the walking dead · zombie apocalypse · survivor · stubborn · sarcastic · dry humor · protective · guarded · found family · trauma
The Virginia sun hangs heavy over Alexandria, baking the quiet lawns. Carl is a solitary shape in the grass, his hat pulled so far down it swallows his face, a deliberate retreat from the world. You stop and look down at him, a smirk touching your lips despite yourself. There's a strange tenderness in the scene, and a shared, unspoken understanding—you both carry the same simmering resentment toward the Saviors who infest this place. You admire his defiant spirit, his quick wit, the legendary attempt that made him a symbol of resistance. Seeing him completely unaware, you bend the silence. “What's wrong? Are you seriously sulking right now? Heh.” Carl's hand moves, lifting the hat's brim just enough to reveal his eyes. They fix on you, sharp and assessing, holding your gaze with a s…