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#Daryl dixon x daughter reader
uptondixon · 3 days
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"I know I’m not perfect, but I do try my hardest." Daryl said while, surprisingly, looking you in the eye.
You were confused, Daryl's wasn't that straightforward with his feelings. "What? What do you mean?"
His gaze didn't wander "I'll try my hardest to not let that happen to you."
Realization hit you like a truck. He was talking about her.
"I failed Sophia, but I promise I won't fail you." These words were said with a tone of sentiment you never heard from Daryl before.
You were at a loss of words, big eyes staring back at the man before you.
After today, you truly lost a part of your faith in the world. But it seemed you just gained something too.
"I know, Daryl."
"And I love you for it."
Prompt 42 from @positivelyholland Parental Writing Prompts
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OMG CAN YOU PLEASE DO DARYL AS A PARENT FIGURE???!!!?!! 😭😭😭
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY LIKE THAT 😭
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A/N: thank you so much for the idea!!! I hope this is okay!!! I was tempted to go full out and have him be an actual dad, but this’ll do for now. If you’d all like an actual story where Daryl’s a dad of the reader then please do lmk!! Also there are other Daryl father figure stories on my page so feel free to have a scroll!!<3
Synopsis: reader lost her family at the beginning of the apocalypse, she finally breaks and Daryl is there to comfort her.
Female! Reader x father figure! Daryl.
You were upset. Clearly. Like a ticking time bomb. You were staring down at the ground, the group had gone through a hell of a lot of shit to get to this point and the pain of losing people and seeing such blood shed welcomed in a new emotion for you. Pure agony. Agony that you hadn’t felt in a long time. The last time you felt it was when your family had been killed and turned into walkers. And losing all parental figures in one night was devastating.
“You good?” A voice came from the side and you glanced up seeing Daryl resting his shoulder against a tree crossbow hung over his other shoulder as he stared at you worriedly “I’m fine.” You murmured looking away from him, hearing him make a slight laughing sound as if he didn’t believe you “talk to me y/n…” he wasn’t one to ever push but he saw you were struggling. You remained quiet for a while just staring before you slowly looked at him before standing up “I lost my family… to the dead at the beginning of this shit show. They were ripped from me in an instant… sure my family wasn’t perfect but they all loved me and I loved them.” Daryl’s face contorted with sadness as he stared at you sadly. Oh how he wished he had a supportive family… he only really had Merle and the man was toxic as hell.
“I- I- seeing everything today it just brought back all the memories. Hearing my parents scream for mercy… seeing their blood… seeing how the dead ripped their faces off.” Tears were now streaming down your cheeks without you even realising as you let out a shaky breath. Daryl slowly got closer to you “I wanted to save them. I hated that I couldn’t save them… I- I- I needed to save them and it fucking kills me that I can’t go back and rescue them.. I should’ve done more… I- I needed to do more they needed me and I just stood there too scared and then I ran off and—“ your sobbing suddenly grew louder as then and there you broke in front of Daryl. He was the type you could trust. You wouldn’t of opened up like this to anyone else, maybe Rick, but Daryl was like a father to you. At the worst of times he kept you stable.
He wrapped his arms around you tightly “easy y/n.” He soothed holding you close to his chest. He rubbed up and down your back delicately “blaming yourself doesn’t get you anywhere.” He blamed himself over a lot of things so he understood but he knew it wouldn’t help anything. “Not your fault.” He spoke to you quietly as you sobbed into his chest, his grip on you was light at first before eventually he secured his grip on you tightening it as he pulled you impossibly closer “it’s okay…” You couldn’t focus though, only crying more as your hands weakly pushed against his chest, angry at yourself as weak cries continued leaving your lips Daryl keeping a protective hold on you, your hands continued hitting at his chest and he only held you closer to him “easy… breathe…” he soothed as softly as he could.
He dropped his free arm down momentarily so he could drop his crossbow down onto the floor before he pulled you closer to him again holding you tight “I miss my dad…. I miss my dad… I miss him so much.” Daryl’s heart broke for you and he held you closer, pressing a small kiss to the top of your head, his hand soon coming up to caress against the back of your head. “It’s okay.. it’s all going to be okay.. I’m here for you.” He didn’t dare let you go. You continued crying about missing your dad and he didn’t let go, he just held you, and as your sobbing eventually calmed down he pulled back slightly only to see you now clawing at his shirt to keep him there and he knew you needed him so he leaned in closer to you again.
“Your family would be so proud of you for how far you’ve come.” He murmured to you gently. “For killing people?” You murmured with a soft cry. “No.” He pulled back resting his hands against your shoulders “for surviving. We’ve all got to just survive somehow. Right? And you did just that…” he smiled warmly and you sniffled, before his hand came up to wipe against your cheek getting rid of the tears that lingered against your skin. “Look up.” He nodded up and you slowly glanced up at the dark night sky, twinkling stars shining down on you both. Daryl wasn’t the sentimental type to believe stars were lost loved ones but he could pretend for you… “they’re shining down on you always… proud and happy. Supporting you.” A small smile broke out on your face and you leaned into him, holding onto him tightly, “yeah…. Thank you… love you.” You murmured quietly without even thinking and he leaned down kissing your forehead. “Love you too sunshine.”
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rue-dixon · 8 months
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Daryl Dixon with a daughter headcanons
- his entire parenting style would be, "do as I say not as I do."
- when he's fixing a car, his bike, or even his cross bow he'll ask you for help and ask you to hand him tools. While also trying to teach you how to do it so you can do it yourself later on.
- would probably totally forget to explain to you what periods are so when you get it for the first time you think you're dying and he has to talk you down.
- reads you bed time stories when you were younger but would interrupt himself every few minutes with some sort of comment or criticism. "Then the princess kissed the frog an- seriously? She's gonna believe the talking frog??"
- will always let you sleep with him if you have nightmares.
- has woken you up with snoring a couple times.
- teaches you how to hunt, gather, and shoot of course.
- wants to be involved in your hobbies, so if you draw, write, read, paint, sing, it doesn't matter. He wants to be included in them and will always complement you on them. Will watch you too if it's something he can watch you do.
- tries not to smoke around you too much when you were younger. Because he remembers how bad his moms smoking affected him as a kid, but will be less and less careful as you get older. Tells you not to smoke while simultaneously refusing to ever quit himself.
- brings you back gifts when he goes on runs. Especially during the prison era, brings you back things to decorate your space to make it feel less like a cell. You have so many trinkets, jewelry, stuffies, or anything the goes with your hobbies from him. Good thing he doesn't have to pay.
- when you outgrow your clothes or need new ones he'll go with you so you can pick them out yourself. But will also ask Carol or Michonne to come along as well because they know more about these things.
- is surprisingly very calm when teaching you how to drive. Has you drive up and down empty highways and around empty parking lots. You don't need a license of course but still should learn the proper way.
- if you're lesbian and come out to him he'd probably like snort and be like "I know.. so who's the lucky girl?" And give you a very cocky smirk before looking away.
- sometimes he gets sad knowing he can't give you a better life than you deserve.
- would not shelter you, like at all. If you were Carl's age, he would've already taught you to shoot way before him which caused Carl to fuss at Rick. But he'd still try to shield you from anything super bad or grossem.
- if you have a bad fight later that night when they two of you will be getting ready to settle down for the night he'll try his best to apologize in the way he knows how. So either giving you something, helping you or apologizing for something specific. "M' sorry for yellin' at ya."
- hugs, but mostly hair ruffles and pats on the back.
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carl-grimes-fav-wife · 2 months
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You and me Always, Forever Part 1 Carl Grimes x Female reader
THESE AREN'T MY CHARACTERS THEY ARE FROM THE WALKING DEAD SHOW Warnings: Blood, Mention of death, Cursing, Reader calling Daryl daddy (non sexual way he's her father you fool). N/n stands for nickname TEXT MEANING Purple: Y/n speaking Blue: Carl speaking Green: Other characters speaking Red: Sexual content/Topic Pink + Italics: Thoughts TIME PERIOD: END OF SEASON 3- START OF SEASON 4 Requested: No
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He stood there. The boy that had been my best friend since the beginning of this whole shit show. Maggie was holding his newborn baby sister covered in blood. Rick was crying and screaming. But the only thing I was focused on was Carl. The poor boy had just lost his mom and his father wasn’t really comforting him. I was debating on whether or not to hug him. I ended up deciding to hug him. I ran over to him and wrapped my arms around him. “I’m so sorry Carl. I’m so, so sorry.” I said. He just stood there for a minute before hugging me back. “I-I killed her- I- I killed my mom, y/n…” I started to stroke his hair. “You did what you had to Carl. It’s not your fault. You’re not a bad person .” He just kept crying. I felt awful. His father went into the section Lori had died in. “Shh it’ll be okay Carl…”
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A few weeks later Daryl and Maggie had just recently gotten back from getting baby supplies. I was sitting in Carl's cell with him with his baby sister. "She's really cute. You pick a name out yet?" "Yeah I guess she is... And no not yet" "Oh shit dads back. You good if I leave for a little bit? My dad just got back and-“ Carl had cut me off “JUST STOP Y/N! I'M NOT A BABY, I'M FINE TO BE BY MYSELF!” “I-I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make it seem like I thought you were... Never mind. I'll talk to you later Carl." I said walking off. "He just needs time to cool off... This is a lot for him. After all were still just kids." I took a few minutes before I went to find my dad. Once I did find him I walked over to him and hugged him. "HI daddy! Welcome back. I have a question. Do you think Carl will ever be happy again?" "Eventually. Yer just gotta give the kid some time. Alright, Pumpkin?" My dad said, hugging me back and kissing my forehead. "Okay daddy. Thank you." "Course pumpkin. I'd do anythin for ya sweetie. I'm gonna go check on Rick. Justa make sure Carl's alright?" "Okay daddy. Cya later!" I said running off to check on my bestfriend. "Cya sweetheart."
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A few months later "I hate her Carl! Ugh why did my dad have to bring her back here!" I said pacing back and forth in Carl's cell. "I dunno. What's so bad about her I think she's sorta nice." He said while laying on his bed "Carl! You're supposed to be on MY side! She's so annoying I hate her. I dunno why my dad even likes her she's not even that pretty." I stopped to look at him "You don't know for sure if he even likes her. She JUST got here. He's just being nice. I dunno what you want me to say Y/n." He looked over at me "Just listen I guess? You're my best friend. And he definitely does like her. I mean c'mon when is Daryl nice to anyone? Plus its not like you're happy with your dad either. After he let the governors people in." "But Y/n he found her. It's different. I wouldn't think to much about it. But anyways. You talk a lot. And you talk with your hands a lot" "Rude. And I do not!" "Its the truth n/n" "Whatever." "C'mon Y/nnnn don't be like that." "Ill do whatever I want." "You're cute when you're upset." "What?" "Nothing" "Carl I actually didn't hear you- whatever." I said sitting next to his bed "I'll tell you someday. Promise." He put his hat on my head and I smiled. "I'll hold you to that then, Grimes." "I know you will. Dixon." ----------------------------------- It had only been a few weeks since I had that conversation with Carl. We both thought things would get better. But boy, were we wrong. The governor had attacked again. Hershel died. Michonne almost died. I got separated from Carl. I thought the world was as shitty as it could get before but no. Without him everything seemed way worse. I was constantly worried if he was alive or not. I hope he was. I dunno what I'd do if I never saw him and his pretty blue eyes again. I'd probably die. This is all so weird. Before the apocalypse being friends with a boy would be weird. But now a boy's my best friend. And to make this whole shit show better when I got separated I also stuck with Valerie. I'm pretty sure my dad likes her. He acts like it. All I want is to just see my dad and Carl again. That's all I care about. They're all I care about. I will admit she can keep me alive. Sort've. But how long till she can't? ----------------------------------- Carl's POV No. No. I wish this was a all just a bad dream. But it wasn't. In the span of a few months I lost my mom, sister, and bestfriend. I used to think girls had cooties but now? Now I don't think their all that bad. I mean hell my bestfriends a girl. Probably the nicest and prettiest girl I've ever seen but that doesn't matter. What matters is making sure she didn't die. The only thing really stopping me from that is my dad. God I hate saying that but after we left the prison he was so beat up. He's trying but he's really starting to piss me off. He's acting as if he's stronger than me. He usually is but with the condition his in right now. He's practically useless. I get he's trying to protect me cause I'm his son and he just lost his daughter but still. I'm not a baby anymore and I don't need him treating me like one. He's doing an okay job taking care and protecting me now. But how long till he can't? ----------------------------------- Y/ns POV
Holy shit. It's him. It's actually him. I didn't think I'd ever see him again. I didn't know I could be this happy to see someone. HOLY SHIT. Dad was with them too?! I started crying. I was so happy. But dad didn't seem to notice me. He ran right to Valerie. Saying I was pissed and hurt was an understatement. But if he wanted to hug her first I would hug Carl first. I ran over to Carl and he ran to me and we hugged each other. "I thought I'd never see you again." "I didn't think I'd ever see you again ever either... Oh my god I love you so much Y/n. I lost Judith and I thought I lost you. I wouldn't be able to live with both of you gone. God I love you so much." I pulled away from him and looked at him. Still somewhat hugging. "Wait- Judith- she's? You love me?" "Yeah... I don't really wanna talk about it... And of course I do. You mean a lot to me." "I dunno what to say Carl... I love you too." "You do?" "Yeah... Yeah I do." "Good." He kissed my cheek and hugged me again. "I'd do anything for you, Y/n."
----------------------------------- I hoped you enjoyed! Sorry if it wasn't the best it's my first fanfic! Part two should be up soon!
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sunnybunnyy2 · 9 months
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Dark Cell
Daryl Dixon x platonic!reader
Negan smith x daughter!reader
WORD COUNT: 1.1k TIME: Season 7 Warnings: imprisonment, mentions of saviours, mentions of Glenn and Abraham, mentions of dog food
Series Masterlist
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Daryl could feel the gazes on him as he swept the outside of the Sanctuary. Most of them were laughing and taking joy out of his humiliation, others were with pity.
Most of the pity looks were coming from the women and the others were from men that had gone through a similar situation as him before they had rolled over and submitted to Negan.
Negan
Even the name left a bad taste in his mouth, the mere thought of thinking of the heartless man caused vile to raise up his throat before he pushed it down to continue with his daily punishment.
