I will keep quiet
You won't even know I'm here
You won't suspect a thing...
It started out with a glance. Several glances to be precise, but the first one was what had Michonne stopping in her tracks. She had seen it many times throughout Negan's 'visits'. The lecherous grins and lip licking while he would look at Rick. He only ever had eyes for him and would push and prod at Rick, all while looking like the cat who swallowed the canary. It was a scare tactic. A way for Negan to assert his dominance over Rick. Michonne knew this. Maybe it had started out that way, but eventually, Michonne saw something else in that stare. His eyes would begin to linger, no longer to make Rick uncomfortable but even when Rick was not looking at him. His expression would shift from the grinning cat to something almost softer. Something less hungry and more needful. Michonne hated to think of it. Hated to think that a monster like Negan could even contemplate wanting Rick. It left her half angry and half fearful for Rick's safety. A man like Negan was unpredictable.
"Guess we'll start heading towards the gate once we have everything." Negan had yawned out at the end of one of the pick up days. Rick had of course been made to walk with him holding that damn bat. Michonne liked to avoid the Saviors when they arrived. She found excused to vanish outside the gate. She would hunt and scavenge and sometimes take Carl with her when he was being particularly surly towards Rick. Sometimes, she would stay. Try to offer quiet support to Rick when she noticed he needed it. As of late, she had been lingering close by, mindful to watch after Rick while he followed Negan. She had seen those looks Negan would give Rick and had begun to fear what might happen if those stares changed into something more malleable. She needed to be close to protect Rick.
The weather had begun to turn as storm clouds rolled in overhead. Several Saviors were packing up to begin the trek back to the Sanctuary, Negan calling out orders as he continued his casual pace down the street, arm thrown over Rick's tense shoulders. Michonne had learned to grit her teeth and continue on. She wouldn't allow Negan to see her distaste for him. But she would continue to watch over Rick while no one else could. She was too far to hear what Negan was saying. The man's head was tilted down as he whispered something to Rick. They walked forward, Rick's steps seeming uncertain and strained in comparison to the jovial pace that Negan was putting out.
"Michonne, can you help with this?" Carl called out as he staggered towards her with supplies he had earlier grabbed with a prideful 'I can do it myself.' Rick glanced away from Negan, eyes softening as they met Carl's. Michonne offered the boy a nod, lips twitching and fighting down a smile as she grabbed one of the boxes. She could hear something clinking inside, guessing it was medical supplies. They were desperately needed with some of the elderly folks. Illness was common during this time and they needed all the supplies they could get. Yet here they were, giving them away.
"Yeah, I got you." She replied. She didn't look to Rick or Negan, set on using Carl as an excuse to leave. Carl walked ahead, shifting his box and avoiding Negan's sharp smile. The man watched him walk off, Lucille slung over his shoulder. Michonne nodded to Tara in a silent request to stay by Rick. The nod was returned, as the girl offered a weak smile. She shifted the box in her arms, listening to the rumbling skies overhead. Spencer passed her, carrying his own load and she watched as his eyes darted towards Negan and Rick, looking almost as if he wanted to approach them. Michonne caught his attention and directed her eyes towards the row of trucks.
"Come on." She ordered, matching his pace and herding him by Negan. Spencer didn't reply, but the way his jaw clenched was telling. She knew she would have to watch him too. Eric walked by one of the trucks and bound towards her, taking the supplies from her arms with a little smile. "Thank you." She murmured as he followed after Spencer, allowing her to return to Rick. Ahead she could see Rosita with her own supplies heading towards the gates. One of the Saviors, Arat, strode forward, catching her attention and murmuring something Michonne couldn't hear. Michonne kept walking.
"Sir, we have everything if you're ready." Michonne heard Arat speak up. Negan didn't reply. Michonne glanced up to see him staring down at Rick. Arat finished her stare off with Rosita, hoisting her gun over her shoulder as she waited for Negan to give the go-ahead. Negan however, wasn't listening and when Arat looked away from Rosita to check on him, she followed Michonne's line of sight.
Rick was watching Carl walk down the street, head tilted and expression borderline fond. It was a soft expression. One he normally didn't wear when the Saviors were around. It was apparent he wasn't noticing the way Negan was watching him. And what a look it was. There was no sharpness or edges in his face. His grin had melted into something softer, eyebrows raised slightly and dark eyes large and glittering even from the distance Michonne stood. He was staring at Rick as if entranced, his arm still over the younger man's shoulder, oblivious to the crowd watching.
Arat spoke again, startling both Rick and Negan. Rick lifted his head to look up at the Savior who blinked slowly, the arm that was over Rick's shoulder twitched and he pulled away, releasing a laugh that sounded oddly forced. "Sorry 'bout that, Arat. We all set to go?"
"Yes sir. Everything is accounted for." Arat confirmed, looking very patient with her boss's lack of attention. The man grinned at her, reaching out for Lucille, which Rick returned without a word.
