I don't own TWD or any of the characters; only my OC's. Sorry for any grammar mistake, enjoy!
Her eyes fluttered open and she almost jumped away at Theo's proximity; their noses were nearly touching.
'' You sleep a lot.''
Amelie groaned, remembering the last two days and let her head fall on her pillow: '' Well kid… I was a lot tired .''
'' I'm hungry.''
'' Me too, kid, me too.'' She sighed.
The teenager stifled a moan when she rose; the battle had left her sore… She had received a few punches and hits. She glanced at herself: she was dirty…there was blood on her.
Looking over her shoulder at Theo, she asked: '' Care to have a bath?''
The little boy nodded and they disrobed, only keeping their underwear. Their baths generally consisted in washing themselves with rags and cold water from her basin, all the while shivering because it wasn't that warm in the warehouse.
'' Scrub behind your ears!'' She reminded him as she picked up an old looking bar of soap to remove the grease and filth from both their hair.
Theo giggled and nodded and the pair finished their bath.
With her back to him, she put on more casual clothes: '' Are you ready to go get breakfast? ''
'' Yes: I'm ready! '' He exclaimed.
Amelie still attached her daggers around her hips; she didn't trust anyone here… The boy was impatiently waiting for her at the door, looking expectantly at her. She nodded and he sprinted downstairs.
At least one of them was full of energy today.
Xxxxxx
The teenager gave her poker chips to the woman supervising the meals and who was cook as well.
The point system worked with those; each task had his worth of poker chips and each thing had its price in chips… Per example, a meal costed one chip. Hunting and going out on runs were worth more: three chips each. Sometimes, you could get more than three depending on what you found on your trip outside.
Every job inside of the Sanctuary was only worth one chip…And since most women didn't want to risk their lives outside or simply couldn't handle it, the system was at their disadvantage. Amelie had heard awful stories and gossips of what some of them did to eat…
Finally, one man was keeping record of the points and you had to go to him to retrieve your chips.
The woman sneered at her and handed the girl her food: '' With these two meals…you only have one left according to your numbers of points.''
The young woman silently nodded: she knew…she kept track of her points.
The girl glanced down at Theo: '' Come.''
Spotting Tom in the common room they were in, she walked there and sat in front of him. He had not been on that horrifying run with them. The man raised his head: '' You look pretty bad…'' he said pointing at her left cheek.
She had received a hit there and it was now an ugly blue.
'' Yeah… I know. '' Suddenly, she thought of Kevin: '' Do you know if Kevin has come back?''
Tom slowly shook his head.
'' Oh…'' She murmured. They had not been so close, but he had been one of her only friends. It had always been pleasant to chat with him. She fidgeted a bit with the fork in her hand and Tom changed the conversation topic.
'' I heard some gossips, miss.''
The teenager hummed and absently wiped crumbs from Theo's chin as he ate: '' …And what of them?''
He leaned over the table like they were sharing a secret: '' Apparently, you alone remained to fight a herd when everyone had left… People around say you saved the Boss' life: that you dragged him for a mile on your back and took care of his injuries before bringing him back here.''
Amelie chuckled and told him what really happened. How there were still people with her, how she had indeed dragged Negan on her back: not for a mile, but a few meters and how they came back.
Tom scoffed: '' Take a bit of the credits, girl; if I'd been you, I would have told him shit about the time he was unconscious! ''
She shrugged: '' I'm not a liar.''
''It's bad to lie.'' Theo said. She and Tom raised a brow; the child had been listening. Amelie smiled at him and ruffled his hair: '' That's right, you're a good kid and you do well to remember Tom that!''
Xxxxxx
She spent the two next hours with her pupil, playing and subtly teaching him things at the same time. He would turn four soon and she decided he would learn how to read.
They were back at the old warehouse in her room and she was putting her coat on.
'' Where are you going? ''
The girl pulled the coat higher on her shoulders: '' I need to hunt… Or we'll share only one meal tomorrow, kid.''
