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a soft warm breeze passes through the air as the sun begins to set behind the trees. it’s a nice summer night, almost peaceful - if you block out the groans of walkers from below. daryl currently sits at one of the watch towers, legs dangling off the edge underneath one of the chipped railings. the dry white paint crumbles now and then, falling onto his lap but he pays no mind to it. his cross bow is currently swung behind him, ready to be brought to his hands if needed.
the hunter came out a little over an hour ago now, saying nothing to the group. he wasn’t angry per say, more caught up in his own thoughts. the thoughts that have been bugging him a lot recently. he’s tried to push them down, forget about them but it’s hard when the main character of his thoughts is around him almost everyday and sleeps in a cell across from the bed he’s made out on the walkway near the stairs.
rick, that’s all that consumes him now.
thoughts about his friend he’s developed feelings for. he isn’t sure when he first started to fall for him, but that doesn’t matter because it’s stronger than ever and eating away at him. he’s not sure he’ll ever tell rick, because what if it changes their whole dynamic? he doesn’t want to loose the great friendship he has with him.
as daryl stares out onto the field, lost in his thoughts, rick walks up the stairs of the watch tower. he’s quiet, taking long steps until he makes it to the door and finally sees the man he’s been trying to track down. “hey,” rick says softly, watching the way daryl’s body tenses just slightly. the hunter doesn’t turn around, keeps his eyes on the field and how the sun glows across it.
rick walks over to daryl and sits down, letting his own legs hang over the edge as well. “been lookin’ for you y’know.” rick says, looking over at his friend with a gentle gaze. daryl continues to look straight on. “yeah? somethin’ happen?” he responds, hands fidgeting in his lap. rick shakes his head, “no no, nothings happened. just wanted to see you, maybe talk to you.” rick says, and this gets daryl to look over at the sheriff.
“nothin’ bad, don’t worry. i’ve just noticed how you’ve been distant recently, how you won’t look at me when i’m talkin’. have i upset you?” rick asks, hands resting on the railing in front of him, now looking at the fields. daryl is quick to correct rick, “no you haven’t. just been in my mind recently, thinkin’ about some things. sorry it came off that way.” he apologises and rick shakes his head with a soft chuckle, “you didn’t offend me daryl, i’m just checking in on you. you’re my strongest guy, and a loyal friend.”
daryl’s heart sinks in his chest at the word ‘friend’, but he tells himself to man up and get over that feeling. what else did he expect? “ah, well i appreciate it. everythin’ all good here.” he says, both men now looking at the field in silence. rick can feel something is off with his friend, and he decides to prod at it, try get something out of the usually closed off man.
“i’m startin’ to pick up on when you’re lying. so tell me the truth big guy, what’s going on?” rick says, turning to face daryl who has turned back to look at the field. the sunrise is casting a beautiful glow onto daryl and rick feels his heart clenching at the sight. daryl is conflicted inside, unsure if he should play it off, add to the lie or spit the truth out.
rick scooches closer to daryl, their thighs touching one another’s and both men feel butterflies rushing through them. “c’mon, tell me what’s really goin’ on with you daryl. it’s just us up here.” rick says, finally pushing daryl to speak up. “i like you alright man? i can’t hold it back no more.” he mutters, now looking down at his feet as he fiddles and fidgets with his fingers. he’s waiting for it, for rick calling him gross or say he doesn’t like him back. then their whole friendship is gone, falling to the floor and leaving daryl stranded.
that doesn’t happen though, a big hand gently grabs his chin and pulls his face up and towards rick. then he feels those soft lips on his and stubble brushing against his cheeks. daryl’s eyes flutter shut as he kisses back gently, his hands still resting his lap. he’s too awkward for this, not sure what's right or wrong. where do your hands even go when kissing someone?
daryl doesn’t have much experience in this field, not one for building relationships in the past. he kept to himself, uninterested in people but that all changed after the apocalypse and meeting rick grimes.
rick senses daryl’s uncertainty, so with one hand resting on his face, he brings his other to daryl’s lap and intertwines their fingers. they stay like this, kissing softly in the warm glow of the sunset casted upon them. the kiss soon deepens, rick’s tongue slowly worming it’s way into daryl’s mouth and brushing over his tongue. before it goes further, rick pulls away and looks at daryl. he’s never seen him so vulnerable before.
daryl tries to recover quickly, head turning to the side to avoid rick as he blushes. but rick doesn’t let him, his grip on his face tightening ever so slightly as he brings daryl’s face back to face him. “is that a good enough response? or do you need more big guy?” rick teases, smiling at daryl who looks anywhere except ricks eyes. “uh, maybe a lil more wouldn’ hurt.” he mumbles and rick chuckles before pressing his lips back to daryl’s.