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You lay back on the grass with a content sigh, pointedly ignoring the way Carl snickers at the sound. “Yeah, you’ll get old one day, and you’ll be making all the same noises.” Blindly, you reach out and swat at him for extra emphasis, but he dodges the move and laughs again. “Little shit,” you mumble, closing your eyes and soaking up the late spring sun.
Carl is stretched out on the grass too, just barely in arms reach, and the smile on his face lingers as he watches the trees sway in the slight breeze. The streets of Alexandria buzz with the hum of people moving around, doing their part to keep the community running, and you almost feel bad for literally laying down on the job, but Carl deserves a break like this, to lay in the grass and just exist, and you want a chance to spend time with the kid. “Y’know, my dad wonders where I get my potty mouth from. Think I’m gonna tell him that it’s you who’s the bad influence on me.” His voice is teasing, and your faux offense amuses him.
“I am not! I’m a literal angel, Carl Grimes. I’ve never done anything wrong in my entire life, and I certainly don’t cuss around kids, even if they are little shits.”
You both laugh out loud, the sound mixing with the rest of the noises around you. It’s probably mid-afternoon, if the position of the sun is anything to go by, but then again, you’ve never been great at reading stuff like that. You were supposed to be on duty, doing who even knows what, but when Carl invited you to sneak away, you jumped at the chance to feel young again.
“So tell me about your life, kid. What’s been going on since the last time we did this?”
Carl snorts. “Well, in the last 2 days,” he says with an amused eye roll, “I’ve eaten breakfast twice, lunch once, and dinner once. I carried Judith around the block on one of our little walks. Dad and I had an argument over something kinda stupid, and he grounded me. Gave me extra chores that I’m currently blowing off, by the way.”
You shrug your shoulders as best you can while laying down, knowing damn well that you’ll take the blame if Carl gets caught not doing what he’s told.
“All in all, my life hasn’t been that different since we did this last. What about you? Anything new in your life?”
You shake your head, keeping your eyes closed. The breeze shifts again, carrying the scent of the nearby water with it. “Nah, nothing new with me. Had a chat with Aaron about the next supply run. Asked him to grab some stuff for me if he manages to find it. Helped Denise organize some of the medical supplies in the clinic. Washed up the laundry at the house. Made my bed. Nothing really to report on.”
Your mind drifts, the sounds of the town around you fading as you lay there and relax. Your life was as normal as it could be, close to how it was before the Turn, with the added threat of the dead just beyond the walls. It was a strange feeling, after so much time on the run, fighting for safety, but your group was doing their best to readjust to the normalcy of it all.
Carl moves closer to you, breaking your revery, and you tilt your head to face him, one eye cracking open. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask for a while.”
“What’s up?”
“Have you ever had a thing for my dad?”
The question catches you off guard, and you open both eyes to really look at him. His face is neutral, his own eyes searching yours. “No, I haven’t. Your dad reminds me a lot of my brother. I admire him a lot, and I have a lot of respect for him, even if I question his choices or don’t always agree with him. But I’ve never felt anything more than a platonic love for him. He’s a great friend to have, and I’m glad I’ve been able to get to know him, and you.”
Carl watches you for a long while before he nods, seemingly satisfied with your answer.
“Have you ever had feelings for anyone else in our group?”
You groan. “You said you had one question. That’s two.”
He laughs, a shit eating grin stretched across his face. He knew in that moment he had you. “C’mon, you can tell me. Who was it? Abraham?”
Another sigh escapes you. “I’m not saying that I had or have a thing for any of the people in our group. What I will say is that if I did… IF….” You look pointedly at him. “If I did have a thing for anyone in our group, it definitely would not be Abraham. Not that there’s anything wrong with him. He’s just not my type. Too… buff, I guess. Too ‘my dick’s bigger than yours and I can prove it’ for me.”
“So what is your type then?”
“Why are we having this conversation again? If this is some kind of way for you to try to figure out how to tell me that you have a massive crush on me..”
His laughter cuts you off and you relish in the pure joy in it. “Definitely not what I’m trying to do here! You’re like an aunt to me. I’m just trying to figure you out. Everyone around us is finding their own bits of happiness now that the world has gone to shit, everyone except you and Daryl. They’re trying to make their own lives better. You deserve that too, and I wanna help. I could be your wingman.”
It’s your turn to snort, grinning at him. “What exactly do you know about being a wingman?”
He shrugs and adjusts his hat to shade his eyes. “Nothin’ really, but I can learn. Seriously, anyone catch your eye?”
“You’re not gonna let this go, are you?”
“Nope,” he says, emphasizing the pop at the end of the word.
You roll your eyes again. “There is… someone that I’ve had my eye on for a while. Since before we left Atlanta. Someone strong and sweet and wonderful.”
He waits for you to go on. “That’s all you’re gonna say? That’s nothing for me to work with!”
Without opening your eyes, you reach over and shove him, smiling at the undignified noise he makes. “What, you expect me to spill my guts so you can run right to the person and rat me out? I don’t think so!”
