Merle had to hold back from laughing his ass off. This shit was damn near priceless. Andrea was like a chicken whose head had been lopped off.
Sugartits had been run ragged for almost a full week and she wasn't lookin' as fine as she usually did. Everyone had been turnin' to the bitch for everything.
Fuckin' everyone.
Suzie had been askin' what she should cook for dinners, an' if Andrea would be runnin' self defense classes like Lara. Eastwood had been talkin' Andrea's ear off about crops an' farmin' shit. Kill Bill had been going to the bitch daily about small disputes the group had been having. Grey had asked her in that slightly dotty way of hers what mushrooms she thought she should forage and if they group would like nettle soup that week as the nettles were just perfect for picking around there. Red, Backer and even Darylina had got in on the act as well. Everyone but Oscar, then the man was getting laid by the woman so ya couldn't expect it of him. Merle had caught Oscar twice though asking her opinion on something he wouldn't have even brought up to Lara, she'd have just given him the go ahead an' he knew it so would do it regardless.
All of them had brought forth things they needed for runs as well. It was perfect. Grade A bullshit. The first run was the next day though and he thought Lara was close to another break down. She kept asking Merle if he knew who the team was yet or where the fuck they were going.
He didn't. And it did worry him a bit. Lara was going out there with the bitch with no plan that he could tell. He reckoned his lil' bro would be in the group too. Andrea fancied her chances with him still, dumb as a fuckin' rock that one.
Between Kill Bill, Heidi and Daryl they'd just about managed to stop Lara from going nuclear. And it was just bringing Daryl and Lara closer and closer. He'd actually saw the Princess lay her head on his lil' bro's shoulder the other day an' Daryl had been smiling. At least Sugartits was helping that along.
"You ready or do you want more time staring into space?" Carol grinned at him as she stood near the door to outside. She had a picnic blanket and basket in her hands and it looked like she'd dressed up some for him. Merle couldn't stop the smile that spread across his face as thoughts of runs, his brother and the Princess left his head completely. He even ignored Sugartit's as she literally pulled her hair over somethin' Axel was chatting to her about.
He'd taken a page out of Daryl's playbook an' was gonna stare at the stars with Suzie. She'd blushed and looked all coy when he asked but her yes was said firmly.
"I'm always ready to spend time with you now Suzie," Merle said with what he thought was a charmin' smile. He opened the door for her and followed her into the clear night air. Hopin' that this was the start of something good for him.
010101010
"Calm down. It's gonna happen no matter what. Whoever's there is gonna have yer back an' you'll have there's. No point stressin' over shit ya can't change," Daryl said for what he thought was the millionth time that week. This time though they were in the guard tower. It was Lara's shift for the next hour an' he thought he'd keep her company so she didn't slam Andrea into the ground and demand any information on the run. Not that he'd stop her, he was hiding it but he was pretty damn twitchy as well.
He didn't know who'd be in the group but Lara. He didn't know who'd be out there having her back and it was bugging the hell outta him. Most of the group were fine. He wouldn't worry if he knew she had a couple decent fighters behind her though. He was hoping he was on the team but who the fuck knew how Andrea's mind worked. It was just as likely gonna be Tommy Boy, Beth and Hershel. Though Beth and Tommy Boy were gettin' better daily thanks to Lara, Merle and Kill Bill.
"I coulda changed it," Lara muttered distractedly.
"Coulda, woulda, shoulda," Daryl scoffed. Yeah, Lara should have just shut that shit down right then an' everyone fuckin' knew it but she didn't an' now she was having to deal.
"Barton? Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Lara asked slowly as she was staring over the side of the guard tower.
He was instantly on alert. He grabbed the sniper rifle and held it against his eye as he looked for any issue. He relaxed slightly as he saw what she'd seen.
"Are…? They on a date…?" Lara asked, her head cocking to the side, a smile beginning to stretch out her lips.
"What it looks like," Daryl answered uncomfortably. Merle and Carol were laying out on a picnic blanket. The basket next to them forgot as their faces turned to each other and they were talking.
His brother had taken women out before. To a bar to get them drunk so he could fuck 'em. Nothin' like this.
