A/N: Thank you to everyone who gave me feedback on this story. As promised, I extended it. Picking up where we left off. Enjoy!
The steady pattering of rain persisted as Rick and Michonne lay in the dark. The warmth from their bodies pressed so closely together was a welcome comfort that would have lulled both hardened warriors into sleep if it were any other situation. Yet, there was the issue of having their bodies against one another. Rick needed to say something to distract himself from the fact that he was being held by, and sharing a bed with, a very beautiful woman; his need for distraction was intensified by that woman being Michonne.
"What you said before, about not liking bein' out in the rain, was that from before everything changed or from when you were out on the road by yourself?" asked Rick, careful of his wording; knowing that Michonne did not divulge much about her past. He came to the conclusion that he was much the same; their reasoning, more likely than not, was linked to some similarly painful occurrence.
Many of the residents of the prison knew her, but knew little to nothing about her. She had this mysterious air about her on account of being a quiet, reserved person in general. Michonne grinned at his query. Rick always had a way of making her feel good when he remembered some little fact about her that she may have previously mentioned. He was good like that. Michonne shifted slightly before answering.
"Definitely a before-the-end-of-the-world thing," she replied. "When I was little, maybe ten or eleven, my mom was late coming to pick me up from school this one time; rain caused an accident that had traffic backed up for miles, if I remember correctly. Anyways, I waited for ages, and for some reason, I worked myself up and ended up thinking that she wasn't coming at all, so I walked off, on my own, in the pouring rain. I was so upset that I thought she'd forgotten about me. I was drenched and my shoes were making that squishy sound, you know, when they're full of water. I was crying and everything. After that I hated being out in the rain."
"What happened next? Did your mom find you?" he asked, with his brow furrowed out of concern for a young Michonne.
"Yeah," said Michonne. "She was on her way, and while she was driving, she saw me walking along crying on the side of the road."
"That's the saddest thang I've heard in ages," he offered; Michonne smiled at the tenderness and sicnerity in his voice.
"I was splashed twice by passing cars," she added, jokingly.
"Really?" asked Rick.
"No, not really," she admitted. "I just wanted to milk more sympathy from you."
Rick laughed and Michonne thought it was the nicest thing she had heard in the longest time.
"I like that," said Michonne.
"What? The sympathy?" he asked.
"No. The sound of your laugh," she offered before she could stop herself.
Rick remained quiet; a small grin playing on his rugged features.
"Sorry," she said, feeling silly for even blurting it out. "That was a weird thing to say."
"It's okay," said Rick. "Truth is, laughin' is easy with you."
"I'm glad you find me so hilarious," Michonne joked as she patted Rick's abdomen slightly with her warm hand; he was very aware of her touch.
"It's not that, yeah you're funny, but it's more like, I dunno," Rick sighed and wished he was better at explaining himself. "It's just easier to let my guard down with you, if that makes sense."
"Yeah," she answered. "It does. It's the same for me with you."
A comfortable silence fell over them for a moment as they each let the admission from the other sink in.
"You know, I haven't let many people get close to me at all," Michonne continued. "I'm not the type of person who lets down my guard for just anybody."
"I sensed that about you," Rick replied.
"I feel comfortable with you because you're a good man," Michonne explained. "You're a strong leader."
"Sometimes I feel like I'm not that strong a leader. Like I can't do anything right or keep anyone safe," he admitted; she heard the sadness in his voice, the regret in his tone.
"No, Rick. You are a good leader, a good person,"
"Even after everythang I've done?" he queried, desiring to know what she really thought of him. "Even though I've failed?"
"Yes," she replied. "Especially after you've failed. People don't generally understand what it's like to be a leader, not really, and even more so in this day and age. Most of us are just trying to survive; the weight of leadership doesn't fall on our shoulders like it does for someone like you. To be the one everyone looks to for the answers in a world where very little actually makes sense anymore, that's a tough job. You do just fine, Rick. You really do."
He remained quiet as he considered the wisdom of her words.
"Thank you," was his reply. "That means a lot to me to hear you say that. I appreciate it. I value your judgement. It means so much comin' from you."
"You're a good person, Rick. There's no one else I'd be sharing a bed with," said Michonne, before she realized how it sounded. "I didn't mean it like that. I meant sharing this tiny-ass bed. I wouldn't wanna share it, damn it; you know what? I'm gonna shut my mouth now."
She could feel Rick's body shaking as he started to laugh and she found it contagious. Suddenly, both were chuckling louder than they normally would.
"What's so funny?" Michonne asked between chortles.
"I don't know," said Rick. "You're usually so calm and collected. Now you're here trippin' over your words."
"Well, that's your fault," she said playfully, basking in the warm atmosphere they had created with their honesty and candor. They let the mirth of the moment pervade a while longer until Rick dared to question her regarding the answer she had given.
"How?" he asked carefully. "How is it my fault?"
"For taking up all the room on this bed," Michonne offered, teasingly at first, but then her tone grew somewhat serious. "For being so close to me that I can't focus. Being so close that I've tricked myself into thinking it's safe outside. I don't know, Rick. I don't always have to be so calm and collected all the time when I'm around you. I guess I'm just so comfortable with you."
Rick listened carefully to find her meaning, then, he suddenly shifted. The small cot was rickety and Michonne moved to afford him space. He turned his body to face her; she removed her arm from his body and rested it at her side, mirroring him.
"…And a little nervous," Michonne added as Rick felt his heartrate quicken.
"What're you nervous about?" he asked in a low drawl that sent a shiver through her body; he reached over and took hold of one of her locs, twirling it between his bristly fingers. Michonne steadied her breathing.
"Being caught up in the moment," she admitted, barely above a whisper.
"Well," said Rick, as he brushed his hand gently across the side of her face. "Maybe that ain't such a bad thang."