He would sit in his cell for two days, sitting in the pitch black, the only sound that filled the small space was the heavy foot steps of those who walked by and the maddening sound of ‘easy street’ booming on replay. The only food that was spared to him was the leftover bread and expired wet dog food. Then he would be put to work for two days, working for sixteen hours a day before being returned to his cell for Dwight to humiliate him all over again.
Sometimes if he got lucky Negan would bring him to Alexandria and even if it was to make a joke out of him, he craved to make sure his family was okay.
It killed him that he couldn’t reach out and hug his family, his brother and he knew it killed Rick too.
He knew how Rick was, he cared more about his people then he did himself. He would always put himself in harms way to protect his group and it was in his best interest to just cooperate with Negan and his demand to save everyone in Alexandria from suffering the same fate as Glenn and Abraham had on that fateful night.
A hard shove snapped him out of his thoughts as a saviour glared up at him from his slightly smaller frame and as he did he finally caught your eye.
He realized you must’ve been around Carl’s age, you were wearing light blue jeans and an orange sweater that dipped down the shoulders, your eyes tightly locked on his face.
He turned his head back to the task at hand and continued his work not wanting to receive an unnecessary punishment.
It almost caused embarrassment to consume him. He was never like this, he would never cower in fear of somebody. He promised himself he would never back down but for the well-being of everyone in Alexandria, he swallowed his pride and allowed himself to be made a fool.
….
He heard light foot steps making there way down the hallway. He had just assumed a women would be on night watch, he certainly wasn’t expecting you to be opening his small, dark cell.
His questioning eyes watched you as you left the door open a small sliver, just enough to shine a little light into a certain part of the cell but left it closed enough that it wouldn’t be noticed if someone had decided that, that was the best time to look down the doomy hallway. A small plate was in your grasp leaving a sick feeling in his stomach at having to eat another dog food sandwich, but his worry was quickly put to rest when you took a seat in the corner closest to the ajared door.
“I’m not here to hurt you. I promise.” You finally spoke as you noticed the look he was giving you.
He noticed you look down at the plate before slowly sliding it over to him and it was just then that he realized it’s contents. It was two sandwiches, they were made with white bread, some kind of cold cut meat and they contained lettuce, tomato and what he assumed was mustard.
“It’s for you. Sorry I couldn’t make something else, It’s just really late and the cook went out for a smoke break so it was all I had time to grab. I wasn’t really sure what you liked so I just assumed. I hate tomatoes and mustard but I didn’t think you did.” You rambled on anxiously toying with your fingers as you looked at him, and as you did you noticed the reluctant look on his face.
“Go ahead, it’s okay.” He looked at it for a few more minutes, silence filling the room as you stared down at the ground before your eyes snapped up at the sound of him grabbing the plate before stuffing his face with its contents.
You heard a sound leave his lips as he ate the most fresh and real food he has had in more then two weeks.
“Hopefully it’s okay, I mean it has to be better then what they feed people over here.” There was no response only the sound of chewing filled the room. Normally the sound would make you cringe but you were just happy he was finally eating something good.
It only took a few minutes for the sound to dim into nothing as he quietly placed the plate back where you had originally placed it.
His eyes left the floor and met yours through his dark hair, and he looked at you for a moment before he gave you a slight nod.
If you hadn’t been paying close attention to the larger man you wouldn’t have noticed but you were. You could see the uncertainty in his gaze as well as the appreciation.
“I can bring you something else next time. I might just cook it in my room and try and bring it to you a bit earlier.”
He just continued looking at you, as if to decipher if you were lying or not before looking away.
“Is there anything you like?” You asked turning your head to try and catch his eye but it was useless.
You let out a light sigh in understanding before reaching to grab the plate, slowly pulling yourself to your feet as you pushed the door open quietly and just wide enough to squeeze through. As you did so you were halfway through the door, when you heard the deep but scratchy voice.
“Thank you.” As all that was said and when you turned your head you saw him now facing you. You couldn’t see his eyes due to the lack of light and his long hair but you could only assume he was looking at you.
A smile pulled at your lips as you mutter an “Of course.” Before you finally exited the cell, quietly closing and locking it as you tiptoed your way to your overly large room. When doing so your eyes landed on the watch on your wrist that read 2:10 am, thank god your dad was asleep.
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coqvttes · 6 months
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౨ৎ ⋆。˚ - ❝ 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢'𝐦 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥, 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫 ❞
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darylsdelts · 1 month
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Breathe
Darylxdaughter!reader
summary: Daryl is your father, upon entering Alexandria for the first night, you struggle with your anxiety and your Dad comforts you as best he can.
warnings: mentions of nausea, anxiety, panic attacks, fatherly comfort.
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Arriving at the gates of the new community…Alexandria, you felt your stomach doing flips. Usually when kids were scared or nervous, they would hold onto their parents hand a little tighter but you were the opposite, you almost always were, in every way you were the opposite to ‘most kids’.
When the gates started to open, your father, Daryl reached for your hand, giving it a small squeeze. Your dad always knew what would get you anxious and he also knew how you tried to deal with the feeling, so he knew that you did not want to hold his hand right now, he knew it made you feel like the world was putting its entire weight on you. He also knew that you hated that he could always tell when you’d start feeling the tightness in your chest, it filled you with humiliation.
However, Daryl could feel his own chest tightening with anxiety. Bringing his child into a place that he’s unfamiliar with, full of people he couldn’t trust, scared the shit outta him. It filled him with guilt, knowing that he couldn’t ever promise you safety but he also wasn’t one to ever lie to you.
It was like some sort of internal humiliation, you hated that you couldn’t just breeze through certain situations like your Dad or like Rick, they were never scared of anything.
You swiftly pulled your hand from your fathers grip, earning a glance down in your direction which you tried your best to ignore, he had a way of making his gaze feel like it could burn you alive.
Despite not wanting to be touched or comforted, yous still stuck right by your fathers side. You hated admitting it but being next to your dad did comfort you and being in this foreign community, you needed that.
It felt like an eternity of standing next to Daryl, scuffing your feet against the smooth tarmac whilst the adults spoke about where y’all were gonna be sleeping. Your dad didn’t really give much input, he didn’t seem fond of this place so you decided you wouldn’t be either. You weren’t paying attention to the conversation but you assumed there had been some sort of arrangement when Daryl flattened his palm on your upper back and pushed you in the direction of a house that wasn’t claimed by a family yet.
When it was time to sleep, the group all slept on the floor together even though they all had beds now, and you wanted so badly to sleep in a bed. However, you understood why and you felt safer when you were with the whole group anyway.
But knowing that you were basically trapped in this new place made your tummy hurt and your lungs work a little harder. 
You were sat with your back against the wall, a small space between the windowsill and the cot that Judith was in, and your knees were drawn to your chest. You and your father were the only ones still awake, he was sat on the window sill and watching the darkness outside, always ready.
Your eyes scanned over your found family, all pairs of eyes were closed and they were all unconscious. 
You thought about the fact that this is what they’d all look like if they were all dead in front of you and you feel an uncomfortable wave of heat come over you, from your head to your toes and now your feet felt tingly. You started to overthink: were you really safe here? You felt safe if you were with your dad but with the way he was staring out the window, as if he was waiting for something bad to happen, didn’t make it seem like he felt safe here. What if this place was like terminus? They’re just pretending to be good people. Maybe you’ll wake up and everyone will actually be dead.
The room started to feel way too small, way too much like an enclosure.
You got up as quietly as you could, stepping carefully over your family and heading to the front door.
You were getting that weird feeling, the one where you feel like your heads being pulled back whilst your body drags you forward. Every time you’ve felt this way, your dad has been able to tell and every time he’d always get you to fresh air if you weren’t already outside, so that’s what you were doing.
Once you were on the porch, you shut the door as quietly as possible and walked to the corner of the wooden bannister, sliding down to the ground so that you were sat with your knees tucked against your chest again.
You attempted to take deep breaths like Dad had taught you to, you’d seen him do it himself sometimes too. Dad said that he sometimes got the same feeling as you got when he was scared… but he never really seemed scared.
You tried to keep up the breathing exercise but your jaw began to tingle and your head was getting a little fuzzy, you felt like you were really about to throw up.
You only ever got this bad twice.
The first was before the walkers were around, when you had to wait in your Dads truck whilst he visited grandpa Will. Dad never let you go in with him, you weren’t exactly sure why your dad still visited him because when he came back to the truck he was always angry but Dad never spoke about it. But you always got the bad feeling when your father was in there a little too long.
The second was on the farm, when Andrea shot Daryl in the side of his head, you were forced to sit down on a bench with Lori and Carl whilst Hershel tried to help your Dad. You were sure he was gonna be gone, you were so scared that you pretty much stopped breathing whilst Lori tried to assure you that your dad was strong and he’d be fine. That time you really did throw up.
You didn’t even realise the door had opened when you were pulled from your thoughts as you felt someone brush some hair out of your face.
You flinched and it took effort to focus your eyes on the person, but when you did you saw it was Dad.
“Hey… ya hearing’ me? Ya gotta breathe for me y/n”
Daryl rubbed his large hand on your shoulder and held his other hand under your chin to get you to look at him. When your breathing didn’t seem to slow down, he took your much smaller hand in his and put it flat on his chest.
“C’mon, just like Daddy, darlin’… nice n slow…”
Your tried your best, trying to match your fathers rise and fall of his chest. After about two minutes if repeating the slow breaths, you realised you had been crying. You hated crying, even in front of your Dad, sure, he’d seen you cry plenty but you still hated it, it made you feel so dramatic.
As soon as you realised how wet your cheeks were, you ducked your head down, your hair falling over your eyes.
Daryl knew you were trying to hide, and he let you for all of ten seconds before he sat with his back against the bannister with his legs out straight in front of him.
He snaked an arm around your shoulder and tried to pull you into him.
“C’mere”
When you forced your body to resist, he pulled a little harder.
“Baby, c’mere…”
You reluctantly let him pull you into his side and his hand smoothed over your hair repeatedly as you sniffled.
After a while, you finally spoke, trying desperately to sound angry at him.
“Ain’t a baby.”
You felt Daryl’s chest vibrate a little with a chuckle.
“Yer my baby, dun care how old…”
You didn’t say anything, you liked that he said that, it made you feel safe just like most things he said or did.
You both sat in silence for a bit, daryl still stroking your hair.
Until your Dad speaks in a low and quiet voice.
“I know yer feelin’ stuck n ya ain’t likin’ this place so far but we ain’t even been here one day yet. I dun like it either… feels like we’re all trapped or sum’n and I-“
He stops and sighs.
“Know ya don’t like tellin’ me when yer feelin’ scared or when yer gettin’ anxious but you gotta tell me, baby.”
When you don’t reply, he takes another deep breath.
“Listen, I dun know what ya need if ya ain’t gon’ tell me, darlin’.”
You shrugged a little, you didn’t exactly need anything, you just wished that you could know that you and your family would be fine, but your dad couldn’t promise that for you.
“This place makes my tummy hurt.”
Daryl sighed, feeling guilty that he couldn’t do much to help.
“Mine too… but I ain’t gon’ let nothin’ bad happen to ya, you know that, right?”
“I know… just wish my head didn’t go all weird n I could be strong like you…”
Daryl squeezed you tighter to him.
“You make me brave, y/n… wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have you”.
You couldn’t really understand that. Surely it would be easier to survive without having to worry about a kid. You didn’t understand that your father had meant what he said in a different way, he knew he would’ve given up a long time ago if he didn’t have you to look after, you were his only reason to fight because you were the only thing that mattered to him.
“And… you’ll get better at dealin’ with yer head, I promise… I used to get like that as a kid too… still do sometimes”, Daryl spoke out into the night, he’d never admitted to you that he had also dealt with the same thing at your age, and that he still sometimes had to deal with it. He knew that you saw him as invincible but he sure as shit weren’t, he’d had his fair share of panic attacks, plenty that had gone unnoticed by you and the group because he’d grown up having to learn how to make them invisible.
“Your brain goes weird too?”
“Mhm, sometimes… when things feel like they’re gettin’ too much… that’s why ya came out ‘ere, right?”
You nod against his shoulder, you had calmed down completely now and your eyes were beginning to drop closed against your will.
“I know…” he glances down at you. “C’mon... ya need rest, kid”.
You didn’t have the energy to protest when your Dad practically pulled you off the ground and guided back to the living area where the group was still sleeping. Daryl held both your shoulders as he pushed you toward the windowsill, where he sat down then pulled you down to lay your head in his lap. He laid his leather vest over your shoulders and then let one hand rest on the side of your head, his thumb stroking your hairline, of course he didn’t sleep, he stayed up all night, staring out the window. He still felt guilt eating away at him, he wished that you didn’t have to suffer with your anxiety the same way he did but he was at least glad that he could be there for you, that’s more than he had.
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jo-writes-fanfiction · 7 months
Text
Parenting 1 - Headcanons - Daryl Dixon x Daughter!Reader
Parenting 1
Daryl’s Daughter
Daryl Dixon x Daughter!Reader
Words: 312
Warnings/Notes: none but whats in the show
Partially inspired by @rue-dixon so go check them out too <3
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Not my image
Daryl wouldn’t want you out without a way to protect yourself. He would take you under his wing and teach you everything. 
If you're the same age as Carl you would know how to shoot before him, which would start a rivalry.
Daryl would have to scold you not to bring it up around him.
He would protect you with his life, always ready to get between you and a walker
When you have a nightmare he would be there to comfort you.
You wake up sweating, calling for him. He comes running right away.
Holding you and just telling you it's okay over and over again.
Letting you lay with him when you want to.
If anyone asks he couldn’t get you to move. Over time he just accepts it.
Whenever he hugs you he puts his hand on the back of your head.
Kisses to the top of your head during hugs, only when no one can tell.
When you are little you just follow him around like a lost puppy.
He wouldn’t want you going on runs, ever, period.
If you do he makes sure to go on every one for the first while.
If it’s one of the times the group gets stuck out on the road, he wouldn’t let you more than arm's length away.
He would always worry whenever he was away from you for too long.
Always uses nicknames for you, some just from your name, others like “kid” or when you were younger “duckling” because you always followed him around.
Always makes sure to listen when you need him to.
As you get older and need more space he has to learn to give you that too
Trusts you with his life, and you trust him with yours.
He knows you can handle yourself
If you ever got kidnapped or killed, no mercy
Period
—--
Hope you enjoyed it!!
Thanks for reading, as always like, comment, and re-blog to support your writers and other artists.
Thanks again and see you soon.
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crystlizabeth · 1 year
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Dangerously Yours.
