Chapter Text
Merle slid the blade into the Walker's skull with a satisfying squelch. Kicking the body to the ground he removed the knife from its head and wiped the blade clean on the pants of the corpse.
Lifting his eyes to the sky Merle spotted a large group of thunderheads on the horizon.
Sighing inwardly Merle knew he had to find his brother and get out of the woods before a torrential downpour that was to come happened.
Upon hearing a twig snap Merle whipped around, his right hand gripping the handle on his knife but relaxed as his brother came out from behind a copes of trees with about a dozen squirrels hanging from his belt, crossbow slung over his shoulder.
"Gotta to get a move on lil brother, storms comin".
Daryl adjusted his hold on the squirrels "find anything?".
Merle held up three rabbits "yep an' this guy" and pointed to the Walker lying dead upon the ground.
Daryl huffed a laugh "let's get outta here".
----&----
Making their way out of the woods and onto the road the brothers got back to their truck only to find the front left tire flat.
Daryl swore and kicked the tire. Merle chuckled as the two climbed inside the truck's cab and shut the doors where they waited for the storm to pass.
Settling into the interior of the truck's cab which was musty and smelled of cigarettes Merle leaned against the passenger side window and was about to drift off when Daryl spoke "do ya miss our life from before all this?".
Sitting up Merle's brow furrowed "ya mean before the dead started walkin'? No, not really but I do miss some stuff".
Daryl picked at a stray thread on the seat "like what?".
Merle racked his brain for an answer "oh I don't know, ma' job at the garage, ma' apartment, stupid shit like that. Why ya ask?".
Daryl signed "jus' reminiscing is all. I'll tell ya what I don't miss, our alcoholic Dad".
Merle nodded "I agree with you on that but ya know who I really miss?".
"Who?".
"Mom".
The two got teary eyed.
"You remember how she was always baking somethin' everytime we'd come visit?".
Merle smiled at the memory "yeah, house always smelt like her sugar cookies an' apple pie".
Daryl nodded "yeah cancer's a bitch".
Merle wiped his eyes "it is lil brother".
A silence spilled the truck while outside the rain fell at a steady pace.
Merle settled against the passenger window again "let's get some sleep, we ain't going anywhere tonight".
Daryl must have agreed because when Merle looked at the driver's side his brother was fast asleep.
----&----
Merle awoke to an aching back and a full bladder. Opening the door he stepped out of the truck and inhaled the crisp cool air of the early morning.
And as he smoked his morning cigarette Merle rubbed at the old scars that littered his inner forearms.
He wasn't afraid to admit he'd battled with depression, after six years in the army and losing part of his left leg it took all the love and support of his brother, momma and brother-in-law plus a few years of therapy to help him feel better.
Stubbing out of cigarette Merle opened the tailgate of the truck. Digging around in a crate he grabbed a toilet paper roll, shut the gate and headed into the woods.
Finding a private spot behind a live oak Merle squatted down low and peed. Reaching for the toilet paper roll he froze at the sound of footsteps close by.
Sniffing the air Merle relaxed and continued peeing. The familiar scent of pine forest, smoke and moonshine permeated his nose telling him his brother was nearby.
"Hey go find yer own tree".
Daryl chuckled "nope too late, already started".
Merle rolled his eyes "fine I'm done anyway, see ya back at the truck".
Zipping himself up Merle headed back.
----&----
Fixing the tire they made it back to Alexandria before sunset. After helping Daryl with the squirrels Merle retreated to his ground floor apartment for a shower and some much-needed sleep.
Stepping into his bedroom he removed the gun holster from around his waist followed by his boots, socks and shirt.
Once in the bathroom he stepped out of his jeans then carefully removed his prosthetic leg, leaning it against the wall within reach outside the shower.
Turning on the shower he didn't have to wait long before the water got hot. Once warm Merle stepped in carefully and sat down under the spray of water, washing away three days of dirt and grime.
