Waking up to the sound of outside activity isn't something new, waking up to the sound of ten extra people bustling around is something that he'll have to get used to again after so many days staying isolated on the farm.
Running a hand through his hair Ezra sits up and gets out of bed letting out a yawn as he stretches out his back. Shifting through his clothes he finds some plain gray sweats and graphic-T to change into wondering how long he'll have before he doesn't have this luxury of changing clothing every day. He finds his black running shoes and slips them on over his socked feet, ones with smiley faces on them.
Ezra drums his fingers across his desk as he walks over to it and leans under moving aside his to-go bag to open a small box tucked in the corner to check and see his stash of paraphernalia. He grins to himself as he uncorks the glass vial long enough to contain a couple of joints and keep them from drying out too soon.
Luckily he had a buddy who made decent butter and asked him to press the rest before this all went to shit.
He didn't know when the apocalypse was going to happen but when he saw an article on the news about a county cop being shot.
Ezra ultimately shuts the box without taking anything out, with everyone out and about he doesn't want to risk getting caught and dealing with the drama. He should probably go see and say hi to everyone.
Looking out the window his eyes catch the buzzed head of Carol and he winces, his eyes instinctively going to the barn where they find her daughter. He should see if the girl is still there because if she isn't, maybe he still has a chance to do something. He's going to have to be discreet about it if he does.
Is he seriously contemplating going into the barn full of flesh-eating people to see if a little girl he doesn't even know is alive or not?
"I must be crazy," he mutters to himself, reconsidering that joint.
Ezra exits his room and goes down the hall towards the stairs and makes his way to the kitchen. He can hear the ambiance of the Greene's quietly consoling Patricia about Otis and he withholds a wince as he enters the room, instead, he offers them all a tired smile and goes for a glass of water and takes a piece of Patricia's homemade bread.
Hershel is talking to the widow as he takes a bite of the toast, "He wouldn't want you to be grieving his death, he would want you to remember the joy he brought. I know it's hard right now, but we have to be strong and have faith in our lord that all is for a reason."
Ezra gives a small nod beside her and agrees telling her, "That boy is breathing because of your husband. Don't let his sacrifice be in vain, wear his departure like a bag of honor." He looks around the room giving Beth a small smile, "We are all that remains of those who aren't with us anymore, it's only fair that we fight to live in their honor to preserve their memories."
"And the only way to do that is staying alive." He ducks his head feeling bashful as he takes in their expressions.
"Sorry, I just couldn't help myself," he mutters.
Hershel shakes his head, "No, son, that's an amazing way to look at things," he says, his eyes warm with unknown emotions.
He claps Ezra on the back as he passes by, "with the boy's father up and about I think I'll give them a check-up," he says walking out.
Ezra grunts as he's pulled into a headlock, "When did you become so suave with your words, huh pretty boy?" Maggie asks, only letting go after he admits she's the best horse rider in Georgia.
Maggie must still be on about Mimsy winning over that technicality, he thinks. Their rivalry had been one of the most entertaining, especially when they were fighting over the boy he was messing around with.
"I saw that you gave that one cop your favorite sleeping shirt," Ezra feels a flush rise at her bait, he sniffs not falling for it.
"He's a tall man, it's the only one I had that would have fit him," he defends and that is the truth.
Maggie merely wiggled her brows, "You sure it doesn't have to do with the fact that-" he shoved a piece of bread into her mouth feeling horror rise upon seeing the figure of their conversation darken the archway.
"Uh, I was just going to return this." The tall hunk of a giant says running his hand over his buzzed head.
"Thanks, by the way, I don't think I could pull off the overalls." Shane jokes, making him cough out a laugh, as his mind supplies an image of the man in just overalls.
"Yeah, you seem too much of a city boy to me," he says and feels like dying at the snicker coming from the two girls still in the room. At least Patricia has the maturity to give him a sense of dignity.
Shane gives him a light-hearted laugh, "I think I'd surprise you," the man's voice goes lower for a second causing Ezra to want to do something stupid.
