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Daryl Dixon was a liar.
Now, he didn't mean to be. However there were times when it just slipped through. There was a wall keeping his feelings separated from everyone's and sometimes a lie now and then was needed to keep that wall up.
There was only one person that threatened his defenses, and that person happened to be you.
Daryl didn't understand why at first. Why he instantly relaxed in your presence or why he felt like running to you whenever something went wrong. Then it hit him.
He hated the way he felt about you. It was wrong. So he denied it.
Every now and then he'd hear his brother's voice in his head, mocking him and calling him a sissy anytime he felt a thing towards you. It was so messed up, a man liking another.
But was it?
Daryl had grown up on the idea that marriage was between a man and woman and that being gay was a sin. He felt like an outcast growing up. A boy with zero feeling towards women.
His father didn't like that much either.
But his father wasn't around anymore, neither was Merle. So who was to stop him if he did like another man?
Daryl sighed, shaking the thoughts away as he scrubbed down his crossbow. The weather was nice so he was seated outside of the prison with a small cup of water and a rag.
He heard you in the distance, discussing something about the plants with Rick. He didn't understand a word of it nor did he enjoy your closeness with Rick. Daryl wasn't sure why it bothered him. He knew Rick didn't swing that way and wasn't 100% sure you did either.
"Dammit." He swore under his breath, dropping the rag in the cup as he stood up. There was no way he could focus, not like this. Not with you so damn close.
"I'm goin' out for a hunt," Daryl swung his bow over his broad shoulders and passed you and Rick. "I'll be back before sundown."
You perked up, "I'll come with you."
"Nah, I got it." He waved a hand, dismissing you.
You huffed, grabbing your bow from off the ground and slinging it over your shoulder, "I said I'll go. We shouldn't be out there alone."
Rick nodded, "That's right. Besides, two people are better than one, Daryl."
He huffed, "Fine. C'mon then. But scare off any dinner and I'm sendin' ya back to camp."
~
In a matter of minutes you'd managed to scare off three squirrels and nearly made Daryl miss a nice fat rabbit. He didn't have it in him to send you back to the prison alone.
The two of you carefully walked in the forest for a while before you stopped him. Signaling with your eyes to look to the left where a beautiful deer stood. As Daryl drew his bow you had already readied yours so he decided to let you take the shot.
You drew the string back and positioned it perfectly however just as you were about to release the string a twig snapped causing it to run off. You cursed and turned around to see what made the sound.
"Shit! Walkers!" You yelped as a group of about six Walkers made their way over to you and Daryl.
Daryl grunted, aiming his crossbow at the head of one and shooting, "Get behind me. Now!" He ordered.
You didn't listen as you grabbed an arrow and stabbed the nearest Walker in the head. "Follow me!" You shouted and ran off to the left, Daryl trailing behind you. The both of you dodged low branches and sprinted back to the prison.
Daryl outran you, quickly getting in front.
"Fuck!" You tripped over a vine and landed face first into the ground. A hand gripped your foot as the remaining four Walkers surrounded you. "No! No…Daryl!"
In a split second he was there, swiftly killing the Walkers with speed you've never seen him with before. Once done he dropped down and helped you sit up, one hand cupping your cheek as he did.
"Are you okay?! You weren't bit were ya?" He gently swiped the dirt off of your nose. Daryl's expression was full of worry and fear. You'd never seen him look this scared ever since the two of you had met in Atlanta.
You shook your head, "I'm…I'm okay." You were shaking. That was one of the closest calls you've had with a walker.
Daryl sighed in relief, "Let's get back to camp. We'll talk after you get cleaned up."
~
You were beyond embarrassed by the time the two of you got back. You'd never frozen up like that on any sort of walker encounter. You were fast and easily had one of the highest walker kills out of the group…and you froze.
You followed behind Daryl silently as he dropped off the rabbit he'd gotten then made his way to your cell block. Once there he moved the sheet of your cell to the side and nodded for you to get inside.
You didn't object.
The second you were in, Daryl let the sheet cover the entrance back up. Then, he pulled you close into a tight hug. One hand tight around your waist and the other gently resting on the back of your head.
"You scared the shit outta me back there." He whispered softly, "I thought I was gonna lose ya."
His defenses dropped. There was nothing that could mask the sheer fear he felt in that moment you had fallen. That moment he admitted to himself he was in love with you and that he wasn't sure how he would cope if he'd lost you.
You didn't hesitate to hug him back, melting into his touch as you let out a breath you didn't realize you were holding. "I'm sorry. I don't know why but I just…I froze. I didn't…"
"Shut up. I don't need to hear all that apologizing and blamin' yourself for this." He huffed pulling you closer. "Just never fucking do that again."
You chuckled softly, "I didn't plan on it."