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One of Daryl’s crossbow bolts was missing, and he was quite puzzled about it.
It was not a mistake, he’d counted them twice, he knew how many bolts he had, and in case he may be mistaken, the missing bolt was not one of his handmade ones, but one of the scarce, store-made bolts that Glenn and he had found on a particularly lucky run.
He’d got only three of those, and he’d been saving them for a run in which he may need something more sturdy, even though his handmade bolts seemed to have been working rather nicely for now, if he may say so himself.
But now, the box where he kept his spare bolts in the armory had only two of those, and so, one was missing, there was no mistaking it.
Daryl blinked at the two bolts on his hand, a frown on his face…it didn’t make sense…nobody else had a weapon that needed bolts, so who’d take it? And it wasn’t like a piece of chocolate or a snack that someone may be tempted to take it was a crossbow bolt that nobody needed.
Daryl knew he’d not misplaced it, he hadn’t taken those bolts out of the box for anything, not until now that he was about to pack for the next run, which would be in a couple of days. Glenn and Maggie had been planning it for a long while, it’d be a long run, covering several places, in the hopes of finding anything and everything they may need for gearing the prison for a long winter.
So, where the hell was the bolt?
Even if he felt stupid doing so, since he was sure he had not misplaced it, Daryl went back to checking his cell and every other place where he may have lost the bolt, while also asking everyone around if they had seen it or taken it, and feeling pretty much like a fool while doing so.
*
Several hours later, Daryl was sitting down on the bed of his cell, the bolt was still missing, and he was still feeling more than confused about the whole thing.
He may even begin to wonder if he was losing his mind or some shit, but a knock on his door distracted him from his thoughts.
Looking up from the ground, his eyes found Y/N on the cell’s door, his frown deepening as he took in how nervous she seemed. Was there something wrong now?
“Hey,” he greeted. “Ya okay?”
“Yeah, hi…yeah, fine…” Y/N stammered, which did nothing to ease Daryl’s concerns.
“Ya sure?”
“Yeah, yeah, just…uh…” Y/N stammered again and then she seemed to take a deep breath as if bracing herself…what the hell was going on. “I, uh…I heard you were looking for this…”
Walking in, she lifted her hand, showing Daryl’s missing bolt.
“Yeah, yeah.” He nodded, taken a bit by surprise…he’d looked for that bolt everywhere. He walked the couple of steps that separated him from Y/N, who for some reason was still not looking at him, to take the arrow from her hand. “Where did ya find it?”
“I, uh…” Y/N took another deep breath, head shaking almost imperceptibly, eyes still on the ground. “I had it on my cell.”
Well, he hadn’t checked there, but why would he? Y/N didn’t have a crossbow or any use for one of his arrows, and she was not a thief, not that the arrow was worth stealing for her…Daryl’s confusion just grew more.
“The hell ya wanted it for?” He was not angry, not at all, just confused, but Y/N couldn’t know that, and it sounded like he’d snapped at her, making her flinch, but Daryl was too baffled to apologize, still wondering what was going on and if the day could get any weirder.
“I…nothing…just…” Y/N walked backward out of the cell as if she couldn’t wait to run away, and Daryl’s confusion only grew when he saw that Y/N seemed about to cry, which, for some reason, made him almost feel like panicking.
“Nothing…I…I’m sorry…I’m sorry I took it…I’m sorry I didn’t ask…I, uh…you’d got many, I thought…” She shrugged, swallowing hard. “Thought you wouldn’t need it or notice it,” she murmured. “I’m sorry…”
“Y/N, no, I…didn’t mean…” Now Daryl was the one stumbling over his words, but he had no idea of what was going on, he just knew that he hated to see Y/N like that, and he hated even more that it seemed he was the cause of it. “Ya, uh…need it for somethin’?”
He had no freaking clue why Y/N might want or need an arrow, but Daryl felt like he’d give her all of his arrows if it meant he didn’t have to see her cry.
