Welcome back for our next chapter. Our recruits are getting to know each other better, and one certain, smug firearm expert has a lot to say and brag about his expertise. Brought to you by thematsaidwelcome79, she shows you how Michonne reacts to Rick's ego, and how The Family behaves around this dynamic duo's teachable moment.
Be sure to check out her other works on her FF page.
-We're The Ones Who Write
Chapter 2: Your aim needs some work
"What's that sound?" Maggie groaned.
"It's 6 in the morning. That's the morning bell."
"Already? I swear I just laid down." She covered her head with her quilt. "Five more minutes okay." Michonne lazily got out of her bed and went over to the window, opening the curtains to allow the morning sun to drift in, she stretched her arms above her head and looked out the window to the grass covered field.
"I'm headed to the bathroom, to get first dibs on the big sink. Enjoy your extra beauty sleep, I'll wake you up when I get back." Maggie mumbled something incoherent from under her quilt. Michonne grabbed her towel and toiletry bag as well as her clothes for the day and headed out the the door.
"Hey girl, how'd you sleep last night? Can you believe it's already morning?" Rosita asked.
"Yeah, it comes pretty quick here. I slept like the dead though, I didn't even hear Jerry snoring."
"Lucky you. We did." Glenn yawned out as he came down the hall, stopping in front of Michonne and Rosita. "Where's Maggie?"
"I left her asleep in the bed. She wanted five more minutes." Glenn perked up at her response.
"Michonne, I'll give you half my breakfast if you take your time coming back to your room. I'll go get her to wake up."
"I bet you will." Rosita said to his back as he made his way down the hallway. "Open a window when y'all are done." She shouted out.
"You ready for today?" Michonne asked her as they stood in the hall, they both looked as Andrea and Tara walked up.
"You can't go to the infirmary for a hangnail, Tara."
"But why not Andrea? Won't it affect the way I shoot or hold my knife?"
"Will y'all tell her to stop being such a baby and go talk to Denise. She thinks she's hot and life is too short these days to be beatin' round the bush." Andrea started to laugh out loud. "That might of been the wrong phrase to use for you and Denise." Rosita started to laugh too.
"Really Rosita?" Tara looked at Michonne who wasn't laughing, but still shrugged her shoulders. "Whatever. Come on, let's get dressed, maybe I'll see her at breakfast."
"Man, I wanted to ask Maggie about Rick. Have y'all talked to him? That drawl of his gets my blood flowing. I wonder if I can get him to whisper my name in my ear."
"I will never understand you Andrea, or Shane." Rosita quipped.
"I need to brush my teeth." Michonne grumbled, not wanting to be part of the conversation anymore. She followed after Tara into the bathroom to get ready for the morning.
"I don't know if this coffee is just really good or if I just need the caffeine."
"Did Jerry keep you up last night, Grimes?" Noah asked him, looking at the bags under his eyes. "I forgot to mention that he snores when he's really tired."
"That would have been nice to know last night."
"I slept like a baby." Shane chimed in. "Damn, this is some of the best gravy I've ever tasted. What the hell did T-Dog put in it?"
"You might want to go easy on the biscuits and gravy, Shane. We have that damn obstacle course again today." Tara said to him.
"Don't you worry bout me. I get up the wall by myself anyways."
"Yeah, but we have to pull your ass over it."
"There they are." Noah said out loud as Maggie and Glenn walked into the Mess Hall.
"Y'all better hurry up, you got 15 minutes before we have to be out there."
"That roll in the hay better of been worth it." Shane said quietly to the table looking on as Maggie and Glenn quickly grabbed breakfast and came to the table to eat.
"It's always worth it isn't it, Rick?" Andrea asked him. He just continued to drink his coffee and looked over to Michonne who was getting up from the table to head outside. Rick never answered Andrea's question.
"Alright, I want you all to grab two handguns from the table today, you'll be picking the best one out of the two you pick. Starting today, you will have two weapons on you at all times. Whatever you pick today, will be what you use for the duration of the training, so choose wisely."
