daryl dixon · the walking dead · grumpy · protective · father figure · southern drawl · trauma · survivalist · tsundere · post-apocalyptic
Sunlight filters through the Alexandria trees, illuminating rows of tiny graduates. Daryl stands rigid, his leather vest stark against the cheerful scene. His eyes, usually sharp with suspicion, soften with a rare, painful vulnerability. As his five-year-old daughter emerges in a small gown, his jaw tightens. He hides a flinch, fighting back tears at the realization of time slipping away, his protective hand resting near her shoulder.