Warnings: Kissing. Merle at the end :|. Daryl is a simp. OOC Daryl(Possibly). I imagine y'all 20-somethings in this.
Setting: Pre-Apocalypse (early 2000s-ish)
Summary: Alternate title could be Daryl Dating a Y2K baddie.
Daryl stands awkwardly outside a store in the mall. The branded shopping bags are in his hands as he stares off into space, waiting for you. His day started off knowing he had to go to your place. Why? He completely forgot. Daryl just knew in his gut he had to go to your place today. What he arrived to was far from what he expected.
Clothes were scattered on the floor as the sounds of running around caught his attention. Hearing your door open, you step out to see Daryl. Your hair is styled nicely, and your makeup is done to perfection. The outfit you’re wearing makes him avoid your gaze. His ears turned red from how pretty you looked.
“Baby!” You run up to him carefully, with your face not wanting to smudge your makeup on his clothes. Your meticulously done make-up has yet to set properly.
“What are you getting ready for?” You look at him in disbelief but smile at his confusion. A lot of things were running through Daryl’s mind, and maybe the outfit he chose was wrong for the occasion. Was he too casual? Did he forget today was one of those fancier date nights?
“Remember, baby, you said you’ll go to the mall with me today?” Daryl’s shoulders relax and go right up again. He suddenly remembers the conversation about the mall. Coordinating the time and day of your mall date despite his grumbling about how he hates the mall. He was too shy to say no to your pleading about going with him.
So this is how he ended up waiting outside with your shopping bags, hoping you’ll come out soon, hoping to leave the mall and go home. He looks around, seeing other men also standing around waiting for their girlfriends. He feels out of place, and maybe he should have dressed a bit nicer. The heads you turned also left him in shock at how he managed to be your boyfriend.
Daryl knew the bonus you were getting on your next paycheck would lead him to the mall. You saved up so much, and this bonus was the straw that broke the camel's back. He saw your eyes shining and the smile that was so big he knew he couldn’t say no when you were first bringing it up. Merle made fun of him for how whipped he was for you, and maybe he had a point.
This bonus was so good, you ended up getting Daryl an outfit too. You were on the splurge of a century. He had a new pair of jeans that didn’t feel tattered and a button-up shirt that you said looked good on him. It felt too fancy on him, a little on the tighter side, but the way you looked at him and the bite of your lip told him it wouldn’t be such a bad purchase. Any and every store that caught your interest had you rushing in.
The first few stores in Daryl followed. Your attempts to include him led him to look at 5 jeans that looked the same to him, but were all somehow different. Reaching dead ends with his opinion, Daryl designated himself outside of every store, waiting for you.
The shoe stores had him overwhelmed because your closet was cluttered with heels and boots that all seemed to be needed for any and every occasion. He doesn’t understand your need for so much, but it makes you happy. You also look really pretty, so who was he to complain about your shopping habits?
One mini skirt you tried on caught his eye. The embroidered pockets and cute gemstones had him muttering under his breath in awe. His eyes glues to the way your but and hips looked in the piece of clothing had you rushing in line to buy the skirt. Daryl actually managed to hand money to the cashier before you could pull out your card to pay. A look of love was directed at him. With one final stop out of the mall, you get a smoothie to refresh yourselves after a day of shopping. Daryl has one hand clutching all the bags while you grip onto the other arm. He leads the way to his truck as you give him sips of your drink.
The shopping trip ends with Daryl putting the bags in the backseats of his truck. Placed neatly as you watch. Enjoying the show of his arm flexing and his cute butt facing you. You come up with his reward for pushing through under all his grumbling and feigned impatience.
Daryl turns back to face you. He’s met with you, kissing him on the lips. He melts into the kiss. Your hands grip his shirt, pulling him as close as you can. He tastes cherry on your lips, and he groans softly at the taste. His eyes were fluttering closed as you kissed him so gently, and he gripped your hips tightly in need. Your touch is soft and kind, with the warmth your body radiates makes him fall deeper into the kiss. It’s slightly messy with your lip gloss all over his lips. The glittery rogue leaves a sheen that’s evidence of the crime. Feeling a warmth in his chest, only you can give. You slowly pull away. The heels of your shoes click onto the ground, and you look to see that Daryl’s eyes are half lidded with a haze.
Giggling at his shiny lips, you leave one more kiss on the corner of his mouth. “Thank you baby.”
“For what?” He’s slowly blinking at you, coming back to reality. The smell of your perfume makes him chase after you. Leaning in to brush his lips. Intoxicated by your touch and taste, he slightly forgets he’s in the shopping mall parking lot.
“For taking me to the mall silly.” Giggling at his dazed state, your manicured nails scratch the back of his head.
“It’s whatever.” You hug him tight, popping your foot up from glee.
“Now let’s get dinner baby! I want burgers but what are you feeling?” You let go of him as he reaches for the car door to open it for you.
≻───── ˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗ ─────≺
Daryl arrived home in the late hours. The sun is practically gone, with the red hues in the sky barely visible. The trailer he shares with Merle is lit within, and the sound of the old box TV plays. He comes in holding the bag of clothes you bought him with care.
Merle blows out a loud whistle. “Had a fun time, Darlina? All that shiny on yer lips would make me think otherwise if you didn’t have that lil girlfriend of yours.”
“Shut up, Merle!” Rushing to his room, Daryl rubs away the remnants of lip gloss and glitter.
“I bet she couldn’t! Your little date must have been fun!” Merle hears the door slam and chuckles. Quietly happy for his brother but never not being a little shit.
I do not authorize the reposting of my work without my permission, and fed into AI.
