AN: Leave a comment if you want this to be a multi-chapter! I will only do so if I gain enough comments. C: also, leave me your prompts in the ask box! I will take prompts from detailed to words to quotes- whatever your heart desires. I will post periodically in the Caryl tag.
He stepped away from the rubble slowly, biting back a whimper at the blackness on his skin, staring around, feeling the shock sting him. Everything was rubble, and on fire and ashes and he couldn't see anyone else. Hope died in him and he abruptly felt like someone had shut him down, feeling even worse since Carol had been ripped from him as the prison burned. "We gotta go," he managed, grabbing Beth's arm and fleeing for the woods.
Snap to another time. He stood next to Carol at the window, looking out at the fires along the city and the walkers melted to the streets, listening to what she was saying. "Everything now just consumes you..."
He didn't even let her finish her train of thought, saying firmly as he watched the fires rage, "We ain't ashes."
Snap to the present. The fire sizzled as he poured water on it, bending down to scrape the ashes into a bucket. He could feel Carol's eyes on him; she was still rather weak from being hit by the car and she would still get dizzy and have to lie down but he didn't mind. He had her back and that was all that mattered. Rick and the others pilfered about the makeshift camp, or rather, stirred in their cars and got out to stretch their legs. "What?"
"What are you doing?" Carol asked, seeming a little amused.
"Saving the ashes so they can be reused," he replied, putting a lid on the bucket and carrying it to their car, setting it inside. Carol snorted and he gave her a strange look, growling, "What?"
"Ashes can't be reused," she said, a little somberly, ambling slowly over to the car to get in.
To everyone's surprise, no matter how half-asleep, he grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her back against the car, saying, "We ain't ashes. Stop it." Carol just looked down bleakly and he tilted her chin up, trying to make her face him, searching her eyes. "We are good people. We don't kill people just because we have a bloodlust or because we have to have power... You didn't kill anyone out of those things, not at all. You did it because it was the right thing to do and you wanted to keep us safe, your family. You were looking out for us, don't beat yourself up. And if we can't find where we belong, we'll make it on our own. We always have. You know that."
She was silent, so he shook her a little, a certain fear filling him. He dropped to his knees, looking up at her, feeling a little too vulnerable for his comfort but doing it anyway. "Carol, when I lost you, again, I did everything to get you back. You dunno how much I wanted to beat the shit outta those people for hurting you. You kept me going, nobody else! Without you I feel like lead, I have a duty but I'm not really breathing. You're the only hope for me." He scrambled to his feet again abruptly, feeling it was crucial for him to speak his mind right now when she needed it most, looking down. She looked like she might cry, and he feared he had said something wrong but instead, she hugged him tightly.
He staggered a little but hugged her back, burying his nose in her shirt. He couldn't lose her again, and he wouldn't. He felt her stroke his hair and shuddered before becoming a little more aware of the group and ushering her into the car. Everyone did their business and ate a little before beginning to move again, a surplus of fuel to hold their tanks. He gave Carol half of his can of beans after she had eaten her food, insistently pushing it into her hands until she obediently began to shovel it down. He settled, turning onto the road and following Rick's car heading out.
"How do you reuse the ashes?" she said suddenly, munching on a spoonful of baked beans, looking quite adorable.
Daryl grunted, silent for several moments, drumming his fingers on the wheel before responding, "They can be used as firestarter with a log or two or brush. Makeshift coals, kinda." She nodded simply before he continued, "It's like this: You start a fire, it burns out. You take the ashes and start another fire, stronger than before. The phoenix rises from the ashes and sets them ablaze..."
He trailed off, staring at the road, flicking the heating in the car up a little. Carol nodded thoughtfully, making an appreciative sound. They were both silent before she said quietly, "I just don't know what to believe anymore. It just feels inevitable."
"Don't be silly. You're even better than you were at the prison. We have to adapt to our environment, you know?" he replied, shifting in his seat, glancing at her ruffling her somewhat gray hair, his expression softening. She wasn't nearly as old as she looked, and to him she was absolutely gorgeous. "You're shining on. You're an example to all of us..." He paused, before adding somberly, "And to no one more than me."
Carol didn't seem to know what to say, looking down at her hands. They switched to small talk for the rest of the drive, Daryl in understanding Carol needed a little time to process.
Later, when they had set up another camp and Michonne was showing Daryl the map, pointing out their destination and where they were current, and he nodded, his hand on Carol's knee while she ate. Rick was grinning and holding Judith, before suddenly everyone went quiet and looked at him and the little girl. Daryl thought he had missed something when Rick prompted to baby, saying softly, "Honey, say Dada."
"Dada!" Judith squealed, giggling and squirming in his arms. Everyone smiled and Carol held her hand over her mouth. "Dada! Da!" Judith giggled again, playing with her father's beard. Daryl bit his lip, smirking a little.
Carol turned to him suddenly, taking his hand, surprising him. He looked over at her questioningly, meeting her eyes. She kissed his lips gently, and briefly so nobody really paid attention, whispering, "I believe you now. We aren't ashes."
"We're together," Daryl murmured, nuzzling her shoulder a little, "Together we'll burn a new fire."