"That's what I like to hear! Go on and get the truck ready, I'll be right behind you." He waved her off and she nodded at his order, fixing Rosita with a final stare before turning on her heel and striding towards the trucks. Negan had turned back to Rick, oblivious to Michonne watching in the distance. "You do good work for me." Negan murmured, head tilting as he studied Rick. Rick shifted, appearing uncomfortable by the way Negan was watching him. "You said you had some sick folks and we can't have that, can we? My boys will find more medical equipment and bring it by next time we're due for a pick-up." Negan glanced up, eyes suddenly finding Michonne and it was like a switched had been flipped. The softness melted away and he straightened back out, Lucille slung over his shoulder and grin wide. "Well Rick, hate to say goodbye, but we got places to be. People to save. You keep up the good work for me and things will be looking really fucking peachy for you and your people." Negan winked. Michonne couldn't see Rick's face but she could imagine that stone stare he usually wore around the man. "See you later, Rick." Negan drew out Rick's name, tongue darting over his lips before turning and striding towards the trucks, whistling out a low tune as he walked.
As the trucks pulled out, turning on the street towards the gate, Negan was peering out from the window, ignoring the Alexandrians to instead keep his dark eyes focused on Rick. They held gazes for a long moment, Rick's face a blank slate and Negan's amused and...piercing as he watched Rick. Rick was the first to look away, head tilting as if suddenly aware of the intensity in those dark eyes. Michonne watched Negan's lips twitch before the truck rumbled on through the gate, leaving dust billowing behind.
"Baby, you need to go to sleep." Rick's voice held an almost pleading edge to it as he stared down at his daughter who lifted a tiny fist to him in displeasure, face pinching up. Judith would not sleep. She fussed when Rick tried to lay her down, reaching out for him with a displeased cry. Rick glanced out the window, noting that the sun had long set. "Okay, but you gotta be good for when Aunt Maggie gets here, okay?" He pled with his daughter.
"Dada." Judith replied, a pleased smile on her face as Rick scooped her up. She nestled against his shoulder and Rick hummed in amusement, pressing a kiss to her curls. Carl had asked to spend the night with Enid, and Rick was glad to allow him to have a night of teenage normalcy. There was a knock to the nursery door and Rick turned up in time to see Aaron peak his head in. The man looked frenzied as he look at Rick, hair sticking on end.
"Rick, they're here." He whispered. Rick shifted Judith in his arms, nodding to Aaron.
"Thank you. I'm coming." It was well into the night when Maggie and Sasha arrived to Alexandria's gates. They had been forced to wait an extra three hours to be sure that the Savior's completed their patrolling in the area and headed back to the Sanctuary. Rick followed Aaron outside, shifting Judith on his hip. Michonne nodded to him, arms crossed and expression severe. It was risky brining Maggie out here, but with Gregory always looming, it was a better shot to leave Hilltop than risk Gregory snitching to Negan. Michonne and Rick were ready to greet them and Maggie threw herself into Rick's arms with a laugh, face nearly hurting with how large her smile was. Judith giggled as the attention was turned to her, little teeth gleaming.
"Look how big she's gotten." Sasha gushed as she came to greet Judith and Rick, arm wrapping around the man's shoulder in a gentle hug. She pulled back, offering his shoulder a final squeeze as Gabriel approached, dressed in a long sleeve shirt and jeans.
"Let's take this inside." He suggested and the group followed him to the church, Maggie remaining with an arm slung around Rick's shoulder as they walked. Judith babbled happily as she pressed a slobbery kiss against Rick's cheek.
"Long time no see." Maggie teased, his smacking into Rick and he smiled back, cradling Judith close. It had darkened out and the only sources of light were the the ones outside each house.
"You're looking good." He replied and Maggie laughed, eyes crinkling in the corners. And it was true. She looked better than she had in that clearing, even if their was heavy loss in her eyes. She nudged him, and walked ahead into the church. It wasn't a social call that had them all gathered. It was about what it always was about these days. Negan. For weeks there had been correspondence between the communities. They were gathering supplies and people. They were going to fight back one day. If they could get Negan off their backs long enough to gather.
"What we need is a distraction. Something to keep Negan's focus off of us while we're planning..." Maggie drawled, hands folded on the desk in front of her. Sasha nodded her agreement, arms crossed as she leaned back against the wall. It had been decided that keeping Negan elsewhere would help avoid bloodshed. Keeping the snake distracted with a new sort of prey. Rick leaned against the wall, rocking Judith on his hip and allowing the little girl to play with the button on his shirt.
"So, we just have something keep him busy? How do we do that?" Rosita was settled on the edge of the desk, legs kicking out with an air of carelessness. Tara shot her a smile, scooting a bit closer to the other woman.