Y/N shook her head, not looking at him, and she seemed about to flee, so Daryl’s hand moved to rest on her arm to stop her, he hadn’t really meant to do it, but he couldn’t stand to see Y/N so upset.
“Hey…wait…” His voice was as soft as the hand on her arm, Daryl tried his best to be gentle even if he was confused about what was going on, but he knew he didn’t want to make things worse, upset Y/N more, make her think that he was angry or upset with her. “Somethin’ wrong?”
Y/N still seemed like she wanted to run away, but she didn’t, looking at Daryl’s hand on her arm as if it were keeping her in place, even if he wasn’t really holding her arm and she could have moved if she wanted to.
You looked from his hand to the ground, and then up at his confused, pretty blue eyes that were silently asking you to tell him what was going on, just for a second, before your gaze dropped down to the floor again, and you took a deep breath, almost as if bracing yourself for some kind of danger that Daryl couldn’t see.
“I, uh…” You stammered again, voice low, eyes cast down. “You…you’re going to that run, tomorrow…They’re saying it’s going to be a long one, so I, uh…I…I took one of your arrows, for, uh…like, if I…to, uh” you fought with your words. “To, uh…remember you, while you are away…” You whispered, looking almost like you were forcing the words out. “No…not that I need to look at an arrow for that, but, uh…I just…I…”
You gave up on words, shaking your head as you swallowed hard, your eyes wet, and before Daryl could do or say anything, you were rushing away.
Daryl wasn’t sure if he should follow you or not. He knew he hated to see you upset like that, he knew he wanted to make you feel better, but he wasn’t sure how, and he was unable to move anyway, feeling frozen in place, his mind racing with a million thoughts and emotions.
Y/N…she’d taken one of his arrows to keep with her while he was away, to remember him, she’d said so herself, and it didn’t look at all like she was lying or playing something…why’d she do that…did it mean…or it didn’t…and what if it did…
Daryl felt almost dizzy, his face felt like it was burning, heat rushing to it, while twirls seemed to dance in his belly at the same time that something clenched his gut, whether it was anxiety or excitement he wasn’t sure, and his heart seemed to be doing its own, odd thing too.
He had no clue of how he felt, or of what he felt, neither had he any idea of what to do, not that he could do anything, he was still frozen in place, in fear or in something else, Daryl didn’t know, as he tried to make sense of the storm of feelings washing over him, drowning him almost, but the thought of you with his keepsake arrow seemed to keep him afloat, sparking something in his belly, a warm feeling spreading through him…
*
It was so early in the morning that the sun was just starting to rise, barely visible in the clearing sky, but you’d volunteered with a couple of others to help and get everything ready for the people going on the run today, including breakfasts.
You’d been embarrassed at the idea of seeing Daryl, you were mortified after the events of the day before, ashamed…but you had already committed, and so you went to help anyway.
You did bump into him a couple of times, but he didn’t say anything to you…he barely even looked at you, eyes cast down, keeping his distance. He seemed shy and skittish like you, even if you knew it was you the one who’d made a fool out of herself in front of him.
Maybe, in your foolishness, you’d managed to ruin your relationship with Daryl…maybe now he’d be too embarrassed to be around you, maybe he’d think you were a fool, maybe he felt uncomfortable being your friend now…
The idea made you want to cry and you could feel your eyes burning, tears threatening to fall, so as soon as you could, you rushed back into your cell.
You hadn’t even walked in when you saw it, the arrow placed on your pillow.
You froze for a second, puzzled, almost wondering if you were seeing things, and then you rushed to pick it up, looking at the arrow as if you were almost expecting it to come alive.
It was one of Daryl’s, you knew it not only because nobody else used bolts, but also because you recognized it as one of his handmade arrows…had he left it there, for you?
Maybe somebody else had? Somebody who knew what you had done, and who was trying to take the piss at you…but you couldn’t think of anyone who’d be mean enough. It’d to be Daryl…and you were totally certain he’d never do it to laugh at you.
