The Duo

Daryl's POV

"You not hungry?" Athena asked, plonking herself down next to me by the fire.

"Nah." I told her honestly. I'd eaten a couple of squirrels while I was hunting. The others could make the most of what I'd brought back.

We'd been on the road for weeks now, searching for somewhere new to call home after losin' the farm. Things were tense, people challengin' Rick's leadership. I think they're all full of shit - every damn one of 'em would have done the same thing if Shane was pointing a gun at 'em.

I'd tried to pull away from the group after Sophia limped out of that barn. I couldn't deal with the disappointment after trying so damn hard to find that little girl. I wanted to be alone, but Athena wasn't having it - always sneakin' up on me, chatterin' away and tellin' dumb jokes like she didn't have no care in the world. She seemed oblivious to the fact I craved solitude, 'n' it pissed me off no end; I made sure she knew it too, but she was like a dog with a bone.

She got under my skin from the first day I met her. She tried to steal my deer in the woods and gave me a shitload of sass in the process. I gave her as much back, but I was secretly kinda impressed with the way she carried herself. She seemed fearless, not afraid of nobody. I weren't gonna let her know that, though.

When she came to Atlanta with us to find Merle, I wondered what the hell she was thinkin'. She didn't owe me or my dumbass brother nothing, but she tagged along anyway. She even stayed when the others left, got herself injured. I had to wrap her leg up 'n' my stupid hands were shakin' like damn leaves.

After we got back, she came to say goodbye 'n' somethin' in me jus' couldn't let her go. She wasn't my responsibility, but it jus' didn't seem right lettin' her go back out there alone.

Now, out on the road, I found myself seeking her out jus' as much as she did me. For the first time since the world fell - maybe ever - it felt like somebody spent time 'round me 'cause they wanted to, not 'cause they didn't have nothin' better to do.

Every night, one of us would find the other, choosin' each other as company as we sat by the fire. I couldn't help but feel like the warmth I was feelin' in those moments had nothing to do with the flames.

The more our friendship grew, the harder I found it to deny to myself that I cared more about her than anyone else in the group, and that terrified me.

"You reckon we'll find somewhere soon?" she asked, knockin' her water bottle to the ground 'n' havin' to run after it as it rolled away, almost droppin' her goddamn food in the process. She sat back down beside me after, water 'n' plate of food safely gripped in her hands, gigglin' at her clumsiness.

I shrugged.

I'd forgotten all 'bout her question. All I could focus on was her. The way her nose creased as she laughed, how she threw her head back, cacklin', not giving two shits who was watching her.

The uncomfortable feeling she made grow in my stomach every time she was around drove me crazy.

"Daryl." she snapped me out of my trance, givin' me a suspicious look. "You go somewhere nice?"

"Huh?"

"Looked like you were daydreaming. Am I boring ya?"

"Nah." I grunted, dippin' my head.

"Whatever you say." She teased.

I didn't respond. Jus' poked at the fire instead, tryna figure out why I was lettin' her get so damn close.

I'd known as soon as I met the woman that she was a threat to my walls 'n' I hated it.

Was like she could see right through me. No matter how much I tried to push her away, she knew that, deep down, I liked havin' her around.

I couldn't let her in, though. Can't let nobody in even if I wanted to.

~

I roared out for her as explosions rocked the prison, frantic, barely able to see through the smoke 'n' feelin' disorientated as hell.

Ath, she's fierce, a real warrior, but I saw how she was swayin' on her feet, blood seepin' from a wound in her shoulder. Fuck. I shouldn't'a left her - should'a gotten on the bus with her myself instead of runnin' off to save Rick. I thought I could take care of it 'n' be back at her side in no time.

But now I couldn't find her.

I'd made Merle promise after I nearly died from that flu shit that if I ever couldn't keep her safe, he had to. I wasn't worried about my brother, not really; ain't nobody can kill Merle, but Merle. But it didn't stop the panic in my stomach when I couldn't lay eyes on her.

I searched for as long as I could before the herd made it impossible to keep scourin' the prison. The bus was gone, 'n' I all I could do was hope that her 'n' Merle were on it.

Kept telling myself she had to be, that my brother had kept her safe, but before I went out searchin' for 'em, part of me needed to make sure she hadn't somehow been left behind, that she wasn't alone somewhere, hurt 'n' scared. Or worse.

When I couldn't fight off the onslaught of walkers no longer. I had to duck into the edge of the nearby woods to conceal myself. I stayed there, out of sight, eyes still searchin' hopelessly for the woman I loved for as long as I could.

Eventually, though, I had to move. The racket from the herd that had taken the building was attractin' more walkers by the minute. They were filtering through the woods in fuckin' droves.

I headed in the direction that the bus woulda taken, tryna figure out a plan. But I hadn't made it far down the road before finding a battered and bruised Hershel resting on a fallen tree trunk.

"Daryl." he breathed, "Did you see Beth or Maggie? Glenn?" He looked at me different them. "Where's Athena?"