The basic training course went well that morning and they even shaved a few seconds off their time. Abe assured them that tomorrow would be harder and more strenuous, so none of them got too excited about a faster time. They were now at the range getting ready for gun training, something that they all looked forward to because it allowed their body's to rest while the other group was shooting. They all walked to the table and chose the handgun that they had the day before and then took some extra time to select the second one, since whatever they picked would be what they carried for the rest of the week.
"Look at that." Rosita tapped Michonne with her elbow and jutted her head towards Rick. "Pretty boy brought his own gun, it's called a Colt Python."
"How do you know what it's called?"
"I was talking to Glenn and Maggie earlier, they told me he never goes anywhere without it. He had to talk Abe into letting him use it though." Rosita took a deep breath before continuing. "Since he's the best shot in the class, Abe let him carry it. I guess, like he's letting you carry your sword."
"More like teacher's pet." Michonne scoffed. "Beside, there's no way they're separating me from my katana."
"Look how he holds it." Andrea added, listening to Rosita's and Michonne's conversation. "I wonder if he holds his other python like that." She whispered the last part and pointed towards her crotch. Michonne and Rosita just shook their heads and tucked their second firearm into the back of their pants and walked off.
"Alright let's start with the ladies today. Gentlemen just stand back and watch until it's your turn." Abe looked over to the guys and waited until they were situated out of the way before he yelled for the women to start shooting.
"Maggie is pretty good, Glenn." Noah said to him after the women had been shooting for about ten minutes. "Did she teach you how to shoot?"
"Very funny kid."
"Damn, I love this view." Shane shook his head as his eyes swept side to side over the backsides of the women, all in their shooting stances. "Except for Maggie, Glenn. I skipped over her ass."
"Dude."
"Jerry, you can't tell me you haven't feasted your eyes on the gloriousness of Michonne's and Rosita's ass all this time that y'all been at the Kingdom."
"I can honestly say that I haven't. They are pretty, but not really my type. I like my lady to have a bit more weight on em." Jerry rubbed his belly. "She's gotta be able to handle all this."
"Really Jerry?" Noah looked at him quizzically. "The only thing I've ever seen you snuggled up on is a cobbler."
"What can I say, I have a thing for sweet and warm things."
"You know who's not sweet or warm?" Shane asked, not waiting for an answer. "That damn Michonne. I tried to talk to her this morning and I swear she just looked right through me."
"It's not you, it's her." Noah told Shane. "She doesn't like anybody."
"She likes y'all." He pointed to Jerry and Noah. "And I even saw her talking to this curly headed son of a bitch before." He pointed to Rick. "What's her problem with me?"
"I don't know dude. But I will say this; her bullshit detector works overtime and it is always right." Rick smiled at Noah's answer and then focused his attention to Michonne, still in her shooting stance, noticing how her sword bounced off her ass each time she took a shot. He could see that she was hitting the target, but missing the bullseye. After twenty minutes, the guys stepped up to their marks and took their turns shooting while the ladies looked on.
"I think my finger is busted." Tara placed her finger in front of Andrea's face and wiggled it around.
"Your finger's fine Tara. You just want an excuse to go see Denise." Tara started to blush. "And after you do, keep that finger away from me." Andrea smiled at her blushing friend. They were all reloading their clips waiting for their next turn up to their wooden targets. With Eugene's ability to manufacture any type of bullet they needed, they would never be low on ammunition, and Abe wanted them to practice all they could in order to get as accurate as they possible.
"Damn, Glenn looks so good out there. Did that handbook say what the consequences for fraternization were? I might need to find a secret place around here to show him how hot he looks right now."
"Didn't y'all just do your thing this morning?" Rosita asked Maggie.
"Does it matter? He looks good now." Maggie smiled as she watched Glenn put each bullet into his target.
"So...does Rick always wear those boots, Maggie?" Andrea asked trying to get her to stop thinking about her husband.
"I've never seen him without those old dusty boots."
"He looks really good in those jeans too. The way those bowed legs of his walk around here all commanding and shit."
"Are you ever not lusting over a guy?"
