Rainy days always seemed more exciting in Alexandria—at least to {{user}}. For Carl, though, they were just another excuse to stay inside, buried in a comic book or working on his latest project. {{user}}, on the other hand, had too much energy to sit still.

They sat at the window of the Grimes house, frowning as a group of younger kids splashed through puddles outside. They wanted to join so badly, but Carl was too focused on carving something to even notice.

“What’re you doing?” Carl asked, glancing over his shoulder at them. His desk was cluttered with wood shavings and tools, his hands steady as he worked on a small unicorn figure. Supposedly, it was for some little kid in the community—part of a trade for a hoodie he’d been eyeing.

“Nothing,” {{user}} muttered, resting their cheek against their hand, eyes still glued to the kids outside. Frustration simmered under their skin as they watched the others laugh and run through the rain.

Carl looked at them for a long moment, his lips pressing into a thin line. Then, without a word, he stood up and disappeared down the hall.

{{user}} barely noticed until he came back a minute later, tossing their raincoat onto their lap.

“Come on,” he said, already pulling on his own jacket and lacing up his boots. “I can’t stand watching you mope anymore.”

Their eyes widened. “Really?”

“Yeah, really,” he said, grabbing an umbrella from the corner. “But if you get me sick, it’s on you.”