Curative

Hey!
Just letting everyone know, there's a "Curative" AU now published! It's called Overpass and it's here on FFN and Quotev! I hope you enjoy :)

Her hand brushed down his shoulder to his chest, her sharp nails barely raking over his skin. A small sigh escaped her as she laid atop his firm body. She was content to stay there for days. Allowing him to catch his breath before they went again.

She wasn't sure if there would be another round. He was right when he said the second time would be better, neither of them anticipated the second time to be a few minutes after the first. Nor the third only ten minutes from the second.

Though they were both willing to continue, he didn't think it was physically possible to try. That and he couldn't deny he was feeling sorer by the minute. His aching body couldn't handle so much strenuous activity... and he felt raw. He had no desire to tell her where he felt that rawness. But she seemed so relaxed he was reluctant to get up.

The talk they had... it helped even if he still had some doubts. There were things he simply didn't know how to say and too much fear saying it would do more harm than good. While there was so much he felt he was holding onto, none of it could be made sense of right now.

What did make sense is how incredibly good he felt having her against him. There was no barrier of uncertainty or fear of hurting her anymore. He knew exactly what he could get away with having just done so not but twenty minutes ago.

He wondered if she could still bruise. During their rounds together he thought he might be hurting her or causing her discomfort. When she complained that he stopped to check on her, he knew he hadn't. At least, not in a way that wasn't pleasurable for her. It felt genuinely good to be able to give her that satisfaction and she reciprocated.

Something about those sounds and images in his head brought a sly smile to his face. He will admit that it took him a moment to adjust to the blue skin and the marks on her body. That curiousness lasted all of maybe five seconds before their night started.

After their trysts together, he stopped seeing the blue skin and scars as something to be worried about. It was hard to ignore when she arrived. Now when he looked at the contrast between her blue and his suntanned skin he found it interesting. He thought back to what Daisy said to him.

"When I stood beside her I felt special as if I was just like her..."

He ignored the thoughts threatening to take off, an old discussion from months ago about what do to if he was bitten. It was so long ago, so much had changed; now was not the time for it. He looked down at his chest, right at the end of his collarbone was the unmistakable punctures of teeth.

During a particularly passionate moment of the last hour, he had taken note of Laura's stunningly loud moaning. He had been worried someone might check on them, so in an attempt to curb that problem before it happened; he shushed her.

Shushing kept her moderately quieter for about thirty seconds before she went right back to screaming. He tried to place a hand over her mouth, but then she sucked on his finger and he really couldn't handle that. She tried though and in her attempt to quiet down, she bit him. It was fine at first, he didn't mind it. Until she applied pressure.

It hurt for sure, she sank her teeth on him rather mercilessly. At the moment he found it spurred him on. The pain and pleasure blended so much he didn't know it was happening.

Now he had something he just knew someone would ask about. His torso rose as he inhaled deeply, lifting Laura with. There would be questions, he would try to brush them off, but it was a bite wound. Not exactly something people take lightly these days. Rick and Carol would probably try to hide a giggle, Merle would make a dirty comment, he might catch a few looks from others, but it was all worth it.

Because right now he had his woman in his arms. He wasn't as scared for her as he had been, especially about sex. That first attempt on the farm had thoroughly scared him off from trying again. After the last hour or so that fear entirely vanished.

As he ran his hands along her back and sides, he thought about how comfortable he felt just lying here. He didn't want to go back so soon even if the others might be wondering where they went. That mattered so little compared to this rare moment of peace after the end of the world.

Having this now, this connection with someone made him wish he had it sooner. He missed out on a lot he never knew about. Kinship earned through hardships such as with Rick, the family he found in the group, and the love he shared with Laura.

It was a bit backward to think that the end of the world gave him everything he was missing. In a strange way, he had more now than he ever did before. He felt terrible for thinking it knowing how many people died along the way, how many loved ones this group had torn away from them. But for Daryl, he got more than he lost.

"Hey, baby girl." Daryl breathed as he dragged his hand from her back to the side of her face. "Time to go." He weaved his fingers in her messy hair, brushing the side of her face and basking in the softness.

Laura snuggled her head into his chest, faintly groaning in protest. "No..." Her breath felt cool on his skin, he could feel her huff softly and saw the thin strands of hair blow away from her face.

They didn't have much of a choice in this. Eventually, they would have to go back, make sure people knew they were still alive. If Laura and Daryl were lucky no one managed to overhear their lovemaking and they could return without any sly comments.

He would know if anyone heard because he knew the look they would give Glenn and Maggie. Daryl also gave the couple the same look, so he knew it well.

