the bump in the night ; rick flag x reader
summary: someone made Mrs Flag cry, and her family is not having it.
warnings: tooth-rotting fluff, shadow-magic f!reader, reverse comfort & humour!
a/n: this AU is based on this piece I made a while back, 'cause you already know I can't do this special without hubby Rick and the kids! hope you enjoy it & don’t forget to leave some sugar! ᐠ( ᐛ )ᐟ
» wanna know what I have in store this fall? come & check out my m.list for 'reve's quirky reverie 🕷️'!
'For now, they had a plan, hoping it could bring a smile to your face.' ;
Coming home to his daughter's hugs had become an everyday thing if Rick didn't have to work overtime, but if the flicker of sadness in her eyes was anything to go by, something had to have happened while he was away.
“Mrs Bedford was saying bad stuff to mama while we were at the park.”
It was the same thing she told her brothers when they got home from school, and just like them, it was enough for Rick to get the whole picture.
Ah, Mrs Bedford. Or as the neighbourhood youngsters, children and teenagers alike, like to call her 'the modern witch of the road', and not in the cool way. Her husband was no better, always bugging you at any given opportunity. The worst part was Mrs Bedford always antagonized you for it, even if she knew you didn’t entertain her husband’s behaviour. It was also extremely hypocritical of her, considering she herself has tried to make her move on Rick. A lot. Only to be met with disappointment each time.
Her children were just as bad, too, to put it lightly.
“What did she say?” It was the green light Irene needed before she explained what had happened to a T, courtesy of her father’s eagle eye. Unlike most days, it was just you and Irene visiting the park since your sons had football practice.
The two of you were feeding the ducks when Mrs Bedford came up to you.
“You on your own?” Was the first thing she asked you before you questionably said ‘yes’, despite Irene being there too, and the little girl realized Mrs Bedford wouldn’t have gone off on a tangent about you and your ‘possibly tainted history’ if her father or brothers were around in the first place.
“I don’t know what you did but I can see it in your eyes, Flag. You’re no saint. You can fool the others with your little flower shop and your so-called angelic kids, but not me.”
Though Mrs Bedford knew nothing about your powers or your time in Belle Reve, instead, spewing hate out of jealousy and hatred for you for being the favourable neighbour, she wasn’t completely wrong. You have hurt people, you’ve even killed some, but they were for the greater good. Since your freedom from hell on earth, you’ve barely used your umbrakineses. It wasn’t until the birth of your children, to which all three of them gained your abilities did you realized you couldn’t run from who you really were—it wasn’t right nor fair to them.
Then, telling them your story as a criminal and how their dad was once your enemy was another thing. You weren’t sure what reaction you were expecting, but it was certainly not amazement and sparkles in their eyes. As they grew older, they began to make sense of how their parents somehow knew people like Aunt Harley, Uncle Robert and hell, even Nanaue.
And at that point in time, Mrs Bedford reminded you of Waller, turning you into submission as you could do nothing but listen to her make a mockery out of you for turning over a new leaf. Irene had to watch your face drop as the woman insulted you, and she knew she had to tell her family about it.
Irene insisted that she was fine about heading home early, even if you tried to convince her otherwise. She wanted nothing more than to do something about that glazed look in your eyes.
As soon as you stepped foot into the living room, a tear rolled down your cheek. You couldn't help but apologize to her, to everyone if they were with you then. You weren’t entirely sure if it was because you seemed weak over a bunch of words or their fate of ending up with you as the wife and a mother of their family.
Irene shook her head, hugging you with her face in your tummy.
"You're not a mean person, mama. You're the nicest and coolest mama we could ever ask for, and we love you."
It was simple, something you've heard of thousands of times in your lifetime, but you very much needed it today.
Ever the sweet girl, she accompanied you as you lay in your bed, telling you random stories about what she painted during art class or what she ate at lunch, anything but the time Mrs Bedford’s son, Kyle pushed her off the swing while his older brother, Blake laughed and praised him for doing so. You didn’t need to know that.
Not yet.
You listened with a warm smile, embarrassed but nonetheless thankful for how observant she was of your feelings before eventually dozing off.
Irene was careful yet quick to jump off the bed, running downstairs to shush Richie and Ethan as they returned home.
The more she explained, the brighter their eyes unnaturally glowed. Richie was starting to look like their father as he crossed his arms, listening to her like a police officer, while Ethan seemed like he was already thinking of ways to counter the Bedford’s undignified acts.
Basically, the Bedfords were not the greatest people. Each and every one of them.
Though they had a myriad of ideas, they weren’t sure how much their father would appreciate it, even if it was for your sake. Still, they thanked Irene for being there for you, promising that something would be done, no matter what it would be.
For now, they had a plan, hoping it could bring a smile to your face.
After an unexpected nap, you came down to find your kids huddled on the couch, whispering and hushing each other. Curious, you approached them.
Ethan was the first to notice you, offering you a grin before showing you what was in their hands, “Look, ma, I think we got it.”
You leaned in to take a closer look, only for your breath to hitch at the sight of life on their palms. There, they showed you the differing mass of shadows they conjured, a tougher one you just taught them about a week ago. You have always loved this trick as a kid, and it only aided your sanity when you were by your lonesome in the penitentiary. In a way, you were replacing what life truly was by making your own, even if they were temporary because there was no telling when or if you’d ever be free.
Yet, here they were, prompting joy and pride as they held the wispy animals of their choice; Richie with what seemed to be an adorable little puppy, Ethan creatively emulated a bioluminescent jellyfish and Irene…
Oh, Irene.
She scarcely remembered how much you loved making her laugh by conjuring butterflies when she was still very little if not for the twins confirming it.
The butterfly was as small as her hand, but the wings were majestic, idly flapping before flying over to you, leaving cloudy black trails and landing on your outstretched finger.
You stared at their creations ever so lovingly, already on the brink of tears. You were just as mad at yourself for doubting your worth, and your potential, just because of the things you had to do in the past, for the sake of the person you were now.
You embraced Irene in a tight hug before pulling your boys in as well. You sniffled, absolutely joyous and blessed to be surrounded by the most loving people. Nothing could deter you from this, not even as the shadow puppy yipped and chased the jellyfish and butterfly in excitement. Your cat, Tofu, must’ve heard the commotion, too, as she came from the kitchen to check, only to be frightened and jump on the couch with you as the puppy came running to her.
Rick finally arrived about two hours later, coming home to hear laughter before he saw Irene running across the room, followed by Tofu and the shadow puppy in tow. The jellyfish laid on Richie’s head like a nest whereas the butterfly decided to make Ethan’s shoulder its home as they hung out with you on the couch.
