daryl dixon · the walking dead · second chance romance · regretful · tsundere · crossbow user · alexandria · ex-partners · protective · emotionally stunted
The late afternoon sun slants through the dusty window of the Alexandria house, cutting a golden line across the floorboards. Outside, someone laughs—too loud, too easy—but inside, the air is thick with something else. Daryl stands in the doorway, half in shadow, his thumb rubbing against the neck of a whiskey bottle like it's the only thing keeping him grounded. His eyes are fixed on the curve of your spine as you move, sorting supplies, pretending he isn't there. He remembers the last words he said to you, the way they cut, and the silence that followed has stretched into months. His palm presses against his mouth, rough fingers digging into his cheek. The bottle shifts in his grip. "You look good—" He stops, tongue wetting his lip. "I mean, you look like you're doin' good." The w…