Short chapter! Sorry! Enjoy! :)

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"Hey, is everything okay? You've been really quiet tonight."

Aaron turned to his Eric and attempted a reassuring smile, but even his best effort still felt lame and unconvincing. It felt ten shades of wrong to lie, but what else was he supposed to do? If he told him what was constantly running through his mind it would destroy him.

Daryl kissed me. And I liked it. I liked it so much that I want to do it again.

Aaron groaned at his own thoughts and rolled over in the bed, giving Eric his back. Usually by this time they would be wrapped up in an intimate embrace, but Aaron couldn't bring himself to touch him. It felt wrong and it was all Daryl's fault.

Or was it? Aaron definitely hadn't pushed the other man away. What did that mean? Was Daryl gay?

He couldn't stop reliving the kiss that had shaken him to his core. The feel of Daryl's hard body pressed up against his own, lips hot and demanding. Daryl had a way of commanding attention even when he didn't realize it. Well, he definitely had Aaron's attention.

He frowned down at the tent forming in his jogging pants. Apparently Daryl had all of Aaron's attention.

Familiar hands slid around his hips, slender arms brushing across his tent. Aaron closed his eyes and tried to force himself to be in the moment, to feel Eric's hands on him. But even with his eyes closed he still saw Daryl, still felt those lips slanting forcefully across his own.

"Not tonight, Eric," he whispered. He felt Eric pause and he knew if he turned he would see the look of shock and maybe even hurt on his face. It hurt him, but he wouldn't do that to Eric. It wasn't fair and he wasn't that man.

"Oh, well if you're sure..."

Aaron nodded quickly and gave Eric's hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm just tired. Didn't sleep very well and all."

"Of course. I understand. I bet it was different being with Daryl, huh? He push you too hard?" Eric asked.

Aaron stiffened, "What?"

Eric slid closer and pressed his face into the curve of Aaron's neck as his fingers played with the shirt that spanned his chest. "He just doesn't strike me as the type of guy who sits down to rest much. He seems nice enough from the times we've had him over, but he also seems a little high strung."

"It's late. Can we talk tomorrow? I've been with Daryl for a while now and I kind of need a break." Aaron forced a laugh, causing Eric to chuckle behind him.

"Sure. Sleep well, handsome."

Eric's lips pressed against his neck and Aaron closed his eyes and tried to feign sleep. It was going to be a long night.

Daryl followed Aaron as he left his house, silently stalking him as he weaved between the houses. He was drawn to everything about him - his walk, the way he ran his hand through his hair, the ability he had to draw people in, and from this point of view? His ass.

Daryl couldn't stop looking at it.

He knew it was wrong to follow the man, but ever since that kiss he couldn't get the guy out of his head. He needed to touch him again or something.

Or something. He didn't really want to think about what that meant.

Aaron paused near the fence, reaching into his pocket in search of something. His face was partially visible, the frown that creased his perfect lips beckoning to Daryl. He didn't even realize that his boots were taking him closer until Aaron glanced up with a startled expression.

His face darkened with an unrecognizable emotion as he took in Daryl's approaching figure. Only Daryl didn't stop as he drew closer. He kept coming, his long legs eating up the distance between them until he had Aaron backed up against the fence. It was exactly where he wanted him and his dick twitched in his jeans, eager for an interaction.

He wasted no time with words. Instead he took what he wanted, grabbing the back of Aaron's head firmly as he smashed their lips together.

Aaron groaned and the sound encouraged Daryl, made him feel so powerful that he pushed his hips forward, their pelvises brushing.

"Get up," Aaron said as Daryl broke free to draw in a breath.

Daryl frowned in confusion, "What?"

"Hey!"

Daryl jerked forward with a start, his eyes blinking open wearily. Automatically his hand went for his knife, tension etched across his face. As his fingers grazed the handle Rick's face finally came into view and it was then that Daryl realized where he was and what was happening.

He wasn't outside following Aaron around just so he could kiss him again. He was inside sleeping on the couch, still fully clothed and apparently Rick had decided to wake him up.

Fuck.

"What?" He snapped, his voice coming out more irritated than he had intended. Rick's eyebrows raised at the tone even as his eyes assessed him. Daryl hated that Rick could read him better than most others.

"Good mornin' to you too, sunshine," Rick joked.

Daryl growled in response, shooting him the finger half-heartedly. Rick chuckled as Daryl pulled himself into a sitting position, the palms of his hands rubbing at his sleep-heavy eyes.

"Time's it?"

"Eight. Which means you overslept. Some of the others were worried when they didn't see you this morning so I came to check up on you. It's not like you to sleep so late. You alright?" Rick propped himself on the arm of the couch and stared down at Daryl with worry.

"Is it really eight? Fuck. I didn't sleep very well," he admitted.

"Wanna talk about it?" Rick offered.

Daryl snorted as he wiped at his face. He needed a shower and he needed to find something to do. He needed to stay occupied while he tried to sort this shit out in his head.

"Nothin' to talk about," Daryl replied. "Just overslept is all. Didn't know it was a crime these days, Grimes."

"It is if you're Daryl Dixon," Rick said with a smile.

Daryl scowled in response. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Hey, take it easy," Rick soothed. "I just wanted to check on you and make sure you were alright. It's not like you to change up like that."

For reasons he didn't fully comprehend - or maybe didn't want to comprehend, Daryl bristled at that comment. He stood up from the couch and Rick mirrored his movements.

"It ain't like me, huh? Well, what the hell do you think you actually know about me, Rick?"

Rick's mouth dropped slightly and he simply stared at Daryl as if he had never seen the man before. Daryl wasn't even mad with Rick, but he couldn't find it in himself to apologize for his words. Not when he was still in such a fragile sense of mind from yesterday. The day he had kissed another man.

Now he was supposed to just carry on his day like nothing had happened? Like his whole world hadn't changed? Yeah, right. So what if he had slept late for once? Was that even a crime? What if he wanted to change things up a bit? Maybe he didn't want to do everything the same old way anymore. It wasn't like he had to remain the same for the rest of his life.

It wasn't even a big deal.

It was just a kiss.

Except it wasn't just a kiss and Daryl was a fool for pretending it was.

Maybe it was a revelation...a new beginning.

Maybe he was fucked.