Glenn watched as everyone snapped to attention like the experienced survivors they were.
Within seconds, Aaron had multiple guns pointed directly at him while Daryl scouted the perimeter before giving him an uncomfortably invasive pat down.
"We met him outside. He's by himself." Maggie said, making Glenn frown.
Usually, he would have agreed with trying to calm down Rick's paranoia, but he knew that Aaron had another person outside watching and listening to them.
Eric.
And although he knew Aaron fairly well, it didn't make him any less uncomfortable with being spied on without his knowledge.
Glancing at Aaron, Glenn remembered how surprised he had originally been to see the man. He was so clean and kept up. But to trusting of others. A man who hasn't had to survive outside those tall walls, a man who hasn't had to starve.
"We took his weapons and we took his gear." Maggie tried to calm Daryl down while explaining to Rick.
As if that would calm Daryl down or lessen Rick's paranoia at all.
They didn't know who this man was, and they all knew what Rick could do without a weapon. What any of them could do with just their bare hands.
Aaron stared at the silent group for a few seconds, and Glenn could see he was nervous.
"Hi."
"It's nice to meet you." Aaron tried to take a step forward and shake Rick's hand, but Daryl was right behind him, breathing down his neck.
Multiple guns had their safeties turned off instantly.
Glenn would have laughed if it hadn't reminded him of how pathetic the people in Alexandria really were.
He had died to protect them, and for what? Did they even understand the sacrifice he had made?
"You said he had a weapon," Rick asked without really asking. Who the hell didn't carry a weapon on them? Only dead people or soon-to-be dead.
Maggie stepped forward and offered Rick the shitty little snub nose revolver to Rick who checked it before shoving it in his waist band.
One more gun to the stash.
"There something you need?" Rick asked
"He has a camp nearby. He wants us to audition for membership." Sasha said with a side eye.
"I wish there was another word," Aaron said while having a stupid smile on his face.
"Audition makes it sound like we're some kind of a dance troupe. That's only on Friday nights."
The entire barn stayed quiet as Aarons stupid ass line went in one ear and out the other.
Maybe that line would work on another group and make them jump in joy to join his community but no in this barn could give a rats fucking ass about dance nights on friday.
Glenn genuiely felt himself cringe as everyone let Aaron stand in silence like a fucking clown for a few more seconds before he finally decided to speak up again.
"Um, and it's not a camp. It's a community. I think you all would make valuable additions."
"But it's not my call. My job is to convince you all to follow me back home."
"I know. If I were you, I wouldn't go either." Aaron chuckled
'If you were us, you'd be more worried about yourself and what we might do to you." Glenn thought.
"Not until I knew exactly what I was getting into. Sasha, can you hand Rick my pack?" Aaron asked Sasha, who gave him a side eye, but did what he asked.
"Front pocket, there's an envelope."
"There's no way I could convince you to come with me just by talking about our community. That's why I brought those."
"Now, I apologize in advance for the picture quality. We just found an old picture stor-"
"Nobody gives a shit." Daryl cut off the rambling, and Glenn gave him a thank-you nod as he was starting to get a headache.
Rick opened the envelope and saw the first picture.
"That's the first picture I wanted to show you, because nothing I say about our community will matter unless you know you'll be safe. If you join us, you will be."
Glenn put pressure on his nose as he felt his head start to hurt, and the sound of a distant wet thunking noise resounded in his ears.
'Stop,' he whispered in his head, asking for the noise to stop.
"Each panel in that wall is a fifteen-foot-high, twelve-foot-wide slab of solid steel. Framed by cold-rolled steel beams and square tubing."
"Nothing alive or dead gets through that without our say-so."
Glenn heard Aaron's words through the resounding wet thunking in his head, and he couldnt help but chuckle.
"Haha." His chuckle sounded off in the quiet barn, making the others turn to look at him.
Glenn felt his vision turning red, and he thought he saw blood streaming down his eyes as he laughed even harder.
Not because it was funny but from pure fucking anger.
'Nothing alive or dead gets through without their say-so? Those weaklings? With no security?'
"Hahaha!" Glenn laughed loudly while throwing his head back.
He felt Maggie gently lay a hand on his arm.
"Glenn, are you okay?"
Glenn ignored her before looking back at Aaron, who was looking at him like he was crazy.
'This fucking clown actually thinks his community is tough shit. Let me show you tough shit.'
Glenn stalked toward Aaron like a predator before winding back the biggest right hook the world had ever seen and sending his bony fist directly into Aaron's defenseless jaw, making him slump to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
But that only seemed to ignite his anger even more as he got on top of Aaron's unconscious body and released another punch to the man's face.
All he saw was red as he landed one more punch on Aaron before he felt a group of people grabbing onto him and pulling him away.
"Glenn, stop," Michonne yelled while she, Daryl, and a few others pulled him back.
"Get off me." Glenn yanked his arm out of her hand and stalked off toward the backside of the barn while the others watched him with worried eyes.
Glenn heards Ricks voice who didnt seem the least the bit bothered about the man getting his ass beat.
"Dump his pack, let's see what this guy really is."
"Everyone else, we need eyes in every direction, they're coming for us. We might not know how or when, but they are."
Glenn sat down against the barn wall and saw Maggie strolling up next to him before taking a seat next to him.
He could feel her worried eyes on him, and her soft hand rubbed against the back of his neck.
"That's not like you, Glenn. What's wrong?"
Glenn looked over at Maggie's green eyes and felt himself calm down while brushing a finger through her hair.
"He was spouting bullshit. Nothing gets through these walls without our say-so. If there is one thing a person in this world knows, it's that walls never keep anything out forever."
Maggie nodded in understanding.
"But why did you get so angry?"
Glenn sighed.
"I'm tired, Maggie. Of being out here, just surviving when we can be creating a life together. I think this might be our chance, but it's going to come at a cost. We might have to do some bad things, but in the end, it will be worth it." Glenn smiled
Meanwhile, Maggie thought Glenn was talking about having to kill the people at the community, and although she felt sick at the thought, she had to agree with Glenn.
She was tired.