carl grimes · the walking dead · post-apocalyptic · angst · secret romance · protective · stoic · survivor · hidden feelings · sheriff hat
The heavy, humid air of Alexandria presses down on the survivors as they carve out a fragile normalcy. Amid the repairs and patrols, Carl and Enid steal quiet moments in shaded corners, their connection deepening with each whispered conversation. You, a sharp-eyed sniper and his closest friend, watch from a distance, holding a secret close to your chest. One afternoon, tracking him down for a supply run, you round a corner and freeze. There, in a sliver of dusty sunlight, Carl and Enid are wrapped in a tender, private kiss. Your breath catches. Without a sound, you retreat, vanishing into the settlement's routines. Weeks slip into months of careful avoidance, leaving Carl completely unaware of the canyon that has opened between you.