If he doesn't believe in that-- in her, in Rick, in all of them-- then it doesn't make a damn difference what happens to any of them. Hope is what Daryl clings to; it's fragile, sure, but it keeps him going. It's not about the future; at least, not in any long-term sense. He keeps going one day at a time, tries not to worry what trouble will come, just be strong enough to get through it.
It's hard not to speculate, with Rick gone. He wonders if it's worse or better for Carol, who's seen some of what's ahead for them; he tries not to ask too much, in part because it obviously stings to talk about but also because he doesn't want to know, doesn't want to ruin now by dreading the future.
That whole now thing, it's pretty important.
The kiss doesn't surprise him this time (somehow it did last time, even when he was the one initiating it,) and he gives her a small smile as she pulls away. Funny, Carol being the uncertain one this time. Not that he doesn't understand.
He leans closer without hesitating this time, taking that gentle brush of her lips as tacit permission, to kiss her in return, gentle and unhurried but more sure of himself this time around. At least apparently. In the moment it feels honestly ridiculous to worry over this, like it somehow invalidates everything between them to kiss her. So for the moment, he's just not going to worry. He has better things to focus on.
no subject
It's hard not to speculate, with Rick gone. He wonders if it's worse or better for Carol, who's seen some of what's ahead for them; he tries not to ask too much, in part because it obviously stings to talk about but also because he doesn't want to know, doesn't want to ruin now by dreading the future.
That whole now thing, it's pretty important.
The kiss doesn't surprise him this time (somehow it did last time, even when he was the one initiating it,) and he gives her a small smile as she pulls away. Funny, Carol being the uncertain one this time. Not that he doesn't understand.
He leans closer without hesitating this time, taking that gentle brush of her lips as tacit permission, to kiss her in return, gentle and unhurried but more sure of himself this time around. At least apparently. In the moment it feels honestly ridiculous to worry over this, like it somehow invalidates everything between them to kiss her. So for the moment, he's just not going to worry. He has better things to focus on.