So the prompt given to me from Alva Starr has now turned into a story. After further discussion with her we both agree that it's best. I've got an idea set in my head for where this will go. Not sure how long it will be or when the muse will run out so I'm working with what comes to me. This will be slightly AU. I'll follow as close as I can in some aspects but others will be more of what I'd like to see.
Désirée stretched working the kinks out from her back as she stood looking up into the light blue of the sky feeling the sun burn across her skin. She had been helping where she could to get the fence fixed knowing it was top priority. She was trying to distract herself from the worry gnawing on her gut and emotions.
She looked up hearing a grunt and seen Carl making quick jabs at Daryl while his hands were full. She grinned and dropped her stuff watching Carl bounce on the balls of his feet while Daryl couldn't strike back. Elbowing Rick she motioned to Carl for him to watch.
Daryl growled, "Best quit ya shit."
Carl's laughter was lighter than it had been in a while and she smiled at the thought. She had worried about Carl a lot when she got here and seen just how cold he was about things. Even to his own father. Daryl and Judith had managed to keep him from pulling completely away though.
"That's the first time I've seen him act his age since the farm." Rick spoke low just to her.
Flicking her eyes to him she smiled sadly, "He doesn't hate you Rick."
Rick looked at her shaking his head, "Didn't say that. But there is a difference in the way he is with me and the way he is with Daryl."
"That's cause your his dad. Think back on how you were...Daryl is like the cool uncle or older brother." Désirée laughed at the imagery and shrugged, "He don't jump his ass for the shit you do."
Rick huffed, "Have you heard the stuff he's been saying?"
Désirée shook her head knowing it was likely something akin to what Daryl or Merle would say, "He told Patrick to..to suck his dick."
Laughing she slapped him on the back, "Could have been worse. A lot worse."
"He's never spoke like that before!"
"You gonna tell Daryl and Merle to sensor themselves?" Désirée grinned at him knowing he never would.
Rick snorted looked back towards the two seeing Daryl throw his stuff down and snatch ahold of Carl. Daryl's back was now to them shielding Carl from their view as he held the boy and she heard Carl yelp calling out for Rick. She elbowed him and jerked her head towards the two ahead of them.
"Callin' for ya fuckin' daddy. Ya mouth is writin' checks ya ass can't cash boy." Daryl released him with a devilish grin splitting his face at Carl's red face.
Rick walked up and looked between the two of them shaking his head. She couldn't hear them but felt the second his eyes landed on her and looked over at him. He was tracking her movements as he studied her. She looked away knowing he was going to see her nerves if she didn't break the contact.
Booted feet on gravel slid into her view from the squatted place and she seen Daryl do the same as her. His hands hung between his spread legs but she stubbornly stared at the ground. Daryl growled and grasped her chin pulling her face up to look at his. The sun was behind his form casting him in shadows around the face.
"If he isn't back soon I'll take off and look for him. I know where he was going hunting at." Daryl spoke with a low deep timbre.
Nodding her head she mourned the loss of his hand grasping her but didn't look away, "I'll go with."
"Go where?" Rick questioned.
"Arvin aint back yet." Daryl grunted.
Rick's eyes flashed down to her and then searched the pair of them. "He say how long he'd be?"
"We left together...split at the trail head took different sides of the ridge. Didn't plan after that." Daryl stood up looking out towards the woods.
Rick followed his eyes stepping next to him both of them a forming a solid wall against the burning sun on her pale skin. She listened to Rick talk at Daryl and his slight nods and grunts. She smiled to herself at his less than normal social skills and how much she had already became accustomed to them.
"Don't you think it's getting late to take off tonight? Maybe better in the morning." Rick supplied with a gentle prod.
Daryl's body was tense, "Nah, he might have brought something down he needs help with. Aint leaving him out over night alone. Not if he has a kill smell will bring the walkers around."
Rick nodded, "I'd take off now then, me and Carl can finish this. If I need help Merle is off guard shift soon."
"My thinkin' too. Let Merle know or his ass will be up in arms." Daryl turned whistling getting her attention, "Get ya shit we're going."
Désirée stood up straight and walked quickly up the incline passing curious bystanders. She knew Daryl was close behind her just from the people calling out to him and his less polite dismissals.
"Daryl." Carol spoke. "Désirée."
Désirée turned seeing Daryl looking down at other woman. He was slightly less tense around her than some of the others, "What can I do for you Carol?"
"Are y'all going on a run?"
Daryl looked at her and then back at Carol, "Something like that."
