Author's Note: Okay, so this idea has been in my mind for days now! It was bothering me that I haven't written it yet (to the point that I was distracted from doing my homework lol), so here it is! I haven't had the chance to look it over, so I'm sure there are errors in this story. I'm thinking of having this as a five-chaptered fic. We'll see. It won't exceed more than five chapters, though! Enjoy! :)
It was a bad idea. You knew it was, hell, everyone knew it was, but it was the only option Rick had in order to keep you all alive.
That day when Rick told you to stay to watch Judith, you protested because you knew that you were capable of handling yourself outside these walls. You had been with this group since the beginning and forming a bond with each every one made it tough in this world.
Simply because there was that danger that tomorrow may be your last day.
"No, you have to stay. If something happens here, these people are going to need you. I need you to make sure Judith is okay, please." Rick begs, staring into your eyes.
You still couldn't shake off the feeling of what had to be done a few weeks ago with Gregory's cowardice proposal. Killing men in cold blood was something you never wanted to do, but it had to be done.
It always had to be done.
You thought you had won. You thought that Negan wasn't going to bother your group and Hilltop's anymore.
But boy, were you wrong.
That following morning, you open the gates to see your friends, your family with broken expressions.
Rosita. Michonne. Carl. Eugene. Rick. Aaron.
Daryl was missing. Glenn. Maggie. Sasha. Abraham.
Maybe they all split up and the other half was at the Hilltop, making sure Maggie was okay. Though, at the sight of their faces, you knew that wasn't the case.
"Rick… W – What happened? Where is everybody?"
You glance at Eugene – his face was bruised and beaten, but you couldn't miss the tears that were falling. Something happened and you didn't have a good feeling about it either.
"Gather up the rest of the people. We're going to have a meeting." Rick simply says, brushing past you and making his way to his house. You needed to know what happened. These people were your family – you wanted to share their grief.
You finished your morning run around Alexandria, panting heavily before you see Rick. Catching up to him, you gently take his hand to turn his attention to you. He had freshened up from the looks of it. His hair was slicked back and the streak of blood was long gone from his cheek, but the same broken expression remained.
"What's going on, Rick?"
He drops his eyes, looking away from you. It was a habit that you took note of whenever he had to deliver bad news. You brace yourself for what was to come, but once he began talking, you couldn't help but feel your legs shake.
Negan was going to pay for what he did.
"We provide for him. He takes half of our supplies. That's just – That's what we have to do from now on. There's no other way." Rick says with a defeated tone in his voice. You could tell that he was trembling with anger, but he couldn't do anything.
He did what he had to do to protect Alexandria and if that meant providing for Negan, then so be it because at least it would guarantee everyone's safety.
You weren't having any of it, though. Rick was someone you had grown to admire as a leader and his need to fight for what was his. He never backed down from a fight – not from Shane, not from the Governor, and certainly not from the people at Terminus.
Negan shouldn't have been a different story.
"Like hell there's no other way, Rick. We fight because this place – It is ours. You brought us here… You have kept us all safe from previous threats, from previous enemies. Negan… He should be no different."
Rick shakes his head. "You don't think I thought about fighting back? What did we do a couple of weeks ago? We went to that outpost and killed every single of his men in their sleep. You didn't see what I had to see last night. Glenn… Abraham… They didn't deserve that!
"Right now, we work for him. It's going to keep us safe, alive. I know you're used to us fighting back, but we can't do that. It's not like that anymore. I'm doing what I think is right to keep everyone here safe."
You tighten your jaw. You knew he was right and Rick wouldn't fight back unless he knew it would be a losing battle. For now, you had to trust him just like you've trusted him with previous threats.
You could tell this was taking a toll on him from the way his shoulders were slumped forward and his head was low… You couldn't imagine trying to lead when everyone wanted to fight back.
"I trust you, okay? I've always trusted you." You wrap your arms around his neck, offering him support until you feel him break down against you. Rick was never known to show his feelings; you believed it was because he had to hold up a reputation of being fearless despite the ongoing thoughts in his mind.
"Negan's supposed to be coming here next week to retrieve his supplies. I want everyone here when that happens. Once he leaves, you can go out and scavenge for more supplies." Rick says, pulling away and trying to avert the conversation to distract you from seeing his pain, his emotions.
You couldn't help but shake your head. "You're my best friend, Rick. We've been through everything together. Hell, I've seen Carl grow into a handsome young man. I've seen Judith grow up… There's nothing left to hide between you and I. That includes the way you feel."