“Daddy!” Irene greeted him before running over to him. He didn’t question the questioning look she gave him just yet and instead, hoisted her up, laughing as Tofu and the puppy pawed at his bootlaces.
“What’s going on here?” He raised his brows, amused by what could be described as a fever dream of a sight.
“The kids learnt how to make little lives.” You giggled, allowing Rick to sit next to you as you scooted over.
“And I got a new hat,” Richie gestured to the jellyfish, who he has now dubbed as Jelly. As if it understood, Jelly immediately floated away, leaving Richie’s hair flattened, “Never mind.”
You shared a laugh as he deadpanned before you turned to Rick, “Was work okay?”
“Yeah, the usual. Decorated the place today, actually.” He took his phone out of his pocket, opening his gallery and showing you and the kids the spookily tacky decor that furnished his workplace.
“Did you really paint ‘dead inside, don’t open’ on the entrance door?” The twins gawked.
“Fitting, ain't it?” Rick joked, prompting smiles and chuckles from you once more before falling back on the couch, “But at least I’m off tomorrow, so I was thinking we could eat out for dinner.”
“Oh! We should head to Pop’s since they’re also offering their apple betty.” Ethan suggested.
“Well, I think that’s a good idea, so,” Richie trailed off, raising anticipation from the rest of you before jumping off the couch and running up the stairs. Ethan and Irene simultaneously gasped before the former took his sister out of Rick’s arms to chase their brother together. You and Rick could only watch with delight as Tofu and the shadow creatures followed them too.
“Everything okay?” He wanted to know, but he wouldn’t pry if you weren’t ready to tell him.
“Yeah,” You nodded, gazing down for a moment before continuing, “Something happened earlier but…”
“Richie! You better not lock the door or I swear to God!” Ethan’s voice rang out from upstairs, followed by Irene’s ‘language!’, and you couldn’t help but shake your head in amusement.
“It’s all good now.” You reassured him. You knew you could’ve told him, but it wasn’t worth dwelling on. You had children to nurture and a husband to take on the world with.
“The Bedfords?” He guessed. If it wasn’t them, then it had to be Mr Walker.
“The Bedfords,” You confirmed with a tight smile, “I’m just more upset that Irene was there to hear it.”
You didn’t explain any further and Rick took it as a sign to drop it. If they were able to make you this upset, then it was best to ask the kids instead.
“I’m sorry,” He pulled you to his chest, planting a slow and gentle kiss on your forehead. He rubbed your back, sighing at the very mention of that family. Rick loathed that they were influential enough to be one of the higher-ups of the school’s PTA, though he was confident that money was involved in it too. He hated that they were reasons why you’d come home ranting about how Mrs Bedford bugged you again, or when he had to make sure Mr Bedford knew he was making a promise and not an empty threat whenever it involved their kids and his, "You know I can talk to them."
It would do no good, but it was worth trying.
"No, you know how the Bedfords are. Don’t worry, okay? Not now,” You kissed the inside of his palm before pressing your lips against his, soft, sensual and safe. Rick moved forward, deepening the kiss as held the nape of your neck. You pulled away but not before nuzzling his nose, “We should be celebrating.”
He nodded, though he knew it would only linger in his mind for a while. Still, he adhered to your wishes, standing up before offering you his hand to get ready, “Right, right. Shall we?”
You snorted, placing your hand in his the way a princess would when a prince asks for a dance. Unexpectedly, he twirled you around, wrapping his arms around you he pulled you in, chest to chest. You playfully smacked him, though it did very little to wipe off the pleased look on his face as the two of you headed to your room.
You and the boys were the first to head out to the front yard, chatting and evaluating the decors of the houses while waiting for Rick and Irene.
“What happened today?” He asked his daughter quietly as they stood at the front door, helping with her shoes while she slid on a jacket.
“Mrs Bedford was saying bad stuff to mama while we were at the park.” She whispered back, swinging her arms as she watched her father tie her shoelace, “Like, really mean stuff. No one was around except us so she was kinda loud, too.”
Rick fumed, clenching his jaw as he could already hear and picture whatever nonsense she loved to spit out.
“Mama got kinda quiet when we came home, and then she started crying. About how she’s sorry she was a criminal and how we’re ‘stuck’ with her powers.” She added. If anything, she and the boys thought your abilities were the coolest thing to have ever happened to them.
He shook his head—who wouldn't crack after being subjected to their ways for so long? He hummed, hiding the seething resentment by ruffling Irene's hair.
"Can you help me distract your mother while I talk to the boys for a bit?" She nodded diligently, skipping over to you before Rick called out to his sons, "Need some help, boys."
They rushed over, glancing at you before Ethan spoke up first, "She told you?"
"Yeah." Rick replied as he locked the door.
"Can't we do something about it?" Richie asked with a frown.
"You boys are not punching Blake again." Rick reminded them with a small smile.
"You didn't seem to mind it," Ethan mirrored his father's amusement, "He was yelling at our teammate and encouraged his troll brother to push Irene off a swing."
"I'm mad, too," Rick was more than mad, but he couldn't let his emotions run wild, "Look, we'll think of something, alright? For now, just make sure she's happy."
That's all they ever wanted.
The drive to Pop's was a lively one, and so was the dinner itself. Though you knew you'd be thinking about Mrs Bedford's words every once in a while, the smiles and laughter of your family were already a welcoming distraction as it is.
Midnight rolled around, and everyone had returned to their rooms with sore cheeks and a full stomach. You were the first to slip under the covers after a shower, hoping you wouldn't be too tired as you waited for Rick, though it didn't work.
By the time Rick got out of the bathroom, you were peacefully asleep, your face just a breath away from your husband's pillow as his scent soothed you like no other.
Rick smiled to himself, changing into his PJs before sitting on your side of the bed. The dip roused you from your slumber just a little.
"Rick?" You murmured, fluttering your lashes tiredly.
"Forgot to get some water," He caressed your cheek before bending down to kiss it, "I'll be back."
You mustered a closed-eye smile and before you knew it, you drifted off once again, lulled by the way he patted your back.
Once the coast was clear, he moved off the bed, silently slipping out and closing the door before heading over to the twins' room. He knocked on the door, just enough for them to hear before doing the same with Irene's door and headed downstairs.
Rick sat down at the dining table with a glass of cold water, arms crossed and lost in his own thoughts before hearing light footsteps approaching.
Richie, Ethan and Irene carefully pulled their chairs back before taking a seat, and just like that, the discussion began.
But it didn't seem like they were getting anywhere and at some point, they just started shit-talking.
"Man, I wish coach would just kick Blake out." Ethan groaned, his head falling back.
"Tell me about it. He's shit at quarterback." Richie clicked his tongue.
"Boys." Rick warned them, partially because his youngest was listening.
"Sorry." They apologized but Irene didn't seem to mind.
