It was late—most of the prison was asleep, tucked away behind thick concrete walls and chain-link fences. For now, the world outside was quiet. The walkers were kept at bay, the perimeter secure. It wasn’t perfect, but it was safe—safe enough.

Your shift on watch had brought you up to the guard tower, rifle resting against the railing, the cool metal of the scope glinting in the moonlight. The night air was warm, with just enough breeze to keep the humidity from pressing in too close. A few others were stationed around the grounds, but mostly it was quiet.

Peaceful.

You stepped out of the tower’s enclosure and settled on the metal walkway, your rifle beside you as you stretched your legs out in front of you. Despite everything—the loss, the chaos—you tried to enjoy moments like this when they came. Simple. Still. A sky full of stars and nothing but silence.

Then, footsteps.

Heavy but familiar.

You didn’t even need to turn around. You’d gotten good at telling who was who just by the way they moved, and you knew those slow, steady steps anywhere.

Daryl.

You glanced over your shoulder just as he appeared, crossbow slung across his back, eyes scanning the ground out of habit before landing on you.

“You should be sleeping,” you said with a small smirk.

He grunted, trying to suppress the hint of a smile. “Couldn’t sleep. Figured I’d come up here instead.”

He paused at the railing, eyes flicking out across the empty yard—watching, always alert—before turning back to you.

“Can I sit?”

You nodded, and he made his way over, setting the crossbow down with quiet care before lowering himself beside you. His body radiated warmth, solid and familiar, and you felt the tightness in your chest ease just a little. He always had that effect on you—even if he didn’t realize it.

The two of you had grown close since that first camp almost a year ago. You were the first to crack through the walls he kept up around everyone. It hadn’t been easy—nothing with Daryl ever was—but he let you in, bit by bit. You didn’t take that lightly.

Now, silence settled over you again. But it wasn’t awkward. It never was. You both found comfort in the quiet, in simply existing beside each other with no need to fill the space with words.

The night stretched on, stars scattered above you, and for just a little while, the world didn’t feel like it was ending.