Lilies

lilies

daryl dixon x fem!reader

it's my first work, i hope you like it.

summary: reader has just lost her sister, and dixon finds her. he has just lost his brother, so their hearts beat in the same rhythm.

warnings: death of a relative, angst, mention of suicide, mention of violence, fluffy, and protected!daryl.

words count: 2257.

i might continue this.

a night had never been so tragic. the clouds had witnessed your suffering and seemed on the verge of shedding an irreversible cry. the leaves of the trees swayed gently, their sound so delicate it almost went unnoticed. your life had always been filled with noise—the laughter of your mother, the endless stories your father told. they gave your life a special meaning. when you closed your eyes, you could gather their voices in your memories, but now, they were dead and those memories were failing. you could barely remember if your mother's voice was high-pitched or if your father had a particular way of pronouncing certain consonants. you were forgetting them unconsciously because no child wishes to forget the voices of the people who brought them into this world. your hand sought your own throat, gently wrapping around it. your vocal cords were the only instrument capable of bringing back their melodies. your blood was irreversibly theirs.

however, there was one person you thought you'd never have to forget. you knew it was naïve to think that in a world so shattered, but a part of you clung to that hope—a hope that was completely destroyed after your sister was gunned down by a man who mistook her for a walker. it was your fault for leaving your small refuge to look at the stars. you'd let your guard down, thinking the world might not be as broken as it was. the man who killed your sister approached her body when he heard her scream, and when he realized what had happened, a laugh escaped his lips, and he shot her one last time in the head. you saw it all from behind some trees that sheltered you but couldn’t shield you from the memory. you wanted to lift your weapon and shoot him, wanted to be braver, wanted so many things, but you did nothing. you watched as the stranger looted your sister's body, leaving her in just her underwear, and walked away. he had taken the only person you had left, stealing her knife, her favorite shirt, and a pair of worn-out jeans. he had laid his filthy hands on her body, treating it like meat to be cleaned and discarded. meanwhile, you stayed hidden, biting your own hand to avoid giving him the satisfaction of hearing you cry.

you were trembling so much that before you could reach your sister’s body, your legs gave out, and you had to crawl. you hugged your sister with a strength you didn’t know you had, crying silently for fear that the gunshot might have awakened countless dead—or worse, the living. they were the worst of all because everything they did was intentional. lately, everyone acted on their own will, so killing your sister had not been a simple act; it was something cruel. you wanted to lift her and take her somewhere else, you tried, and when you realized you couldn’t because of your weakness, this time, you screamed until your throat tore. your heart beat so fast that you just wanted to rip it out of your chest and place it near your sister. after all, that was where it belonged. you looked at the semi-naked body of the last person you had left and thought it might be best to end everything there. you still had your gun; you could press the barrel to your forehead and finish it all.

then you heard the sound of a walker dragging its feet toward you, making those terrifying noises. you thought maybe you should let those teeth tear you apart; you deserved nothing less than to feel its rotten saliva on you, your bones being completely shattered. that was the only end you deserved after standing by while your sister was looted. you closed your eyes and waited to be devoured.

a second passed, and before the second could turn into a third, you heard the twang of a bowstring and then the body of the walker falling a few feet away from you. your lips began to tremble as you turned around. your eyes locked onto the person who emerged from behind a tree, and you gasped. his eyes, sleepy yet always alert, reminded you of your own. his gaze was so deep that it pierced your soul, the same one that was wavering.

“you should’ve let me die,” you whispered, knowing he had taken away your chance to die with what mattered most to you. you stood up, almost collapsing because there wasn’t a part of your body that wasn’t covered in pain. “you should've let me die,” you repeated, louder this time, and the boy lowered his crossbow.

“don’t make noise,” he warned, and you gritted your teeth. he walked around you, ignoring you, and looked at your sister. he crouched down and saw what had been done to her. it wasn’t the act of a walker—walkers devoured, they didn’t loot or humiliate. “who is she?”

