Chapter 25:
Whistling, Negan headed downstairs to his room. He put an ear to it, a smile coming to his face as he heard the gentle noises of Peter inside waiting. An almost evil smirk replaced his smile and he settled Lucille behind his neck, he stepped inside whistling and kicked the door closed behind him. Peter sat, with his head up, at Negans kitchen table.
"Camille said you want to talk to me?" Peter asked.
Negan strolled over to him, a stern look on his face and stood in a spot where he could stand-over him threateningly.
"Oh yeah Peter, we need to talk," he said lowly. "Now..." he mused and sat at the 'head' of the small table. He put his feet up and let Lucille rest on the table in front of him with a loud *whomp!*. Oh, he was going to have fun with this.
"It seems..." he mused slowly, "that you and my second in command want to continue your relationship from two years ago."
Peter went wide eyed for a moment, "she told you?"
"Psh," Negan chuckled and put his feet down so he could lean over, looking at him better, "she tells me everything. We're close you know?"
"Well yeah, I mean, you're practically some kinda big brother slash dad to her," he shrugged.
Negan smiled proudly, "Yeah...Yes I am," he said as that realization hit him even further. "I usually do not care for fraternerzation between higher-ups and officers but..hell, I do believe in Nepotism," he grinned. "What Camille wants, Camille gets...and she wants you. So I'm inclined to let her have ya, but trust me...I have my...reservations," he said and stood up. Negan started to pace a little, a sign of dominance as he neared Peters chair. "You see, it may take a moment for people...but she gets what I'm doing here. Sanctuary is my baby and Camille is the only other person I trust with my child. What I don't need is some...step-parent getting in the middle of her and Sanctuary."
"I already told her I'd work..." Peter interjected.
"And let me guess, she said no...that there was no way you were going to survive on the bare minimum?" he asked with a knowing grin.
Peter nodded.
"That's my girl," he said almost warmly. "Tell me, you went to college...what did you study?" he asked.
"Uh, reneable energy resources," Peter said.
Negan's eyes almost lit up, "No fucking shit? Well, that makes you really fucking important without your lil heart worrying about Camille treating you special. That's the sort of thing we need around here," he said and pulled Peter to stand. "You work on getting Sanctuary running without dwindling gasoline and other fuels of that nature and treat Camille like the Queen she is..and we'll have no problems," he told Peter and held out his hand.
Peter looked at Negan nervously but took a breath and shook his hand warmly, firmly.
Negan suddenly pulled him in close and spoke right into his ear.
"A warning. If you fuck with Sanctuary or break Camille's heart...I will have you working as Walker bait. Understood?" he growled.
Peter nodded, his heart thumping fast.
"Ha!" he said and gave Peter some space, clapping his shoulder. "Good man. Also...Peter, may I ask who you are?"
"Huh?" Peter asked.
"Ah, I forgot you're new here," he said and hit a button on his radio. Camille showed up a few moments later, smiling as she saw her two favorite men 'smiling'.
"Cammy...I need Peter to understand. Camille...who are you?" he asked her and looked to Peter as she answered.
Camille raised her chin, "I am Negan!" she said proudly.
A not-so-good grin spread over Negans face, "Peter, who are you?" he asked again.
Peter looked to Camille for a split-second then back to Negan, he lifted his head. "I am Negan," he said stoically.
Negan nodded to him then headed to the door, kissing the top ofCamille'ss head before he left...giving the kids a moment in his room alone.
Camille jumped into Peters arms and kissed his cheek.
Peters mind race as his arms slipped around the person he missed the most. "What the hell is going on here? What the hell happened to her? This isnt her...at all," he thought to himself.
Outside the door, Negan just looked at his door. "I don't trust Peter further than I can throw the lil fuck...but I trust Camille and his skills are useful. But...she's more useful to me than any skills he may have," Negan said to himself. He shook his head, "I don't like this, at all," he muttered to himself.