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By the time the group reached Alexandria, there wasn't a single member who wasn't wearing clothes that one could only describe as dusty, grey, and worn.
Everyone except for you.
Even when you had arrived at the gates for the first time with Rick's group, your overly pink outfit was, albeit covered in splatters of blood and dirt, a standout feature about you. Wearing a bright pink jacket, you certainly drew some attention to yourself.
To everyone else outside of your small circle, most would assume you were trying to be the center of attention. But to Daryl, it was just your way of expressing you.
Back in Atlanta, however.
To say you annoyed him would be an understatement.
・┆✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ┆・
When everything went down in Atlanta, you had found the camp just outside of the city. That's where Daryl first met you.
Fresh acrylic nails pressed to your fingernails, and a mini skirt that looked like you had just stepped out of a shopping mall; Daryl felt almost pissed off by your presence.
And boy, was he not scared to let you know.
You had been discussing old things you enjoyed with the ladies down at the quarry as you helped them wash clothes. Andrea shared what she missed, making the group laugh loudly in shock.
"I miss my makeup." You expressed with a pout. "Next time we out, I'm definitely looking for a little something to spice up my look." Sure, it wasn't a necessity, but couldn't a girl feel good about herself once in a while?
Daryl overheard your voice, and scoffed as he skinned a deer he had caught just hours before. His eyes narrowed at you slightly, almost as if he was trying to fight back his words.
It was his annoyed scoff that made you turn around to face him. "Got somethin' you wanna say?" Your southern accent was poking through your girly exterior.
"Yeah, you got all these people here starvin', and you wanna go get some damn lipstick?" He ran his knife over the deer more aggressively, his eyes not meeting yours.
"How stuck-up could you be?" He mumbled to himself. Andrea rose from her seat to defend you, but you grabbed her arm to stop her.
"It's okay, honey. He just doesn't understand." You could have hurled insults his way, but ultimately decided to leave it alone. You weren't just a pretty face like he wanted to believe, but he'd have to figure that out himself.
Daryl shot you a confused look, expecting you to make a fuss and argue with him. Hell, he would've liked to see you spouting off in what would sound like a valley-girl accent. But instead you were…sweet.
・┆✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ┆・
It wasn't until you had arrived at Hershel's farm with the group that he truly understood your value in the group. Up until then, he found himself wondering how you had lasted this long, given your seemingly incessant need to be high maintenance.
You were helping everyone around the farm. And eventually, Rick sent you and Daryl to go after Sophia together. His grumbles let you know that you weren't exactly desired on this hunt. You brought your own weapon, a glittery pink knife, and one of the guns you borrowed from Dale.
He looked at your knife as you pulled it out of your belt. "Seriously?" He scoffed at you incredulously.
"Don't knock it! It does the job." You smile at him and press on, straightening the bow you had in your hair.
He let you take the lead, watching as you stumbled through the woods. His focus was completely on you, and how you were so goddamn strange.
His eyes traveled along your frame, examining the way you pushed your hair out of your face like you cared about what it looked like.
That's why when you paused to listen for something, he just found it ridiculous.
"Gotta keep movin'. Christ-" Daryl wasn't able to finish his sentence before you grabbed his jacket and pulled him backwards.
A group of walkers was passing by, near inches from both of you. He'd been so lost in you that he didn't even hear them.
Without words, you kicked one of the walkers to the ground and stabbed it in the head. Moving to your feet quickly, you shoved another one into a tree before stabbing it. In the end, you killed about four walkers with ease.
"M'not just a pair of heels." You smirked at him and walked on.
・┆✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ┆・
Just as he had warmed up to the idea of you, all of you. You had approached him with a question.
"Can I go on a run with ya'?" You spent about 20 minutes working up the courage to ask him. With everything going on, you were sure he would say no. "Since you're going out anyway, thought I could join ya'." Somehow, the grump had a way of making you laugh by his sheer obliviousness.
"Why? What do ya' need?" He was lying in his tent, his arms folded above his head. Your presence began to be a normal occurrence. Most of time, he didn't mind it.
"Just need to get some lady things. Wanted to see what they have while we're out. Hope it's not a big deal." You ignored the cramps that were driving you absolutely crazy. Part of you was hoping that you could find some kind of period product while on the road, but now you were desperate.
Daryl, however, had a completely different idea of what 'lady things' were. He sat up and moved out of his tent without saying a word.
"Daryl, I'll go with you. I just wanted to see if we could find anything-"
"What, you think I'm gonna risk my life for some damn nail polish or something?" He exploded at you, making you furrow your brows.