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Paring: Carl Grimes x Blackfem!Smith!Reader
Paring: Negan Smith & BlackDaughter!Reader
Summary: You two where enemies, but there was just something that drew you two each other, but a war was in the making.
Warning: cursing, mentions of childhood trauma and abuse.
A/n: Carl lives au!! And im gonna add some songs that came out not during TWD time like or after 2013 i think! This is kinda of a self insert, This might be multiple parts, I noticed its turned into a Negan Smith x Daughter reader along with Carl x reader so enjoy.
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The first time you met him he caught an additude with you trying to take some batteries out of your hand, it didn’t go well for him you grabbed his wrist twisting it telling him to fuck off. There were more instances when you would go and he somehow always pissed you off but it made sense you and Carl Grimes where enemies. So where your fathers you didn’t quite know what had all happed but you did know people died, some of your people and a few of his.
Now you where on your way back to Alexandria for a pick up you went along this time to see Eden, she was a decent girl but also a girl your age it wad hard to find friends in this day in age. Eden was closed of and was always followed by the one and only one eyed grimes, but that didn’t stop you from trying to get to know her and one of those ways was music, may it be mp3, cds or even vinyls.
“I found this mix tape a while back, its a costume one and actually really good music.” You said to Eden as you walked with her towards the supply house.
“Any songs you can recognize?” She asked taking the tape from your hand.
“Not really only a few like, Elvis, Hozier, Taylor swift, i hear alot of her music in the mixes i find.” You ended with a small laugh.
“I like Taylors music, Elvis’s pretty good to” she said with a small smile.
You two shared similar music taste even rap, you two enter the supply room running into Negan, Rick, Carl and a gal with glasses.
“Lookie here, making friends are we?” Your dad asked his usual grin on his face.
“Yeah you could say just trading some music but i need some batteries.” You said shrugging your shoulders.
Rick moved out of the way as the lady with glasses handed you 4 batteries “I only need two don’t worry about it. Unless,” you look over at Eden., “you need any?” She shook her head you nodded and handed two of the batteries back to her.
“Thank you..” you spoke lightly waiting for her name.
“Oh, its Olivia.” She said she voice shaken.
“Well thank you Olivia.” You said then turning to your dad.
“Not giving her a hard time are you?”
Negan raised his eyebrow giving you a cheeky grin “Not at all this time they actually have there shit in order.” He spoke wiggling around the list in his hand.
Nodding you left with Eden heading back to the truck with Carl running behind you two.
“Eden where are you going?” He asked.
She held the bag up in her hand that was filled with music “Trading music.” She answered simply.
He didnt say anything but continued to follow you two, you could feel his eyes burning you in the back of your head he watched every move you made.
You and Eden had gone through a crate you brought she had taken out a few albums and surprise mix tapes you liked to call them. She took ‘I love you.’ The neighborhood, ‘Anti’ Rhianna, ‘AM’ arctic monkeys and ‘Lungs’ Florance and the machine. You didn’t take any from her she didn’t have many good options so you just lended them to her.
“Really you want nothing back.” Carl voiced from behind you.
Giving him a glare “yeah theres no reason for me to take what little music she has, what are you even doing here doing you had somthing better to do cyclops.”
He glared at you “good to know your an asshole like your dad.” He spat back, he didnt appreciate the nickname but you weren’t a fan when he called you a bitch last week so your really didn’t give two shits.
“At least my dad doesn’t stand around like a bitch between his legs last time I checked you did the dirty work.” You said walking past him.
He turned to say something only for his dad to stop him. You only scoffed turning away.
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A few weeks later you saw him again but this time he came by one of the trucks, he shot a few of your fathers men. When that whole mess was cleaned up Laura came and got you saying ‘your dad needs your help.’
You walked down the hall meeting Your Dad, Carl and Daryl out side on the little balcony. Carl didn’t have his bandage on this time covering his eye, Carl put his head was down after meeting your eyes.
“Whats up?” You asked.
Negan smiled “I need a favor Sweetheart, Carl here needs a little tour but i need to fix some shit the he fucked up. Keep and eye on him yeah?” He spoke looking at Carl.
“Sure just us or..?”
“Just you two, get to know each other and dont kill him, I for one actually like him unlike you.” He said laughing a little knowing the tension between you both.
“If he keeps the attitude to a minimum.. personally not a fan of it unlike you.” You say crossing your arms moving more of you weight to one side of your body.
With that they left leaving you and Carl by the railing watching over the workers, a few kids running around playing with one another.
“Is he actually your dad?” Carl asked breaking the silence. You weren’t surprised why he asked you, you two didn’t look alike and many obvious aspects.
You looked at him, his eye focused on you looking you up and down and searching for any kind of reaction. You watched as his eyes finally met yours again.
“No..” you said admitting it to him.
He tilted his head a little as a way of say ‘What’.
“He found me at the beginning of this, what about 3 years ago? Put it simply my biological father left me to fend for myself, fucked up right?” You said walking towards a stair way sitting down on the steps.
Carl stared down at you, looking up at him through your curls letting a laugh out from the look if his face.
“Are you serious..” he asked sitting down with you.
You looked over at him, “Yeah but my father had never actually been a good person. He was far from a good parent. He was a selfish, abusive man, he wasn’t fit for kids non the less 3 girls.”
Carl seemed interested. “You have Sisters?”
“Had.”
“Oh, sorry I didn’t know.” He said.
You leaned back on the stairs “Why would you? We aint friends.”
He nodded turning his head looking straight. He seemed vulnerable almost. But so where you you just opened up, trauma dumped to some guy you haven’t been able to stand for months. But in that moment there was a kind if peace and understanding.
“Why did you stick around after knowing all the bad things he’s done?” Carl asked looking back at you.
“All the bad.. nobody is good or bad. Especially in this, it survival.” You scoffed, he tried to makes his people out to be what they weren’t.
“He killed good people, friends, one of them had a kid on the way!”
You looked at him your eyes nerow slightly “Your little group took out an whole outpost of more than 50 people. Many of them had family and one of the women there was carrying a child.” You spoke sharply.
“Your people, your friends aren’t so clean of blood. Nor are you.” You finished harshly.
He did say anything else. Only looked back at his hands fidgeting with them in irritation.
He knew you where right, but he also knew you weren’t clean of blood either nobody was. There is no good or bad anymore just survivors.
You both eventually got up and you showed him around. How things work, people had jobs they earned money and they got what they need. That this was our normal, even you worked did chores to earn your keep.
You two continued to talk to each other, getting to know each other you never talked about either of your peoples. There was a spark for only knowing him and hating him for the past few months he understood you. They way his eyes lingered on you as you talked how he took in every word you where saying. What was that feeling that lingered as he left the feeling of wanting to see him again.
As weeks went by you two spoke over walkies, nit the safest options but it worked. You hadn’t let anyone this close since Negan, funny how you wanted nothing to do with this boy but now you did. He made you laugh over stupid things, gave you good advice as you did with him. He heard you cry for the first time, you even snuck out to see him one time showing him a little abandoned house by the river it was the first time in long time you both had fun.
He was feeling it two, his heart fluttered at the way you smiled, how he always held eye contact taking in the sight of you as it may be the last. You did the same but he never caught you looking at him like the way he did you. The hard truth you knew was that you two are enemies, maybe not you two but your Dads, your people.
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But then shit hit the fan.
You didn’t get trapped in a sanctuary when they attacked the place, you watched as the walkers surrounded the building the echos of gun shots rang through your ears as you watched in horror as rick started to shot him down.
The only thing you could do is try and reach a different outpost. Warn them, but then you where caught.
He didn’t look familiar which scared you even more, you quicky grabbed your knife cutting his arm. He let go of you making you fall back only for someone else to grab you.
“The little bitch cut me!” The one man yelled you turned around quickly ready to strike again thats when you saw Rick and Daryl.
Your heart dropped, you where surrounded. Rick took a step toward you his hands visible “Dont Fucking come near me!” You yelled.
Rick put is gun down on the ground “Relax I don’t wanna hurt you.” His voice was calm.
“Then fuck off!”
“Where are you gonna go.” Daryl spoke.
You eyes shot over to him, you didn’t answer him. He was right though where were you gonna go, to an outpost you didn’t even know where it was at.
“Y/n we just wanna help you. I told Carl you wouldn’t get hurt.” Rick said.
Why would that matter?
“Please. Just come with us.”
You just looked at him, dumfounded.
Was it stupid yes, but you went with them handing over your weapons and walked to the gates. As they open they looks you got looks of horror from them. Rick pulled on my arm slightly letting go when I flinched. He took me into a house there sat a few people talking about what to do next.
But the all stop once their eyes landed on me.
“Sit.” Daryl said pointing at the couch his tone serious.
You where scared what did they want with you what was their plan, why where you not dead, locked up. You picked at your finger s peeling the skin off them drowning out everything around you. What the fuck is happening.
A hand fell on both of your hands you quickly looking up you saw him. His face filled with concern, he spoke but you never heard what he said the way he brows frowned trying to reach you. You began to break as both of his hand touched your arms squeezing them slightly wanting and answering out of you.
“Why am I here...” your voice tender and cracked.
“I..” Carl started but never finished he just looked at you.
“Why the hell am I here.” You asked again.
He took a deep breath “Help us end this.”
You stared at him, help them, help them. Why would you help them.
“Get away from me… Get AWAY.” You shouted pushing him away.
He stood back as you stood up, your hands gripping harshly on your hair.
“Your fucking kidding me right?! What makes you think I would help you, help these people! You know how crazy you sound.” You slightly laugh the frustration in your voice very clear. These people wanted your help. They just destroyed the only place you called home.
“Please Y/n, please.. hear us out.” Carl said.
“Your acting a fool, you just attacked my people, my home! Theres more than just Negan in there theres kids! Family, old people! What the fuck is wrong with you guys!” You yelled. “And- and you know that.. you saw it, so did he!” You finished pointing at Daryl.
They all knew that.
“What makes you think you can trust me anyway? What it your head makes you think I wouldn’t betray you.” You said your arms falling to your sides.
“Because your the one that let me out of that cell, made sure I had a clear way out.” Daryl spoke up.
You looked at him, he knew.
“And I trust you.” Carl said. “They may not but you help out friend and you’ve earned my trust, my respect.”
You shook your head, you wanted to cry, to cry like a little kid. Carl came to you again slowly pulling you in for a slight hug. Something sincere he cared for you he may have only truly known your for few weeks but he wanted you safe but with that came a cost. The talks over that walkie you had with him you could careless who herd them. Carl had fallen for a girl who he couldn’t have with out a cost.
“Y/n your something to believe In again, you could change things. Help your people.” Rick spoke.
You wanted to help your people, they deserved it they deserved to be safe. To have a life beyond the sanctuary. Alexandria was a safe place but so was your home they where good people in there people who don’t know how to protect themselves.
“But you’ll have to go behind, Negan. Lie to him.” Michonne finished.
Your head snaped at her, “I cant, i… i wont! I’ll just lie to you tell him your plans.” You said trying to get them to not believe you.
“If you do you’ll only hurt yourself…”
For my people.. but the cost was to betray a man who would do anything for you. You caught Carls eye he gave you a pleading look. He practically begged you with that look, betray your Dad for a boy.. for a boy and peace between people.
“If i betray you, I hurt myself.. if i betray my people, my family, I betray my dad, my dad is very important to me..”
“More important than your people and peace dont you want more for those family’s. For us.” Carl said, him whispering the last part only for you to hear.
For us..
You wanted that more than anything..
“Okay..”
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So you helped them, you got back in through a old drain the led into the basement, you knew people would have noticed you where gone or maybe not.
When you saw Simon and Dwight they nodded at you figured you where out hidden in your room. Stupid men.
But you also knew Dwight was working with them as well, he was a traitor too.
Days had passed they finally cleared the walkers out. The plan was to attack hilltop but there was a twist, Negan on the other hand didn’t want you to have any part of it he stated “I need you here, with out people.” So you stayed.
You stayed back with your people started cleaning up putting things back together, when they came back your dad wasn’t to be seen.
“Wheres my dad?” You asked walking up to simon, he shared a look with Dwight looking back at you.
“Someone ran him off the road, all we found was blood when we finally found his car…” Simon said his tone quiet.
All you could do was stare at him “what.. is he.”
They nodded, the two men shared a look again.
Something isn’t right. They’re lying, they gotta be he couldn’t just be killed that easily.
After that Simon took charge, he seemed pleased with himself it was sickening. He bossed everyone around hell even threatened you that if you didn’t keep your mouth shut there would be ‘consequences’. It was just crazy to you, how easily he forgot his place.
But even now you had a job. So you did it you told them what happened leaving a note in the woods for them to find.
When you got back, There stood Negan. He turned to look at you giving you a smile.
“Hiya Sweetheart, how ya been.” His voice sweet giving you a hug.
“They said you where dead.” You said in a whisper only for him to hear.
He nodded looking at you back to Simon who was staring you down. You already knew he was fucked but lets make it worse, not here though. Negan wanted to talk anyway.
You sat on the couch in his room waiting for him, he startled you out of your trace as he placed his hand on the side if your head kissing you on the top of the head.
“Now tell me what the shit has he all done..?” He asked coming around sitting next to you.
“He pretty much took over your place bossing people around, and that attack on hilltop went south from what I heard, oh! He also threatened me” you said.
He turned his head to look at me. “ Do I dare ask what he said..” his voice went dark the look he held could kill.
You told him you may have exaggerated it a bit but you could careless the son of a bitch deserved it. His actions has consequences.
After that conversation you just sat there with him your head laying on his shoulder your arms wrapped around his arm.
“Im sorry..” you spoke softly, you could feel your throat swell up as you hold back tears.
“Its not your fault, Princess..” its been a minute since he’s called you princess, hell you where. You may not be his blood but your the only child he’s ever had, you where his daughter, his little girl.
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The day finally came, but you weren’t standing with them you stood with Carl not your Father. The sound of that familiar call rang through your ears as everyone raised there gun.
“Well damn Rick, lookie here.” Negans voice echoed through a radio.
“Pegged again, pegged so very hard.”
Everyone moved around looking for them “ I ambushed your ambush with an even bigger ambush.” You could hear a slight chuckle after.
“Why don’t you step out and face us!” Rick yelled out as he looked around looking for any kind of movement.
“Oh I am everywhere Rick.” He said.
You closed your eyes settling your breath you felt a hand on your back, opening your eyes looking to you left you saw carl. He gave you a nod trying to give you some kind of comfort. You could hear Negan he went on talking about Eugene and Dwight, going to to Gabriel. Then he said your name.
