(TW!! Mentions of abuse!!)
"Wait, why aren't we leaving?" Magna asks, appearing behind me as I'm putting a shirt on.
"Shit's fucked here. It's boring at Alexandria and I think I would be able to help if I stay here." I inform her, turning to her and leaning against the dresser, crossing my arms.
She nods, "Okay, then we stay."
I scoff, "Oh, like it was an offer."
She rolls her eyes playfully and gently cups my cheek before kissing me deeply. A small giggle comes from the doorway and we immediately break the kiss. "Bug, what're you doin'?" I ask, putting my hands on my hips pertly.
She smiles and cups her mouth, running and jumping on the bed. "Oh, nothing," She sighs exaggeratedly, flopping backward. "Just spying on you."
Magna chuckles, "Oh yeah? And why's that?"
Beatrice smiles and sits up, "Because it's fun." She squeaks. She squeals in excitement when Magna leaps on the bed and grabs her pulling her into a restraining hug. "Magna! Get off of me!" She giggles, fighting- and failing, to be able to move her arms.
Magna shakes her head, "Oh, this is punishment for spying." I don't even say anything, I just admire them. And, without realizing it, I can feel an actual smile on my face for the first time in months, even years. All because of Beatrice.
Beatrice laughs, "I'll never do it again! I'll never do it again!"
Magna looks at her mock-suspiciously and looks at me, "Do you believe that?"
I look up at the ceiling, exaggeratingly thinking, "Hm..." I take slow steps toward Beatrice, her wide and nervous-excited eyes fueling something within me. "You'll have to make it up to us."
Beatrice nods and laughs as Magna walks her fingers up her arms and neck, "Okay! Okay!"
Magna and I look at each other. "I guess...you have to..."
"Adrian," Alyssa comes in the room, sighing deeply. "It happened again." She pauses and smiles at Beatrice, scrunching her nose before turning back to me. "Third crate this week."
I clench my jaw and Magna releases Beatrice. "Fuck, who was on watch?" I follow Alyssa's eyes to Magna. "Magna?"
She sighs and sits up, running her fingers through her hair. "Sickos were at the breach."
I nod, "Okay, you could've woken someone up. I-" A sigh escapes my lips and I chew on my cheek. "Wait, I'm not the leader, why are you tellin' me this?"
Alyssa shrugs, "They were talking about how you should know. I dunno, Yumiko knows but they said you should."
I raise an eyebrow, "Um...okay, I'm comin'."
"Can I come?" Beatrice asks as I'm walking out of the room.
"Well, duh." I agree, motioning for her to come with me. I shoot a final glance at Magna, half-smiling at her, and then walk out.
"Also...more bad news." Alyssa says lowly, walking down the steps of the brick house.
"Oh god." I groan, tossing my head back.
"Negan's gone."
"What?!" I exclaim, stopping in my tracks.
"Lydia got beat by that bitch who called you by you know who's last name and her two little minions. Negan killed her by accident but they don't want him alive anymore. Someone let him out."
I sigh and pick up my pace of walking down the steps. "God fuckin' damn it."
"What're you thinking?" Alyssa asks, falling into step with me as we walk out of the house.
I shake my head, "He doesn't want to be here. He can go. I'd rather never see him again and he lives than he lives at Alexandria and he dies."
Alyssa nods, "I get that."
Once we get outside, Yumiko jogs over to me. "Hey," She exhales.
"Hey,"
"Daryl and Siddiq are here, said they searched all through the night and...nothing. Kelly's gone, Connie and Daryl went to go look for her."
I nod, "Fuck dude, I woulda' gone with."
Yumiko shakes her head, "We need you here."
I scoff, "You know I'm not stayin' right? Y'all just need help."
"Maybe you should consider it. These people need a familiar face leading them, not me."
"Hell fuckin' know." I chuckle dryly, glancing around Hilltop. "You haven't seen the looks these people are givin' me? They don't fuckin' like me."
"Why the hell not?"
"Oh, you would be surprised."
Alyssa shakes her head, "Jesus, Adrian, you make it seem like you bombed Alexandria."
I roll my eyes, "I woulda'." I mutter.
