Mentions of non-con. Not between Rick and Negan. Part 1 of 2.
Negan's favorite part of the week had always been driving to Alexandria and being able to see Rick. He always woke up early and made sure to shower and trim his beard all nice and presentable before making the drive out. It always put a pep in his step and his boys knew it. So, imagine his surprise when one afternoon, Negan drives all the way to Amexandria and knocks on the gate, only to be greeted by the wrong Grimes. "Well well," Negan greeted Carl with a slow grin. "Look who it is. Daddy finally let you come out of that house?" Carl inclined his head in greeting, one eye fixed pointedly on the Savior. Spencer stood nearby, looking ready to pounce and greet Negan, but Carl didn't budge from his place. "Speaking of which, where is Rick?" Negan looked passed Carl, dark eyes scoping the area as he looked for that familiar scowl that usually greeted him. Slowly, the grin faded from his face as he realized that Rick was not there. That was weird. Rick was always there.
"Where's your dad, Carl?" Negan looked back to Carl, voice dropping to barely a whisper. Carl's mouth thinned as he stared at Negan, not offering an answer. Negan's grip on Lucille tightened slightly as he stared into that all too familiar blue.
"He's at his house." Spencer piped up suddenly and Carl turned towards him, a snarl pulling his teeth back as he told Spencer to shut up. Spencer shot Carl an unimpressed scowl and Negan nodded once at the young man, stepping around Carl to begin walking towards Rick's house. Arat fell in step behind him and Carl raced ahead towards the house rushing down the street as if his feet were on fire. What the fuck was going on? Was Rick trying to hide something from him? Negan's steps quickened and he hefted Lucille up. Carl approached the house, one hand holding onto his hat as he flew up the porch steps and into the house. Negan could hear a startled voice from the kitchen as he walked through the door. He saw the little angel being snuggled in the woman's arms...Betty? Olivia? Negan barely spared them a look, striding forward and letting out a loud whistle that he hoped Rick could hear.
"Negan." Carl moved to block the man at the steps but Negan easily pushed him aside, bounding up the steps. Arat reached forward to place a firm hand on the boy's shoulder but he shrugged if off, rushing up after Negan.
"Mighty fucking rude of you to send your boy out in your place Rick," Negan called out as he strode down the hall, Carl hot on his heels. Was Rick plotting something behind his back? Had Negan caught him in the middle of something? "You'd think you would have learned some god damn manner-" He swung the door to Rick's room open, ready to spew some more bullshit at him, but the words caught in his throat. Rick lay on the floor of the room, Gabriel at his side. The man looked up at Negan with wide eyes, standing quickly as if to place himself as a shield in front of Rick. Negan stepped into the room, eyes only for Rick.
He was unconscious with the whole left side of his face was badly bruised, lip split and bright red against his pallid skin. His curls were slick with sweat and clung to the side of his face. His throat was lined with molten dark bruises that Negan could easily make out as finger marks. A blanket had been pulled up over his chest, hiding whatever other marks he might have on his body. Negan felt as if he had been doused in icy water.
"He got hurt during a run." Carl softly spoke up.
"Was he bit?" Negan finally managed to ask, voice harsher than he meant it to be.
Carl quickly shook his head. "No, no he wasn't bit. He never ran into any walkers." Negan felt that unhelpful pang or relief, knowing that Rick hadn't been bit, but it also meant something else. Someone had put their hands on his boy. Someone had done this to him and had fucking strangled him.
"What happened?" Negan finally asked, voice tight. Gabriel sighed, kneeling down beside Rick and looking through his medical supplies.
"He was jumped this morning. Aaron was with him-"
Negan's eyes moved to Arat. "Bring him here. Now." He could feel his hands shaking in rage.
"Yes sir." Arat turned away and walked down the hall, bounding down the stairs. Carl stood frozen at the door, looking at his father as if he had never seen him before. Gabriel seemed to trust Negan enough to return to tending to Rick's wounds. Negan backed against the wall and slowly slid down so he was sitting and watching the preacher work. Carl never left, arms still crossed and expression still tight.
Rick's shirt had been removed and what would normally be a pleasing sight, only made Negan feel sick to his stomach. Gabriel looked up to where Carl stood, brows furrowing. "Carl, I think you sh-"
"I'm not going anywhere." Carl shot the man a long stare and Gabriel sighed, nodding once before returning to access the damage. Negan could not tear his eyes away. The bruises trailed down his torso. Gabriel's fingers hovered over the blanket, but it seemed with Carl there, there were things Gabriel was not willing to do. Whatever he had planned on doing was stalled as footsteps moved up the steps. Negan turned his head towards the door as Carl instinctively moved to block it, only pulling back when he saw Aaron approach with Arat behind him. Negan stood, setting Lucille down as he met Aaron's stare with one of his own. The guy didn't look too badly beat up. A bruise marred his cheek, but in comparison to how Rick looked, the guy seemed fine, and didn't that just piss Negan right the fuck off?
