The sun has just started to rise, so the air was still cold from the night. Ali wraps her arms around herself, walking towards two large trucks. Men appear to be flinging stuff off it, and loading it with something else. There is a guffaw of laughter from one of the packs of wolves. They continue loading supplies onto the trucks, talking amongst each other. She is about to step back, but Simon appears from behind one of the trucks, waving happily.
She sighs, walking forward.
Alright, this is her job. She cannot screw this up on the first day.
"Ali!" he flings his arms outwards, "You made it! Bright and early!"
She gives a curt nod before glancing back at the men, "What are we doing?"
Simon scratches the tip of his nose, pulling up his pants so hard that he must jump. Briefly, he touches her shoulder. Then he points to his big black truck.
"You'll be with me," he grins, "Everyone else in the other truck. We're visiting the Hilltop today, so I just need you to stick with me and towards the end, load up the supplies. Can you do that?"
"Hilltop," she repeats, "We're taking supplies from that community?"
Simon looks down at her, wrinkling up his forehead, "That's right."
Ali cracks a small smile, "And they're okay with that?"
"Sweetheart!" his outburst makes her jump slightly, "We're not leaving them high and dry!" he laughs, pointing again to one of the trucks, "That baby is filled up with apples!"
She raises an eyebrow, "Because apples are so hard to come by?"
Instead of being difficult, he laughs again, "Every little helps. Does it not?"
The step onto the truck is so high, Ali nearly falls backwards into the dirt. Luckily Simon does not see her stumble as he is already in the driver's seat. However, she earns a snigger from one of the men behind her. Shaking her head in frustration, she manages to throw herself inside like a seal out of water. Simon smirks in amusement, but keeps his mouth shut.
SHSHSHSHSHSH
The day passed quickly, and it was slightly underwhelming. When they arrived at the Hilltop, Simon has made it clear that Ali stuck to him. He would not let her out of his sight, especially when those were the direct orders from Negan. She is a hundred percent sure that Negan was behind this whole treat-Ali-like-a-baby plan. It began to irritate her so at one point she wandered off towards the Hilltop's gardening area and was almost pounced on by all the Sanctuary soldiers.
Other than that, the pick-up went smoothly. She saw an enormous community (not as enormous as the Sanctuary but still). All these people were alive. They all made it somehow and continue living in one of the safest areas she has ever seen. Some grow vegetables, some patrol the walls… it all works.
The only thing Ali found odd was how everybody at the Hilltop seemed to tense up at Simon's arrival. The leader, Gregory, was fidgeting wherever he went, offering Simon every worthy item he could find. Simon being Simon took everything, but occasionally passed the items behind him to Ali.
She looks down at her lap now, where a hair brush, scented soap and a can of Pepsi shake with the vibration of the truck.
She glances over at Simon, who is too preoccupied humming as he looks ahead at the road and drives.
"I can't believe they had Pepsi."
"Right?" Simon widens his smile, glancing over, "That is a luxury most people can't afford, sweetheart. But with the Saviors, you could be having a can a week."
"You don't need to sell it to me, I'm not going anywhere," she rolls her eyes.
Simon raises a brow at her attitude, "What, you prefer Cola? Because we can get that too."
Ali looks over with a twinkle in her eye, "Why did I come?"
"What do you mean?"
"I wasn't allowed to do anything!" she says, leaning back in the seat, "I am supposed to be training. And you're treating me like I am a child who will swallow a tide pod if I see one."
His knuckles turn white against the wheel as he sighs, "Negan's orders."
"I don't give a shit!"
Simon watches her, surprised. She puts a hand to her face, forcing her raging heartbeat to slow down. Her past does not define her as a person, when will everyone get it through their thick skulls?
"You don't give a shit?" he challenges, "We're all Negan, sunshine. And the sooner you start to accept that, the better."
She shakes her head, "You're not making any sense."
Instead of scowling, he releases a chuckle.
"What could possibly be so funny?"
"You," his answer is straight. Ali looks at the road ahead, trees whizzing past on either side of the truck. The other Saviors are behind them, and whenever there is a sharp turn, she sees them in the mirror. She looks back at Simon who has replaced his amused look with one of thought.
"What did you think would have happened to me if I wasn't watched?"
Simon glances at her, briefly scratching his thigh, "Well… let's see."
Ali folds her arms, waiting.
"Neither Negan nor I want you to feel overwhelmed by all this. You could have had another panic attack."
"Panic attack? I've seen people before, you know."
He clicks his tongue, "Sweetheart, you clearly need to be watched. You are not stable-"
"I'm not stable?" she points to her chest, but isn't shocked by his words, "Your so-called leader has like twenty wives!"
"Now you're exaggerating-"
"I don't need to be babied!"
She has no idea why there is no fear talking to Simon. He could report her to Negan, he is his right-hand man after all. It's just that he is nowhere near as intimidating as Negan. Not to her, anyway. Every time she snaps, he runs his fingers down his moustache like a bored father. It is as if he is allowing himself to be treated like shit. It is as if he is her therapist.
"I want to train to be a Savior like any other person!"
"Any other person doesn't pass out every time they see a man walking by," he responds.
Ali growls in frustration and looks down at the lock on the truck. Without thinking, she pulls it up, immediately unlocking her side and allowing the door to whip open.
"Ali!" Simon shouts over the wind. The interior is filled with fresh air before being clouded by the smell of the engine.
The truck skids slightly as Simon tries to reach over to close the door. Without a seatbelt, Ali would have fallen directly onto the concrete road. She notices all the other vehicles screech to a stop behind them before Simon does the same thing. They both jolt forward and then get pushed back into their seats. She feels the vibration of the vehicle sizzle away into nothing. That is when Simon slams his hands into the wheel.
"Godammit!"
Ali takes a deep breath, glancing back at the door. It is still open. It is just a matter of time before the others run up to check what the hell it was that happened.
She turns to Simon, feeling less like she has made a statement, and more like a stupid girl doing stupid things to get her way.
He takes deep breath before pulling out his walkie-talkie and growling into it, "Engine's dead. Send someone to pick up the truck. We'll ride with you."
Ali observes as he leans back in the seat and takes a few reassuring breaths. Awkward silence hangs in the air even though different sounds of nature invade their space with the help of the open door. Simon sighs deeply before opening his door and getting out. That is when it starts to dawn on her. He is going to tell Negan.
A few seconds later he appears at her side, wordlessly unbuckling her seat belt. She ignores how his hands skim across her lap, feeling determined to prove that she is not a freak. Once it's off, he stands there, hands on his hips.
"Are you coming or not?"
She meets his eyes. They are full of disappointment and irritation.
"I'm sorry, I just want you to trust me with a weapon."
There is it again. The stroke of his moustache. He glances at his feet, shaking his head.
"I want to work alongside the others," she presses on, squeezing her hands together. The fact that he is not replying signifies that he is at least thinking about it. It gets her hopes up.
"You talk to Negan about that," he steps aside. Ali looks down at the ground before jumping out of the truck.
Why does it have to be Negan?