ELEANOR . NEGAN

048.

It was warmth like no other when she writhed under her bedsheets, sticking a leg outside her quilt while her hand lay flat against her stomach. The sun perked through the windows and the horrible feeling of fatigue and dirtiness was no longer there.

Eleanor listen to Daryl, she had to because that's what she needed to be included again.

Some could say Elle slept in (Negan and Maya say she did) but the woman didn't care. She felt refreshed and clean and all she needed know was to get ready. As part of settling back in with everyone on a "professional" level, Gabriel said it'd be good if she helped Aaron teach people self-defence. So, that's what she did.

Elle tugged on her scuffed up converse and odd laces, got her usual shorts with that belt where her knives slot in, and then chucked a way too big t-shirt over her body. It was nice going back in that slightly normal routine, not now riddled head to toe with nausea and tiredness.

Once dark hair that cascaded down her back was now stuck in a simple side plait and she quickly made her way downstairs. Maya would already be out, either working with Charlie on patrols or wandering with Lydia, and Negan would be stuck on the gardens. Which was good - meant she didn't have to talk to him about anything.

"Morning," Elle pronounced, standing beside Aaron with a hand to her hip. In front of the pair were a group of people, mostly those who didn't spend a lot of time outside Alexandria, holding weapons that didn't seem to fit in their hands. The others who were there had experience, but needed a touch up. "Is this everyone?"

Aaron hummed and took a step forward. "Right, let's try some uh, close range combat. You two-" Two random Alexandrian's turned to look at the man, holding the knife in their hand more supportively. "Start-"

"Wait," Elle felt bad for interrupting, but she wanted to help. "Can we take a different route? One of these are gonna end up slicing their thumbs off."

There was a murmur between people while Aaron pushed away his treading grin, "Go ahead."

When Elle made herself seen by standing in the middle of the group, everyone watched with careful eyes and unmet gazes. She was used to stares, it happens, so she ignored them all and grabbed her knives. "When you're out fighting skins that look ugly as fuck, you want to remember your fucking surroundings. Don't want to go swinging your blade about and catch your mates skin, right?"

There was one boy, maybe just a bit older than Maya, who shuffled backwards. Nerd. "Manipulate distance, use it as an advantage. See the way someone holds a knife in an attack, alright? Says a lot on how you can easily win that shit." Elle flipped her weapon in her hand and raised it up around the group. "Show me how you hold."

Everyone in the group looked at each other, maybe puzzled, maybe just thick as shit, before they grabbed the unfamiliar blade and handle and twisted it in their hands. Guards and people usually on patrol were holding the handle in a reverse grip, the blade pointing down at the floor with the edge outwards.

Other people held it like they were scared of it. Gingerly in their hands, moving about like it was going to slip from their grasp and chop their toes off. Elle sighed through her nose and cleared her throat, everyone looked back up at her.

"If you're off and about swinging your fist around like it's a cheeky Sunday night, then hold your knife in that reverse grip." She demonstrated the hold while Aaron stood back with a hand over his mouth, trying to silence his chuckles. "Catch the blade on their skin, jab it in their brain, go home and get cleaned up. Job done, smashing."

"But, if they already know you got this nasty fucker, then don't bother. Really it's all about preference, but a forward grips gives you the distance benefit, and the fact you can jab it upwards and slash it about more." Aaron laughed again, so Elle turned and looked at him. "What?!"