A/N: Written for The Way They Mourn Challenge by queenmojo22 on Tumblr. Based on Scott Gimple's comment about seeing how much Richonne means to each other in S7 by the way they mourn.
After the screams die down, thoughts are collected and loved ones are laid to rest, Rick and Michonne steal away from the others to find a quiet moment with one another. They share few words. They embrace and cling to each other. She feels him exhale as he relaxes against her body; a sigh that softly communicates that he has let down his guard. That he can be his true self with her away from the others. Not the leader who has let down his people, but the man who is mourning the loss of a friend. With hearts beating almost in time, he presses a kiss to her forehead and tightens his grip. With a shaky, hushed voice he tells her, "I…I thought I'd lost you. I was so afraid that I'd lost you. I couldn't handle that, Michonne. I need you more than ever. I can't lose you. Not now."
She pulls back slightly to look him in his eyes; his glassy gaze intense and sad and thankful at once. Tenderly, she threads her fingers through his hair before cupping his sullen face. A gentleness, that is oft times reserved for him, washes over her features before she leans in to offer him a chaste kiss to his lips. Their eyes remain closed as their foreheads touch and Michonne whispers, "I'm here, Rick. I'm still with you."
A/N: Musings on Rick in the direct aftermath of Negan's attack.
The perpetual pounding in his head reminded him of his own mortality, of their mortality. His blurred vision sought but two weary forms in the haze. A laboured breath escaped his body with a guilty sigh of relief when he came to the realization that they had lived; that they had survived the torturous ordeal. Those whom he cherished the most. Those two living, breathing blessings who unknowingly calmed his restless soul. His better half and his son. In the corner of his eye he saw Michonne fighting to regain composure and Carl, enraged and seeking someone to blame in this one long night, terrifying and prolonged. Deflated, Rick kept his gaze from the carnage, crawled to his feet and sought the solidarity of his family. Though stricken and beaten down, they had to move forward. How could he ask that of them? Now, in the aftermath of such senseless and horrific violence? In one of their darkest hours? Alas, his beloved had made it through, yet his family was forever changed; broken, forevermore. The pained whimpers shook him to his core. Hauntingly melancholy; distraught, yet questioning. Pitiful and angry. Severed and torn from all reasoning; alone and plaintive. What was their next move? Could they even move? The gravity of the moment weighed heavily on them, dragging them ever closer to the blood stained earth to be buried, fighting for the blessed air that hinted at their salvation. His thoughts were scattered and scrambled. His family was looking to him to make the next move. With a heavy, broken heart Rick whispered, "Please. We…we have to go."
A/N: Unspoken Words Challenge #4 on Tumblr for richonnefics
The heaviness that weighed him down and the gravity of the decisions he had made left the aching in his bones feeling lighter. Even though his wounds were still tender and the dull throbbing in his extremities persisted, the look of disappointment that Michonne had worn earlier injured him more. It hurt him more than any physical blow could inflict. It struck him at his core. Rick, with a clearer mind, did not know exactly what he wanted, but he knew what he did not. He did not want to lie to her; he could not stand to lie to her. Rick stared intently into her dark brown eyes as he listened. Now, as she stood before him and spoke gentle words of reassurance in hushed tones, he knew he would not make that same mistake again.