"What happened?" There was no room for jokes or asshole little comments. Not now. Now, Negan needed to know who the fuck did this and how Negan could reach them. Aaron closed his eyes, seeming to have trouble looking at Rick. His eyes lifted to meet Negan's, his hands lax at his side.
"We went on a supply run early this morning. Just him and I. We found supplies northeast of here. It wasn't much, but anything is better than nothing. We were on our way back when this truck approached," Aaron's voice trailed off for a second and Negan impatiently waited for him to get on with it. "There were six of them. All had weapons. At first we thought it was some of your guys. I think that's what they were anticipating. They knew his name," Aaron's voice was hoarse but didn't waver as he stared at Negan. "They knew who he was. Knew because of you."
"The fuck does that mean?" Negan spat at the man who refused to cower away.
"They had it in their heads that Rick was something important to you. Should have figured with the way you always act around him. They've seen it. They must have been part of your group at some point, because they called out to Rick directly. We didn't have any weapons...Rick had his hatchet, but little help that did against six men with guns pointed at us." Negan could picture it. Rick with his hatchet raised, eyeing those six men with their guns pointed and knowing that he was surrounded.
"They...," Aaron glanced towards Carl who stared back, still refusing to budge. Aaron then glanced towards Gabriel who nodded for him to continue. "They pinned him down. He fought back. Broke one of their noses... so they started beating him. They only stopped when Rick stopped struggling." Negan looked back to where Rick pay, taking in the bruising on his face. He would find them. Oh, you can bet your ass he would find them. "They wanted revenge on you. So they went through Rick. That by hurting him they'd be sending you a message. Didn't listen when I tried telling them that Rick was in the same boat as everyone else. They just wanted to hurt you in anyway they could." Aaron suddenly nodded to Gabriel who looked away, his grip on the gauze he was holding, tightening. Negan didn't like that look. Didn't like the sudden heavy silence.
"What else did they do?" Negan softly asked and Aaron flinched as though he had been slapped. Negan's sharp gaze moved to Gabriel. "Move the blanket." He heard Carl breathe sharply behind him and he fought the urge to turn towards him. Gabriel reluctantly moved the blanket down to Rick's waist.
Negan couldn't breathe.
There were bruises on his hips. Finger shaped bruises as if someone had pinned him down. Pinned him down in order to- Negan swallowed the lump in his throat. He slowly turned towards Aaron.
"And how did you manage to get out?" He stepped forward, itching to grab Lucille. "You look dandy to me. Looks like they forgot all about you. You just let them-" He couldn't finish the sentence and Aaron shook his head, gritting his teeth.
"It was a message for you! They wanted you to see what they were capable of and they wanted me to...they wanted me to be the one to tell you what they did to him." He blinked once, eyes watering and Negan turned away, moving towards Rick. He knelt down beside him, ignoring the way Gabriel was eyeing him. Negan pulled the blanket back up, smoothing it out to cover the younger man. Guilt was not something he was accustomed to, but he felt it now. He had never been quiet with his weird affection/attraction he held for Rick. It was only a matter of time before someone took advantage.
"Are they still alive?" Negan asked after a long moment of silence.
"Yes." Aaron reluctantly admitted, looking away from Negan. "When they were done...they left with our stuff."
"Fuck." Negan breathed, looking from Aaron to Gabriel and finally to Carl. "I will find them."
"Good." Carl coolly replied, arms crossed and expression as icy as his old man's. Negan glanced over his shoulder at Aaron.
"Give us any information you have on them. If they know who I am and who Rick is, then I probably fucking know them too." Aaron nodded slowly, turning to follow Arat out of the room. Carl walked forward, kneeling down next to Negan, staring at his father. "Where's the samurai chick? Figured she'd be here with him." Negan asked and Carl huffed a breath, looking away from his father.
"Michonne's out blowing off some steam. Needed sometime." He explained and Negan offered him a nod of understanding.
"I get it. Her boyfriend's been fucking brutalized. I'd be cracking skulls, too." He ignored the sharp look Gabriel shot him and turned back to study Rick. He was going to need proper medical care. A proper fucking bed. "What have you given him so far?" He slowly stood, needing a moment to step back. Carl didn't leave Rick's side. Gabriel shuffled through his medical kit.
"We have some pain medication to help him sleep. We don't have much in terms of...some of his injuries, but we have enough to help him with the pain." Negan already began shaking his head.
"Not good enough. We have supplies at the Sanctuary," Negan spoke up. "We can treat him there." He stepped forward and Gabriel leaped to his feet, pushing himself between Negan and Rick as if to protect the pretty damsel from the dragon.
"No, no you-" He bodly began to argue but Negan stared him down, dark eyes heated and furious.
"He needs actual fucking help. You sitting here with him isn't gonna fucking cut it. I have supplies and I have a doctor. I can actually help him." He pushed passed the man and Carl moved out of his way without argument. Negan knelt down and slid an arm beneath Rick's thighs and another at his shoulders as he slowly lifted him up. Carl stepped back towards the door, staring with that piercing look of his. Negan didn't even notice, too busy trying to gently scoop Rick up without jostling him. Rick murmured softly, breath hitching as if in pain and Negan stilled, waiting for him to relax again. Rick's head lolled back for a second before resting against Negan's shoulder.