He simply nods in response, turning on his heel to walk towards a few other people to let them know what was happening. You could see their anger, but you knew it was only for their own good. Hopefully they would realize it soon enough.
Before you started your day, you always went on a run around Alexandria. It was such a big area that it was enough for it to be your exercise of the day. Plus, if you were going to go out on supply runs, you needed to start working on your stamina to bring it back to what it once was.
Today was simply routine. You changed into shorts and a sports bra that you came across in one of your previous supply runs with Daryl. He teased you that it was useless, but you took it anyway.
It was summer in Atlanta, so the less clothes the better, especially when on a daily morning run.
You noticed that you could run around Alexandria nonstop for an hour and a half, but as of late, you didn't want to stop running once you hit the hour and a half mark. Thinking about Glenn, Abraham… It fueled your adrenaline, but you always dropped to your knees once you made it back to your home.
You didn't even get to say goodbye.
You were far from the gate, watching your feet hit the pavement with each stride. You center your breathing.
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
It was surprisingly empty, but maybe you figure that since the town knew about Negan, they started to work twice as hard. Everyone had to do what they had to do to survive in this world.
You continue to run, not bothering to take note of how long it has been since you started. It wasn't until you saw an unknown man harassing Enid that you had to step in. At first glance, not many would think you were capable of handling yourself, but looks were always deceiving.
"Give it back," Enid tells the man, her eyes glued onto the set of green balloons in his hand.
"Not until you say please, little girl. Now go on, say please…" His hand moves to stroke her cheek and you see her instantly move away, tears clouding her innocent eyes.
What a sick fucker.
"Hey! She said to give it back. I don't know who the hell you are, but you don't have any business here." You run up to them, placing Enid strategically behind you. You could feel the girl shake with fear once your hand moved to her arm.
You glance over your shoulder to send a reassuring glance in her direction before turning back to the man who was clearly ogling you.
"We're with Negan. If the little girl wants this back, she's going to have to say please. Very slowly too." He smirks, moving his eyes from you to Enid, eying her with primal interest.
Your heart drops at the mention of Negan's name, but suddenly, you turn your anger onto the man standing before you. He may have been one of Negan's men, but you weren't going to allow a little girl be tormented and harassed by some sick fuck.
"Now, I know she's got manners, so maybe it's just you. Give it to her or I will make you." You threaten, curling your hand into fists in a pit of anger and irritation.
"I don't know who the fuck you think you are, but we take half of what's yours. And you know? I think I'm going to keep this. Green's always been my favorite color." He winks.
"You know what's my favorite color?" You tell him, stepping closer. You could practically smell the alcohol and cigarettes mixing in with his body odor.
"Ooh, what's that?"
"Red," you reply.
Instantly, you bring your fist straight into his nose, hearing a quiet crack to follow through with the pain he was feeling. As he reaches to grab the end of your ponytail, you grab his wrist, turning it with sudden force to make him yelp in pain.
You use your free hand to strike his throat with an open hand, causing him to cough loudly at the sudden wind that was taken out of him. His grip around the string of balloons loosen and you take it from his grasp, handing it Enid.
Your eyes watch the stream of blood flowing down his nose, the dark red color oozing its way against his monochromatic clothes.
"I gave you two chances to give back the balloons. Should have just handed it over, tough guy." He was lying on his back on the concrete, trying to regain his breathing while holding the bridge of his nose to stop bleeding. Though, at the sound of the pain once he pinched the bridge of his nose, you figure you must have broken it.
"Negan's going to kill you, you bitch…" He mutters.
"I'd like to see him try."
You turn on your heel, looking at Enid to make sure she was okay. The look on her face was enough to break your heart and you gently hug her.
"You've got to teach me how to do that…" She says.
You laugh quietly, nodding almost instantly. It wouldn't hurt to teach someone how to defend themselves against a potential threat.
"I will. Find Carl and stay with him, okay? I'll meet up with you guys after my run."
"Negan's here… He's early. Please, be careful." You nod, seeing her walk the other way and you begin running, leaving the man lying on the pavement.
You avoid the looks you were receiving from the men who were ransacking the town and you couldn't help but feel anger. You wanted to know where this Negan was and where Rick was. You had to wonder if this was hurting him just as much as it was hurting you.
You continue running, dropping your eyes to watch your feet hit the gravel before running into someone from behind. You instantly put your hands out against his back, feeling the sleek leather against your fingertips.
Why is someone wearing a damn leather jacket in this heat?