"I'm sure we can find something while scavenging," Rick pointed out, eyes still on Judith. "The man's like a magpie. Anything shiny will get his attention." Judith babbled sleepily, placing her head against Rick's collar.
"Something material probably won't be enough." Eric muttered, arms crossing over his chest. "Its' charm wears off." It had felt like they had been arguing for hours. No one could agree on what route to take. Daryl remained a sore subject for them. His absence was notable. Gabriel wrung his hands, dark eyebrows crinkling as he stared at Maggie. "It doesn't have to be something negative. Best give him something to chew on so he has no reason to look our way. We have our people all set up but we can't risk putting them in danger."
"Something to distract Negan...or someone." Maggie pursed her lip, obviously unhappy with having to give anything to Negan. Her hand rested over the curve of her stomach, stroking over the small bump.
"Well, who could keep Negan that distra-" Aaron began. Slowly, the group looked up, seeming to have reached a silent revelation. Then all eyes turned to Rick who was brushing Judith's hair from her face. He looked up, noticing how everyone was now focused on him with similar expressions. "What?" The group continued to stare and Rick shook his head as it clicked. "No. No no." Maggie stood, striding around the desk to approach Rick, hands held up, placatingly.
"Rick, come on. It's perfect. You keep Negan focused on you and we can start gaining more allies and weapons without him noticing." Maggie's voice was pleading and demanding all at once. Rick gripped Judith against his chest, aghast. How could they ask something like this of him? How could they even assume Negan wanted him?
"You have that man in your pocket." Rosita pointed out with a shake of her head. Rick turned to her at with in open confusion, unable to find words. They had to be joking. There was no way that Negan had actual interest in him other than the power he held.
"Don't tell us you don't see it, Rick. He's already got his eye on you. Looks ready to pounce whoever you look at him." Aaron pointed out from where he was sitting beside Eric.
"I-I...he does not." Rick finally sputtered. He looked to Michonne for support, but she was in agreement with Maggie. Rick found himself outnumbered and it terrified him.
"You said it yourself. The man is a magpie and you're the sparkly rock." Michonne murmured, hands resting at her side.
"How am I suppose to keep him focused on me?" Rick shifted his daughter in his arms, cheeks flaming with all the attention on him. If they were set on this. He would do whatever he needed to, even if it was...this.
"Seduce him." Sasha spoke bluntly, leaving little room for argument. Tara giggled, sounding almost nervous as her eyes darted from Sasha to Rick who looked like he had swallowed a lemon.
"How?" Rick would later deny how his voice cracked as he spoke. It was obvious to Michonne that he had missed the stares and hints Negan practically threw in his face. He was oblivious to it all.
"Use that weird uptight prude power of yours." Rosita explained as if talking to a small child. Rick's brows furrowed. Judith rested her head against Rick's shoulder, eyes slipping shut and Rick wished he could join her and just go to sleep. "We're going to use his own little thing he has for you against him. Give him the impression you want him back-"
"But don't make it too obvious you're trying. We have to make it as natural as possible." Sasha cut in, dark eyes cutting intently into Rick's as she studied him from across the room. "We can't risk him catching on if you get too awkward." Michonne's lips thinned as she looked at the other woman, torn between agreeing and reprimanding her for putting Rick into such a tight position.
"So be yourself, but better at it." Tara suggested with a little smile. "He's weird with you, almost nice. All you gotta do is keep him occupied with your cute butt and wily ways and you have it." Tara teased. Rick was openly confused at this point.
"But Michonne and I are together." Rick finally managed to sputter, sounding indignant at the thought of cheating on her. Rosita threw her hands into the air in defeat while Michonne reached out to tuck a stray curl behind Rick's ear. Judith stirred against him and he rocked her in a quiet apology.
"Sweetness, we both know that. That's not going to change. This is to help us. Don't worry about me," Michonne offered Rick a fond smile that he returned. Michonne tilted her head, eyes sparkling. "That smile...you should use it more." Michonne pressed a slender finger against Rick's lips.
"I only smile like this when I see you." Rick replied, ignoring the low whistle Rosita released and the giggle that escaped Tara. Michonne cocked her head, hand moving to cup Rick's cheek, her eyes sparkling.
"And there it is. Use that charm on Negan and he'll melt." She murmured, finger gliding over the scar across his nose. Rick continued to smile at her and the woman offered him one as well, hand moving to brush back his hair. "Can you do this for us?" She cupped his face in her palms and he stared at her. He would do anything for her. Anything she requested. But, he wanted to refuse this. He wanted to find another way. Anything than allowing himself to submit to Negan.
"I...I can try." Rick finally managed to reply and Michonne nodded, her smile dazzling. Her fingers stroked over his stubbled chin, studying him closely for a long moment.
"Thank you." Michonne finally breathed. "This could help us all out." Her thumb brushed over his cheek again. "Just keep him focused on you Rick. Keep him occupied and we will do all the rest."