----&----
Merle stepped out of the shower and into his bedroom feeling much better. Grabbing a pair of grey sweatpants and blue boxers he sat down on the bed and was about to put them on when he stopped.
Lifting his wrist to his nose he inhaled. Merle swore as he tossed the clothes aside.
His normal Omega scent of vanilla, motor oil and smoke was muddled with the scent of peaches, signaling he was about to go into heat soon.
Frustrated Merle figured now was a good time as any to let the tension he was now feeling out.
Locking his bedroom door Merle grabbed a bottle of lube from his bedside table along with a vibrator.
Lubing up the toy Merle spread his legs and put it up against his clit, turning it on. Moving his hips from side to side Merle shut his eyes and let himself relax.
Panting he rubbed the vibrator faster continuing to rock his hips until his orgasm took over, collapsing backwards onto the bed.
Satisfied for the time being Merle cleaned up, dressed and went to sleep.
----&----
The supply run turned into a complete disaster.
Having ran into an unknown Alpha male on the road and losing a truck full of supplies to a lake the three dragged themselves and the mysterious Alpha male back to Alexandria.
Merle hadn't been sure if you wanted to go with Rick and Daryl, even though his heat was a week away.
But with some reassurance from his brother-in-law it helped put him at ease.
Exhausted from the day Merle was just about to turn in when a noise from upstairs alerted him.
Grabbing his gun from atop a dresser Merle carefully made his way up the stairs.
Finding his nephew in the hall Merle made the sign for quiet and snuck up behind the man pointing the gun to the back of his head.
"Don't move. Turn around slowly".
The man froze. Doing as he was told, turning to face the Omega.
Merle's hazel eyes narrowed "the hell you doin' here Rovia?".
Paul held his hands up defensively "I can explain".
Merle held the guns steady "start talkin".
"I need to talk to Rick".
"Lil late fer that don't cha think? It's three in the morning".
It was at that moment a door opened and Rick stepped into the hallway.
Rick put a hand on his brother-in-law's shoulder "I got it from here".
Merle put the gun away.
Daryl appeared beside his brother. Helping him down the stairs Rick took hold of the rogue Alpha and led him out the door.
----&----
Paul Rovia considered himself a reasonable Alpha. But being thrown into a jail cell for accidentally sending a truck full of supplies into a lake ( in all honesty it really wasn't his fault, it was the parking break) was ridiculous.
His mood had become increasingly more tetchy as he sat alone in his cell. He'd tried to busy himself by twiddling his thumbs or concocting an elaborate escape plan, but all that seemed to dissipate into a puff of smoke when an Omega walked in.
He froze, almost as if he'd been splashed with ice water as the Omega grabbed a chair and sat down in front of the cell.
The Omega smirked "can't seem ta' stay outta trouble can ya Rovia".
Paul gave an exasperated sigh "look, I'll tell you what I told your brother and Rick, losing the truck was not my fault".
"Oh so yer saying the truck magically popped into gear an' rolled into the lake all by itself. That it?".
The Alpha gave him an incredulous look.
Getting up from the chair Merle approached the cell, leaning forwards against the bars his hazel eyes flecked with gold.
"I'm tired of yer games Rovia, ya know damn well sending that truck into the lake was your fault. Ma' people needed that food an' you took it upon yourself ta' steal it".
Paul took a deep measured breath as he attempted to keep his temper under control.
"My people needed those supplies too, your-".
"You can piss in ma' ear an' tell me it's raining, that don't mean I believe ya".
Paul growled and lunged forward at the bars of the cell causing Merle to stagger backward.
"Enough!" Yelled Paul, his eyes glowed crimson, Alpha's fangs bared. His temper having reached a boiling point.
Merle stood his ground. His eyes too turning crimson red in anger "or what asshole!? I ain't some meek Omega you can push around an' take advantage of. So when yer ready ta' talk like a civilized person, ya let me know".
Throwing the chair aside Merle left the room leaving Paul in the dark.