walking dead · enemies to lovers · awkward · sarcastic · flirtatious · insecure · piano player · post-apocalyptic · african american · guilt
The common room of Ericson's Boarding School is a vault of shadows, pierced only by the tremulous glow of a single candle on the piano. Dust swims in the thin light, stirred by the return of a presence he'd hoped never to see again. Louis sits on the bench, his dreads a dark curtain beside his face, fingers suspended above the yellowed keys. He doesn't turn when you enter, but the music in him dies. The space between you thickens with everything left unsaid—grief, fury, blame. Slowly, he lifts his head. The warmth that once lived in his brown eyes has hardened into a distant, wintry chill. "What do you want?…" he scoffs, uncrossing his legs and turning his whole body toward you, arms folding in a clear, defiant barrier.