"Fuck, Rick! Does anyone have fucking eyes around here? Shit. Watch where you're fucking go!" His voice was deep and it presented a sense of power.
When the man turns around to look at you, you couldn't help but take note of how good looking he actually was. It had been a long time since you saw someone that you found handsome (Rick was off-limits).
The look on this man's face when he noticed what you were wearing shifted from irritation to pure lust. You must have looked like a deer in the headlights with how surprised you were. Your eyes slowly move to Rick, taking note of the concerned look in his blue eyes. It was then that your eyes moved to the barbed-wire bat he was holding.
"Well, I'll be damned! This is a good fucking surprise if I say so myself! It has been quite some fucking time since I've seen a woman dressed in that. What are you doing, doll? Running? Doing a bit of exercise?" He grins, flashing you his dimples. You couldn't help but fidget at the sight of the man before you.
"You're Negan…" You quietly say, losing all sense of confidence in defending yourself. Right now, it was as if he cast a spell upon you and you didn't know what was happening to you. There was no way you found yourself attracted to this man, attracted to the enemy.
"And she's smart? Fuck me, I think I want to keep you." Negan smirks.
"No!" Rick interrupts and you clear your throat, shaking his head.
"Now, Rick… Don't interrupt me when I'm fucking talking to this hot piece of ass right here. Tell me, doll. What the fuck is your name?" Negan steps forward, looking down at you and sneakily taking a peak at your cleavage where it glistened with sweat. You could hear him growl under his breath and when you notice where his eyes went, the attraction immediately disappeared and it was turned to anger.
Before you could reply, the same man you left on the pavement interrupted the conversation.
"B – Boss! That's her. She's the one who fucking broke my nose!"
Rick glances at the man before back at you. He wanted to smirk, but he refrains from doing so by biting his lower lip. Negan takes a step back, thankfully, giving you your personal space.
"Davey, Davey, Davey… What the fuck did I say about interrupting me when I'm talking?"
"T – To not interrupt you…" He replies shakily.
"Exactly! Now, you're telling me that this tiny woman here kicked your ass and broke your nose? I call fucking bullshit," Negan says, glancing over at you with the same grin.
You feel slightly offended that he didn't think you were capable of handling yourself, but you knew if you showed him just how well you could fight back, it may very well result in someone getting killed.
"He was harassing one of our people. One of our people who is underage and highly uncomfortable with you touching her when she didn't want to be touched. So, I'd say me kicking your ass was long overdue," you reply, gritting your teeth.
Negan's grin falters for a moment, glancing over at his man who was still holding his nose. You wonder if Negan was like Davey. Maybe he didn't care that one of his men were harassing Enid, but the fact that she didn't want to be touched was something you weren't going to allow to continue.
This world may have triggered the survival of the fittest mentality, but that didn't mean that morality and ethics had to be thrown out the window. Especially as something as serious as that.
"Is that true, Davey? You touching someone when they don't wanna be touched? Much less a young girl?" Negan's tone sounded threatening and you see the other man shrink back, the look of fear and regret flashing through his eyes.
"I was just messing around with her! Come on! No harm, no foul!"
Suddenly, Negan brings his fist hard against Davey's face, watching him fall back to lie on the ground unconscious.
He's got a mean swing…
Negan turns his attention to you, letting the grin appear on his face once more. You didn't know what to make of it. Negan just hit one of his men for what he did to one of your people. He was supposed to be the enemy. He wasn't supposed to be on your side.
"I don't like that you fucking broke one of my men's nose, but I also don't fucking like when someone disobeys one of my rules. Davey is aware of my rules and that is rape… It is not fucking allowed. Even if it didn't get to that, touching someone without their fucking consent is something I won't fucking allow. So, consider yourself lucky, doll."
You narrow your eyes, watching him move with such power, confidence, and charisma. If only he knew that so many people wanted to kill him.
"Good to know that you still have your morals." You respond.
He laughs, leaning back slightly before he stands upright once more. Negan walks over to you, staring into your eyes and standing in your personal space as if he wasn't aware of what personal space was.
"You didn't answer my fucking question, doll. Were you running? Doing some yoga? Aerobics? Ooh, maybe fucking dancing?" Negan smirks. His voice hovers near your ear and you couldn't help but let the shivers run along your frame.
Goodness. It had been such a long time since I slept with a man.
You mentally shake your head. There was no way you were going to allow the enemy to get between your legs.
"Running. Today's agenda doesn't include yoga," you tease, taking a step back.
