Negan, Alexandria

After Gabriel ordered Aaron to take Negan with him, Aaron and Jesus were changing glances, then headed out together to clear more walkers. After Negan praised Aaron's iron arm and he didn't react in any way, they started clearing out the walkers without saying a word, until Negan found a crowbar, which Aaron ordered him to drop. Negan tried to convince him that he is not that guy anymore, Aaron didn't trust him, not even for a minute. Jesus kept a close eye on him though, he tried to check if Quinn was right about him.

They fought all day until it was dark when finally, Aaron called it a day. He handed Jesus a rope.

"Tie him, please."

Jesus nodded and stepped to Negan, who stepped away from him.

"I risked my life all day here to help Alexandria and you still don't trust me? What else should I do?" snapped Negan.

"You should be dead, for long," said Aaron through gritted teeth. "If you are concerned about Alexandria, you should leave, that would make it a better place."

Jesus stepped between them, he was afraid Aaron might attack Negan.

"I had to do what I did…" said Negan quietly.

"Then tell me why the love of my life had to die!" yelled Aaron. Jesus flinched at his words.

"Okay, now that's enough," Jesus said strictly. Aaron was blinded by hatred he didn't even realize Jesus's feelings. Moreover, he continued.

"Tell me, Negan."

"A man has to protect what is his…" he said quietly.

"So Eric's death was my fault?!" snapped Aaron again, he was on the verge of crying. Negan didn't answer so Aaron stepped closer to him once again. "If that's what you are saying, then your wife's death was your fault too and she died hating you! Because everyone hates you! Quinn hated you too!"

Negan made a painful face and stepped away from Aaron.

"Alright, that's enough already," tried Jesus again.

"No, it's not enough! Everything is bad because of him!" he pointed at Negan, out of his mind.

"Aaron, stop!" Jesus raised his voice, which snapped Aaron out of it. He glanced at him and slowly realized what just happened.

"Jesus… I'm so sorry. I didn't mean…" he started, but Jesus waved it off.

"Let's head back to Alexandria."

Jesus stepped to Negan again to tie him, when they heard Aaron yell. He was attacked by two walkers out of nowhere and he tripped and fell. Jesus jumped next to him and killed the walkers, then helped him up, but in the meantime, he accidentally sprained his ankle.

"Oh, shit… Aaron, are you alright?" he asked, but Aaron was behaving strangely. "Aaron?"

"I… I can't see," he gasped. Jesus kneeled by his side, grabbed his face with his hands, and looked him in the eye.

"Your eyes… It was hogweed, on the walkers," said Jesus.

"Am I going to be blind?" asked Aaron, scared.

"There is a possibility," said Negan quietly, then he sighed at the sight of the unfortunate two. He stepped next to them and put their arms around his shoulders to help them walk. Aaron couldn't see and Jesus couldn't walk properly. They fell silent at his gesture.

"I don't think we can make it back to Alexandria in this state," said Negan.

"There's a house not so far," said Jesus. They headed slowly to the house.

"Why are you doing this?" asked Aaron strictly.

"Don't start it again, Aaron," said Jesus quietly.

"Because I want to make up for my past mistakes. I know I can't, but I want to help. That's what my wife, Lucille, and also Quinn would want me to do. I'm trying to honor their memories," said Negan. Aaron and Jesus stayed silent. There were so many opportunities they could have spilled that Quinn is alive, but they tried so hard not to.

"That's very kind of you," said Jesus finally. They got to the house, Negan went inside to check if it was safe. Aaron was sitting on the ground, Jesus kneeling next to him.

"Jesus… Paul… I didn't mean what I said earlier," said Aaron staring into nothing because he couldn't see anything. "I loved Eric, very much… but he wasn't the love of my life."

"Well, you just said so, a couple of minutes ago," said Jesus, still hurt.

"I know… I'm so sorry," said Aaron quietly.

"Why are you sorry? We are not a couple or anything…" said Jesus. Aaron couldn't answer. He slowly reached towards where Jesus's voice came from and gently touched his cheeks.

"But I want to be," said Aaron quietly. Jesus's heart skipped a beat. He leaned closer and slowly kissed Aaron's lips.

Negan was coming back after making sure the house was safe, but when he saw them kissing, he stopped and went back inside, not to disturb them.

When they finally parted, Jesus said smiling:

"Fine, you can be my boyfriend, if you want it that much," he said pretending to be still offended. Aaron laughed. Negan came out, clearing his throat.

"Alright, lovebirds, the house is safe. Let's get some sleep," he said and helped the two of them up, then escorted them to the house. He settled them on a couch. "I'm going to watch," he stated.

"Thank you," said Jesus. He and Aaron fell asleep in an instant.

Negan was gazing out through the window. He could see the moon and the stars. He was thinking about Quinn… He was disturbed by Aaron's words. He tried not to think about Quinn anymore, but he couldn't stop now. He thought about her. His eyes filled with tears, he quickly wiped them away and waited for morning to come.

…

When the first rays of the sun illuminated the house the two snoozers woke up.

"Good morning," said Negan. Aaron was glancing around sleepily. Negan frowned his eyebrows.

"Aaron, can you see me?" he asked. Aaron's eyes fell on him. He was confronted by his feelings. He hated Negan, yet he should be thankful to him now.

"Yes, I can. Blurry, but more than nothing," he said.

"Good," said Negan.

Aaron quickly turned his eyes to Jesus and they smiled at each other. Negan gathered them and they headed back to Alexandria.

…

Michonne was waiting by the gates with Daryl for them to come back and they were speechless by the sight of both Aaron and Jesus leaning on Negan. They quickly opened the gates and helped them off Negan's shoulders.

"What happened to you?" asked Michonne concerned.

"Hogweed, sprained ankle," pointed Negan first at Aaron, then at Jesus.

"Let's go to Siddiq," said Daryl, helping Jesus, but he stopped for a moment.

"Thank you, Negan, for your help," said Jesus sincerely. Aaron said thank you too but in a grumpier way. Michonne and Daryl were taken aback, changed glances.

"Well, you see, I could've killed these two easily, given the opportunity, but I didn't," said Negan, boasting with a wide smile. Daryl stared at him shaking his head slowly, thinking: I'm gonna beat the shit out of this bastard one day.

Michonne chuckled and continued her way with Aaron to Siddiq's house.

Negan shrugged his shoulders and headed back to his cell, alone.

…

Author's notes: Listen to "Leave out all the rest" by Linkin Park.

Hero Negan ❤ I just love hero Negan. Any Jesus x Aaron shippers here? :D Since they said in an interview that they were going that way in the show and would have happened if Jesus haven't died, I felt I had to do it. Happy ever after Jesus. ❤

Thank You for reading! ❤