“my sister,” you answered with a voice that came directly from your chest.

the stranger paid attention to you, noticing your tangled hair and blood-soaked clothes. your dark circles had deepened, and there was barely any flesh left to protect your bones. you saw him clench his jaw, and you hugged yourself. for a moment, the obvious thought crossed your mind—this person could be with the other guy and kill you.

“i can take you to my refuge if you wanna loot what little i have left,” you laughed out of desperation, raising your arms as if offering yourself as well. “you can take it all if you want; i don’t care, i...”

the boy had eyes that were both blue and gray at the same time; you knew because he approached you and gave you a look that meant everything in a world where nothingness prevailed. your lips were dry, and you felt on the verge of collapse. the boy shook his head and approached the walker that had almost killed you. he pulled the arrow from its skull and reloaded his crossbow.

“i wanna help ya,” he whispered with a gentleness you would have sworn didn’t belong to him.

“why?” you asked, on the verge of breaking down in tears.

“we both lost someone important tonight, y'know.” his voice trembled as he replied, and although you knew it could go wrong, you considered the possibility that it might go right. and you knew that maybe it was the right thing when you saw the guy crouch down to pull something from the ground and place it near your sister. your heart skipped several beats when you realized that what he had left were some beautiful lilies. you wanted to cry and hug him. you wanted so many things that all you could do was smile at him, and for him, it meant everything.

now your entire life fit into a small backpack. a year ago, you dreamed of being someone and having a house to call your own. now you didn’t dream at all, and everything you had could be summed up in a gun, another shirt, and an empty plastic bottle. the last thing you ate was a can of macaroni with tomato sauce. your existence was simple, and the pain of it was a price too high to pay. your thoughts wouldn’t stop taking over your mind, and even though you wanted to avoid them, you couldn’t. you had triggered that mode that made you keep falling and falling until…

“y’alright?” that question snapped you out of the trance and sent a chill through your bones. no one had asked you that in a long time. you shook your head and regretted it instantly; yes, you were fine. it was silly to worry a stranger.

“i’m fine,” you replied, meeting his eyes. you had stopped near a stream. the water seemed clear despite everything around being rotten. you watched the stranger drink from his hands, while you stayed by the shore. “where are we going?”

the guy took another sip from the stream and looked up at the sky. his face was wet, and the water clung to his beard. something about him made you feel at peace, and you felt foolish for trusting someone so easily. part of your mind tried to excuse it by saying you felt this way because you’d just lost your sister, but it was more than that.

“we’ll stay here ‘til daylight, then i’ll take you to my group. they’ll take care of ya.” he assured you but avoided your gaze. he seemed both relaxed and nervous at the same time. you nodded and moved closer to the stream to fill your empty water bottle.

“will i have to leave after?” you asked, regretting the vulnerability in your voice. you were completely alone now, and while you could take care of yourself, fighting alone felt pointless. staying alive in this world was an idiotic act.

“i dunno.” you sensed his eyes on you, on your hair and face. only the moonlight lit you both, and only the sound of the river accompanied you. “was it just you and your sister?”

that made you think of all the people you had left behind. those who had died and those who had simply vanished. you wished they were alive and safe somewhere else, but you also wished they were dead because that would make things easier. you nodded and watched him step out of the stream. he wore a sleeveless vest with beautiful wings on it. if you had met him in another time, you knew that detail would have made you fall in love. now it just lodged in your heart.

“you said we both lost someone tonight,” you whispered, running your fingers through the water. the stranger sat on the grass and placed his crossbow to his left.

“my brother.” that coincidence was so tragic that your heart ached. you stepped out of the small river and sat beside him.

“i’m sorry for what happened…”

“you weren’t the one who killed him.” he laughed, but it wasn’t really a laugh, and you offered a sad smile.

“i watched my sister get killed, and i did nothing.” that was a cold bucket of water you poured over yourself. the stranger looked into your eyes and tilted his head. you wondered what he was thinking and if he was judging you. “we just wanted to see the stars, so we moved to a spot without trees, and…”

“ya remember anything ‘bout him?” his voice was rough, and it carried the intensity of his heart.

