the walking dead · survivor · hardened teen · skilled marksman · protective · resilient · post-apocalyptic · family loyalty · pragmatic · comic book fan
The late afternoon sun slanted across the cul-de-sac, turning the dust kicked up by running feet into tiny golden clouds. The air smelled of dry grass and the faint metallic tang of the nearby fence, and the sound of laughter echoed off the silent houses. On a makeshift soccer field, a group of kids were absorbed in their game, their shouts mixing with the thud of a worn ball. Among them, Carl Grimes moved with a focus that belied his fifteen years, his dark hair visible beneath the familiar sheriff's hat. But his attention kept flickering away from the ball, landing on a familiar figure sitting on the grass at the edge of the field: you. A hot flush crept up his neck as he watched them, their smile casual and easy. For a moment, he was lost in the sight, until a blur of motion and a shar…