"A reason to hate me"
By Aragirl 12
Note: None of these characters belong to me. They belong to the universe of "The Walking Dead"
Maggie, Elijah, and Negan had had a more than a rewarding day. Negan managed to teach them the whisperer's techniques and now they were leading an entire horde toward the reapers.
When the sun began to set, they put the zombie horde into an abandoned factory so they could rest and continue with their plan the next day.
After settling into one of the factory rooms and discussing some points of the plan, each one looked for a comfortable place to sleep.
A few hours later in the evening, Negan pulled a couple of things out of the supply
bag. He put them in a smaller backpack and walked up the emergency stairs that led up the outside of the building until he reached the rooftop balcony. He pulled a rifle scope from his backpack and sat down to watch.
Stealthy and slow footsteps began to be heard on the metal stairs until they stopped and Negan could not help but smile knowing who it was without even looking.
- What happened to that energy, super star student? Just a few more steps and you'll be on top.
Maggie finished walking up the stairs and eyed Negan suspiciously.
- ...What are you doing?
Negan patted the floor a couple of times to signal her to sit down and extended his arm for her to take the scope.
Maggie watched him suspiciously for a moment, took the scope, and sat at the other side of the balcony. She put her eye on the scope and peered between the railing tubes to the forest.
- ... It's all dark, Negan.
- Well, Maggie. That is for two reasons. One is because you are expecting to see something in the forest at this time without any source of light ... And the other is because you have the scope backwards.
Maggie turns to see him sighing in frustration.
- Tell me what do you expect me to see?
- Aim for those clouds right there ... See that?
The moon was reflecting off some clouds, being the only bright thing in the night. And in one of them you could see a thread of black smoke.
- Daryl and his younger version of Carol are having a barbecue tonight.
- We already knew where they are. He shouldn't take risks like that. - She said worriedly while she looked through the scope.
-Well, apparently he wants us to be a little more than sure. (He said mockingly) And Maggie, he's not doing bad... At least he's trying during night. If it were during the day, it would be too obvious.-
Maggie got lost in her thoughts for a few seconds.
...
-... Can't you sleep either? -
Negan muttered as he put a cigar in his mouth and pulled out a match.
Maggie continued looking into the woods.
- You woke me up when you opened the bag of provisions. - She said waiting to hear his answer.
Negan smiled and scratched the match to light it on. Maggie looked at him.
- Where did you get that?
- I had it for a long time.
Negan took a deep breath and held out his hand to Maggie.
Maggie stared at the cigar in his hand in disbelief and then looked into his eyes.
-Are you going to tell me what did you took from the bag?-She asked, beginning to get irritated.
-Maggie ... (he said, narrowing his eyes offended and with a mocking tone) I thought we were over this.
- And I thought you said "No more lies between you and me. 100 percent honesty." Maggie said in a sarcastic tone with a deep voice doing a bad imitation of him.
Negan by the unexpected surprise of seeing her imitating him, he broke off laughing until he ran out of breath.
Maggie was embarrassed for an instant.
Why are you in such a good mood?
- How ... (Breathes heavily) ghhh, how do you know? Ggghhh- Negan said trying to speak without being able to hold back his laughter.
- Because you're being unbearable.
Maggie sigh and got up annoyed walking towards the backpack jumping Negan's legs.
- I'm done with this.
-Nnnnnope- Negan said taking the backpack just before she could grab it, still recovering his breath.
Maggie stood in front of Negan with anger in her eyes.
-Enough of your games!
- Ok, ok ...- Negan said apologetically, more calmed. He tapped the floor twice with his hand, waiting for her to sit down again.
Maggie sighed and stood in front of him heading out her hand waiting for the backpack. Negan looked into her eyes for a second and took her hand pulling her down, causing Maggie to lose her balance and sit next to Negan. Maggie was about to get up and punch him in the face, but Negan acted faster and put the backpack on Maggie's lap.
-I wouldn't even consider them useful supplies for Alexandria.-
-That's for me to decide, you idiot- Maggie spat angrily.
- I'll tell you something Maggie, I'm willing to share it with you.
Maggie started opening the backpack.
- We are not going to share anything! There are people waiting for this in Alexandria! Children starving. You are a hypocri ... What is this? (She sighed, pulling out a huge magnum-sized bottle of wine from the backpack) Wine? -
Negan smirked taking another puff on the cigar and looked up at the moon.
Maggie continued searching for more things in the backpack but didn't find anything.
-Negan, what else did you get in here? I saw you taking something else out.
Negan pointed to her hand, where Maggie was still holding the scope.
Maggie sighed in resignation and put the scope back into the backpack.
Negan offered him the cigar again and she took it.
He noticed that something was bothering her.
They were both silent for a couple of minutes.
...
-What did you think I was going to do, Maggie?-
...
-...I do not know anymore...
Maggie took a puff on the cigar and let the smoke out slowly as she thought of an answer. He could saw the frustration in her eyes.
…
-I feel like ... sometimes it's ... it's like I'm going hunting after a deer… and when I'm about to shoot, it simply disappears. As if the deer wasn't even there from the beginning ... This is all...