"How about…" She chimed in, tapping her finger on her chin, "We scare them?"
"Like…?" Richie cocked his head, hoping she'd say more than just that.
"I don't know, I just thought it'd be cool since it's Halloween and stuff. And, well, maybe we could use our powers, but I know mama and daddy wouldn't want that." She shrugged, pouting because she hadn't thought it far enough.
"It would be a miracle to scare them without using our powers in the first place," Richie sighed, looking over to his father, "What do you think, dad?"
No reply.
"Dad?" Ethan followed suit as the three of them raised their brows.
“How far are you in your shadow puppet practice?” Rick asked out of the blue, staring ahead as though imagining whatever idea he had played out.
“Uh, pretty far, I think? Ma taught us how to merge our shadows into one if we wanted to make a bigger animal.” Richie answered, earning affirmative nods from his siblings.
“How big?”
“Like, this big!” Irene opened her arms wide to let him know just how big of a monster they would be able to make if they wanted to. They haven’t, there was no reason to, but the more their father asked, the more it piqued their interest.
Rick thought it through for a moment. It has been a while since he has seen you make that one particular lifeform, but it was worth a shot. If it were able to render Waller speechless, then it’ll definitely make the Bedfords piss their pants.
No actual attacks, and definitely no killings. But he’ll make sure they shudder at the mere thought of Halloween. Put the fear of God in them. They had it coming, too, stomping on other neighbours’ happiness for years just for the fun of it.
He just had to play it safe.
He slowly broke into a sinister smile.
“You three ever heard of a hellhound?”
˚ · . f i n . · ˚
» a/n: ahh hubby rick <3 ;; gorgeous rose divider by @firefly-graphics ♡
397 notes
·
View notes
The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning
Chapter 94: Stand Inside Your Love
❧ Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Female Reader
❧ Era: Season 11
❧ Pronouns: she/her
❧ Warnings: mild swearing, scary situation, violence
❧ Word Count: 7.7k
❧ In This Chapter: You aid Daryl and Rosita in hiding Eugene from the Commonwealth Army, but there's danger afoot, and more obstacles prevent your people from getting home.
❧ A/N: Things are getting intense for our dear reader and her hubby (I'm sorry I had to use that word). Also I just had to include this scene with Eugene. It was so cute how he tried to fight Daryl omg. I also wanted to take an opportunity to have reader talk to Eugene a bit, since they haven't really had too many interactions yet and also he dated her bestie so I mean I feel like they have some common ground there. Of course we get some sweet Daryl/Reader moments too because they're adorable together and they care so much about each other it's literally precious. Anyway, I'm excited to see where this all goes...
In the impending darkness of the coming evening, when the sun had just barely begun to set over the horizon, you sat alone in a familiar interrogation room, similar to the one you’d sat in several months ago when you first arrived.
The slightly chilly April weather was enough to have you wrapping yourself tighter in your housecoat as your toes curled inside your slippers. You had been so unceremoniously whisked away from your apartment, taken by Commonwealth soldiers to “answer a few questions” about the day’s events. Daryl was gone. He was in the church where he’d been hiding Eugene, protecting him. Perhaps it was a good thing that he was gone when they came, since you knew he’d make a bit of a fuss out of them manhandling you.
The children and Dog had been taken to Carol’s house, where you were assured they’d be taken care of until you returned from your questioning. They had asked where Daryl was, but you simply said he’d gone out for a jog. You knew Daryl wouldn’t voluntarily go for a jog if his life depended on it, but they didn’t, and it seemed plausible.
So you waited nervously, shivers periodically running down your spine as you gazed around the room, thinking of all the things they would possibly ask you.
You knew it would have something to do with Sebastian’s death, of course, and you knew that they knew Eugene and his girlfriend, Max, were responsible for the events leading up to it, but you weren’t sure why they thought you’d have anything to do with it. Of course, you were friends with Eugene, but you hadn’t been doing much these past two days except staying inside and recovering from your pregnancy.
Maybe it was just a formality. You just hoped this didn’t ruin your people’s plans of getting home. Sure, you’d admit to having something to do with the newspaper headline that came out last week, exposing Sebastian for the things he’d done, but that wasn’t treason, it was just revealing the truth. What Eugene and Max had done was also the truth, but now you just wanted to go home. To Hell with saving the Commonwealth. Maybe it was selfish, but you’d had enough of it, and your people and your family were the most important things now.
Sometimes, you thought of Rick Grimes, what he would do. You knew that Rick often had to make decisions that weren’t easy, and sometimes, those decisions involved putting his people’s lives before the lives of others. Though you felt for the Commonwealth’s citizens, you figured that the best way to save them would be to leave, regroup, and come back stronger. That is, if you came back at all.
Daryl thought about it, too. He’d told you many times since Rick died, how he was trying to do things the way he’d do them. You always reminded him, though, that he was his own person, and that he was just as good as Rick. To you, he was better, but Daryl was better than everyone to you. He was your Daryl, your sweetheart. Of course he was the best. Nothing would ever change that.
So now you thought of Daryl, wondering what he was doing. You hoped he was all right, since he was risking his life by hiding Eugene. Rosita was, too. They were both protecting him in that church, conspirators. You supposed you were now, too, since you knew where Eugene was, and you weren’t about to tell anyone.
Certainly not Mercer.
The heavily armored man came in with a folder in hand. You briefly glimpsed your name scrawled on it. Your records. They were pristine, of course. Nine months was hardly enough time for you to get into trouble, and besides, you were, after all, an angel. The only indiscretion you were guilty of was being a little sassy towards the late Sebastian Milton, and perhaps a little public indecency when you touched Daryl’s privates under the table in that diner.
Other than that, you were clean as a whistle.
“(Y/N) Dixon,” said Mercer, now sitting as he read from your file. “109 Union Street. Apartment 3. Unemployed. Married to Daryl Dixon with two biological children, Robin and Westley Dixon, and two wards, Judith and RJ Grimes. Can you verify this information to be true?”
“Yes,” you said, though you didn’t like the sound of “unemployed.” Of course, you knew your job had ended when it was decided that you all were going to leave, but it still sounded harsh.
“Where were you during the Founder’s Day incident?” He was always quite straightforward.
“I was at home,” you answered truthfully. “With my kids. Well, except Judith.”
“Where was your husband?”
He spoke as if he hadn’t any relation to you and your family, as if he hadn’t been just starting to almost get along with Daryl before all this happened.
“He took Judith to Union Square to see the wrestling match. I was watching them from our balcony. H-he had nothing to do with this, either. He didn’t even know it was going to happen, none of us did.”
Mercer quickly scrawled something on the outside of your folder, but you weren’t quick enough to catch it. “But you’re good friends with Eugene Porter, aren’t you?”