"Gotta' go some time. I need to eat, you've run me ragged, girl." Daryl chuckled lowly, watching as her head turned up so she could look at him.

Laura heard Daryl's quiet laugh, though not a hearty guffaw, a laugh nonetheless. It was so unexpected she hadn't seen him so... laid back. Everything seemed so normal in this moment together, something about seeing Daryl genuinely smile made her heart beat a little faster.

Well, not beat of course, but it made her feel like it was.

She offered the sweetest smile she could, gazing up at him dreamily. She didn't want to ruin this perfect bubble they had encased themselves in. The second they were out of this cell they would have to deal with the insane world around them.

If only for a bit Laura felt normal. In her head, she could see her apartment again, the tall walls and sheer curtains billowing in the gentle breeze. All her pillows surrounding them, a mountain of fluffy things that comforted her, and the draping canopy around her bed.

Losing herself in the daydream she could almost hear the music from her stereo system, the hum of her computer nearby. The city bright as ever, sounds of traffic so far below her apartment window.

It was sublime, this time to dream.

She felt his hand on her back rub over her shoulder blade, gently shaking her. The fantasy in her head vanished like a mist in the wind and she opened her eyes to see the concrete cell around them. Yet Daryl was still there, his warmth was real.

"Okay." Laura stretched out her arms and legs, grunting as she felt her aching muscles extend. Once she settled, she shifted until she was hovering just over Daryl's head and planted a kiss on his lips. He was fine with reciprocating, meeting Laura as best he could in his exhaustion.

She began a trail to his jaw which started to raise the temperature of the kiss. Her body laid directly on top of his, her legs to either side of his hips. His hands dropped to her thighs, raking his fingers up to the cup of her ass just to feel it in his hands.

Round four, he could tell she wanted it. But he just couldn't muster the energy to perform, though he was very willing.

Weary from the activity before, Daryl had to resist. "I don't got it in me, baby."

Laura pulled away, pouting. "Later?" It almost sounded like she was unsure about it. Which struck Daryl as odd because they had spent the last hour and then some going at each other like horny teenagers.

"I fuckin' hope so." He affirmed with noticeable intensity. "Ya' might not get tired, but I do. Don't mean I don't want more." His hand came up to the side of her face and she nestled into it. Turning her head in his hand, she kissed his palm.

She yielded to him quite easily, moving until she was able to slide off the cot. Her feet touched the cold hard stone keenly aware of the cold around her. She found this strange as she never really noticed the cold before. Dismissing it, she stretched out her back and sighed in relief.

It didn't take long before Daryl got up with her, approaching her from behind. His hands came around her midsection, pulling her back into him. He kissed her neck before releasing her to get dressed. Between them they shifted through the thrown off clothing, passing each other the correct clothes.

While she laced her shoes up, she looked up to see Daryl still shirtless. She watched as he rubbed over a spot on his collar. Curiosity struck her so she tightened her lace and approached him to see what he was so fixated on.

His mouth twitched as he pressed on the wounded spot. It would show just barely from the neck of his shirt, someone would see it. Those questions would be plentiful and the most awkward explanations he ever gives. He had to explain, of course, this is a bite, not a simple cut to be cleaned. A lot of people could get the wrong idea.

He didn't notice Laura reaching over, her hand touching just below the bite. Startled, he looked up to see concern etched across her features. The bite worried her, it bothered her. He didn't expect that reaction especially since she was the one that bit him.

"I'm... so sorry." Laura's brows raised, her expression between guilt and... fear? "I didn't mean to. It doesn't mean that. I'm sorry. It's safe, I can't-"

"Hey, hey. Calm, I ain't worried." Bringing his a hand to her upper arm he sought to slow her down. "I know ya' bite ain't deadly." He thought he was reassuring and, in a way, he was. It negated her fear of being persecuted as if her bites kill, it was a fear held over from Woodbury and Shane.

Laura blinked rapidly, shaking herself from those thoughts. "I- I know, it was just-"

"Don't. Ya' don't gotta' explain nothing, 'cause there is nothin' to explain." Daryl thought it was about her undead condition and the fear people would attack her for it. While that was a facet, it wasn't the whole. "Heat of the moment is all, I ain't complainin'."

All Laura could see is the bite on his collarbone, it had pierced the skin. Some flashes of other people she bit came to her mind. A hand, an arm, her teeth tearing into the flesh of someone's throat, ripping it out as blood poured over her. It was an unwelcome intrusion to her peace.