"He's not going to want to wake up in some different place with you staring down at him." Gabriel weakly argued, hands wringing in front of him.
"I'll go." Carl pushed off the door frame. He walked over to where Negan stood, staring at his father in concern.
Negan offered him a nod of approval. "I think your dad would appreciate seeing your face when he comes to. Grab him some clothes, okay? It'd be really fucking rude of my to not have some clothes handy." Gabriel grabbed some clothes for Rick, shoving them into a bag that he handed to Carl. Negan nodded towards the door and Carl walked forward, indicating to Gabriel to follow him down the hall. Negan carefully walked out the door, maneuvering Rick so his limbs didn't smack against the door as he walked out. He was slow in moving down the stairs, one step at a time until he exited the house. He could feel eyes on him as he moved, watching as he carried Rick down the street. He whistled once, alerting two of his Saviors to his presence and nodded towards the gate. The two rushed ahead to get the trucks ready, Arat hot on their heels. Spencer had not moved from where Negan had last seen him. He watched Negan and Carl approach, arms crossed and expression pinched.
"How long will he be with you?" Gabriel asked, jogging to keep up.
"As long as I deem necessary, Gabe." Negan called back over his shoulder. He heard Gabriel sigh in exasperation.
"With Rick gone, we will need someone to keep things in order." And wasn't that the truth? You get rid of the big cheese and everyone starts losing their fucking minds. Negan hummed in understanding, shifting Rick so that his head was more supported against his shoulder. Spencer seemed to perk up at this, eyes lighting up. He walked forward, not even sparing Rick a passing glance as he stared at Negan. "I can-"
"Good thinking Gabe, you put that hot samurai chick in charge when she gets back." Negan looked over his shoulder at the creepy priest who slowly nodded, glancing towards Rick in concern. Negan tightened the blanket around Rick, not trusting the asshole kid staring at them. He nodded his goodbye to Gabriel, striding out the gate. Spencer stared after them, mouth pinched like he sucked on a lemon and Carl turned towards him, shooting him a glare as he followed Arat towards the gate.
Arat and Carl helped situate Rick in the truck, Arat walking around the front of the truck to sit behind the wheel and Carl shifting down the seat to sit beside her. Negan moved onto Rick's other side, slamming the door behind him and for a moment, Rick's eyes fluttered. He looked over at Negan with sleepy blue eyes. not truly understanding where he was.
"Negan." He murmured, looking at the man in confusion. Negan couldn't even offer a sarcastic response, instead he adjusted the blanket up Rick's shoulder. He felt Rick relax against him, too drugged up to realize where he was. Carl watched him, head tilted and hand resting on his shoulder. He didn't speak, looking confused on what he would say.
"Go back to sleep, Rick," Negan murmured against Rick's curls. "You need to get more rest." Rick didn't even argue, simply closing his eyes and falling back asleep. Once he was better, Negan would ask him what happened. Ask him if he remembered those faces or any names, but for now, Negan just wanted him to rest. Arat began to drive, no questions asked. Negan appreciated her silent support. Rick's head rested against Negan's shoulder and absently Negan began to stroke his hair. The shit he had seen...heads were going to roll. For every mark on Rick's body, Negan was going to dish it out ten fold. He pulled Rick closer, ignoring the curious look Carl shot him.
15 minutes into the drive, the walkie talkie on Negan's hip buzzed to life. "Negan," a warped voice came over the walkie talkie. Carl perked up at the voice. "Negan, I know you're there." Negan sighed before pressing the button.
"Who is this?" Hw winked at Carl who offered him a weak grin.
"It's Michonne."
"Well, howdy Michonne. Sorry I didn't stop by and see you...and that I stole your boy and his kid." Negan leaned his head back, lips pulling into a grin that didn't reach his eyes. His arm remained around Ricks shoulders as the man slept against him.
"When you go out. When you find them. I want to be there." Michonne stated gravely, not even bothering to play into Negan's jokes. Negan hummed, nodding his approval as he hot the button.
"I wouldn't expect anything less." He conceded and Carl slowly smiled, relaxing against his seat and resting his head against his father.
"Take care of him. Both of them"
"I've got them. They won't be hurt." Was it odd that Michonne seemed to accept this? That Carl trusted it and that Rick slept against him? Maybe. Either way, it wasn't a lie. His fingers itched to reach for his walkie talkie and order his boys to begin scouting. To find the animals that put their hands on Rick and slaughter them. But Negan fought it. He wanted to find them all. He wanted to look in their eyes as they died. So they would all understand who exactly they had hurt and why exactly it would be their final mistake. He pulled Rick closer, hand resting against those curls.
He would burn their world down, just to offer Rick a slice of justice. They had sent their message loud and clear and now Negan would send his.