"Well that's… cute? Never saw that coming though."
Daryl looked at her his eyebrows raised. "Ya didn't? I thought they were already fuckin'."
"Huh. Damn. How'd I miss that? It's nice, they'd be good together. Merle would toughen Suzie up a little, she'd mellow him slightly. Maybe," Lara shrugged and sat back down in her chair, her eyes doing a quick sweep of the surroundings.
"Fuckin' weird."
"Your brother and best friend, yeah. I bet," Lara chuckled. "Who was your first girlfriend?"
"Never had one. Been with women, but never more than a night. Never wanted more than that," Daryl could feel the heat rising in his neck and cheeks and he was glad for the night which had fallen early. "What 'bout you?"
"Only boyfriend I ever had was Greg," Lara shrugged, looking uncomfortable as she fiddled with the pockets on her jacket. "Ya know Kill Bill was watching us, when we were on the roof that first time?"
"Merle too. Nosey bastard told Red an' Rick when we were clearing the armory," Daryl admitted. He hadn't know Kill Bill had been there too.
"Kill Bill told Heidi the same time. Gossipy sneaks," Lara said with a small airy laugh.
Daryl had the sudden impulse to put his arm around her and bring her in closer. There was no one watching now. And he was pretty sure she felt somethin' for him. She'd started touching him some now. Just little touches. But she didn't touch anyone else, 'cept the kids willingly. He ignored his impulse. She'd probably tell him where to get off. And he wasn't sure he could stand that. Fucking feelings. He hadn't wanted to catch 'em with Lara, but here he was, with 'em anyway.
"So, do ya wanna get your gossipy sneak of a brother back?" Lara smirked and looked down at the couple back in the yard. She grimaced and sat back in her chair. "Don't look. They're kissing. Or Merle's trying to eat her face off. I did not need that visual. At least when he was screwing Andrea I never saw it. Yuck."
Daryl screwed up his face, he didn't look but it didn't stop the idea running through his brain. "Thanks fer that, could have gone forever without that shit in ma head."
"Sorry. I like to share," Lara beamed at him and he shook his head.
"Lara!" The excited voice made Daryl move back into the center of his chair. When had he moved closer to Goldilocks? He hadn't even realized. He felt better when he saw her moving back to her chair properly too. Least it wasn't just him an' at least he wasn't imagining this shit between them.
Tommy Boy came rocketing up the stairs and into the guard tower, a wide smile on his face that fell a little when he saw Daryl. Daryl didn't bother holding back on his smirk. Yeah. That was right, Lara was with him, again.
"Everything okay Tommy Boy?" Lara asked while checking the surroundings.
"Andrea needs you. You too Barton, I'm to cover the guard shift," Tommy said self importantly. As though doing lookout was a huge feat.
"Fucking finally, some god damn information!" Lara growled almost leaping from her chair and running from the tower.
Daryl shook his head and followed her out at a more leisurely pace. He clapped Tommy Boy on the shoulder as he passed. The kid hated it, he could tell by the set of his jaw but he couldn't help but wind him up just a little.
Lara didn't bother waiting on him and was already at the door to D block when he caught her up. She looked like she was about to go and do battle. That smirk on her face, her shoulders back and her hand drifting to her knife. Daryl turned his head, Carol and Merle weren't outside anymore. He was hoping they were at this meeting, not that they'd gone somewhere more private. He didn't need that image in his head neither.
At one of the tables sat the full board waiting, Andrea and Glenn. Daryl felt a little better seein' Flash there. He'd have Lara's back and he was a quick bastard, he was a good guy to have on any run. He was also fair, he would vote who he genuinely thought was best for the leadership spot. Which was undoubtedly Goldilocks.
"Princess, finally. And Daryl, there's a spot just here free," Andrea smiled at him an' batted her eyelashes. He ignored her and took the spot next to Merle, also ignoring the stink eye Lara gave him.
"The run tomorrow, we're going to get some baby supplies for Lori," Andrea declared. Daryl gave a nod, it was a good idea. They'd need that shit soon enough. Hershel said three months or so and three months went quick. "I've spoken to everyone who knows the area. Sasha said she thinks there's a baby store here."