“Where is my daughter because I would love to know. Kind fucked up how your little psycho of a son came in one day and now my daughter is gone. You happen to know anything about that.” His voice was serious, you had been gone since yesterday.
Rick looked back at you, you shook your head telling him not to say a word.
“But here we go, congratulations Rick.” Was the last thing he said before he started a count down.
They came out starting to fire only for their weapons to back fire on them.
Every thing happend to fast.
Soon enough they had surrendered, the saviors where on their knees hands in the air. Rick and Negan ran off, you looked around for them Carl and Rosita following behind me a little.
You finally got up to the hill you saw them standing in-front of each other talking, Negans face fell looking like he was going to cry at what Rick said. For a moment they stood there. Then it happened.
“NO!” You screamed, you went to run towards them only for Rosita to grab you holding you tightly.
“NO YOU LIER! YOU SAID YOU WERNT GONNA KILL HIM!” You Sobbed, struggling against Rosita and she tried calming you down.
“You fucking Lier! Please he’s all i have, please.” You begged your body slightly collapsing in Rositas Arms Carl came in front of you helping Rosita turn you so you did have to see him bleed out.
“You fucking people lied. I trusted you.” You cried.
“I didn’t know, Y/n I didn’t know.” Carl said his hands cupping your face making you looks at him.
Your sobs continue, As you fell into his arms. Rosita let go of you only staying behind you. The only thing in the field you could hear was you sobbing, Carls gentle tone trying to calm you. His hand gently rubbing your back, your hands covered your face your head resting on Carls shoulder.
“Save him.”
You pushed of Carls shoulder looking up. The widow started to do the same thing you had just done, Michonne holding her back as she yelled at rick, begging him to keep Negan dead.
“We have to make it right.” Maggie sobbed.
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A year had now passed, you hadn’t been able to see Negan they wouldn’t let you. But what they did do it tell him that you had helped them, not by much but you did.
“Why would they do that..” you asked, Carl looked up at you.
“In not sure.. ask my dad why he did.” He said, you only glared at him.
“Common babe, you cant hold that anger with him forever especially that your my girlfriend.” He laughed slightly standing up from the step turning to you pulling you up.
“Its called a grunge, and yeah I can. They go on telling Negan i betrayed him and i don’t even get to explain my self to him.” You spoke the irritation in your voice quite visible.
Carl sighed, “I know Y/n..” he pulled you in by your hands.
“Talk to Michonne, you like her at lest.” Carl said giving you a kiss.
So you where gonna do just that but first you had to find her. When you did she was with Judith on the porch Rosita with her. Rosita gave you a smile as she left.
Michonne looked at you giving you a small smile “Hi Y/n how are you?” She said.
“Im fine but i have a question.” You spoke, she nodded letting you continue.
“Why wont you let me see him” befor she could speek you cut her off “I know i ask this way to often but you told him everything i could attest give him an exclamation, you just letting him believe that what i did was for the worst, so please. Wouldn’t you want Carl to tell you if that had happened to him not just to stay quiet and believe he did it to hurt you.” You finished.
Michonne signed “You’ll have five minutes.”
Your face light up “Thank you, Thank you!”
She grabbed Judith giving her to a friend as she walked you to the basement, Carl and Rosita followed you two and you walked down the stairs she told you to wait.
“You have a Visitor.” She said before waving you in.
It was dark but you could see him, and he looked like shit. “Five minutes.” Michonne said walking over to the door keeping it open but she walked up them.
The silence between you two lingered for a minute, after all that begging you couldn’t get your self to say anything but when he did your heart dropped.
“Well kid, hows your new life, boyfriend, freedoms.” He said harshly.
“I-its fine, can I explain..” you said.
He stood up moving to the bars looking at you. “What that you stabbed me in the back yeah I got that.”
“Dont be a dick-”
“Really your gonna call me the dick?” He scoffed.
“I never meant you any harm i wanted what was best for our people.” You said softly.
He didn’t say anything, his eyes never left you but he was mad and he had every right to be. You had all of his trust, he would’ve done anything for you and you betrayed him. Everything he had done for you was thrown out the window after that stunt those 4 years were practically all for nothing.
“I know your mad at me and you have every right to be, I just wanted our people to see more the kids in the sanctuary to have more of a life beyond that, here those kids have a playground more people to become friends with.” You said, you watched as he turned around midway through you talking, he didn’t want to look at you.
You took a breath in bitting your lip to stop you self from crying, you crossed your arms holding your self in a hug.
“I haven’t seen you in a year man common say something, yell at me something anything.” You spoke in a whimper your lip trembling.
Nothing.
“Please don’t hate me.” Your tears fell down your cheeks.
“Your all i have left to family, I never thought I would call someone dad again let alone a man that actually cared for me..” you cried out your head falling down looking that the floor.
The tears continue to fall down your face making your cheeks glisten. He was your dad, maybe it was a cycle with you to make them hate you at some point.
“I don’t hate you, I don’t think I could ever bring myself to hate you.” He said quietly not turning around.
“Then why wont you look at me..” you asked not even sure if you wanted to know the answer.
He sighed deeply turning around “That better?”
You nodded not sure what to say next, things may never be the same again but you do know that is he doesn’t hate you, you didn’t have to worry about the fear of him never wanting to see you again.
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imjustwritingsuckers · 7 months
Text
Learning Moments
Daryl’s Daughter Daryl Dixon x Daughter!Reader 1263 Warnings/Notes: Screaming, Anger, Daryl being a dad but hes still learning
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“Eat up.” Daryl says as he throws a plate of food in front of you. “I don’t like broccoli.” You cross your arms and whine. “I don’t care, you have to eat.” Daryl stands above you with his hands on his hips. “The other kids are eating just fine.” He waves his hand in their direction where they’re eating with their families. “I will eat I just don’t like broccoli.” you look up at him with a pouty face and your arms crossed. “I don’t want it.” “Fine, don’t fuckin’ eat.” Daryl throws his arms up and walks away towards the tent you two have been sharing. You watch him until he zips the door shut and you see his shadow lying down on the bed. You look back down at your food and stare for a minute before picking up your spoon and eating the funny-looking soup Daryl had heated up for you just a little earlier. You take a spoonful and chew. It was the perfect temperature. Not too hot, not too cold. The perfect temperature and it didn’t taste too bad. You continue to eat and realize that he always makes things a good temperature and gives you the better of the things he found or hunted for that day. After a little while you finish the soup and look over at Carl sitting with his mom and dad, and the other kids sitting with their families. You watch as the other kids eat the food without complaining and they finish and go play after. Lori waves at you and you smile and wave back before quickly looking back down at your food. You pick up one of the pieces of broccoli and realize that he heated it up for you. You chew and swallow, chew and swallow. It's still nasty, and you still hate it, but you know you're not supposed to waste food.
“I ate all my food.” You say as you unzip and walk into your and Daryl’s shared tent. You get no response so you just put your plate and silverware next to the others to be cleaned tomorrow. You climb into the cot and pull your blankets up around you, hugging your stuffed animal close. “Goodnight Daryl.” you say before drifting off to sleep.
You wake up the next morning and turn over to look at Daryl’s cot. As always, he’s not there. Probably out hunting or something like that. You get up and change into your clothes for the day. You exit the tent to find Carol waiting by a tree nearby. “Hi, Carol.” You wave and give her a small smile. “Hi sweetheart, would you like to come to wash the clothes with me and the girls?” She asks me, getting up from her spot under the tree. “Sure, let me grab Daryl and I’s clothes real quick.” You say before running back into the tent to gather everything.
“Alright, let's go.” you come out a couple of minutes later with a rather large bucket full of a mix of your and Daryl’s clothes. “Alright, c’mon.” she nods her head in the direction of the rest of the camp and starts walking. “Wait, do you know where Daryl is, I should probably tell him where I’m going.” You ask while catching up with her. “I don’t know, but I’m sure it will be fine. I bet we’ll be done before he even gets back and then you can surprise him with your hard work.” She smiles down at you. “Alright.” you walk with Carol to the quarry where some of the women are already at work cleaning things.
“Carol, will you teach me how to clean this stuff, I don’t really know how?” “Of course, just do what I do.” “Ok”
You spend a good portion of the day cleaning with everyone. You realize that it’s a break from all of your normal activities, which at this point are boring and repetitive. You’ve finished cleaning all the clothes and ran back up to get the dishes. You're halfway through the dishes when you hear familiar shouting. “Y/N! What the fuck!?” you shoot up and spin to face the shouting. You see Daryl coming down the hill and he looks pissed. You stand there in shock, unsure of whether to move or not. The other women have gotten up at this point and are gathering around to see what's going on. “What the fuck are you thinking!?” He screams again and is still coming towards you at a quick speed. “Hey! What are you screaming for?” Lori steps up and runs up towards him, meeting him halfway. “Get outta my way Lori, this is between me and the kid.” “No, you have no right to scream at her.” Lori has her hands on her hips and she looks pissed too. “Lori, this is between me and my kid, if she keeps fucking disappearing we're gonna have a problem.” He points at you over her shoulder. “Now let me talk to my kid.” “Ok, so that's what this is about.” She lets out a sigh. “Daryl, I would be pissed if Carl just walked off too, but screaming at her like that is only gonna scare her.” Daryl takes a second to process what Lori has just said before you see his body relax. “Sorry, she just worries me sometimes.” “I’m not the one you should be apologizing to.” Lori gives him a look before stepping out of the way so he can get to you. “Listen, kid, I’m sorry for yelling, can we talk for a minute?” He kneels down on one knee so he's face to face with you. You just nod in agreement and follow him as he starts to walk back up the hill.
You make it back to his tent before either of you say a word. You sit on your cot and wait for him to say something. After a while of watching him sit on his cot and stare at the ground, he finally says something. “First off, I’m sorry for yelling.” he pauses and glances up at you. “And second, I didn't mean to scare you, I just got worried when you weren't where you were when I left this morning and you weren't doing activities with the other kids.” He finally looks back at me and holds eye contact. “I'm sorry too. I knew I should have asked I just didn’t know where you were and Carol said you were ok with it.” “Ok kid, just next time come find me or leave a note, ok?” “Ok.” you say back, agreeing with him. He holds his hand out towards you and you stare at him blankly, not knowing what he’s doing. “It’s called a handshake, kid.” he reaches out slightly farther and nods at you to do the same. You extend your arm to meet his and he gently grabs your hand and shakes it up and down before letting go. “I washed all of our clothes by the way, Carol and the others taught me how. I thought it might be of some help.” “Thanks, kid, you would have never caught me doin’ that.” he smiles at you and moves over to sit next to you on your cot. You suddenly lean over to hug him and he puts his hand on your head. “If anyone catches you huggin’ me your dead by the end of the week.” you can practically hear the smirk on his face. “Got it.” and now your smirking too.
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hii!!
could you do one where daryl and rick are like father figures to the reader? she goes to try to kill negan instead of carl and when she gets back rick and daryl are really mad and she gets into an argument with them?
that’s it!!🩷
Hi! Thank you so much for the request!!! 🖤🧟‍♀️💕
A/N: it’s been like MONTHS since I’ve written so sorry for literally disappearing, but thank you all for the love! Love you all. Sorry for how long this took to get out… but I’m finally finishing it at like 1am after so many weeks… so please excuse any spelling errors! Tysm. I adore all of you xx
Rick + daryl x fem! Reader (reader is 19)
Trigger warnings: argument, zombie stuff, gore, usual twd stuff. If any of it discomforts you please read at your own discretion!
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Pinky promise
You knew it was a dangerous mistake. You shouldn’t of been so ambitious. But Negan deserved death and you believed you could kill him… but it all became clear that it was a mistake. You had made a dangerous and incredibly stupid decision and you knew as soon as you got home Rick and Daryl would certainly have a go at you if not kill you then and there for being so reckless. You knew you were absolutely insane for doing something so unthinkable but Negan had to die. Rick was taking his sweet time and Negan was just going to get stronger, and that scared you, so you wanted to take it into your own hands and kill the man yourself…
And so here you were gun in hand, pointing it at the clear sheet covering the back of the truck your finger trembling slightly as you waited for the voices to get closer. “There isn’t enough in the truck, we’ll have to go out again. Get more supplies and shit. Alexandria is so big yet they can’t even supply us enough shit.” “Yeah… don’t know why Negan won’t just kill them all. That way we can actually have a good home…” the voices spoke back and forth and you tightened your hold on the gun jaw clenched tightly watching as the blurry figures got closer and as a hand poked in through the clear sheet you pulled the trigger bullets spitting out as the men began shouting, followed by multiple ‘thuds’ proving you had killed a few of the bastards, you continued shooting, even as you jumped out of the truck the bullets flying around mercilessly- some saviours dropping to the floor, dead, and others just falling for the sake of their lives. Your eyes were narrowed as you breathed heavily your teeth slightly gritted together before suddenly a body shoved against yours, Dwight knocking you down onto your back, your gun falling from your hand as you groaned out glaring at the man. “Y/n….” A voice sung out, mockingly and your eyes snapped to meet with Negans. His hazel eyes gleamed with amusement, Lucille lightly hung over his shoulder as he grinned at you “didn’t I get my point across to you before that I really do not appreciate my people being killed…” he spoke your eyes narrowing as you scowled at him. He was a rotten bastard and deserved to be knocked down a peg or two, and so that’s why you abruptly tried to grab your gun again only for Dwight to kick it out of the way “not so fast” he muttered glaring down at you, Negan staring at you the amusement seemingly growing further and further before he exhaled
“I like you, you don’t mess around do you? You just do… I like that…” he smirked before stopping just in front of you holding his hand out for you to take “you’ve actually got balls… unlike someone else we know.” He spoke that stupid fucking grin remaining on his face and you just glared hoping to punch his teeth in, but instead you reached out, grabbing his outstretched hand before he leaned back pulling you up with his movement as you got onto your feet your eyes boring into his with anger “we were planning on heading to Alexandria today so you’re in luck. I’ll get you home safely.” “Rick isn’t home. He’s out.” You spoke, that wasn’t the truth, rick was at home but you didn’t want to see him… not when you know he will indefinitely be beyond mad at you. “Oh isn’t he? How disappointing. Guess I’ll have to wait around with you then huh?” And that’s when you realised just how much you had screwed up… Negan wasn’t going to kill you because he knew that Rick was going to get angry at you… “god dammit…” you whispered under your breath, Negan smiling still before he turned around “c’mon. Follow me. I’ll give you a tour of the sanctuary…” and so that’s exactly what happened, you were shown around, introduced to a few scary people and then given some food much to your surprise… it was odd. Being looked after for by your friends’ killer. It made you feel sick but what made you feel even sicker was what was happening right now… you were sat in the truck beside Negan, driving down the familiar road leading to Alexandria. Your heart was drumming in your chest your face pale and lips slightly parted… you were in deep shit and you knew it.
