He woke in a panic, a life of closely guarded resting and abrupt awakenings driving his instinct. He swore what roused him from his slumber was the blaring sound of sirens, the usual morning alarm at camp. He sat bolt upright as he tried to leash his conscious mind, the realization that the only noise to be heard was the birds fluttering in the tree beside the living room window.
The darkness of the room slowly brightening as the day fully bloomed. It took Daryl a solid few minutes to scrub the sleep from his eyes and to remember where he was. And why he was here. Checking his watch, he realized it was early. A minute before 6 a.m. the usual time he was awoken at camp each morning. Figuring his internal clock was still on auto pilot, Daryl figured there was no use it fighting for more sleep.
He was hyper aware, suddenly, as he stood from the surprisingly comfortable hideabed and stretched his tired muscles. Daryl felt self-conscious at being the first awake in a home that was not his. No matter how homely it felt. He took a black tank top from his bag and navigated through the darkness. Not wanting to wake anyone, he took special care in tip-toeing down the hall to the bathroom. The soldier closed the door behind him before turning on the light, immediately regretting his decision. He was blinded for a moment, staggering backward in a half-asleep sway, before his eyes at least semi-adjusted to the new lighting. When he looked up, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror, grimacing. He was far from a looker in the morning. Shirtless, he ran a hand through his hair, his quickly growing locks already too long for military protocol. He usually had to get it cut once a week at camp to avoid his team leader from hounding his ass about it at inspection. He turned on the tap and splashed some cold water on his face, scrubbing the morning drag from his features. Quickly he brushed his teeth with the toothbrush he had left on the counter the night before, thankful for the warm water he used to rinse out the suds. His body still felt the lag of night rest, even as he laid out on the bathroom floor, doing 20 quick push ups in an attempt to strengthen his body for the day. Daryl half-heartedly slung the tank top over his head, dressing himself before letting out one more yawn. He shut off the light before opening the door, his heart going into overdrive when he witnessed a figure jump in fright before him. It only took a moment to realize it was Rick.
"Shit, you scared me." Rick let out a light pant as he clutched his chest, no doubt trying to calm his own racing pulse.
There was that self-consciousness again, "S'rry. Scared me too."
Rick let out a pained chuckle as he finished his excavate to the kitchen, Daryl following in toe.
The deputy turned on the kitchen light, Daryl's breath catching in his throat for a moment as he examined the man's bare back, low hanging sweat pants, and ruffled dark hair. This man, unlike himself, looked like a sex-god in the morning. Of course. He had to avert his eyes as to not cause any awkward scenes.
Rick cleared his throat as he opened the fridge, "What are you doing up so early? Thought you'd take the chance to sleep in a bit."
With the new conversation, Daryl forced his eyes back to Rick's general location, uncomfortable with staring directly at him but not wanting to be rude by not looking at him at all. "Was gonna' ask y' th' same." There was a pause while Rick took a swig of orange juice from the container before he smiled and nodded. Daryl tried his best not to leave the air so open, "Gues' I just ain't used t' sleepin' in."
Rick nodded again, "Same. This is usually the time I get up for work. Guess my body didn't get the memo that I'm on vacation."
Daryl chuckled at this. The man was unbelievably cute in the morning. Or as cute as a masculine, straight, sheriff's deputy could be.
There was another moment of silence as Rick stored away the orange juice, before asking, "want some coffee?"
The two sat for almost half an hour at the kitchen table over coffee and small talk. Daryl hated to admit it but Rick was growing on him as quickly as writing Carl had. The man was just so damn likable and certainly not a bad sight to steel side glances at first thing in the morning. It was with a pinch of disappointment that Rick finally excused himself to go up stairs and take a shower. Perhaps it was better that way, Daryl was already sure that Rick's half naked morning appearance would flash across his mind every time he saw him for the next few days. And considering he was currently staying in the man's house, that would be too frequently for his libito.
Daryl poured himself another cup of coffee before following an unfamiliar noise to the living room. Rick had turned on the morning news before making his way up stairs and Daryl thought it only courtesy to store away the hideabed before taking a seat on the couch, cup still in hand.
It had been a week. A week and for once in his life, Daryl could never be any happier. It was strange. Every so often he would have to remind himself that he would have to leave in 3 weeks, struggling to remember what it had been like before entering Kings County.
The last 7 days had been phenomenal. Or at least, in his eyes. To any other, they had been quite casual if not leisurely. But to Daryl, it had been a life he knew he had been deprived of and so secretly desired. They had done simple things. And maybe that's the point. Daryl was a simple man and having two interesting people with such powerful personalities to enjoy the simple things with had made all the difference. They made trips to the supermarket, to a local farmers market over the weekend and visited the public park. They cooked together and cleaned up together, watched movies and talked.
It was all so simple. Yet, to him, so ideal. This was how he always dreamed of living. Simply. With other people who he grew to care about and adore, who felt joy at having him join their mundane and basic tasks.
It was with a sigh that Daryl reminded himself that it was not his to claim however. That he was but a visitor here, a practical stranger, who would soon be forgotten by these people once he was shipped back out overseas.
