...

"You kiddin' me right now?"

Aaron glanced up at Daryl in surprise. He expressed a lopsided smile of apology even as he wrinkled his nose in disdain.

"I can't. I'm sorry."

"It's squirrel," Daryl replied as if that in itself explained everything. He offered the meat to Aaron once more, practically shoving it into his unwilling hands.

"Yeah...could you just not repeat that? I think I was better off not knowing," Aaron admitted.

Daryl released a huff of annoyance. He bit down into the juicy meat with gusto. He was hungry and they really needed to ration the little food they had brought along with them. He couldn't believe that Aaron wouldn't even try it. It wasn't that bad, not really. He had eaten far worse since all this shit had started. He stole subtle glances at Aaron between the strands of hair that fanned his face.

"You get hungry enough and it'll taste like filet mignon."

"Somehow I doubt that," Aaron said dryly.

Daryl shrugged. "Suit yourself." He chuckled to himself.

"What's that?"

"What's what?"

"That laugh...what's so funny?"

"Nothin'. Just figures is all," Daryl replied.

That got Aaron's full attention and Daryl finished off his piece of meat, even going so far as to suck the juices from his fingers loudly. Aaron openly stared at him, but Daryl found that he didn't even mind anymore.

"Figures, how?" Aaron prodded, his voice low.

"It's just how you pegged me for bein' good with motorcycles because you think I'm a redneck. I figured you would wimp out and not try the squirrel because you've gotten too soft for this world," Daryl explained.

"First off, I never called you a redneck. Those were your words, not mine. Second, I don't get how you think I'm soft. I've made it this far, haven't I? It sure as hell wasn't because of my looks." Aaron's voice rose a tad and Daryl could see that he had gotten under his skin. He hadn't ever seen him so flustered aside from the time when he had been arguing with Eric.

Daryl's expression changed to one of mild amusement as Aaron bit into his piece of meat. He chewed tentatively at first and as he got a good taste for it he took another much larger bite. Daryl simply waited, seated cross-legged by the fire as he polished off every bite. To his astonishment, Aaron even licked his own fingers afterwards. Daryl couldn't seem to look away even when Aaron let out a contented sigh and met his gaze.

"Damn you," Aaron muttered.

Daryl grinned, feeling quite pleased with himself. "You're welcome."

"No, 'I told you so'?" Aaron asked.

"What good would that do? You surprise me though. Not many people do anymore."

"Yes, well I couldn't very well let you get away with thinking I'm weak, now could I?" A small smile played across his lips.

"Don't think for a minute that just because you ate squirrel that you ain't soft anymore."

Daryl was enjoying the light banter between the two of them. He had missed this, he realized. The last time he had let his guard down enough to enjoy a conversation had been back at the prison. It was odd how things seemed so simple and then yet how they had been anything but.

"Don't underestimate me," Aaron said. His voice was calm and without threat, but Daryl could feel the truth in that statement.

"I never underestimate anyone."

Aaron leaned against the wheel of the car and stretched his long legs out in front of him. His gaze was lost in the low flames of the fire.

"I don't like killing," Aaron finally spoke softly. "I'll admit that I'm not cut out for it, but never doubt that I will if the situation calls for it. People like to think that because I'm gay that it makes me a liability."

Daryl scoffed. "That's stupid. You're free to like whoever the hell ya want."

"I wish everyone thought that way. Sadly, there are still small-minded people in the world. If gays were a minority before, imagine what we are now."

He looked so lost and sad in that moment that Daryl felt bad for him. Part of him wanted to comfort him and that confused him. He wished that he had some sort of advice to offer him, but this was really out of his territory and he had never been good at giving advice anyway. This was already the longest conversation that he could remember having in a long time.

"Does it bother you? ...That I'm gay? You seem uncomfortable."

"Nah, it doesn't bother me. I just don't know what to say I guess. Never been good at emotions and shit," Daryl replied.

"I figured as much. I spent quite a bit of time studying you and I knew you wouldn't be the type to judge. You're a good man."

What was he saying? Daryl wasn't sure he was following the conversation so well anymore. It felt like there were things that Aaron was trying to tell him and he wished that he would just come out and say it instead of talking around it.

"You get a lot of people that judge you?"

"Sometimes," Aaron admitted. He played with a stick, drawing random designs in the dirt beside him.

"Must be hard. You and Eric-" Daryl paused, trying to think how to phrase his words. "...you been together a long time?"

Aaron seemed surprised at the question and his eyebrows rose slightly. "Long enough," he replied. "It's...it's hard to explain. I don't think that things between us are the same as they used to be. I mean, I love him, but..." Aaron sighed resolutely and looked away.

"You're not in love with him." The words spilled forth from Daryl's lips almost as in an afterthought.

Aaron sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes jerking back up to meet Daryl's gaze across the flames. There was complete silence between them for the space of several heartbeats.

"Yes. I mean, no...God...you're very perceptive, you know that?" His expression was one of supreme conflict.

"We should get some sleep," Daryl suggested. "Long day tomorrow and daylight comes early."

The conversation had become nearly silent and strained...things that Daryl couldn't handle. Especially when his own emotions seemed so out of whack. He had never spent so much time getting to know someone one on one like this. It felt weird, yet strangely relaxing. He wasn't one to normally care much about a person's past, but yet he was drawn to Aaron in ways that he couldn't quite explain.

Carol and Rick had always been the two people left in this world that Daryl had always been closest to. It had taken months for him to build that trust between them to the extent that it was today.

Then why was he already feeling like he could trust Aaron like that? It was insane and he didn't know what to do with the realization. Trust had never been easy for him, but maybe he was getting a little soft himself. He shuddered at the thought, gnawing on the inside of his lip.

"Goodnight, Daryl."

Aaron lay down on his sleeping bag and rolled onto his side. Daryl remained seated and stared into the fire. He was tired, but his mind was working too hard for him to sleep. He kept staring at Aaron intermittently. He was feeling this insane urge to protect the other man and that baffled him. He pondered Rick's words from earlier and wondered if his friend wasn't on to something. Were they all letting their guard down too soon?

Whatever it was, Daryl only knew that he needed to keep his distance from Aaron - physically and emotionally.

...