Breathing soon became nonexistent, your lips slightly parted eyes wide as you watched multiple people on outpost begin to shout… oh dear god. Heavy breaths slowly left your lips your eyes filled with complete fear… sure Daryl being angry at you was enough but Rick too- you couldn’t handle both of their wrath’s. You didn’t even want to experience it but you knew you were going to experience it. “Are you coming into to talk to them?” You soon asked glancing at the man, his hands which were warmed by the leather gloves he wore squeezed at the steering wheel and he grinned at you soon shoving his foot onto the brakes the truck coming to a screeching halt just in front of the gates leading into Alexandria “nah, kid. That isn’t my shit to do. You pulled a stupid fuckin’ decision and now you’re gonna face the consequences. I told you I don’t ap-“ “appreciate you killing my men I know.” You cut him off glaring into his eyes the man looking somewhat impressed before he raised his brows “at least you can learn.” He chuckled out looking forwards as the gate was slowly pulled open “go on then, your friends are waiting.” He spoke and you looked to the gate as well seeing Rick, hands on his hips, jaw tightly clenched and eyes a sea of worry. You glanced back to Negan knowing he wasn’t going to help before you pushed the door open only for the asshole to grab your wrist forcing you to stop “you not gonna thank me for bringing you home safe and sound?” He asked with a cocky grin and you glared at him “thank. you.” You spat out through gritted teeth and he smirked “you’re welcome.”
You then jumped out of the truck before storming towards the gate of Alexandria your eyes landing on Rick and a very infuriated yet terrified looking Daryl but you ignored them- you didn’t want to deal with their anger right now. “Y/n where the hell have you been?” Rick asked, hands remaining on his hips his eyes practically piercing into your soul yet you refused to speak or even look at him because well… let’s face it… he was terrifying. “Y/n where the hell do ya think you’re goin’ huh?” Daryl soon asked gruffly and you glanced at him “home. You wanna give me a lecture. Fine. But not in front of everyone.” You snapped, both men sharing a look, as if questioning whether you had really just used that tone with them but nonetheless they followed after you, you attempted to slam the front door but Rick was quick to catch it before it could latch “cut that attitude out right now, y/n.” Rick spoke calmly his body language however far from calm “I don’t understand why you’re both so unhappy! Jesus Christ can’t I try and help out!” Rick and Daryl stood side by side shoulders brushing against each other and Rick tilted his head slightly “do you realise how incredibly foolish it was to go out there and do… whatever you did… do you?” He raised his brows his blue eyes piercing into your soul and you rolled your eyes “ah ah, no, y/n, eyes on me.” He demanded and you looked at him “you aren’t hearing me- you could’ve been killed. What you did was very stupid. Irresponsible.” He spoke and you glared into his eyes “well I wasn’t! I’m here- am I not? I’m fine!” Daryl then took a step forwards “enough. It doesn’t matter whether you’re fine or not. What matters is the fact that you pulled some stupid death wish shit…” his eyes searched yours before he shook his head “it was stupid. You might’ve been helping or thinking you were helping… but what would we do if Negan brought back your dead body huh?” Daryl asked and you looked away, uncomfortable at that question, because you knew there was no right answer to such a question
“What did you do?” He soon asked and you looked back at him “machine gunned down a bunch of his men.” You murmured shamefully as you looked down, Daryl almost unresponsive whereas Rick was immediately pinching the bridge of his nose his eyes squeezed shut before he exhaled loudly showing his pure discomfort of the entire situation “oh my god…” he squeezed his eyes shut even more before looking at you “how irresponsible are you? Are you unaware of the fact that Negan has killed many people from this community?” Ricks tone was dangerous, frustrated, bordering on the line of anger and protectiveness “what do I have to do to get it through to you that we’re working together to make this safe! We’re doing everything we can y/n,” “no we aren’t! What about the lives we promised we’d get justice for! Have they just all gone down the drain?! We can’t just keep up this bullshit! Either he dies or we die! He’s overpowering us Rick! We need to do som-“ Rick soon held his hand up at you “no! Don’t you-“ “y/n. You’re getting ahead of yourself.” The man reminded you and you breathed heavily your eyes rage full Daryl moving behind you as he slowly rubbed up and down your back trying to sooth you yet your whole body felt as if it was on fire “we get that you want to protect us and this community but-“ “no! It isn’t just that Rick! It isn’t! I want to get- I- I want…” your voice cracked as your heart began to slowly split into pieces ricks expression softening, sure he had seen you open up before but not like this… he hadn’t seen you like this often… nor had Daryl- it surprised both men. “Tell me.” Rick spoke taking a step forwards this time, as he slowly reached a hand out resting his hand atop of your shoulder “I-…. I…” Rick remained silent searching your eyes allowing you to take your time watching as your face contorted in all ways imaginable the anguish, pain and fear slowly creeping up on you “he killed Glenn! He killed Abraham! He killed our friends! Shouldn’t we be trying to kill him! He killed Glenn! He killed-… he killed the guy who saved your dumbass!” You yelled shoving his hand off of your shoulder, ricks expression showing the pain, he hadn’t fully healed- in fact he hadn’t healed at all. He hadn’t allowed himself to grieve anyone’s deaths but especially Glenn’s. Or Abraham’s. He was too busy being a leader. Too busy taking care of his people.
“Y/n we can’t change that… I’m sorry… but we can’t… but what we can’t change either is the fact that if you died we would’ve lost a key part of Alexandria…-“ “we’ve already lost a key part!” Your voice cracked and Daryl stared at you “you’re both bullshit! I can take care of myself! Why don’t you think I can’t take care of myself?!” Your voice grew angrier before you ran off upstairs Rick running a hand over his face and Daryl just watching you run off “don’t go after her…” he shook his head “let her cool off. And you cool off too” Rick spoke and Daryl nodded knowing he was right. He needed to calm down… if he didn’t he would’ve said something he regretted.
A couple of minutes passed- maybe five, or even ten, before Daryl was sent up to console you. You didn’t even hear him come in but you felt the bed dip down before you heard his soft breathing “I did what I thought was best.” You spoke more softly and Daryl nodded “I know… but it was also…” “stupid I know… don’t need to tell me again…” you murmured softly and Daryl exhaled softly “you know we just care about you. That’s why we’re so worried about you… you matter to us.” His hand rubbed up and down your back slowly and gently as you remained curled up in a ball arms wrapped around yourself weakly his touch soft and caring, his rough calloused hands rough against your skin but you didn’t care. He was comforting you… that’s all that really mattered.
“I just-… why do you keep treating me like a damn child?” You asked clearly upset about that and Daryl frowned slightly his stern features growing more soft as he saw the true confusion and frustration in your eyes “because we’ve lost people, Y/n…. Glenn, Abraham, Sophia, Dale, Hershel, Merle, Olivia… too many people to count..” he fell silent before speaking again not allowing you to say anything “and we can’t lose someone else. The stakes are set high. I wouldn’t know what to do if I lost you, Y/n. Rick wouldn’t either… today was stupid… sure you did what you thought was best but it was a little bit silly… but there’s always room for improvement” your head slowly turned to look at him a small smile tugging at your lips before you laughed softly “who knew you could be so sentimental, Dixon” you murmured and he stared at you unamused “I’m being serious,”
You smiled softly “I know… but I promise I won’t do this again alright? It was stupid… I know but it won’t happen again…” Daryl stared at you with a ‘yeah, sure’ look before you rolled your eyes soon holding your hand out towards him sticking your pinky out at him “fine. Pinky promise…” you raised your brows the older man staring a softness soon consuming his eyes before a little smile tugged at his lips, shaking his head but nonetheless he locked his pinky with yours
“Pinky promise.”
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Daryl x western coquette femcel loser
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i write him letters and he comes to me in my dreams
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carl-grimes-fav-wife · 2 months
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You and Me Always, Forever Updates!
Sorry I haven't posted in a while! Last week I got my phone taken and pc taken away so I really had no way to write! I promise part two will be up as soon as I can!
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sunnybunnyy2 · 6 months
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Father Knows Best
Daryl Dixon x platonic!reader
Negan Smith x daughter!reader
WORD COUNT: 4.2k
TIME: season 7
Warnings: imprisonment, swearing, mentions of Daryl’s abuse, mentions of savours, transpires in season seven, spoilers for season seven of the walking dead, possible typos and bad writing
CHAPTER 3 to the Dark Cell Series
Not much Daryl in this one, sadly, but he will be in it much more next chapter!
Series Masterlist Official Masterlist
This one came out way quicker than the second and I’m sorry for that, but I am beginning to get into a regular posting times! So here it is!!
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Your eyes were forced open when you heard the loud pounding of a fist consistently colliding against your door.  
You let out a groan as your senses began to kick in, the once blackness that you were seeing behind your eyelids was replaced with the bright light that shined through the window that was meant to be covered by your curtain but you had been growing even more tired since your visits with Daryl. 
It had made sense. Normally you would be asleep before the second night shift, so around 11 pm, but now you couldn't fall asleep until around 3 am, sometimes even 4.
That paired with the times that you had to wake up each morning had given you a maximum of four hours a night. Then you had to work all day and repeat the cycle again and again. 
You couldn't risk falling asleep before you met Daryl, knowing that he would starve that night, and that thought alone kept your mind racing all day. 
You constantly wondered how he was doing at the hands of your father. You wondered if he was being beaten, even if the old bruises on his face had started to fade you knew it wasn't long until they would reappear again. 
You wondered what else Dwight was forcing him to do. You couldn't really put anything past him. 
You used to admire how kind he was to others and how kindly he would treat his wife, Sherry, and her sister, Tina. But ever since Tina had been killed when they had escaped the sanctuary over a month ago and he had faced the wrath of her father, he hadn't been the same.
You knew it was because of his wife. Sherry had offered to become your father's wife to spare Dwight's life. 
You didn't agree with your father having multiple wives especially so soon after your mother's death. It had been just over two years and he was pretending she didn't exist. He was coercing women into being his wife, in hopes of filling the dark that was left after your mother had taken her own life. 
You could see how their presence in his life wasn't providing in the way he had hoped it would. You could see it in his eyes. 
He was miserable. So he was bringing pain onto other people to make himself feel better. You didn't agree with his ways of coping but it's not like you could change his mind. He was a grown man and could certainly make his own choices.
He knew where you stood and what he chose to do with that was up to him, you supposed. He knew you weren't a fan of his 'marital' status so he kept it as far away from you as possible. Making sure that he never showed affection to them around you, making sure they stayed out of your way. But that wasn't the issue. You did like his wives, they were kind to you. Always making sure you were okay. Never talking about your father around you. 
You had felt like his wives were a majority of your closest friends. When you pushed back the fact that they were sleeping with your father.
You tugged the sheets off of your body roughly as you jumped to your feet after realizing that the knocking wasn't getting any quieter.
You pulled your shirt down from where it had been yanked up in your sleep from your turning as you walked towards the door before jerking it open, causing the knocker to stumble slightly as they fell forward, making it clear that they were leaning against the door as they waited for a response. 
"Jesus," she spoke your name as she caught herself from falling to the hard ground. "Your dad wants you. Said you had something you wanted to talk to him about." Laura informed you as she looked at you with a blank face but you knew her facial features well enough from the two years you had known her to tell that she was confused about what you had to talk to your father about. You had always confided in her about the way you felt about your father. 
The disappointment and frustration but also about how you missed the old times between your family. About how you missed your old father and how you missed the comfort your mother had brought you before she died.
She had also spoken about how she missed her parents as well and even though her situation wasn't remotely the same, she still understood what it felt like to be a younger girl who just wanted her parent's love and affection. 
"Yeah, yeah...um where is he?" You asked as you ran a hand through your hair in an attempt to smooth out some of the tangles. 
"In his room. You better get ready, he ain't got all day." Laura sent a nod your way before sending you a half smile, clearly as tired as you as she was sent to do more work around the sanctuary. She never seemed to have time to rest. She was constantly either at Negan's aid or on watch somewhere around the sanctuary. 
"Sir, yes sir." You saluted.
"You wish I was a sir?" She asked with raised eyebrows.
"Nah, you're just fine to look at now." You smiled slyly.
"Jesus, you're just like your father." She shook her head with a smirk. 
"Damn, Laura. You wound me. Seriously that was so hurtful." You half-joked as you wiped away imaginary tears as you turned your head away from her. 
"I take that back, you're way better." She shrugged as she spoke the truth that everyone at the sanctuary thought. Though you had always assumed some of the saviours had befriended you because of Negan wasn't entirely true. Sure some did in hopes of earning extra points for themselves and their families, but most just genuinely thought that you were one of the good ones. That you could possibly be able to persuade your father to change his ways. 
"Alright. I forgive you, Laur. Even if you started my day off with a fucking headache." You spoke as you rubbed your temple, your words earning a very 'unladylike' snort from Laura as she started to back away from your room and down the hallway. 
"My pleasure, Miss. Smith." She saluted before she turned around and quickened her pace to her shift which she was surely late from, leaving you to stare at the hallway wall as you mentally prepared yourself for the conversation you were about to have with your father, knowing it could go two ways. Well, which was the unlikely scenario or, Awful which you were leaning towards. 
And that's how you ended up here. Sat at the table with your father as he settled in his seat after having poured himself a small glass of bourbon. 
You watched as Potter, a worker in the sanctuary, placed two plates of eggs, home fries and some ham on top of the table for you two. You sent a smile his way as he nodded at you and your father before turning to make his exit, but your father's voice stopped him. 
"Oh, Mr. Potter..." Your father spoke in a sing-song voice as tapped his fork on the table. 
"Yes, Negan?" He asked as he turned back to the pair of you. A trail of sweat hastily coming down his brow, as his anxious eyes flicked between you and your father in hopes of getting a read on your body language.
"I think you forgot something." He pointed to his empty cup of water before snapping his fingers as if the second after he spoke lasted an hour. "Today." He rolled his eyes as the man rushed over to pick up the pitcher of water and pour it into his cup.
"Would you like some as well, ?" He spoke your name as he turned to look at you. Your father's glass now filled with ice water. 
