Shadows

2) Ammo

"Be careful, ok?" Alicia said, fixing the collar on Daryl's jacket.

"Dennis  just wants us to grab a few things. We'll be back before you know it." He assured her. "Promise."

She smiled, kissing him quickly. "Alright. I love you."

"I love you too."

She watched as he, Rosita, and Dennis loaded up in the car and drove off. She was about to go back to her house before someone ran up to her.

"Hey Red!" She smiled, recognizing the nickname that only one person called her. She turned to look at Abraham who was jogging towards her.

"Sup Abe." She grinned giving him the two fingered salute they did whenever they saw each other.

"You free for a while?" He asked her.

She nodded. "Yeah Daryl just went out on a run With Rosita and Dennis. What'ya need?"

He chuckled. "Eugene thinks he's figured out some revolutionary thing that will help us. There's an abandoned shop not too far from here. Wanna join our little adventure."

She grinned. "I'm always up for a little adventure."

—————

"I see you've tied back your Tennessee waterfall there." Abraham commented on Eugene's hair.

Alicia laughed, nudging Eugene's shoulder. "I won't lie. I kinda liked it... hell I might even miss it."

He nodded. "The feeling of the billowy curtain catching the breeze some days was straight up bliss. But brass tacks- the hair doesn't make the man, the man makes the man."

Abraham looked at him. "Guard duty, weapons training, changing up the hairstyle, swigging some swagger with the ladies, spitting game."

"If you don't spit game, you are game." He countered.

Abraham sent Alicia a look. "Man seems to be changing. At least trying like hell to. Makes me curious... what that's about."

Alicia felt the shift in mood as they stopped. Abraham and Eugene stared at each other, and Alicia stood awkwardly by Abraham's side.

"It's simple really, as with any RPG, tabletop, electronic, or otherwise the key to survival is allowing one's self to be shaped by the assigned environment. In doing so a broad range of capabilities are acquired allowing one to flip the script using said capabilities to change said environment for the greater good."

Alicia and Abraham stared at Eugene as he said all this. They shared a Quick look, Alicia just shrugging.

Eugene sighed. "I'm saying I'm in the process of said stage two. I've changed... adapted." He looked to Alicia. "I'm a survivor."

Abraham just looked at him. "Keep telling yourself that."

Alicia sighed as they walked in front of Eugene. "I know you're pissed off at him but you don't have to be so rude." She mumbled.

He just grinned at her. "I'm not being rude... I'm just giving him motivation to prove his balls have dropped."

She snorted. "You're an idiot."
—————

They finally made it to the old warehouse, Eugene opening the door. Alicia and Abraham stood ready with their guns raised.

"Standard pinning tumbler. Click click easy peasy." Eugene said, demonstrating how he picked the lock.

"This the place?" Alicia asked skeptically.

"It's is indeed."

They watched as he walked around the shop, making comments on the different machines and what not.

"You bout ready to spill the pentos on what the hell were doing here?" Abraham asked. There was no answer. "Eugene."

He stopped and looked between Alicia and Abraham. "We're gonna manufacture bullets here. I've been chewing the cud on this for a few days now. The Hilltops dry, our supplies finite." He said. "So not only are bullets vital for defense but per the law of supply and demand, a full cartridge is now the coin of the land."

Alicia scratched the back of her neck. "Making bullets from scratch." She nodded.

"Except casing but the insides are all us." Eugene confirmed. "And by us I mean me."

"And you think you can do that?" Abraham asked. "Here... with just this?"

"Well the digs will require a thorough scrubbing, and we'll have to find a hell a ton of led but yes. I most definitely almost certainly think I can do that here." He said.

"That my friend is some damn fine genuine outside the box thinking!" Abraham laughed.

Alicia smiled, looking up at the two men. "Dude..." she grinned, "where do we start?"

"We should inform Rick, talk with Olivia see what types of ammo it be most valuable to produce-"

Alicia held up a hand. "I'm gone need you to pause." She watched as Eugene furrowed his brows. "Nothing against your ideas, just got a little visitor behind you." She said.

"Hold the breaks Al's." He said, grabbing her shoulder. "I'm formally calling dibs on this one." He drew his machete. "And dibs is dibs."

Alicia chuckled. "We'll be my guest." She said, stepping back. "Get some." He took the machete, failing to penetrate through the melted metal on the walkers head. "Strike one." She said.

Eugene pushed the walker against the big pot thingy that was suspended in the air. Abraham grimaced. "Strike two." He looked at Alicia.

They watched as Eugene tried and failed to grab the metal rebar that was lying beside him. Alicia sighed. "Strike three." She looked at the other redhead. "Abe."

"Yep I got him." He grabbed the rebar and plunged it through the walkers head, releasing Eugene of the struggle.

"Why did you... I called dibs." Eugene said, still holding onto the corpse. He dropped it, staring Abraham down. "You had zero authority to-"

"To what?" Abraham cut him off. "Stop you from dying?"

"I had full control over the situation." He defended. He looked down at Alicia. "And you had no right to send your lap dog to help me."

Abraham stepped in front of Alicia. "You leave the lady out of this. She didn't send her lap dog to do shit." He scoffed. "If we hadn't done something your ass would be halfway to heaven right now."

Eugene stepped back. "I'm gonna allow you to apologize for the saying that. So how bout you do so right now."

"Timmy down there almost ate your face dumbass!" Alicia couldn't help but laugh at his comment.

"With all due respect, screw you." Eugene spat.

"Beg your pardon?"

"Dispatching walkers is well within my skill set so screw you for suggesting otherwise." He said.

"Let's get something straight alright? Using your cabaza this whole DIY ammo thing, That is your damn skill set! Just like ghosting hostiles, both of the undead and the living variety is mine." He pointed to Alicia. "Just like kicking ass and looking bitchin' while doing it is hers."

"Thanks?" She furrowed her brows.

"Now you truly wanna survive in this world long term, I suggest you learn that post haste."

There was a long silence before Eugene looked up at Abraham. "Ok." He nodded. "Thank you for your protection. I most certainly needed it between here and Huston. But your services are no longer required. The truth... plain and honest. You've outlived your usefulness to me."

"Is that so?" Abraham asked. Alicia stepped back wearily as a heavy air set over the three.

"Plain and honest." Eugene answered. Abraham nodded, throwing the bar down and walking away. "Where you going?"

"Home. My services are no longer required. Find your own way back, asshole." Abraham looked at Alicia, offering her a small head nod. "Cmon red."

Alicia turned to Eugene as Abraham walked out. "You can really be a dick sometimes... you know that?" She scoffed, following Abraham away.