She snorted and smiled at him, "I need to make a to go pack for you two? Overnight?"
Daryl shook his no but Désirée interrupted him, "Overnight."
Carol nodded and smiled at her, "Stop back by here before you take off."
Both nodded and took back off towards the prison. She wasted no time in brushing through the crowd and straight to her cell. Changing quickly into a pair of jeans to protect her against the brush they'd be trekking through she gathered her stuff quickly. Exiting her cell she moved down to Daryl's and walked in past the curtain and stopped watching him.
Daryl was a quick efficient person as far as traveling light went. It always amazed her how many extra weapons he managed to pack on him when you could only ever see the knife that hung from the front of his belt and the crossbow. He looked over his shoulder at her his eyes running over quickly as he took her in. No doubt checking she was ready.
His hands never stopped their motions as he slid the knife in his boot, "Get sleeves." He huffed.
She shook her head, "All mine are ruined and falling apart. Turned them into rags."
Daryl snorted and snatched something up from the top bunk tossing it over his shoulder. Catching it deftly she looked down seeing one of his shirts that still had sleeves. She looked up at him seeing him jerking a new shirt on as well.
"I'm guessing the brush is thick as fuck?"
Daryl turned buttoning his shirt, "You goddamn right. Fuckin' poison vine everywhere."
Désirée slid the shirt on tying it at the waist to keep it from hanging so much from her smaller frame. "Do you think it's he's just got something bigger than he can move?"
Daryl looked up at her from under his dark bangs, "With rocks, loose dirt and high inclines aint many walkers around. His ass is fine Des."
She let out a breath and let herself relax had his words. He wouldn't lie to her about even if it was a grim ideal. He wasn't as harsh Merle managed to be with shit but he still didn't cut corners. Daryl brushed past her his hand sliding against her stomach as her went and setting something in her hand. Désirée let her eyes drop down as she heard him thunder down the stairs. She grinned loosing her belt and jerking it free of the loops as she slipped the knife sheath into place.
Making her way back outside into the heat of the day she hissed as she felt sweat break out over body. She walked straight for Daryl standing there with Carol away from the others. His eyes landed on hers and his eyes flashed down to the sheath before he nodded at her. She settled next to him shifting her pack on her back.
"You two watch each other out there."
Désirée nodded at her, "Always."
Daryl didn't say shit but walked past the both of them and down to where his bike was. He walked a tight circle his eyes searching stuff out quickly for any problems. She tracked his movements and smiled licking her lips.
"Didn't know Dixon had a shirt with sleeves." Maggie laughed stepping next to her.
Désirée looked up at her, "He has a few."
Maggie bumped her hip, "You'll be back tonight?"
Shaking her head they started down the hill and she felt the other women watching her. "No, we'll more than likely be out over night."
Maggie sucked in a breath and looked at her, "Be careful out there. Keep him on his toes."
Daryl growled at Maggie hearing her words and slung his leg over the bike kicking it to life. He was standing over the bike not setting his energy radiating off him and matching the loud idle of the bike.
"Don't I already?" She grinned walking for him.
Grabbing his hip she kicked her leg over setting down and getting comfortable. Daryl set and shifted his weight balancing the bike for them. Maggie and Carol pulled the gates open as they neared them. Rick and Carl made quick work of any walkers lingering near the gates.
Daryl looked over his shoulder at her, "Better hold on."
She scooted closer to him her thighs cradling his sides as her arms wrapped around him. Laying her head against his back she looked out over the yard and smiled seeing the hen party that Daryl called them eyeing her. She tightened her grip and made him grunt as her hands rested just over his lap.
"Des." He warned.
Laughing against him she smoothed her hands against his stomach and then under the shirt as they passed through the gates. Racing down the road she relished the feel of the wind pushing through her hair and leaned back some closing her eyes and looking up. There was a certain freedom that came with the end of the world but riding on the back of the bike and trusting him to keep her safe while she let loose was more comforting than anything else.
Daryl slowed while she held on to his sides leaning back. She watched the scenery whip past them and she tried to smother her anxiety of her father being out there by his self for so long. He should have been back around the same time as Daryl but it just didn't work out that way. It wasn't uncommon for Daryl to be gone over night hunting or even her father really.
Yet when Daryl got back yesterday close to sunset she brushed it off only to wake up with nerves this morning. She didn't know what she would do if something happened to her father. He was all she had ever had after the train wreck that was her childhood. Tightening her grip on Daryl again she felt the shift in gears as he sped up while she let the warmth and steady strength that was him comfort her.