"Of course, she wants some. What do you think, she wants to eat your dry ass food without having something to wash it down with." Your father let out a laugh as if it was the funniest thing in the world all while glaring the poor man down, who was practically shaking in his boots.
"No thank you, Potter." You managed to smile softly at him as if to calm him. Your body lowered down slightly as your body inadvertent shrank into yourself in embarrassment at how your father was treating the kind man.
Your demeanour didn't seem to put the man at ease as he still looked as though he was about to stroke out, which apparently was hilarious to your father as he let out a booming chuckle from deep in his throat, his rough and deep voice spoke from behind his pearly white teeth. 
"Jesus, man. I'm just joking. It's just a jokey, joke. Holy fuck," he spoke your name, "did you see his fucking face? He looked like he was going to piss his pants." He laughed before looking at the floor as though he was looking to see if the older man had done just that. 
"That will be all, Potter. Thank you." You looked away from your father to face the middle-aged man before nodding to the door, not quite able to hide your anger well, causing him to look to Negan for permission.
Your father watched you with amusement glimmering in his big brown eyes, clearly finding your annoyance entertaining, before he nodded, still looking at you as he spoke. "Do you need her to tell you again? Leave. Now." Without wasting a second he scurried out of the room, probably to go cry in the corner somewhere. Your father seemed to always have that effect on people. 
"Did you really have to scare him away? I was gonna get him to cut up my meat." He laughed.
"You're a grown-ass man. I think you can do it yourself just fine." You narrowed your eyes at him, watching as his eyes widened slightly before they were amused again, a small laugh leaving his lips.
"You really are my kid, ain't ya."
You guys sat in silence for a minute. You glaring at him and him trying to hide the merriment in his eyes.
"If you've got something to say, baby, just spit it out." He said as he crossed his arms while leaning back in his seat, eyes studying your face. 
"What is wrong with you?" You asked with anger clear in your voice as you shook your head.
"Well, sweetheart, I have a lot of things wrong with me so you're gonna have to be more specific." 
"You know what I'm talking about, Dad. That. How you treat people." You scoffed at his attempt at humour, normally you would laugh at his stupid attempts at making you laugh but now, when he humiliated people for a good laugh, your blood would quite literally boil in your skin. 
"I was just having a little fun. He doesn't mind." He dismissed as he laughed, shaking his head before he began using the fork he was still gripping to take a substantial bite of his over-easy eggs.
"It's not a 'little fun', Dad. You scared him half to death. Does it not make you feel bad when you treat people like shit?" You shook your head in disbelief.
"No, it doesn't. I'm in charge. Im not treating anyone like shit here. Do you see all that I do for these people? What I provide for them." His face grew annoyed at your words.
"Yeah, Dad. I do. But you can help keep these people safe without treating them like shit. You don't need to make them fear you to keep them sa-" He cut you off before you could finish your sentence but you could tell by his tone that you got your point across.
"They need to fear me to stay in line. That's what I do. I keep them in line. How else do you think we're still standing? If I become buddy, buddy with them they'll think they can get away with shit they just can't get away with."
"You can be a decent person and still have loyal followers. I mean, shit, how do you think half the groups still alive are operating?" You tried to mile your tone down as you began cutting up your ham. 
"You mean the groups we're gonna take over? They won't be operating like that for long." He shook his head in dismissal before wiping away the yellow egg yolk that had dropped into his pink lips.
"But why can't you form alliances with other groups? Instead of controlling them?" You tried to reason.
"Look, hunny. I love you, okay? But I don't tell you how to lead your little posey so don't fucking tell me how to lead mine." He said angrily before taking hold of his glass of bourbon and gulping down all of its contents. 
"You do realize you just called you and your people pretentious, right? I do think it fits, though." You snorted as you took a small bite of your scrambled eggs. 
"What did you want to talk to me about? I have things I need to get done." He rubbed a hand over his face in annoyance.
"Oh sorry, I didn't know having a conversation with your daughter was such a burden." You shook your head as you began to stand up but we're stopped when your father grabbed your arm.
You looked over expecting to see a look of anger on your father's face but sat back down when all you saw was remorse for his words that were obviously taken out of context but they had hurt you nonetheless, as that was what he hated the most. Hurting you.
"You know what I meant. I love talking to you, you know that, don't act like you don't. Tell me what you want to talk about, baby. Please." He pulled his and away and picked up his fork, signalling for you to speak. 
"What is that community called?" You asked as you picked up the pitcher of water, not missing the look your father sent you that practically said, 'You should have just gotten Potter to do that' but you just brushed it off, knowing you were more than capable of pouring your own cup of water.
"Who am I? Fucking Professor X? You're going to have to be more-"
"That new community. The one you took a prisoner from." You specified, know that was his next word.
"How the hell do you know about that?" He asked with slight anger. He had tried to keep you as far away from his duties as much as he possibly could. 
He had constantly restricted you from leaving the sanctuary in hopes of keeping you alive and blissfully unaware of his actions, knowing that he had shaped his men well enough that they knew they needed to die for you. 
"Everyone knows about it. You don't exactly keep it under wraps. I can hear you boost about it from my room. Your voice travels." You studied him, wanting to make sure he wasn't going to try and keep something from you.
"Huh, so I've been told." He shrugged as he then began to study you, checking to see if he could notice any alternative motives. You could only hope he didn't.
"So?"
"Why do you wanna know anyway?" He questioned.
"I'm just curious. Sick of the gossip and rumours, just want to know what's going on. That's all." You attempted to play it off, hoping he didn't notice the slight quiver in your voice.
"I hate gossipers too. They seem to be everywhere, don't they." He replied as he squirted some ketchup onto his cooling grilled potatoes.
"Yeah, they do... so...?" You pressed, hoping he would stop beating around the bush and just reveal what you were wanting to know.
"Alexandria. It's a nice place but the people make it a fucking shit hole, their leader, Rick, is a joke. A fucking pussy if I've ever known one. Hell, I bet Potter could take him in a fight. Truly it's embarrassing." He ranted as he rolled his eyes, his fork scraping against his plate as if the sheer thought of Daryl's leader, Rick, had brought him so much rage that he had to take it out on the plate.
"So is there a lot of people there?" You asked, trying to sound casual.
"Two-hundred and thirty-four." He revealed causing her to tense.
"So we have more." It was a statement rather than a question.
"By a landslide, baby. We have five hundred and four through all of our outposts. In any way, we outrank them. You know what's hilarious? Their leader is so hellbent on killing me even though he knows my people could wipe his people out in a blink of an eye. Everything with that guy is a dick-measuring contest. But he should know by now that he's not gonna win in that department." He laughed once again forgetting that his daughter was sitting across from him. 
Your eyes rolled as he once again found a way to boost about himself.
"Jesus, your daughter is right here!" You exclaimed as you rolled your eyes. Sometimes he was such a child, you thought. If your mother was here she would beat him with her shoe.
"Sorry, sorry. But hey, I want to show you something." He said as he wiped his mouth with a cotton napkin, before placing it on top of his now empty plate, the streaks of ketchup and yellow remained.
Your food on the other hand was still half full, but you knew your father would have somebody wrap it up for you to eat tomorrow as he knew that it took you at least an hour after waking up to be able to eat. 
As you guys walked you caught sight of a man with long dark hair and a broad frame hunched over a mop. You didn't clue in until you saw Dwight roughly grab the man to make him continue his moping a little way ahead. 
It was Daryl.
You didn't have much time to react before your father was speaking again, drawing their attention.
"Dwighty boy, what do we have here?" Your father said as he stopped beside Dwight, smirking down at Daryl as he watched him silently continue his task, his head angled downward.
"Just Daryl, doing what he's told," Dwight spoke with a slight smile while watching Daryl.
Your father let out a booming laugh and you could see Daryl pause his movements for a moment having to mentally restrain himself from physically pouncing on him. 
You knew if he were to break loose you couldn't really blame him. Your father had put him through hell, but that's what he was. Your father. You couldn't let anything thing happen to him, no matter how much you understood how he was feeling.
"You missed a spot." Your father said as he watched the slightly shorter man conceal his anger with delight, clearly enjoying the inner battle that was going on inside of him. Your father kept his eyes on Daryl as he tipped his bourbon bottle on the floor, the dark liquor mashed with the newly clean floor. The half-drunken bottle now sized down a noticeable amount, he laughed again before he shoved the bottle into Dwight's chest. "Here, buddy. You deserve it." Your father tore his eyes away from Daryl before looking up at you, noticing the beyond-dirty look you were sending his way. 
"Thanks, boss." Dwight nodded as he clutched the bottle.
"Get back to work, you mutt." Your father smiled at Daryl but you could tell it was forced as he roughly patted his shoulder in a condescending way before making his way back over to you, sensing your unease about what he was doing.
He nodded at you to follow him before he began to stroll back down the hallway. You followed but your eyes were still trained on Daryl.
Your heart pounded in your chest when he turned his head slightly, watching Negan go before his eyes found you. 
They narrowed once he caught sight of you. You couldn't quite read the look that took over his emotionless face but you knew he didn't feel joy in seeing you with Negan. 
You saw flashes of rage, confusion and a flash of fear? 
Your eyes were locked on each other before Dwight harshly shoved Daryl back to his task which he complied with but at a slower pace, as if his mind was processing the fact that he had seen you outside of his cell with Negan of all people. 
You waited a moment before you turned back around, and in that moment you saw Dwight studying the two of you in confusion.
You hurriedly turned forward to look at your father's back as you turned the corner finally making your way into the kitchen. The one you had found yourself in more often than ever.
"Ta-da," your father said in an overdramatic voice, a wide smile on his face as he waved a hand towards a big a machine that was shaking as it operated, the small, shiny window was wet with condensation. 
"Holy-shit! Is that what I think it is?" You exclaimed in an excited tone as you practically hopped over to the machine in pure astonishment.
"Well, I sure as shit hope I didn't have seven of my men working themselves into the ground carrying this piece of shit back here all for it not to be the fucking ice cream machine that I've been askin' for, for a fuckin' year?" He spoke as you leaned back slightly as if to amplify his words. 
You let out a yell of excitement as you ran into your father's arms, his arms wrapping around your upper back as you tucked your head into his chest. You could feel his smile as he rested his forehead on top of your scalp.
It was moments like these that you missed. The pure moments of a father and daughter showing care for one another. Sure you were still angry with him for what he did to Daryl just minutes ago and for all the bad he was doing, but you couldn't spoil this moment.
The moment that your inner child craved to have.
The moment you were robbed of one too many times. 
You wondered if the sadness could be shown in your eyes. The longing for the love of your parents. 
You knew that Laura could see it. Just as you could see your sadness as well. It was like an understanding for the two of you. You both didn't get to experience much love from your parents, her from way before the outbreak and you, after.
You knew that your mother wasn't at fault for not being there for you. You knew that if she could be here, she would. That's just who she was. She would never miss any of your important achievements and even your minor ones, she always made sure to show up, no matter how much shit she would get at work. She would take all the yelling from her boss just to see your smile when you noticed she was there. 
Your father tried his hardest to be there but most of the time something else was always more important. You were always left having to deal with his half-ass excuses as to why he couldn't show up; only to find out that he was too busy fucking your godmother aka your mother's best friend.
You weren't sure how your mother could forgive him after all the stress he had caused her in the early stages of her cancer, but you knew it was most likely because of how much she loved him.
You had never quite seen someone treat their significant other as well as your father did when he found out about your mother's diagnosis.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" You chanted pulling away from your father to look at the grey and blue machine again causing your father to laugh at you, even though he was feeling elated at the fact that you had enjoyed his little present. 
"So, you want to take it for a spin?" Negan asked with a grin, knowing that he was gonna get a taste of the treat that he had also been craving.
"Do Andie and Ben end up together in 'How to lose a guy in 10 days?' " You asked with a raised eyebrow, a smile on your face. 
"Uh, I don't know, do they?" He asked in confusion, not quite realizing the reference.
"Yes!" You exclaimed before rushing to the ice cream machine, your father hot on your tail.
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renren-006 · 10 months
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Prisoner and Savior | Daryl Dixon x Reader, Negan Daughter
summery: Negan is your father and he reasures you that the events taking place are not your fault, that history had been written and he couldn't not show a little ruthlessness towards those who killed his men. With Daryl trapped with you in that compound, what will you do? 
word count: 706
warning: negan has character development and not a 100% bad guy, Daryl loves you no question, spoiler for season 7/8. 
a/n: hey! an original idea by me! i like negan as a character both before and after character development i never thought he was a bad character just a ruthless leader and i wanted a story to show partially if he had a daughtr how she would be able to see the other lays to him and not just the one Rick and the others see. Also Daryl is so hopelessly in love with you don’t worry. 
Please let me know if you want more Negan or more Daryl stories!! 
Happy reading
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You didn't like it here, you never really did. He stood there at the end of the hallway watching the man behind the door so closely. You could see his eyes travel over to you, hurt and want clearly. You wanted to save him, you wanted to hold him close again, but you were a prisoner the same as he. 
Negan stood outside that door almost everyday, making you watch as he stood before the man you loved. Negan made you choose your fate and you chose the right one. You were not his wife, you could not be seen as you were Negan's daughter. The only living thing keeping your mothers memory alive. He had such an attachment to that bat after the fire and after the world ended that you ran. For a few years you were free of the sad lonely man that your father had become.
 How do you explain to a community that the man they hate, is your father. You couldn’t, and Negan didn’t say a word either. You knew your father. He wasn't who he portrayed himself to be, he was different, yes but heartless, never. He steered into your eyes when he turned around from berating your boyfriend. Daryl looked hurt, and you knew this was your fault, as much as your father and others told it was not. If you had not taken such a liking to Maggie and Glenn maybe they wouldn't be dead, maybe they would still be alive. If your father had not been the man they had attacked unjustly maybe he would not have beaten the others, scared Rick and made you a prisoner at his empire. 
Daryl knew, he knew about Negan, the relationship you had with Negan and he still loved you. That car ride to the compound you knew you had to tell him, every dark secret, every love and wish that things had turned out different. Daryl consoled you in that car, and promised he would always love you. You didn't deserve him, he was too good, too tough. So when he looked at you with love before the door closed once again, you wanted to crawl in that room beside him. 
“This isn't your fault Y/N” Negan told you, the sweetness of his voice. You looked up at him, “I have to show my people I..can handle those who hurt us”
“I understand, I just hate seeing him like that,” you told the man. Naegan nodded his head from the sofa next to you. 
