Trigger warning: Violence/Sexual.
Carol wasn't sure what Daryl was thinking. She trusted him implicitly so when he started moving and Donnie was still with them she said nothing. She wasn't ignorant to the man's looks and she knew Daryl wasn't either. It grated her nerves but something told her to be quiet every time she started to open her mouth. Of course they fought once or twice about it. Daryl was blood thirsty and more than his share of pent of anger. His eyes were furious any time he looked towards the man and Carol knew it was just a matter of time before Daryl lost it. Something kept nagging her though to give it time. Learning to trust her instincts was something that came with time so she listened. She listened and watched and bit her tongue, her hand never far from her knife.
Daryl was never far from her and his eyes always lingered. That was nothing new though and it was comforting that some things had yet to change. The world was fluid around them; always changing and always throwing them for a loop. But with Daryl he was steady as they go and she could always trust that hunger in his eyes to stay fixedly on her. There was something new in his eyes though that came with that same hunger she was use to from him. It was dark and feral, possessive. It seemed to inflame with each word Donnie spoke to her. Maybe that was why she kept staying his hand. She wanted to see that beast that danced behind his eyes finally come out. She wanted to play.
When his eyes weren't on her he seemed focused on something far away. She knew better. Sure he was focused but it wasn't so far away that she didn't know what it was. Donnie seemed oblivious and that was sad for the man. She wasn't sure how he made it this far. He was a annoying and too loud. Much to loud and he grated on Daryl's nerves. The clenching of his jaw and the set of his shoulders told her as much. Donnie though was a fool and seen nothing of it. He was delightfully oblivious to the danger he was in. Every time he opened his mouth or came too close to her Daryl's eyes tracked him like the predator he was. Daryl never spoke much in front of him and instead remained stoic and quiet. It was a lie. He was fighting a war in his head that was bloody and a losing battle. She was waiting for the fall out, she craved it. She wanted Daryl with her and not in his head. Merle would have slapped him already.
"You know where you'll head next?"
Carol sighed and rubbed her face. She was tired. Beyond tired. "We've not talked it over yet."
Donnie hummed and his eyes ran over her lingering on her throat and breast. Blowing out a breath Carol looked to the woods where Daryl was. He was hunting for them and she wanted to go but knew he was quicker on his own. He seemed to be up to something and she bit her lip as he left. Something was there in his face telling her to listen to him. Telling her this was her doing. She wanted to slap him. She missed Merle. Thinking of Merle holding Daryl down and making him spill the beans made her smile and she shook her head.
"I think we should head south." Donnie smiled at her.
Carol stared at him blandly before her eyes went back to the woods. This lack of a better word man was starting to really get on her nerves. All his smiling and charm was getting him nowhere with her and he had to see that. Was he fucking blind? She was Daryl's. Where the fuck was Daryl at?
"If we went south Carol the winters would be easier and we could get us a boat. Float out there on the water, enjoy the sun." He purred.
Donnie reached out and ran his fingers over her forearm. Carol recoiled violently. He was staring intently at her unmoved by her reaction to him. Instead of taking her reaction as a warning he instead smiled at her. His eyes flickered out of the window and to the woods where Daryl was. When he looked back at her the light green of his eyes was dark and stormy. He let out a long breath and shook his head.
"This isn't a holiday." Carol snapped. She didn't bother looking at him, "There is no vacation to be had."
"Your shadows not here." His voice was different, worse. "Stop this childish shit."
Carol sneered at him and he cocked a brow at her. He stepped closer to her and Carol stepped away. Heart pounding out a harsh rhythm her hand slid around to her belt and her chest constricted. Her hand met and empty sheath and he smiled at her again.
"You know I've watched you." He was shadowing her movements but not coming to close. "Since we met up a week ago and you're very consistent. You always do these little things that most would ignore. Like when you're thinking your hand tends to stray to your knife." He looked her over and smiled again like he'd won a prize.
