Acula (2) - Daryl Dixon x Male Reader
Sophia’s end had hit Daryl hard.
Angry and filled with as much grief as the rest of you, he pulled himself away from the group. With Hershel’s sharp deadline looming over your head, you seeked him out, not wanting to end your acquaintance with the cold hunter.
--
This chapter was long overdue, and a very dialogue heavy one at that!!! An extended version will be posted soon on coralpot (AO3).
Warnings: Mentions of death, violence, brief mentions of homophobia
Tag: Hurt/Comfort
Word Count: 1.36K
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Embers filled the sky as a small fire crackled, not too far from the farm. The flames highlighted the pinched face of the man beside you, neither speaking. No words, no shuffling; you could barely hear Daryl breathe. Not even the smoke could compete with how the events of the past day weighed down the air in your little campsite, nor the trivial feelings of something so complicated.
“You can’t stay out here forever, you know,” you sighed, pointedly looking at Daryl.
He finally speaks, ever the man of few words, “Says who?”
“Logic.”
“You ain’t my mother.”
“Don’t forget which man dragged you out of that forest,” A twinkle of humor shone in your eyes, “Dixon.”
“Pfft.”
Your posture slumped into a tree, the awkward atmosphere finally calming to a soothing, familiar lull. Bark scratched up your shirt, moss leaving smudged, green marks with it. The rotten taste of burning corpses still lingered in your mouth, and you shook your head with an ironic giggle.
“You know, this is the most I’ve gotten out of you lately.”
“Wonder why.”
His gruff tone stomped out the laughter inside, “Isolating yourself isn’t gonna help.”
“Bein’ all friendly ain’t gonna bring her back neither!”
“I understand that, but you know that she wouldn’t want you doing this.”
Silence.
“C’mon, Daryl, talk about it.”
His outburst did not deter you, only making you more concerned as you reached out to gingerly touch his shoulder. Daryl flinched and hissed under his breath, seeming to debate pulling away. You rethought your action, realizing just how weird it must have come off as. A man, touching another man, in such an intimate environment? He looked like the type that wouldn’t take such a gesture well, more like an insult to their high-regarded masculinity. You yanked your hand back, wanting to hide, run away, do anything but face the man in front of you, only for it to be forcefully stopped.
Daryl had an expression that told you to shut your mouth, sliding your palm back on his shoulder. He felt warm, but stiff under your fingers. His face was turned away from you, and no matter how you twisted, Daryl’s features were stubbornly hidden from you. Eventually, in a boat of silence you built for yourself, you gave up. Tapping your foot, you rubbed small circles into his back, hoping to relax him enough for him to return the stare.
“Whenever you’re ready, man.” The softness of your voice surprised you.
He fidgeted with the folds of his pants, “Dunno.”
“Elaborate?”
“Don’t know where to start.”
“Do you want me to help or do you want time?”
“Kinda wanted you to give me somethin’ to work with.”
“That’s fine with me.”
…
“Say, earlier,” you exhaled, “were you helping out with the fires? I didn’t see you.”
“Nah, couldn’t.”
Your eyebrows raised, and his fidgeting worsened, “Couldn’t?”
“I couldn’t see that shit.”
“Why?”
“It made me sick;” he hesitated to elaborate, “I… failed her. Couldn’t make myself see that grave they were diggin’ for her.”
You nodded, not able to do anything more. Daryl must have felt the movement on his back stop, because he mustered up the courage to look up at you. Beyond the usual sharp hues, a certain semblance of vulnerability laid, shattering the blue. In this frozen position, you absentmindedly thought about the fact that you never had this good of a glimpse into his eyes before.
“Well, are you gonna say somethin’?”
The fire must be warming your cheeks, “Uh… yeah?”
Daryl shrugged your hand off, quickly closing off. A quick pang in your heart was shoved down as you finally got a hold of yourself, your mind racing as you tried to think of a better response.
“It wasn’t your fault, Dixon.”
That certainly hadn’t been what he expected, “It was.”
“How was it your fault?”
“Coulda’ searched more, harder.”
Your hand was allowed back on his shoulder, “If anything, out of anyone, you’re the last to blame here.”
Daryl didn’t respond, facing away from you again.
“Daryl, look at me, please.”
Like a pouting toddler, his shoulders lifted and he slowly slid his body 90 degrees in your general direction. After an unimpressed glare from you, he corrected himself and stared at your nose. It was good enough.
“You were out there searching for that little girl almost every single day, even though you didn’t know her all that much personally. The only time you took a break was when you were shot, for fuck’s sake!”
“Least I coulda’ done.”
“You did more than the men encouraging you that it was a lost cause.”
“If it ain’t my fault, than who’s is it?”
“Whatever the hell’s infecting people, that’s what.”
There was a certain heaviness in his voice, “Couldn’t’ve let her die, me and Carol both were sure of it. It still happened anyways.”
You were silent as you waited for him to continue, “Seein’ the grave, seein’ the smoke, smelling what she was damned to, it set in. What the hell am I supposed to do now?”
