Harry absently taps his finger on the map draped across his lap listening to the ambience from the others around him. The midday Georgian heat is held off by the shade of the tree he's leaning under. A statewide map in his lap is one of many inside the pamphlet he managed to acquire on the highway.
He had forgotten about it in light of Sophia's disappearance.
And as much as he appreciates Hershel's hospitality he doesn't want to stay in this poorly protected area any longer than they need to.
There are a few potential hot spots he has an eye on.
"Here," Daryl says breaking his concentration, Harry looks up at the gruff tone and offers a smile as he takes the bottle of water.
Daryl peers down at the map on his lap after sitting down next to him and asks, "Whatcha lookin at"
Harry gives him a side eye and takes a sip of water, "Just looking, you know as much as I that this isn't gonna last." He says, looking at Daryl and letting his gaze travel across the land they sit upon.
"I mean it's only a matter of time before someone finds this place, with how open it is, we're just sitting ducks. And that's not even talking about the hoards that could stumble upon us, I mean they aren't exactly the quietest group." Harry ends with a deep breath and he notices Daryl is just simply looking at him.
"What?"
Daryl stays silent for a moment then simply shakes his head with a rueful smile, "Nuthin, just thinking the same thing."
"What are you two pussies doing!?" Harry feels his lip twitch despite himself looking towards Merle as he waves his hand across the map.
"Talking shit about your small dick." He quips before he can stop himself.
Merle blinks in surprise for a second before howling in mock rage. "I ain't got no tiny dick!" He snarks raising his still bandaged fist towards Harry before his face smooths out into a leer.
"If you want proof, I'll let you have a go at ol Merle." Merle purrs as he plops down and hooks his muscular arm around Harry's thin neck tugging him into his warm body.
"I don't usually swing that way, but ya perky ass makes a delicious exception." He whispers seductively and Harry looks at Daryl for help, his face red and his blood pumping from the sensation of Merle's warm breath tickling his neck. The other Dixon is simply watching with a look of contemplation and fascination.
"Yeah, o-okay," he says, trying and failing to draw away from the bigger man who tightens his arm, refusing to let him go, Harry can't say he truly wants to leave the other side either; it's just too much.
Slumping in defeat he decides to continue his conversation with Daryl ignoring the smug expression in his peripheral "Where do you think we should be looking for?"
"Looking for what?" Merle asks leaning closer as he too peers down at the map, and Harry has to make a conscious effort not to focus on the feeling of his stubble brushing his shoulder as Merle rests his chin on it.
"A place for when this place fails."
Merle hums as he lifts his chin and gives Daryl a smug look, "knew you were the smart choice. Told ya we struck gold with this one, Darlina." He says hooking both arms around Harry and squeezing the poor man.
"I c-can't breathe." Harry wheezes only to sigh in relief as the brute pulls away with a laugh.
"Sorry little one, I forgot yur just a twig."
"I think you mean twink." Daryl chirps with a hint of mirth. Harry squawks, snapping his head toward the hunter with a gaping mouth while giving Daryl a look of betrayal.
"Daryl!"
"Good one Darlina!" Merle laughs only to cough as he's elbowed in the ribs by a petulant kitten in the form of Harry.
Still feeling petty about the twink comment Harry simply sniffs with all the haughtiness of Draco and ignores the two gruff laughs.
He continues making his way towards the two blossoming love birds as they seem to be debating on where to go for a supply run. Harry waves his hand getting their attention before they start to depart, "Hey, heard you two are going on a run, mind if I come?"
He has no real reason other than wanting to get away from this pretend paradise before he falls into the illusion out of sheer boredom.
Maggie turns around her expression, smoothing from one of mild irritation to a more kind one, "I don't care, I don't know if you are gonna wanna ride Nelly though she is a sketchy one." She says with a look of mischief, indicating to the horse stall where she and Glenn got their rides.
