<3rd Person Pov>
The sound of boots echoed faintly through the corridor as Rick, Itachi, and Daryl made their way back into Block C. Some of the others were still scattered around the common area, sorting supplies or talking among themselves.
Jim was the first to notice them. He set aside Dale's old tools he'd been sorting, and called out, "How'd it go?"
Itachi was the first to answer. "We cleared the tombs. But we should still do another sweep to make sure nothing slipped through."
Rick nodded, lifting the three worn folders in his hand. "And we also found these."
Carol, who'd been sitting with Lori nearby, turned towards him. "What are those?"
Rick looked her way. "Files on the prisoners. I want everyone to take a look."
Shane, who'd been leaning against a nearby wall, frowned. "You serious? You're really thinking about letting them stay here?"
Rick met his eyes. "If they behave, yes. None of them have irredeemable charges, and their behavior reports are clean, especially Big Tiny's and Oscar's."
Daryl snorted. "Only one who's a little off is Axel."
Carol glanced at him, waiting for him to go on.
Rick sighed quietly. "He's what you'd call a flirt. Practically tried it with every woman who walked by."
Lori's voice cut in, with disgust. "And you want to let someone like that stay close to us?"
Itachi's gaze met hers. "We read everything in detail because of that. He has no harassment charges and never targets women who are taken."
Daryl added, "Guy just likes runnin' his mouth, but far as we could tell, he never meant nothin' bad by it."
Rick looked between them all. "And I invited them to have dinner with us tonight."
Shane's expression darkened. "First, you let them stay in the prison, now you're breaking bread with them? What's next—inviting them to live in our cell block?" He pushed off the wall, his voice sharpening. "Do I gotta remind you what happened with the last group we met?"
Shane started heading towards Rick, anger rising with every step as he thought more on how outrageous the idea sounded—but then he stopped. His body just… froze. A cold sweat ran down his neck as his body refused to listen.
He looked between Rick and Daryl, confused, until his eyes met Itachi's. The moment they did, his hands started to shake. He didn't know why. He wasn't afraid—at least, he didn't think so—but his body refused to move closer.
Rick frowned, stepping closer. "You alright?"
Shane stepped back, shaking his head. "Yeah… yeah, I'm fine. Just—do what you want."
He turned toward the cells, forcing his hands to steady and pretending nothing had happened.
Lori watched Shane retreat towards the cells, worry flickering across her face, but she didn't say a word. Rick noticed, his eyes narrowing slightly before turning back to Daryl and Itachi.
Daryl broke the silence first. "The hell was that?"
Itachi just shrugged, looking just as unsure.
Neither of them pushed it further. Whatever happened with Shane wasn't worth the trouble right now. The three of them sat down at one of the nearby tables, turning their focus to what came next.
Itachi started. "First things first, we have to go back to the farm and bring the animals here."
Daryl leaned back in his chair. "Chickens'll be easy enough, maybe a little messy. But how the hell you plan on movin' a whole damn cow?"
"Hershel mentioned they had a small trailer for livestock," Itachi said. "We'll use that. Glenn and T-Dog will help load everything, then head back with the animals once it's done."
Rick thought for a moment. "There is a gas station along Route 85 you could try your luck for fuel. There's also a small veterinary clinic a few miles past the farm that could have meds. And a hardware store just off the highway. Between those three, you'll cover what we need most."
Daryl looked at Rick, a hint of a smirk tugging at his mouth. "Damn, you really got this all figured out, huh?"
Rick smiled faintly. "You're the ones going out there the least I can do is help you plan it, and find the quietest spots to keep you safer."
Itachi gave a small nod, appreciating that Rick was looking out for them. The moment lingered for a beat before all three of them stood, wrapping up their plan.
Rick looked at both of them. "You two get some rest tonight. I'll let Glenn and T-Dog know to be ready in the morning."
Daryl tilted his head slightly. "Ain't that gonna leave just Maggie on watch?"
Rick exhaled, the sound halfway between a sigh and a groan. "Andrea'll be covering with her."
Daryl smirked. "She really didn't go easy on you, huh?"
Rick gave a tired look. "No… felt like having two Loris in the room."
Itachi's eyes widened slightly. "That bad?"
Rick gave a defeated smile. "You have no idea..."
Daryl chuckled under his breath. "I'm gonna go scrape this damn paint off before someone starts callin' me a clown."
Rick nodded, smiling faintly. "Go on. I'll find Glenn and T-Dog, let 'em know what's happening tomorrow."
Itachi headed back to his cell, resisting the urge to throw one last jab Daryl's way.
When he stepped into his cell, he stopped. The room wasn't the same anymore.
A small table had been dragged against the wall. A chair sat with a folded sheet laid over the seat like a cushion. Someone had set a tin can on the table, rinsed clean and filled with a few wildflowers. A worn notebook waited beside it with a pen laid straight across the top.
Footsteps in the corridor. Amy stopped at the doorway, a little out of breath, a rolled blanket in her arms. "You're back already?"
He turned towards her with a faint smile. "Yeah… just got back."
Amy shifted the blanket in her arms as she stepped into the cell, setting it down carefully. "How did it go?"
"Much simpler than I expected," Itachi said. "Only a few walkers."
Amy glanced up at him. "Guess that's about as good as it gets these days." She smiled faintly. "Still… I'm glad it went that way."
Itachi looked at the folded sheet on his bed. "What's that for?"
Amy glanced toward the cell doors. "Beth and I found a few bigger sheets earlier. I figured if I tied one corner up to the bars and left the other side with a bit of string, you could tie it to the bar when you want to close it, then leave it open during the day. I thought it'd give you a little more privacy."
He looked at her more closely—the dirt smudged along her sleeves, the faint bruises on her fingers, the quiet proof of how much effort she'd put into all of it.
She turned towards him. "I tried to make it feel a little less empty. Hope you like it."
He didn't say anything. Just closed the small space between them and kissed her.
Amy went still for a moment, her eyes flickering before they closed as she leaned into him, her arms slowly sliding around his shoulders while his found their way around her waist.
They pulled back just enough to meet each other's eyes.
Amy smiled. "Guess that answered it," she whispered before kissing him again.
They separated slowly, still close enough for the moment to linger. Itachi started to say something, but a voice echoed from the hall.
"Can we talk, please?"
Jimmy.
Beth's reply came sharply. "I said I need some time alone."
"Come on, just hear me out," Jimmy pushed.
A pause. Then Beth again, louder. "Let go of me!"
Jimmy's voice followed, strained but still trying to sound calm. "Just—just hear me out, won't you?"
Amy turned towards the cell doors, confusion flashing across her face, still half in Itachi's arms.
Itachi didn't move—but when the light caught his face, his eyes were glowing red, all warmth from a moment ago gone, replaced by pure anger.
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🧪 Author's Note:
Thank you all so much for the support — over 500+ power stones!
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