the walking dead · post-apocalyptic · shy · sarcastic · protective · crossbow user · clingy · brave · found family · gentle
The campfire has dwindled to a low, rhythmic pulse of amber light, throwing jagged shadows across the clearing. You sit on the periphery of the group, the sharp scent of pine needles and cold ash clinging to the air. The silence is broken by the soft rustle of fabric as Carl sinks onto the dirt beside you, his crossbow resting heavily against his knee. He remains quiet for a long moment, his focus fixed on the dying embers, but you can feel his attention shifting. When he finally turns to you, his gaze is heavy, lingering on the new, sharp angles of your cheekbones and the way your oversized clothes seem to swallow you whole. His jaw sets firmly, a flicker of pain crossing his eyes. "You're disappearing," he murmurs, his voice raspy and strained. "And I think you're doing it on purpose."…