Carol felt a headache coming on and wanted to reach out and slap him. She trusted her instincts and she trusted Daryl. Why would he leave her here alone with this man. Daryl plainly told her he didn't trust him and that she should watch herself. It didn't make sense. When Daryl decided that Shane was a threat he told her the same thing but he never gave her a chance to be alone with Shane. He was always there to intervene when Shane wanted to speak. So where was he now? Carol swallowed and longed for her knife to slide into his fucking eye and kill this son of a bitch. She'd be so adamant for so long she could take care of herself that she'd snapped and snarled at any word from him that she couldn't. The thought made her throat ache with the scream of anger wanting to erupt from her and call him back. Being away from him caused anxiety of the utmost degree and this wasn't helping.
"Panicking?" He laughed, "I'm not surprised. The women before you felt the same and they learned, like you will."
"Fuck you." Carol snapped.
He nodded his eyes again going outside. "Feeling brave without your guard?"
"I don't need a guard." Carol warned.
She would claw his fucking eyes out with her hands if she needed to. That same feeling she had when Daryl was in danger was starting to spread throughout her body. She felt adrenaline come to life in her blood and breathed deeply through her nose. She was ready for him to come at her. Knife or not she wouldn't go down easy. His eyes followed her and she watched them flicker as she ready herself for a fight. She smiled tilting her head and he didn't visibly flinch but something was different.
"You think you can fight me and get me out of here before he comes back?" Carol questioned. Her own voice sounded baleful and manic, a not unhinged.
He studied her and started circling her. "He's not back by now then I doubt he's coming back. Man's broke. He barely speaks, wasn't meant for this world." He snapped. "He's probably dead."
Carol barked out a laugh and he lunged at her. They clashed her back slamming into the wall. Pictures crashed around them- glass shattering around the fallen memories of past lives. Carol yelped when her head connected with the wall but forced herself to breathe through it. He wasn't backing down at all. He caught her wrist and jerked her hard off the wall the same time she tried to throw her weight away. She was pitched forward her momentum sending her down into the glass on her knees. The pain bit deep and hard into her but his grip on her wrist was crushing. She would have bruises and the thought pissed her off. No one marked her anymore, not without her consent. No one but Daryl touched her.
He was behind her before she could move and she hissed in pain as her arm was wrenched around behind her. He was behind her then his weight bearing on her with force. He was fighting for her other arm as she bucked trying to throw him off her. He hissed in pain when her head snapped back connecting with his head and she smiled. She hoped he bit his fucking tongue off.
He was up then and Carol tried to roll but it was cut off as he threw a well placed kicked to her ribs. Bright white light flashed in her eyes and she sucked in a sharp breath. He didn't hit her as hard as Ed ever had and she knew it wasn't broke from experience. She would have beautiful bruises to show though for his effort. Weak fuck, even Ed was more of a man than this. Trying to catch more air she was struggling to pull in breath. She felt herself being pulled and groaned. He was talking about her but the hit she took to the ribs and the head was starting to mess with her.
"Fucking bitch." He snarled, "I was going to give you a chance to have it easy." Shaking his head he came into her line of sight. His face was bloody and his nose looked weird. She smiled realizing she broke it and he made a face. His hand connected with her face and she felt her lip split. "I'm going to break you bitch. Leave you bloody for that motherfucker to have to put down."
Carol started laughing looking up at him. "If you make it a mile I'll be surprised." She hissed blood bubbling at the corner of her mouth.
Carol tried to move but he shoved her back down her knife coming into sight. Carol jerked back and he moved in then hitting his knees and grabbed her flipping her around. She felt panic increase as his weight came over her and she felt her own knife sliding up the back of her shirt splitting it. He was speaking to her but her heart was thundering in her ears. Not this. She wasn't this. She wasn't this woman anymore. Feeling bile rise in her throat at the prospect of being raped and left for Daryl to find.
