ELEANOR . NEGAN

008.

Eleanor was always a risky person - it's what she relied on. Growing up was full of risks, it made her feel alive. And you'd think with walkers roaming the planet ready to eat you, she'd feel the same thrill. But it was different. Walkers were now a part of her life, annyoing Joey? Was not.

"You know," Joey started with his hand pinching his nose bridge. "You're a right bitch."

Eleanor rolled her eyes and pulled on her odd socks. "Oh, bite me." Joey scoffed but waited beside Elle's new "cell" door. He came barging in about two minutes ago, wingeing to hurry up and follow him. "So, where are we going?"

"Communal bathroom."

Eleanor tensed at those words, her mind between disgust, fear, and thankfulness for finally being able to wash the grime from her body after the days of the icky cell. Before Alexandria, she was used to not being able to feel clean or smell clean, but then when living in a place with baths and warm water? It changes your mind.

But now, the thought of being naked behind enemy lines to have a shower was simply barbaric. "What?" She asked, almost double checking he said the right thing.

"Calm the fuck down." He grunted. "No one's in there - bosses order."

She narrowed her eyes warily at Joey, debating in such detailed thought. Shower or no shower? She wanted a shower, almost needed it. Time to distract herself. "You swear a lot."

Joey sent a disgruntled look of shock and disbelief at Eleanor's opinion. "You must be joking." His tone was dull and lacked enthusiasm - it was boring. But then at the end, it with up an octave like he got caught out on something. Funny. And now he standing there with fidgety hands. Anxious.

She rolled her eyes at him, "Calm down, Joey." He went to object - probably to say he's fine but she butted in once again. "God, you're as tense as a fucking brick." Now his anxious look dissipated and he just stood there unimpressed. It felt like every Saviour she's seen wasnt impressed with her. Maybe it was because Negan found her funny.

"Get in the showers."

"So bossy." She tutted before opening the door and waltzing in to the empty (like Joey said) communal bathroom.

Numerous stalls were slotted towards the back of two walls, their revolting beige colour making Eleanor feel off-balance. In the middle of the room, there was a set of wooden benches that led to the open shower room with zero privacy and just shower heads aiming to the tiled floor. At least there was a bar of soap and a bottle of shampoo for your hair waiting at the base of each shower.

"Happy days."

Eleanor walked towards the beige box because there was no chance in Hell that she'd be showering in semi-public. She stripped herself from clothes and threw them carelessly onto the wooden bench and before she knew it, she was under the lukewarm water with glistening shampoo turning into a lather between her hands.

She took as much time as she could. Cleaning herself to the point her skin felt raw, making sure to get the dirt and mud and grime from her hair, her face, her entire body.

Thoughts started to run through her brain each time she scrubbed against her skin, white foam swimming down her pale body and down the drains that slipped so effortlessly through the drains.

She thought about Alexandria, how she felt she was betraying her family by simply being here. Even if it was against her own will... she still felt like a two-faced liar.

A shudder ran through her body and that was all Elle needed to rinse the rest of the soap that eloped her body down towards the drain. Swiftly bringing her hair over her shoulder, she wringed out the excessive amount of water from her black locks before stepping out the beige box and towards her clothes.