I couldn't help myself, ever since Jadis came on the scene, I've been wanting to do this. This is a companion piece to King of Anything. Hope you enjoy this little nugget!


Michonne could see his head turn her way out of the corner of her eye, feel his eyes on her, and picture his smug little grin in her head. Only a few hours out from their scavenging mission, and back in the front seats of the battered old van they'd put quite a few more miles on in more ways that one over the past two days, it was all feeling very familiar. And it was for that exact reason that she kept her eyes trained on the empty road ahead of them; because if she looked…God damn it, Rick. Now she could hear him quietly snickering to himself; that quiet snorting laugh that she had only recently discovered was still so charming and intoxicating in its newness. She broke down and dragged her eyes his way.

"What's so funny?"

His lips quirked into a smile as he realized he finally managed to grab her attention.

"I was just thinkin' about that thang you did back there…"

She felt her cheeks flush as she rolled her eyes. She knew she shouldn't have looked his way. It was quiet in the van, but they were not alone anymore. She glanced in the rear view mirror to see Tara sitting on floor biting her fingernails, Rosita staring at the bin of guns they had managed to keep, and Father Gabriel looking deep in thought with a faint smile on his face.

"Rick," she warned quietly. Now was not the time for innuendo, especially with a priest of all people sitting within earshot.

He glanced over and arched a questioning eyebrow at her, taking a moment to get what she was saying.

"Not those thangs," he smirked, enjoying the image that she had put back in his mind.

"Then what thang are you talking about?" she asked, mocking his southern drawl.

"That one. But I like it better when you're making fun of Jadis."

"Jadis," she huffed out. "Ezekiel looks and sounds downright normal next to her."

Rick let out a laugh at her deadpan assessment and tossed a quick glance her way before returning his eyes to the road.

"Yeah," he agreed. "I've been accused of being a closed mouth son of a bitch, but I've got nothin' on her."

"Who says that?" Michonne asked, her interest piqued by his admission.

"Just...people," he answered vaguely.

"Mmm," she nodded, deciding to let that one go.

Neither of them were big talkers, except with each other and only just recently. And despite that, even now after a long, exhausting few days and in the presence of an audience, they couldn't seem to keep quiet.

"So what the hell do you think her deal is?"

"What do you think it is?" she asked. She knew what she thought, but she was interested in hearing his take.

"I don't have a damn clue...strange," he decided. "She's just strange."

"Only she's not," Michonne pointed out.

"How do you figure?"

"Because I know her type. Aloof, eccentric for the sake of being eccentric; but take away the clothes and the hair and the affect, and there's really nothing interesting left. It's all appearances," Michonne surmised. "I think you're far more interesting than she is, and she knows it. She's intrigued by Rick Grimes…"

"Nah, I don't think so…"

"Oh come on," Michonne groaned with a grin. "I know you feel it. I mean, I can feel it from ten feet away."

He made a face and shook his head before lifting a hand from the steering wheel to smooth over the grey and brown scruff on his chin.

"You really knew people like her before all this?" he asked incredulously, tilting his head her way.

"Yeah. Too many," she frowned. "But don't you dare try to change the subject on me," she warned as she watched him sigh and squirm a little in the driver's seat which caused her to laugh. "Do you feel it or not?"

He glanced at her again, squinting hard, wondering why she was torturing him like this, because that's what it felt like was torture. But she stared back at him with a little grin daring him to dodge the question again.

"Yes," admitted finally. "But it doesn't mean anything."

"Oh, I know," Michonne assured him, causing him to laugh.

"Then why are you putting me through the wringer like that?"

"Just want to make sure you know where you stand with her."

"Well, I'm more concerned about where I stand with you."

"You know," Michonne grinned.

"Do I?" he asked, without a doubt being intentionally oblivious this time.

"I think you do," she said coyly. "And if not, you will. Soon," she finished, giving her best Jadis impression.

"Soon?" he repeated, his cheeks now slightly flushed as he smiled broadly at her.

She nodded as she beamed at him before the sound of rustling in the back of the van reminded her that they weren't alone. She turned to look back out the window again, willing herself to behave until they got home. Soon, but not soon enough she thought to herself.