Red // Daryl Dixon

18

Rossary

Matthew bumped my shoulder, wincing as he tried to smile at me. I frowned as I looked at the damage Merle had left. Despite Matthew's constant reassurance that he was okay, Merle had definitely done a number on him.

It was a shock to see Matthew so beat up. The only other time I could remember Matthew even having a black eye was when we were still with William, hell even when on the run from that asshole Matthew was never someone I worried about. Now, as he lugged the group's stuff to a car, I worried his concussion would cause him to keel over on the floor.

I walked over to the tucson and placed our packs in the back. I hugged my best friend. "If anything happens-"

"I should be saying this to you, bunny." Matthew said. I scowled.

Daryl, Maggie, Glenn, Rick, Michonne, and I were staying behind to defend the prison against The Governor. There was no way of knowing how today was going to go, but I knew no matter what happened I would be okay. Still, even though Matthew could protect himself, it felt like it was my job to make sure he was okay.

I swallowed down my worry and offered Matthew a small smile.

Carl walked past us, ignoring everyone with an angry look on his face.

I frowned.  "We'll be okay." 

"Always are." he tsked. Matthew pat my shoulder and walked away.

"Hey," I turned around to find Rick. He stopped when he was in front of me. "I know what I did was wrong, and you can hate me-"

"I don't...I get it, really. I am glad Michonne is okay though, what you were going to do..." I trailed off, not wanting to finish my sentence. Rick shifted on his feet, looking more guilty by the second. "People fuck up, some just fuck up a whole lot."

He looked away and smirked. "Are we good?"

I nodded, "Yeah, we're good." I pat his shoulder as I walk off.

Daryl sat in front of his bike, tweaking a few things. I waved at him, giving him a tight-lipped smile. We didn't have a lot of time to talk this morning before we were put to work by the group. I couldn't get the night before out of my head, from the hug to eating next to Daryl late at night- We had done those things before, but this felt more intimate than ever before. I shook off the thought. I needed to stop thinking about it.

Daryl nodded, understanding I was trying to comfort him. I pulled him up off the ground, keeping his hand in mine.

"We should start drinking after all this." I said, nodding my head.

Daryl snorted. "We're gonna need a lot more than alcohol."

...

I held the AK in my hand and stayed next to Maggie. She gripped my hand tightly. I smiled, squeezing her hand before letting go and getting in position. It felt nice to be fighting a large group again; I couldn't explain the rush of adrenaline that bought me enjoying a fight every once in a while.

One of the Governor's trucks drove into the spikes, the tires popping. The sound of gunshots made my ears ring as I watched the large group of men and women shoot up the prison.

They rammed through the gate, breaking one of our defenses. There were about twenty of them and each had a gun and enough ammo to wipe us out tenfold.

The group scattered across the courtyard. I watched as they took in the barren area. It looked like a ghost-town, like no one had been here in a long time. I chewed on my lip and kept an eye on Maggie and Glenn.

The cell block door opened with a loud creak. I tensed. Rick, Daryl, and Michonne were hiding in the prison.

I nodded once when I knew they were both okay. Maggie squeezed my hand once more before I moved away, quietly walking through a part of the prison and toward my spot. Glenn was across from Maggie, me across from them so we covered every area. My spot was more open, with less cover, but it would do.