Andrea pointed out a place on a map. It looked close by, only an hour drive.
Lara and Merle lent further forward to get a better look. Lara and he shared a glance and a small nod. They knew something about that place or area. Hopefully something good, their faces were neutral though. No telling what it was.
"It's going to be me, Daryl, Glenn, Merle, Red and Oscar," Andrea stated firmly.
Lara coughed.
"And Princess I guess."
Daryl tried not to snigger. She guessed. Like she'd be able to keep Goldilocks away from this shit. There was a better chance that Daryl would come up with a cure for the Walkers.
"We'll take two cars and we should be in range with the walkie talkies. Any questions?"
Lara looked like she was bursting to say somethin' but kept her peace. It looked painful.
"No. Good. We'll leave here at nine, get some sleep, we'll need it," Andrea said, getting up and taking her map with her. Oscar shared a look with everyone before following after.
"So, what d'ya know?" Rick asked Merle and Lara.
"It's her run. I'm not shooting myself in the foot. Candyman, tell 'em what they're gonna need to know," Lara sighed and headed for the admin building. Daryl would bet his crossbow she wasn't gonna sleep though.
"We went here before, place wasn't too bad for Walkers. Been looted but baby store probably be good. There's two safe houses near by. I'll get my maps. That's what the Princess wants y'all to know. That and there's a bridge out nearby. So if ya need to get the hell outta there don't go that way, or you'll be stuck," Merle sighed rubbing his flesh hand down his face. This shit had been stressing Merle out too. "I know the area an' she knows the area, so make sure that if we split you're with one of us. An' y'all get maps, I'll mark 'em up with the safe houses the Princess set up on 'em."
"If Andrea is running this-" Glenn started but Merle cut him off.
"Don't matter, bitch'll be up all night worryin' herself inta the grave if ya don't know this shit. Lara would rather give Andrea the top bitch spot, pack her shit and live outside the walls than see one of y'all hurt," Merle growled. Daryl nodded, his brother was not wrong.
"Then why are we even doing this? Just vote for Lara now. It's what you're all going to do anyway." Glenn said.
"Oh now boy, that wouldn't be sportin' gotta let Andrea think she lost fair an' square. Plus you're voting too," Red smirked, pulling out a cigar and sniffing it before popping it in his mouth.
"Me?"
"Whoever is on the run team gets to vote about who should be on the board, Princess or Andrea," Kill Bill nodded looking solemn.
"I don't want to vote! What if I vote for Andrea?"
Daryl clapped Glenn on the shoulder. "Then ya an idiot. But it'll be because ya think it's right fer the whole group. Don't overthink it."
"Easy for you to say," Glenn muttered.
Daryl shook his head. None of this shit had been easy for him. Watching Lara worry herself sick, worrying with her and for her. Nah. It wasn't easy. But who should be in charge sure as hell was.
They sat a while going over maps, an' goin' over 'em and over. Lara'd be proud. But in the end every single person round the table knew exactly where the run team was going, when they should be back, where the safe houses were and the bridge that was out.
Morning came too early and everyone looked nervous though Andrea was beaming at 'em all, 'cept Lara of course.
Daryl looked on as Lara then Merle hugged the kids and then Merle hugged Carol. It was weird, but they both looked happy so he'd carry on ignoring it.
"Hey, watch their backs out there, yeah? And your own. Come back safe," Kill Bill had sidled up next to him. She was as stealthy as Goldilocks when she wanted to be. Daryl liked the woman a lot.
"Will do," Daryl nodded.
Daryl was informed by Andrea that he was in a car with Oscar, Merle and her. Red, Glenn and the Princess were in the truck they were taking. He shared a pleading glance with Red that the man ignored with a shit eating smile as he climbed into the truck behind the wheel.
Andrea spoke the whole way there, even when Merle told her to shut up.
She was blabbing about what she'd do differently to Lara when she was put on the board, how smoothly this run was going and how easy it was. She didn't understand why Lara was always bitching about them. Daryl was ready to get Oscar to pull over and throw the bitch out. Even Oscar looked fed up and actually sighed in relief when they pulled up to the baby store, the truck right behind them.
