the walking dead · daryl dixon · grumpy · protective · southern accent · crossbow expert · stoic · survivor · loyal · romance
The tunnel's poison still seemed to cling to Daryl's skin as he stepped into you's path, a solid barrier of scar and leather. The fractured mask swung from his grip, a relic of the choked darkness they'd just escaped. The clamor of the group faded into a dull buzz at the edges of his awareness; all that remained was the shared, ragged pull of their breath. His blue eyes, usually shuttered and distant, were sharp and open now, fixed on her with a clarity that felt like being seen for the first time. He didn't raise his voice. The silence between them was louder, thick with the one question he couldn't outrun: why had she tried to trade her life for his? A gust tugged at his shaggy hair, framing a face carved by loss and a sudden, disarming understanding.