“he was tall, dressed all in black, and…” you searched your memory for anything that might help. there were many black spots, many things that happened too quickly. but then you remembered something important. “he had a scar in the middle of his nose.”

the guy nodded and lay down on the grass. you saw him close his eyes, and you swallowed hard. were you just going to sleep like this?

“if i find him…”

“will you kill him for me?” you interrupted with a soft laugh.

“i’ll give you the chance to do it.” those words pierced your skin.

“you don’t know me,” you said, stopping yourself from looking at him and focusing on the dark sky instead.

“well, we got time to change that.” that foolishness made you laugh along with him. time was all you had, and it had completely lost its meaning as well.

you lay down on the grass beside him, and tears started welling up in your eyes. the pain became so overwhelming that you sat up and began to breathe rapidly. your throat tightened, making it hard to breathe, and everything around you seemed to darken. the boy next to you became alert and studied you silently. you wanted to hug him and even reached your hand toward his, which was resting on the grass. however, before you could get closer, the boy grabbed his crossbow and shot a walker that was only a few meters away. you saw it fall and once again felt protected.

you placed your hand on his wrist, which caught his attention.

“what’s your name?” was all you could think to ask.

“daryl,” he replied.

“thanks, daryl.” you stood up, and he did as well.

“listen, daryl. you’re someone it’s easy to stay with, and i can’t afford to lose anyone else. i’m okay, or at least i will be. thank you for saving my life, twice… but i don’t want to be with someone and then be alone again…” you were honest, and the boy softened his gaze. he dropped his crossbow to the ground and gently ran his hand through your hair, untangling it. your eyes were red from the tears, and they burned again because of his moves. you didn’t want to feel this way, but it was the only way you could feel.

“what’s your name?” he asked, lifting your chin so you would look at him. you told him your name, even though it broke you to do so; your name was the last thing you had left from your family.

“let me stick around,” he whispered, and you recognized something in his eyes that made you take a step forward. this boy had been abandoned many times, not just physically but in other ways as well. ways you understood, even if your life might have seemed perfect to others. “you don’t gotta be alone.”

i don’t?

I Found Yea, Bunny

Daryl Dixon • She/Her Pronouns • Never did he think he’d find anyone to love him, then when someone did. The world ended • ANGST/SFW/NSFW • TW: Canon Violence / PTSD / Anxiety Attacks / Injuries

Note

“You still moping baby brother?” Merle kicked Daryl’s leg to get him to say anything. “What? Ain’t gonna talk when you’ve convinced me to stay at this pig’s camp? Come on Darylina, you’re killing me here”

“Fuck off Merle. Ain’t you going on that run?”

“Yeah, but the second I come back. No survivors” Merle jokes for the most part as he picks up his hunting rifle. “Seriously. If you’re still moping and being a lil bitch because of Y/N you just gotta get over it. She’s gone”

Hearing that last part for probably the millionth time, only started to trigger him. She can’t be gone kept him standing.

________

“See that chick over there? The short one”

“I don’t care about your next catch of the week, Merle.” Daryl scoffs taking another sip of his beer when a waiter walks by setting now another set of beers without either of them asking. “Hey wait I ain’t—“

“Curtesy of the two lovely ladies over there” They state before taking Merle’s empty one and heading back behind the bar.

Merle instantly wraps his arm around his brother staring at the two with him seeing obviously the more confident one wave at them as the other was more shy.

“I’ll take the taller one with the nice rack, and you take the shy one” Merle whispers patting his back making Daryl choke on his beer quickly wiping at his face as the two made their way over. “Heya ladies”

“Hey yourself, mind if we join you?” The one Merle was eyeing inches closer to his person making the smirk grow on his face.

“This is going to be a disaster” Daryl whispers to himself only for the other woman to giggle to his words.

