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404writes · 2 years

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There is a Light That Never Goes Out - (Carl Grimes)

Masterlist !! Taglist !!

Summary: You and Carl are finally allowed on a run by yourselves. As you settle down for the night in a small house in the woods, Carl discovers a record player. Word Count: 1.8k~ Pairing: Carl Grimes / Female Reader

Warnings: None ! Just some one on one Carl time, featuring a little bit of kissing. A/N: This fic is loosely based off of "There is a Light That Never Goes Out" by The Smiths, it is also the song I listened to while writing this fic. Feel free to listen to it or any song by The Smiths while reading, I think it matches the fic.

-S404

Runs with Carl were always fun. You weren't the most successful pair, and you never came back with more supplies than expected, but these small outings gave you time to be outside the walls, to be free. Usually you were accompanied by another person or two. Rick said it was for efficiency, but you both knew he just wanted the two of you to be the safest you could possibly be out there. This time it was different though. After telling Rick repeatedly that he's "16 now" and can be trusted on a short overnight run, Carl managed to gain his father's trust, and Rick agreed to send the both of you out locally for the night to scavenge. It might not have been anything that special, just a two day expedition ten miles out from Alexandria. On a mission to search nearby hunting cabins for guns, canned food, anything that you could scrape up really. However it was special for you, you'd never been away from Alexandria without multiple other members of the group for a long time, ever really.

"Alright you two, remember no detours, and if anything is the slightest bit off you come straight back." Rick was going through both of your bags, making sure you had the correct supplies and protection. He had a mixture of worry and pride on his face. He wasn't against the idea of you two having independence, this just wasn't his ideal way of allowing it. "The car should have enough fuel in it to get you there and back easily, remember all the things I taught you in your driving lessons, don't be stupid." You wondered how long he would have gone on if Carl hadn't stopped him. "Dad we'll be fine. I know you have doubt, but we can take care of ourselves and each other out there." The worry in Rick's face didn't subside.

You couldn't help but be excited, not just for the adventure or the independence, but for the time you'd get to spend with Carl. You knew he'd indulge any urge you had for something risky or adrenaline-inducing, unlike the others. You felt like an adult in the most childish way. ~ Daylight was burning. As you and Carl hopped into the car, you occupying the passenger seat, Michonne and Rick put your bags into the trunk. You agree they were being overprotective, but no one could really blame them.

In this world all it took was one bite or a scratch and you were as good as dead.

The pair of you waved and said goodbye as Eugene opened the main gate, Michonne looked over and said something to Rick which you couldn't hear over the car engine, however after that Rick appeared more at peace.

It should have only been a fifteen minute drive, but Carl's dodgy driving was easily going to make it double. The second you had exited the gates of Alexandria you had taken your seat belt off unadvisedly, however the piece of polyester made you feel restricted.

You reached your hand out to roll down the window. It was one of those old-fashioned cars, grey exterior, two-seater, and an inside that smelt like your grandparents house did.

"I've wanted to do this forever," you said as you re-positioned yourself sideways and leaned your head out the window. The wind blew over your bare shoulders as your hair floated in the breeze, your upper half covered by nothing but a dark green tank top.

As you climbed back inside the car, you peered over at Carl to see a smile emerging on his face, the flannel he was wearing was slightly blowing backwards at the gentle wind that managed to reach his side.

"You're easy to please," he said with a slight chuckle.

"It's called having fun, you should try it sometime." Your words earned another smile out of the man.

The rest of the ride was a peaceful one, the area was decently clear, so walkers weren't something you had to look out for and could almost avoid completely.

It was also a quiet ride, after pulling the window back up and eliminating the whistle of the wind, the only noises to be heard were the occasional remarks about Carl's terrible driving, and comments about a certain protective and bearded man.

As the car halted in what used to be a forest-enclosed picnic site, you were quick to analyse the surrounding area. Rick had purposely sent you to a place which he knew would be clear, but nevertheless it was important to check anyway. As expected there was no immediate threat in sight.

