TWD ~ Daryl + Reader ~

For Now

Knock. Knock.

The sound of the knocking on the door wakes you up and you try to get up to open the door but you are kept in the bed by Daryl's arm being wrapped around you. You sluggishly sit up and move Daryl's arm so it's around your waist.

"The King's decree will be given in ten minutes." The harsh voice pushes itself through the crack of the door and just by its tone you know it's Richard's voice. Then you hear him walk away from the door as other footsteps sound down the hallway.

You turn to look down at Daryl, who's eyes are slightly open and looking at you. He moves his arm up your torso and pulls you back down to lay beside him.

"Does this mean that you're not going to listen to the King's decree?" You move to lay on your side as you bring your hand up to his face and move a piece of his hair out of his eyes.

He smirks at you as he moves his head closer to you and lays a warm sincere kiss on your lips. "I'm sorry for yellin' last night." He says as he parts your lips and rests his forehead against yours.

"It's alright." You smile as you go to kiss him again.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Daryl, let's go." Rick hollers from outside the door.

You sigh as you sit up and stand from the bed. "Let's go then."

. . .

As you all follow Richard through the grounds of the Kingdom you see kids learning to shoot bows, people going through their normal day, and guards training and running through the grounds. Richards leads you all closer to where the kids are learning to shoot bows and stop a few feet from King Ezekiel.

The King starts to speak as the footsteps behind him stop. "This is life here. Every day. But it came at a cost." He turns around to face everyone. "And I wanted more of this. I wanted to expand. To create more places like this. Men and women lost their limbs. Children lost their parents because I sent them into a battle against the wasted when I did not need to."

You look to the ground, you know where this is going.

"This is different." Rick says as he takes a step towards King Ezekiel.

"It isn't."

"It is. The dead don't rule us. The world doesn't look like this outside your walls. People don't have it as good. Some people don't have it good at all."

With a saddening look, King Ezekiel says, "I have to worry about my people."

"You call yourself a damn king." Daryl spits out, making you turn and look at him. "You sure as hell don't act like one."

King Ezekiel makes his way over to Daryl as he says; "All of this," the King pauses, "came at a cost. It was lives, arms, legs." The King motions to the woman shooting one of the bows. He almost glares at Daryl and Daryl slightly glares right back, then King Ezekiel turns back to Rick. "The peace we have with the Saviors is uneasy, but it is peace. I have to hold on to it. I have to try." Rick gives the King a sideways glance as the King continues. "Although the Kingdom cannot grant you the aid you desire, the King is sympathetic to your plight." You see Richard and Rick share a short glance both disliking the King's decision. "As I once offered our friend (Y/N), I would like to offer Daryl asylum for as long as he requires it. He will be safe here." Your body stiffens and Daryl uncomfortably moves from the King's words. The King glances at Daryl in dismay then looks back to Rick. "The Saviors do not set foot inside our walls."

"How long do you think that's gonna last?" Daryl snidely asks making King Ezekiel look at him with a glare. The glare is returned before Daryl turns from him and walks away.

You take a step after him, but you stop as Rick and the others quickly follow him. You know Rick will talk to him. Instead of following the rest of them, you walk towards the King.

"King Ezekiel."

"No, (Y/N)." He holds his hand up to you, "I have said what I decreed, you may not change my mind."

"I wasn't going to." I smile at him as his heavy brown eyes look down at you, "I was going to say thank you."

"For what?"

"For even considering to help," You smile at him and look to the others as they follow Daryl, then back at King Ezekiel, "and that you've offered Daryl asylum, he may not like it but-" The King's brown eyes soften as eye contact is made for a second, "-thank you."

All the King does is nod and you quickly walk away to find the others. Within that small moment, he learns what the others overlook, that you care for Daryl.

. . .

When you finally catch up with the rest of them they are already near the gate. As you get closer to them you hear Daryl call for the people standing guard at the gate to open it. When the gates open you see both Daryl and Jesus turn slightly to see you walking towards them. Jesus motions for you to come on, while Rick stops Daryl.

You get closer to them as you hear Rick say, "You're not."

"I'm not stayin' here." Daryl says motioning towards the grounds of the Kingdom.

"You have to. It's the smartest play. You know it is." You watch Daryl slightly pace unhappily, "Try to talk to Ezekiel. Or stare him into submission-" Rick jokes, "-whatever it takes." There's a moment of silence between them, "We'll be back soon."

Rick walks out of the gates towards the rest of his people. Daryl slightly turns to see you standing behind him. You look up at him then past him to see Jesus standing outside the gates waiting for you, then back at Daryl. You take the few steps between you two and hug him, holding him close.

"I'll see you soon, yeah?" You say into his chest. He just stays silent as he holds you. You part the hug and lightly kiss him before you back from him and start to walk around him. "I love you." You shyly smile at him and you see his eyes get wide as the gates slowly close behind you.

You turn forward and continue to walk as Jesus joins you by your side.

"You pick now to tell him-"

"Shut up." You blushingly say to his joking comment.

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~A/N~

Some of the dialogue in this chapter were created by the makers of TWD. I edited some of the lines... I hope you liked it.

As always thank you for reading. Don't forget to hit that star. All the love.