"What's the fun in that, Rosita? We've got a lot more days and I want to do something else besides train all the time. We all can't be like saint Michonne over there, and not give a shit about the opposite sex." That remark earned her a side eye from Michonne. "And don't think I haven't noticed the way you look at Abe, Rosita." Andrea pointed towards the red haired trainer. "That is one big ass tree, that I'll leave you to climb."
"You think I've got a chance?" Rosita asked looking over a Abe.
"Alright ladies, you're back up!" Abe shouted as the guys walked to where the women were standing, they traded places and the guys started to reload their weapons. The women stood on their marks and began shooting again, as the guys looked on in between reloading and talking about how their aim was off.
"I love Maggie with that thigh holster." Glenn gushed.
"Rosita looks good in hers too." Shane echoed, rubbing his hands together. Rick noticed that Tara, Andrea and Michonne didn't wear the thigh holster, but Tara used one around her waist.
"Grimes!" Abe yelled for Rick to come over to him.
"Yes, Sir?"
"You're my best shot. Can you go and help Michonne with her aim? Give her some pointers or something. I'd hate for her not to pass gun training will her skills with that sword."
"Yeah, I can do that." Rick looked over at Michonne for a few minutes before walking back to the ammunition table, which also held the holsters and extra clips. He picked up one of the thigh holsters and walked over to Michonne who was standing looking down the field at her target.
"You know, I think I see what your problem is." He stood in front of her, blocking her view of the target.
"I don't have a problem, Rick."
"No, you don't." He took a deep breath and then started to talk again. "I think I see a way to correct your aim." He waited for her smart remark and when one didn't come he continued. "You're used to having just your katana on your back." He made sure the safety was engaged on the firearm in her hand before continuing. "You're holding this one fine." He said about the glock she was holding. He placed his hands on her hips and snaked them around her until he was touching the 9mm that rested in the back of her waistband. "I think this one, is throwing you off." Her pants were tighter than he thought and wouldn't allow him to just yank the gun out, so he had to place his left hand on her ass so his right hand could gently ease the firearm free. She gave him a surprised, but nonchalant look. "Without your sword knocking against this gun, you should have better aim."
"Where am I supposed to put that one?" Rick was on his knees in front of her as she finished her question, opening her legs for better access as he started strapping on the thigh holster.
"This holster will hold it just fine." He took his time adjusting the straps, running his hand over her toned, thick tantalizing thighs, making sure they weren't too tight. She looked on impressed by his audacity and kind of annoyed by his thorough handling of such a simple task. "How does that feel?"
"It feels fine. Thank you." With the holster and gun secure Rick stood back and watched as Michonne took aim and shot at her target again. Her aim was still a little off, but she was closer that before. She looked back at him with a frustrated look. "I don't know if the holster solved the problem."
"You'll get it, Michonne. Take your time."
"I don't know Rick. You're the best shot in the class, but you suck as a teacher." Hearing her critique of him, he stepped closer to her, his chest almost touching her back, he could smell the sweet scent of her hair when he inhaled.
"Alright. Let's try this." He placed his hands on her hips adjusting her stance slightly. Then he moved his right arm to rest next hers, keeping his left hand nestled on her hip, dipping his head to get to her eye level. "Just relax." His whisper was soothing and deep in her ear. "Focus on your target and where you want the bullet to go. Don't force it. Just let it happen, Michonne."
She brought her left hand up to grip the gun as well and with a deep breath she pulled the trigger, hitting the bullseye. "You see. You did it." She gave him a faint smile as she nodded and prepared to shoot again. Rick backed up to let her work while slyly admiring the view from where he stood.
"Have you decided on your primary weapon?" Tara asked Andrea as she holstered her Beretta and held her glock.
"I think I'll go with this Glock 19. It's not as long as the Sauer, but I like how it feels in my hand." She looked over at Rick.
"How many inches is the python, Rick?" Andrea asked with a wink to Tara.
