Worried
Hi! So, I haven't written any sort of fan fiction in like 4+ years. Recently, I've gotten back into The Walking Dead and decided I wanted to try to write a Carl x Reader short! So here it is.
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Fluff, No Y/N, No gendered pronouns, No TW
The smell of the forest is welcoming considering the usual odors that violate my pallet. I pay close attention to the crunch of the leaves as I pace myself on my trip- I need to ensure no walkers are around, at least any that could tear into my flesh. I feel the weight of my bag begin to sprout an ache in my right shoulder: Carl was right, I should have packed lighter for this run.
Rick requested that I make the trek to the convenience store a few miles away for some medical supplies: bandages, pain killers, pre-natal meds, etc. I am not too keen on going on trips alone as I certainly don’t have the best aim out of everyone in Alexandria- yet Rick insisted it would be a good learning opportunity for survival and getting used to the surrounding area. Carl honestly had more protests than I did, worrying about me getting bit or running into trouble.
My mind begins to wander towards Carl, thinking about the past few years of our kinship. We met at the prison, my mother and I had been searching desperately for aid or shelter and we took notice of the slight changes to the courtyard. Thankfully, Rick noticed us and welcomed us with open arms. Considering Carl was the only other kid my age we began to become close friends. We would talk for hours about our lives before the walkers appeared, our favorite comics, our distaste for certain canned goods that we had to eat. Him and I became inseparable. We especially bonded when the prison collapsed. In all of the chaos, my mother got bitten and didn't make it. It felt like no one could ever understand the pain I felt, until Carl stood by my side and shared his own experience. We began to be strong support systems for each other, always going to the other when we were upset. He was- and still is- the only person in the world that I could call my best friend. I’ve seen him grow into the amazing and caring person he is now. He isn't too bad looking either- I'm surprised he hasn't hit it off with Enid after all this time.
I slowly refocus my thoughts and realize the sun is beginning to set. The sky is slowly turning into blissful purple and pink hues, dancing off of the few clouds in the sky. Looking at my map, I realize that I won't reach Alexandria before it gets dark. Of course, the one thing I didn't pack was a flashlight. I glance back at the map and see a little house icon drawn in red that isn't too far from here. I decide it’s best to settle there for the night and stray from my path. As the night only gets darker the lump in my throat becomes more difficult to swallow. Each of my footsteps feel louder than the last as the silence of the forest fills my ears. Just as the moon begins to peak from behind the tall trees, I find myself standing in front of a small, wooden cabin. I raise my pistol and open the door, preparing for the worst. Thankfully, I am not met with any groaning or oozing, blood ridden rotting flesh. I continue into the cabin and light a nearby candle with a match, bringing a soft warmth to the main room. I search the rest of the cabin, ultimately finding nothing but an old bed and some canned food. I finally release the bag from my shoulder and rub the aching area with my palm, attempting to soothe the dull sting. Now that I'm in a safe area, I feel my body begin to slip into exhaustion and allow the day to seep into my muscles. I find myself plopping onto the mattress, slowly drifting off into the cold surroundings of sleep.
...knock knock knock
I am pulled from sleep by a light knocking on the window, slowly turning my sleepiness into downright panic. The moment my eyes are fully opened, I jump from the bed in fear and grab my pistol. While it is uncommon for a single walker to break any sort of window or door- you can never be too sure. I slowly place one foot in front of the other as I make my way to the window, slightly covered by a tethered curtain. I fill my lungs with air and grab hold of the curtain, swiftly pulling it to the side to reveal what grueling monster could possibly be bothering me in the middle of the night. To my surprise, I am met with shaggy brown hair and an infamous cowboy hat rather than a walker begging to take my life away. I grab ahold of the small handle attached to the window and pull, allowing Carl to climb himself into the room.
“Carl! What are you doing here? How did you even find me?”
Carl gave a small sigh and rolled his eyes in playful annoyance. “I've been your best friend for years by now, you really think I don't know what you do when you're panicked? Plus, I got worried; you were supposed to be back by sunset.” Carl says, furrowing his brows at the last part with a mix of concern and curiosity. I stare at him with a tired gaze and feel a bit of shame creep up my neck- I probably worried quite a few people.
“Well, the trip took a lot longer than I thought it would, and there was no way I would be caught alone with a walker at night.” Carl gives a small nod of understanding as I stare into his eyes. I find his care for me adorable; he is always worried if I am okay. Even better, I can see it clear as day in his iris's anytime he is worried. I suddenly feel a pair of arms wrap around my torso, engulfing me in warmth and comfort. I let out a breath of relief and put my arms around his neck, squishing my face on his chest. I allow myself to stand there for a moment- taking everything about him in. The warmth his body generates, his rhythmic heartbeat, his hands drawing small circles on my back, and how good he somehow smells in an apocalypse. I feel his arms begin to move away, and his hands trail their way up to my shoulders- holding me gently in place. He lifts my chin to ensure I'm looking him in his beautiful eyes.
“Y’know, I was seriously worried about you. I'm so happy you're safe. I could never live without you. Honestly, I-” Carl cuts himself off before he can finish his sentence, clearly nervous about what was going to come out of his mouth. I cock one eyebrow up to show my confusion, and Carl lets out a soft sigh.
“I- well- I love you. I have for so long and I just never knew how to tell you. I wouldn't go outside the walls this late at night for anyone else.” As the words leave his lips, I feel my heart sputter and my soul fill with joy. I look at him with awe and I can't stop myself from grinning like an idiot. Once he notices my expression, Carl rolls his eyes at me and grabs the back of my head, gently putting me towards him. Our lips connect softly, and I can feel my pulse speed up. I wrap my arms around his neck to deepen the kiss, and I feel him smile at the action. We continue with the sweet, innocent kisses and pecks until I whimper at the feeling of his tongue swiping at my bottom lip. I'm hesitant at first, but the burning in my chest soon overwhelms my nerves and I slightly open my mouth, allowing him to deepen our kiss even further. I feel his tongue gently enter my mouth, creating electric shocks that run throughout my body. I moan even more, and he lightly giggles at how noisy I'm being. We begin to become more in tune with each other, slowly developing a steady rhythm and dance between us. He moves his hands down to my hips and pulls me closer to him, wanting to be as close to me in this moment as physically possible. I happily accept the physical contact and begin to setting my fingers in his curly hair. He makes a soft noise as a reaction to my small pulls and scratches on his scalp. We both begin to get quite heated and start panting. Our kisses become rougher with each second that passes by and there is an undeniable tightness sealing itself in the low depths of my abdomen. Deciding to be a little testy, I grab a sizable portion of his hair and pull with much more force than before- causing him to moan into my mouth. I feel my cheeks begin to radiate a glowing heat at the noise, and Carl pulls away from my lips, eliciting a small whine from me. He grabs my chin lightly and forces my eyes up to his, only making my cheeks burn even brighter.
“I love you so goddamn much.”
“I love you too.”
I feel him pull me into an embrace again, pulling apart only to lie me down on the bed. He pushes my back against his waist until he spoons me, helping me in feeling so very sleepy again. With the safety of his arms, I begin to drift off again...
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I hope you enjoyed! Feel free to leave any feedback or comments! Maybe a part 2??
