you’re not sure how you feel about him.

Merle was the one to initiate your introduction- sizing you up with a very obvious flicker of his eyes across your body, to a jaunty handshake that left you wondering how on Earth he could possibly be related to Daryl.

but, you forced yourself to accommodate to his flirtatious attitude when the group had decided he was one of them- despite his impulsive actions and smartass comments.

you could tolerate living amongst him.

most of the time.

“get ‘yer things, sweetheart. we’ll head out early tonight- see if we can find any good shit.”

it became a regular for the two of you- when the rest of the group went to sleep.

he’d drive one of the cars up into the city a couple miles from the prison- dig through the abandoned bar for anything remotely still consumable-

and just talk.

about life before the ‘end of the world’- about his brother- about your family, and if they were still alive.

anything.

it was a nice routine.