It was a small place but they only needed enough for one baby, and they weren't gonna be getting a lot. Wasn't much use for those plug in lights or shit anymore. Still they needed baby food and clothes and diapers. A lot of diapers from what he'd heard.
Daryl grabbed his crossbow ready to take on the small group of Walkers that was shambling over. Lara and Red were already out of the truck though, Red with a machete and Lara with her sword, both of them taking the Walkers out with a practiced ease. Glenn finished the last two with a bat Daryl was sure he'd borrowed from Maggie. Was it wrong how hot he thought it was when Goldilocks took on Walkers? He didn't know and no one else had to know either, everyone left in this world was fucked up anyway, wasn't like he was the odd man out.
Andrea was the lead to the baby store and she just went to open the door. "Knock first!" Was hissed at her by everyone but Oscar. Thankfully the dumb bitch stopped and knocked. Though she rolled her eyes when nothing happened. Yeah they were the dumbasses for being cautious.
The store was dim and there wasn't a smell, it also hadn't been looted, Andrea had got a good run. Daryl wasn't too worried though. At most it'd be Oscar an' Glenn voting for her.
"So what d'we need then blondie?" Red asked, folding his arms across his chest as he glanced nervously at all the baby paraphernalia.
"Erm… Well clothes, diapers… erm…"
Lara tutted and grabbed packs from the shelf near the door. They looked like fancy baby packs that rich families had. "Fill these with clothes, start with the smallest size and get to a year or so. Don't matter what type, don't know if it's a girl or boy, just fill it. Those cloth things too to stop ya getting baby goo on ya," Lara said, passing the packs to Red.
"Yes ma'am," Red agreed turning to do just that.
"Flash, diapers. All of the diapers," she then told an eagerly waiting Glenn. "Get the huge boxes, they'll probably be more in the back too."
"Candyman, all the baby food. For little kids, formula, bottles, all that shit. Barton help him," Lara passed Daryl a handful of bags too.
"This is my run!" Andrea said in a low screech.
"Yes it is. But I ain't hanging around all day while you decide what we need. We get in, we get out, no one dies or gets eaten. I'm not changing that because you want to be Queen Bitch," Lara hissed back.
"Daryl, Merle can have Princess helping him. You can help me and Oscar get a crib and bedding."
Daryl exchanged a look with Merle. His older brother jutted out his chin in Andrea's direction and Daryl sighed but went to follow the dumbass.
He went to grab the first crib that wasn't already assembled he could find.
"Wait! We should get the best one," Andrea insisted, standing and looking at the four cribs on offer.
"We should just pick one and get out," Daryl argued.
"I'm with Barton babe, let's get it and get home. You want to win, you've got be quick," Oscar said, looking around them nervously. There was no one on watch. Or there wasn't supposed to be. Lara and Merle were checking the windows every two seconds. He saw Red doing the same thing. Glenn was focused on piling up diapers by the front door, everytime he dropped a box he peered through the dirty glass though. At least some of the run team knew what they were doing.
"Fine. That one," Andrea huffed pointing at the one Daryl had first gone to grab.
He shook his head and picked it up, carrying it to set by the diapers.
Daryl glanced through the window as well, went to go back, stopped and looked again. He squinted some.
"Shit!" he hissed. "Yo, get what we've got, it's time to go!"
"What is it?" Andrea asked.
"A herd. Damn big one. We'll be overrun," Daryl said, already bending down to pick up the crib again.
"Glenn, Andrea, Oscar, get the shit into the truck, quick. Princess, Daryl, ya with me. Red, need ya in the driver's seat of the truck," Merle barked.
Daryl nodded and opened the door ready. In no time the truck was open and all that they'd got was being put in. The walker's were getting closer and closer though.
At first it was simple. One Walker here, another there and then there were suddenly too many.
"The gas is low!" Red yelled as he started the truck up.
"Fucking shit! Ya didn't check it!" Lara yelled her eyes wide as she slashed with her sword.
"No! Why would I?" Andrea shouted back.
"Because of this! Fuck, fuck, fuck."
"We'll take the car, Princess, you an' Merle drive the truck out of the herd and find somewhere to gas up!" Andrea shouted.
