Rarl one-shots.

16|Selfish.

I apologize in advance for any errors with the pronouns. English is not my first language.

When Carl meets Enid, he just gets that feeling of familiarity. Because Enid knows what it's like to be outside and that was comforting in a way.

Enid's attitude towards him when he meets her is irritable and despicable, but Carl understands as soon as Ron tells him that Enid had arrived in Alexandria eight months ago and it took him two weeks to say anything about her.

Enid understood what it was like to live outside, but she didn't understand what Carl really felt, deep down, what he never told her.

So Carl follows Enid when she comes out of the walls of Alexandria and they spend time together, not a lot and Carl is fine with that, he didn't want to spend a lot of time with her either.

The only thing that united Carl and Enid was the feeling of recognition; knowing what it's like to be outside. Nothing else.

Lie. There is one more thing they have in common and that is Ron.

Ever since Carl met Ron, he couldn't help but have this instant crush. Ron was intriguing in his strange way, with his long clothes when it was hot, with his slightly long hair always covering his face, his strange way when he walked, when he sometimes flinched when someone touched him...his sad and distant look even if he was smiling, his eyes reflected nothing but pain.

And Carl treated Ron as selfish, why would someone who was always safe in the walls when him fought for his life look so sad and broken and scared? What was Ron afraid of? Why was it like this? Why did Carl want to make that his problem?

So Carl likes Ron. Enid was Ron's girlfriend...

Carl was never a demanding person, not before the apocalypse, much less now that everything was scarce and staying alive was already lucky. But he wanted to be hard on himself about Ron. He wanted Ron, he wanted everything from him and he wanted to be the one who could get closer than what was strictly and quietly established between a friendship. Carl doesn't know or understand how a relationship works, but he's seen too many couples around him to try to figure it out. Enid could reach higher steps than Carl ever could.

Enid could do things with Ron that Carl couldn't.

Enid probably hugged Ron.

Carl will never be able to hug Ron for whatever reason he was.

Enid probably kissed Ron.

Carl could never kiss Ron.

Ron loved Enid.

And Ron would never loved Carl.

So yes. Carl was jealous, he wanted to be selfish and hard on himself to try and get Ron.

He tries and fails.

Ron hates him for what Rick did to Pete and it hurts like hell. Carl had nothing to do with it, why does he pay broken dishes?

Carl finally understands why Ron looked so broken. He would have liked to help him put the destroyed pieces together, but Ron wouldn't let him. So they fight. Every chance they get and Carl hates it so much he tries not to cry. He picks up the broken pieces of his heart off the floor and slides over to his bed where he tries to dream of a place where Ron wants him the way he loves Enid.

So Carl loves Ron. Ron loves Enid. Enid...she loves Carl.

Carl doesn't notice at first, who would? Enid was anything but nice to him. He notices when she takes his hand as they sit looking at the lake. Carl gently and carefully removes he hand. If he's lucky, Enid will get the message that he's not interested in her and leave him alone.