...You won't see me in the mirror
But I crept into your heart
You can't make me disappear
Til I make you

Seduction. Sasha had said it so bluntly as if it should have been obvious. Seduce Negan. Rick needed to seduce Negan long enough for the rest of his people to make their move against him. The words sounded far fetched enough, but putting them into practice seemed almost impossible. Rick had no idea what he needed to do. How to you seduce someone when they're just messing around with you? Honestly, there was no way in hell that Negan actually wanted Rick. He only acted the way he did because it gave him some kind of sick rush to be able to do it. That was what Rick had told himself again and again when Negan would lean to close and dart his tongue out over his lips. Just a way to show Rick that he was on top. Then why was everyone else convinced it meant something more?

Rick struggled with these thoughts for days after Sasha and Maggie returned to Hilltop, obsessing over what had been asked of him. Even Michonne was on board with it. That was what probably baffled Rick the most out of everything. Michonne seemed prepared to have Rick pretend to end thing with her and start with their enemy. The logic in it seemed sound, but Rick wondered what would go through her mind when she saw Rick participating in Negan's games. Would she be angry with him if Negan wanted to kiss him? If Negan wanted to kiss him, Rick knew he would have to allow it to keep up appearances. Even if the idea of letting that man put his lips anywhere near him left him feeling cold and on edge.

He wasn't an actor. He didn't have talents with flirting or putting himself out there. He never had. Even back before Lori, he had never been good with words or talking to women or the occasional man that caught his eye. Shane had dragged him out to bars as some kind of 'wingman' but Rick was useless when it came to people and that was what worried him the most. What if he wasn't convincing enough? What if Negan saw through his horrible acting and caught on to what they were planning? It could end with so many innocent people paying for Rick's incompetence. Or, what if everyone had it wrong about Negan and he really was just fucking with Rick? Rick couldn't imagine he would take kindly to Rick suddenly batting his eyelashes like some kind of idiot. There were so many ways that it could all go wrong.

Michonne however, seemed to have confidence in him. That night after the meeting she had held his hand under the blanket, dark eyes warm and inviting as she watched him. "You know you can do this, Rick. I wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't think you could." She whispered into the darkness, hand giving Rick's a little reassuring squeeze that he returned.

"What if we're wrong?" Rick whispered back. "What if it's not what it looks like and Negan ain't actually interested?" He heard Michonne snort and turned towards her, squinting as he tried to see her face.

"Oh, we're not wrong. That man wants you. I know it." Rick wished he could be as confident as her, but uneasiness still stirred in his stomach. He didn't bother arguing more on it and instead allowed Michonne to go to sleep.

Over the next few days, Michonne, Rosita and Tara tried to offer advice and pointers to Rick. How to quickly catch Negan's attention, what to wear and even how to smile. Rick wasn't even sure he would be able to offer Negan a smile that wouldn't be forced and painful.

The next time Negan showed up to Alexandria, Michonne had fixed Rick with a long stare before taking off to hunt, taking Carl with her and with him, any source of distraction.

"You'll do fine, Rick. Just offer him the barest hints for now. It's only the beginning."

Rick greeted Negan at the gate. He was wearing his blue button down shirt, that Michonne picked out for him, telling him it brought out his eyes. She had fixed his hair a bit and even told him to trim his beard some. 'Not enough to be noticeable, but enough to look a little cleaner.' Whatever that meant. When the gates had opened, Negan had been standing front in center with eyes only for Rick. The smile that spread across his face had Rick's stomach turning anxiously.

"Rick." Negan greeted, teeth gleaming. Rick fought down that feeling in his gut and inclined his head in greeting. "Let's see what you got for me." Negan stepped forward, throwing an arm around Rick's shoulder and steering him towards the town. He was in a good mood, bouncing on his heels and greeting every Alexandrian he passed on the road as if they were long friends.

Rick fought to keep his shoulders relaxed at Negan's touch. Rosita and Tara's advice still in his ears. Both women were carrying supplies towards the gate, neither looking at him in fear of sending Negan some kind of message just with their eyes. This left it all to Rick. He couldn't afford to mess it up. Negan was luckily in a good mood, which made it at least a bit easier to have the man smiling. What Rick had always assumed were mocking skiles were actually Negan's idea of flirting, Tara had said and he noticed these smiles right away.

Seductive

Be seductive.

He thought of how Shane flirted. How he'd lean against his locker, smiling and casually showing off his muscular arms and height. Negan was taller than Rick so it wasn't like he could loom over him like Shane did with the girls he used to go after and although Rick had muscles, it didn't feel right to try to show them off like some meathead high schooler. Rick leaned back into Negan's touch, head tilting as he regarded Negan who was chatting away as always. He allowed his arms to drop to his sides, in hopes that it would make him seem less defensive. It was a stance he had seen Tara take around Rosita and even Maggie on occasion with Gle- and here he was, doing the same with Glenn's murderer.

"You okay Rick, you look like you're in pain or something." Negan drawled and Rick sighed, dropping the awkward pose, mumbling a weak excuse under his breath.

Across the road, near one of the abandoned houses, Rosita sighed wearily. "This isn't going to work." She muttered to Tara as they watched the pair. "He doesn't know what he's doing." Tara pursed her lips, arms crossing.

"Well the advice you gave him was to flirt. Maybe he doesn't have to." They watched two saviors walk from one of the houses with supplies.

"What do you mean?" Rosita asked, striding forward to grab one of the boxes. Tara knelt with her, helping her lift up. Rosita walked backwards, trusting Tara to act as her guide as they navigated down the street.

