Alexis looked back and forth between Negan and Kitty. Her daughter seemed distracted by her painting and Negan just rolled his eyes.
"I'll send someone here, don't worry."
Taking a deep breath, she felt like the worst mum ever. Here in the Sanctuary was even more adult business that wasn't meant for kid's eyes and Alexis had the feeling that she left Kitty alone too often. But her child didn't seem to mind. She loved the attention she got from everyone. And it seemed as if most of the Saviors were pretty decent people...or at least too afraid to hurt someone under Negan's protection.
"Where are we going?"
She shot Negan a suspicious look and he laughed.
"Don't ruin the damn surprise, darlin'. You'll fucking love it."
It didn't calm her one bit. Alexis trusted Negan to some degree but he was still a lunatic. Not that she was less crazy than him, but that way she knew how unpredictable someone like her could be.
They walked down side by side the long hallway until they reached the compound slash marketplace slash gathering room, Alexis didn't really know how to call it. Negan tapped Lucille against the railway to make the people aware of his presence. The mumbling immediately died down and everyone dropped to their knees.
Alexis ignored the crowd under her and scanned the room for something unusual. The huge oven gleamed of the fire it contained, Simon knelt next to it with a long pole in his hand. But even more strange was that someone was tied to a stool, the person's back facing them.
Long, greasy, dirty blonde hair dropped down to the prisoners shoulders and Alexis realized that this was Dwight. Frowning, she looked up to Negan who had a shit eating grin on his face when he saw that she figured something out, but not fully understood what was going on.
They stepped down the stairs and on the middle platform, he motioned for the other leader to stop. He leaned down to her and his lips brushed her ear when he whispered.
"Wait here. You have the freakin' best view on the show. Enjoy it."
He left Alexis even more confused while he jumped down the last stairs. She leaned on the handrail and saw that some people were staring up to her, including Dwight. Her icy blue eyes returned the gaze. The prisoner's eyes were filled with pain and fear. Sweat ran from his forehead down his face, but he tried his best to play brave and not show any emotion. He seemed to know what would happen to him. It must be pretty frightening, but for Alexis it would never be enough. For what he did she wanted him to suffer.
Dwight couldn't hold her hostile gaze for long, so his eyes trailed to Negan, who was grinning savagely at his former right hand man.
"To your feet."
Negan said, the amusement obvious in his voice. Simon nodded at Alexis greeting, before his attention shifted back to his 'boss' who started a speech. She didn't really pay attention to what he said and just watched his people while he spoke. Then again she noticed what kind of amazing strategist he was.
His voice went from calm, firm and deep to shouting in seconds and every time he grew louder, his people flinched, looking at their leader with this mix of fear and admiration. It was fascinating to watch, especially because she was one of the few people that didn't show any emotion to his mind control games.
But all in all his speech wasn't meant to frighten his people, it was more to scare the one to be punished. The waiting, even tough he knew what would happen and hearing Negan ramble about him, would drive him crazy.
"...so let Dwight's face be a remembrance for him and for you all, what happens if someone breaks the rules. That's the only way we, the Saviors, can provide safety for you all."
He even cut his swearing low. Negan spoke like a king to his people and that was exactly who he was. A strong leader, someone who could guide this mass of people through these horrible times.
The man walked towards Simon and slid a huge glove over his hand and motioned for his right hand man to get him whatever he could retrieve with that pole. Alexis cocked a brow when Simon got an ancient flatiron out of the oven and handed it to Negan.
Everyone inhaled sharply as Negan strutted towards Dwight and the tension in the massive hall was thick.
"Good fucking choice to come back, buddy."
He chuckled and Dwight looked up to him with fear in his eyes. But he didn't plead for Negan to stop, he didn't insult him, he just stayed quiet and waited for his punishment.
Before he started what he was about to do, the leader adverted his gaze to meet Alexis'. He stared her into the eyes and flashed his white teeth when he smiled.
Then, all of a sudden, Negan pushed the iron onto the side of Dwight's face. Most of the people let out some disgusted noises or mumbled, but Alexis didn't move a muscle. She didn't show any emotion, she just stared down and watched.
Alexis felt watched while Negan pressed the iron to Dwight's face and for a short moment, her eyes fell onto Sherry. She hadn't seen the woman that nearly killed her since she was in the Sanctuary, but now she stood there, wearing a tight black dress and heels, among women that looked the same. The woman had countless emotions in her gaze as she looked up to Alexis, the strongest being hostility. She blamed her for ruining their shitty plan.
A small, cruel smile tugged on Alexis lips while she stared back. It wasn't even close to what she would've done to them, but it was the slightest bit of sweet revenge. She had to admit, it had a nice touch that Negan made his newbie wife watch what happened to her traitorous ex. It didn't made up for him pardoning her for his own, pathetic advantage.
"Oh wow, he didn't even piss himself. Spares us a lot of hella disgusting trouble. Thank you Dwighty boy."
Negan padded the passed out man's shoulder and walked off.
...
Alexis walked back to her room, but was disturbed by the sound of heels clicking against the floor behind her. Someone who was fatally lacking stealth was following her and she knew exactly who it was. She gripped her bat tightly and leaned it against her shoulder.
"You have some nerves following me, Sherry."
The footsteps immediately stopped and Alexis turned around. Sherry was standing a few feet away from her, a cautious expression on her face, eyeing the weapon in the other woman's hand. She was very right to be careful, right now Alexis was a time bomb, barely containing herself.