"Stop." She felt blood drip onto her back from his broken nose.
He ignored her and jerked her shirt from her body causing her arms to buckle and sending her face down into the carpet. Her body was starting to shake and her mind was trying to pull her into the past. She made a vow to herself that this would never be her again.
"STOP!" Carol screamed her voice tearing out of her chest and his laugh mixed with it. More blood dripped to her back, each drop echoing in her ears.
"They all beg eventually!" He slapped her ass jarring her forward. "Let's say we get rid of these pants."
Carol tried to kick out at him but his weight was on her and her breath was staggered. His other hand was bearing down on the back of her neck forcing her breaths to slow. He was jerking harshly at her jeans and she closed her eyes. She felt his own jeans against her bare ass and bit her lips violently to hold back the tears threatening to spill. He would not break her. She would kill him. His hand slid over her hip making his way towards the juncture of her thighs. Trying to force her legs closed he leaned more into her stopping her breaths with his weight on her throat. He pushed himself against her his jeans rubbing aggressively. Her chest heaved and her stomach lurched.
Carol blinked suddenly when his weight lifted and tried to turn her head when his hand lifted off the back of her neck. Sucking in a deep breath she jerked suddenly when something splashed down over her back. It was warm and tacky with the smell of iron mingling. He moved from her suddenly and Carol's eyes widened when a bleeding out Donnie dropped next to her. His eyes wide and his hands clutching at his throat that was spraying blood in a sharp was cut almost surgically, deep.
Carol panted staring into his eyes watching the life bleed from them. A thud hit on the other side of her and she knew that sound. She smiled into Donnie's dimming eyes and his widened. Daryl's knife was no doubt buried into the floor right next to her. He hit his knees and pulled her up right. His hand caught her jaw forcing her eyes around to meet his eyes. They were wild and angry. Fury was rolling off him in sharp waves drowning out the sound of her own heart. Carol felt like she was drowning in the emotions coming off him as his worry smothered him.
She was blood soaked and naked staring into his eyes as he checked her over. Carol stared down at Donnie again and his hands clutched at his throat pitifully. Daryl gave him no chance of survival. He wouldn't have. It was futile fight and she gripped Daryl's wrist tightly needing an anchor. She'd felt this way before and he'd been there before. Tethering her to him and it'd yet to snap- they were tied together for life.
"Not even a mile." Carol laughed.
Daryl looked up at her from where he'd been checking her over and Carol laughed. He just arched a brow before his grip tightened on her hip holding her in place. His other hand was running over her ribs and Carol let out a breath.
"Not broke." His voice was rough. That husky anger dipped in fire licking up her spine. "Look at me." He ordered.
Carol met his eye and he looked at her eyes. Whatever he seen there had him smirking at her, a lopsided grin that made her thighs clench. His eyes went to Donnie and faster than she expected Daryl's spare knife was sunk into the side of his head. He moved then and she was up off the floor before she could tear her eyes off the lifeless man. He was moving already and it took her a second to realize he had her in his arms.
He dumped her down onto the bed. Carol swallowed and watched him. There was something in them that pulled beneath the surface. It was consuming, the lack of self control was invigorating. Whatever animal he'd been fighting behind his eyes since she met him finally won. He was stalking her alone with his eyes and she nodded her head, a barely there move but it was all he needed. Daryl would never take advantage of her. Even as she seen that crack deepen and that animal slipping out he kept her safe.
He flipped her onto her stomach and jerked her towards the foot of the bed. His hand ran over her bare ass growl rumbling deep in his chest.
"He marked you." His voice had heat pooling deep in her stomach and her arousal dripping down her thighs. The anger and need in his voice for her alone was like a drug. The possessiveness radiating from him like her next hit.
Carol looked over her shoulder lifting her hips towards him. She felt no shame as her ass swayed and her legs spread. "You killed him."
