✧ 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐒: twd imagines

strawberry jam; ezekiel sutton

(    STRAWBERRY JAM.   )
ezekiel x fem!reader

prompt:
picking strawberries or wild blackberries
together during the summer when they're
in season.

story setting:
the kingdom
— season 7

warnings: —

──── .·:*¨༺ ────

the summer months have always been your favorite time of year. when the plants start to flourish and the buds bloom into the most gorgeous colored petals. everything in the garden is at its peak, making the harvest one of the more enjoyable tasks. you made your way outside with the threaded basket you had made from various bendy twigs.

you prance along the road looking forwards to the warm day ahead. life in the kingdom was nothing less than peaceful, each and every morning you awoke feeling like life was a fairytale. the towns folk always seemed to be in a cheery mood and we had a kind, strong, and sweet ruler to watch over us, king ezekiel.

today, you were tasked with picking ripe berries that hung on the bushes. with so many types to choose from the kingdom had strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and cranberries. all of them ripe and ready to be plucked with their delicious savory juices. you approached the gardens and got to work right away.

not wanting to waste another second of daylight as you begin plucking the berries from their stems. one by one they plopped down in your basket with a thud until almost half of your basket was filled. you made your way down the line, making sure to get each type of berry that you came across. not wanting to leave perfectly good food to waste away in the drying sunshine.

next up on your list was the blackberry bushes that were layered in prickly thorns. you placed your hand carefully on the back before plopping off the berry. patience was key when it came to this particular bush, having to be extra careful not to get pricked. you shuffled your way down the line in a squatting position when you hit a hole.

the minor hole caused you to lose balance, and without thinking your hand latched around the stem. you winced as the long thorns dug themselves into your delicate skin. your basket full of produce was knocked over in the process of trying to balance yourself out.

you let out a displeased sigh as you began picking up the dirt covered berries. that was until someone started to help you, which was no other than the proud king himself. he kneeled in the muck, getting his perfectly clean pants dirty in order to help you pick up some fallen berries.

he glanced up and saw that you were staring. "say are you alright?" he asked, referring to your injured hand. you looked down at the small amount of crimson blood that trickled from the open wound. "yeah, it's just a scratch." you say as you gathered the berries into the basket.

once the berries were placed back into the basket you thanked the king for his help. "isn't today a fine day to be picking berries." he said in his usual cheery tone. "indeed it is." you say with a smile that curved the corner of your lips upwards.

the king plucked a crimson strawberry from its stem and stuck it in his mouth. making a soft mm sound as he enjoyed the savory sweetness of the juice. they were nothing less than perfection. "that settles it then, we can feast on some fine strawberry jam that's spread on two slices of bread in my chambers, what say you?" his words took you back.

he was asking you, a common civilian to eat with him. feasting with the king was an honor but you still hadn't finished your morning chores. "but king ezekiel, with all due respect i still have an unfinished job." you say looking at all the rows of berries lined up that were all just right for picking.

"nonsense, there's no need to rush the process, the berries will be good today, and the berries will be excellent tomorrow." the king preached his message that you wholeheartedly received. he stood up from his kneeling position and extended you a hand. "come now, let me treat you." you hesitantly placed your hand in his as he hoisted you to your feet.

word count
726