I shook my head. I couldn't bring myself to say it - that I didn't have no clue where she was, where any of them where.

I took in the old man's injuries; That Governor asshole really had beaten the shit outta him.

"Can ya walk?" I asked, helpin' 'im to his feet.

He nodded.

When I saw Hershel kneeling on the ground, bound, in front of The Governor 'n' his men, I felt like I was gonna throw up. I'd never tell him, but I'd grown fond of him in a way I didn't many people.

He always checked in on me 'n' told me when I was bein' an asshole. It's fuckin' stupid, I know s'jus' a word people use, but every time he called me 'son', it felt like it healed me in some way. My own dad never even called me that, was always ashamed of me, yet here was this old boy, taking me under his wing when he didn't have no reason to.

Finding him sitting on that tree trunk felt like findin' family again.

It wasn't Ath - not yet - but it was somethin'.

We hadn't all decided on a meetin' place for if everythin' ever went to shit at the prison.

Fuckin' stupid.

Thought we had time... Now I might jus' regret bein' such an idiot forever.

We started in the direction of on an old print factory on the outskirts of town that I'd scouted out once. I couldn't remember if I'd ever mentioned to Ath that it would be a decent hideout, but it was worth a try.

Really, I was just desperate to keep moving so I didn't completely lose my shit.

My heart sank as we approached the factory - the bus was nowhere in sight. I searched inside anyway, just in case there was any chance she could have travelled here on foot, but she hadn't. I'd have found her.

I racked my brain for anywhere else Ath might'a thought to go, but I came up empty. The realisation that I might never see her again was crushin' me, 'n' I lost it - angrily smashin' my fist into the brick wall outside the factory.

It took me my whole life to find her, now she could be gone.

Hershel had stayed outside with my gun. He was in no state to be enterin' a building that could be crawling with undead assholes. He saw my outburst, though, 'n' he tried to speak to me 'bout it, but I ignored 'im. I just needed to keep looking.

We headed East - don't really know why. Kinda felt like something was pullin' me in that direction, 'n' it weren't like I had other options.

My knees almost went from under me when we came across the school bus from the prison abandoned in the middle of a road, surrounded by bodies.

"Ath!" I yelled desperately, my voice crackin' as I desperately searched the faces of the walkers strewn across the surroundin' ground.

Thank fuck.

None of those bodies belonged to her. I don't know what I'd have done if I found her lyin' there - cold 'n' gone.

I climbed inside the bus, meetin' another grisly scene as I combed the vehicle for any sign of her or Merle.

They hadn't been there. The relief of it made my head spin, but it was quickly replaced by the fear that without havin' the bus to search for no more, I really didn't have no clue where my girl was.

"Any of ours inside?" Hershel asked, double-checking the identities of the dead litterin' the road.

"Nah." I breathed. "Looks like some people got bit before they got on, maybe, turned 'n' attacked others. Someone's been here, though. These walkers didn't kill themselves."

"You think our people did?" He asked.

"I hope so."

Shit only got worse after that. Hershel 'n' me found ourselves trapped between two oncomin' herds. There weren't no safe direction to run in, 'n' we didn't have no chance of fighting that many of 'em. Our only option was to hide in the trunk of an unlocked car like a pair of pussies.

The worst part wasn't the two of us being stuck in the small, sweaty space that stank of rot 'n' regret. It was bein' trapped with my thoughts - no way to distract myself - escape 'em. I couldn't deal with it. Lying there, in the darkness, all I could do was think about Ath.

Memories of our first meetin', the way she'd stayed with me in Atlanta to search for Merle, our first kiss, the way she let me hold her at night, our bodies pressed against each other. It all span round 'n' round in my head 'n' I couldn't do nothin' to stop it.

Hershel's voice pulled me out of my thoughts and I was transported back to the trunk.

"Sounds like there are even more of them now."

"Yeah." I answered after a few moments of listenin' for myself. "Looks like we're in here for the night. Might as well try get some rest."

I didn't sleep, though. I spent all night thinkin' about Ath, wonderin' where she was, if she was safe, if I'd ever see her again. Every time I closed my eyes, I kept relivin' our last few moments together.

~

I was desperately searchin' the battlefield, tryns to catch sight of her, so I knew she was safe. When our eyes finally met, I sprinted in her direction. We were bein' overrun by walkers. The prison wasn't ours no more.

"Jesus, Ath." I'd exhaled as I grabbed her arms, scannin' her for injuries.

"I'm fine." She lied, swayin' a little on her feet.

"The hell ya are." I breathed, grippin' her tighter.

"I'll live." She insisted, her voice strained.

She wasn't fine, somethin' was wrong.

My heart dropped as my eyes searched her again - tryna make sure none of the blood on her clothes was her's.

But fuck. I saw it then.

She'd been shot.

No. No. No.

My breathing stopped. I just about fell toward her, resting my forehead against hers as I pushed my hand to the wound. It weren't bleedin' too bad, but if that bullet had been a few inches over, she'd be gone.

