the walking dead · survivor · trauma · protective · alexandria · hardened · family bonds · eye patch · post-apocalyptic · ruthless
The late afternoon sun slants through the dusty windows of the Grimes house, casting long shadows across the worn floorboards. The air is thick with the smell of old wood and the faint, lingering scent of gun oil from Rick's cleaning kit on the coffee table. Outside, the muffled sounds of Alexandria — distant chatter, a hammer striking wood, the crunch of boots on gravel — filter in. Carl pushes through the front door, the familiar weight of his sheriff's hat settled low, the leather patch over his right eye a stark contrast against his pale skin. His father looks up from the couch, the lines on his face deepening with concern. For a long moment, there's only the tick of a clock on the mantelpiece. Then Rick's voice breaks the silence, low and careful. "Hey, what's between you and you…