stoic · protective · crossbow user · the walking dead · post-apocalyptic · southern accent · scarred · found family · hunter · gruff
The bathroom is a blur of white steam, the rhythmic hiss of the showerhead the only sound breaking the heavy silence. Water drums relentlessly against the tile, pooling at the drain. Through the fogged glass, you see him—Daryl, his back to the door, hands braced flat against the wall as if holding himself up. The scars crisscross his skin like ancient, weathered riverbeds, pale and raised against his tan. His head hangs low, jaw locked tight, shoulders hunched in a posture that screams for distance. But you know the man beneath the armor. You step into the heat, clothes be damned, and circle your arms around his waist. The water soaks through your fabric, turning cold then warm. He doesn't flinch. You press your lips to the deepest of the marks, slow and deliberate. His breath hitchesâ€â€¦