TWD ~ Daryl + Reader ~

Trouble

"How did Rick find out that I want to leave?" Your face reddens with anger.

At the sound of your anger Denise quickly finishes unwrapping your knee and moves away from you and Jesus to let you both hash it out.

"I have no idea how he found out," Jesus continues to stand at the end of your bed wide eyed, "but since you've caused so much trouble he seems to want you out of these gate as soon as possible."

"I haven't caused that much trouble-"

Jesus' wide eyes soften and he just plainly looks at you as he nonchalantly lists everything that has happened since you got to Alexandria. "One, you got Daryl and yourself locked in a pharmacy for hours while you had a panic attack."

"Not completely my fault-" You cross your arms letting your right leg bangle off the side of the bed.

"Two, you basically disrespected everyone who helped Hilltop with the saviors by lecturing them about probably not killing all of the saviors."

"It's true-" You huff.

"Three, you ran off without warning for almost two days."

"You guys could have just left me out there."

"I couldn't do that." Jesus says with his voice cracking halfway through the sentence, "Once I realized you were gone I went out to find you." Your glare drops at the sound of his concern, "I found those dead walkers and I followed your trail for a while, but when dusk started to hit I had to turn back." You see his eyes start to water, "I tried to find you. I truly did."

Jesus sits down next to you on your bed and leans his head on your shoulder making you uncross your arms and hold him there. So many questions run through your head, but you can't bring yourself to ask them as he's practically sobbing on your shoulder.

~ next day ~

You've truly never been an early riser, but since you started middle school you were forced out of bed at an unreasonable time. Whether you were woken up by a bucket of water filled with ice or a sharp sting of a belt, your pops always made sure you were up no later than 4 o'clock. However, since the end of the world you have always woken up with the light of the sun. 

When your eyes flash open your first thoughts are to flinch, but after looking around and not seeing your pops anywhere your whole body begins to relax. You lay in your bed and stare at the ceiling. The memories from last night flash through your head.

Denise telling you about Rick. Jesus telling you that Rick is offering to take you both back to Hilltop. Jesus almost sobbing on your shoulder. You asking Jesus about Daryl. Everything.

Your mind snaps out of its thoughts as you hear the door shut and foot steps sound through the building. You instantly sit up as the steps seem to get closer to you. Your eyes stop on Daryl as he walks further towards you.

"What are you doing here?" You ask as your eyes follow him as he sits in the chair to the side of your bed. "Rick told me Jesus and ya are leavin' t'day."

Your eyes drop from him and you turn to face the end of your bed as your left hand finds your right index finger. "We are."

"I thought you were waitin' till 'ur knee healed."

"There's a doctor at Hilltop." You hear him shift in the chair and you glimpse over to see him hunched over with his elbows on his knees. "Plus we're only going because Rick doesn't want me here."

"Rick don't trust ya," he looks up at you, "that's all."

You turn your body, letting your legs hang off the side of the bed, to face Daryl. "Do you trust me?"

"Yes." Daryl's back straightens and his eyes peer into yours and your hands separate from each other. 'No hesitation,' sounds through your mind, 'he means it.' He moves closer to you, now sitting on the edge of the chair. His arms are stretched out to both sides of you on the bed, holding him up as he leans closer to you.

"Daryl, I-" 

"Stay." That same look in his eyes, that you saw in front of Carol's porch, is there. 

You uncontrollably go to press your hand to the side of his face. Daryl slightly jerks his head away at first and you start pull you hand back, but surprisingly he gradually leans his head into your touch making his small amount of stubble on his cheek tickle your palm. 

He starts to lean closer to you and as he does his right hand comes up to your face to gently swipe his callused fingers against your cheek. Your eyes are still glued to his, until you can feel his breath on your lips and he glimpses down to your lips. When his eyes look back into yours, you slightly smile and move your head closer to his so your foreheads are touching and your noses are only fingertips apart. 

To your surprise, Daryl closes the gap with his eyes closing the instant his lips meet yours. Your eyes close at the warmth of his lips and stay closed as he slightly pulls his lips away, just long enough for you to make your lips meet once more. 

You feel your heart beat quicken with each movement of yours and Daryl's lips. The kissing is long and passionate with each kiss deeper than the last. Your arms move to wrap around his neck and his hands are on your sides as you press up against each other. 

Before you go too much further you separate your lips from Daryl's. You arms slowly removes themselves from around Daryl's neck and press onto Daryl's chest trying to make yourself move away from him. Your eyes slowly open as your heart beat slows down and you feel the heat from your face slowly cool. Daryl takes a small step back from you as your arms request and he puts his forehead to yours. 

'I can't stay. Even with how much I want to.' Spreads through your mind. 'He's going to hate me.' follows.