Looking at her blue hand on his chest she focused on the contrast of their skin. Just as he did earlier, only Laura saw the differences as a glaring problem with herself and her body. "You don't mind it... the weirdness of it all? I bit you, I'm undead, I'm blue..."

"I like the blue," Daryl interjected sincerely. "Think it's quickly becomin' my favorite color."

Laura burst out with a loud bark of laughter, completely taken off guard by his answer. It was the perfect thing to say and brought levity to her insecurities. He was serious about it, he liked the uniqueness of her appearance.

"Put your shirt on." She playfully pushed him away. While she left the cell smiling, he slipped on his shirt smiling back at her.

Once he picked up his crossbow, he was quick to follow her out. "Come on, Blue." He teased her, winking as he leads the way out of the cellblock.

Laura couldn't help feeling smiling at the name. "Hmm, I like that." Though Daryl didn't reply he heard her and he would be sure to use it.

Yes, as it were the term 'walk of shame' was painfully accurate. The very moment they returned a few people threw them some poorly veiled looks.

She wasn't entirely certain how they knew what Daryl and her got up to, but it was obvious at least some of them did. Especially when Laura met Carol's all-knowing gaze. Carol raised a brow and a tight smile she fought to hide.

Daryl was already heading over to get food while Laura took a seat at a metal table. She felt like she was standing under a spotlight so much attention was on her and Daryl. She wondered if this was the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to her.

She saw Carol of course, then Braddock and Glenn both sending similar looks. They had all eaten by now, the food had gone cold they arrived so late. All she wanted to do is hide in some small dark hole and wait until everyone forgets she even exists.

Naturally, Daryl hadn't noticed more than the few looks. Though he didn't want anyone walking in on them, them knowing didn't really matter. If they were so interested in his and Laura's sex life, then that's their problem. He was well aware if one person knew, everyone would know soon thereafter.

So he didn't spare a thought on them. He felt no shame in what he spent his time doing with Laura, everyone already knew they were together. In his mind why would it matter? Surprise, the people who are together in a romantic way also sleep together.

Didn't stop Laura from feeling like those looks were beating down on her. The awkwardness hanging in the air around her went right over Daryl's head.

The tension didn't last long once Rick entered the room, Hershel and Carl just behind him. The second Laura met his eyes she knew he knew. If only the group could hear the screaming in her head right now.

"Daryl," Rick addressed the man currently enjoying his meal. He flicked his eyes to the cellblock behind them, asking for a moment to talk. Daryl accepted with no fuss, leaving his bowl behind with Laura right behind him. There was a distinct unspoken rule it seemed; you can't have one without the other.

When Daryl and Laura passed Rick, they moved deeper into the cell block. Laura felt like she was about to be reprimanded like a child for sleeping with a boy. Oh god. She panicked internally, begging that Rick wasn't about to discuss anything that just happened.

As it happened, something else did happen while Daryl and Laura were away. An event that changed a lot more than they anticipated.

Laura stood rigid, her eyes laser-focused on Rick. If she could sweat she would be pouring from the stress she felt. The awkwardness of it being known she just had relations with a certain someone.

"The Governor wants to meet."

The mood shifted at the drop of his name. All the prior worries melted away to the seriousness of this situation. It was unlike the Governor to make any meeting arrangements with outside groups. Laura was certain this was a ploy of some kind.

Daryl spared Laura a watchful glance before returning to Rick. "Meet? Why?"

"Andrea's trying to sue for peace between Woodbury and us. Make some kinda' truce." Rick put his hands on his hips, obviously disturbed. "Give us all a chance to avoid a fight." It was impossible to tell off the bat if Rick did or did not approve of this meeting. He was leaving it up to Daryl to consider his own stance.

It took all but a second for Daryl to shake his head, "Nah, gotta' be a trap. Get us out in the open, the only thing between us and him is these walls."

Laura shrugged, "Most likely." She offered some insight, having been a part of his plans before. "When we'd find other groups the Governor often used a 'meet up' that would put them in a vulnerable position."

Rick nodded as he considered Laura's experience. Both options were possible, but no one including Rick believed this would be a genuine attempt for a truce. "What do you think he'll do?" Rick held Laura's gaze with a certain severity. "You, Merle, and Michonne know this guy better than any of us. I talked to Michonne, she thinks it's a trap. Merle... impossible to know what he really believes. But I trust you to tell me the truth and you've been around this guy."

Her expression softened upon hearing Rick's confidence in her. This was her rejoining the group, that inner circle she had been part of before the horde attacked. She was back in it and Rick held no doubts about his trust in her.

