Not gonna lie, I've been struggling with finishing this story. Looks like there might be another chapter after this one.
Audrey watches him with her mouth open, wondering if she might have misheard him.
"What?" she laughs.
Simon continues nodding, allowing the information to sink in.
She drops her smile, realising that he is not joking, "You want to kill him?"
He nods.
"Negan? The leader of the Sanctuary?"
Simon's eyes flicker with anger and he looks down, intertwining his fingers together.
"You can't be serious," she stands up, holding onto the table beside them. It's odd because this is the most confident she felt for a while. And this sudden need to defend Negan came out of nowhere. Mostly because she would not condone murder in any situation.
"I am serious, sweetheart," he grunts, "And the faster you accept that, the faster I can put the plan into action."
"You're saying if I don't accept it, you won't kill him at all?" she challenges.
Simon gets up too, stroking his moustache, "I will kill him whether you like it or not."
Audrey tugs on her hair, starting to pace the kitchen. She has known him for a long time and he has never been so stupid. Why now? What caused him to finally snap?
"The time has come," he nods, "We need to gather our like-minded individuals and do what we need to do."
"We?" she raises her eyebrows, "Like-minded? When did I say I was going to help with this?"
"Negan won't see you coming," he smirks.
"Stop," Audrey points at him. Right now, she is terrified, "I am not getting involved. And you shouldn't either."
"It has to be done."
"Why?!" she shrieks.
"Because of what he has done to this community!" he yells, the roar of his voice filling up the room. Her ears start ringing. He looks like he regrets it now, but he keeps going, "Do you not fucking remember what he did?"
Audrey takes a seat again, hanging her head in defeat.
"Do you not remember how he allowed Rick," he spits his name like it is poisoned, "to mow down the gates of the Sanctuary and release a herd of walkers into our space? People died, Audrey! Many of our people died!"
She glances up at him, chewing on her thumb. Suddenly he takes her head in his hands.
"Listen to me," his voice is softer now, "I could have lost you that day. I didn't know if the walkers managed to get to the kitchens. I don't know what I would have done if things went south."
"Well, I'm alive," she tosses his hands away, "You can't blame Negan for something Rick did."
Simon watches her, seeing that she has already made up her mind. She won't help him. But she can't stop him.
He watches Negan gesture to the map on the table. All the other Saviours listen intently but Simon couldn't care less. Their eyes meet for a second and he cracks a smile.
"Does that sound like the way to go to you, Simon?"
He grins wider, nodding, "Sounds perfect."
Arat glances at him, knowing he is being slightly odd. However, she cannot place it.
Simon knows that what Negan is explaining… their step-by-step plan… their key to destroying Alexandria… it will not go down today. Before anything happens, he will get him alone and he will shoot him right between the eyes.
"There will be a diversion," Negan explains, eyes following the highlighted roads on the map, "All those sorry fuckers are going to run over here," he points, and everyone watches, "Right to the place where the bomb will detonate."
He sits back in his chair and envelopes Lucille in his arms.
"I can trust you lot not to get in the fucking way," he smiles, "Unless you want to be blown to fucking pieces."
Everyone exchanges a few looks and nods in unison, except from Simon.
"Gary, repeat what I said," Negan grins, propping his feet up onto the table, "Can't afford to make a fucking mistake with this."
All the Saviours listen to Gary reiterate Negan's words, some even go as far as writing it down on pieces of paper. Simon closes his eyes for a second, trying to imagine what the boss would look like lifeless.
He has crossed a line with Audrey. He has had enough of him before anything with her ever happened, but now that he pushed his luck, Simon will not tolerate him. He would be a better leader. He gets things done. No hesitating, no planning. He gets things done.
He notices that Negan is smirking at him while Gary talks. That stupid expression on his face will be wiped sooner or later.