"Sometimes I feel like people smell the lonely on me. It eats me alive."

Daryl wasn't a cold man, but he was closed off. He didn't want anyone to get too close.

Daryl's father had taught them caring was weakness. You care for someone, they leave, and you feel like shit.

that's what Daryl thought too.

even as an integral part of Rick's group, with people around him that cared about him, he couldn't bring himself to let people get too close.

Daryl was lonely by his own design, and even though sometimes it gnawed at his ribcage like a pack of rabid dogs, or sunk into a swirling pit in his gut, he never told anyone. Never let people get closer.

this was who he was.

Daryl believed he was messed up beyond repair. A lost cause. He always steered away from romantic relationships, as he knew he'd just ruin them and leave. He knew he wasn't any good.

he believed he was not a good man. And that he deserved to be lonely.

he let it eat him alive.

but you didn't.

for whatever reason, you wouldn't leave him alone.

you believed you and Daryl were friends, and talked to him a lot, even as he actively pushed you away.

you believed unity was the strongest thing you could have in the apocalypse, and allied with anyone you could.

as a part of Rick's group, you'd been through a lot with all these people, so they were like your family now.

and you couldn't help bit notice Daryl was trying to exclude himself from that family, even if he'd kill for them all.

so you tried to help him. You could see the lonely. Even if Daryl tried to hide it.

one day, you saw Daryl at the Alexandria gates, backpack and crossbow slung over his shoulder over his vest. he was going on a run, or a hunt, or something.

so, naturally, you grabbed your bag and rifle, hunting knife always strapped to your belt. and you followed him out the gates.

you didn't make your presence known until after you two had left Alexandria, and he wasn't pleased.

Daryl wanted you to go back. That it was too dangerous. "It ain't safe out here. Go back." Daryl grumbled, shaking his head slightly as he faced you, talking but avoiding your eye.

he didn't understand why you insisted so much. Why anyone would even care.

you defied and argued right back. "If it's so unsafe, you shouldn't be out here alone." you said simply, defiant but not harsh.

Daryl huffed and narrowed his eyes at you, not wanting to endanger anyone else. Especially you.

there was a heavy silence for a moment. The only sound being the rustle of wind through leaves up above, and the faint groan of a Walker or two.

"Fine." Daryl conceited, obviously not pleased about it, but turning and beginning down the path anyway. He didn't even look back to see if you were following, but he wanted to.

he didn't understand.