"Too many for you to handle." He replied before handing his Colt to Michonne for her to practice with. After shooting and hitting the bullseye ten times in a row, Rick thought Michonne might want to try his personal firearm. "This one is a little longer than you're used to, and will feel heavier in your hand, but I have no doubt that you can handle it perfectly." Michonne took the Colt in her hand, lined up her shot by looking down the long barrel and pulled the trigger. "Look at that. You knew you could handle it."
"I'm pretty sure Sasha hates me."
"What makes you say that Rosita?" Noah asked
"The way she looks at me. I'm always getting an eye roll and a frown."
"Maybe because you keep eye fucking Abe." Andrea pointed out.
"Are they together?"
"I don't know. I guess you'll find out if you keep it up."
"Say it ain't so, I think she's really starting to warm up to me." Shane took a shallow breath. "Man, I think that Jesus dude bruised my rib." He adjusted in his seat trying to get more comfortable.
"That's what you get for showing off."
"Well we can't all be barroom brawlers like you, Rick."
"You gotta get used to moving your body more." Tara told the group. "Jesus is really good at that. I swear he's missing bones or he's made out of jelly or something."
"I wonder if they'll have jelly at breakfast tomorrow."
"Jerry, always with the food, why don't you finish dinner before you start thinking about breakfast."
"All this training is working up my appetite. Hey did you see that axe that Sasha had during training? I wonder if she'll let me use it tomorrow. I would look so badass with that thing."
"All you can do is ask Jerry." Michonne told him.
"Hey where did Glenn and Maggie run off to?"
"She said something about trying to find a place for them to get it in, if you know what I mean."
"I know exactly what you mean, Andrea." Shane winked at her. "You ever feel like finding a place like that, you let me know. You too, Rosita."
"Eww. I'll pass. You kind of smell like overrun woods and frogs."
"Hey what's wrong with smelling like you've been working hard all day."
"What do I smell like?"
"You always smell like cobbler, Jerry." He smiled at Michonne knowing there was some truth to what she said.
"Yeah, yeah. My offer still stands." Shane said to Rosita.
"I'm going to take a shower. Catch y'all later." Rosita told the table.
"Hey, wait for me." Tara got up with her tray. "I'm gonna have Denise look at my finger. It's still bothering me." She winked at Andrea before walking off.
"Yeah, I'm out too. I need to get my foot wrapped before Tara puts her mack moves on the doctor." Noah got up and rushed to drop his empty tray off so he could beat Tara to the infirmary.
"What do you say, we go explore the building, Andrea?"
"I'm down if you are." She and Shane got up and left the Mess Hall headed to find a secluded spot for a rendezvous.
"Say Michonne, you alright?"
"I'm fine Jerry. Why do you ask?"
"I'm about to head out too. Need to get my beauty sleep." He stood up from the table. "I'm leaving you in the capable hands of Rick."
"I don't need to be in anyone's hands, Jerry."
"I know you can take care of yourself." Jerry walked off towards the wash basin leaving Michonne and Rick by themselves.
"Do you always give people a hard time, or is it just me?"
"You think I give people a hard time?"
"Very much so. Except your people from the Kingdom."
"I've known them a long time. We've been through a lot together." She looked around the empty Mess Hall. "I trust them with my life."
"Isn't that why we're here though? To get to know each other, learn to trust each other?"
"We are, but it's only the second day of training. You can't expect me to just fall all over you." She chuckled a bit. "I think Andrea has that covered."
"I'm not interested in anyone who feels the need to fall all over me. I'm just trying to get to know you better Michonne."
"Who are you interested in Rick? I thought we were all here to train to become part of the Elite Force."
"We are. I am… I'm not interested in anyone. Can't I just get to know you some?"
"How bout this? Since you helped me out today, if you do well in knife throwing tomorrow, I'll let you get to know me better, you can ask me whatever you want."
"That's all I have to do? Throw a knife at a target?"
"Yeah. That's all you have to do." She stood up from the table to take her tray to the wash basin. "Oh, and Rick, I appreciate your help today." He smiled at her hoping they were turning a corner. "But don't ever touch me again."
Rick watched her walk out of the Mess Hall, stunned by what she had just told him, but figuring that by this time tomorrow he would know just about everything he wanted to know about Michonne.