The Way Things Are (A Rarl Fanfiction)

Chapter One

The first thing that Carl actually saw when he got to Alexandria was Ron. Everything was happening in such a blur. His whole life out of focus.... Until Ron entered his field of view. Misty gray eyes. Longer, light brown hair that grew right about his ears. Skinny, but no too skinny, and just all around cute. The first time that Carl laid eyes on Ron, something in him clicked. Ron looked away from Carl's brighter blue eyes. He was enthralled. These new people. Entering his home.

"Who knows what shit they've been through," Ron thought. They looked like they literally went through shit. The whole group was covered in filth. Especially the one with the crossbow. You could tell they hadn't eaten in a while. Before Ron got the chance to introduce himself or say more, they were whisked away to get cleaned up and meet with Diana. Ron went home, still thinking about the cute boy who had bright blue eyes that had literally walked right into his life.

Around two days later Carl went over to Ron's house to hang out. It was their parents' idea. Rick thought Carl needed to be around more people. After everything he had been through, (shooting Shane, killing his own mother to keep her from turning,) it was probably a good thing. Carl had been through some shit. Ron knew it. He could tell in the way Carl acted. Always on edge. Always watching, as if something could go wrong at any second. Ron loved that about Carl. The outside world had made him harden in a way that made him cute. He was thin, but still had muscles. His hair had grown MUCH longer than Ron's. Almost down to his shoulders. The shade of brown made Ron think of mud. A good kind of mud. Dark brown and thick. The best kind of mud to play in.

Enid was at Ron's house with them. They all sat in Ron's bedroom and played video games. Carl seemed a little freaked out. I mean, who wouldn't be? Carl kept glancing at Ron. His body. The way he moved. He couldn't get enough. From what he could piece together Ron and Enid were together. She was hot. She had long, dark brown hair and beautiful eyes. She was quiet. Carl could tell she had seen horrible things. Carl was bisexual, you see, which is hard enough when the world hasn't gone to shit. He knew. He just has ever since he was young. He was attracted to guys and girls. He had a major crush on Beth and he still did up until she was killed in Atlanta. He had always had a thing for Glenn. Glenn was so cute. His slightly slanted eyes, olive skin, and bubble butt. Carl couldn't keep his eyes off of him.

Ron was bi too, but he leaned more towards guys. Enid and him were talking. That's it. He like Enid, but he wanted to be with a guy. Felt like he wanted to be with a guy. Needed to be with a guy. Ron thought that guy need to be Carl. Maybe it was the list talking, but he thought he could see Carl looking over at him. His eyes searching up and down his body. It turned him on. A lot. He didn't have much of anything to turn him on these days. The odd porno magazine he might find in a house or somewhere else. That's it. Now that a guy, that Ron thought was cute, was checking him out... well, let's just say Ron had to adjust himself a couple of times.

They played games and hung out. Enid finally left and neither boy could have been happier.

"So, is this normal for you?" Carl asked Ron, wondering how you could go a day without having to take out a walker or even a person.

"Yeah, man. We don't have to worry about the outside very much. We have electricity and running water. That's enough to keep people acting like the end never happened." said Ron. Which was true. It was like the walls surrounding the community were a block. Not just from walkers, but from the the whole idea. It can't really be happening unless you can see it... Right? They had never had to worry about the outside, only the people who went on runs for supplies and the guards who, occasionally, had to snipe off a walker. It was not good. Ron knew that. If something were to happen or attack or something, then the people of Alexandria wouldn't even be able to fight. They wouldn't be able to save themselves, let alone protect each other.

"I wonder what that's like; to have your whole family with you. You have your mom, dad, and brother. I had to put my mom down back at the prison," Carl stuttered out.

"Prison?" Asked Ron, curious. Not very often did you hear someone say they had to put down their mom in prison. Carl proceeded to tell Ron all about his journey. From the beginning of the end to right now. Atlanta, the farm, the prison, Woodbury, Terminus, and now this place. Carl missed the prison. It was a strange place to live. He got his own cell and all, but there was always something to do. Walkers at the fence or crops to be picked.

"So, are you and Enid a thing?" Asked Carl, hoping that the answer would be no.

"Not really. We're just kind of talking. I'm bisexual and I lean more towards guys, so it's hard to figure my feeling out sometimes. If that offends you I'm sorry. I just want it to be out in the open" Ron exhales. He has never told anyone that. Not even his mother, Jessie. Carl was surprised. Surprised didn't even sum it up all the way. Maybe, just maybe, there was a shot at something good. Maybe something to ease his boner besides his right hand and an old, wrinkly porn magazine.