It was nearly pathetic how both women differed. Sherry with her flashy neglige, make up and well placed hair, while Alexis wore her usual boyish clothing, her dark waves flew freely around her shoulders. But the most striking difference was that Alexis was very confident with herself. Her icy blue eyes bore into Sherry and the woman was obviously afraid of the leader.
"I wanted to apologize."
Sherry's voice was low, her eyes adverted to the ground. Alexis smiled amused and even chuckled slightly to disrespect her fully, but it didn't reach any true emotion.
"Well, congratulations on nearly making a little girl an orphan. Do you really think your apology means anything?"
Negan's newest wife flinched at her harsh tone.
"We did what everyone's doing: trying to survive."
Finally, she brought up some guts and looked Alexis in the eyes. She played with her bat in her hand and strutted closer to Sherry.
"Excuse me, darling, but why did you risk your arse by fleeing in the first place? Negan's powdering your fine asses all day, you have the protection of a large group and if you aren't completely silly, you know that you can't survive in a group of two for long."
Alexis made sure to over-emphasize her British accent to make the other woman feel even more stupid and below her. She pushing Sherry's buttons, waiting for her to flip the switch. If she attacked, she could defend herself and that was exactly what she was getting at.
"My sister..."
The leader lifted a hand to stop her from speaking any further.
"You see where this got you sister. She's dead now, all because you just couldn't stick to the rules. We all know that Negan's a lunatic and I am, too, but you know what we have in common? We establish rules to grant survival. Human's are flawed creatures and nothing works without a system."
Alexis circled her like she way easy prey.
"What Negan and I don't have in common is that I don't forgive. I don't let such shit pass by fucking whores. I don't trust anyone who backstabbed me once."
Now she stood close behind her and whispered in her ear.
"But I think you know very well that this is all your fault. Negan put it quite right: Let his face be a reminder."
Sherry clenched her fists, tears swam in her eyes. Maybe she wouldn't attack her, but Alexis still reached her goal. The girl was starting to break, she could blame Alexis on her failure all the way she wanted, but she would always know that it was a lie, that she herself is the one to blame and Alexis would remind her of that every day of her miserable life, her face would haunt her in her dreams.
"Unfortunately I can't do anything in here. I'm a guest and I'd like to keep the peace. But I want you to know, whenever you're stupid enough to leave these walls again, I'll find you and I'll kill you."
She was absolutely serious with that. Sherry nearly killed her and that was something Alexis would punish by death. Not because of her ego, it was because of Kitty. To be honest she didn't care much about her own life, but she knew that Kitty still needed her. Of course she risked it often enough by simply being a leader, the job brought a target on her back, and now by helping Negan, but that was something she couldn't change. But other people trying to end it before Kitty could survive on her own were something Alexis wouldn't accept.
With a smile on her face, she left Sherry standing and continued to walk towards her room, but of course Negan already waited for her in front of her door. He had a scowl on his handsome face and Alexis rolled her eyes.
"Haven't I been fucking clear about you, walking around and threatening my people? Especially my wives."
Of course he heard it. In here Negan knew everything. But what she said to Sherry wasn't a secret, she expected that the woman would run to her 'loving husband's' arms and tell him everything. She also knew that Negan wouldn't let that fly.
"Haven't I been fucking clear that I don't care?"
She wanted to go inside, but suddenly Lucille crashed into the wall beside her. Alexis didn't even flinch, but shot Negan a death glare. He returned it and a staring duel added to their giant pissing contest.
"You, sweetheart, should be fucking grateful that I saved your fucking hot ass."
Negan growled and leaned down, their faces were inches apart.
"You know who should be grateful, too? Your lovely wife and her idiot of an ex. Are you seriously letting them stay under your roof?"
The leader of the Saviors let his bat sink down to his side, his lips pressed into a thin line.
"Don't meddle in my fucking business, Lex. I don't care what you think."
Strangely, this gave her a pinch into her heart, but she ignored it.
"Oh, well, but I do care what you think because we are in freakin' alliance and if you fall, I fall. And right now I see that you're letting your cock do the thinking."
His signature smirk came back to his face and Alexis had to admit that he simply looked so sexy when he smiled. It was such a boyish charm, but combined with his salt and pepper beard, which invited her to run her finger through, it drove her crazy.
"It's fairly big cock, so..."
Alexis sighed and slapped his arm. Thankfully, the violent atmosphere vanished and was replaced by their usual playfulness. It was strange how these two could shift from being deadly serious to joking within seconds. No one would ever understand that.
"You aren't even close to being funny."
She said dryly, which made Negan laugh even more.
"I'm hilarious and you know it."
"Just shut the fuck up."
Alexis wanted to finally go back to her daughter, but Negan again stopped her by placing his hand on hers before she could push down the handle. His large hand covered hers completely and she looked up to him frowning confused.
"You know what I can't the fuck get? You just saw me freakin' ironing someone's skin off his face and you just stand up there and smile like a lunatic, but you get upset because of my choice in women?"
Their gazes met again and locked. There was something unreadable on him, these rare seconds of when she thought she could get a glimpse behind the mask he wore all day. But whenever she was about to see through him, he shut himself away again. Usually she was so good at reading people but Negan perfected this task.
"Seems like I'm as crazy as you are."
A small, genuine smile tugged on his lips.
"Which makes us hell of a team."
Shortly, he squeezed her hand before distancing himself again and walking off whistling his signature tune.
