TWD ~ Daryl + Reader ~

Glaring

You walk through the gates of Hilltop and you are met by not-so-nice stares. That is until Maggie and Enid come up to you and Jesus.

"Welcome back." Maggie says with a smile. "Is no one else with you?" She looks towards the slowly closing gates.

"No-"

"The Saviors are on their way to Alexandria as we speak," Jesus interrupts you, "we've come to see if the people here are ready to join the fight."

"They're ready." Enid nods.

"Good." Jesus smiles. "Do you still have the long-distance radio?" Maggie just nods. "We have to reach King Ezekiel."

"Alright, you do that and I'll get our people ready."

Maggie walks toward Barrington House and Jesus heads to his trailer while Enid stays with you.

"If Hilltop's alliance with Alexandria is brought to light won't your brother be in danger?"

As Enid looks at you for the answer your eyes cascade toward the ground. You had tried not to think about that. How this war starting between the alliance and the saviors could end with your brother's death. You're not sure where Andy stands in all of this, but you don't want to see your brother killed.

"(Y/N)?" Enid says to get your attention back.

Your eyes slowly rise from the ground as you say, "I hope not, but I can't worry about that now we have a fight to get to."

. . .

Jesus picks up the long-distance radio from the table in the middle of his trailer. He clicks the button on the side twice, then waits to hear three bleeps back.

As soon as he hears the three bleeps he holds the button on the side down and plainly says; "I need to speak to King Ezekiel."

"Understood." That is all they respond with. But only a couple minutes later another voice is on the radio. "This is King Ezekiel."

"The Saviors are heading to Alexandria as we speak, I need to know if we can count on the kingdom for help today." Ezekiel is quiet. "I know you said you don't want to take part in this war, but-"

"We will help you and take down this tyrant." Jesus is taken aback in disbelief. "They killed Benjamin, Jesus." His eyes go wide. "Over a cantaloupe, a damn cantaloupe." Jesus hears Ezekiel's voice crack.

"I'm sorry, Ezekiel."

There is silence for a little bit, then Ezekiel says; "I will get my men ready and we will meet you at Alexandria."

"There is an entrance towards the back of Alexandria, we will be there waiting for you."

Then radio silence.

. . .

You and Enid move a little closer to the people standing in front of the steps of Barrington House. But you stop moving when you notice some people glaring at you.

People have been glaring at you whenever they see you since you let Harlan get taken to the Sanctuary. But you wonder if they've glared at you before that.

When you and Andy first came to Hilltop you were both traumatized and everyone here welcomed you with open arms. Gregory had both of you move into Barrington House after he heard what happened to your mother, his sister. Within a couple months you and Andy were helping around Hilltop and going on supply runs with Jesus.

Then Negan came. He brought fear and terror to Hilltop. He took Andy and barred you off from the rest of the world. When he first started visiting you the people of Hilltop were understanding and they knew it was something you were forced into. But it changed after Michael attacked you.

They saw that Negan killed one of his own men for you. They noticed that Negan stayed with you for days afterwards. They saw what the Sanctuary could do to people because it made Andy unemotive.

Then they witnessed Andy assaulting a man just because Negan told him to. With the added factor that he hit Jesus. So they started to hate Andy, even with everything he had done for them in the past.

You willingly going to the Sanctuary was the last straw. With everything the saviors had done to Hilltop, you went there without a second thought. You weren't forced to go and you were gone for days, coming back seemingly untouched. And as an added measure you gave the saviors Harlan which put people in Hilltop at risk.

They have seen your selfishness, even fell victim to it. They have seen one side to the agreement with the saviors and it was frightening for them. They have seen Negan care for you and you willingly go to him. They have lost trust in you, whether you deserve it or not.

"To Alexandria!" Maggie yells with he fist in the air.

"Yah!" The people of Hilltop erupt, then they disperse grabbing weapons. A few people ram their shoulders into you as they pass. The last person that rams into you makes you relocate your finger.

You look down at your hand to see fresh skin glistening up at you with white blood cells trying to form a scab. You had picked the skin all the way down your pointer finger on one side and had previously twisted it out of place. You feel the scorching pain sending pulses through your hand, but you just shove your hand in your pocket as you hear footsteps coming towards you.

"Are you ready?" Jesus asks as he stands in front of you, to which you nod to. "You understand there's no going back after we start this?"

"I know." You give him a half smile. "Let's do this."