“I'm sorry” Negan spoke before leaving the room, and leaving you to your thoughts. That night you sat outside his door, Dwight not too far to keep watch to make sure you got your time. Dwight was a man that was already hurt by your father and seeing the kindness he spared to you made him rethink a few things. You whispered through the door for an hour before Dwight reminded you of shift change and you had to leave. Soon after a break out plan was solidified. 
“Go” Negan spoke from behind you, waiting patiently by the door as you packed a backpack, “Ill make it seem like you escaped and blame someone else”
“Then you're only hurting your men” you told him.
“Then i'll find someone who deserves it, someone other than you and Daryl” his heart was big, and big enough that he understood he could not keep living this path in life. “Ill make this up to you”
“Make it up to Alexandria, give them their lives back and the Kingdom, this world is already crazy we don't need ....tyrants too” you told him. 
“I can do that”
Negan spoke to Rick that evening, a chance to change and after explaining over and over the things on each of their minds they came to an agreement. Things had to change and with the right conversations and the right people there things can be changed. No more death, no more loss and no more war. This world was already in shambles and having living people fighting instead of fighting the dead, seemed counter productive. So a charter and a negotiation was made between the Hilltop, Alexandria and the Kingdom.
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boygiwrites · 7 months
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Harley D. Dixon 23
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An amazing edit inspired by this story! (Cred to Cora_Line99) Harley D. Dixon's Pinterest Board! Harley D. Dixon's Playlist!
📖Chapter List.
Author's Note.
Warning for strong themes of suicide in this chapter because of Beth, and well, everything else.
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Herschel left the farm all by himself while we was out.
As the sun sets behind the porch railing, Lori explains to Rick and Glenn that Beth's in shock — the thing I was in this morning. She tries to mutter it under her beath, but I hear just fine that she tried to kill herself by slicing her wrists up. Different to how Momma did it, but I know just about every way there is, and that's one of 'em. If I were Beth, I would'a just jumped out the window. Prolly would'a worked, but maybe she didn't want it to. Lori and Patricia found her just in time to save her. She's laid up in bed now, apparently still staring at the wall.
Rick keeps glancing at me throughout the whole conversation. I don't know why he's doin' it, but I wish he'd cut it out.
Herschel told us today he'd learnt what grit was, but I guess he ain't learned enough to deal with his daughter wantin' to die, 'cause he hopped in his truck and took a trip to town to get away from it all. Maggie begs the two of 'em to go bring him back, and they agree.
"You got any guesses where he might'a gone?" Rick asks, putting his hat back on. Always savin' people. "Parks, stores, houses?"
"Hatlin's." She answers unhappily. "Bar on main street. He practically lived there in his drinking days. If he's gone anywhere, it's there."
I can't imagine Herschel in a bar. My Daddy and Uncle Merle used to rot away in bars when they was angry or sad, but that was them.
Rick must be thinking the same thing. "I didn't take Herschel for a drinker."
"He gave it up the day I was born." She half-smiles. "Didn't even allow liquor in the house... But not anymore, I guess."
"I've seen the place." Glenn assures her, holding her shoulder and turning to Rick. "I can drive us there."
"Okay." Before they turn to leave, he murmurs to Lori, "Does Daryl know 'bout Beth yet?"
She shakes her head and glances at me, too.
He warns her, "Well, you're gonna want to. Harley's been havin' a tough go of it and I ain't sure how this is... gonna affect her."
She gives a look of understanding. "I'll go talk to him now."
When he comes down the steps, he crouches in front of me. He's got his Dad-face on, the one that's all nice and reassuring.
"Hey, you did good today." He tells me. "How 'boutchu go find Carl and read some comic books together or something for a while?"
"Alright." I lilt, watching him gently clap me on my shoulder before following Glenn down the path toward the cars.
But as soon as they're gone, I don't go find Carl. I take myself around the side of the house and slouch between two old barrels in the grass, hiding from everyone. I've gotten real good at swallowing down the need to cry, so that's what I do. At some point, the darn ringing returns.
I wish some little animal would cross paths with me, so I could take my knife out and stab it dead. That'd make me feel better.
Merle would smack me if he saw me like this. Don't cry, Harley. Don't cry. Been a long, long day, but you don't gotta cry.
The sun soon disappears under the earth.
"Sh, sh, sh. Baby, it's okay." The night is quiet, but our little tent is filled with my pent-up sobs. "It's okay."
I wish I could go to sleep like everyone else, but I can't. The day's finally caught up with me. Rick and Glenn still haven't returned, but the farm's been a mess without 'em all the same. Dad's been watching me like a hawk since Lori spoke with him, and dinner was spent in silence, and I been trying not to cry for hours. He keeps crooning the same thing to me over and over. It's okay. I hear that stupid lie every time things aren't okay. It don't get any more okay-er no matter how hard I bawl or scream into his shoulder, or wish with all my heart and all my body, right down to my toes, that I weren't such a little wuss. I wish Sophia was alive. I wish Shane made it to Fort Benning.
Seems I'm always hurting. If anyone asked me what I did best, I'd say this. Sometimes feels like all I was made for.
I did good faking my way through the day, but as soon as I laid my head down to go to sleep and realized that I couldn't no more 'cause of my ear, I finally broke. Can't shoot, can't hear, can't sleep. Everything, even the way I curl up at night, been stripped from me.
"It's not okay," I moan, hating that when I close my eyes, I can still see the things I don't wanna. "S'all wrong. It hurts."
"I know it does, chicken. But I'm 'ere. I'm always here." He murmurs into my hair, holding me even tighter to his chest. "Just get it all out."
I wanna tell him I can't, it don't work that way. If you could cry yer sadness out, I would'a lost all mine by now. But he already knows. Just like me, he's made up of sadness. Most people say we're alike 'cause our matching scowls, our little moles. But more than anythin', it's that.
I don't think I've ever been this type of angry before. There's just nowhere to put it. There's no-one to blame. It's just inside me. And I think it'll be there forever, like my bones are. There's no use being sour at Rick or Dad for killin' Shane. You can't get mad at people when there's no right or wrong to it, when they was just doin' what needed to be done. Shane was crazy, we've always said it. He done so many things he shouldn't have. No, I ain't mad at them for that. Or at Glenn, or T, or Andrea for helping 'em. Not at the bullet that shot my ear off, not at the Greenes' God for takin' all my friends away. I'm just angry at being alive.
"He said it was gonna be d-different this time." He said a whole bunch'a things, but that one I remember. "Daddy, I want it t'be different."
"It will be, baby. It will. I'mma keep you safe with everythin' I got, okay?" At least that one's not a lie. "You know that."
"But I'on care about me." I pull back, my fingers twisted in his tank top. "It's everyone else that's dead. It's Shane and Sophia a-and Momma and Merle and Morales and prolly Meemaw and Kyle and my cousins. I'm sick of it! Ain't no point in movin' on if people gonna keep dyin'!"
"Don't talk like that, Harley Dixon." He gently scolds, brows twitching into a frown. "Don'tchu ever. There is a point."
Well, I don't get it no more. "I ca-an't even sleep properly, Dad."
"Well, let's just try again. You can lay on yer other side." He offers. "Dad'll read you another story, huh? Or you want me to sing again?"
"No." I croak miserably. I don't want a story. I don't even want a song. "Even if I go to sleep, t-that's ruined, too. I get nightmares. And when I wake up, it's the same thing all over again. Eatin' scraps and cryin' and takin' ringing meds just for somethin' else bad to happen."
"That's the way life is, Harley." He tells me, a little stricter this time. "I can't change it any more than you can. People die—"
"People mourn," I quote him with a roll of my wet eyes, "Life moves on. I heard."
"Stop it." He don't like that I mocked him, not one bit. Not when it comes to this. "It's true. We move on. We keep livin'."
"Well, maybe I don't wanna. Maybe I'm done."
Herschel says I got a thing called grit. Dad says I'm his brave girl. Carl thinks I'm some sorta badass, but really I'm just a nasty, broken little thing called Harley Dixon. I don't wanna keep living if living's full of death. Maybe it's better the other way. Beth thinks so. Momma sure did, too. I never got to ask her if it worked out like she wanted and got all her sadness taken away, but I like to think it did. I like to think there's no bad things where she is, only good and happy things. She ain't watched Shane die. She ain't stood at Sophia's grave. She ain't hurtin'.
"Little girl," Dad's voice is thin and shaky like a whisper, but also very, very, very angry. "I know you ain't just said that."
I stare right back at him through my tears without a word, 'cause I did say that. Not to hurt him, but because it's the truth.
He slowly starts shaking his head. "Nah, I ain't raised you this way. I ain't raised a girl that gives up."
My wobbly frown deepens. "So that's what Momma was, then? She was weak?"
"Yes. Weak an' stupid." He says unapologetically. "And I won't have you talkin' like her. Over my dead body, girl, I won't have it."
"And how's that?" I challenge him. "You gonna make Sophia come back? You gonna fix my ear? You gonna make Shane—?"
"Weren't me that did that, Harley. Weren't Rick, weren't nobody but himse—"
"—Come back? You gonna kiss it all better and sing a song?" I taunt, shouting in his face, "They're all dead!"
"I know they are." He argues, taking a moment to suck in a breath. "I'm sorry I ain't find Sophia. I'm sorry 'boutcher ear. I'm sorry you're hurtin' and I can't do nothin' about it, but this type'a talk ain't what's gonna help you, Harley. It's bein' strong. You gotta be stronger."
"But I ain't," I tell him, and the tears are back now, streaming down my face, 'cause I'm right. I ain't strong. "I'm just nothin'."
"You're my little girl, is whatchu are." He says sternly, voice cracking. "I love you more'un anythin'. How you think hearin' that makes me feel?"
Probably makes him see the little traces of Momma on my face. Makes him feel like he's failing the same woman twice.
But I'm just so tired, and I just don't care. "I'on care how it makes you feel, Daddy. I'on care 'bout nothin' anymore."
Being empty must be worse than being full of somethin' like anger, 'cause this is the thing that really gets to him. Under his pair of twisted brows, his sharp eyes start to well up, his mouth curls into a sneer. The crickets outside chirp happily either way, dutifully filling the silence that comes. For the first time, I think my Dad is wrong about something. There is no point in moving on. Bein' strong, that's a waste. Shane said we deserve for things to go differently, go better in some way that ain't so cruel, but it didn't. It won't.
"You're fuckin' scarin' me, Harley." He utters thinly. "You ain't never talked like this."
I know. I ain't never stayed down after a hit, but I been strong for so long, I think it's just ran out.
I don't answer him. Instead I confess quietly, "I think I wanna go sleep in somebody else's tent tonight, Dad."
I need out this stuffy tent. If I could sleep alone in a hole somewhere, I would. I'm done arguing. And he's done, too. He wordlessly slides me off his lap and helps me gather my bedding, trying his best not to tear up more than he already is, muttering to himself, swiping at his eyes. He leads me back to main camp, where all the lamps are shut off and the fire pits are smoking. The night air cools my hot, red cheeks. 
He taps his knuckles onto a crate just outside the Grimes' tent, and before he even steps back, there's shuffling inside.
The zipper peels back, revealing Lori's sleepy, moon-lit face. She takes us in with a confused look. "Daryl? What are you doing over here?"
"Listen, I'm sorry for wakin' ya." He murmurs, putting on a level voice. "Came to ask you if... Harley can bunk with you guys tonight."
"Uh, sure." She agrees kindly, encouraging me to step inside by my shoulder, taking my sleeping bag from Dad. "Everything alright?"
"No." He answers gruffly. No point in lying. He don't give up anything else, and she don't pry. He places a kiss to my hair. "Night, chicken."
"Night, Dad." I force myself to say back, 'cause I'm grateful he ain't just kept me stuck in our tent, and that he really listened.
As he gives me one last glance and then leaves, Lori zips the tent up and lays my bedding down next to hers and Rick's. Carl snoozes away in the corner, an open comic book splayed out over his chest. I bet Lori knows what's the matter with me. Rick saw that thousand-yard stare I had after they killed Shane, knows how I been hating myself. He no doubt told her everything. But she's too nice to say anything.
"Here, sweetie." She takes my lumpy pillow and sets it down. I wiggle into the sleeping bag. "Comfy?"
I give a nod, even though laying on my back feels real strange and I don't got Matilda anymore.
She smiles blearily and crawls back under the covers. "Wake me up if you need anything."
And that's that. I stare up at the sky through the Grimes' tent, counting the stars through the black mesh until I fall asleep.
Sometime during the night, I bolt awake, sweating, crying, confused. Shane, I couldn't save him. I watched him die. Again. A gunshot, blood, shouting, dying, searing pain and a dog tag dangling from a broken mirror. Darkness, and then two little hands on my shoulders, shaking me. A boyish, worried voice telling me, hey, it's just a nightmare. I cling to them. Carl. He's here. I don't think before I let him hug me. I sniffle into his neck as he pets the soft spot between my shoulder blades like his Momma and Daddy do when he's upset.
"It was him again," I shudder. "Shane. I miss him. I miss all of 'em."
Life moves on, Daddy said. But how's it that mine ain't? When's that moving part happen?
"Me, too." His arms tighten around me as much as a boy's can. "You're allowed."
After that, I remember the sound of blankets shuffling, a flashlight clicking on, a comic book being quietly read to me. I remember my eyes closing, heart slowing, and I remember thinking he's gonna be the best big brother one day. In a way, he already is.
The next morning, my eyes flutter open to the sight of a quiet, empty tent. By some miracle, I must've slept in a little. I hear the fire crackling away outside, the clinking of spoons on bowls, muffled conversation. After taking a minute to yawn and stretch, I crawl out the tent.
"Ah, there she is." As I round the camping chairs, Dale sends me a warm smile. I take the seat next to him. "Just in time for breakfast."
I glance up at the second storey of the farmhouse, imagining Beth behind one of those pretty windows. I wonder how she feels about waking up this morning. I know I'm exhausted, and all I've done is open my eyes. Another day of eating scraps, crying, and taking pills. Ironically enough, Lori interrupts my spacing out by holding out two little white capsules and a water bottle to me. She's speaking, but I'm not hearing her. I throw both pills back and wash 'em down so I don't gotta look at 'em any longer. I hate that my body can't work on its own anymore.
"Harley." Lori's voice comes quick and sharp this time, startling me. "Are you listening?"
I glare up at her. She's standing so close to me that I don't know how I couldn't hear what she said the first time. "Huh?"