Suddenly, how you stank from the bodies was made obvious to you. Even some of the rotten smell had gotten on Daryl, and with his recent confession, that wasn’t the best thing. Your bag was carelessly slung over your lap, forgotten in favor of comfort. It’s possible that was making the stench worse, you were sure.
As you moved the bag, planning to throw it off to the side, you got a whiff of something that was most certainly not charred, diseased flesh. Quite good, actually. Earthy. The smell took you back to the moments after Andrea shot down Daryl, and he was delivered to recover in a tent. He had been knocked out cold, and despite how Hershel insisted that there was no need to worry, you still had the unsatiable urge to help. Unknown to old Hershel, you stole herbs from his tea cabinet, hoping to make a medicinal tea. Alas, with all the drama of the barn, Sophia, and Daryl’s stubborn nature, you never had the chance to give them to him.
“I have an idea,” you spoke, pulling out the variety stashed inside.
“Huh?”
Daryl flinched towards your hand as you took it away, laying out all the different plants on your thighs, “You said the smell made you feel worse, yeah? I know I stink of it, don’t lie, so I thought these would help.”
“You scavenged these? When?”
“Nah, I stole them from Hershel. Choose your pick; don’t tell.”
He scoffed, rubbing his hands to warm them before hovering over the herbs, thinking hard about the choice. Soon enough, he selected a few stalks of rosemary, holding them gently in his palms. Your choice followed, immediately gravitating towards the lavender, and you set the rest away.
“You know what to do?”
The only response you received was a quick nod of his head, and he rubbed the stalks in between his hands harshly before rubbing them over any part of his body he could reach. Chuckling, you did the same, making sure to pay extra attention to key spots, such as anywhere you touched the corpses with. You would need to wash your clothes with Maggie come morning.
Afterwards, you both threw the mangled herbs into the deep forest, and Daryl stared after them. From this angle, you could see the burgundy scab ripping across his temple. Whether it was the sight or the late night temperature, a chill ran down your spine, and it was then that you realized just how much time you lost with him.
“What do you say about heading back to camp? It’s late.”
Daryl looked like he wanted to protest, but thought the better of it, “Fine.”
You got up from your seat, brushing dirt and grass off of your aching ass. The other man had a large stain on the back of his pants from the contents he sat on, but you supposed it wouldn’t be too evil to let him discover that on his own. Slinging your bag over your back, you reached out to him, even as he stomped out the fire.
“Ready?”
-
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TWD Masterlist
Rick Grimes:
Series:
Mutt -
Stuck in the Middle - Believing her husband is dead, Lori begins to fall for you and when Rick seemingly comes back from the dead, he can’t help but fall too.
Oneshots:
Get Out of Jail Free Card - Rick hates when you go outside the prison, so he never lets you go on runs. After getting tired of being left in the prison all the time, you decided it was time to pull the ultimate card.
9 to 5 - You like to listen to music when you do your early morning outside chores, sometimes you dance too and sometimes Rick likes to watch.
Target Practice - Rick and Daryl are tasked with teaching you how to shoot but much like Carol, you already know how.
Stale M&Ms - Rick and Michonne have noticed your mood changing and they’ve decided to do something about it.
Glenn Rhee:
Series:
The Sun, the Moon and the Stars - You looked at Maggie and Glenn like they hung the moon and stars and to them, you were their shining sun. Everyone else could see the way you all looked at each other, but why couldn’t you?
Oneshots:
Brown is Warm - Your dying wish is to look into the warm brown eyes of your loving boyfriend one last time.
Pizza Boy - After arriving in Alexandria, you recognize a familiar face.
Daryl Dixon:
Series:
The Adventures of Grumpy and Sunshine -
Oneshots:
Possum - When the mysterious man gutting the possum on the front porch won’t tell you his name, you decide to call him by a rather unusual nickname
Target Practice - Rick and Daryl are tasked with teaching you how to shoot but much like Carol, you already know how.
Guitar Hero - Can Country and Metal go together? You’d like to think so.
I See You -
Carl Grimes:
Series:
Coming Soon
Oneshots:
Coming Soon
Negan Smith:
Series:
Mutt -
Oneshots:
Run Rabbit Run - Negan enjoys hunting and his prey of choice is you.
Shane Walsh:
Series:
Coming Soon
Oneshots:
Grease Never Hurt Nobody - You and Shane discuss foods you have missed.
Beth Greene:
Series:
Yellow - The hands of fate can be cruel but somehow in this broken world, you found your color yellow.
Oneshots:
Love You for a Lifetime - You were in love with her from the moment you met her, but you couldn’t truly love her until the end.
Maggie Greene:
Series:
The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars - You looked at Maggie and Glenn like they hung the moon and stars and to them, you were their shining sun. Everyone else could see the way you all looked at each other, but why couldn’t you?