That was an understatement. He was family, as much as he annoyed you at times. At one point, he was in love with your best friend. You knew things about him you probably shouldn’t have known, but Beverly wasn’t shy about exchanging… details. Likewise, there were little tidbits about Daryl that Bev had taken to the grave.
“We’ve known each other for over ten years,” you said. “We’ve been through a lot. He’s my friend, yes… And he’s a good person. What he did, there was a reason for it. It wasn’t senseless. It wasn’t intended to go the way it did. Those walkers… Someone should be looking into those walkers. Someone killed those people, let them turn, let them loose in the square. Whoever did that got Sebastian killed, not Eugene. He was just… playing Sebastian’s own words.”
Your attempts to remove the blame from Eugene seemed to fall on deaf ears. “Mrs. Dixon,” he said, “this isn’t about clearing Eugene’s name. It’s about finding him.”
“If he’s found, will he get a trial?” you asked. “A fair one?”
“He’ll get a trial.”
You scoffed under your breath. But not a fair one.
“He’s already been found guilty,” you said. “The trial is just for show, right? So everything looks democratic?”
Mercer didn’t answer, he just kept looking at you with that stern, stoic expression. When he did speak again, it was with a question.
“Do you know where Eugene Porter is?”
“No,” you said sharply. You kept it at that. Lying was never your strength, though you’d gotten better at it.
“Does your husband?”
Your patience began to wear thin. “No.”
He flipped open your file again, reading something you couldn’t see. “Your husband is a loyal man, Mrs. Dixon.”
Your lips tightened and your back stiffened. Whatever he was getting at, you didn’t appreciate it, even if everything he was about to say was true. The point was that he was betraying your people, though you knew that he sided with you. He must have.
“He’d die for his family,” he continued. “One thing I respect about him.”
“He’s a good man,” you said, never missing an opportunity to say so. You’d defend Daryl until you were blue in the face.
“He is,” Mercer agreed. “But he’s also impulsive. Reckless. He wouldn’t hesitate to put his life on the line to protect one of his own. Eugene, he’s one of his own.”
You shifted uncomfortably in your chair. There was no doubt in your mind that Mercer was onto Daryl, but he clearly still didn’t know where Eugene was. That was good. You just hoped he couldn’t tell that you were lying. Maybe if he knew you better, he could, but so far, he seemed to trust you. Well, trust you enough not to torture you, but then again, would he torture you? A woman who had just given birth, the wife of his former colleague? He seemed to have respect for Daryl. Hurting you would violate that respect.
“Daryl has nothing to do with this,” you reiterated once more. “He has been home the last few days, taking care of me and the kids, getting us ready to go back home. He doesn’t have the time to help Eugene with this thing, or to do whatever it is you think he’s doing. I don’t know where Eugene is. Daryl doesn’t know, either. Are you going to interrogate our kids now, too? Even the baby? You know, he can’t talk yet.”
Mercer was not amused by your sarcasm. “You’re free to go,” he said. “If Daryl is helping Eugene,” he added, “he’ll be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, just so you know.”
“He’s not,” you quickly replied. “I would know if he was, and he’s not.” Lying. So much lying. You hated it, but if it kept Daryl and Eugene safe, you’d do it over and over again. “We just want to go home.” This time, you spoke more softly, almost pleadingly. If you had to beg for your people’s freedom, you would. “What Eugene did, I am sure he did it because he wants to help the Commonwealth, not hurt it. After everything that has happened, the best thing for all of us is just to go home, back to Alexandria.”
He seemed understanding of that, but not enough to reassure you that you’d all get back home. The truth of the matter was that things were more complicated than you all had been led to believe when Carol made that deal, and now that Sebastian was dead, Governor Milton wanted justice for her son’s death.
“(Y/N),” he said, “if Eugene doesn’t turn himself in, and if your people make this harder than it has to be, I can’t guarantee your family’s safety. The longer he’s free, the less likely you’ll see Alexandria again.”
On the way home, you sneaked through the streets, taking a detour to the church. Perhaps Daryl would be angry at you for doing so, but you needed to touch base with him. Outside the door, you knocked lightly, looking around to make sure no one could see you. Thank God that the sun was starting to set, and people were settling down, tucked away in their homes after the day’s horrific events.
Several moments later, you heard a light movement behind the door. It must’ve been Daryl, who else would it be? “It’s me,” you said in a hushed tone.
You heard an exasperated huff, no doubt belonging to your husband, who unlatched the lock and abruptly pulled you in by the wrist. He poked his head out briefly to look around, then shut the door as quietly as he could, though he wanted to slam it. He latched the lock, though, with great frustration.
“What the hell are ya doin’ here, woman?” he asked in a low, yet obviously irritated voice. You stepped back and crossed your arms, slightly upset with the way he greeted you. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Mercer just questioned me.”
“He hurt you?” he asked immediately, eyes intense and serious as he looked you over. He didn’t think Mercer would be the kind to do such a thing, but then again, he was proving to be more loyal to the Commonwealth than he had initially thought, and they weren’t above torturing people for information, he was sure of it.
“No, he just asked me questions, asked me if I knew where you and Eugene were. I didn’t say anything. Did he talk to you, too?”
“‘Bout an hour ago.”
“We need to leave.”
“Yeah,” he said. “Where are the kids?”
“Carol’s house. Have you talked to the others?”
He looked around the empty church for a few moments, as if to find somewhere to hide you, too. “Yeah, we’re gonna leave at dawn, if we can get out,” he said, taking you by the forearm and leading you to the front pew where his crossbow sat, ready to fire. He sat you down just as Rosita and Eugene came out from the back room.
“(Y/N),” sighed Eugene. He looked weary. The dark circles under his eyes were much more prominent than usual. He looked more exhausted than he did the times he stayed up all night at the library researching whatever topic he was interested in at that moment. You distinctly recalled lifting his drooling face off of a book on ancient hunter gathering techniques, and he looked better then.
“Eugene,” you replied, standing up to hug him. It took him a moment to register your arms around him, but he wrapped his around you, too, and soon rested his chin upon your shoulder, as if it was a welcome relief. Daryl had sometimes told you that your hugs could chase a storm away, and perhaps he was right. “How are you holding up?”
You squeezed his shoulders, prompting him to raise his head and look you in the eyes. He looked sorrowful, guilty, and regretful. “Reckon better than I deserve. I don’t suppose you have any news on Max’s whereabouts?”
“No,” you answered sadly. “I’m sorry. I haven’t seen her since earlier.”
“It may seem trivial, in light of all the melee and mayhem, but I’m the one who should truly be sorry. It’s my actions that put you all in extremely compromised situations.”
“No, don’t be,” responded Daryl. “That prick had it comin’.”
