[ After stumbling back from the castle together, traumatized and spent, Jesse hadn't known what to think. Their first time together could be explained away - Daryl's monster form taking over, taking Jesse whether either of them wanted it or not. The second time, not so much. And then tonight? It's not just that he'd stuck with Daryl, or everything that had happened in the gallery and afterwards. They'd both said some stuff - thought some stuff - that has Jesse feeling overwhelemed. Vulnerable. But in a good way, almost. He doesn't regret it, at least, apart from the fact that it had happened the way it had, that Daryl had been captured and punished like that.
They don't say much that night, just fall into bed wrapped around each other the way they have been for weeks, the way that's become a habit without Jesse noticing. And then nothing much changes for a little while. Jesse bounces early the next morning, needing to clear his head for a little while, and when he's back Daryl's gone. He comes back smelling like booze, but he comes back that night and every other - sometimes with fresh-cut firewood or small animals he'd caught and skinned out in the woods, sometimes with nothing but a hangover to show for it - but always returning to curl up and sleep together. Just sleep, nothing else.
Jesse wakes up one morning a few weeks later, opening his eyes to gaze at the sunlight streaming in the tiny window. Daryl's still got one arm slung heavy over his waist, but he's awake. Jesse somehow just knows. And suddenly he knows with just as much clarity that he doesn't wanna spend the day kicking around town by himself, avoiding both the tavern and the woods to give Daryl the space he hasn't asked for but clearly wants. He doesn't wanna wait for him to trudge in late at night from wherever he's spending his days and fall in bed together without talking. ]
Hey.
[ He speaks just loud enough for Daryl to hear, not looking back at him. ]
no subject
They don't say much that night, just fall into bed wrapped around each other the way they have been for weeks, the way that's become a habit without Jesse noticing. And then nothing much changes for a little while. Jesse bounces early the next morning, needing to clear his head for a little while, and when he's back Daryl's gone. He comes back smelling like booze, but he comes back that night and every other - sometimes with fresh-cut firewood or small animals he'd caught and skinned out in the woods, sometimes with nothing but a hangover to show for it - but always returning to curl up and sleep together. Just sleep, nothing else.
Jesse wakes up one morning a few weeks later, opening his eyes to gaze at the sunlight streaming in the tiny window. Daryl's still got one arm slung heavy over his waist, but he's awake. Jesse somehow just knows. And suddenly he knows with just as much clarity that he doesn't wanna spend the day kicking around town by himself, avoiding both the tavern and the woods to give Daryl the space he hasn't asked for but clearly wants. He doesn't wanna wait for him to trudge in late at night from wherever he's spending his days and fall in bed together without talking. ]
Hey.
[ He speaks just loud enough for Daryl to hear, not looking back at him. ]
You wanna...do somethin' today?