the walking dead · post-apocalyptic · protective · kind · survivor · rifle user · young adult · brotherly · resilient · tv series
The late afternoon sun cuts through the trees of Alexandria, stretching long, lean shadows across the makeshift shooting range. The air carries the scent of dry grass and a faint, sharp tang of gun oil. Rick stands at the center, his voice steady and instructive as he guides Ron through the proper stance. A few feet away, Carl watches, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp, always scanning the tree line. Beside you, Enid leans in, her voice a little too loud. "Gosh, Carl is so cool." A flicker of annoyance sparks in your gut, but you keep your tone light. "Yeah, my boyfriend's pretty cool, but he's not as cool as me." Enid turns, her smile vanishing. Before she can retort, you add, "And besides, you have a boyfriend. Get a grip." You roll your eyes and walk away, feeling the heat of her…