He met her eyes and his hand traced the marks left on her ass. He stepped into her then and she bit her lip at the friction of him pressed into her gave. It'd been so long since they'd been able to be together. She needed to feel him driving into her. She wanted what only he could give her.
His nostrils flared and ran over her bare body before lingering on her back. Letting her eyes follow his own eyes she realized he was looking at the blood that was drenching her back and sides.
"Carol." His voice deepened, "Did he do anything else?"
Carol shook her head but frowned when he wasn't looking at her. His grip was tight on her hip holding her where she was.
"No, you killed him before he could." Her voice softened. His eyes shot to hers, "He didn't take what was yours."
His eyes darkened and let her hip go. He was working his belt open then and she took a breath. The look in his eyes was warning her away from him. She seen this same look the night Sophia was found and Merle died. He wasn't exactly in control of himself but since when were they? Her and Daryl always danced to a different tune when it came to each other.
His belt hit the bed next to her and his boots thudded causing her chest to heave. She laid her head sideways watching him and lifted her hips when his jeans fell away. He slapped her ass roughly his fingers meeting the skin just at her pussy and lifted her onto the bed crawling up behind her. She hissed through her teeth as he jerked her hips back up and shoved her legs wider. Her hand caught the headboard bracing herself.
"I don't think I can be easy." He warned through clenched teeth.
Carol shook her head, "Don't want easy. Need you."
He groaned and she felt his cock slide through her lips teasing her. Carol whined in her throat but it cut off abruptly when he slammed into her completely. Her hand tightened around the headboard as her body bucked. His hands crashed down on each side of her his chest meeting her back. The slide of their bodies aided by the blood still coating her.
"Fuck I forgot how tight you were." He groaned into the side of her neck.
Carol panted waiting on him to move. She could feel herself already close. She'd been close since realizing that Daryl killed the motherfucker. Since feeling his blood splash around her and watching the light leave his eyes. She was Daryl's. Daryl's only.
His hips shifted and Carol let out a breath. His thrust had his chest moving along her back as his muscles rolled and moved. Each thrust drove him into her harder. The only sounds that of their breathing and his body crashing into hers violently. Carol groaned with each thrust unable to form words. He dropped to his elbows while one of his arms slid underneath her. He held her tightly to him his hand cupping her breast. His teeth slid along her neck his pace never slowing. He was a man possessed.
"Mine." He snarled.
Carol tried to speak but her words were broken between his thrust. He bit deeper into her neck and she felt his teeth break through the skin and him growl. Every thought she ever had that there was a beast hidden in the Dixon's eyes flashed brightly through her mind. Each of his movements were full of a predator's grace and strength. She was going to be bruised and sore in the best kind of way.
He shifted away from her suddenly and jerked her upright before flipping around and she was straddling him. Carol panted looking down at him. His eyes were dark, no hint of blue. She gripped him tightly in her hand and slid back down his length. It was a rare thing for Daryl to ever flip them and let her take the lead. He never let himself be put in this position. He liked control and she willingly gave it to him, the first time in her life.
Her eyes ran over him and she sucked in a breath seeing the blood coating his sweat slick chest. It highlighted the contours of his chest and stomach and brought her attention to his hips and the muscle leading to where they were joined. He was beautiful. Carol growled in her chest at the thought of him and circled her hips grinding down into him. Hands planting on his chest he gripped her hips steadying her. She rolled her hips into him watching him fight to keep from taking over. Her eyes went to his mouth as they worked together hips meeting in perfect sync. His lips were tinted red and his mouth, her blood. He'd bit her. He marked her.
He groaned at her reaction and she dropped forward feeling his body getting tense. He was close.
"Mine." Carol warned.