Looking down, Theo whispered sadly: '' But you just came back…''
The teenager sighed: '' I know Theo; I'm sorry… but we need to eat.''
He cocked his head: '' I don't understand…''
Smiling, Amelie patted his: '' You don't need to: just trust me.''
On this, she walked to the first floor and then outside. The sky was clear; she would be able to see tracks in the snow today.
The girl was heading to the armory to take a carbine and bullets when a man, Dwight, showed up: '' You're not going out today: Negan's orders.''
Her brows shot up: '' What? Why? ''
The savior shrugged: '' Didn't ask…but he wants to see you now in his office.''
Amelie frowned and groaned internally: what now? What did he want? She had just saved his life he could cut her some slack! Anger filled her chest and she tried vainly to repress it; a kid was counting on her Christ!
With decided steps, she made her way to the leader's house, already preparing her arguments and the way to voice them to keep her life.
The guard standing at the door let her pass without a word and the teenager quickly trotted to his office.
She knocked and did not wait to enter; she was already opening her mouth to speak that her face was engulfed in a pair of breast.
Negan's third wife, whom she had forgotten the name, was clutching her to her chest.
'' Thank you for saving my husband's life! '' She exclaimed in a shrill voice.
Contrary to Sherry and Amber, this one looked like a Barbie doll and was wearing heels.
Amelie turned red and tried to push her away.
'' Jenny, leave her alone; don't you see you're making her fucking uncomfortable?''
'' Oh, sorry.'' The woman mumbled and distanced herself.
The girl only became redder when she saw the 'clothes' Jenny was wearing and she rapidly turned to face the wall. The leader laughed loudly and shooed his wife away.
'' Come on now; don't be such a prude.''
Grumbling, she recalled the reason why she was here and walked closer to his desk. The teenager eyed him; apparently the place's doctor had patched him well. He folded his arms behind his head: '' You look God damn serious.''
She frowned and thought carefully about her choice of words: ''Dwight said I wasn't allowed to go outside and told me to come here. May I know why?''
The man smirked: '' because I fucking said so, that's why.''
The girl tried to control her voice and keep the anger to show through it: '' I need to get out: I must hunt.''
Negan bent forward and leaned on his elbows: '' Naah. You don't need to.''
What kind of game was he playing? There wasn't any reason for him to keep her from going outside, on the opposite; it was beneficial to him to send her hunting and on runs. Amelie remembered he wasn't a stupid man and calmed down: there was a reason for all this and he was now fucking with her. Maybe he was trying to get a rise out of her. All the while she made her little realization; he had watched her face and was now grinning again.
'' You understand now?'' He asked.
She nodded: '' why do I not need to go outside?''
He pointed out at her: '' Fuck: that's the right question and I'll fucking answer it! You got yourself a sponsor! ''
The girl narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him and he sighed: '' Don't look at me like that. Listen: you saved my fucking life! You stayed when all my stupid as fuck men left. You've got balls and I like that; food will be free for you for the next month… And I decided that I'd provide for your kiddo; the men told me you worked as fuck to get to feed the both of you. Problem solved; his meals are free for him too until he can pull his own weight. ''
Amelie stared at him; that was a good new…and a really big surprise. Negan didn't thank her for saving his life, but she had a feeling this would be as close as a 'thank' as it would go. Also, no matter how grateful he seemed, he had been the one to choose her 'reward'. He didn't demand her to ask for something; he was keeping control of the situation. There was no loose end with him.
She inclined her head low as a thank you, her eyes never leaving his.
Xxxxxx
Amelie spent the next month with Theo, enjoying her 'vacancy'. During that time, she began to teach him how to read and was pleased to discover he was a fast learner.
The alphabets had been a child play, writing letters by himself didn't take him long to master and he could now read syllables. The teenager was able to get her energy back and was feeling better. However, they were in the third week of March, there was no more snow and the temperature was agreeable.