So, why did he leave you one of his arrows? It’s for what you’d forced yourself to tell him, that you’d taken one to keep with you while he was away, to remember him? Why did you tell him that, you’d embarrassed yourself to no end…but maybe, it was why Daryl had left you an arrow? Maybe it had meant something to him?
Maybe he was just being nice…maybe he’d left you that arrow out of pity…maybe…
You shook your head, letting out a sigh…It’d be days until Daryl were back and you could ask him, though you were sure you were not going to dare, and you were sure too that, besides worrying about him coming back safe, you were going to spend those days overthinking that arrow gesture…
*
Days seemed to pass slower and slower, but finally, the group was back.
You were happy and relieved to see them back and safe, and you knew you should go greet them and help to sort the stuff they’d brought back, but when you caught sight of Daryl parking his bike, all your embarrassment at your last conversation with him came back, clenching at your gut.
There were enough people helping already, and so you retreated back to the prison and your cell before Daryl could see you…you didn’t feel ready to face him yet.
You hadn’t been in your cell for long, though, sitting in your bed, back against the wall and legs dangling at the side of the bed, trying to read a book but only looking at the same page again and again, distracted with thoughts of Daryl, when you heard a knock on your cell door, finding the archer himself there.
It took you by surprise, the embarrassment and nerves that were already clenching your belly got worse, and you could do nothing but stare at Daryl…you knew you had to face him at some point, but you didn’t feel ready yet, you still felt like a fool, you didn’t know what to say, what to do…
Daryl seemed shy too, looking at you, seeming unsure of what to do when you did nothing, but he took a step into your cell.
“Hey,” he greeted and you knew you had to say something, but couldn’t. Luckily, Daryl didn’t seem annoyed by your lack of response, and he kept speaking, no matter how shy he seemed. “I, uh…brought ya this…”
Taking something out of his pocket, Daryl showed you your favorite snack. Now you were even more taken aback, you didn’t know what you were expecting, but it wasn’t that.
Daryl had brought you your favorite snack from the run, came to your cell to give it to you… Nerves were still clenching your belly, but something else seemed to dance in it now too, twirling, while your heart did what almost felt like some sort of hop…
Did this and the arrow meant…something…or nothing..or were you reading too much into it…you couldn’t stop the onslaught of emotions, though, even if on the outside you were still silent and unmoving.
Daryl’s brows furrowed at your silence, lowering his hand and looking from you to the snack on his hand as if he were second-guessing himself, and so you forced yourself to speak.
“Thank you,” you choked out, though you didn’t get up to take the snack, and Daryl gave you a nod and a shrug, looking down, seeming awkward and shy. “I uh…I’m glad you’re back and uh…that you’re okay…”
Daryl just nodded again, looking at you and then at the ground again. “Yeah, uh…nobody’s hurt and we got all the stuff Glenn wanted, so…yeah, it was good…”
He too sounded so awkward…the fear of having messed things up between you two, of now Daryl being awkward around you, overcame you again, taking over the butterflies that him bringing your favorite snack had dancing in your belly.
“Daryl, uh…” You didn’t even know what you wanted to say, and you reached to take the arrow that you had on your pillow. “Thank you for this too…” It came out almost like just a whisper, but at least you’d said it. Daryl just nodded, looking down shily. “If, uh…if you need it…”
Daryl shook his head. “Keep it.”
“Okay…” Everything felt so awkward…you looked down at your hands as you fidgeted with the arrow. “Thank you, and, uh…I…I’m sorry about…well, about the last time we spoke…if I, uh…If I made you uncomfortable…If I made things awkward…if what…what I did…taking your arrow without asking…and…and what I said…if…”
You were struggling with your words, with your emotions, so caught up in your head, in your shyness and anxiety, in all those feelings flooding you, that you didn’t notice Daryl walking closer until he was right in front of you.