"Damn near got yurself killed." I told her as I reached my free hand up 'n' stroked her cheek, feelin' her impossibly soft skin beneath my fingers.

"Can't-" I started then, but my throat closed up, my jaw tense.

I wanted to tell her that I couldn't imagine livin' without her, that seein' her injured made my soul hurt, that I loved her, but my words jus' wouldn't fuckin' come.

I growled. I was goddamn sick of my own fuckin' issues holding me back from tellin' her how important she was to me. I steeled myself, 'n' willed every ounce of strength I had in me to just force the words out...

"I love you." I finally managed to breathe, barely loud enough to hear.

The look on her face was the most goddamn amazin' thing I'd ever seen. She smiled at me, her eyes watery, 'n' she looked more beautiful than ever.

"I love you." She said back as she sank into me, 'n' for those moments, we could have been anywhere in the world, the battle around us just disappearin'.

It had always felt this way for me when we touched - I still couldn't get my head round a woman this incredible lettin' me hold her in my arms, have access to her in the ways I did.

I'd wanted to tell her how I felt 'bout her for so long, but I jus' couldn't get the words out. M'so fucked up. Normal shit that seems to come easy for other people turned me into a fuckin' mess, but I'd finally said those three words.

Told her I loved her.

When she'd said it to me at the waterfall, I couldn't take it in. I trusted her, but I jus' still couldn't believe it...

Why would someone like her think they were in love with somebody like me?

But the way she'd encouraged me to stop hidin' myself, reassuring me that nothin' would change how she felt 'bout me, then the way she held me afterwards, was all the proof I needed.

I wanted to tell her that I loved her back that whole goddamn night, that I felt the same, but the words just wouldn't come out. They were trapped inside me with no way of release. We sat by the fire outside the cabin we'd found 'n' I felt like a fraud, like she thought I was someone better than I was.

"I ain't good at this." I finally admitted, frustrated with my inability to jus' act like a regular fuckin' human.

She took my shakin' hand, and it felt like the most reassuring gesture in the whole goddamn world. She could make me feel so safe with the slightest touch. She knew exactly what I needed without me having to ask for it.

As we made our way inside that night, my heart raced. I'd vowed never to let anyone get close to me, but now I wanted nothin' more than for this woman to know much I adored her. 'N' If I couldn't find the words - then it was time to show her.

She made me feel so comfortable, so protected from harm. It destroyed every barrier I had left standin', and I gave myself to her completely.

I wanted to.

Feeling her body against mine, hearin' her moan as I moved inside her, it was like my walls were torn down - this is where I was meant to be, who I was meant to be with. I didn't have to be afraid no more.

She loved me, and I loved her.

~

"It'll be okay, son." Hershel said gently as he rested his hand on my arm. "You'll find her. We'll find all of them."

I sniffed quickly 'n' swiped angrily at my face with the back of my hand. I hadn't even realised I'd let my fuckin' emotions lose 'n' I was furious that Hershel had noticed. My cheeks burned, 'n' the trunk suddenly felt even more stiflin'.

"Didn't know ya were awake." I shot at him defensively, despite him being nothin' but kind. 'Sounds like we're good. S'go."

We climbed out of the trunk, me more easily than the old man, and scavenged the car for supplies. We found a bag of old Beef Jerky, so breakfast was sorted, but we needed water. Needed to fuel up now so we didn't have to stop. I needed to find my girl 'n' nothin' was slowin' me down.

The sun burned hot as we carried on walkin', desperately thirsty after a while. A walker attacked, 'n' despite how dehydrated I felt, I went to town on it, beating it to a pulp with my bare hands instead of usin' my crossbow.

I needed to.

Hershel eyed me disapprovingly, 'n' I lost it.

"What's yur problem, old man!?"

"No problem here, just thought you might want to conserve your energy."

"M'fine!" I spat, my voice breakin'. I wasn't fine. I wouldn't be 'til I found her.

"Were you embarrassed?" He asked after a while of pounding the pavement again. "In the trunk?"

Nah." I lied.

"'Cause there's nothing wrong with a man showing his emotions, son."

"I said nah!" I scowled. "Ya gonna be on ma back this whole time? 'Cause I shoulda left you at that goddamn tree if ya are."

He smiled kindly at me, 'n' I felt shitty for bein' such an ass to him - but I wasn't gonna tell him that.

Another couple of hours on the road in the blisterin' heat without water, 'n' Hershel's body couldn't take no more. He collapsed beside some train tracks, eyes lolling in the back of his head.

"Hershel!" I rasped as I tried to rouse him.

He stirred slightly but seemed delirious.

Then, I heard movement behind me.

I rounded 'n' found six assholes with assault rifles 'n' a bow approachin'. Shit. They were heavily armed, but I lashed out anyway, smackin' one of 'em hard in the face before readying my crossbow.

"I'm claiming the vest. I like them wings." I heard one of the men say...

A/N: Hope you enjoyed a Daryl POV! ❤️