Settling on an easy grin, he says, "I'm sure with those arms," and now he wants to die.
"Oh these?" Shane says, flexing one of them for a second before shrugging like he didn't just give him a heart attack, his eyes full of self-pride as he continues, "I can't subdue a criminal if I can't hold them down."
Then he remembers he's no longer a cop and sighs, "Well not that it matters now,"
"Well you seem like a good one," he says, and feeling awkward he takes the offered shirt from Shane and then proceeds to shove the plate of food in his now unoccupied hands before making a hasty escape using the excuse about not being hungry and needing to tend to the barn.
Not seeing the shared look of amusement between Beth and Maggie.
"That's a nasty cut there." He says as an icebreaker while walking up to T-Dog.
He offers the burly man a sympathetic smile while shaking a prescription of heavy painkillers, "had these tucked away from when I had an accident way back before and thought you could use the rest of them, was saving them for a way out but you seem to need it more,"
"Jeez man," T-Dog says
He laughs lightly, waving away the big guy's concerns, "I'm just kidding man."
"Howdy partna', Ezra, is the name." He says with a thick western accent trying to lighten the mood as he holds out the bottle.
"T-dog," the man supplies, taking the meds with a thankful nod.
"I heard y'all are missing a little girl," Ezra starts with a low tone not wanting to draw attention.
T-dog grimaces, "Yeah, Daryl, one of our guys, is out there now searching for her. I hope luck is on her side but I don't know man." He admits feeling guilty for even thinking of that.
"That's rough, can I have a description? I know these woods pretty well and I can give my shot at finding the poor girl. I would ask her mom but I feel she's already dealing with enough." Ezra has to keep up the pretenses, and he wouldn't know how Sophia looks.
T-Dog gives a sad look towards the forest, "She's a sweet little thing. Shy cause of her daddy, but a kind soul."
He looks back to look at the smaller man, "She's around Carl's age, the boy you helped save, thanks by the way."
Ezra just waves the thanks away, "I didn't do much."
"Still man." T-Dog insists.
"I didn't pay attention to her clothing, but she is a redhead and is thinner than a twig," T-Dog says, with a shrug feeling useless.
Ezra shakes his head, "No that's enough thanks," as he already knew the girl's appearance.
A thought comes to mind as he walks away, "Do you know which direction your guy went? I don't want to search in the same place."
"Yeah, he went that way," T- Dog says pointing towards the southeast.
"Thanks,"
"Good luck! Brotha'!" T-Dog calls in thanks, assuming that the other is going to go search on his own.
Standing before the barn he takes a deep breath, this is the moment he'll discover if he has the chance to find Sophia.
Even if she is dead and simply wondering, Ezra will stake her down and bring her back for her mother to mourn. If she is still alive, then maybe it will be a sign that he can make this shit hole of a world better than its counterpart.
He chose now because the majority of the camp is busy in the house and the ones outside are out of the barn's line of sight. Pocketing the flashlight he climbs up the ladder to the overhang where Patrica wastes their stock feeding the fuckers.
Quietly crawling into the window he cautiously peers over the edge. It's with a wince that he quickly shines the light across the small area and searches for a small figure. He does it three times before he slumps in relief at seeing the lack of Sophia.
Maybe he still has a chance.
"What are you doing?" Ezra jolts in surprise, turning around with wide eyes.
A/n:
Okay, so it may seem like they are moving fast, but Shane is shown to move on quickly (physically) and he enjoys the attention.
Ezra is mainly fangirling over the hot cop who looks like his celebrity crush at this point.
I'm not planning any bashing so don't expect me to make Lori an unnecessary obstacle or make unnecessary waves.
And there won't be any "cheating" tho in this case I mean that Shane won't be sleeping with anyone that isn't Ezra since they aren't together yet.
Ezra will be getting major brownie points from Shane when he makes the man realize that no one can force him not to interact with his own child.
Plus I always felt Lori was just saying things out of fear more than finality.
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