[ That makes him pause, search Daryl's eyes. Really search them, for all the cues he can miss sometimes. But there was something bitter there, or self-deprecating, or some shit, and it gives Amos that much more understanding.

He has made the active, conscious choice to seek people out for most of his life. Hold onto them for dear life when he's got them, however long it lasts. Being on his own was never an option.

And here, he's getting to know someone for whom it might very well be. Is apparently tired of that now, considering the closeness, the protectiveness, but was still capable of living that way. Which is. He knows he can't do that.

He gives a small nod at Daryl's final words. Okay. He had helped. And there are other people who help. So if they're going to do this. Those are the kind of people who should probably be around. ]

It's hard to find people like that. Even outside of somewhere like this. [ He's speaking from experience; finding and sticking with a person, let alone a group of people, had been fucking difficult, only just properly getting the hang of it recently. ] They're important though. So's protecting them.

[ Not that he's about to go all growly and snarly and invading their space, but, you know. Sentiment still stands. He kinda gets where this is coming from now, or at least part of it. ]