Maggie took another puff on the cigar and hand it to Negan.
- Wow.
- What?
- You said it all.
Negan opened the wine and put it aside Maggie's hand.
- I knew it, but I never thought you would tell me ... You want to find a reason to keep hating me deservedly. You just can't find it and feel like you need to do it before the hate disappears ... That's a lot of weight Maggie. - Negan said in a relaxed tone.
- Do you think so?
Maggie said indignantly, taking the wine and drinking a little.
-Maggie ... (Negan sighed) your people need you. The 100 percent of your mind must be on this mission.
You have to get me out of your head for your own sake.
So I'm telling you again, unless you plan to kill me right now, if we want this to work, we have to trust e-
- What happened to Lucille? Maggie interrupted, annoyed.
- Say that again?
Maggie turned to see him, raising her eyebrows, waiting for an answer.
-I found her buried and burned her in my cabin- Negan replied coldly.
- You know what I mean.
-Why would you want to know that?- Negan turned to see her.
His gaze was cold and penetrating. Maggie had touch a sensible string, that allowed her to see the Negan she met that horrible night through his eyes. She felt a chill run down her spine. Horror and bad memories were about to get in her head but she managed to contain them. She took a deep breath maintaining her composure.
- You want trust, right? Give me something in exchange. - She said challenging him.
Maggie handed him the heavy bottle of wine.
Negan looked into her eyes for a few more moments, undecided. Then he sighed and grabbed the bottle taking several long gulps.
Maggie was surprised to see that he didn't stop and she cut him off.
-Hey, hey, hey! Tomorrow we have a very important mission, do you forget?
Negan took one last drink and set the huge bottle, now half full aside. He had had the equivalent of an average bottle of wine.
- Relax, here's your part. We have all day to sleep if we want. The attack is practically tomorrow night.
Maggie grabbed the bottle unconsciously and held it in her hands, as if she was trying to stop Negan from drinking again.
Negan noticed that and made him smile slightly, relaxing him a bit.
He began to tell his story with Lucille.
The moon continued rising, Negan kept talking, the bottle that Maggie had was getting lighter and lighter.
...
- I had to, it was them or Lucille... By the time they let me out it was too late. I tried to get there as fast as I could ... Im such an imbecile, I left her alone.
Maggie listened to him amazed. She wanted to say something but preferred not to interrupt him.
-She killed herself ... Lucille did it thinking of me. - Negan's voice cracked.
Maggie didn't need to hear this anymore, as much as she wanted to hear it all, Negan was hurting himself a lot. "But isn't that what I want?" Maggie thought. "Punish him, make him feel like the shit he was and for what he did to Glenn and the others. Why I can't?"
-Negan- she interrupted.
-She… she even tied herself on the bed to avoid attacking me when she turned into one those things. She was so ... Strong, beautiful, determined, giving everything for the ones she loves. She ... (He turned to see Maggie) We wanted to have a baby.
Maggie was angry with herself for not being able to keep the hate in her own gaze.
"I hate knowing that he has his own reasons for all this, but I can't justify it, I can't ... if I do, it all would have been in vain" Maggie thought.
Negan clenched his fists.
-And then I went after them.
Maggie got out of her thoughts after hearing Negan continue to speak, this time, in such a different way than just a few seconds ago.
Negan began to describe the origin of his famous bat, Lucille, with terrifying pride.
Maggie already deduced the end of the story. She had never heard Negan speak again in such a pridefully and terrifying way since long time ago. She didn't want to hear him anymore. She knew that if he continued, this time they were both going to end up badly hurt. Maggie didn't want to live again that experience.
-Negan- She said softly, this time with no hate in her voice. Putting her hand on his arm.
Negan jumped a little at the feel of the physical contact. Scaring Maggie for a moment too.
-... You have to listen to me, Maggie.
- There's no need.
- This is me.
Negan said pointing at his chest, with a smile.
- I know. And I think I understand.
- No, you don't Maggie, because you only want me to show you one side of my face and to eliminate the other half! The monster Negan. The Negan who killed your dear Glenn.
Maggie slapped him with all her strength. Strength that came out of two reasons. Mentioning Glenn like that ... And the other one was new and scared Maggie.
...
Negan slowly began to calm down as he looked embarrassingly at the empty bottle rolling on the floor. She was standing in front of him again, glaring at him with fury coming out of her eyes.
-Don't you ever talk about Glenn like that again- she said spatting through her teeth, with moistened eyes.
Negan looked into her eyes transparently, as he has been doing lately. But now he felt like if he was naked in front of a crowd.
Maggie turned her back to him and leaned against the rail of the balcony.
Negan had told her what he had never wanted to share. He had done it before with Gabriel, but at a very high price. He did it with the intention that Gabriel will take that anecdote down to his grave, but he failed to kill him. And now he had done it with Maggie. Opening up fully and exposing himself to her, the person who knows that most hates him on this planet and had tried to kill him before more than once.
Maggie took a deep breath as she look away into the forest.
-You know, that Negan is a bastard, yes ... but he also saved a father and his daughter.