"That's not what I-"
"Not what you meant, huh? You really are somethin'. None of this bullshit matters when you've got walkers coming right at you!" He was pacing now, pointing at your clothing as he spoke. You bit back your words, taking his insults in stride. That seemingly pissed him off more.
"Want me to grab ya' some perfume, yeah you'll smell damn good. Good enough to get bit, right? Let's go find out." He went to grab your hand to lead you towards his bike.
"Daryl, stop!" You yanked your arm away from him, your shouting alerting other camp members.
"I'm on my period. Need some tampons." You mumbled. It was clear how he felt now. The silence blared in your ears, your eyes not meeting his.
Daryl froze, guilt sinking into his stomach. Fuck, he wanted to drown himself in the creek right now.
"I would never ask you to risk yourself for me. That's how little you think of me?" Your heartbeat was pounding with adrenaline, and hurt.
"Stop thinking that you know anything about me. You don't know shit." Your words were laced with venom, an anger that he hadn't ever seen. Even when he had laughed at you in Atlanta.
"I'll go myself. Make life easier for ya'." You strode away from him, tears brimming in your eyes, betraying your attempt to look tough in front of him.
Daryl chased after you. "Wait-" He panted. "I'll take ya'."
Placing a hand on your hip, you looked at him with skepticism. Daryl took your pause as permission to continue. "M'sorry. Been judgin' you too hard." He sighed and ran his hands down his face.
"Thought you were stuck up. You're not. You're a good person." His apology was broken up between pauses while he thought of meaninful things to say. Because an "I'm sorry" would not suffice.
Not after all he'd said about you. All the trouble he'd put you through.
You finally turned around to face him, your arms still crossed. "Fine. But because you were mean, I get first dibs if we find any candy." Daryl took in a deep inhale of relief.
He knew he was still in the doghouse, but seeing your usual bubbly self start to blossom again made him feel warm inside. He had no idea why seeing your smile made him feel that way, but he pushed it down for now.
That feeling of confusion continued far beyond Georgia.
・┆✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ┆・
Now the group was living in Alexandria, a slice of domesticity that seemed strange given the situation outside the walls. Daryl had time to observe you, to talk to you in ways that weren't purely for survival.
And the two of you became friends.
Although you still got on his last nerve sometimes.
Daryl sat on his porch, cleaning off walker blood from his crossbow after a successful run. He heard a clack of heels coming toward him and he audibly sighed. "What'cha want now?" He asked, a tiny smile creeping its way onto his face.
"Don't act like you don't like our talks, Dixon!" You made your way up to his porch, sporting jewelry that made clinking sounds when you walked. "Wanted to ask you somethin' anyway." You plopped down onto the floor of his porch.
"Hm?" He grunted, swiping some sweat that had accumulated due to the summer heat. He found himself staring, noticing how put-together you were. Of course, there was no way to be clean out there, exposed. But in here, you looked like you stepped out of a damn magazine.
Your hair looked perfect, you had found some makeup, and you were wearing heels. It made him chuckle, thinking about how different you were.
Different in a good way.
"Can we go on a run together? We haven't been out just the two of us in so long!" Your hopes were as high as your heels, your lips jutting out in a pout that Daryl rolled his eyes at.
"Jus' got back from one with Rick. Tired." He grumbled, lighting a cigarette. You scoffed and jumped to your feet, approaching him with narrowed eyes.
"Please, you're not tired, it was a quick run like right down the street. Besides, could probably find more of these-" You snatched the cigarette from his hand and put it up to your own lips, taking a short puff before handing it back to him.
Daryl felt his face flush at your actions, looking down at the lipstick marks that were wrapped around his cigarette. Between the pouting and your boldness, Daryl wasn't sure how he could say no.
"What do ya' need out there?" He asked, considering it. If it was something stupid like shoes or dresses, he'd probably complain the whole way home.
"Well, guess I shouldn't say 'lady things' because you'll go crazy right?" You toss him a quick smirk. Daryl cringed at himself, remembering when he shouted at you for needing period products on the farm.
"You drive me crazy all the time." He stood up, ignoring your look of offense.
"C'monnn, there's a little boutique like 2 miles from here!" You followed him because of course you did.
Daryl approached his motorcycle, turning to face you with crossed arms, his grumpiness showing. "Yer gonna get me killed over a boutique?" You let out a giggle at his dramatic conclusion.
A giggle that made his stomach twist, for some reason he couldn't place.
"Not killed! Maybe a scratch or two." You winked at him. "Oh! Can I ride in the front this time?" Pushing past him, you hopped onto the bike before him.
Daryl shook his head. "Yeah, and crash my bike? Nah." He let out a quiet laugh. "Just give me one second to talk to Carol really quick."
