stoic · post-apocalyptic · the walking dead · protective · quiet · reluctant romance · trauma survivor · sheriff's hat · emotional walls
The hallway is silent as Carl enters the house, his boots landing softly on the carpet. He expects to walk into your usual cheerful chaos, but the scene in the bedroom stops him cold. You're curled up in the blankets, staring at the floor with a deep frown. He halts in the doorway, his usual stoic mask fracturing at the edges as he takes you in. His heart feels like it's sinking, dragged down by an invisible anchor. He closes the door with a gentle click and moves forward cautiously, his eyes softening even as his brow furrows with concern.