"Maybe, if he doesn't try, it'll work better." Tara suggested and Rosita frowned. She glanced over her shoulder to where Negan and Rick stood. Rick reminded her of that awkward gawky teenager in every high school flick. She remembered Juno from before the world went to shit and how Juno had commented that that asshole jocks always had a secret type. Was this sort of like that? Asshole jock Negan had a hard on for nerdy awkward Rick?

"For Rick's sake, I help it works."

Seductive.

How to be seductive.

How to seduce Negan...

'Make sure to smile when he speaks.' Tara suggested.

'But not too much, cause he'll know somethings up.' Sasha was quick to chime in.

'Touch your hair while talking. Guys love that.' Maggie said, ignoring the snot Eric let out.

Rick isn't a woman, half this crap isn't going to faze Negan.' Aaron had finally spoken up, having enough of listening to the advice. 'Rick, the best advice I can give you, is act natural.'

"Looks like you're people got a good haul again." Negan observed, arm still slung over Rick's shoulder. It was a good haul. Somedays were better than others and luckily, today had been a good day.

"Y-yeah," Rick struggled to find his voice. "We lucked out during our last trip. Found a lot of supplies in an abandoned clinic." He didn't bring up the various Walkers or how one of their men had nearly been killed when grabbing a box with a walker laying nearby. No need for the negative; just the positive.

"That's what I like to hear! You all out there. Getting my things." Negan crowed out, head tilted towards Rick. "You go out on those trips, Rick?" He asked, voice lowering.

"Usually," Rick hummed. "Sometimes Carl likes to lead 'em and will go in my place." They made their way down the street, Negan winking at Ms. Owens who was peering at the pair from her window again. "God that woman's a starer...Where's your boy at, anyway?" Negan questioned, craning his neck up to search the area for Carl.

"He's out huntin' with Michonne. Should be back later today."

"Ahhh, with your girl," Negan drawled, looking at Rick with that little grin, eyebrows waggling. "How you two doin' by the way? Everything still peachy in the sheets?" His tongue darted out, brushing over his lips and Rick fought down a weary sigh.

This wasn't the first time Negan had referenced his relationship with Michonne. Usually, Rick would brush off the question or ignore it completely, but this gave Rick an opportunity he knew he had to take. Rick offered the Savior a little shrug, expression turning pensive as they walked. He tried to think of sobering things, but that was honestly too easy so he decided to go for sobering things that would have upset him in high school. Like Shane's antics with the Principals car. Or that girl that had flirted with Rick out of pity.

"I suppose she's good." He replied, tone casual and Negan watched him curiously.

"Trouble is paradise?" Negan asked, leaning closer and tightening his arm around Rick's shoulders.

"She ain't really my girl anymore." He forced his voice to remain level, watching as Negan blinked at him. "We decided we were better as friends. Less we had to worry about." He explained, feeling awkward. It felt wrong to be talking about this. Even if it was fake.

"Free man back on the market?" Negan's words were light and teasing, jostling Rick like they were close friends. "Get yourself all sorts of attention from the masses."

Rick rolled his eyes. "I'm a bit old to be gettin' any sort of attention anymore." He pointed out and listened as Negan snorted, head tilting back.

"Don't be modest, Rick. There's plenty of people out there that would jump at the chance to get your ass." Rick nearly laughed out loud at this.

"Like who?" Rick challenged, genuinely surprised by Negan's words. He had expected some sort of mocking. He watched as Negan licked his lips, his dark eyes darting between Rick's. Rick held his gaze, unwavering, his expression a mix between wariness and curiosity. Negan shrugged, looking casual of not for the way he seemed to be studying Rick's reaction.

"I'm just sayin' Rick, keep your eyes open. It paints a pretty fuckin' picture. Never know who might want to eat you up now that you're available." Rick dropped his gaze, eyes moving to stare at the pavement, aware of Negan watching him. Negan chuckled, arm tightening over Rick's shoulder. "I like my things pretty." Negan's voice was a low rumble. Rick could feel his eyes on him. Rick wrung his hands together, cheek heating up with the intensity of Negan's stare. He lifted his head, locking eyes with Negan for a moment.

"I think...your thangs are all ready to go..." Rick's voice came out soft, tone barely above a whisper and he was only half surprised with the way Negan had leaned towards him to catch his words. The smile he was offered in response was wolfish.

"Looks like it." He murmured back. He hand slowly dropped from Rick's shoulder, gliding down his back with the barest hint of a touch. Rick shivered despite himself and Negan's grin widened. "I'll be seein' you around next time." Rick stepped back, out of Negan's reach, skin itching in discomfort. It was all a game to Negan. Everything was a game to him and Rick was some sort of fucked up prize. He knew about Negan's wives and he couldn't help but wonder if they had been a game as well. This man just took and took and would continue to do so. He hoped this would end quick. That Sasha and Maggie would get what they needed quickly and they could end this.

"Yeah." His cheeks burned in humiliation. Abe and Glenn's mutilated bodies burned behind his eyes. Daryl's stumbling frame remained fresh in his mind, but Rick forced his expression to remain level, eyes averting in what he hoped to be shyness. "See you next time." He avoided Negan's eyes as the man left. Staring resolutely at his feet. That night, when Michonne and Carl came back, Rick found he had trouble looking her in the eye, wondering if she would see the humiliation he felt. It would be worth it in the end, Rick tried to assure himself. It will all be worth it.