"Yer fuckin' cowardly bitch!" Merle snarled.
"We're not leaving them!" Glenn yelled, taking out a walker with his bat. His face fierce.
"Look, we won't all fit in the car. Maybe… maybe me, Oscar, Glenn, Red and Daryl can lure them away?"
"Ya think I'm leaving 'em ya've got a fuckin' screw loose!" Daryl felt his anger bubble up as he ran out of bolts and had to pull out his knife.
"Red, get them back. No arguments. Get them back. You know where to go if there's trouble. I'm trusting you!" Lara said firmly. There was no room for argument in her voice.
"Yes ma'am," Red said before grabbing Glenn and hauling them over to the car.
"Get ready to run for the truck," Lara grunted as her sword went through two skulls.
"Go!" Merle shouted and all three of them were running and dodging, heading for the truck bed that was still open. They dove in and Daryl pulled the shutter down quick. It was cramped and eerie as the hands of the dead started banging the truck trying to get in. Their cries and moans added to the din so much they barely heard the loud blaring of a horn.
"I'm… going… to… Kill… her…" Lara panted out after a moment.
"I'll help ya get rid o' the body. Fuckin' bitch," Merle grunted taking off his knife attachment that was covered in gore.
"Hurting?" Lara asked him.
"Nothin' I can't handle."
"I've got ya a clean one. Should help the pressure a bit," Lara said, diving into one of the seven bags that had already been in the truck.
Daryl watched on with raised eyebrows as Lara expertly took apart Merle's attachment and then the bandages around his stump. It was red and raw looking but Lara didn't seem phased as she cleaned it with an antibacterial wipe then put some cream on it. Finally she re-wrapped it and added some padding. He knew that Goldilocks had taken care of his brother, but he'd never seen it. Merle just sat back with his eyes closed and Lara never once took her eyes off her task.
"Better at all?" Lara finally asked when she was done.
Merle grunted and opened his eyes. "Tons, thanks."
"Do we got a plan?" Daryl asked. It sounded like there were only a handful of Walkers banging on the truck now.
"Give it another hour, drive out and as close as we can get to the safe house, there should be gas there or we can try and siphon some if we can get some on the way. By the time we do that it'll be nightfall if we're lucky. We'll head home tomorrow and I'll kill Andrea."
Merle snorted and closed his eyes again. "Sounds perfect to me Princess."
02020202020
Candyman managed to lose the remainder of the herd and get them halfway to the safe house before they ran out of gas. The plan was for them to all walk towards the safe house together and hopefully get some gas before they'd gone too far. Both Barton and Candyman had offered to stay with the truck and the baby stuff they'd got but Lara didn't want them splitting up, not when there was a herd in the area. Whoever was in the truck would probably be safe but who knew how long it'd be before they could meet up again. Sticking together seemed like the better option to her.
"If we lose all that shit," Candyman grouched as they walked along a deserted road.
"Then someone else needs it for a baby and we just hit the store again on our way back. There's two emergency cars at the safe house. It's not an issue," Lara interrupted what she was sure was gonna be a spectacular rant. "Save your anger for Andrea. That's what I'm doing. I'm so gonna stomp that bitch inta the ground."
"Not if I get there first," Candyman spat.
"Hey, I call dibs! And you don't hit women, so all you'd do would be to shout at her till you're red in the face. I can actually punch her," Lara smiled at the thought.
"Yer a bit too excited fer that," Daryl said, looking at her out of the corner of his eye.
Lara huffed, he better not be defending her after everything. Maybe he was interested in Andrea after all, maybe she'd been reading things all wrong. "She was going to leave Candyman and me for dead!"
"Wasn't saying you were wrong," Daryl countered quickly.
They walked in silence for a while longer before Lara heard it.
"Simon! I'll cover you, just help him!" It was a man yelling, another in the background screaming for help.
"Not this shit again!" Candyman groaned as Lara ran towards the voices into the woods that bordered the road.
It wasn't twenty feet in. Three men on top of a car, one looked to be bleeding out, the other two were trying to keep back fifteen shitbrains. They looked scared and desperate.
