ELEANOR . NEGAN

022.

Today is the day.

Everyone was preparing for the ending battle, the last fight between everyone and the Sanctuary. People were loading up their weapons, sheathing their knives, their bows - spears. Metal scrap was pinned to the cars as a makeshift shield like they did last time they attacked the Sanctuary and people were packing their clothes to try and at least make something that will lessen bullets and blows.

The kids were staying with a group of people to keep them protected and safe, but within the group, Maya didn't leave Judith alone.

Before everyone set off, she needed to do one thing. Just one little thing to calm her conscience and to get rid of the guilt and the disgust she had for herself.

She sat there on the stairs, an AR between her legs with two knives on her waist and a walkie-talkie in her hands. She pressed the button, the static oddly calming and she waited.

"Is that you, Ricky?"

Eleanor clenched her eyes shut and sighed. "It's..." I can't even say my own name. "It's me."

It was static for a moment, a little ragged breathing, before she heard him sigh. "Sunshine."

"Hi, Negan."

"You know, doll, I was pretty goddamn upset when I didn't see your pretty face around." Elle rolled her eyes. "I know you more than you think, sunshine. Don't roll your eyes at me."

"Shut up."

"So hostile." Eleanor was biting at her nails and her eyes were pinned to the floor. "Why'd you want me, Ellie? Wanna admit you actually care about me?"

"Piss off." Negan laughed. "Came to say I want my necklace."

"Here I thought you was gonna confess, sunshine. Some goddamn Romeo and Juliet shit."

Eleanor shook her head but tried to conceal her chuckle. "I'm not dying anytime soon, Negan."

"Well then, I guess that's another thing we have in common, doll." The silence was something Eleanor didn't like, but it was something that felt comfortable at this moment. "I'll do you a deal. You'll get your necklace when this is all over."

Elle placed her hand at the emptiness around her throat and sighed. "Great, so I'm never getting that necklace back."

"You're funny, sunshine." He frowned. "Shame we never got enough time. You know, doll, we never experienced the full Zombies fun-"

"What did I say about mentioning that?"

"That you'll personally beat the shit out of me? Well, what did I say, sunshine?"

The corner of her lips raised a bit. "That I have to watch my potty mouth."

"Damn right, I did."

She smirked but set the radio down for a moment to pull the strap of the AR around her. "You hurt my family, Negan-"

"Don't go there, doll."

"No, no, I know. We hurts yours as well." She sighed. "I wish there was a fucking outcome where things were, well, not as shit as all of this. But, it's gotta happen. Gotta have it out, don't we?"

"Damn straight."

"I would say don't die on me... but, a lot of people are hoping for that." She cleared her throat and let out a breath of air. "Thank you, Negan."

"For what, sunshine?"

And she thought for a moment about the way he made her feel. Her whole life, she never felt enough. Being with Rick and the team made her realise that she was enough, and that she was actually wanted. Which only brought up the bigger issue—her self-destructiveness. She'd give herself up and over twelve times in a row to keep everyone safe, therefore paranoia and stress was the only other present thing in this apocalypse that haunted her mind.