He could practically hear them vying all around him.

He was the only one without a job in Alexandria and it was making him fucking sick.

And his attitude from when he had pounced on Aiden didn't help, because walking off down the street he could hear the whispers.

"Monster, he's a monster-"

"He's an animal-"

Everything here spooked him. It reminded him too much of his past, an outcast in civilization. These walls around them were a trap, but he told himself that was hypocritical because they were all by themselves in the prison and he had called it a tomb. This was better than a tomb, this was protection, but he didn't want it. He wanted- craved affection, but being an outsider once more left him in the cold from the rest of the group. Put on the back burner, kicked aside.

His senses were alert now more than ever, making him jumpy. The people living there gave him weird looks when he jumped away from them as they walked by. He wasn't ready for this. He wouldn't even touch the shower yet, unsure what he wanted. Of course... This is what he had wanted. To stop running. But... Now that he had it, why was he ignoring it? Cleanliness, a comfortable place to sleep, warmth... Everything.

He was going to go nuts if he stayed here, so he took to leaving as much as he could to hunt.

Of course, he couldn't get away from the one who knew him best.

Carol found him.

Or rather, followed him.

"Where are you going?"

Daryl froze in his tracks, his mind going blank, his head still spinning, still taut with anxiety. Standing in those streets after Rick had pulled him back... The stares, the whispers. His emotions were a mess, his composure was trying to fail him. He was silent for a long time, but when she took a step, he suddenly whispered, "I don't know."

He turned around slowly to face her, meeting her eyes at last. He lowered his crossbow slowly, his shoulders slumping. He looked broken, so lost, so rejected. He stood still when she walked over to him, her familiar touch finding his cheek.

The next thing he knew, soft lips were colliding with his. A reminder he was not entirely outcast, a breath of realization he was human, just a little rougher than the Alexandrians were used to. He leaned into the kiss unconsciously, his eyes fluttering. When she pulled back, he trailed after her lips a little, his hand reaching up to touch her face.

"Come on back."

Daryl nodded, the promise everything he needed, the silent words someone believed in him, wanted him there even if everyone else was busy. His voice was raspy, but he still said quietly, "Yes, ma'am."

A small smile tugged at his lips when a large one found hers. She was the sun. Everything he had ever needed. He walked with her back to the sanctuary, hand in hand, unafraid. His grip tightened with anxiety, walking down the quaint streets with her. And when his thoughts turned dark and the people whispered, he leaned in and kissed her cheek.

The simplest peaceful gesture settled the Alexandrians like a magic wand- a man in love, a man protecting his family.

Feral, but tamed by someone, the only one that could.

So long as she was near to comb through his faults, flaws, insecurities, doubts, and his struggles, he was content.

With her, he was an indoor cat and an outdoor cat, at the same time in perfect harmony, without a mistake made but every heartbeat skipped.