Lara unsheathed her sword and started taking the Walkers out as bolts whizzed past her, the extras that she had packed. Candman was taking the last ones out with his knife attachment when one of the men on the car spoke.
"He's gone man," the voice sounded defeated. She glanced over her shoulder to check on Barton and Candyman. They were both glaring at her but otherwise looked fine.
She heard the unmistakable sound of a knife being thrust into a skull and turned back to the two remaining men.
They both looked about Merle's age, one had thick black hair and a beard, the other a mustache and a balding head. They were dirty but well enough fed so that they weren't gaunt. These men didn't need the Pound.
"Thanks for that. Mighty kind of ya," the man with the mustache grinned, his eyes were those of a psychopath and he was looking at Lara too in a way that made her skin crawl. He seemed to have forgotten the dead man in his arms pretty quickly.
She nodded in reply and started cleaning her sword.
"You three came outta nowhere like fucking ninjas, saving our asses! We appreciate that. It won't be forgotten. Oh no it will not," the other man said with his own grin. His eyes weren't quite as crazy, they held a deep sadness. She wondered if it was for the friend.
"Yeah, sure. Ya from around here friend?" Candyman asked, sounding friendly enough. She knew him well enough to hear the warning in his tone though.
"No we are not. Simon and my other companion are - sorry were- heading back to Virginia, we hear there's a few communities there. Gonna go check it out. Got waylaid by these mother fuckers though. What about you three? You got somewhere?"
"Just getting gas. Truck ran out," Daryl muttered. She felt rather than heard both men move up close behind her.
"Sorry, where are my manners? That's Simon, the man with no pulse is David and I'm Negan."
"Merle and Daryl," Candyman introduced the two men.
"And you sweetheart, you gotta name?" Simon leered and the Dixon's were practically glued to her side.
"Princess," Candyman answered for her shortly.
Negan watched with calculating eyes. He exchanged a quick look with Simon that she couldn't read.
"Ya think you units can help me with David. Don't wanna just dump him and run. Seems rude. He saved me a time or two," Simon said.
Both men bristled next to her and she knew they were gonna refuse to leave her alone with Negan. She wasn't worried. There was more going on here then met the eye and she wanted to make sure that she was covering their asses.
"We can't lose much more light. Where ya wanna take him?" Lara asked, her voice less intense than usual. She was trying to come off meeker and weaker than she was. Which considering she'd just ran head first into their walker problem probably wasn't going to work.
"Just over there, you'll be able to see us all. Don't worry that pretty little head of yours," Simon said, he needed to stop smiling though, it was not helping his case at all.
"Yer got ya knives?" Daryl whispered into her ear. She nodded imperceptibly, while trying to ignore the way he made her feel this close. She needed to have her head screwed on right then. "Yeah. We'll help."
Candyman and Barton must have had a silent conversation behind her because there was no argument from the elder Dixon.
She watched as the three men carried the dead man over to a tree not too far. Far enough they could be seen but not heard.
She kept them in her periphery while looking at Negan.
"You okay?" Negan asked her seriously.
She frowned, he had been the one needing saving from shitbrains. She was a-okay, apart from Andrea but Lara would deal with her tomorrow.
"With those two I mean. They ain't making you do anything you don't want to, force feeding you the fucking salami? Because Simon and me could fuck 'em up and you could come with us or go your own way."
Lara relaxed a little now she understood. "It ain't like that at all, C-Merle's like my big brother and Daryl's… I'm in less danger with them than I am with any other man left alive on this planet. They're family, kin."
Negan nodded and his shoulders relaxed a little. "Rare that happens now. Gotta say I'm glad though, even if ya are hot as shit. You really did save our asses. Where did you get the cool as fuck sword? Tell me you forged it yourself?"
"In an active volcano not far from here, the hilt is crafted from the bones of my enemies," Lara deadpanned.
"You are one scary bitch, you know that?" Negan grinned wider and hopped down from the roof of the rundown green car. Its tires were shredded. She hoped it wasn't theirs because they weren't getting anywhere in that heap.
"Oh, she knows," Barton grunted as the three men walked back over dirtier than before.
