Quinn and Negan, Alexandria

One week later

A week passed since Maggie beat Negan up. His injuries were healing nicely. His bruises started turning from purple to a greenish yellow. He had an array of colors all over his right side and on his face. The previous injuries he got during our last journey were almost completely healed. His thigh and his arm didn't hurt anymore. He was able to move again, which got me worried. The day we had to leave Alexandria was approaching once again. I didn't really leave Negan's side during this week. We were talking a lot. He made me laugh so many times. Carol helped us out with food, I was so grateful to her. She kept both of us alive. Daryl stopped by once to check on me but didn't come inside. He asked how Negan was only because of manners. To make me feel better. I was grateful to him too. I didn't leave the house, so I didn't get to talk to Jesus or Aaron, or Rosita about what happened. Not to mention Connie. I never got to sign her what Daryl taught me. I was practicing sign language with Negan anyway, out of boredom. We both started learning it. Of course, Negan wanted to sign obscure things which made me laugh. The book didn't have any foul words though and it made him sad. When Negan got better we relocated to the bedroom upstairs but I was still avoiding any hot stuff. He needed to heal completely. I was strict about this. Negan tried a couple of times, but I stood my ground even when it was hard to say no. He had to heal.

Just as we finished lunch, Negan was carefully stretching his back while I put the dishes away. He exhaled sharply as he let his arms fall to his sides.

"Does it hurt?" I asked. He put his left hand on his right side, gently touching his ribs.

"Not that much anymore," he answered. "I mean, if I press it I can feel it, but when nothing's pressing on it then no."

I let out a relieved sigh.

"I'm so glad. You looked horrible," I said.

"Thanks, I love you too," he said mocking me. I chuckled.

"I mean, you always look good, but your face was covered in blood and bruises, not to mention your ribs… I was worried," I admitted.

"I know," he said as he came closer and slipped his hands on my waist. "But I told you I'm gonna heal and everything's gonna be fine."

I nodded approvingly and as he leaned in to kiss me, suddenly we heard a knock on the door. It sounded impatient. Someone always came when we were about to kiss. Or were we kissing so much that there wasn't any other option? I quickly opened the door, Carol was standing in front of me.

"Eugene's here!" she stated excitedly without any more context. But that was all I wanted to hear anyway. I glanced at Negan, he looked surprised.

"Where's he? Oh, he must be going to check on Rosita first," I was thinking out loud.

"No. He's not alone," said Carol, the excitement gone. "He brought some soldiers and a politician guy with him."

"What?" I asked. "Soldiers? Politician? What the hell?"

Negan came closer, listening, paying attention. Carol nodded reassuringly.

"Yeah, you heard me. They want all the residents to gather in front of the hall. You two should come too," she added.

"Is it a good idea? I mean Maggie must be there," I speculated, glancing at Negan to see his reaction.

"Come on. I'll stay by your side," Carol said reassuringly. I exchanged glances with Negan once again, he nodded too.

"I mean… I would love to see a politician. It was a long time ago I saw one," he said with a slight smile. I chuckled and Carol smiled slightly.

"Sounds interesting. What about the soldiers? Are they friendly?" I asked unsurely. Carol shrugged her shoulder.

"They're with Eugene, so I hope so," she said. I nodded approvingly, glanced at Negan once again, then I stepped through the door.

"Alright. Let's go."

Feelings were swirling suddenly inside of me. I was so happy Eugene was okay and he was here. I was excited to see him again. Yet… these soldiers were bothering me. I didn't really like the idea of having them here. And a politician? What on earth was going on? We followed Carol to the hall.

"Is Daryl keeping an eye on the soldiers?" I asked. Carol nodded.

"Yeah, you know him. They seem friendly, but who knows… Just in case. Jesus is alert too," she explained. I nodded understandingly. It made me feel a little bit calmer, knowing how Daryl and Jesus look out for all of us. As we were approaching the hall the sight of the soldiers hit me. I mean, when Carol said they were soldiers I was thinking about those green military uniforms or maybe black, like the ones the Reapers were wearing… but this… I got shocked for a couple of seconds. These soldiers looked like they stepped out of a sci-fi comic book. They were wearing pure white armor above black clothes. I looked at Negan, he was examining them surprised too, slightly frowning his eyebrows as he was concentrating.

"Yeah, they look a bit… unusual," said Carol, searching for the right word. As we walked past them we spotted the politician guy too, he was wearing a suit. I just could not believe it. How? Why? Are they not aware that there's an apocalypse going on? And there he was… Eugene, talking to the politician. He spotted me too, our eyes met. I waved at him smiling widely and he did the same. He looked happy and healthy. That was a good sign. Eugene's eyes fell on Negan walking next to me and his smile faded away slowly, turning his eyes back at the politician. Negan scoffed, barely audible. He seemed very entertained by this show. When we arrived, I saw Maggie talking to her friends. She seemed concerned. I quickly turned my eyes away and followed Carol. We stood by the building, leaning our backs against the wall, waiting for whatever was going to happen. Carol spotted Daryl coming towards us.

"Stay here," she told us and walked to Daryl. They stood by the wall too a little bit away, standing between us and Maggie. I turned my eyes back at Negan.

"I don't really like this," I whispered to him. "There are too many soldiers."

"Don't underestimate Eugene," he replied quietly. "If he says they're okay, then they are okay. Trust him."

Negan was speaking from experience. Yeah… It was Eugene who was smart enough to ruin his kingdom from the inside. I should trust him about this. I was looking at the soldiers uneasily. A few more people arrived. Connie, Kelly, and Magna stood next to us. My eyes met with Connie's. I smiled at her unsurely. She smiled back. I took a deep breath and started signing to her what Daryl taught me.

