When The Camellia Wilts | The Walking Dead Fanfiction

Don't Let Loose The Man With Loose Screws

"There are no dangerous weapons; there are only dangerous men." 

- Robert A. Heinlein

In between the prison being attacked and them being ambushed by the people of Terminus, something changed between them. Daryl and Aliya were now done with holding back the feelings they have been suppressing, the feelings they were ashamed to feel in these times. It felt silly now, but it was an issue back then, the feeling that they were being selfish by liking each other. 

Daryl is the brother of the man who had a hand in, quite frankly, destroying Aliya's life. He felt like he was taking advantage of her vulnerability, pushing his feelings and attraction onto her. While Aliya still felt guilty, guilty about being attracted to another man other than Arden, the man who has been there for her since the beginning of this apocalypse. She felt pathetic, being attracted to the first person who quite literally pulled her out of her hell. 

Was she that desperate for love?

She has been holding back painfully, trying to silence herself when it came to Daryl but it has been straining, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. She had slipped up a few times, not being able to hold herself back and it was bittersweet. She knows he appreciated it, her standing up for him even if it was just volunteering to do the tasks he was ordered to, but she also felt intrusive, like a parasite trying hard to slip in. 

She now understood what Arden told her then, what he meant by letting go. 

==+==

The air was thick with tension and rage as they all used their zippers, belt knuckles, shoe laces and anything they could use to try and make a bigger and more efficient weapon. A shank to stab in their rotten hearts. There was no way they would mope around and wait for the door to slide open without a fight. This would either be their final destination or just a bump in their road to survival. 

All of them were silent, focused on making their weapons when Daryl demanded their attention, "Got four of them pricks coming our way." he informed them quickly, rolling his shoulders, readying himself. Aliya looked towards Rick who nodded, "Y'all know what to do." he nodded at each of them, telling them to get ready. Aliya nodded frisky, "Aim for the eyes." she repeated, looking at Daryl who nodded at her curtly. 

The pricks outside shouted instructions, demanding them to put their backs on the walls but they fell on defiant and deaf ears. They steadied themselves as they anticipated the opening of the door, fists up and weapons aimed. But all of their readiness flew out of the window as a latch opened up on top of the car, one they haven't noticed at all. 

Something dropped, making a loud clank but it took them a while to understand what it was. Even then, it was too late and if not for Abraham, they would've been hurt worse. "Get down!" he screamed as he pulled everybody away from the smoke grenade. Aliya's ears started ringing painfully as she lifted her head up to look at the opening door. A masked man marched in, heading straight for her, and all she could do was blink rapidly.