"Well it was nice meeting you all. And this shit, it won't be forgotten. Who knows, we may run into you again and I'll owe you one," Negan grinned again before slapping Simon on the shoulder and the two men walked off as if it was just another meeting.
"There's somethin' not right about those two," Candyman muttered, the three of them not moving as they waited to make sure the two men were actually going and not circling back around. All three of them knew the forest well enough to tell just from the sounds around them.
"Yeah, but they're not going to be a problem," Lara said confidently.
"How d'ya know that?" Barton asked, his hand still holding onto his crossbow, ready.
"They got me alone to make sure you two weren't taking advantage of me," Lara said. Men like those two were dangerous, she was certain of it, but they had some morals, and she thought they were on the right side of the line that wouldn't be crossed. They weren't going to have to worry about them.
"Like I'd touch you with his," Merle scoffed with a disgusted look.
"You really know how to make a girl feel special Candyman," Lara grinned, not at all offended. She'd be sick to her stomach if he suggested anything else.
"All part o' the charm Princess. Now can we get gas and find somewhere to fucking crash all ready? Or do we need to be rescuing more damsels in distress?"
0303030303
Merle kept watch as Daryl and Princess got some sleep. He noticed how they drifted closer and closer in their sleep until Daryl was spooning the bitch. He raised his eyebrows when his lil' brother finally touched her and neither of them woke. They both woke if a fuckin' cricket farted but slept through that? And they still weren't bumping uglies. Didn' make no sense. Both of 'em were fuckin' idiots.
It was getting on for midnight when the walkie talkie went off.
"Candyman? Barton? Princess?" It was quiet even with the static but it still woke Daryl and Lara, they both shared a long look before moving slowly away from each other.
Merle sighed and shook his head before answering. "Red? We're here. Y'all back safe an' sound?"
"We're here."
Merle's chest tightened a little. "What happened?"
"You three fine individuals are all safe, yeah?"
"Fine. What happened?"
The static sounded louder for the silence. "Oscar, he got bit."
Merle's heart sank and he saw Lara stumble on her feet, her face paling. Oscar had been a damn good man.
"Shit," Merle hissed into the walkie talkie not knowing what else to say.
"He got bit on his foot though, we cut it off. Hershel and Bob think it saved his life. He hasn't woke up yet but there's no fever, they don't think he'll turn."
Merle let out a long low sigh. Having a foot gone was gonna be a hell of a bigger disadvantage than his hand. Man was just walker bait now. Was never gonna be able to leave the walls again. Fucking shitty thing to happen. Better than being dead though, he felt like a huge weight had been lifted knowing the man was gonna live.
Merle turned when he heard a loud thump. Lara had hit a wall, her hand through the drywall.
"Fucking stupid bit- woman!" Daryl growled and Merle watched as he helped her take her now fucked up hand outta the hole she'd created.
"Shit. The rest of ya okay?" Merle asked as he stood to go check the fucking dumbass too.
"Well now, Andrea is not."
That had Merle surprised, had the bitch actually cared for Grouch? Was she cut up over him losin' a foot, blamin' herself and taking some fucking responsibility?
"She's pissed that Kill Bill's locked her in her cell for her own safety. There's more than a few people looking to go ten rounds with the lady. However Kill Bill is saying that, that particular pleasure lays all with the Princess. Though I say Kill Bill took a little too much pleasure in draggin' her into her cell by her hair. Was looking forward to some mud wrestling, no dice though. Pity. Rosita is looking for some vengeance too. That shit'd give me boners for weeks."
Merle laughed as Daryl sniggered. Lara though just looked like she was about to have an aneurysm.
"Yeah well Princess ain't gonna be punching any one fer a while. Fucked those knuckles up good an' proper," Daryl declared while dabbing the blood away.
"Try and stop me," Lara growled out venomously.
"Whoever gets in Princess' way at taking the first shot is gonna regret it. Bitch looks ready to kill."
"Don't call me a bitch!" Lara raged pushing against Daryl as she stood.
"Calm down Princess, didn't mean nothing by it," Merle soothed her trying not to laugh. She had those throwing knives though an' he knew she wasn't gonna miss. He fancied keeping his balls, he had a feeling he was gonna start using 'em again soon.