“Wanna bet who’s going to ruin it? She’s not the steadiest drunk” She whispers back smiling when one started to crack out on his face.

“Bet it’s my brother and…?”

“I’ll bet on my friend Rachael. But I will most likely win”

“And why is tha—“ Daryl stops talking when Racheal suddenly jumped Merle’s bones right then and there. Knocking off her glass and his beer resulting in the broken glass. “Shit.”

“Nights still young I guess” the woman laughs watching the two roll on the dirty bar ground making one of the bar keeps come over to smack them with the broom to get up. “Didn’t catch your name by the way…didn’t get his either but he’s busy”

“Daryl…you?”

“Y/N”

________

“Why did you…not give up? Like the others did…yeah me askin’ shouldn’t matter anymore because..” Carol still couldn’t believe the whole barn situation, let alone what happened to her daughter.

“I’ve lost enough.”

And with that Carol knew more about Daryl than anybody else. He didn’t go into the grand details about it, all that before he and Merle met the quarry group…Daryl was looking for his other half. Not giving a damn of what Merle had to say about it. They hunted, stayed alive, and searched. That was it until something secure came along.

But seeing Rick be with his family, after being separated for months…Daryl wanted that same feeling. That same joy of being reconnected with the one you love.

Now the second good thing after the CDC, the farm was up in flames as Daryl got him and Carol out of there on his bike.

________

“Hey stranger” Y/N smiles letting Daryl into her studio as he was already looking around the place.

“You took these?” Daryl points to the still of the wildlife on one of the many tables as Y/N walks up beside him smiling.

“Yeah, cool right?”

“How’d yea manage to get them to stay still?”

“You said you hunt right? With your brother?” Y/N tilts her head waiting for Daryl’s confirmation which was a nod and a grunt. “Imagine without your weapon and bright orange vests…a camera and a bit more camouflage”

“You…being careful right?”

“Oh I don’t do this in hunting grounds, or well. Forests that have been reported to have people hunt in them before.” Y/N reassures hun with her always shining smile, letting him continue to go through the photos. “I have been asked to document hunters for a catalog. Going to get a few new hunting rifles and a couple compound bows, if you and your brother are interested”

Daryl thought about it as he couldn’t help the joy bubbling in him to hang out with her again. That night at the bar lead to coffee in the morning while his brother and her best friend were still occupying Daryl’s shitty apartment, and another night for drinks but just the two of them to get to know one another without taking care of somebody other than themselves, which brought them to Y/N’s studio that she was also living in.

“Yeah, why not”

Y/N squeals happily and hugging on Daryl as he instantly wrapped his arm around her. “You’re going to look great”

“Maybe bring Racheal to occupy Merle”

“Oh totally, or nothing will get done”

________

Daryl lays uncomfortably on the rocks after rolling down it from when the horse bucked him off and from using what little energy he had to try and scale the steep mountain to get back to the farm. He was in and out of consciousness when he perked up hearing her laugh.

“You’ve got yourself in a pickle, baby” Y/N knelt down beside Daryl’s body gently caressing his face. “Did Merle do this?”

“Nah baby….H-Horse…”

“Now you never learn from that one time, and you weren’t even the one bucked off that horse” She laughs and he couldn’t help the painful smile he wore listening to her. He was willing to die just listening. But he couldn’t. “Stay awake D. Once you find that sweet girl, you gotta find me.”

And with that. He did his best. His best got him back to the farm, walker looking and all, next thing you know.

Fire

Thud

Pain. A whole lot of fucking pain.

Once they questioned Daryl about what he found and Hershel having his priorities confirmed, he was finally left alone to recover in the safety of the house. Letting him get some much needed sleep.

________

Daryl watches her sleep peacefully beside him listening to her cute little snores and watching her curl up inching closer to his person. He couldn’t help himself by closing the space and gently wrapping his arm around her sleep form feeling her do the same pulling herself into his chest. He smiles listening her satisfied sigh when she finally got comfortable in his embrace.

