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Description
You walk quietly through the prison cells. After the outbreak, you learned to be silent. You're not really certain what you're doing now, just that you're bored and had a desire to explore the cells. That, and you are trying to avoid Rick. If you had to spend one more minute with him, you feel you might explode. You like him too much. His quiet agony is slowly tearing at your heart. You really just want to hug him, whisper to him that you're there and everything will be okay. But you didn't think he would let you. You keep walking aimlessly, thinking about Rick while trying not to think about Rick. You're in a nearly deserted section of the prison when you hear a quiet sniffling. You furrow your brow, thinking it might be one of the kids lost or something. You peer around the corner and once you see who's there, you whip back out of sight, your heart racing. Rick is sitting on the floor of the corridor, his face in his hands and his shoulders heaving. You stand there listening until he grows quiet. You're not sure if you should show yourself. You feel guilty for stumbling upon him. You don't have to think much longer though, because Rick speaks.
"Who's there? I know someone is there," he calls out.
You squeeze your eyes shut for a second. How did he know? Then you step out from the edge of the wall.
"It's me," you say softly.
Rick's eyes are bloodshot and he looks too tired to care that you heard him crying. "What're you doing here?" he asks warily.
"I'm sorry-I-I....I didn't mean to intrude. I was just doing some exploring," you try to explain. You hope he doesn't think you're a creeper or something. Rick smiles a little, amusement clear in his eyes.
"Come sit." He pats the ground next to him. You stand uncertain for a second before you do as he says.
You lower yourself next to Rick, careful to keep a good amount of distance. Neither of you says anything for a moment.
Then you ask, "Are you okay?"
Rick scoffs. "Are we ever okay?"
You frown. "I wasn't asking if we were okay. I was asking if YOU were okay."
Rick looks away from the ground to meet your eyes. His blue eyes pierce yours right though to your heart.
"No. But I have to be," he says.
You keep meeting his gaze when the next words slip out of your mouth. "Not with me."
You're suddenly aware of how close Rick is to you. You hadn't realized while you were talking, both of you had moved closer to each other.
Rick's eyes soften and he reaches his hand up to brush your hair away from your face. You lean your head into his hand instinctively, closing your eyes.
Rick's lips meet yours, carefully at first. Eager, you push back harder and Rick deepens the kiss. It becomes more and more fervent, each of you not knowing how much longer you can enjoy it. When Rick pulls back, he smiles, perhaps the first real smile you've ever seen him make since you met him. Something wet falls down your cheek and you realize you're crying. Rick rubs his thumb across your cheek, removing the tear.
"I love you, Rick," you say, emotion choking your voice.
You see tears fill Rick's eyes and his jaw tightens. "And I love you," he whispers. He slips his arm around your shoulders and you lean into his side. You sit there with Rick for a while, happy you have time together.