“All right, what we need to do now is figure out how to get you out of here,” said Rosita.
“I know a way,” answered Daryl. “The east gate. I know when the shifts change. Might be a window we can slip out.”
You nodded as you thought, envisioning the plan in your head. “That’s a good idea. We can meet up with Aaron and the others on the road, heading towards Alexandria. Get the kids, everyone out in one fell swoop.” Out of the corner of your eye, you noticed Eugene anxiously listening to your words. He knocked his hand against the railing he leaned upon, and made a sour, uncomfortable face. “Eugene?” you asked. “What’s wrong?”
“At the risk of sounding ungrateful for all your efforts on your behalf,” he said, “I cannot leave without my beloved. I need to go find her.”
Your lips quivered slightly. You felt for Eugene. Though you hadn’t spoken to him much about her since she died, Beverly was once his first love, and you missed her. Now, it seemed he really did have a new love, and if he lost her, you’d be devastated for him.
The romantic in you, too, wanted to find her. Eugene deserved love just as much as anyone else, and though you almost said something, Daryl, your much more pragmatic husband, beat you to it.
“You got every trooper in the city lookin’ for ya. You wouldn’t make it a block.”
Oh, Daryl, you thought. For once, be impractical. Of course, Daryl didn’t have a problem throwing caution to the wind when it came to you or his family, but you knew how Daryl thought, and Max wasn’t quite family. It would take convincing for him to let anyone risk their life for her.
“Well, be that as it may,” replied Eugene, “I cannot, I—I will not leave without her. At the very least ascertain her safety.” He spoke with such passion, such pain in his voice, that your heart ached for him. You knew how he felt. When your beloved was taken by the Saviors, you desperately wanted to rescue him, to know he was safe. To this day, you were sure that if Daryl hadn’t miraculously returned that night, you would’ve died trying to save him. You were grateful that you hadn’t, otherwise you wouldn’t have had all this time you had with him since, but when someone you love is in danger, you must at least try, and you did.
“We’ll find her,” you said, and as you spoke, you felt Daryl’s eyes narrowed at you. He could be pissed at you all he wanted, but you weren’t about to let Eugene lose another person he loved. Even if Beverly and him had separated before she died, you knew that they both would always love each other. Besides, when you saw the worry in Eugene’s face, you saw the same worry in Daryl’s whenever your life was in danger. Your empathy was too strong to let that go. “At least we’ll try. I’ll try.”
“Nah, no way,” Daryl quickly added. “You ain’t goin’ anywhere. You just had a baby for Christ’s sake.”
You tilted your head at him in protest, but he did have a point. You weren’t quite physically ready to be running around the Commonwealth. You had Westley just the other day, though it seemed ages ago now.
“Okay,” said Rosita. “Eugene, you stay here, I will go look for Max. If I can find her, maybe we can get both of you out. Is that a deal?”
Eugene sighed in relief, and nodded. “Deal.”
You were relieved, too. Though you wanted to help, it was best that you stayed behind. Daryl handed Rosita a knife, and you hugged her before she left. “Be safe,” you whispered over her shoulder.
“You too,” she said, and as she headed towards the door, Pamela Milton’s voice could be heard from outside, on the PA system. It had been on a loop, going off every hour, on the hour. This time, though, it felt particularly ominous.
“Attention, my fellow citizens,” it said. “The perpetrators of these horrific events cannot be allowed to go unpunished.” You and Daryl looked at each other, then both of you looked to Eugene. “Anyone providing information on the whereabouts of these individuals will receive a generous reward, while any persons found aiding and abetting these fugitives will share their fate—that of swift and final justice.”
When the shade of night swallowed the city, you found yourself sitting on the front pew, head in your hands as you thought of the next move. Rosita hadn’t been back yet, and there was no sign of Max, either. Daryl wouldn’t let you leave the church, planning on going back to get the kids when the time was right. In truth, you were worried about them, especially Westley. He had plenty of bottled breastmilk for Carol to feed him, and plenty of formula, too, but that was your baby, and he was only a few days old. You should’ve been with him.
In the corner of the room, Daryl was lighting the last of the candles with his old silver lighter. You lifted your head for a moment just to watch his hand cup the light, and the orange-red coloring of his palm reflected off the flame.
“You should sleep,” he said, turning to face you. “I can keep watch all night. There’s some blankets in the back. I’ll get ‘em for ya.”
“No,” you said. “I want to stay awake, just in case. Have to be ready to go.”
Daryl huffed as he sat beside you, leaning back on the pew. The stained glass of the windows caught the flickering light of the candles, illuminating its vibrant colors despite the darkness of the surrounding night. He studied your profile, framed by one of those windows. The fuzziness of the outline of your hair combined with the stained glass and the glow of the candlelight to create an almost halo-like effect. Moments like this reminded him of the reason why he called you “angel.”
And yet, you were stubborn. He hardly had room to judge, since he was even worse than you in that department, but your stubbornness could drive him crazy. He wanted you to just sleep, instead of incessantly worrying as you had been since Rosita left. He knew you wanted to go out after her, and to check on the kids, but that would only happen over his dead body.
“You ain’t leavin’ this church without me,” he said. “You know that, right?”
“I know, Daryl.”
There was silence between you for a little while then, but more than ten years together made the silence natural. In fact, everything between the two of you seemed natural, always. There wasn’t much that could make you feel uncomfortable around each other. Eugene was somewhere in the back room, and Daryl was grateful for that. He was grateful for any amount of time he had to be alone with you, even while outside, an entire army was looking for you.
“Kids are safe,” he finally said, breaking the silence. “I know you’re thinkin’ about ‘em.”
Of course he did. Daryl knew the exact pattern of your heartbeat, especially since his beat to the same rhythm.
“I am,” you confirmed. “Mostly Westley…” Your voice broke a little, thinking about your baby, so helpless and confused in a strange new world he couldn’t even comprehend. “I should be with him.”
Daryl’s hand overlapped yours, squeezing it tight. The warmth of his touch climbed up your arm and into your chest, where your heart swelled at the feeling. His other arm wrapped around your back, coercing you to his side, where you rested your head upon his shoulder. Your free hand naturally clung to his vest as you let a few tears absorb into his shirt. You were choking up just a little, but you wouldn’t let yourself break out into a full on cry. Strength could not escape you now. You needed to be brave, though as Daryl’s hand rubbed up and down your back, you wanted to be weak, to crumble as he held you. It would be so easy to. Daryl would never judge you, never ridicule you for your emotions. In fact, he admired them, how much you felt. Of course, it hurt him, too. Every tear you cried was another crack in his armor, making him more vulnerable to his own emotions. That was secondary, though. What mattered to him most was chasing those tears away.