But hell if he wouldn't enjoy it while it was here.
Rick had gone back to work today. A long 9 hour shift that somehow made the house seem so empty and vacant. Carl was taking advantage of the fact that his dad canceled the baby sitter that he originally hired, seeing as Daryl would be here, and he honestly didn't care if the kid slept till noon. It gave him a little break from Carl's lively antics. Nothing the kid did was wrong or bad, but Daryl simply couldn't keep up with him for too long. Carl was a small box of pure energy and the soldier was thankful for the few hours of alone time he had to take a breather. After Carl had awoken, however, Daryl made them a big breakfast of ham, eggs, and fruit. He had played right into the kids' hands, somehow swindled into spending the day at the park. He was surprised as they departed with the setting sun, that it was already after 6 and they had wasted the day teaching Carl some difficult moves in extreme frisbee.
When they returned, it was to see Rick's car already in the driveway. Carl had ran ahead to throw the door open and greet his dad, immediately telling him all about their day.
"There you guys are, I was beginning to think you kidnapped my kid, Daryl." There was that smile again. The one that had yet to fail in implanting butterflies in the pit of his stomach and heart.
Daryl chuckled, "Oh, I did. Been planin' it all 'long. Got two blocks away but th' kids mouth made me reth'nk my plans."
Rick laughed outright at this.
"We played Frisbee all day and Daryl showed me how to throw it under my leg. I even caught it behind my back twice!"
"Twice? Sounds like you're the pro now. Gonna have to put that to the test one of these days though." Rick clasped his son on the shoulder proudly. And if that didn't just melt Daryl's heart.
And it had continued like this. Rick would go to work and he spent the day with Carl. Some day's Carl convinced him to take him to some of the towns 'hotspots': Coco's diner, Dairy Queen, the lake across town where they fished. Other's where spent so domestically: attempted baking, watching TV or movies on the couch, or simply goofing off.
Daryl pondered and pondered. Wondering why he never had a family of his own. Why he never considered having kids of his own. Maybe because he had never found the right person to have them with. Probably because his oldest memories regarding family had been nothing but undeserved beatings, resentment, drinking and fighting. But this. This was what he had been missing. This was what it was all about. And as they reached the halfway mark of his stay, Daryl dreaded the ever looming fight that he would soon take back to Italy. For a moment, only a passing thought, he even considered never going back.
Dinner that night was slightly odd. If only for the fact at Rick wasn't talking much. Carl chattered away and he could tell that the man was trying to focus on his son but the pensive and distant look in his eye was ever looming. It wasn't a bad aura, not like the ones he had seen haunted soldiers fade into from time to time. But the man clearly was not all with them tonight, as if he were too far lost in a pleasant daydream.
Daryl stared across the table until he felt him meet his glance. The soldier gave a slight tilt of his head in question at the man, as if to ask if he were alright. The officer seemed to try and hold back the heartfelt smile that found his lips as he gave a subtle nod in response.
It had been like that for a while. Their unexplainable, yet familiar gift of non verbal communication. Daryl attributed it to both of their being men of service in some form. Once you are thoroughly trained in doing so, it was near impossible to break.
It wasn't until after dinner was finished and Carl was safely in bed that Daryl had a chance to find out. He had wandered into the kitchen to find something to drink, knowing that Rick wanted to talk when the man followed him. He didn't say anything at first and it almost seemed like Rick simply had the same idea as he did, needing to quench his thirst, but Daryl knew. He could feel it. He was even beginning to think something serious had happened, plaguing at his mind, until a shy smile graced the man's lips as he refused to meet his eye.
"Thank you."
It had indeed taken Daryl by surprise, "F'r wha'?"
"Everything? Being here? Being here for Carl?" There was a short pause before the officer added, "For me."
The air suddenly felt like led as Daryl shrugged, always feeling awkward under praise or thanks.
"Ain't nothin'. Ya' welcomed me inta' y'r home. I should be thankin' you."
"You have no idea what this means to him. He's been down ever since his mom and I split. And he smiles so much when you're around. I haven't been able to do that in months. It's just- what you've done for me- for Carl-" Rick shook his head, unable to think of a way to properly express his gratitude.
"Like I said. Ain't nothin'. 't's what we do."
He hadn't noticed until now, but Rick had worked his way closer to him, mere inches from his own form. The man gauged his words, nodding and he bit his lip slightly. The officer closed his eyes briefly and he let his words wind about his brain. "Just, thank you."
He hadn't meant to. Truly he hasn't. But he flinched slightly when Rick leaned in as if to wrap his arms around him in a hug. It was just so unexpected. What he hadn't meant to do even more was turn his head towards Rick as he got closer, Rick meeting his action in a brief peck of lips that shocked them both. They stood so close, breathing eachothers air, Rick's hand resting on his bicep before running up his arm, over his shoulder, up his neck and finally bedding itself in his hair. Rick seemed to decided something then, jumping into unknown waters and he forced their lips back together.