IVORY | Carl Grimes

thirty-one - tenebrous ;

sawyer's fingers curled around his glock seventeen. the semi-automatic weapon was warm under his fingertips, and he could still smell the traces of fired gun powder. his eyes were narrowed in carol's direction. her trembling form was positioned with her hands resting on her knees, gaping at morgan's unconscious and crumpled body.

the young adult could not grasp ahold of his feelings. he grimaced with a clenched jaw, mulling over whether or not he agreed with her actions. carol rose slowly, ignoring the resounding crack of her knee.

beth was certain that his blood had begun to run cold. the palm of sawyer's hand, which curved around her thigh, was still and frigid. sawyer knew he had to adapt. a cold blooded killer did not have his same warm smile or amiable eyes and a cold blooded killer is what he had to be in order to hand out death slips without remorse. beth understood that now.

silently and without question, the eldest brown and youngest greene convened on the promise that it was them against the world until they could locate their siblings. having communicated solely through their eyes, they turned away after. sawyer cleared his throat and beth took a deep breath.

sawyer wanted to forget all about his humanity in that moment. it would make it so much easier for what came next but knowing eastman's struggles to have it resurface, he burned the bridge to that piece of his mind. it was dangerous.

"you and me," sawyer turned to beth soundlessly, steeling his eyes towards hers, "you cool with that, beth?"

beth had grown incredibly since rick grimes had discovered her daddy's farm. they all had. it did not mean tremors did not riddle her hands in this moment, but it meant with sawyer's in hers, she was strong enough to not let them affect her anymore.

sawyer was aware that if he presented a calm and easygoing front, beth would acquiesce beautifully. he had used this skill to trick saskia into escaping her mind of worries on many occasions as children. the older brunette needed it to work one more time. his own fear did not matter; it would be his downfall.

"wouldn't want it any other way," she responded clearly, despite her blonde hair hiding half of her face.

— FLASHBACK —