Burned Into Your Soul
AN: Seems fanfic is now aware of the problem of no one getting notifications. Hope the update message I got fixes the problem. Anywho, they have now seen each other. Let's see what happens shall we? This is an AU, so not everything will be the same as the show, obviously. If you like it, leave a review!
Ch 4
The new arrivals had been there for 3 days and Beth was getting frustrated. Daryl had made himself scarce from the first day. Once the group had gotten their tents and such set up in the yard, Daryl had headed toward the woods surrounding the house. He hadn't said one word to her or anyone. And he hadn't returned yet.
"Probably lookin' for squirrels or whatnot," had been the answer she had received when she asked why he had left. She knew he was alright. Her soulmark still burned slightly, so she wasn't overly concerned yet.
How can I get ta know him if he won't stay here!
Early on the 4th morning, Beth woke up to her soulmark burning stronger. Daryl's back! Not thinking about anything else, she raced down the stairs and ran outside. She saw him as he exited the woods, several squirrels on a rope around his waist. A couple of rabbits hung from ropes wrapped around his torso. He was rubbing his arm almost absently. Beth couldn't help but think how sexy he looked like that. She raced out into the yard.
"Daryl!" She cried out, forgetting how early it was and the fact that others were still sleeping. He looked up at her cry, and his eyes widened. He dropped his crossbow and the meat by his tent at the edge of the property before turning in her direction, a scowl on his face.
"The fuck ya doin' out here, girl?" Daryl growled out. Beth stopped moving, realizing this was the first time she had heard his voice. It sounded like gravel mixed with velvet. She felt her heart speed up.
"I was worried about ya. Ya just took off and left with no word to anyone," Beth told him.
Daryl scoffed. "Don' need no fuckin' babysitter. I don' answer to ya or anyone else."
Beth bristled at his words. "I just wanted to make sure ya were alright. Ya don't have to swear at me." This isn't going how I thought it would!
Daryl chuckled. "Ya the perfect daughter, ain't ya? Bet ya ain't never swore a day in yer life, have ya?"
Why is he acting like this? Isn't he feelin' the same way I am? Am I wrong about him being my soulmate? NO! His initials match my arm AND he has a crossbow. He HAS to be my soulmate!
While Daryl waited for an answer, he covertly studied Beth. She was pretty with her blonde hair flying around her. She had run outside in a skimpy tank top and short shorts that hugged her hips. His mouth started watering. What would she do if I grabbed her and… NO! She deserves better than yer dumb ass. Just keep her at arms length like ya planned ta.
"I'm not perfect and I don't claim ta be. Besides, daddy don't like us swearin," Beth told him, now embarrassed at her rash decision to come outside.
Daryl outright laughed at that one. "So yer a daddy's girl, huh? He know ya out here runnin' round in them skimpy ass clothes? And talkin' ta a man twice yer age?"
For the first time, Beth realized she had run outside without a robe or anything. She blushed and looked at the ground in front of her. Just say it to him…
Beth cleared her throat and finally looked into Daryl's eyes. "I was worried 'bout ya cause I know yer my soulmate." She raised her arm, and showed him the soulmark there. Daryl stared at the Double D as well as the crossbow there. He drew in a painful breath. There it is. All the answer ya need. "Can I see yers?"
Shaking, Daryl slowly raised his arm and showed her his mark. Beth drew in a sharp breath as she saw the BG and the music note on his skin. She reached up to trace the mark, but Daryl quickly stepped back out of her reach. Beth frowned, her hand dropping.
Daryl ran his hand through his short hair. Damn it! Now ya hurt her feelin's, asshole. He dropped his hand, trying to think of how to fix what just happened. Wait a second! Why do ya wanna fix it? Let her see ya for the asshole ya are. Maybe she'll run tail all on her own and ya won't have ta hurt her again…
"Don' mean nothin' but trouble fer ya," Daryl told her plainly. "Bein' soulmates, I mean. Ya don' wan' someone like me ta be yer soulmate. Ya got a whole life 'head of ya. Don' need me messin' that up on ya." A strange buzzing had begun in his head.
Beth looked perplexed. "What are ya sayin'? Are ya… rejectin' me as yer soulmate?" A strange buzzing had begun in her head.
"Be better fer ya if I did. Ya still young and could find someone better suited to ya," Daryl said, noticing his head was starting to ache. He could feel his heart start to race. He raised a hand and rubbed the side of his head. His vision was going black around the edges. He shook his head, trying to clear it. What the fuck is goin' on?
Beth was experiencing the same thing. She tried shaking it off. "That's the whole point of a soulmate. Yer the one that's best suited to me! And, in case ya forgot, the world pretty much ended! Where ya expectin' me ta meet someone else?" Beth noticed it was getting harder for her to breathe. She whimpered as pain began to radiate along her entire body. She reached out blindly as she felt herself falling.
Daryl heard her whimper, but he felt like he was under water. Everything was roaring around him, and his entire body felt like it was on fire. He fell forward, reaching out blindly.
The last thing either of them felt before they hit the ground, unconscious, was their bodies colliding against each other. They never heard several voices cry out in alarm.