It was time for her to go home… but the child?
Now that Negan told her he would provide for the kid until he was old enough to work, she was sure he wouldn't starve… but would someone take care of him? She doubted it. Plus, she had grown attached to the munchkin and this one could not possibly travel with her back to Canada at his tender age of four.
Amelie was walking alone in the Sanctuary; it was quite late, but she could not sleep. Theo had been put to bed, so she had some time for herself. A few guards stood at their posts keeping vigil, but the 'town' was mostly quiet. However, as she strolled around, a faint noise alerted her nearby.
It was couldn't be someone; it was too late. Unconsciously, her hands clenched the hilts of her daggers. Maybe it was an early squirrel or some other animal.
The girl changed her trajectory and went on the other side of the Sanctuary; the sounds were still there.
Somebody was following her…
Amelie sighed and rolled her eyes: Here we go again… Well…let's not jump to conclusions too hastily.
Maybe she was just paranoid…maybe it was just a creep; a few guys had tried to approach her once or twice.
The young woman knew she needed to test her theory before stating facts. However, it would not be the first time this kind of little games happened:
First, the small incidents with her three friends at the beginning,
Second, someone had tried to make her lie about her finds on a run. One of the men had told her to not declare everything she had found so she could keep some for herself. She did not fall for that trap.
Third, some Saviors were often attempting to coax her into complaining about Negan's reign or into critiquing his methods. These men were too obvious.
And finally; it was like every single person in this damned place was trying to convince to stay here. To not go back to Canada.
It could be all coincidences…but every time, after each incident of the sort, she had seen the people implied go to their leader's house the same day or the day after. Negan was testing her or was watching her. Why? She had no idea. What the girl knew however, was that it rattled her nerves to be on constant alert and to watch herself at all time.
Two days later, her break was over and so she resumed her work and started to participate in the runs again.
A week after her first run, she could prove her theory about being followed made sense. Amelie had all the proofs she needed and she had names…now it was time to confront the Boss.
Xxxxxx
'' Let me in: I must speak with our leader.'' She said to the guard.
'' He's eating in the common room. ''
The girl grumbled and went there, waiting outside the building serving as a cafeteria of sort.
She bit her lips in anticipation, waiting for the Saviors' leader to get out. The second she spotted his tall form, Amelie trotted to him.
'' Sir.'' She greeted him.
He grinned: ''ah! Our little Canadian. What can I do for you?''
She looked at him seriously: '' Would you grant me a few minutes of your time to speak? Maybe we could walk around…''
His brows rose slightly and the teenager immediately knew she had surprised him with her request; she usually tried to avoid him.
'' I wouldn't be a fucking man if I'd refuse a stroll with a pretty girl!'' He said nodding the way they should go.
There was a brief pause and he glanced down at her: ''So…what's gnawing at you?''
She deemed they were far enough from unwanted ears and the girl stopped: '' I want these little games to stop.''
He cocked his head: '' What little games?'' he asked innocently.
''Dwight, Mark and Joe.'' She said flatly.
Negan gave her a large, wolfish smile and resumed walking: '' What about them?''
Oh…he perfectly knew.
'' They are following me…on my hunts, on the runs and even here…they always go back to your house not long after my outlets. And I sincerely doubt one of your wives has her eyes on me.''
He scratched his chin absently: '' those idiots are even less subtle than I thought.'' The man confessed.
So…he had set them after her. She halted again and frowned at him. '' Why am I being watched?''
The Savior turned his face to her: '' You were the first one to catch on my little inquiry I do on every new member and mind fuck with me in return. I'm not sure if I fucking loved that or if I hated it… ''
Her right hand inched slowly toward the hilt of her dagger. At least, Lucille wasn't accompanying him.
''… And now again you notice and you directly confront me about it. You have balls girl, yes you do.'' He drawled, his eyes staring in front of them.