“He’s gonna be all right,” he said. “Soon as we can, we’ll get him and the kids and everyone else outta here… It’ll all seem like some kinda weird dream.”
You huffed against his shoulder. “What if… not all of us make it out?”
Those words caused him to hold you tighter. He’d been thinking about that. He just refused to believe it could even happen, though he knew it could. There was a high chance of every plan he had, every contingency he’d thought of, every scenario he’d worked out in his head for the last few hours, going awry. Hell, it was already going awry, with Rosita out looking for Max. There was rarely certainty in this world, but just for once, he wished something would be predictable.
At least you were predictable. You were something he could understand, something he considered certain. If he could at least control what happens to you, your safety, then he’d be content. And yet, he couldn’t fully predict that, either. With you here now, you were more at risk than ever. Now, you were an accessory to Eugene’s crime, along with Daryl and Rosita. At least he could hold you now, and feel just a little bit of comfort in the midst of this predicament he found himself in.
To him, you were absolute, a promise as sure as the sun rising in the morning, bringing hope back to a grim world. That was one thing he could always be sure of, at least he tried to.
“Ain’t no use in thinkin’ about that,” he replied. “What’s important is what’s goin’ on right now. Whatever happens, we’ll deal with it, like we always do. You and me, together.”
His uncharacteristic positivity surprised you, as it always did when he said such things. “We always end up running, huh? Running from something.”
“Runnin’s just a part of fighting,” he said. “Sometimes ya gotta run so you can fight, ya know?”
That damn man, always saying something so simple yet so profound. Wisdom was something that came naturally to Daryl. In another life, you swore he would’ve made a great philosopher. Well, at least to you. Then again, you didn’t know much about philosophy.
“Yeah…” You sniffled back a few tears, lifting your head to meet his gaze. The corner of his lip curved upwards just a tiny, almost unnoticeable amount. Seeing your face would always somehow make him react. After all these years, you still bewitched him, mind, body, and soul. “And running isn’t so bad when you’re with me. Fighting is even better.”
“Yeah, it ain’t so bad… Just gotta get through tonight.”
You lowered your head. “Helping Eugene will cost us,” you said. “I know he’s family, and I wouldn’t ever abandon him, but I’m scared that… things are going to get worse before they get better.”
He pressed his forehead against yours, nuzzling you. “We’re in this mess together,” he said. “Eugene did a good thing, exposing that asshole. Maybe now more people will follow. We ain’t alone.”
You narrowed your eyes at him, still slightly skeptical of his optimism. “Are you feeling okay, sweetheart?”
“Yeah, why?”
You swept away some unruly strands of hair to hold the back of your hand to his forehead. “Hm… You feel fine, but what have you done with my Daryl?”
He scoffed. “I just don’t want ya to lose hope. You keep me goin’, ya know. Ain’t no use in doin’ somethin’ if the most important person in the world don’t believe in it.”
“Me? I’m the most important person in the world?”
He tilted his head, and you knew you were in for some sarcastic teasing. “Nah, Eugene. Course it’s you, crazy woman. Who else would it be?”
“Oh.” You laughed just a little, and for a brief moment, you forgot just where you were, what was happening outside. It didn’t matter, really. How could you think of anything besides him, that man who cared so deeply for you that his entire being was devoted to making you happy?
A smile went a long way, because as soon as your lips curled ever so slightly, he smiled, too.
“How are you feelin’, anyway?” He gently touched your stomach, where your former baby bump had “deflated” quite a bit.
Not great. You were still bleeding a little, you had periodic afterpains, your breasts were engorged and sore, and you just felt much more emotionally fragile than usual, which was saying something. Essentially, you felt as though you were having the worst menstrual period of your life. Still, you couldn’t complain too much. There were so many things that could have gone wrong with the birth, both Westley’s and Robin’s, and yet all you had to deal with were the basic postpartum symptoms, and both your babies had been healthy. You only had one thing to say: “I am never giving birth again.”
“Yeah,” agreed Daryl. “Two is good… We got a little girl and a little boy. That’s perfect. You didn’t tell me how you’re feelin’.”
“I feel like I just gave birth, Daryl.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“No,” you replied. “Just have to go through it, I guess.”
Daryl knew you well enough to know your insecurity with being perceived as “weak.” Sometimes it kept you from admitting to your pain, or made you underestimate how much you were hurting.
“You don’t gotta go through it alone,” he replied. “I’m here… Let me take care of you.”
Your lips formed into a soft smile. “Honeybear,” you laughed under your breath. “I’m the least of your worries.” You took his hand in yours, bringing it to your lips to bestow a kiss on the back of it. “Eugene is your priority.”
“Pfft,” he scoffed. “I’d sooner be responsible for my wife. Least she’s pretty.”
Rolling your eyes, you kissed his cheek. A reward for his flattery. “I know you don’t think finding Max is as important as getting out of here, but Eugene loves her. What if it was me in her position, hm?”
“I’d be out there myself lookin’ for you. Wouldn’t leave till I found you.”
“And that’s how Eugene feels about Max.” Well, Eugene had, up until this point, not tried to go out looking for Max himself, but just before you could say anything else, you heard the sound of a window opening. It came from the back room, and you stood up quickly, while Daryl took the lead, finding Eugene poking his head out the open window, looking around.
“Tryin’ to get yourself caught?” asked Daryl, a hint of a threat in his gruff voice.
Eugene promptly closed the window, then stepped back, looking between the two of you. “I was merely peepin’ at trooper activity levels so as to allow my assistance in Rosita’s search for Max.” He began to make his way towards you and Daryl, but his destination was the door. “Tired of standin’ on the proverbial sidelines.”
Daryl stepped forward, placing himself in front of Eugene. He was calm, as usual, but Eugene’s face contorted in an attempt to look threatening as he looked Daryl up and down. It was quite amusing to you, seeing Daryl and Eugene face to face like this for the first time. The two hardly ever had interactions, since Daryl found Eugene to be a bit annoying. Good natured, but annoying, nevertheless. Kind of like a weird cousin.
“You’d be wise to step aside, hoss,” said Eugene. His head inched a little closer, swaying side to side as he spoke again. “No need for this to get ugly.”
Trying to remain serious, you strained your face, keeping a laugh in the back of your throat. Eugene might’ve been technically larger than Daryl, both in height and weight, but he lacked any brawling experience, which Daryl had in spades. Not only that, but you knew that Daryl would never fight Eugene, especially not now. Still, it was, for lack of a better word, rather cute how passionate Eugene was about rescuing his girlfriend.
For his part, Daryl remained silent, and you wondered if he, too, was trying to hold back a laugh at the idea of fighting Eugene.
