<3rd Person Pov>
The cars slowed and came to a stop just inside the yard, engines cutting off one by one until the yard fell quiet once again. Rick pushed the door open and stepped out first, his eyes already moving across the prison yard, sweeping the fences and towers.
One by one, the others filed out, all of them falling into a loose half-circle, scanning the yard with wary eyes.
But Rick's focus didn't stay on the walls or the towers for long. His eyes fixed on the men standing beside Itachi, and his pace shifted as he headed straight for them. The rest of the group hung back near the cars, their attention pulled towards the exchange, cautious and watchful as it began to unfold.
When Rick finally closed the distance, he came to a stop in front of them and extended his hand.
"Rick Grimes."
Oscar stepped forward first and took it firmly, his grip steady as he gave a small nod.
"Oscar Ward," he said in a respectful tone.
Axel stepped in next, flashing a quick grin as he shook Rick's hand.
"Axel," he said.
The last of the three moved forward, towering over the others but carrying himself with an easy calm. He took Rick's hand gently.
"Theodus," he introduced himself, then gave a small smile. "But most folks just call me Big Tiny."
"They're here to help everyone unload," Itachi said, motioning towards the three men beside him.
Rick gave a short nod. "Appreciate it."
Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly. "Hershel didn't come."
"We'll pick him up when we go get everything else," Rick said. "He wanted to say his goodbyes to the farm one last time."
He turned his attention back to the rest of the group, raising his voice so everyone could hear. "Alright people, let's get to work and start unloading."
The group stirred at his words, everyone already breaking off into motion but still keeping an eye on the prisoners.
Rick shifted back towards Itachi. "Glenn and Shane are staying with Hershel, just in case."
Itachi sent him a sidelong glance.
Rick let out a quiet sigh. "I told Shane to keep an eye out in case more walkers showed up. And Glenn… he wouldn't come unless Maggie was with him."
Itachi gave a small nod, saying nothing more, then turned his eyes back on the prisoners.
Oscar caught the look right away and nudged Axel and Big Tiny. The three of them moved off together to help the others unload.
Itachi glanced back at Rick. "And how are things with Shane?"
Rick didn't answer for a moment, lost in thought.
"I don't know... I don't even know what's going on inside my head right now. When we fought, I wanted to tear him apart and be done with it, and then there was this other part of me that wanted to reach out and pull him back up."
Rick dragged a hand down his face.
"I hate him… I really do. But at the same time I love him just the same."
The words hung between them for a moment before Rick went on.
"I don't see a middle ground. Either we find a way back to how we used to be, or one of us ends up dead."
He hesitated, his voice dropping lower. "Sorry for putting all this on you."
Itachi set a hand on Rick's shoulder.
"I was the one who brought it up. You don't need to be sorry for answering." He looked at Rick. "I may not have much to offer in the way of encouragement… but I can listen."
Rick gave a faint smile. "Thank you, really… for everything."
While the two of them stood off to the side, the rest of the group had already started unloading, getting their first real look at the prisoners as they worked alongside them.
Big Tiny came walking across the yard with two bags slung over each shoulder, hauling twice as much as anyone else without looking strained.
T-Dog caught sight of him and let out a low whistle. "Damn, man… you hiding a gym in there somewhere?"
Big Tiny chuckled as he set the bags down near the pile. "Nah… that's just my grandma's cooking, put muscle on me whether I wanted it or not"
T-Dog cracked a grin, shaking his head. "Gotta get me some of that recipe."
Big Tiny smiled, sincerely. "If I could, I'd trade you a plate right now."
The moment drew a few small laughs from the others nearby, easing some of the tension as the work carried on.
Axel had been hauling bags from the truck, but his eyes weren't on the work for long. He spotted Amy struggling with a duffel bag and wandered over, wiping his hands on his pants as he put on that easy grin of his.
"Here, let me get that for you, darlin'," he said, sliding in close like he was doing her a favor.
Amy felt him closing in and shifted back a step, her grip tightening on the bag. She gave a small, polite smile. "It's alright… I can handle it."
Axel chuckled and waved his hand, dismissing it. "Wouldn't sit right with me, watching a lady do the heavy lifting."
Amy's voice lost all of its softness. Her eyes fixed on him with a sharpness that didn't belong to the girl she usually showed the group. "I said I've got it."
Before Axel could get another word out, a sharp crack split the air. He stiffened at once, the sound ringing too close, and then he felt it — a sudden warmth sliding across his cheek.
His hand shot up on instinct. When his fingers came back smeared red, his grin vanished. He blinked hard, gaze dragging past Amy until he caught sight of the kunai lodged in the ground.
Axel's chest tightened as he slowly turned his head.
Itachi stood a few yards away, right at Rick's side, calm as if nothing had happened. But another kunai rested between his fingers, balanced and ready to fly at the slightest shift.
Rick's hand had drifted down to rest on his pistol holster, eyes locked on the scene.
From the edge of his vision came the faint scrape of steel leaving leather. Axel turned and saw Daryl, knife already drawn, ready to cut him down at a moment's notice.
Oscar noticed the shift immediately and ran forward, both hands raised.
"Easy now," he said quickly, glancing between Rick, Daryl, and Itachi. "Ain't no need for this. Axel was just running his mouth, like he always does. He didn't mean anything by it."
Axel swallowed hard, forcing a shaky laugh as he turned back to Amy. "Sorry about that, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
Itachi's gaze lingered on Axel before he finally slipped the kunai back into place. Daryl followed suit, sheathing his knife, and Rick eased his hand away from his holster.
Axel rubbed the back of his neck and awkwardly went back to hauling boxes, keeping his head low.
The tension bled out of the yard as the group went back to work. Conversations picked up again. Bit by bit, the piles from the trucks grew smaller.
When most of the gear was finally unloaded, Rick gave the signal. Andrea climbed into the RV, heading out to fetch the others, along with the last of the supplies left behind at the farm.
The rest stayed behind and focused on moving the weapons and supplies to the cell block. The prisoners helped with carrying everything, but not once were they allowed near the guns and ammo.
When the first of the group stepped inside the block, Rick spoke up. "At night we'll lock the main entrance. I've got the keys, and Itachi has the spare."
He looked at the cells. "Two people per cell. Just pick yours."
Daryl gave the row of cells a quick look before turning away. "I ain't sleepin' in no cage. I'll take the perch."
T-Dog set his bag down in one of the cells. "Guess I just made history. First black man happy to sleep in a cell."
Jacqui walked up right after him and dropped her bag inside the same cell. She smirked. "And you just broke another record, first inmate to land himself a female cellmate."
A couple of laughs rippled through the group, breaking some of the tension.
Jenner gave a small smile as he walked to one of the cells. "This is the safest place I've seen since the CDC… so not much complaining from me."
One by one, the rest followed suit. Bags were dropped, cells claimed, voices carrying softly through the block as people made their choices. It wasn't home, not yet, but it was shelter that could lock against the outside.
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🧪 Author's Note:
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