Chapter 22: Defending What I've Gained
Waking up, I started my routine of going to the bathroom, taking a shower, going into the basement to eat my breakfast before coming back up to brush my teeth as I made breakfast for Edin and now the others; when I lived by myself during the first few days. I made breakfast simply as a cover but now there are people here who'll eat my food. When the pancakes, freshly squeezed orange juice, and sausages were finished. I noticed everyone was beginning to wake up. I prepared the dining room table and called out, "Come eat breakfast! You can wash up after, I don't want your food to go cold."
Jessie, Edin, Ron, and Sam came downstairs then walked into the dining room. They were amazed to see the golden brown pancakes and freshly made baby sausages along with the orange juice. Jessie was pretty observant and noticed that there were five of us and only four plates, she looked at me questioningly and asked, "Why is there four plates but five of us? You don't plan on eating breakfast?" I gave a smile and said, "I already ate, I was in the basement setting a few things up." It was true that I was in the basement but I didn't set anything up, I want to setup the LAN and host a few websites but most importantly a search engine. I planned on creating a data bank filled with information that would prove to be useful in these times.
Jessie was a bit suspicious but didn't push for answers and we all sat down, I chatted with everyone to get to know them better. Jessie is a loving mother and I would have to say is the greatest wife anyone could have due to the bond she creates with her children; that along with her caring nature makes her want to support anyone when they feel troubled. Ron is a typical hormone filled teenager who doesn't understand what the people beyond these walls go through each day, Ron has yet to mature since he cares more about video games and hangout with his friends; something that I cannot understand and never will. 'Ron wouldn't last long if he were to ever be forced outside of the walls.' Sam talks so much, I actually began to filter everything that he said. What I can tell is that he loves his mom, cookies, and asking constant questions.
Half way through his questions, I covered my ears and stared down at the table and asked out loud, "What have I done to activate a weapon like that?" Jessie patted my back and teased the both of us by saying, "You'll get used to it." I looked at her and said with dead fish eyes, "But I'm a reserved person who likes to keep to himself, I don't think I'll get used to it for awhile." Sam, being the chance seeker that he is, made an offer that I immediately agreed to, "If you make me cookies, I won't drive you crazy." Those were the greatest words ever, I am crazy and disturbed enough, I don't need anymore!
I focused a lot on Edin since she is my first official member of my family. Jessie noticed that and teased me, "Such a doting father." I was about to retort but I got a knock at the door and I mumbled, "What the hell, is my place a hotspot?" I got up and went to answer it, when I answered the door there was Rick and Deanna waiting outside. I didn't invite them in and closed the door behind me before sitting on the swinging chair on my porch then got straight to business, "I'm guessing this is about Pete and what happened at the solar distribution?" Deanna confirmed it and Rick said, "No hard feelings but I have to search you." I got up and allowed him to, I only had the keys to my all black Hellcat.
After the search was finished, I received the keys back and we began our discussion. Deanna's first question was about my side of the story of the solar distribution, why I was there, and why was Edin outside with me. Edin hid coming back simply for the reason to avoid the guard keeper from asking why she was out. A lot of people were opposed to having a young girl going outside the walls so I wanted to avoid stares. I tapped the armrest and began to speak, "I was out with Enid, bonding since I could tell that she doesn't like staying inside the walls constantly. Anyone who has seen the horrors will understand that outside is pitch black while inside these walls is pure white filled with ignorance; it will drive them mad if they don't go out. Sasha is a good example of some of the worse cases, she's suffering from PTSD and the people's ignorance is only making it worse." I thought for a bit before continuing, "I decided to go to the distribution to see if I could get some parts since I'm planning on creating a local area network. It'll be like the Internet but it won't have the many sites and information that the Internet once had. When we arrived there was an explosion and soon we saw the zombies going towards the front door entrance, I admit that I waited a bit while assuming that even though an explosion happened that the people who survived the explosion would be fine with Glenn. Unless there was someone who couldn't keep it together, a coward, then they wouldn't of gone to the front door. Eugene drew the walkers attention and I broke the revolving door's window for Noah and Glenn first." I paused and looked at Deanna, I told her bluntly, "I broke it with the intention of saving them first over someone who I barely knew; but he got out safely with the help of Glenn."
Deanna sat and sorted out her thoughts, she asked a few questions looking for details, "How did you break the door? What do you think about Nicholas, the one who was with them?" I smiled and said, "I broke the door by shooting it, I'm assuming you want to take the gun but I would have to decline since Pete is a threat to the ones who are currently staying inside my home. My opinion on Nicholas, I indirectly said it before; he is a coward who panics, sacrificing those with him. It's not that hard to find out if you dig around for information by simply speaking with people." Rick heard about Pete abusing Jessie then began to try and convince Deanna to kill him. Of course, Deanna denied him and said in Alexandria, that they don't kill but exile. She looked towards me and said, "That gun, you can keep it but you may only use it to defend what you've gained. I don't want you to kill Pete if he comes to start something, disable him if possible." I nodded and Deanna left, leaving just Rick and I alone on the porch.
Rick asked me about how I feel about this place and I said, "It's nice. The people are ignorant of what's outside these walls." Rick was about to ask me something but I interrupted him and said, "You have your own plans and I have mine. I don't want to be apart of your alliance, I know it's cold to deny you like this but I'll protect what I've gained and wait for everyone to realize the cold truth."
Rick stared at me and said although disgruntled, "Alright, but can we rely on you to have our backs?" I smiled and said, "Only if you're about to die."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Badfic
Badfic I'm close to the top 100 on the power stones rankings for ACSJ. Thank you for all the positive comments, I won't lie and say I wasn't expecting a lot of negativity for taking a slow approach and trying to focus on relations in these later chapters. I feel like in a lot of novels with overpowered main characters, they focus too much on glory instead of relations and character development.
I've also been improving, writing 1,000 words used to be a chore and now it's fairly easy; allowing me to have a steady chapter flow. I'm sure that once I start work on the 20th that I'll still be able to put out chapters.
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