He met her eyes and she leaned down and bit him harshly. His arms wrapped around her and he drove himself up into her harder and faster. His hand dropped to her ass pushing her into his thrust as they both fell over the ledge together. His name tore from her lips as she buried her face in his throat howling. His grip around her never released and he held her tightly as their bodies jerked with aftershocks. Carol lifted her head from his throat and their mouths crashed. His hand slid into her hair gripping it tightly as he devoured her. She could taste herself on him and felt her core tighten causing him to groan and break away from her. She smiled and buried her face under his chin breathing him in.
They laid there breathing heavily their hearts settling. Carol pushed up and he let his arms fall to the side letting her up. Carol made no move to leave him but instead set up her weight bearing down on him. He grunted at the sensation and grit his teeth. He was still sensitive being buried in her. Carol met his eyes and they flashed.
"Where were you?"
He ran his eyes over her and she huffed. "Closer than you think."
Carol swiped the sweat gathering and ran her hands over her head before they settled on her hips. He cocked a brow at her and his eyes dropped to her breast again. She looked down and realized they were both soaked in Donnie's blood and now their own. His throat was bleeding freely and she was sure hers was probably too.
"What the fuck does that mean Daryl?"
His eyes shot to hers and she swallowed. That animal wasn't receding like it did times before. With Sophia is flashed and lit the world up briefly before it tucked itself away. It's what drove her to pushing him most of the time just to get to dance with it. With Merle it lingered a bit longer but eventually it was gone. Now though she could see that fissure she herself felt. He wasn't broke, Donnie was wrong. They were free.
"What do you think?" He questioned, "I told you what he wanted."
Carol grit her teeth. She remembered this conversation. He told her that Donnie was a freak and she dismissed it. Sure there was something off but she didn't think he'd try to rape her. Especially knowing that she wasn't scared of him and with Daryl there.
"Did you even go into the woods?"
He smiled at her his canines flashing and tinted red with her blood, "Yes." He set up and braced himself on one arm as the other traveled over her. He wasn't shy like some of the others thought. Maybe with them but not with her. He made tracks in the blood and met her eyes, "I looked around made sure there was no one or walkers out there before doubling back."
Carol bit her lip as he pinched her nipple. He watched her knowing what he was doing. She could feel him already getting hard again still being buried in her.
"Carol unless you're ready to go again get off my lap." He warned.
She shook her head. "You used me as bait to kill him."
"No, if I wanted to kill I would have walked up and done it that first night. I done what you wanted me to Carol." His voice was sardonic and he chuckled, "You didn't trust me. I told you and you told me I was over reacting."
Carol grit her teeth and bit her retort back. He was right. She'd told him to just separate from the man when they got him checked over and were ready to leave the area. If Daryl was hurt as bad as she'd thought an extra set of hands to fight walkers would be good. It wasn't guilt for the men she'd killed already but the fear of something happening. Daryl was hurt and didn't want Donnie to get the upper hand. Of course she didn't tell him that because he would have gotten pissed off but she naturally worried goddamn it.
"You trust me?" He questioned.
Carol nodded. "What now?"
He shifted and swung his legs around off the bed with her still in his lap. "Depends Carol." He groaned as her weighted settled more into him. "How fucking mad are you exactly?"
Carol didn't need to ask what he was talking about. Rick Grimes. So called guardian and leader of their group. She thought time would wash away their pain but it stung deep. There was something to be said for killing the king of deceit. He'd endangered Daryl, he'd kicked her out and they almost lost each other, and he was a piece of shit. Hell he all but abandoned Lori and if it wasn't for Daryl the woman would have starved. The entire group would have. Judith would have died after the birth but Rick never seen that. He seen himself as untouchable, someone who done no fucking wrong.
Carol met his eyes and rolled her hips the thought of Rick's blood puddling around her and Daryl making her moan. Rick Grimes didn't fucking break them. He tried to separate them, he sacrificed Daryl, and he left them for dead. Daryl's arms wrapped around her balancing her as she rode him harder. His eyes were lowered watching himself disappearing into her. They'd sacrificed more than enough of themselves for that man. Not anymore.
"Furious."