"Wha...look, Adrian, not all of them, but most of them are talking about you. Wanting to tell you."
"Yeah, most of 'em. Not all of 'em." I say before walking off.
Beatrice jogs up to me, "I've seen it." She admits. "And heard it."
"Oh yeah?" I chuckle dryly.
She nods, "Why does everyone treat you like you're gonna hurt them?"
Ow.
I sigh, skid to a stop, and turn to Beatrice. I motion to the picnic table next to us and we both sit on the table, facing Hilltop in front. "I just...turned my back on the people I love when they most needed it."
"Why?"
I groan quietly, "A man."
She giggles, "Ew, why for a man?"
I smirk and shrug, "He had a...way with words."
"Is the man Negan?"
"Kind of...but also no. He was the reason I went but not the reason I stayed."
"How long ago?"
"Seven years ago."
"And they still haven't given you another chance?"
I sigh and rest on my hands, "They like to hold grudges."
"But you save their lives all the time."
I chuckle, "Yeah, I do. But regardless...they don't trust me."
She exhales and leans her head on my arm, as she's not quite tall enough to reach my shoulder. "I do."
I half-smile, "Thanks, Bug-a-boo."
A few hours ago, Kelly got back, and I saw Inejra bolt from the top of the hill to help her walk. She had blood dripping down her face and she looked incredibly dehydrated and exhausted, only being held up by her sister until Inejra grabbed her other arm and rested it on top of her shoulders. Next to them, Magna and Daryl carried crates of food and bags of, presumably, more food. Magna snuck out a few hours before, I think when I was talking to Beatrice.
Now, Magna and I are getting ready for bed and there are several red flags from the crates of food they said they "found."
I turn to Magna as I'm putting a random t-shirt on to sleep in, "I'm gonna be blunt as hell with this shit because I don't give a fuck...did you take the supplies? And do not fuckin' lie to me."
"No, I didn't. But, it would've been smart."
"No, Magna, it would." I hiss, my voice hard and icy. "There are injured people here, kids here, and shit's going missin'. Shit they need."
"I didn't take it." Magna pushes, leaning forward in her chair.
"Okay, you didn't take it. But I swear to fuck if you did..."
"What? You gonna hit me?" My face drops and my skin goes cold. She doesn't know about Nick but...she thinks I would hit her?
"The fuck did you just say to me?" I warn, stepping closer.
"Would...you...hit me?"
"Is that what you think of me?! An abuser?!" I scoff and shove my tongue on my bottom lip, turning around to calm down. "Why the fuck would I abuse you when I know exactly what it feels like?" I ask, turning back to her.
Her eyes soften but her face remains hard, "What?"
"Why the hell do you think I refuse to be alone with a man other than like...fuckin' Ezekiel?! Magna you-" I run my hand over my lips and sigh. "You think I would hit you?" I question, my voice cracking uncontrollably.
She stands up, "No, Adrian, I-"
"No, Magna! Why the fuck would you say that? You asked what my scar was from, it's from my ex-boyfriend. Yeah? Used a broken beer bottle to swipe at my face when he found out I tortured the shit out of the man who made him start abusing me. And those backscars you got a glimpse of? All him. All fuckin' him." Magna stares at me with horrified eyes. "And you think I would hit you?! Whether you took the supplies or not- which, even if you say no, I'm pretty fuckin' certain you did, I wouldn't lay a finger on you because I am not a low-life, cumsucking, 'you need to listen to everything I have to say' bitch!" I'm seething. This fully set me off and I don't know why- well, maybe I do. "Do not ever for a second, think I would hit you!" Magna quickly approaches me and wraps me in her arms.
"I'm sorry." She whispers.
I whimper and hide my face in the crook of her neck, "Please don't say that to me again." I whisper.
She nods and cups my face, "Never in a million years. And I would never think twice about you hitting me."
"Good, because the next time you say that, I will." I say, smirking and cupping her cheek.
She half-smiles and glaces at my lips then back at my eyes, waiting a second before kissing me. Without breaking the kiss, our bodies pivot and she pushes me backwards on the bed before climbing on top of me and kissing me again.