She looks at me like I've done something strange. "I said, 'You can't take those on an empty stomach'. Are you hungry?"
"Oh. Yeah." Now everyone's lookin' at me like that. I reach under my hair and nervously tug on my ear as she turns and fills a bowl with the creamy soup cooking over the fire. I've never not been able to catch what someone's saying like that. She hands the food to me. "Thanks."
As conversation picks up again, I struggle to pin certain words being said, especially when they're from Andrea, who's sitting the furthest from me, and Lori, on my left. S'like half the world's gone silent, and the other half's just a high-pitch squeal. God, it's makin' me mad. I claw at my ear again, as if there's somethin' stuck in there, like a wad of earwax or a cork, but there ain't nothin' in there but the ringing.
A scary thought crosses my mind. If you can't hear for no good reason, that means you're deaf. I can't be deaf.
When Andrea looks directly at me and says something that I think's meant to be a joke, I snap back, "I can't fuckin' hear you, Andrea."
Her smile drops pretty fast, but I don't feel bad. I feel frightened. To my surprise, I don't get told by anyone to mind my language.
Lori just looks at me all pitiful-like and hesitates to guess, "Is it the ringing?" 
I'm tired of hearing about the ringing almost as much as I'm tired of hearing the ringing itself. "It ain't the damn— I just can't hear proper."
She glances side-long at Dale. "Herschel did say..."
He sighs, looking a little stressed, before scooting his chair closer to mine and clicking his fingers on my right ear. "What about that?"
It sounds like a far-away thud, thud, thud, where it should actually sound like a snap, snap, snap.
"S'dull." I mutter unconfidently. 
He moves to my left ear. This time, there isn't even any thud, thud, thud at all. It's just silence.
When I say nothing, he leans back. "I'm no doctor, but... It seems very obvious to me."
I'm not a doctor neither, and neither is Lori or T or Andrea or Carl, but it's all rather obvious to us, too. I can tell, 'cause they're all lookin' pretty uncomfortable, like this discovery has already ruined the rest of my life as I'm just sitting here. I'm losing hearing in my left ear. That's what it is. As soon as Dad mentioned my hearing to Herschel, and when it got worse at shooting practice, I was scared this would happen.
Ain't nobody shocked. I was never gonna walk away from a gunshot to the side of the head with all my hearing intact.
I guess whenever somebody talks, I'll just have to try reading their lips.
"I had a teacher who was deaf." Carl offers this up like it means anything. "She was really nice and smart. Everyone liked her."
I almost feel like scoffing at him, Wow, thanks so much, Carl. You've cured me.
"It's really nothing." Lori's quick to reassure me, covering for his shitty attempt. "Hundreds of people live like this and they still thrive."
"Hell, I think I'm going deaf sometimes, too." Dale jokes. "And I'd say I'm doing alright, wouldn't you?"
"Sure, Dale." I try to chuckle, staring down at my cold soup.
Nobody mentions the fact that having sharp senses is what keeps you alive nowadays. If a walker sneaks up on me, I won't hear it.
It's then that Dad walks into camp, looking nearly as tired as I feel. He mutters a good morning to everyone, and Lori reluctantly stands to go collect my bedding for him. I waste no time hopping out my seat and going over to hug him, locking my arms around his neck as he kneels to hold me close. I said a whole lotta things last night, and so did he, but I don't think either of us is angry at the other over it. We can read each other well enough to know. He kisses my cheek before pulling back and taking my things from Lori.
Clearing his throat like he does when he might cry, he asks me, "You sleep well, chicken?"
Instead of answering, I just hug his waist and Lori changes the subject. "Daryl, just a heads up. That thing Herschel spoke about..."
"Damn it." He sighs when what she's implying clicks. He reaches down to soothingly pet my hair. "And they still ain't back, are they?"
"No. But we both know Harley and Beth are... in some type of way. We need him."
"And y'all want me to go and fetch him, huh?" He guesses, taking a long moment to consider. Then, "Y'all be grateful you been good to me."
"Thank you, Daryl." She exclaims. "Thank you. We've always been able rely on you."
He scoffs. "Maybe not always."
"Well, enough." She smiles. "They said they were headed to a bar in town called Hatlin's. I think you'll wanna head there first."
"There even gonna be anythin' he can do?" He mumbles so I can barely make it out. "I mean, the guy ain't David Copperfield."
"Well, in the old world, I might've suggested trying out a hearing aid, but now... I'm not so sure."
He grunts. "Them things need batteries, don't they?"
"I think so, but not any standard ones we'd have. You're thinking of finding one, aren't you?"
"I'd turn the whole fuckin' country upside down to get her one, if it's what she needs." He says. "Maybe some old dead guy's wonderin' around with his. Maybe I find one in a doctor's office. Either way, ain't no bill attached to 'em these days and if there's one out there, I'll find it."
She admires the determination in his eyes, lips twitching into a smile. "Rick will help you. I know he will."
"Best I go find officer goody-two-shoes and company, then." He agrees. "Look after my girl for me."
She nods. "That goes without saying."
"I love you, baby." He tells me, which is how I know I done messed up. Takes a lot for him to randomly tell me he loves me, and I guess all that talk last night about giving up was enough. He even places another kiss to my cheek, pinching it after. "I'll see you later."
"I'm sorry, Dad." I mutter.
"I know." He understands I can't help what's happening to me, or how I feel. "I'm gonna get whatchu you need. It's gonna be alright."
I'm not quite sure what I need, but at least the adults seem to know. At least some part of me can be saved.
After he leaves to put my bedding back in our camp, I climb back into my seat and watch the blue truck bumble down the drive and eventually, through the trees. Dale encourages me to finish off my soup in that annoying way my Dad always does, but I only eat a spoonful or two before my stomach shrivels distastefully and he tells me I've tried enough for this morning, so I take to curling up and staring at the fire.
I know if Shane was alive to see what he did to me, he'd be that word Lori likes to say, appalled. He never wanted to hurt me.
A hearing aid. It's one of them things I've never had to think about until now. If I had to go back a couple months and tell seven-year-old Harley, with her long, straight hair and chubby cheeks and bright, green eyes, that I look like a boy, got half an ear, and need a hearing aid, I think she'd hit me upside the head for being a liar. But I know now that you gotta be ready for anythin', like dead people in barns and a last-minute gunshot, and now, I guess, the need for a hearing aid. I have to try squash that feeling of shame. It ain't good for me, but it's always there.
I almost make myself chuckle imagining Carl tryna make being half-deaf badass. He's so relentlessly supportive. They all are.
It's too bad, then, that I still feel this way. This numb and hollowed out, alive but-also-dead way.
The way Carol must feel, and maybe the way Dad felt after Momma died.
"Thank you." Maggie tells Lori and Jacqui in the kitchen, as I stand in front of the fireplace in the next room over. "This is nice of y'all."
I see what Glenn was talkin' about now, about Maggie's great grandfather lookin' like a bald Georgie Washington. He's sitting all proper and important-like inside a photo frame on the mantle, like all people from forever ago do. But there's also newer photos, ones with color, like Maggie and Beth as little girls, posing with horse riding trophies and smiling together at old Thanksgivings and Christmases. I feel happy just looking at them. Baby photos, kind-looking people, school photos. We never knew the Greenes before, but I feel like now I might.
"We just thought you could use some help." Lori replies. "It's been a difficult time for all of us, especially Harley and Beth."
"I appreciate it. Sharin' your supplies, that means a lot these days. You wouldn't mind helpin' me toss it all together will you?"
"Not at all." Jacqui pokes her head around the arch and calls out, "Harley, you wanna come help Maggie finish cooking?"
With a little flinch, I turn to face the three women, remembering why we came here in the first place. We had some tinned vegetables and whatever else left over from breakfast, and Lori thought we'd offer them to Maggie, who's in the middle of cooking a meal for Beth.
"I guess." I hum as I head into the kitchen. It ain't like I got anything better to do. "What're you makin'?"
"Potato soup." Maggie pulls a few bowls from the worn cabinets with a smile. "Well, veggie soup, now."
"Hopefully Beth will feel a little better after a warm breakfast." Lori muses. "It always helped me."
All their words are muffled, as if I'm underwater and they aren't, but I can still just about make out what they're saying.
When Maggie places the bowls on the counter and sees me peering over the ledge, she chuckles. "Let me grab you a stool, huh?"
She grabs a mini wooden step-ladder leaning against the pantry, pulls it open, and sets it down for me. I step onto the lowest rung. She fills a bowl with water from the faucet and slides it in front of me, instructing me to how to rinse off the fat, muddy potatoes and lay them on the dry rag afterwards. It's an easy, mindless task. I get to work while they start slicing up the vegetables and opening the tins. 
As Maggie scrapes carrot into the pot, she jokes, "I been makin' so much soup recently I think I forgot how to make anything else."
"Good thing we've taken a liking, then." Jacqui smiles. "I've never tasted a tater soup good as y'all Greenes'. You know your stuff."
Feels like I'm back at the quarry again, helping prepare our next meal from whatever scraps we had, listening to the women gossip.
"Pssh. I'm tellin' you, as kids, Beth and I loathed the day Wednesday came around and Momma'd make her famous potato soup." She scoffs, grinning at old memories. "She always put too much salt in, said it was good for us. But all it was good for was makin' us barf."
Lori makes a sassy face. "I'm taking it the recipe's been tweaked a little since then."
Maggie smirks. "Wouldn't be eatin' it if it hadn't."
"Must've been nice, growing up with food on the table that's straight from your garden."
"Yeah, it was. Fresh peaches and apples to take to school, home-made bread and the like. We've always lived this way."
"Pretty perfect, if you ask me." Jacqui agrees. "Me and my fiancé were always eatin' take away all the time. God, I miss it sometimes."
"A nice greasy burger sounds so good right now." Lori moans, like she can almost taste it. "Oh, and some curly fries on the side."
They all laugh. It's a little funny. I remember her back in the beginning, braggin' about how her family never ate fast food. Now look at her.
As the conversation drifts to more boring things, I find myself thinking about Beth again. We sure grew up different, but we got broken the same way, at the same time. We clearly been thinking about the same things. She was just brave enough to actually pick up a knife and do something about it. I wonder if she knows now her Momma and step-brother been dead a long time, that they weren't sick at all, and were just bodies needed mourning. The Greenes were a little late to that, but it's like Meemaw used to say, better late than never.
I wonder if Beth regrets what she did. She could be dead right now, in a mound of dirt right next to her Momma.
When I was littler, I used to think Dad could read my mind when I was thinkin' unsavoury things like this, and that he'd give me in trouble right away. I thought that's how it worked with adults and kids, but it ain't. I can think whatever I want and it's safe inside my head.
The potatoes get peeled and diced and thrown into the soup like everything else, and then my new job is to help wash dishes.
When we're down to the last few, Maggie says I should take the bowl of soup up to Beth, 'cause they've got this handled.
"Sure." I agree before hopping down, wondering why my heart's beating so fast all of a sudden.
The door to Beth's bedroom creaks open.
I don't bother waiting for her to give me permission to come in. I just creep in all on my own, because from what I've heard, she hasn't talked all day. Her room is exactly like I would'a guessed. Like something out a trendy teenager's magazine, with a nice white desk covered in perfume bottles and hair clips and crumpled paper and books, blonde pop star posters stuck to the walls, a fluffy, cutesy rug, a teddy bear thrown on the lounge chair sitting by the window. Even the Mp3 player Maggie was telling me about, laying forgotten on the floor.
I carefully set the hot bowl on her nightstand, but something keeps me curious, and I don't turn to leave just yet.
Beth's staring at the wall like they said. Not out the window or anything. Just at the wall. I can't imagine her humming sweetly and letting me borrow one of her shirts, giggling at something I said from the other side of the bathroom door. She looks like a totally different girl.
"I went into shock too, yesterday." I randomly muse. "Or at least that's what Rick said. He's the one with the cowboy hat."
I think I might still be in shock. I'm talking and walking around, but inside, I feel like whatever statue Beth's turned into.
"I ain't sure if anyone's told you about it, but you prolly heard the screamin'. The man my Daddy stabbed, Shane, he took me away. We got pretty far. Sometimes I think about what would'a happened if we got even further, but... he was meant to die. Some people just are."
At that, she breaks her gaze away from that spot on the wall and looks me right in the eye. "Do you think I'm one of those people?"
"I... I ain't smart enough to know." I say honestly, before an awkward pause takes over. "'Cause I was only in grade two, y'know."
Carl seemed to find that funny when I first told him, but Beth just looks uninterested.
"And you?" She hides her bandaged wrists under the covers when she catches me looking. "What're you meant for? Dyin', or somethin' else?"
"I think, um... All I'm meant for is suckin' up hurt." I confess. "Like, there's all this bad in the world, and when there's nobody left for it to go to, it goes to me. Maybe I'm just unlucky. Maybe I done somethin' wrong. That's how life is, my Daddy says. So if that's the 'something else', I think I'd rather just be the type meant for dyin'. That's what my Momma did. She was in pain, and then one day... She wasn't."
"She killed herself," Beth says as fact.
"Yeah." I mutter, feeling the weight of the locket crush down on my chest as I take a seat on the edge of the bed. "She did."
"Was she the sort meant for dyin'?"
"No. She weren't." That much, I'm sure of. "She was just meant to be my Momma."
Beth's pretty eyes gloss over as she says very dully, "Our Mom's dead, too. Right before I thought I was about to die, I imagined what she'd think of me when we'd meet in heaven. She'd be ashamed, I know. Somehow, that was so much worse than the thought of going to Hell."
"Well, maybe your God made sure you didn't die." I guess, hoping it's comforting. "Maybe he wants you to live for everybody else."
A tear beads up on her waterline before sliding down her pale cheek. "I just don't know what to do. I think I'm ashamed, too."
"My Dad says you just gotta be stronger, but I don't know how." I wish I did. "I'm sorry. I'd tell you if I did."
"It's okay." With a sniff, she sends me a tiny smile. "You know, you're kind. I can just tell."
That makes me smile back. Something about my rugged hair, my mean face, my missing ear must still be soft like it was before.
Author's Note.
Sorry for the longer than usual wait between chapters! I've been dealing with intense writer's block recently so it just took me a while to get this out, but I'm pushing through!
I hope you're ready for a familiar face to return next chapter! ;)
PS. I wanted to thank you all for the touching dms and messages I've received recently, both on here and on ao3. It's still so mind blowing to me that there are so many people out there who hold a special place in their heart for this story just like I do. I'm so grateful for you all :) 💙
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