ShutxThexFrontxDoor: Thank you doll, I really didn't want to let you down with that one since we came up with the idea together.
Summary: AU where after leaving Woodbury, Merle didn't go back to the prison with Daryl. Instead, he wandered around the woods until he found another survivor. (Inspired by an RP with my favorite Tumblr Merle, askmerledixon, it's not exact, but it's similar. Also, I'm borrowing Lucy because she's my favorite, and I don't want to create somebody new.) This takes place a couple of days after they've met.
Merle stood behind her, his hand on her arm, keeping it steady as she aimed. She squeezed the trigger on the gun, and hit the target he had set up. He smiled, "Think you can do it again without me hoverin'?" She nodded and he stepped away. Lucy took aim again, biting her lip as she steadied the gun. She took a deep breath and fired the gun, hitting the target again.
"What do you think?" she asked, lowering the gun and turning to face him.
"Impressive," he told her. "I gotta ask though, how've you survived this long without knowin' how to use a gun?"
She shrugged, "Just lucky, I guess. I haven't really had to deal with those things much out here, and when I have, it's only one or two, and I can handle other weapons pretty well."
"What've you been eatin'?"
"Not much, just whatever I could find."
"How 'bout we go huntin', and you can use yer new skills."
She smiled and nodded as he led the way through the woods. As they walked, he kept his voice low, basically telling her what she already knew. Sure, she'd never hunted before, but she knew to be careful and quiet. He continued, "And watch where you step, don't wanna fuck up the trail."
She didn't speak, keeping as quiet as possible. She chewed her bottom lip as they walked; she took care with each step, making sure to walk where he did. He finally stopped, using a rather large bush for cover, he motioned her over. She knelt beside him, "I'll cover you, but think you can hit that from this distance?" he asked, nodding towards the grazing doe in front of them.
She nodded and lifted the gun again. It felt like hours passed between her taking aim and actually squeezing the trigger. The shot fired, and the bullet pierced the doe in the neck. She breathed a sigh of relief as Merle stood, "Know anythin' about field dressin'?"
Lucy frowned and shook her head.
"C'mon, I'll teach ya." He led her over to the doe and handed her a pair of gloves from his back pocket, "They'll be big on ya, but they'll do." She put them on. He wasn't lying, they swallowed her hands. Then he handed her a hunting knife and instructed her on what to do. Lucy followed Merle's instructions carefully. Merle watched as she fought getting sick, she'd never done anything like that before.
"People actually do this for fun?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.
He put his hand on her back, rubbing it, "I guess some people used to. We never really had a lot of money, and what we did, my pa would spend on drugs and alcohol, so we pretty much had to hunt in order ta eat. And mama never was much of a cook anyways."
She looked over at him, a frown on her face. She started to reach out and touch his knee, but hesitated when she saw the bloody glove on her hand. She knew he'd probably see it as pity anyways, and he wouldn't want that. "If this," she gestured with her hand in reference to the apocalypse, "ever comes to an end, I'm gonna treat you to the best steak dinner you've ever had."
He grinned as she went back to gutting the animal in front of them, "Somethin' to look forward to." She smiled at his words, "When yer done, we'll have to hang it ta skin it." He stood, looking for a low hanging branch that could support the deer's weight.
When she was done, she stood and asked, "You wanna help me with this now?"
Merle walked back over to her, handing her a length of rope, "Hold this fer a minute." He moved the deer, then took the rope from her to tie it up. "Now c'mere.
Lucy walked over to him, and he took her hand, not worried about the blood on the glove. Merle moved her between him and the deer and instructed her on skinning it. His hand stayed on hers, guiding her. When it was done, she asked, "Are you gonna build a fire to cook the meat or should I?"
He looked at her and grinned, "You look like you've had enough cuttin' up things fer one day. I'll handle the rest, you build the fire."
"Thank God," she muttered, handing him back the knife. He chuckled as she pulled off the gloves and handed them back.
While he worked, she started building the fire. When he was about done, he asked, "How's that fire comin'?"
As he did, she stood, smiling at her small fire, "See for yerself."
He turned, and smiled as he brought the meat over on a makeshift spit to be cooked.
They sat down next to each other, watching the fire cook the meat. After a few moments she said, "Thank you, for stickin' around, and talkin' to me. These last couple of days have been a Godsend." She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
He tensed a little at the peck, but quickly relaxed, a smile on his face. He draped his arm over her shoulders, "Ain't nothin' to thank me for, darlin'. It's nice to be in the company of someone who doesn't smell like death. Until you came along, that's all it was."
She smiled, a small chuckle escaping her and she leaned against him, her head resting on his shoulder. After a few minutes, she asked, "How much longer 'til it's done? I'm starving."
He smiled, "Not too much longer. Ya ever ate deer before?"
She nodded, her head still resting against him, "A couple of times."
"Good, then ya already got the taste for it."
Merle smiled when he handed her a portion of the meat. He watched her bite into it, "How is it?"
She shrugged, "It's edible. Not the worst meal I've ever had." She took a deep breath, a dreamy look in her eye, "If I had my seasoning though," Lucy grinned, "I'd make you a meal you'd kill for."
He laughed, "Yeah, I guess it could use a little somethin'." He watched her, "If the world was normal, I'd like ta try yer cookin'. I bet it's head and shoulders above this shit."
She laughed too, "Yeah, I've gotta say I'm pretty damn good cook. My grandma taught me everything she knows, and she was amazing."
He couldn't help but smile at her. "I bet you are, sweetheart. Everybody needs somethin' they're good at."
"Oh, I got plenty of useless talents." They both laughed. "How about tomorrow we go find a town or somethin' see what spices I can find and I'll cook for you. I can't promise it'll be the best meal ya ever had, considerin', but I'll do what I can."
"Sounds like a plan," he told her, "I been needin' ta make a supply run, anyways. Now we can kill two birds with one stone."
She smiled and yawned, "For now, I'm tired. Should we find somewhere else to settle down for the night, or do you think we'll be safe out here for the night?"
He thought about it for a moment, they hadn't had any unwanted visitors yet, and he had expected at least one walker to come wondering up, if not at the sounds of gun shots, then at least at the smell of fresh blood when they cut open the deer. "I think we'll be fine here fer the night. You go on and get some sleep, I'll keep first watch."
She nodded, "Okay, just wake me up when you're ready to get some sleep." She stretched her legs out and laid down next to him, her head resting on his leg. She closed her eyes. Before she drifted off to sleep, she could feel his hand in her hair.