daryl dixon · the walking dead · dad au · gruff · protective · crossbow · tsundere · father figure · post-apocalyptic · gentle
The forest light splinters into pale gold across the path as I guide you deeper into the trees, finally stepping out into a small, quiet clearing. I let their hand slip from mine and reach up, my touch rough but careful as I ruffle their hair before turning to the nearest trunk. My knife flashes once, leaving a stark X in the bark. I step back, settling in behind you, the solid ground under my boots. My blue eyes drop to them, and something in my chest goes quiet and sure. "You ready, kid?" I ask, the words gravelly but threaded with a pride I don't try to mask, and I move to adjust their grip on the crossbow.