“Stop watching me and sleep…” Y/N mumbles in a sleepy daze, smiling feeling him shift to cage her in his embrace. “Goodnight baby”

“Sweet dreams bunny”

________

He couldn’t help the tears that spilled waking up the next morning.

•

The prison became their home after they lost so much and fought for their safety.

Daryl wishes that the bus of Woodbury folk held his other half in it. But as he came to disappointment once again, he went back to it. Taking daily runs just to search for her and would always come back empty handed on that front. At least he doesn’t have to watch his found family starve or freeze to death given he’s been bringing back everything he could find. Feeling a little bit of joy in their happy faces when his runs were never focused on that to begin with. But just as important.

“Hey Daryl, hold up a sec” Glenn calls out to him right as Carl and Rick were about to open the gates for him.

“Need somethin’?”

“Yes and no…” He sighs. “We need to save up on gas for the run to that mega store. Don’t get me wrong, what you’re doing is helpful. But we really need to be more careful with our limited supplies”

Daryl knew he was using the supply they’ve had to do these runs and it was going to be brought up eventually. Guess his spontaneous runs at any hour, every day, have come to an end.

“Hey pookie” Carol smiles, enjoying the fact that that nickname annoys Daryl, watching him sit down beside her at one of the tables outside. “Couldn’t go on the run?”

“Got told not to. It’s whatever”

“Mmm. Is it though?” Carol nudges Daryl for more of what’s on his mind. More of why he does these runs. “You’ve always been looking for something and every time you come back with much needed supplies…but the look of disappointment rest in your eyes. Daryl what are you looking for out there?”

Carol is one of the few that Daryl trusts with his life and part of him didn’t want to talk about it. Or it brings the thought of loss back in his mind. The same thought that has him laying wide awake at night or waking to the anxiety inducing nightmare that his other half was ripped apart from the undead and or tortured by the monsters of men that litter the new world. But he couldn’t keep it a secret for much longer…

“My girl”

________

“Hey! You made it” Y/N smiles removing herself from the small group surrounding one of her photos displayed so that Daryl could happily bring her into his embrace. “Surprised Merle released you from whatever devilish act he had planned”

“A six pack did it”

“Figures” Y/N smiles parting from Daryl just enough to take his hand and walk with him through the whole exhibit. It was more than her art on display but Daryl could care less about the rest. Only hers was the best.

Daryl waited for the showcase to be over and he hung back to help take down what wasn’t sold of Y/N’s work. But also for him to have a more intimate moment with her.

“I’ve got somethin’”

“Yeah?”

“And I don’t wanna scare yea off, or think I’m moving too quick” Daryl sets down the once hanging piece to lean up against the wall before reaching into his pocket to take out a ring. Y/N was about to drop the pieces she was holding if Daryl didn’t explain himself right away. “It ain’t engagement. Even if I’m sure yer it for me, more a promise. Until the real deal”

“D, this isnt like…the blood money from Merle—-“

“Nah I stopped doing his crazy shit a bit ago. Have been doing commission for bikes and got a gig at a garage…you’ve…made me better and just wanted to do somethin’. Showed me love without consequence or pain…I just. Gotta know—-“

“I love you” Y/N cuts him off, setting everything in her hand down so that she could let him put the ring on her finger before taking his face gently in her hands. “You don’t have to say it back immedieatly. Timing is different for everyone…but I love you, and I know I want you in my life for the rest of it. Even after”

Daryl instantly pulled her flush against him feeling her arms find their spot around his neck as his around her waist. Taking in everything about her in that moment.

She was his other half

________

And he was hers

“Aaron, I don’t think these people will take our offering like it’s nothing. It just randomly appears”

“What do you suggest then?”

“We’re talking suggestions now?”

“Yeah, cuz Deanna saw potential with you in recruitment so thought I’d ask” Aaron whispers to Y/N beside him as the two were tracking a group for some time now.

