(Daryl Dixon x reader) Some Kind of Shelter

1. The Ones we Carry

A/N: Thanks so much for picking up this story. If you want just a little more Daryl this is the playlist I made for him. ⬆️

Daryl Dixon Vibes 🏹🖤

Scan the code above to listen. Let me know what you think or if you're having trouble finding it.

Y/n pov

The woods are quieter than I expected. Not silent, there's still the shuffle of boots, the occasional crack of a twig, but quiet in that way that makes me feel like I'm somewhere I shouldn't be.

We're not helping. I know that. I have no clue what to look for other than a freckled little girl, but Ivy, well, Ivy's got a heart too big for her body and a mouth to match, and it's clear Daryl Dixon doesn't know what to do with either.

He's ahead of us, crouched by a muddy patch of earth, fingers tracing something I can't see. Carol's behind him, arms hugging herself.

"Is that a deer print or a person print?" Ivy asks for the third time. Daryl doesn't look up.
"And how do you tell the difference, anyway? Is it the toes?"

"Ivy," I keep my voice low, but firm.
"Let him concentrate."

"She's fine," Daryl grunts.

"So it is a deer print?" she tries again.

He stands abruptly.
"Deer don' wear fuckin' shoes," he mutters.

"Jeez," Ivy huffs.
"Don't gotta be a dick." She tests the new word.

I try not to laugh. Clearing my throat when it tries to slip out.

Daryl turns his head, eyes narrowing at me, then turns back to the dirt.

"Didn't mean it like that," he grabs his bow strap, standing up to walk again.

Carol's eyes are still on the trees, not giving our exchange any attention.

Ivy tugs on my sleeve.
"Did I say it wrong?" she whispers.

"I specifically said you're not allowed to use strong words towards people. Just when expressing your own feelings, remember?" I take her hand in mine.

"Yeah, I remember," she looks down to pout.

"But, he cursed first, so maybe this is an exception. Just this once though. Your smart mouth might get you in trouble with the wrong people." I squeeze her hand.

"So Daryl's a right person?" Her eyebrows scrunch.

"I don't know. He sure worked hard to keep everyone fed in the quarry, and he's doing a lot to find Sophia. Do you think that makes him a right person?" I say, knowing it's very likely Daryl can hear, even if he's not actively listening.

"He gets angry a lot though." She squints in his direction.

I take a breath hoping what I'm about to say won't rub Daryl the wrong way.

"Well, he's under a lot of stress just like everyone else and he just lost someone very important to him. Sometimes when you're angry you cry. Sometimes when you're sad you yell. Sometimes when you're scared you laugh."

"So he's sad then?" Ivy asks, watching him like she's already made up her mind.

"I don't know, just sometimes our actions don't show how we feel, but all emotions are ok as long as you're not using them to hurt someone else. Understand?"

"Yeah, I got it." She lets go of my hand, running back to Daryl to ask him three questions a minute.
"Is that poison ivy?"

"No." Daryl responds, flat.