...
Negan look up at her, incredulous of what he just had heard.
…
-Maggie, ... did you miss the deer again? - He asked innocently, waiting for her answer.
Maggie turned to see him but she didn't answer. She gritted her teeth in frustration at not having an answer and turned her back on him again, looking at the moon.
Negan was already calmed, but now the curiosity was invading his mind.
-I will go to sleep. And I suggest you to do the same. - she said, annoyed.
She took the bottle off the floor and walked to the stairs.
Behind her, she heard heavy and determined footsteps reaching for her.
Maggie felt how he took her by the arm and pulled her, so to collided with his chest, facing him. She looked up at Negan, protesting.
-I'll give you a reason to keep hating me.
Negan pressed his lips to hers and began to advance until he cornered her with the rail. Maggie dropped the bottle in shock, she was stunned. She couldn't believe that this man was kissing her in such a possessive way and that she… was enjoying it so much. Even if she still wasn't kissing him back. Negan had both hands firmly on the rail imprisoning her as he passionately held her mouth with his. Maggie felt a burning sensation inside her, driven by the anger and arousal this man caused her. Maggie closed her eyes letting herself being carried away by that feeling. She was about to kiss him back when suddenly Negan stopped and separate his lips away from hers, catching his breath, his body was leaning down to hers, staring into her eyes. His eyes were full with desire. Maggie noticed how one of his hands released the rail as he began to distance himself from her, giving her freedom.
Negan watched how Maggie's eyes went from confusion to determination in seconds.
In an instant Maggie slapped him hard and as soon as he turned his head back to look at her, Maggie surprised Negan smashing her lips with his while she held his shoulders. Negan lost his balance and walked backwards until his back hit the wall. Negan put his hands on Maggie's back as she ran a hand on the back his neck through the short hair at the nape until she reached where his hair began to be longer, interlacing her fingers in it, holding him firmly.
Negan groaned at the sensation of it and grabbed her by the hips, pulling her roughly against his body. Arousing himself by that even more. Then he invaded Maggie's mouth with his tongue, playing with hers until they both gasped for air. Maggie took advantage of that moment to bite his lip. Negan growled with a very low tone.
- You're driving me crazy. He said softly, seductively.
Negan spun around with her. Now she was with her back against the wall. He put one hand on the wall while the other held Maggie by her lower back. Both panting, they ran their gaze over their bodies, devouring each other with their eyes for a second. Then Maggie slammed her lips back against Negan's as her hands began to slide down his chest holding his shirt and starting to unbutton it. Negan, noticed it and stopped kissing her, worried, looking at her eyes, incredulous.
- Maggie, are you sure?
- ... Shut up.
Maggie yanked on Negan's shirt hard, causing the buttons to fly off.
Negan raised an eyebrow and smiled, then his eyes went back full in desire and his smile quickly disappeared as he slammed his lips back with hers, pressing their bodies together. His big hands trailed down her back, squeezing her ass.
Maggie felt Negan's erection pressing against her abdomen. His hands continued downward, caressing the back of her legs and Maggie reflexively wrapped her arms around Negan's neck as he lifted her, she wrapped her legs to his body and he leaned her against the wall, rubbing his erection against the humidity between her pants. Maggie moaned and Negan grunted when he heard her and started to kiss her neck, scrapping his sharp teeth on her skin all the way up until he reached her ear. He suddenly lunged her against the wall pressing his warm crotch on her even more and he let out a low, provocative growl in her ear.
Maggie moaned.
-Ahh, Negan!
-Is everything ok up there?
Maggie froze by hearing Elijah'svoice. Negan stopped and tried to catch his breath, surprised. Maggie patted her arm to make him release her quickly.
He reacted and put her down.
Maggie quickly adjusted her clothes and hair as Negan approached to the rail looking down for Elijah.
- All good, Elijah. Mommy and Daddy were arguing about...
-I didn't ask you- Elijah interrupted annoyed.
Maggie appeared next to Negan.
-I'm fine, Elijah- Maggie said with a small smile and then turned to see Negan with a murderous look. -In fact, we were leaving. –
Elijah started walking back.
Maggie turned to see Negan again, who was already looking at her with a big smile from ear to ear, leaning on the railing.
- Enough, Negan! (She said quietly) And not a word of this- she said pointing with her hand firmly.
Negan kept smiling. He licked his lips and looked at her provocatively.
-I'm serious!- She spat through her teeth.
-My lips are sealed- Negan replied, making the dramatic gesture of zipping them with his hand.
-I hope so- Maggie said as she turned to leave.
- What, no goodnight kiss?
Maggie rolled her eyes, she took the bottle off the floor and started going down the stairs.
Negan chuckled and stayed there for a moment, watching her go down. Then he turned around, grabbed the backpack, and saw some of his buttons on the floor. He chuckled again as he shook his head. He picked one of them and put it in one of his pockets. Then he walked towards the stairs and started going down.
The moon was illuminating the rail and the buttons on the floor.
Maggie didn't know that maybe that night, she'd let the deer go free.
The end.