Adventure is also a popular theme. They could be exploring a new city, going on a road trip, or even delving into a mysterious old mansion. It creates an exciting backdrop for their relationship to develop. Like in a story where they explore an abandoned castle and discover a hidden treasure together.
Another great one is 'Carl and Reader: A New Beginning'. This fanfic sets a scenario where Carl and the Reader meet in a post - apocalyptic world. They rely on each other for survival and gradually develop feelings that are both tender and strong.
A really interesting Carl Grimes x Reader story could be set during a winter. The group is low on supplies and Carl and the reader volunteer to go out and find some firewood. Along the way, they get trapped in a small cabin due to a snowstorm and they have to rely on each other to survive. This situation brings them closer and a relationship starts to form.
A plot could revolve around the reader being a new arrival in the group Carl is in. Carl helps the reader adjust to the new, dangerous world, and they bond over sharing their pasts. Maybe the reader has a unique skill, like being a great medic, and Carl is impressed and drawn to them.
You can try some popular fanfic platforms like Archive of Our Own (AO3). They have a wide range of fanfics, and you can use the search filters to exclude mature or lemon content. Just search for 'Carl Grimes x Reader' and then look through the results to find the ones that suit your taste.
Carl's physical and mental evolution throughout the series makes him an appealing character in fanfiction. He started as a young boy and grew into a more hardened survivor. In Carl Grimes x Reader stories, this growth can be explored in relation to the relationship. Maybe the reader has known him since he was younger and has seen this transformation, which could lead to a unique and complex relationship.
One possible motive could be that the reader character is perceived as a threat to Carl's group. Maybe they accidentally led some danger to the group, like zombies or hostile humans, and Carl, in his over - protective state for his people, decides to take action.
It's hard to say who the 'best' is as it depends on personal taste. However, some authors who are quite popular in this niche are those who really capture Carl's character well. They might be the ones who have read the original source material thoroughly and can accurately portray his growth, his relationship with his family, and how he would interact with the reader. For example, some authors on Archive of Our Own have a great following for their Carl x Reader works.
In the fanfiction world of Carl Grimes x Reader, 'Shared Secrets' is a story that delves into the deep connection between them as they start sharing their secrets. 'Heartbeats in the Dark' is a more suspenseful one where they are in a dangerous situation and their feelings for each other are intensified. 'Hope with Carl' is a story that gives a sense of hope in a world full of despair through their relationship.
I really like 'A Journey with Carl'. It's set in a post - apocalyptic world where the reader and Carl are on a journey to find a rumored safe haven. Along the way, they have deep conversations about their pasts, their hopes for the future, and of course, they have to fight off hordes of walkers. It shows a very different side of Carl from what we see in the show sometimes.