2The Truth Will Out
Jesus thought he had left his past as Malcolm Bright buried in the remains of New York. He thought wrong.
Fandom: Prodigal Son, Walking Dead
Rating: T
Square Filled: Forced to Kneel/Bow
Tags: badthingshappenbingo, forced to kneel/bow, crossover, Jesus was Malcolm Bright, canon level violence, character death, pre-Daryl/Jesus/Rick
Created for badthingshappenbingo
I'm not going to lie. I have never and don't plan on watching the Walking Dead. However, I am addicted to Tom Payne and damn him as Jesus? A++ So I spent a whole night instead of sleeping watching his parts of TWD, looking at pic's, Wiki pages and fanfictions and decided to give a little crossover a shot.
Jesus hated how routine scouting missions had gotten, he hated how he had fallen into some resemblance of comfort as he raided empty houses and stores with the safe, protective presences of Rick and Daryl at his sides. Jesus hated that they were so focused on finding supplies and avoiding walkers that they had forgotten to keep their guards up for normal people.
Jesus kept his hands held up in the classic surrendering position as he was jabbed forward by the muzzle of a gun. Jesus' eyes darted to the side, something settling in his chest at the sight of Daryl and Rick in the same position as he was. They were missing their weapons, but Jesus could feel the small weight of his handgun pressing against the small of his back where it was tucked into the back of his jeans.
"Down!" One of the men barked, but when the three men didn't comply fast enough for them. Rick and Daryl grunted as their captor's forced them down onto their knees. Jesus grunted at the sudden pain that came from the back of his knees and he soon followed his friends down onto the ground.
"Didn't I say not to hurt that one?" An old, familiar voice rang out and Jesus felt horror course though his whole being.
"No, no that's not possible," Jesus, whispered unable to stop himself. Rick and Daryl exchanged looks as they watched all the colour in Jesus' face drain away and fear dance in Jesus' bright eyes as a man with salt and pepper curly hair and matching beard walked out in front of them.
"Even with that horrendous beard and hair, I would recognize my boy anywhere." The man smiled widely, looking on the wrong side of sanity. Jesus' arms dropped down to his side and his right hand began to shake before he curled it into a tight fist.
"This isn't possible, you died." Jesus' voice shook just like his hand, he sounded younger than ever and terrified. Rick and Daryl traded concerned looks; they had never seen Jesus anything but confident and strong.
Whoever this man was had a past with their friend from Hilltop and it wasn't a good one. Their anger at being caught was only increasing at seeing Jesus being brought into such a state by this single man, even when Jesus faced Negan he never showed this kind of fear.
"Ah yes, well the outbreak did put a crimp in my escape plans but overall it worked to my advantage. Once I heard that you were alive, I knew I had to find you." The man stepped closer to Jesus who flinched back before he steadied himself and tipped his head up to look the man dead in the eyes.
"I let my past die, why can't you?" Jesus asked, voice shaking and his bright eyes darting over to Rick and Daryl who both were watching him intently.
"You let your past die? Oh, my boy, I will never truly leave you." The man said condescendingly and Jesus' body began to tremble from where he was down on his knees.
"After all, what kind of father would I be if I did that?" The man hummed as he cupped Jesus' cheek. Both Daryl and Rick jolted and looked at each other quickly before focusing back on Jesus whose eyes were shut and he was visibly shaking against his father's hand.
"Now say goodbye to your friends, we have so much to do son. It's been too long since we worked together." Jesus' father crooned in a sickeningly sweet voice that made Daryl want to smash his hand into the man's face.
"No, no. I won't go with you, I won't help you kill people." Jesus whispered as his eyes flew open, burning bright with anger now and he jerked his face away from his father's hand.
"Ah so rebellious, don't worry son. I'll break you of that in due time." The man laughed like Jesus had told him an amusing joke. Daryl had to smother a snarl, he had heard that line numerous times throughout his life and fury raged in his veins at the thought of Jesus being put through that.
"I'll die before that happens Dr. Whitly." Jesus spat out and something like fury crossed Dr. Whitly's face before he smoothed it out and straightened up. A stone settled in the pit of Rick's stomach before all of this happened. Before the outbreak, before the walkers, every cop station in every town had been made aware of Doctor Martin Whitly, the serial killer known as the Surgeon. It had been nothing short of a horror story and Rick had to fight the urge to snatch Jesus away from that man who was standing far too close to their friend.
"You were always so stubborn my boy, resistance to what both John and I tried to teach you." Martin shook his head in disappointment.
"Teach? Do you mean when he kidnapped and tortured me? When you played mind games with me? That isn't teaching! That was manipulation and pain." Jesus' voice rose as he spoke and Rick managed to nudge Daryl's knee in silent communication. Daryl's fingers twitched telling Rick he understood, but his eyes never left Jesus.