"Sketchy?" He asks with a hint of mirth, giving Glenn a nod in greeting as the other waves cheerfully.
She simply gives him a playful look and makes her way towards the stalls after handing her reign to Glenn, who takes it with a look of slight fear, "She's not called Nervous Nelly for Nuthin."
Nervous?
"Ah, I see," it's just his luck he's gotta deal with a creature who's unique.
"I'm pretty good with animals, so I'll risk it." He says thinking of Buckbeak and Gringotts dragon, so with a mental shrug he follows her.
She shrugs, "Don't come crying when he kicks ya off."
It's with a few finalizations they set out towards the nearest drugstore.
Harry definitely doesn't feel smug at the look of disappointment coming from Maggie as they all make their way towards town.
"Vindictive much," he teases to which she only scoffs playfully, Glenn too focused on steering his horse to add to the conversation.
"I don't want you dead or anything, just 'ave been funny to see ya get bucked off." She says with a teasing grin showing she means no harm.
He shakes his head while patting the horse below him on the neck, "It wouldn't be the first time I was plotted against." He mutters only to continue in a louder voice.
"So, what do you need at the drugstore? I doubt any of the good stuff will be there." Trying to make conversation.
She simply gives him a bland look, "Unlike you dick-having folk we girls have a flow we gotta deal with."
And Harry has the decency to blush, "Oh, I see."
He grew up with a sister in this life so it's not like he's unaware of the feminine problems it's just he's had enough trauma in his life thank you. He feels for the women of his life, both past and present. They practically experience a dose of the crucatic curse every month.
"You doing okay Glenn?" He asks as the other man yelps and tries to redirect the direction the horse is moving.
"I-I'm fine!" He says with no amount of certainty.
"Okay," he sings, feeling a little evil in the way he enjoys the vision of Glenn flailing.
Looking towards Maggie he can't help but quip, "You gonna help your man?" She flushes a bright red and glares at him but makes her way towards Glenn who is floundering in distress.
He decided to split up with the love birds after they hit the main street of the small town just about ten miles away from the farm. He took interest in the clothing section as the thought of the cold that is sure to come in, in about a month or so, depending on if he has his dates right.
He runs his fingers through the furred hood on a black coat and pulls his hands away deciding it would be too chunky, he moves through the isles while keeping an ear out for the duo across the wall in the convenience store.
His eyes catch the sight of kid clothes and he feels a grin light up as he walks around the stand he had been standing by and takes a closer look. The material is sturdy and the coats are unisex so he can get one for both kids. He pulls off a dark purple one for Sophia and a navy blue one for Carl. Spotting a backpack he folds the coats and stuffs them into the bag, and then finds a few miscellaneous pieces of clothes for anyone who might need them.
He is just about to leave when a leather biker jacket glints, catching his attention, feeling mischievous he pulls it down and fingers the lining. There isn't any embroidery or designs on it so Daryl can decide what he wants on it.
He doesn't know how to handle them and their lack of social boundaries. He isn't as oblivious as he used to be and can sense their interest in him, specifically Merle who is more forward with his flirting. Daryl is the silent type who speaks through actions instead of words, like how he always makes sure Harry has a meal first thing in the morning or invites him on his hunting trips, something Daryl uses as an escape.
"Maggie calm down!" Glenn's shout draws him out of his musings, he quickly hooks the vest on the backpack strap and rushes out.
He sees a frantic Maggie and a high-wired Glenn arguing.
"Hey! What's going on?" He asks jogging up to them, he takes in the blood on Glenn's wrist and assumes they encountered a walker.
Maggie gives him a feral look. "I almost died!" She screams making her way towards their horses, the only reason they didn't use the car is they wanted to preserve the gas for as long as possible.
"First time?" He mutters to himself while following them at a more steady pace.
A/n:
Sorry for the shortish chapter felt natural to stop there.
I'm curious on how Harry will react to the whole Randal situation.
How do you like the flirting too fast?