Oneshots:
Cat and Mouse - You and Maggie have been friends since high school and while your feelings for Maggie may have changed, your terrible pick-up lines didn’t.
Sweeter Than Honey - Maggie loves your honey but she loves your kisses even more.
Cowboy Cassanova - You’ve got a particular way of flirting, especially with Maggie.
Michonne:
Series:
Coming Soon
Oneshots:
Headhunter - After the prison falls, Michonne meets you, another sword wielder.
Stale M&Ms - Rick and Michonne have noticed your mood changing and they’ve decided to do something about it.
Carol:
Series:
Coming Soon
Oneshots:
Applesauce? - The newcomers to Alexandria look wild and dangerous but you can’t help yourself from falling head over heels for Carol and her cookies.
Andrea:
Series:
Coming Soon
Oneshots:
Cheshire Grin - You and that stupid Cheshire grin always find a way to pull Andrea in.
Burning House - As you spend the last few moments with your girlfriend, you reminisce on the memories of your time together.
Tara:
Series:
Coming Soon
Oneshots:
Coming Soon
Rosita:
Series:
Coming Soon
Oneshots:
Coming Soon
Sasha:
Series:
Coming Soon
Oneshots:
Coming Soon
Lori Grimes:
Series:
Stuck in the Middle - Believing her husband is dead, Lori begins to fall for you and when Rick seemingly comes back from the dead, he can’t help but fall for you too.
Oneshots:
Coming Soon
The Group:
Series:
Wild Thing - How do you bring someone back to humanity? How do you right the wrongs? How do you teach a wild thing?
Polaroid - Every picture tells a story and you have some of the best to tell.
Game of Survival - With no other choice, you must learn to play this new game of survival.
Oneshots:
Uno! - After finding the prison, you decide it’s the perfect time for a little group bonding.
Final Death - You get killed by walkers during the prison sirens. When the group begins clearing out the prison, they find you again and finally put you to rest.
Walker or Human? - Living blind in the apocalypse is not an easy task but you’re a quick learner.
Name Pending - You find a kitten on a run and are now tasked with the difficult job of naming it.
Death Pending
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My Requests are open!
Hi guys, I know it's been a while, but I'm back, and with new people who I'll be happy to write for you; here's my list!
The Walking Dead:
Rick Grimes, Carl Grimes, Daryl Dixon, Negan Smith, Glenn Rhee, Maggie Rhee, Enid Rhee, Michonne, Rosita, Simon, Abraham, Carol, Jesus "Paul", Shane, Sasha, Dwight, Beth
House MD:
Gregory House, Lisa Cuddy, James Wilson, Allison Cameron, Robert Chase, Eric Foreman, "Thirteen"
CreepyPasta:
Jeff The Killer, Toby Rogers, BEN Drowned, Eyeless Jack, Laughing Jack, Jane The Killer, Nina The Killer, Hoodie, Masky, Liu, Sally
Slashers/Creepos:
Billy Loomis, Stu Macher, Chucky/Charles Lee Ray, Brahms Heelshire, Michael Myers, Jason Vorhees, BeetleJuice
Criminal Minds:
Aaron Hotchner, Emily Prentiss, Spencer Reid, Derek Morgan, Elle Greenaway, Jennifer "JJ" Jareau, Penelope Garcia, Tara Lewis, Cat Adams, George Foyet
White Collar:
Peter Burke, Elizabeth Burke, Neal Caffrey, Alex Hunter, Diana Berrigan, Lauren Cruz, Clinton Jones
Hannibal NBC:
Will Graham, Hannibal Lecter, Alana Bloom, Beverly Katz, Freddie Lounds
Marvel Universe:
Loki Laufeyson, Mobius Mobius, Thor Odinson, Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, Natasha Romanov, Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfied, and Tom Holland), MJ Watson, Sam Wilson, Bruce Banner, Stephen Strange, Wanda Maximoff, Clint Barton, Prince T'Challa, Princess Shuri, Okoye, Carol Danvers, Gamora, Peter Quill, Nebula
IT (2017 and 2019):
Patrick Hockstetter, Henry Bowers, Richie Tozier, Eddie Kaspbrak, Bill Denbrough, Ben Hanscom, Mike Hanlon, Beverly Marsh, Stanley Uris, Pennywise
Stranger Things:
Eleven, Mike Wheeler, Steve Harrington, Joyce Byers, Jonathon Byers, Jim Hopper, Max Mayfield, Nancy Wheeler, Robin Buckley, Karen Wheeler, Dr. Brenner, Argyle, Billy Hargrove
Once Upon a Time:
Rumplestiltskin, Emma Swan, Prince Charming, Snow White, Regina Mills, Henry Mills, Killian Jones, Baelfire, Robin Hood, Peter Pan, Belle, August/Pinocchio, Ruby/Red, Zelena
Good Omens:
Crowley, Aziraphale, Gabriel, Anathema Device, Newton "Newt" Pulsifer, Beelzebub, Muriel
And that's it so far! I'll add more as I go, I swear <3
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