You picked up the map you had been receiving directions from off the dashboard as both you and Carl exited the car. Whilst picking up your backpack from the trunk, you took mental note of the area for future reference.

"Alright Mr. Grimes, there are seven cabins marked down on this map, and we have around four hours of sunlight to get through as many as we can, the rest we can finish tomorrow." You knew you'd only get a couple done today, but at least the work ethic could be appreciated.

"And how far out's the first one?" Carl asked.

You told him that by the looks of it you'd be walking for another two miles, that was enough to make him pick up the pace.

The first three houses were slow; supplies were minimal, and few walkers had dared to show their rotting faces. By the time you reached the fourth the sun was beginning to set, you mutually decided to take refuge there for the night rather than continue.

After clearing the house, you both took the extra "leisure time" to scout around for any tidbits you could take home for yourselves.

You managed to gather a small blue cat statue for Michonne, a couple old comics, and some pencils. You were about to assess the sleeping situation just as you heard Carl call out from the main room.

"Y/N! Come check this out!" He sounded more than mildly excited, you quickly poked your head around the corner to see what he had found.

"Get a load of this, a record player!" It was the clunkiest thing you had ever seen, a giant hunk of square. You had to laugh at least a little at the oddities of the man.

"Carl we are not taking that home with us." As much as you wanted to entertain the idea, it was just mildly preposterous.

"Yeah well I know that, but look what else I found." He put down the machine and picked up something else sitting to his side.

He held the record up beside his head, "It's one my mom and I used to play, I think you'd like it too. I thought maybe we could give it a listen." Still standing in the doorway you threw him a nod, to which he quickly started assembling the machine.

~ As the music began to play, so did Carl. He started making emotive gestures and lip-syncing with the music. You glanced at him disapprovingly from across the room, to which he walked over and reached out his arm.

"M'lady?" Carl bowed down, removing his hat with his free arm.

Letting out a small sigh, you took his hand. He pulled you out into the middle of the room, where you both began to dance slowly.

"Can you tell I've never danced like this before?" Carl whispered the words gently in your ear, as to not disturb the slow rhythm of the music.

You chuckled before answering, "No, not at all. You're doing great."

The music was harmonic and slightly dull, but it spoke to you all too well. The pair of you stumbled around for the next twenty minutes, bumping feet occasionally and rarely making eye contact.

It was peaceful, even before the world ended you'd never felt this kind of enjoyment.

As the music slowed and eventually stopped all together, so did you.

You pulled away from the man soulfully. Still holding onto to one of his arms, you performed just one more twirl. Finally focusing in on his face, you could see him smiling, looking right back at you.

He looked in awe to an extent, maybe because he'd never been this close with somebody before, or maybe it was the effect you had on him. Either way, you felt the same.

You came closer to him once more, this time just slightly elevating yourself on your toes, bringing you at eye-level to his face. You leaned in, gently leaving a delicate kiss on his lips. As you smiled and pulled back, he became mildly flustered, his face turning a light shade of pink.

No words were exchanged between the two of you in the moments after that kiss. You did however, feel his gaze on your presence as you turned away and headed toward the record player, removing the vinyl and placing the circular disk in your backpack.

"Well you're easy to please," you finally broke the silence. You found it humorous how effortlessly you bewildered the man.

"It's called having fun, you should try it sometime," he spoke in a comical voice, obviously imitating you, however the voice was not one bit accurate. He looked across at you, awaiting validation for his joke.

"Well, I call dibs on first sleeping shift." You began to run to the bedroom only halfway through your sentence.

"I hate you, you know?" Carl shouted out still standing boggled in the main room.

"Sure you do Grimes, sure you do." The second phrase came out as no more than a whisper. Pleased with yourself, you crawled into a comfortable position on the bed, closing your eyes.

In the lack of visual stimulation, you could almost feel the man outside slouching down against the wall, and it was all because of you.

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