You nodded and rested your head on the handles of his bike, playing with your jewelry absentmindedly.
Once you were out of his line of sight, he walked a little faster to Carol's place.
Carol was in her apartment, baking something that Daryl wouldn't try if it was the last thing to eat on Earth. He knocked and took it upon himself to walk inside once she had opened the door.
"No time for askin' if you can come in, huh?" She laughed at his frantic bodily language. "What'cha need?"
"Yer' a woman." He started, fumbling with his crossbow nervously. Carol just chuckled.
"I am. Why?" She narrowed her eyes at him. Daryl swallowed, his mouth suddenly very dry.
"Ya' know what women like. Right?" He couldn't even look Carol in the eye, the scenario was too awkward, too vulnerable.
"Daryl, will you just tell me why you're here?" Carol already had an idea of where this was going, she just wanted to hear him say it.
Unfortunately, Daryl was as stubborn as a mule, and he shut up promptly.
"This is about the girl." She smirked at him, leaning against a wall smugly.
"Ain't about nobody." Daryl shrugged, avoiding her gaze. He thought a gift, maybe some kind of gesture would help him catch your attention.
Well, romantic attention. Not the way you were hanging around him being all friendly.
"Fine. If we're talkin' about a random girl. Women like perfume, some nice jewelry maybe. Could even get her a dress if you know her size." Carol snickered at the way Daryl was so obviously mentally noting her words.
"I mean, if you're really serious about this random girl, you could go ring shopping-"
"Shut up." Daryl shoved her lightly. Carol knew exactly who he was talking about. The girl laid up on his bike staring up into the cloud right now.
"Look at you, such a loverboy." Was all Carol could say before Daryl scoffed at her and walked out.
・┆✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ┆・
At the boutique, you were shopping as if the world was completely normal, picking items off of the rack and holding them up to yourself to see if they would fit. "What do you think, Daryl?" You turned around to see him fumbling with perfume bottles.
He jerked his hand away and met your eyes before looking at what you were holding up. "S'good." Was all he could say.
"You're such a man." You scoff and put the item back. "Don't think I could pull that off anyway." It was a pink sundress, one that had beautiful color streaks and butterflies on it.
As you walked away, Daryl approached it and stuffed it into his bag behind your back. He thought that you could absolutely pull it off. Hell, you could probably wear anything and look like an angel.
"Need any perfume?" He asked you, grateful that you were oblivious to his questioning.
"Eh, unless they have some kind of vanilla scent, I think I'll pass." Your response made Daryl look at the bottles closely, reading the labels. He settled on one that he thought you would like.
Vanilla Honey
Daryl stuffed that one into his bag as well before leaving the perfume aisle.
He snatched a few pieces of jewelry as well to be on the safe side before he left with you.
・┆✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ┆・
A few weeks had passed since that visit to the boutique, and Daryl still hadn't given you those gifts.
Not because he didn't want to. But he was just so concerned.
What if you didn't like any of it? What if he was just reading your attention wrong, and you only saw him as a friend?
Daryl hadn't seen you all day, which begun to worry him. You were usually bounding over to him with that wide, gorgeous smile that made him feel like he was the only man in the world.
He realized he missed that. Maybe it was time to show you how he felt?
Daryl was in desperate need of advice, so he went to Carol again.
"Daryl, you haven't given her those gifts yet? Seriously?" Carol put her hands on her hips in a disappointed move. "What did you get anyway? I wanna see."
He emptied his bag and out came the dress all balled up and wrinkled, the perfume he got you, and the jewelry all tangled up from being shoved into the bag. Carol rubbed the bridge of her nose and sighed.
"You're such a man." Carol sighed and unfolded the dress, trying to smooth out the wrinkles. "It's beautiful though, how did you know she'd like it?"
Daryl bit back a smile just thinking about it. "Always wearin' pretty stuff like that." He helped Carol untangle the jewelry. He got a beautiful necklace with a blue jewel hanging at the base, and a bracelet to match.
"Not exactly her color, but I think she'll like it." Carol teased him.
"Her color? I ain't told you her name yet." Daryl furrowed his brow. Carol snickered and gave him a look.
"Daryl. You're gifting this mystery girl a pink dress and jewelry. I don't know of any other girl in Alexandria who wears things like this." Carol spoke in between laughter.
"And perfume." Daryl interrupted her.
"What?" She smiled.
"Got her perfume too. Smelled like her." Daryl held it up to show Carol.
Carol broke out in loud laughter at that, doubling over to hold her stomach.
"Smells like her?" She smirked.
"What? She wears perfume all the damn time." He held his arms up in confusion.