"Hi! Nice to meet you! My name is Quinn," I signed. Connie was looking amazed.

"Hi! I'm Connie! Nice to meet you," she signed back. "You are friends with Daryl, right?"

I nodded yes to her. She was still smiling. I continued signing:

"He said I should meet you. He thinks we would like each other."

Connie chuckled without a sound and nodded yes.

"Did you learn sign language just for me?" she asked.

"Yes, but then I realized it's very useful. We can communicate without making any sound," I signed to her. I was proud of myself for how much I learned. Negan was watching us, practicing what we learned too. Connie was nodding yes again.

"I'm still flattered," she signed. I smiled at her in a friendly way. My eyes met with Daryl's for a second, he was watching us too. He slightly smiled at me and nodded, then signed "good job". I chuckled, then I turned my eyes back at Negan.

"Did you understand what we were signing?" I asked him.

"Yeah, I got it. Thought I was bad at it, but I got it," he explained. I smiled at him too. Then Negan suddenly turned towards Connie once again and patted her shoulder to get her attention. Connie looked at us and Negan asked her if she could teach him any foul words in sign language. Connie chuckled without a sound, throwing her arms, like she had no idea what to teach him, then suddenly she showed us a middle finger. I burst into laughter.

"Oh, right. The international sign everyone understands," said Negan defeated, smiling a bit embarrassed. Kelly was laughing her ass off too. Connie patted Negan's shoulder like she was saying sorry, for making fun of him. Negan kindly smiled at her and then walked to my other side.

"Don't mind him. That was hilarious, though," I signed to Connie. She smiled at me, then I turned my eyes back at Negan.

"Well, at least you learned to sign a foul word," I stated. Negan chuckled softly.

"Yeah…"

He still looked a bit embarrassed, so I quickly pecked his cheek. He glanced at me and smiled, while he took my hand. I turned my eyes away, watching the soldiers once again, my smile vanished completely. Then my eyes fell on Eugene. He ran his eyes through everyone, then said something to the politician. Seemed like everyone was there, even the children. Eugene then stepped in front of the residents of Alexandria and cleared his throat to get attention. We were waiting for what he was going to say. As he started talking I couldn't stop smiling once again. I missed him. He was making a speech, but in the perfect Eugene way, using those funny expressions he always does. He was talking about how Alexandria was in a bad shape, so he set out with Ezekiel and Yumiko to search for help. He said they found the best place we could get help from and he announced this politician guy to us. He did it in such a formal manner like this guy was some kind of celebrity or I don't know, it was strange. He even clapped a little for this guy, but no one else did. I frowned my eyebrows, and my smile vanished. What was going on again? It was so surreal. And here comes this guy. I decided at the first minute I didn't like him. He was too kind, smiling too much. Trying too hard to get our trust. He made me suspicious. He came from a place called Commonwealth. He was talking about how they can help us rebuild Alexandria. Sounded too good to be true. Also, he offered us that if we wanted to leave Alexandria and live in the Commonwealth anyone is free to join them. I felt confronted. Everyone started whispering as he finished his speech. I glanced at Negan, he looked me in the eye. We didn't say a word. Connie and Kelly were signing crazily next to us. They seemed excited. I glanced at Carol. If anyone was there, who was always right about instincts, that was Carol. She looked at me too, she looked serious. After a couple of minutes this politician guy, named Hornsby, continued talking, raising his voice a bit.

"I know it's a huge decision. The Commonwealth is happy to help you out. We are also happy to greet you as our newest neighbor. It's up to you. But… we don't have much time to make that decision. We can give you a couple of hours. We'll wait, then we have to return to the Commonwealth. Those who decide to come should join us as we leave. Now, I'll give you some space to discuss all of this. I hope we can come to a conclusion that benefits all of us."

Hornsby kept smiling all along like he practiced it in front of a mirror, then he walked away, letting us talk it through. I didn't even know who to run first. Discuss the possibility with Negan to move to the Commonwealth? Ask Carol what she thinks about all of this? Hug Eugene and ask how he is? Negan saw the confusion on my face.

"Hey… Are you thinking about what I'm thinking?" he asked.

"Moving to the Commonwealth?" I returned the question. Negan nodded yes.

"I mean, it would solve all of our problems. No Maggie, no walkers, walls, safety. What else should we ask for?" he asked.

I fell deep in thoughts. I glanced at Carol, she was in deep discussion with Daryl and Henry. I glanced at Eugene too, he was talking with Rosita. I turned my eyes back at Negan.

"I don't know Negan… I agree with all you said… but… are you not suspicious?" I asked turning my voice quiet. "It sounds too good to be true."

Negan thought about it for a second, before he answered.

"Are you suspicious?" he asked.

"Yeah. I don't like this guy. How can someone be a politician in the freakin' apocalypse? What's with these show-off sci-fi soldiers? All of it seems off."

Negan chuckled a bit because of my reaction.

"Sci-fi soldiers? I like that," he said giggling, but when he saw how serious I was, his smile vanished and turned serious again.

"Excuse me!" Gabriel's voice distracted us. "I suggest everyone return to their homes and discuss this matter. When you hear the tower bell, we meet at the hall and discuss it together."

We all agreed and people started to scatter. My eyes accidentally met with Maggie's for a moment. She seemed like she was against this. She didn't like it. But other than that, she didn't react to us in any way, she turned her back on us and walked away with Hershel, while I turned my eyes away quickly. Negan and I walked back home without saying a word, both of us deep in our thoughts.

…

Author's notes: No music this time. Quinn and Negan are thinking. 😊

Thank You for reading! ❤