"I like you. You've got some fucking sass and you can kick ass? Fuck yes, I sure do fucking like you. Rick is sure fucking lucky to have you. Tell me, Rick. How is she in the fucking sack?"
Instantly, you widen your eyes and deliver a sharp smack to his face. He arches a brow, tilting his head in your direction. Rick looks at you with wide eyes, concern and shock written across his features.
"Ooh, doll… I'm more into you than I fucking thought! So, answer my fucking question, Rick. How is she? I'm assuming you and her are, you know," Negan smirks, curling his fingers to shape an 'o' as he uses the other to point his finger. He puts both hands together, gesturing that you and Rick were having sex.
How childish.
"We aren't – We're friends." Rick says which you almost instantly nod and agree with. Sure, there were a few moments where you and Rick actually tried being in a relationship, but the chemistry just wasn't there.
"Wait, so you're fucking saying that she's available? Well, fuck me aren't I the fucking luckiest man in the world right now!" Negan leans back once more – must have been a tendency because you catch yourself watching him do it many times.
"Excuse me? I don't understand how me being available makes you lucky. Just because I'm a woman and you're a man doesn't mean that I'm willing to sleep with you. If you forgot, you fucking killed my friends. That's something I can't overlook. Now, if you would excuse me, I've gotta finish my run." You say, looking over at Rick before your eyes remain on Negan.
He smirks, narrowing his eyes down at you.
"I do love a fucking challenge, sweetheart." He grabs your arm roughly and out of instinct, you smack his wrist with the end of your palm in one hard motion. You step back almost instantly, your chest heaving slowly.
"Don't touch me." You say, trying to regain your composure.
"I'll let that one slide, doll. But just so we're clear, you don't touch me either. Not unless you're wrapping your legs around me and digging your fingers into my back as I fuck you senseless," he whispers into your ear.
You clear your throat, feeling your cheeks heat up at the vulgar use of vocabulary. You didn't know what he was doing to you, but you wanted to find out just what he meant by that.
"Pretty sure for someone of your age… It'd be hard to get you up." You respond.
Negan smirks down at you, his eyes slightly narrowing.
"Oh, doll. You'll find out soon enough. I'll stop by your fucking house later. I'm sure Rick will show me where you live."
Negan finally steps back and you glance at Rick with an apologetic look on your features. You had to talk to him. There was no way you were going to keep this from him.
"I'll talk to you later, Rick." You tell him, seeing the man nod before Negan tilts his head.
"What about me, princess? No goodbye for me?"
"Nope. Go to hell." You say, turning on your heel and beginning to run away from him.
Negan watches you with a satisfied grin on his face. His eyes deviate to your backside and instantly, he growls once more. You were going to be his next conquest and if one thing was for sure, Negan always got what he wanted.
"I know we started off on the wrong foot with me bashing in your friends' brains in, but I do believe I should thank you, Rick. We've got to establish a fucking sense of 'friendship' and I think we're both well on our way," Negan grins down at the man, allowing Rick to lead him to the armory and supplies of food.
"For what?" Rick replies, trying his best not to scowl at the other man.
"Well, for one, the fucking supplies and two, that hot piece of ass that we just encountered. Once I have her switch teams, I will be fucking taking her back with me. I'll have her come willingly… Figuratively and literally, if you catch my fucking drift." Negan smirks, watching you disappear around the corner.
"You don't dare touch her, Negan." Rick says, gripping the end of the bat. He couldn't believe that he was making him hold the same weapon that killed Glenn and Abraham. It took everything in Rick not to bring it over Negan's skull.
"Ah, ah, Rick… Careful. Careful how you're fucking looking at me." Negan warns, stopping for a moment to stare into Rick's eyes. Rick tightens his jaw, slowly dropping the scowl. "I said I will take half and if I want to fucking take someone with me, I will motherfucking do so. Besides, if you aren't fucking her, I certainly will.
"And like I said earlier, I don't condone rape, so I'll have her come onto me. You know, do a little reverse fucking psychology." Negan smirks, continuing to taunt Rick.
Rick simply tightens his jaw. You were his best friend and just because you two weren't in a relationship didn't mean that you weren't as important. You had been with him since the beginning. From what Carl and Lori told him, you helped take care of them along with Shane when the outbreak first happened.
"Good luck. You're going to need it," Rick finally responds before he hears a gunshot echo throughout the town of Alexandria.
Suddenly, Negan's grin falters into a threatening stare.
"Let's go check on that, shall we?"