She wanted this, to be this person Rick could lean on. At the farm, they had created such a bond that they both divulged personal secrets to each other. Rick told her about Lori, Shane, the baby, his fears of leadership and failure. It was a good thing to have someone to talk to. And they both wanted that back.

"I think he will talk." Laura's answer was curious, both confused.

"So you believe this is legitimate?" Rick pressed her, his expression hardened. There was no plausible way that the Governor was interested in a truce. Even Daryl gave her a doubtful look.

She crossed her arms. "Let me finish." She quelled their doubts, "I think he'll talk, a lot. About him, about Woodbury and the men at his disposal. About how few of us there are and even less that can fight. We might have guns, but we lack strength."

Rick recognized what she was saying, "Try to convince us to surrender."

Laura huffed, "No. He doesn't care if we surrender. Out of all the groups he's had killed a few of them did try to surrender. He still killed them." Her tone was hard, trying to enforce the Governor's callousness. "He'll tell you what he's going to do to you and everyone else here. Anything he can imagine to inflict pain, he'll explain how he'll do it."

That definitely got through to Rick as the brief snarl she saw flash across his face. It was bad, they all knew that. The Governor still outnumbered them, though the prison had greater firepower. Now he needed to know if the Governor was truly willing to talk.

Which no one believed for a second he was willing. The longer this went on, the harder it was for everyone. The days dragged on while they waited for some sign there was light at the end of the tunnel. Each day only got darker.

When Markus and Oscar died the danger of their situation truly dawned on them. The terrifying reality that Woodbury was ready to die for this fight, their leader didn't care about lives lost. But Rick did, he didn't want to lose anyone else.

"We're meeting with him tomorrow. They're bringing some people with them, says they're his advisors. So I want mine with me." Rick was set with the idea this talk wouldn't resolve their conflict. "Hershel's coming with me. I want you both there too."

Daryl felt a distinct flare of concern for this plan. "We could be walkin' into a trap."

"We can handle it. And with Laura there she can scout the area we can't." Though Rick wasn't certain that the meeting wasn't a trap, Laura's statement did carry weight to him. "In and out, no complications. I'll meet with him and we'll talk."

"Laura just said he ain't likely to talk peace." Daryl insisted on the risk and reward imbalance. He couldn't quite understand why they were going to the meet up if nothing was to come from it.

With a deep sigh, Rick tried to assure Daryl. "I have to try. We can't lose any more people." He gestured towards the front of the cellblock. "Red's already looking to tear heads off. His people are either dead or incapacitated. Only Braddock's standing and he's barely keeping it together."

Daryl's mouth twitched, he still felt frustrated thinking about Red. "To hell with them. We all got the same enemy here. Governor's trynna' put a bullet in us too."

"It's not an us and them. We're in this together, they're part of this group." Something the entire prison accepted rather easily after so much had happened. "There can't be an us and them, okay? There just can't. We're likely gonna' end up fighting for this prison. We have to be together on this."

Not that Daryl truly needed convincing. He still harbored some dislike towards Red and what happened with Laura. Though he knew rationally it wasn't Red's doing, he had no control over Laura choosing to leave the group. Some part of him still held Red accountable.

Everyone had come together, united as a single front. Daryl retracted his statement fairly quickly after. "Yeah, alright. So we goin' tomorrow?"

"That's the plan. You, me, Hershel, Laura." Rick faced Laura, "I wouldn't ask you to be around the Governor. So you can stay away from the meeting point, all I am asking for is a lookout."

Laura gave him a single nod, "I'm with you, Rick."

"Alright then," Rick received a confirmed nod from Daryl too, the group was ready to move when the time came. "We'll talk on the way to the meeting point... In the meantime, maybe you two could try to get some rest. And I mean rest, I'll need you both sharp tomorrow."

"Oh, god." Laura turned away from Rick, embarrassed, and confused about how everyone seemed to know. Daryl and Rick both found it amusing, though Daryl sought to console Laura still grinning as she tried to hide her face.

With that, Rick left the couple alone. Their plans were set, tomorrow was the day Rick would finally meet the Governor face to face. It would be a tense exchange, but Rick wanted to say he tried to stop the fighting. Right now though, he needed to rest as well.

Daryl's hand came to her back, "Come on, Blue. Ain't that bad."

"How many people heard us?" Laura whined quietly, running a hand through her hair. She couldn't imagine walking in on someone like that.

"Us? They heard you. Hell, people in Woodbury coulda' heard ya'." The moment he said it, Laura gasped with a shocked expression on her face. She playfully went to smack his arm, but he moved away with a smug smirk on his face.

"You-!" Laura whispered screamed, "It- I wasn't-!" She groaned in defeat. It was fairly clear it was her that announced loud and proud exactly what was going on in that cell block.

