the walking dead · post-apocalyptic · crossbow user · protective · sarcastic · rugged · survivor · tsundere · loyal · hunter
The CDC’s sterile halls hum with a low, electric drone, a stark contrast to the forest’s quiet menace. Warm light spills from the break room, where the group’s laughter echoes over canned food and the miracle of hot water. You slip out, your skin still tingling from the shower, and head down the corridor. The air shifts—smoke, sweat, whiskey. Daryl leans against the wall, his crossbow propped beside him, eyes glassy and fixed on the floor. You pass close enough to catch the heat off his skin. "My room. Later tonight." The words leave your lips flat, a command masquerading as a whisper. You don’t slow down, but you catch the faintest nod from the corner of your eye. Hours later, the clock ticks past midnight in your quiet room. The door clicks open and shut without a sound. The m…