“Very well,” said Eugene, stepping back as he rolled up his sleeves. “(Y/N),” he said, still eyeing Daryl, “I sincerely apologize in advance for any bodily injury I might inflict upon your husband in the process of physical altercation, mano a mano. I suggest you avert your eyes.”
He cracked his neck and balled up his fists, holding them in a fighting stance. Meanwhile, Daryl stood perfectly still, just watching him. After several moments, his body swayed and he moved back, extending his arm towards the door. “Go ahead,” he said, voice low and calm.
Eugene looked confused, but slightly relieved, as he slowly lowered his hands. He walked past you and Daryl, but stopped before he could make it out into the main hall of the church. “You’re not trying to stop me,” he said.
A few beats of silence passed until Daryl responded. “You ain’t goin’.”
Eugene lowered his head as he moved back into the room, sitting himself down on a bench. “Because I’m a coward,” he said.
“No,” answered Daryl, and you were proud of him. “It’s because you’re smart.”
“I’m a liability,” he replied. “Always have been.”
“No, you’re not,” you said. “You’ve always been an asset to us, and a friend.”
He shook his head. “An asset? Relying on others to survive, counting on their courage due to a dearth of my own. Hell, the only way I bucked natural selection was my penchant for prevarication.” You were both silent, and you weren’t going to be the first to admit that you were unfamiliar with that terminology, though based on his track record, you assumed it meant lying. “Means lying,” Eugene added, confirming your suspicion.
Daryl bobbed his head. “I figured.”
“Yeah, well, I’m ashamed to say it’s my only discernible skill.”
Your heart broke a little for him, so you passed by Daryl to sit yourself down next to him, gently touching his shoulder. “That’s not true,” you said softly, minding his delicate state.
More silence settled in, and your words didn’t seem to soothe him. “Do you think people are born brave?” he asked. “Or do they become it?”
Daryl stood silent, then walked past Eugene, patting his back as he said, “Both.”
When Daryl left the room, Eugene looked at you, his countenance much more serious than you’d ever seen it, and Eugene always looked quite serious. “(Y/N),” he said. “Now that Daryl is gone, may I ask you something?”
You offered him a small smile of encouragement. “Of course, and you know, there isn’t anything you can’t tell me in front of Daryl.”
“I know, it’s just… Well, he ain’t exactly someone I imagine would be particularly forthcoming in discussing matters of romantic love.”
You huffed a small laugh. It was always a little strange to you how people could perceive Daryl, the sweetest, most sentimental and romantic person you knew, as a stoic, unfeeling man, but then again, you saw a different side to him. You always did.
“He’s a lot more romantic than he appears,” you said. “But go ahead. Tell me what’s on your mind.”
Eugene swiveled in his seat to face you directly. He always had such strange little mannerisms, but you found them rather endearing. “I’m not leavin’ here without Maxine,” he said. “I can’t, I won’t. She means too much to me. I suppose what I was going to inquire was… do you think I should turn myself in?”
Your eyes widened. It was the last thing you predicted that Eugene would ask you. “Eugene,” you began, “I… I’m not sure I can help you make that decision.”
On one hand, you would be quick to say “no,” but on the other, you didn’t want to sway his decision either way. Perhaps it was what he wanted, so you asked him.
“What do you want to do?” you said.
He swallowed hard, averting his gaze as he thought on the question. “Well, from my preliminary meditations on the matter, I wholeheartedly believe that… the best thing for everyone would be to walk right into the cold arms of the law and profess my guilt to the crime I so foolishly committed.”
“Why do you think that would be the best thing?” you asked, trying to make him think harder before he came to any conclusion.
“If I turn myself in, confess to everything myself, say I acted alone, Max’s name will be cleared. If I leave without her, she’ll face execution. I’d be throwin’ her to the wolves, as it were.”
There was a lot to think about there. You were silent for a while, trying to think of what to say to him. Now you knew why Eugene wouldn’t discuss this in front of Daryl, who would’ve been less understanding. Of course, Daryl would turn himself in in a heartbeat if it meant saving you, but Daryl’s prerogative was protecting his own, and Eugene was, as Mercer had pointed out to you, one of his own.
“I think… I think you should think about this. A lot. I mean, Rosita hasn’t come back yet. Maybe she’s found Max. They could be here any minute. You should wait. We can get you both out of here, Eugene. We will. No one wants you or Max to be punished for doing the right thing, and you did do the right thing. A brave thing.”
Tears seemed to well up a bit in his eyes as his lips quivered into a sad smile. You wondered if anyone had ever told him that he’d done a brave thing.
“I’ve done the math in my head,” he said. “The probability of Rosita returning with Maxine is unlikely, and if, in the worst and much more likely case scenario, Max has already been captured, it’s all the more reason to save her by sacrificing myself.”
“N-no. Eugene, just think about this.”
“(Y/N)... Do you ever think about Beverly?”
You were taken aback, but you nodded. You thought about her often, almost everyday. There was so much you’d wanted to say to her before she died, but such an opportunity to do so is a rare luxury in this world. There were so many deaths that had struck suddenly and without the chance for closure.
“Yes, of course I do.”
“I know what she would want me to do, and she’d tell me that love is the last thing we’ve got, and that I should hold onto it as long as I can. This is how I hold onto it.”
It was the clearest thing you’d ever heard Eugene say. It wasn’t muddied with his extensively verbose vocabulary or any strange figures of speech that you failed to understand. He was speaking from his heart, not from his mind. Maybe that, for once, somehow made more sense.
“Eugene, Bev would be proud of whatever decision you make. She loved you, even after things ended. I know that you’ve been a hero in more ways than most people, and you don’t have to be a hero now, but I understand that you love Max, and if this is what you think you need to do for her, then I can’t stop you.”
With a single tear beginning to fall down his cheek, he lowered his head and sniffled. You always admired how sensitive Eugene was. It was rare for a man to cry as much as he did, and it was refreshing. Perhaps others would see it was a sign of weakness, but you saw it as quite the opposite. It takes strength to let yourself feel those kinds of emotions.
“See?” he said. “This is why I cannot freely express my innermost feelings in front of Daryl.”
“Oh, Eugene,” you sighed, taking his hand in yours. “Daryl is much more understanding than you think he is. Besides, he cries, too. There’s no shame in it. Strong men cry, and even stronger men would do anything for their love. I don’t know Maxine very well, but I know she’s very lucky to have a man like you.”
He raised his head, looking at you through his tears. “Really?”
“Really. Now, you just think about this for a while. Don’t make any rash decisions before Rosita comes back. She cares about you, too. We all do.” You stood up to bend over and peck his forehead with your lips. Eugene might’ve been older than you, but you sometimes saw him as a little brother, just because he could be so fragile. “I think I’m going to sleep now. You should, too. Daryl will be on watch.”
