It was late again. Eugene found it particularly hard to sleep that night after what happened at Alexandria. He thought about just getting drunk and passing out, but he wanted to wait for Negan. He hadn't done his nightly visit yet. Eugene wasn't sure if he would, but he wanted to wait and he wanted to be sober. And he didn't want to be alone.
Eugene was relieved when there was a soft knock on the door. Negan was behind it, but he lacked that cynical smile he seemed to always have. He walked in and began to stroll around like he always does. Negan was a pacer and it always made Eugene nervous to watch someone pace. He felt like it meant that something was coming: good or bad.
"Sorry I'm late," Negan said, "even though we never really decided on a time for these meetings." Negan turned towards Eugene who was taking a seat on his bed. "I've been thinking a lot and want to share some things with you. I also wanted to see how you were doing given what happened earlier today." Eugene looked around, trying to figure out if he was okay.
"I've been doing fine," Eugene said. "I don't see me falling asleep anytime soon, however." Eugene looked at Negan who was now smiling.
"Here, I'll tell you what I need to tell you while I braid your hair," Negan said. Eugene furrowed his eyebrows. He'd never had his hair braided. Also how and why does Negan know how to braid?
"B-braid?" Eugene asked. Negan laughed.
"Hell yeah," Negan said. "I think it'd look nice, now face that way." Negan pointed towards the door with Lucille. Eugene shifted his body towards the door. Negan was behind him now which caused anxiety to rise in Eugene. He didn't like Negan being out of his sight.
"You got a hairbrush?" Negan asked, opening up random drawers.
"It's next to the Television," Eugene said. Negan grabbed it quickly and went to work. He ran the brush slowly through Eugene's coarse hair. Negan was surprisingly gentle with him. It felt like heaven to Eugene. He hadn't had someone brush his hair in forever. Eugene closed his eyes and gave into the intoxicating feeling.
"So Eugene," Negan began. Eugene opened his eyes remembering that Negan wanted to talk to him. "There's a lot of shit that's about to happen. It's only going to get worse from here." Eugene swallowed. He was right. "There's a war coming and a lot of people are going to die. Not me of course, I don't die." Negan paused, but Eugene was silent. "You may die Eugene. I'll do everything in my power to not let that happen, but people will die. I don't want any of my people to die: you especially, Eugene."
"If you came here to make me feel better," Eugene said coldly, "You've done the opposite."
"I came here to tell you the truth of the situation," Negan said simply. "I'm braiding your hair to make sure you're calm." Eugene breathed in heavily. Negan pulled through a particularly bad tangle in Eugene's hair causing him to wince.
"Ow."
"Shut up."
"Okay," Eugene said and looked down at his hands in his lap. Negan ran the brush through Eugene's hair a few more times then set the brush down. He separated Eugene's hair into three large strands and began to braid.
"I know you're scared Eugene," Negan said. "Truth be told, I am too. I don't want to lose any of my people, but that's what it's going to take." Negan paused to make sure the braid looked good so far. "We will win though. I will not let us lose. The Saviors will live on no matter what." Eugene was still silent. He was still stuck on the fact that Negan was scared. Eugene thought he was the only one that got scared.
"Y-you're scared?" Eugene asked. Negan sighed.
"Don't let that scare you," Negan said. "We will still win."
"No, I-" Eugene couldn't figure out how to word what he wanted to say. "I thought someone of your nature didn't get scared." Negan laughed.
"Yes Eugene, I get scared. It is rare, but it happens," Negan said. "Don't tell anybody though okay?"
"Okay," Eugene said simply. It never crossed his mind that Negan was a person just like him; he feels emotions just like everyone does. Negan didn't say anything for a while; he simply braided the rest of Eugene's hair in silence. Eugene felt himself begin to get drowsy. Having his hair played with had calmed him a great deal. He just wanted to snuggle up with his Grimbly-Gunk and fall asleep.
"Alright, I'm finished," Negan said proudly. Eugene reached back and touched it. It felt nice according to his limited knowledge about braids. Negan grabbed a small handheld mirror that he saw on the counter and handed it to Eugene. He held the mirror and pulled the braid over his shoulder to admire it.
"How do you like it?" Negan asked. Eugene looked back at Negan.
"I rather like it," Eugene said. Negan smiled.
"It suits you, Lucy," Negan said. Eugene furrowed his eyebrows and watched Negan's face fall.
"Excuse me?" Eugene said. "Did you just call me Lucy?" Negan just stared at Eugene rather dumbly. He then picked up Lucille and walked towards the door.
"Just take that out before the meeting," Negan said. And before Eugene could say anything, he was gone. Eugene stared at the closed door and blinked a few times. It wasn't long though before he decided to cut his losses and go to sleep, and he finally did so without drinking multiple glasses of wine.