Carl moves closer against, his head resting right beside yours and you link your hands, pulling him closer. “I wouldn’t do that. Not now anyway. When I was younger, definitely, but I’m too mature for that now.” He pauses before smirking again. “I mean, I’d definitely do that, but I wouldn’t run. That’s childish.”
“You’re a fuckin’ brat. That’s exactly why I’m not gonna tell you!”
He laughs again and you both rest for a while, enjoying the time together. A day passes, or maybe only a few minutes, before you speak up. “Daryl. It’s been Daryl from the start. Or well… not from the start. I wasn’t a big fan of his before we made it to the prison. Something changed while we were there, after we left the farm. He stepped out of Merle’s shadow, got out from under his thumb, and he really blossomed into who he is now. And I guess that’s really what drew me to him.”
Carl looks at you with a smile on his face. “That checks out. I’ve had my suspicions for a while now, but having you confirm it just makes it that much better.”
“Alright, that’s it. I’m going to tell your dad that you’re out here slacking off.” You start moving, acting like you’re really going to find Rick, but Carl tugs on your hand, pulling you back down with him.
“I’ll just tell him you kidnapped me and forced me to slack off with you.”
You frown playfully at him. “God, you’re annoying.”
“I know, and you love me for it.”
“Unfortunately, yes I do. Although I’m starting to question why… Hey!” You barely dodge his playful swipe at you, drawing more laughter out of him. “That’s it, kid! I’m definitely ratting you out now. Rick!” You start yelling for his dad, laughing as he covers your mouth with his free hand.
Footsteps approach and you watch as Carl stiffens before turning to check who it is. “Hey Daryl..”
Daryl grunts in acknowledgment, taking in the sight of you two sprawled out on the grass before he moves to sit on the other side of you. “Rick’s lookin’ for ya. Said you were supposed to be helping in the pantry today. I bought you some time, told him I asked you to help me with something for a bit today. You’ll need to sneak off soon, ‘fore he comes lookin’ for both of us.”
Carl groans at the reminder of his punishment but he thanks Daryl for covering for him.
“Don’t thank me yet. Ya need to figure out a convincing story to tell your dad when he asks what I needed ya for. Good luck!”
Carl flips Daryl off good-naturedly and heads off to the pantry while you laugh at his antics. You can feel Daryl’s eyes on you for a moment and you’re thankful he can’t hear your heart thumping in your chest. “What did you tell Rick?”
Daryl smirks. “Told him to fuck off and let the kid be.”
His response startles a laugh out of you. “Bullshit! You wouldn’t do that.”
“I would. Would tell Michonne the same if she was gettin’ onto him too.”
Your stomach hurts from laughing and you say as much. “Nah you wouldn’t. If there’s anyone in these walls to not mess with, it’s Michonne, especially if she’s in Mom mode. What did you actually do?”
You hear Daryl shift and assume he shrugged his shoulders. “Told Rick that I seen Carl out here with you. Told him that Carl was bein’ a typical kid, and if the worst thing he ever did was brush off chores to hang out with his friend, that Rick had done a great job raisin’ him and that he needed to get of Carl’s back for a bit.”
You hum, considering his words. “Well I can’t say that I disagree with you. I do kinda feel bad that I might have made things worse for the kid.”
“Nah, you ain’t done nothin’ wrong. Rick’s been on edge, worryin’ about tryin’ to raise a teen in this world. He’s gon’ figure it out though. Got faith in him.”
Daryl shifts again and you’re surprised when you look over to see him stretching out on the grass beside you. He catches you staring and his face scrunches in confusion. “I got somethin’ on my face?”
“No… I thought you were leaving, that’s all.”
“You want me gone?” He sounds insecure and he looks away, avoiding your eye.
“Never. You’re good company. I just didn’t expect you to stay out here with me is all.” You move, making sure you weren’t crowding him, and rest your hand near his when he finally settles. “It’s peaceful out here, near the water. Reminds me a bit of how the world felt before the Turn. I like hanging out with Carl out here, letting him soak this up.”
He stays quiet while you speak, watching the expression on your face, and your heart starts pounding again. There’s a warmth in the air that has nothing to do with the late spring sun, and your cheeks grow pink the more he stares.
“Now I’m going to worry that there’s something on my face”, you say in an attempt to break the awkward silence. When you glance over to meet his eye, you notice his lip is caught between his teeth, a sure sign that he doesn’t know what to do or say. “Daryl, there’s something I should have told you long before now… something I should have said even back in Atlanta… I-“ Your words are cut off by another set of steps approaching.
“Daryl, we got a problem. Deanna wants to talk to us now.”
You’ve never been so annoyed with Rick Grimes in your life, but you don’t say anything. You simply sigh and stand up, leaning down to offer Daryl a hand before heading off to do whatever it was you were actually supposed to be doing. Daryl’s voice carries over to you and you turn to look at him.
“Tell me later, yeah?”
You nod at him with a smile, knowing damn well it will be a long time before you muster up the courage again to even consider confessing your feelings for him.