"Do you even hear yourself? You've got her a dress, jewelry, and perfume. You remember things about her, remember the way she smells." She was desperately trying to lead him to the conclusion.
"You think she won't like them?" Daryl glanced down at the gifts. Maybe it was too much?
Carol snickered. "You're adorable when you're in love, Dixon." His face blushed a bright red shade.
So that's what it was. That feeling.
"To answer your question, she'd like anything you get her. She follows your grumpy ass around like a lost puppy. She feels the same way. Trust me." Carol saw the way you would hang on his words, how your eyes would rake over him in public like you couldn't wait to get him alone.
That was all Daryl needed before he took off back to his place. His heartbeat was pounding, filling his ears with loud thumps as he approached his porch.
Only to find you there, legs and arms crossed as you sat on his chair. "Where have you been? Been waitin' here to see what you wanted to do today." You pouted at him, adjusting the glittery pink knife in your belt.
You still had it, after all these years. It made him smile whenever he caught a glimpse of it.
"Was lookin' for you all morning, should'a been out here earlier." He cringed inwardly at how desperate his words sounded.
"Damn, can't a girl sleep in? Bed felt too comfy and warm to leave." You snuggled into the chair as if it were your bed.
Daryl pulled up a chair next to you. "I gotcha somethin'. From that boutique we went to." He spoke quietly, his nerves getting the best of him as usual.
"Really? Show me show me!" You were beyond excited, because this was not usual behavior from the grumpy man he had come to be through the years.
He pulled out the gifts and laid them in your lap. Your eyes immediately fell to the dress, expression softening into a happy smile.
"Daryl, is this the dress I showed you at the boutique? I thought I told you it wouldn't look good on me!" You held it up again, the beauty of it now hitting you.
Maybe it's because he picked it out for you.
"Ya' look good in everything." He shrugged. Your face flushed a little bit at his words, suddenly feeling a little shy.
"Thank you." You picked up the jewelry next, examining the color and design. "This is so beautiful, you have good taste!" And finally, you squealed when you looked closer at the perfume bottle.
"Daryl, you're a goddamn genius. This is the perfume I use, how did you know?" Your eyes were wide and bright now, completely surprised by his pick.
Daryl was just as surprised as you. "I didn't. Ya' said you like vanilla." He probably should have ran with it, should have said he knew exactly what you used.
But part of him felt like he had to be honest with you. Like you deserved it.
"Daryl, this is the nicest thing that anyone has ever done for me. Like ever, I never knew you were so attentive." Your face was bright red at this point, and that he was most likely seeing it too.
Of course he was attentive. You consumed his every waking thought.
"I'm gonna go try it on." You walked into Daryl's apartment like you owned the place, to change in his bathroom. Daryl waited on the porch for you, feeling like the luckiest guy in the world.
When you came back out with the dress on, he damn near had a heart attack. The dress complimented you, as if it was accentuating what was already there. It made you glow.
"What do you think now that it's on?" You struck a pose, your hands on you hips dramatically. Daryl barely had the words, his eyes looking up at you like you hung the moon.
"Beautiful." He managed to get the word out, much to his relief. You were practically bouncing up and down with joy.
"Thank you so much for everything. I loved it so much, everything looks so pretty!" You raced over to him, your thoughts swirling.
And you pulled him into a soft kiss.
Daryl froze in his spot. You were kissing him.
Him. Your entire opposite.
When you felt him go still, you pulled away. "Shit, I'm sorr-" You didn't have time to finish your sentence before he pulled you back into the kiss.
Now he had adjusted and come to the realization that this was real.
He wouldn't let you go this time. "Don't be sorry." He mumbled against your lips, kissing you with his hand cupping your cheek gently.
Daryl deepened the kiss, his hands moving to your waist to hold onto you. His large hands were keeping you pressed against him as if you would vanish if he let go.
After a few minutes of making out with him, Daryl broke away for some air. You snickered at him and bit your lip. "Does this make me your girlfriend?" You looked hopeful, excited for the possibility of finally being his.
Rick was walking by during this, and he noticed the situation right away. You were seated in his lap, freshly separated from a makeout session. Daryl hadn't even noticed the man walk up.
"Waited long enough." He called out to you.
Then Rick saw it. The lipstick stains all over Daryl's lips and stubble. Rick laughed aloud.
"Daryl, you got a little something here." He gestured to his mouth, snickering to himself.
Daryl quickly moved to wipe away the stains, much to your dismay. "Hey! I worked hard on those." You pressed a kiss to his cheek, leaving more stains there.
Rick left the two of you alone, going off to tell everyone else.
"He's gonna tell the whole town, you know that right?" Daryl asks you.
"Let him. He's right. It's been a long time comin'." You smiled.