#imagine the walking dead
When I Found You (Pt. 01 of 18)
Pairing:Daryl Dixon X Reader | Negan X daughter! Reader
Word count: 2 K
Summary:You saw Negan build his empire, saw your father become a monster, a murderer, and never had the courage to stand your ground. So everything you do it help as much people as you can, carrying the guilt of being part of it. But one day, your world is shaken when you find him, the man with blue eyes locked up inside a cage. You decide to help him, to keep his community safe. And for that, you’ll have to pretend you and Daryl are in love… But how long until the lie becomes the truth?
Warnings:Some sensitive topics such as mentions and light descriptions of self-harm. (I kept it light, so don’t worry about graphic descriptions.)
A/N:I wanna special thanks (and give a lot of credit) to my absolutely awesome friend @multific, who helped me with a lot of ideas, and also with the final review of the text. Love you, girl!!
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Blue Eyes
You’re not the type of person who uses the end of the word as an excuse to have your way with things. To take what isn’t yours, claim and keep it, just because you happen to have the upper hand. You never had it in you, the evilness, the darkness to fall into such position.
But here you are, surrounded by those who think otherwise.
Walking fast through the halls, your mind plays back everything you heard. You had to sit there, smile and nod, as Negan spoke about what he did. And what he plans to do. It makes you sick, almost to the point of throwing up what you had for lunch, only a couple of hours ago. Their description was graphic.
Negan told you all about how the guy’s eyeball popped out, and how he was still standing.
You can deal with the dead, their falling skin, and disgusting, rotting corpses… But the living… Maybe it makes you a pussy, but you don’t care. There’s still humanity in you, and as stupid as it may be, you hope there’s still a way of life that doesn’t suck other people dry. A way to survive without having to steal, cheat or kill.
With a hand on your stomach, tears started to fill your eyes, you’re relieved when you reach the hall, a breath flowing out as your fingers struggle with the locker.
This cell is the only place you feel alone. Where you allow yourself to cry. The only place you allow yourself to be weak.
Of course, it doesn’t always work. Sometimes you break down in your apartment too, but still, you can’t set yourself free from these cold, dark walls.
When the locker clicks, you sigh, sliding the metal door open. But the wave of relief is taken back as you freeze, your attention falling on the figure in the darkness, dirty and naked. His eyes, unbelievably blue, reflecting the light coming from the hall behind you, are quick to find yours.
For a moment, you wonder if this is real. With a hand holding the metal and the other flat next to your body, all words and thoughts seem to have left you. Whoever this man is, he’s not only being held a prisoner. Nobody here is just a prisoner. They’re always here for a reason, and they’re treated like animals until they break.
You never saw anyone in this position, but your heart breaks for him. There’s strength in his eyes, anger… But there’s also pain.
“What are you doing here?” The voice snaps you out of your state, and you blink a few times, stepping back and turning to find Dwight.
Shaking your head lightly, you quickly remember to put on the act. It’s better this way. “Excuse me?”
“Oh.” He exclaims before falling on one knee. “Forgive me.”
“What are you doing here?” You repeat his question, very aware of the man in the cell, feeling his eyes on you.
“I came to feed him.” Dwight stands back up, showing you the tray he’s holding with a single sandwich that looks disgusting.
“What the hell is that?”
“Dog food.” He quickly answers, not seeming to be bothered by it. “Your father’s orders.”
Your father’s orders indeed.
Clenching your hand into fists, you take a deep breath. “Go and make me one of your sandwiches. The real thing.” Keeping your voice nice and soft, you take the tray from his hands. “Double that, actually. Let’s have a nice meal together, you and I.”
Dwight furrows his eyebrows before nodding, leaving at a fast pace to follow your command. Of course, he finds it weird, you never spoke to him. But you don’t care about what he thinks. Your instructions are to be followed, without questioning. As are Negan’s.
Leaving the tray on a small wooden table near the wall, you turn back to the man. He didn’t move, but his eyes are set on you.
You helped a lot of people here without Negan knowing about it because they were under his radar. But you get the feeling this man isn’t. But still, you can’t see yourself walking away, leaving him in this dark cell, eating that shit, and going through whatever your father has in store for him.
Quickly walking over to the cell, you stop by the door, unsure if you should step any closer. Crouching down, you wonder why he hasn’t broken eye contact yet. There’s a gun with you, secure in the holster attached to your thigh. But you hope you won’t have to use it. “Hey.” You whisper, wondering what else could you say. “I’m sorry they’re doing this to you.” They? You’re part of this too, whether you want it or not. “I’ll try to help–”
“(Y/N)?” The voice, familiar this time, makes you stand up. “What… The hell is going on?” Jim is quick to approach you, peaking inside the cell.
Sighing, you pull the door close, but only halfway. “Dwight, he…” Running a hand through your hair, you feel a little dizzy. But you must get it together. This is not the place to break down, someone else might come. “I came to the cell and found this man. Dwight is giving him dog food.”
“Alright, breath.” Jim holds both your arms, and you do as he says. He’s the only one who knows how you feel. At least some of it. But he does know you come to this cell every once in a while, and he knows it makes you mad to see how some people are treated here. “What do you want to do about this?” He glances at the man, and you do the same. He seems… Interested in this conversation. And why wouldn’t he be? This must sound like some kind of trap to him, coming from his captors.
