ribs || carl grimes x reader

treehouse - fm, alex g

Carl's POV (same day as previous chapter)

(y/n) went out on a dry run and everyone else is out around town starting their assigned jobs or meeting the neighbours, leaving me extremely bored.

"Hey Carl, I'm going out. How about you come with me?" dad asks standing in my doorway. I accept, and he leads me out into the middle of the woods to this abandoned mobile home with a huge pile of junk next to it. 

"Um...why are we out here dad?" I look around in confusion.

"I just wanted to check something real quick." He bends down and opens a container, seeing it's empty. He sighs and sets it back before turning to me. "But I also wanted to talk to you. In private." I nod, inviting him to speak.

"Look, I'm sorry I got so angry this morning. I was just worried. We're in a strange new place. I thought maybe they took you or killed you or something. I apologize."

"It's ok dad. I get it." I shoot him a little half smile.

"Now about (y/n). I'm happy you two found each other, I really am. But I'm just worried you're gonna get too attached before we leave here. Are you...gonna be ok if you have to split up again?" Anger boils up inside of me as I think about leaving her. I was still a bit upset at her from this morning for not saying she'd come with if we left. But deep down I understand. I wouldn't wanna leave my home either. I mean, I don't wanna leave Alexandria and I've only been here one night. 

"I'd stay here. With her." Dad gives me a half dumfounded, half furious look. "If you wanted to leave I'd have to stay with her. I've been away from her for long enough." I give him my most serious expression, trying to get him to understand.

"Now Carl you know I won't let that happen. I can't just leave you here you're supposed to stay with me." dad's voice raises as it does when he's angry.

"Then let's stay. If we see something we don't like we can handle it, but if they wanted to hurt us or kill us or steal from us, they already would have." I take a deep sigh and look at my dad's stoic expression. "Look I can't bear to be apart from her anymore. Seeing her again now, it'd be torture to part from her again. You have to understand dad. How would you feel if it was mom?" Dad's face was really furious this time, but it eventually softened. He nods at me and puts his hand on my shoulder, pulling me in closer.

"Be honest. Do you think you love her, Carl?" my dad asks kind of awkwardly. We've never really gotten a chance to talk about girls and stuff yet. My body tenses up and I get nervous.

"W-what kind of love do you mean, dad?"

"I mean...the way I loved your mom. You wanna be with her?" he asks, this time a bit more confidently. I gulp and respond, flustered.

"Yeah. I do. I love her. So much." my heart pounds out of my chest and my cheeks get hot. Dad looks at me, probably half upset that my love makes things complicated for him, but also half happy for me. 

"Ok then. I'll keep that in mind." dad pats me on the back. I let out a huge sigh and try calming myself down. That is, until a small group of walkers approaches us. Dad shoots me a look.

"Get ready." he says as we pull our knives up, ready to take them on.

Your POV (kinda simultaneously with this)

We headed out into the woods, going nowhere in particular to my knowledge. Some members of the party engage in small talk as we zig-zag through the trees. 

"So you're a friend of Carl's? Like, from before all of this?" Glenn walks up next to you, trying to engage in his own small talk.

"Yeah. Carl's mom Lori and my mom were best friends. They made sure Carl and I were born around the same time so we could grow up together." you take a break from watching the ground to shoot him a smile.