Both men were silently raging at what was being revealed about Jesus' past, kidnapping and torture? Somehow Jesus had made it through that and the damn apocalypse proving to both Rick and Daryl that Jesus was much stronger than they gave him credit for.
"It's all how you look at it son, but we've wasted enough time. Get him up and dispose of the others." Martin nodded at the men keeping the trio kneeling on the ground.
"No! No, let go of me!" Jesus raged as the man behind him wrenched his arms up behind his back, dragging him up onto his feet. Jesus' hair flung around his head as he thrashed against the man's stronghold on him and his wide, wild eyes met both Rick and Daryl's, silently begging for help as he was being pulled away.
Rick and Daryl jumped into action, overpowering their guards by taking them by surprise. Daryl jammed his knee into his guard's gut and then smashed his fist into the back of the man's head, dropping him almost right away. He took back his crossbow and checked on Rick who had his gun back and was stepping over the fallen form of the other man.
"Jesus!" Rick called out as he and Daryl rushed forward, moving past the fallen form of the man who had been dragging their friend away.
"Jesus, that's a bit religious of you isn't it son?" Martin laughed as he and Jesus circled each other slowly. Jesus had his hands up in a loose fighting stance as his trench coat flared out around his jeans and hair swayed as he watched his father intently. The man was moving around Jesus like a predator who had found his prey.
"Wait, wait," Rick threw his arm across Daryl's chest when the man lifted his crossbow. The way they were moving there was a chance of hitting Jesus and the fire that now danced in Jesus' eyes told Rick that they had to let him handle this, handle his past.
"What? Why?" Daryl was confused but lowered his crossbow, eyes never leaving the father and son who were circling each other.
"As I said, I left who I was in the past. I'm not Malcolm Whitly or Malcolm Bright anymore." Jesus said as the leather of his gloves crinkled when he tighten and loosened his fists.
"Don't think like that my boy, soon everything will be back to the way it was before. Father and son, hunting and killing together!" Martin exclaimed and Jesus shook his head, his long hair flying around his face.
"Never, I will die before that happens," Jesus, swore and both Rick and Daryl exchanged concern glances; they both hated the idea that Jesus was willing to die right here and now.
"So dramatic son, just like your mother was." Martin sighed sounding very much like a disappointed father. Jesus stiffened and anger flared in his eyes.
"Don't you dare, you don't get to talk about any of them." Jesus snarled and Martin threw his head back with a laugh.
"There's my boy! That anger, that rage, that fire!" Martin shook his fists in front of him, visibly excited. Rick and Daryl both quickly lifted their weapons when Martin suddenly lunged towards Jesus.
Jesus let out a surprised noise but lurched forward to meet Martin nonetheless. Daryl swore and Rick grunted, with the way the two were so close and tangled together now there was no way to get a clean shot on Martin without hitting Jesus.
Rick and Daryl jolted when a single gunshot rang out and both of them raced forward, shouting Jesus' name. They watched as Jesus stumbled back, blood painting his face and eyes blown wide as his arm lowered with his still smoking gun hanging loosely from his fingers.
"My boy, just like I taught you," Martin whispered, blood bubbling up from his lips as he took a stumbling step back with his hands covering his stomach and blood seeping through his fingers.
"Dad, I," Jesus stammered out, looking vulnerable and childlike as he watched his father collapse to the ground.
"I'm so proud of you Malcolm, so proud. My precious, prodigal son." Martin gave Jesus a bloodied smile before his eyes closed and his body stilled.
Jesus stood above his dead father's body; his chest heaving, as he took deep, gasping breathes of air. Jesus' hand trembled as he lifted his gun, aiming for his father's head to stop him from coming back as a walker.
Jesus swayed on his feet unsteadily and gave out a weak, pain-filled cry as he swung his gun away from his father's body and started to collapse to the ground.
"Whoa!" Daryl darted forward, sweeping Jesus' trembling body up into his arms.
"I can't, fuck, I can't!" Jesus sobbed as he tucked his face into Daryl's vest, taking frantic gulps of air again as Daryl held him tightly.
"We got you, Jesus, just calm down. We have you." Daryl wasn't the best at comforting but he tried as a gunshot rang out as Rick put a bullet in Martin's head before turning back to the other two men. Jesus had flinched at the gunshot and clung tighter to Daryl.
"It's okay Jesus, we've got you. You're safe." Rick didn't resist the urge to stroke Jesus' long hair in what he hoped was a soothing way.
"Just get me out of here," Jesus' voice was quiet.
"You got it," Daryl said as he looked at Rick, the leader nodding firmly as they both silently promised to look after Jesus and not let his past cloud their judgment on him. After all, in the apocalypse, your past doesn't matter anymore, its what you do now that does.