Coming back to her, Daryl reached over to her waist. "Relax, I liked it... an' I wanna' hear more. See what other sounds ya' make, like when I-"

"Daryl!" Laura pointed sternly at his face. "Don't you dare! People could overhear, they're like twenty feet away." Her eyes darted towards the opposite side of the cellblock, nervously expecting someone to suddenly drop in on them.

"Certain they already know, Blue." Daryl drawled, unconcerned. "Ya' scream a lot, ya' also talk a lot."

Laura chewed on her bottom lip, sinking further into a pit of embarrassment she didn't know possible. "I... need a glass of water and to find a hole to bury myself in."

Again, Daryl chuckled at her. "Come on, I could clear out our entire food supply with how much ya' burned outta' me."

Another weak whine came from Laura. She did find it funny and truly loved seeing Daryl smile. It was worth being caught in the act, though the occasional knowing glance made her want to keel over. Still, she felt like they had managed to break through a barrier that had been stuck between them.

Not simply because they slept together, but rather because they were vulnerable together. As sappy as Laura felt it was, they had grown closer. Those insecurities they battled against began to fade away finally.

Jomobabe45:
Hehe, they do both need a hug. Like a big group hug. :)
They talked, it was like magic~ never thought they would actually open up and be honest. But they did, which is impressive considering their backgrounds!
I'm super glad to hear this story has been that engaging! I tend to prefer loooonnnnggg chapters in stories I like, so I wanted to do that for readers that like this story. But I realize there's a point someone might wanna take a break lol
Oh yeah, AionAI Law! I know I've neglected it so far. It was super fun to write, I just got really deep back into TWD. I'm happy to hear you like it, I have a tendency to just go off and write whatever pops into my head that I think is interesting.
Assassin's Creed was my jam for so long. Ezio is, naturally, mwah~!

Nameless Fable:
Hahahahaha it's been a long time coming! I'm honestly tempted to write more smut between them, but in order not to disrupt the story, I might solely post them on my tumblr. It's just harder to insert smut in chapters without interrupting the story flow. So if there's a demand for Lauryl smut, I will post more!
Plus the AU of this story will have smut too so :)

AtlasNerd:
Thank you kindly, I am excited to bring more! It's a short chapter, but we're preparing for something BIG

Gemini's Revenge:
Hehe, I'm glad you like it! They were very sweet on each other. I had hoped readers would feel emotional when reading Lauryl's heart to heart.
Thanks, I was super nervous about the smut in that chapter. I do enjoy smut stories too, I'm not squeamish about them. If there's a demand for Lauryl smut I will post more on my tumblr
Laura's body is medically dead, yes. Only her brain remains functional which is actually what doctors use to mark the death of a patient. But her body is dead. Which naturally means pregnancy is not viable in any possible way. That thought from Daryl realizing to himself that Laura is truly different. Another stepping stone for him to recognize that what Laura said before is true; she isn't like anyone else. When he would say she's 'no different, she's like the rest of the group' it put Laura in a position where she was trapped. Held to this impossible standard. Instead of supporting her as he thought, it was bringing her down. When he was worried about getting her pregnant and she said not to worry, he realized it wasn't possible. He's concerned if that bothers her, a lot of people want to be parents one day, but Laura is 100% incapable of it. There's no risk, just Daryl understanding Laura better. :)

Oh god yes, I actually was legit worried one day when I walked into the living room. She didn't respond at all and I was on the edge of freak out! I touched her foot and she shot up, going crazy cause she realized I was there.
Luckily, I'm a professional dog groomer. I'm paid to lift and control dogs all day, so I got practice trying to carrying german shepherds, labs, etc. My dog Tally is a greyhound, she's a very large female as they usually only get to 60lbs. She weighed 82lbs about 4 months ago before we put her on a diet to get her back to 70lbs.
I wish I could just compress her to a little dog and carry her out lol
Absolutely, I'm always happy to answer!

1.) Hmm, that's tough. Maybe a polar bear? I like being alone, I love the cold, and polar bears are giant and fluffy and I love fluffy.
2.) Let's say I have inspiration and do not procrastinate. 1k-2k words in about an hour. 5k-7k in about 4 hours. A completed chapter with motivation can be done within 10 hours. Approximately, I don't always keep track. But I can start trying to if you would like a more accurate answer.
3.) It's a tie between: Fried alligator and fried green tomatoes with remoulade sauce. But I also love cheesy shrimp grits. Beignets for dessert. An ice-cold coke or sweet tea to the side.

What about you!