now," Paul said slowly, lowly as his fingers inched towards his knives.

"What?" Carl asked, eyebrows furrowing up in confusion.

"Now, now, that's no way to greet an old friend." John Watkins grinned.