“I don’t know.” You start listening to footsteps, so you stand up straighter, as you feel like you’re falling into character. It doesn’t take much until Dwight comes to your sight, a small plastic Tupperware in his hand. “Good. Took you long enough.”
“I’m sorry for the delay. James.” He mutters, handing you the plastic box.
Taking a look at both sandwiches, you smile. They’re delicious, you bet. “Well, let’s eat.” Without any ceremony, you step inside the cell, reaching out your arm and giving that man the Tupperware.
“Wait.”
“Shut up.” You bark, as the man basically rips the thing from your hand after some seconds of hesitation, and starts devouring it. “You’ll eat too, Dwight.” You say as you move back to the wooden table, leaning on it, both hands resting on each side of the tray.
Dwight scoffs, exchanging a glance with Jim. “I–”
“You know I never ask twice.” With a warning tone, you push the tray forward. “Eat.”
Your voice echoes a little as you raise it, growing impatient. You were deprived of a moment you needed so much, stomach feeling weird and head spinning. Push it back, you tell yourself. Keep it locked up. This isn’t your cell, you can’t break down now.
When Dwight takes the sandwich and bites it, you wish you could show off a bright smile, as Negan would. Happy to see your command followed, delighted to humiliate someone. But that’s not how you feel at all.
Dwight chokes a little but swallows his bite, eyes on you, wondering if that was it. “How long has this man been here?”
“Some days. Three or four, I think.”
“And I believe you have been feeding him with this shit since the beginning, am I right?” Crossing your arms, you pace around. Dwight nods, and by the look on his face, you can tell he’s waiting. Waiting for the next move, or some sort of torture. You could easily get it done. Negan backs you up about everything. You can throw Dwight into this very cell, feed him dog good for a week, burn him, cut off a finger or two… Anything you want.
This world belongs to you too, says Negan, and your desires must be attended to.
“Then finish your sandwich.” You simply say because you might have Negan’s blood, but you don’t share his principles.
Dwight is fast to obey, probably thinking it’s best to just get done with it. And you watch, occasionally glancing at the man. He’s cold, it suddenly gets to you. The nights are terrible, and the thought of him there, completely naked, shivering all night long makes you clench your hands into fists.
“I want you to stay here until my men come.” You start, a hard stare set on the blond. “They will carry out my orders, and if Negan happens to come here before they do, you’ll find me immediately. Did I make myself clear?”
“Absolutely.” He sounds confused, and you can see the gears moving in his head as he tries to understand what you’re doing.
But he doesn’t have to know. “Great. Jim, c'mon.”
“Right away.” He mutters before following you.
•••
It does look like you have everything under control from the outside because inside your head, you’re walking in the dark. Pacing around your living room, a hand playing with your lower lip, you try to come up with the next move.
A low knock on your door gets you moving, unlocking and pulling it open before allowing Jim to come inside.
“It’s done.” He says, looking down at you as he takes something from his pocket. “He was set in the apartment and this is the key.”
Taking the small piece of metal, you hold it in your hand, bring the fist to your heart. “What do I do, James?” This was settled in a rush, and you don’t know what your father wants with that man. You do feel better to know he’s in a good place now, where he won’t be cold or hungry. But the rest… You’re clueless.
“I have bad news, (Y/N).” Jim starts, making his way over the couch. You follow but chose to stand on your feet. “I went around, listened to some people, and put the pieces together. That man’s name is Daryl, and he’s part of that group from Alexandria.”
“Shit.” You mutter, biting your index finger.
“Yeah, shit. Negan’s hate for that group reaches a whole new level.”
“I know.”
“Alexandria is promising. And we know they’re making alliances with different communities, so it means they won’t only survive, they’ll prosper. And have a hell of a good life as we have here. Maybe even better.”
“I know.” You repeat, eyes on the floor.
“Negan doesn’t want to just take their stuff, he wants them to give him a reason so he can punish them.”
“I know.” Dropping to the couch beside him, you sigh. You had to listen, for hours, Negan talking about that group. How they fooled him, killed many of his men. And your father developed a fury towards Rick, their leader, that you never saw before. “I don’t care, Jim. I’ll tell father to leave them alone.”
“And what will you say when he asks why?”
“I’ll say Daryl and I are friends.”
“(Y/N), you can’t possibly think Negan will give up on a whole community over someone you befriend overnight.”
What would you do without Jim? He’s the one to do the thinking when you’re overwhelmed, unable to put things together. “I’ll make him believe.”
“Your father does everything you ask, but without a believable reason, he’ll think you’re joking around and laugh at your face. You know it. You know him.”
Closing your eyes, you run a hand through your hair. “What should I do then?”
“Why do you want to help this man so much? You don’t know him, he could be evil.” Jim touches your back, rubbing it softly.
“I know evil. I’m surrounded by evil men. He isn’t. I saw it in his eyes…” You have no idea how to explain it, you just feel it. You just know it, somehow. “He’s a good man, Jim. Trust me.”
“I do. And I might have an idea, but I’m damn sure this Daryl won’t go with it.” Jim is suddenly thoughtful, that blank expression he makes when he’s putting some sort of plan together. “It’s quite crazy, but it might work. I can see Negan buying it if you work well.”
“I’m in. What is it?”
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