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The stars had always been something unique to you, something comforting. In this world of utter chaos and mindlessness, the stars were a beacon, that shined brighter than ever. Daryl knew how much you admired them. Even before you had started dating, he loved seeing the joy in your eyes as you gazed up at them.
Sitting on the rooftop of your home in Alexandria, you could hear the group having a meal down stairs. Normally you would've joined them, but on this particular night, the stars were extremely visible. You stared in awe as you watched them twinkle, a shimmering light that added a soft smile to your face. It was a warm feeling, watching the way they danced together in the sky.
You shivered underneath the soft touch of snowflakes sprawling gracefully across your frame. The window behind you was left open, not knowing if you would want to go back inside soon or not. So there you sat for a while longer, smiling widely at the unseen beauty of the world nowadays. It seemed as though nobody took the time to see how stunning the world still was. Sure, it was overrun by the dead. But that didn't mean that life wasn't beautiful anymore.
You had become so used to being told that hope was dead, and that faith was fading beside it. But the stars told another story. A story filled of growth, beauty, and life. It was just waiting to be deciphered, and that was exactly what you had been doing.
"What're you doin' out 'ere?" Daryl's voice broke through your thoughts, causing you to turn around and face him. You beamed warmly, Daryl admiring your beauty. The twinkle that the stars added to your eyes, the pink on your nose and cheeks caused by the cold, and the gracefulness of the snowflakes in your hair and eyelashes was enough to leave him wonderstruck.
"I'm watching the stars." you whispered, a cloud of your breath visibly showing in front of you as you spoke. Slowly, Daryl climbed out of the window and onto the roof next to you. He draped a blanket around your shoulders as he took a seat beside you. You pulled the blanket inwards, curling up into it. Daryl watched you carefully as you reached for his hand, interlacing your frostbit fingers with his.
"It's not too often that you see this kind of beauty anymore." you muttered, resting your head on his shoulder.
Daryl glanced down at you, a feeling of warmth overcoming him as he watched how your eyes lit up as you watched the stars. You were everything to him, every breath, every step, every thing he did was for you.
Now more than ever, he realized how much that small twinkle in your eyes meant. It was a reminder that life was still beautiful, and he never wanted it to get burnt out. He never would want you in any sort of danger.
You were a badass and you could most certainly take care of yourself, Daryl knew that more than anyone. But that didn't stop him from worrying.
"Y'know, I think we can make this place work." you continued, earning a small grunt from Daryl.
"What?"
He nodded, shrugging his shoulders, "it's nothin'." "You know you can't hide anything from me. What's going on?"
Daryl momentarily averted his gaze and began biting down on his thumbnail. It was sort of a habit of his that you knew all too well. He sighed as he met your eyes again. He knew you were right, that he couldn't hide anything from him. It was a unique talent of yours, being able to read him like a book.
"I jus' don't want anyone goin' soft, that's all." he grumbled. You knew what this was about.
"Nobody will. Come on Daryl, we know these people. They're as tough as nails and they sure as hell ain't gonna go back to who they used to be. They've gone through too much, we all have." you spoke the truth, just as you always had.
Daryl understood, but it was also evident to him that you hadn't completely understood what he meant. He didn't blame you, though. He hid a few words behind a sentence that he had hoped you would be able to decipher. He was too shy to say it to your face before, but now, he was ready.
"I'm worried about ya." he murmured sheepishly. A small grin tugged at your lips. You really must have meant something to him if you were able to get him to confess his worry and care for your well-being.
"Oh yeah?" you catechized, Daryl nodding timidly, which wasn't a side of him that other people saw. But you saw it quite often, and found it adorable.
"When you watch the stars," he breathed, "there's this light, this twinkle, this flame that shows in yer eyes. And everytime I see it, I can't help but feel the need to protect it. I'm terrified that if I wake up one day and somehow fail you, that light will be gone." he spoke with such meaning, such purity.
Tears began to swell in your eyes as his continued, eachword leaving you wanting more, "I'm terrified that if I lose ye, that flame will fade.. And I won't know what to do with myself anymore."
His words left you breathless. The way he expressed his care for you so densely, so poetically, made your heart swell. You knew he was serious, because you knew that if anything were to happen to him, you would lose yourself.
Weary-eyed, you watched as he looked down, "You could never fail me, Daryl," you croaked, a tear rolling down you cheek, "I know you, and I know that you worry about these sorts of things sometimes, but I also know something else.."
His eyes lifted to meet your glossy ones. You lifted your hand to his cheek, caressing it softly as you ran your thumb over his pale lips.
"You don't have to worry."
"Why's that?"
"Because, Dixon, we've got the stars watching out for us."
1041 words awe this one made my insides flutter just writing it. hope you enjoyed. :)
