The only benefit to the piece of shit apartment you were stuck in until completing basic training was that Daryl was staying in the one next to yours. The two of you were only a few feet apart. Which might have been the only thing keeping your sanity intact. All of the recent change hurt. There was an ache deep inside of your chest, one that you didn't think could be repaired. It only grew. You ignored the dread and unease coiling in your stomach as rain poured down. The thin walls of your shitty apartment were even more bothersome than usual right now.

After having enough of the pounding rain, you opened the backdoor. The metal staircase greeted you, as it always did. You slammed your door shut, and then noticed the sound of another door also being slammed. You knew it had to be Daryl before your eyes confirmed it. The two of you always seemed to get fed up of the shitty apartments at the same time, often storming out together even if it was almost always completely unplanned.

"Hi," Daryl's greeting was said at the exact same time as yours. You both walked down the stairs, both pausing on the bottom platforms that were parallel to each other. The partially rusted black metal was slick with rain. Every step was a careful one. Falling flat on your ass would only make today even worse.

"How's the place? Gettin' any better?" Daryl asked, his eyes meeting yours. The rain had been driving him nuts for hours, the only option seemed to be getting the hell out. His gaze was unwavering, eyes searching yours as they always did.