𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐋𝐒 |-/ rarl

FÜNF

as the days were passing by ron and carl didn't spoke a word. they would just hesitate and try not to look at each other after what happened that day, although carl couldn't stop thinking about it. he was worried. he didn't know ron well enough to be sure he wouldn't make a problem out of it. his heart was about to fall off his mouth when he stand on the door of the anderson.

for one minute he called himself a coward. why that seemed so hard? it was just a few words. there was no way ron could be such an asshole about it. well, he hoped not.

before knockin' on the door, carl had it open because ron was about to leave. he stared at carl in surprise, both in silence. they shared a tender but still sad look. ron never saw carl's lips tremble that much.

"can i come in?" the grimes ask. ron swallow dry and nods, giving him passage then closing the door behind them.

they stood in silence for two more minutes, carl wasn't even looking at him, his fingers scratching the dark-green couch.

"so... what you saw that day..."

"yes?..."

it was carl's time to swallow dry nervously.

"well... it's kinda delicate, but i think you should know."

"no, not really! you don't need to talk about it if you don't want to."

carl sighs.

"but i want to. i feel like i should get it off my shoulders. i wanna talk to someone who's not my dad, michonne, or someone from atlanta. i... i think i can't run from it no more."

ron left his eyes down. "okay." so the blonde waited patiently until the other feel ready to talk. carl took a deep, deep breath and closed his eye for a few seconds.

"look, i know we don't get along this much, and we don't know much about each other, but you saw something and i don't want you to be confused, so i'm gonna tell you the only thing i never told to anyone before."

"whenever you're ready."

a blank, silent space grew louder between 'em. then carl spits out:

"my mom baptized me cora, but my dad has chosen carl."

ron didn't know what to say in the moment, he taught for a little looking for the correct words. he didn't want to offend him in any way.

"so... what you're saying is that you are..."

"i am not." carl speaks up. "i'm a boy, i have always been, but... something went wrong, y'know... i was born in the wrong body."

ron contract his lips before nodding.

"okay." that's all he have to say. carl let himself breathe, letting that weight out of his core.

"so... you don't mind?"

ron wags both shoulders. "why would i?" carl can't avoid the smile growing on his face, full of hope and joy.

"nothing changes?"

"of course not." the blonde bowes one of his thick eyebrows. "you're still carl. as you always have."

carl can't see to think straight when he runs towards ron and throw his arms around his neck. his sheriff hat falls off. ron goes paralyzed for a moment before hugging him back wary.

"thank you, thank you so much." he whispers against ron's shoulder. it's the first time carl ever trusted an outsider. and he's happy not to regret it. he steps back maidenlike. "so you're not gonna tell anyone?"

ron denies.

"i would never."

carl breathes and giggles in relief. he wish he knew that ron anderson, the gentleman, earlier. he feels his cheeks burn when he notices they are a little too close and departs.

the rest of the day follows like pure freedom. he would smile at strangers just to think ron didn't think there was something wrong about him.