You crossed the room to return to the main church hall, but you turned back to face Eugene when he called out to you one last time.
“(Y/N)?”
“Yeah?”
He struggled for a moment to articulate himself, but he finally stuttered, “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.”
Sleep settled in for only a handful of restless hours, but it was enough to get you going again in the morning, eager to see your children. Rosita returned at dawn, but she was alone, and she had grim news: Max had been taken into police custody, and you knew from last night’s conversation that Eugene had no choice but to turn himself in and try to clear Max’s name.
That was out of your hands now, so you left Rosita and Eugene in the church, while you and Daryl went to Carol’s to reunite with the children.
There were still more preparations to be made if your family was to escape, and Daryl was itching to get you and the kids out, with or without Eugene.
“Shift’s about to change,” he told you that morning, now packing the last of the emergency supplies into his backpack. You had made it back to your apartment from Carol’s unnoticed, but with the six of you and Dog, it drew a lot of attention.
“We should probably split up,” you said, quickly changing Westley’s diaper as he squirmed on his changing table. “Too many of us all together, with all our stuff… It might look suspicious.”
Daryl nodded, though the last thing he wanted was to split up the family. It seemed dangerous, especially considering that now the Commonwealth Army was seemingly not going to let any of your people leave before Eugene turned himself in, and even then, you didn’t trust them enough to wait and see.
“All right, you meet me and the others by the east gate. There’s that warehouse, the one where Aaron got that wagon. No guards. You meet me behind that building, you, Robin, and Wes. I’ll take Judith and RJ and Dog.”
“Right,” you said, buttoning up Westley’s green onesie. “You should leave first, and we should take different routes. I’ll go through the square, you go the back way. My route is quicker, that way we should meet around the same time.”
“All right.” He anxiously rubbed his thighs, wiping the sweat from his palms.
“Daryl, (Y/N),” said RJ, peeking in from the other side of the door. “Are we going?”
“Yeah,” he said. “Get Dog’s leash on. I’ll be right out.”
When he closed the door, Daryl crossed over to you, hugging you tight as he kissed your lips. Your hands found their usual favorite spot on his shoulders, while his clung tight to your waist.
“I love you,” he said against your lips. “Be careful.”
“I will. I promise… And I love you, too. Very, very much.”
Your lips formed into an unavoidable frown, though you tried so hard not to show it. His hand lifted your chin, and you tried to look happier, but you couldn’t. “It’ll be over soon,” he said, only half believing his words. If faking it was what it took to make you believe it could happen, then he’d do what he had to do. Besides, a part of him did believe it. He had to. “We’re goin’ home. I promise, everythin’ is gonna be okay, angel.”
Well, now that he called you “angel,” you had to smile. Just a little.
“Okay,” you said with a nod, trying to reassure yourself. “Okay, you’re right. You’re always right. Always.”
“Nah, just when you need me to be.”
With tender goodbyes to his children, and one last kiss for you, he walked out the door with Judith, RJ, and Dog. Now, you were alone with Robin and the baby, waiting for the right time to leave.
You eyed your wristwatch like a hawk, with Westley sleeping soundly in the sling strapped across your chest. Robin tapped her feet nervously, looking over your shoulder, until it was time.
As quietly as possible, you shut the front door and made your way down the hall, each step more shaky than the last. Something didn’t feel right. It felt like you were walking into danger, even though you were barely ten yards from your apartment.
Robin must’ve felt the same, as she gripped your hand tightly, the other wrapped so hard around the strap of her backpack that it would surely be imprinted with the shape of her fingers.
“Mommy,” she whispered. “I’m scared.”
You squeezed her hand, then held your finger to your mouth as you looked down at her. “Shh...”
Turning the corner, your eyes widened to see two unfamiliar men in dark, discrete clothing walking swiftly towards you. Initially, you figured they were just two regular citizens you happened to not recognize, but when one of them grabbed your upper arm, it was too late to realize who they really must’ve been.
You reacted swiftly, though, yanking yourself free and twisting the man’s arm back until he let out a pained scream. Only letting go of Robin for a moment, you kneed him in the groin, sending him curling on the floor, but when you turned back to grab her, she was squirming in the arms of the other man.
Rage took over, and you couldn’t hear Westley’s crying over the incessant beating of your terrified heart. “Don’t hurt her!” you said, but your actions defied your pleading words. You lunged at the man, holding Westley steady as you elbowed his throat as hard as you could. You were never the best at hand-to-hand combat, but all that training Daryl had spent on you over the years must’ve been worth something.
Robin helped, too, biting the man’s hand that refused to let go of her. You pulled her back, but the man you’d knocked to the floor was up again, and he grabbed you from behind, this time with a much stronger hold.
The other man snatched up Robin like a ragdoll, now carrying her over his shoulder. “Let her go!” you bellowed. “Leave her alone!”
The man behind you covered your mouth with his hand, as the other quickly procured two burlap sacks from his coat pockets. One went over yours, the other over Robin’s. Westley didn’t need one, but he was quickly yanked from the wrap on your chest, and all you could hear was Westley’s cries and Robin’s voice screaming for you until they both became distant. You realized they’d been separated from you, and as hard as you tried to free yourself from the man’s arms, you were too weak.
You cried out every curse you could think of, every variant on “bastard” and “son of a bitch” and “go to Hell” until your throat felt scratchy and your voice faltered. Without any clue of where you were being taken to, you finally began to weep. All you knew was that you were sitting down, hands tied behind your back, and surrounded in darkness.
~
Thanks for reading! Likes, comments, and reblogs of any kind are always appreciated!
Series Masterlist
Next Chapter ➳
~
✏ Taglist
@angrybeardbread | @bbrookiee | @bitchynicole | @browneyes528 | @btsiguess-kpop | @byashj | @carnationworld | @citylights31 | @darylgf | @depressedsleepysloth | @dumdumsun | @faceache111 | @glitterquadricorn | @im-just-star-dust | @jodiereedus22 | @kissmeunicornbaobei | @lacilou | @lady-discord | @littleboysmile | @littlegodzilla | @lmiautynal | @lovinnscarletknight | @lvspit | @lyndzjones | @moonlightreader649 | @murd3rsc3n | @normanplusdaryl | @princessxpunk | @quietly-scrolling-through | @riverscyberwife | @roxaneisbored | @ruinedbythehobbit | @smoochesfroggos | @spenciepoo338 | @spidergirla5 | @sseleniaa | @sweetsunflowerkisses | @triscuitcracker | @twdddgirl | @wickedscorpio22 | @witheringblooddemon | @wolfiepirate
If you seen your name is on the taglist but you didn’t get tagged, it’s because Tumblr won’t let me tag you for some reason, sorry!
178 notes
·
View notes