“Did, uh…” When you heard Daryl’s voice, so close, you looked up, finding him looking down at you as you were still sitting on your bed. “Did ya mean it? What ya said, that day?” He whispered, fingers twitching, nervous, but he didn’t look away from you.
You swallowed hard, nervous, shy, still anxious and fearful, and yet, something sparkled in your belly at Daryl’s words, at the way he was looking at you…
You nodded, and you couldn’t stop your shyness from making you try to look down, but then, Daryl’s hand was stopping you from doing so, shy fingers reaching to gently touch your cheek, his knuckles stopping under your jaw, keeping your face lifted to look at you.
Your breath hitched in your throat, your shyness urging you to pull back, to look down, but you couldn’t, as if those dark, deep blue eyes that you couldn’t read, had frozen you in place, nervous twirls dancing in your belly…
You knew you should do something, say something, but you couldn’t. Confused, mixed feelings were washing over you, and you wondered what Daryl was thinking, you couldn’t read his face and he was not saying anything either…
Then, he was leaning down towards you, still silent, and for a second, you wondered if he was about to kiss you, your heart doing a summersault, but then, Daryl was leaning his forehead on yours.
You let out a shaky breath, feeling as if you were melting and floating at the same time, your heart was dancing on a similar pattern to the butterflies in your belly, but you were still as silent as Daryl.
He stood like that for a moment before pulling back, but he didn’t move far, in fact, he moved closer, so you could feel his warmth radiating through his clothes, smell the scent of leather, sweat, motor oil, and cigarette smoke lingering on him, as Daryl, still without a word, bent down to hide his face on your shoulder.
You felt his warm breath against the skin of your neck, making your heart and the twirls in your belly dance even more. Your arms seemed to move by themselves, without overthinking it for once, to wrap around him, to hold him gently, and then his arms were around you too.
You both stayed like that, silent, eyes closed, just hearing each other's breath and feeling each other's warmth, you didn’t know for how long…
You didn’t want to speak, you didn’t want to move, afraid of ruining the moment, but at the same time, you wanted to, you knew you should…Speaking took you almost more courage than charging against walkers, but finally, you did.
“Daryl…” You whispered, voice so low you weren’t sure he’d hear you.
“Hmm,” His humming against your shoulder was his only answer.
He’d seemed to relax as he leaned against you, but you thought you felt him tense ever so slightly at the sound of your voice calling his name. You weren’t sure if you may have imagined it or not, and it almost discouraged you from speaking again, but you gathered your courage to keep going.
“Daryl, you, uh… you know why I took your arrow?” You asked softly, trying not to lose your courage.
“Ya said it,” Daryl muttered against your neck, goosebumps forming on your skin at the feeling.
“Yeah, but…do you know why?” You tried again, even if you were shy, even if part of you wanted to stop, unsure about this being a good idea. “It’s…It’s because I, uh…miss you and worry when you’re away…and because I…care for you, and I…have feelings for you…”
You felt your face burning, anxiety pooling in your belly again, but with Daryl’s face hidden in your shoulder, so he couldn’t see yours, it was easier somehow.
Daryl didn’t say anything, your anxiety growing stronger, but before your fear could take hold of you, he was moving even closer to you, nuzzling your neck, making you almost squeal, a warm, fluffy feeling spreading to you.
After a short moment, Daryl lifted his head from your shoulder, his face still hidden from you, and then you felt his lips on your cheek in a soft and shy kiss. You thought you were floating again, the butterflies in your belly going crazy.
When he pulled back, you had to fight against your shyness to make you look at him, you didn’t want to hide away from him, not now. Daryl seemed to feel the same, dropping his gaze down, but then he was looking at you, holding your gaze, both of you silent.
Your hands were still on his waist, his hand moved again to your cheek, his touch warm and gentle, gentler than most people thought Daryl could be, the people who didn’t really know him.
