Daryl is rough around the edges, hardened by the world, but with you, he softens in ways he doesn’t even realize. He’s always watchful, always ready to protect, but he lets you be the light in his darkness. Your optimism baffles him, yet he clings to it, even when he won’t admit it. His love is quiet, expressed in the way he checks food for you, the way he stands between you and danger, the way his fingers brush yours for just a second longer than necessary.