“Our community isn’t the only one. That’s the feeling I get. These people, we don’t know if they got screwed over or not. They will be hostile and we can’t take that like it’s nothing”

“So…give up or what”

“I didn’t say that. Just if we get caught. Or Eric. Stand your ground but not with your weapon.” She frowns not liking the sound of the commotion coming from this group she couldn’t get a clear look of. “We need these people to trust us. And the element of surprise, is awful in this hell” she takes the binoculars from Aaron to get a look but were caught off guard by a walker approaching that he took care of. “Never was much a fan of surprises in the old world…”

“Didn’t you say your husband surprised you with that ring you’re wearing?”

“Yeah but that’s different”

“How so?”

“He was my other half” Y/N stored the binoculars in her back when the rain started. “We should head back to Eric, and discuss our next course of action”

“I agree with that notion” Aaron covered her back as they made their way to the cars they brought out from their community.

________

“One of my buyers, thought I got married because of my ring” Y/N fiddles with one of Daryl’s many wrenches from his work station in her garage as he was working on her car.

“What’d yea say?”

“Played along. I like the thought of you as my husband. My big strong protective sweetheart husband” She smiles watching the tips of Daryl’s ears turn a bright red when he said such as he tried to cover them for a moment.

“Told the guys at the garage yer my wife anyway”

“Really?!”

“Yeah, so they know if they fuck with yea. I’m knocking their teeth in” Daryl held his hand out for her to place the wrench she was messing with in such.

“But they can get the hint just from girlfriend”

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like the idea”

“Is that you asking me Daryl Dixon?”

“Yea want it to be?” He stops working to look at his girl who became a blushing mess at the thought, especially when he smirked at her knowing damn well she’d like that.

“I’d like some display. Nothing too public. Just us still” Y/N smiles spreading her legs from her seat on his bench for him to slot himself perfectly between them. Leaning into her, resting his hands on the table. “What?”

“I’ve got somethin’ but for now, yer my wife to everybody who asks”

“Unless it’s Merle and Racheal”

“Motherfuckers would be like “took yea long enough” let’s be real”

“Very true Dixon” She smiles pressing her lips against his shortly after as he quickly picks her up holding her up by the thighs. “Baby!”

“Think I need a break with my bunny” He smirks kissing her once more before carrying her inside.

________

“I’m not alone”

“Really now?” Rick glares into Aaron’s soul as he quickly drops everything in his person to avoid getting hurt even further if that was bound to happening. “Who else is with you?”

“My partner and my best friend. Except my friend is closer to this location”

“And y’all didn’t find her?” Rick questions Maggie and Sasha as the two looked at each other confused before watching the retired sheriff take Aaron by the collar. “Where the fuck is she?”

“Her husband was a t-tracker. Hunter—-she knows how to hide. Says it’s what saved her from outbreak day to now” Aaron was close to shaking but what he said perked the attention of the archer who stopped aiming his crossbow at him. “I can call her but you have to let go of me…”

“Rick” Daryl interrupts whatever thought he was having about such as Rick gave him a confused look. “Trust it. Let him. Now.”

The confused look stuck as he lets go of Aaron for him to reach into his bag keeping eye contact with Rick as he took his radio out.

“Dixon, come out.”

The name caused the group to look at Daryl confused but then suddenly ready their weapons to the ceiling of the barn when they heard a loud thud, then a roll, and finally footsteps outside the building. Daryl brought himself past Aaron to the door when they opened to reveal exactly who he’s been looking for.

“I told him he was only going to trigger y’all too—-“ Y/N stops speaking when she locked eyes with Daryl who hesitantly inched closer to her.

Daryl couldn’t help the overwhelming urge to grab her and pull her into his embrace as he brought himself right up to her.

“So, Dixon huh?”

“Like you’d want my last name…” Y/N tried, and failed to keep the tears from falling as she drops everything on her latching onto Daryl feeling his arms tighten firmly around her. “Hey baby”

“I found yea, bunny. I knew I would”

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