He was leaning in again, or maybe it was you the one moving closer, or perhaps both, you didn’t know, neither did you know who started, who kissed each other first, but you didn’t care, all you knew was that Daryl’s lips were on yours, as soft and gentle as his hand’s touch, and that you both were kissing, everything else left your mind.
The kiss was gentle, tentatively, both Daryl and you were still shy and unsure, but you didn’t stop, the kiss slowly deepening, all insecurities leaving, all walls lowering as you kissed you didn’t know for how long.
Eventually, you both pulled back, but just enough to break the kiss, you were still holding each other, and Daryl’s forehead rested once again on yours, as if he was still too shy to pull away, as if he didn’t want to move away, and you were most certainly not going to complain.
“Daryl…” You pushed past your shyness to speak, your voice barely above a whisper. “Are you sure of this?” Your insecurity made you ask, even if you weren’t sure what you were asking…if he was sure of kissing you? If he was sure he wanted something like this with you? That was what you meant, but you didn’t feel brave enough to elaborate.
“Yeah,” Daryl whispered, so low you almost didn’t hear it, but you felt his forehead nudging yours as he nodded.
“Really?” You couldn’t stop your insecurities.
This time, Daryl pulled back but he didn’t go far, just enough to look at you. “Yeah,” he whispered again, nodding, holding your gaze no matter how shy he seemed. “You?” He asked, and you felt the nervous twitch of his fingers where they rested over your arms.
“Yes,” you whispered back, nodding. Your shyness was still there, your insecurities too, but that fluffy, warm feeling was back to fill you, elation taking over you, and you smiled, shy but blissful.
Daryl’s lips curled up too at the sight of your smile, his as shy as yours, but the pretties you had seen, you were sure of it.
Your arms moved to wrap around him and he held you close too, so you leaned in, burying your face in his chest with a content sigh, feeling Daryl nuzzling the top of your head as he held you to him…
*
Several months had passed since that day, winter had given way to spring, and a new run had been planned, albeit a smaller one this time.
Daryl and you had never asked each other out, or anything of the sort, but you both knew that you were together and that you loved each other. Building your relationship hadn’t been easy, both of you had to fight through your shyness and your insecurities, things moved slowly as you both eased into being with someone else, into having a relationship, but it was more than worthy.
Now, you were on your way to the prison yard so you could say goodbye to Daryl before he left for the run. You spotted him tinkering with his bike and you made your way to him.
As you approached, you noticed the bracelet of thin, corded leather on his wrist. You’d made it while you were in the Greene’s farm, which seemed an eternity ago, and you usually had it on you, but that morning, you couldn’t find it.
The last thing you expected was to find it on Daryl’s wrist.
“Hey,” you greeted him, reaching for his hand and lifting it, looking at the bracelet. “Look where this was…” You arched your eyebrows, surprised and a bit confused.
“Yeah, uh…” Daryl scratched the back of his head with his free hand, seeming bashful. “Ya mind?”
“I don’t, but…I didn’t see you as someone who liked to wear bracelets,” you said, still amused and confused.
“I ain’t, but uh…” Daryl’s fingers played with yours nervously. “It’s yours, and, uh…remember what ya said, when ya took my arrow to keep with ya when I went to a run?” He asked and you nodded. “I, uh…saw yer bracelet on the bed and thought to take it with me to the run, ‘cause…ya know…” He trailed off, shyly.
Butterflies danced in your belly, and you let out an embarrassing, little squeak before you actually formed words.
“Yeah…yeah, I got your arrow so…you can keep this…” You nodded to the bracelet, smiling.
Daryl gave you a soft smile too, tugging at your hand to pull you closer, kissing your forehead before you kissed his lips.
“You’ll be careful, right?” You asked him once your lips parted, and Daryl nodded…you’d worry anyway until he were back. “Come on…I’ll help to get everything ready.”
Soon enough, he was riding out of the prison, in front of the car with the other people who were going to the run. You waved him goodbye, smiling when he lifted one of his hands from the handler to wave at you too and you caught sight of your bracelet on his wrist.