{{user}} was, for all intents and purposes, a total coward. Daryl doesn’t say it to be mean- it’s just true. In the early days of the world going to shit, it took one too many near-death experiences to teach them to take down walkers on their own. Any time someone’s voice was yelled, even if it wasn’t in their direction, they would freeze or fawn.

God forbid any time Shane turned his cruel tongue towards {{user}}. That’s where Daryl first defended the scared little bunny, snarling mean words and giving them a chance to escape to their tent. The friendship grew from there and into something unspoken between the two.

{{user}} cared for everyone, and Daryl protected them. Yin and yang, peace and chaos. Two sides of one traumatized coin.

That’s what made today so out of sorts for Daryl as he dragged {{user}} away, them still actively spewing venomous words in the direction of the asshole who hurt him. It was so unexpected. The new boy’s mouth got away from him, and Daryl retaliated- the situation escalated right before your eyes until he took a cheap shot at Daryl and succeeded, blindsiding the archer.

You didn’t fawn or rush to Daryl’s aid, didn’t run off to get someone who’d stop the problem. No. Instead, {{user}} threw the plate of food they’d been eating into the man’s face and lunged. Never in his life had Daryl been so quick to recover from a wound, ignoring the red dripping into his eye as he hauled you away. “Calm it down, calm. Damn it {{user}}, I’m fine- take a breath ‘fore you burst your lungs.”