Negan's point of view for this chapter.
You'll never know what hit you
Won't see me closing in
I'm gonna make you suffer...
Negan was in trouble.
He wasn't so proud that he could deny it. Not anymore. Maybe in the beginning he could have brushed it off and found excuses that suited him. He had done so before without issue, but now he knew there was no denying it. Negan was royally fucked and he had no idea what to do with himself.
Rick Mother fucking Grimes was a anomaly of a human. Both hard and soft, cold and warm.
When word first got out about the outpost that had been wasted, Negan had painted a picture on who he thought their leader was. Negan had expected a large, hulking man. He expected the man to be frothing at the mouth and ready to tear his enemies throats out with his sharp edged teeth.
What he got instead was Rick.
Rick Grimes was not what he was expecting. There was nothing large and hulking about him. He was small. Smaller than Negan and weak. Shaking and sweating over Negan wasting a couple of his guys, when he had just gone and slaughtered an entire outpost. Negan had wanted to crush him. Grind his pretty face into the dirt and show those assholes what happened when they tried to fuck with him. He belonged in the dirt. He belonged on his knees and Negan was more than willing to teach him that.
He'd admit that he started lusting after Rick immediately. A pretty face and those baby blues eyes...There were a lot of things Negan wanted to do to him, fucking him was just the cherry on top. Yet, things began to change a bit, Rick swallowed his pride for his people and Negan respected that. He was willing to do what needed to be done to ensure his people's survival.
Rick cared.
For his people and for their safety and livelihood. Somehow, Rick had retained his humanity in this fucked up world. Negan respected the hell out of that and maybe, Negan wanted to try to preserve that as long as possible. But there was also that dark edge where he wanted to stomp that shit out, before it killed everyone. There was no room for weakness and Rick was pitifully weak. Still, something about that weakness tugged at Negan in ways he had not been expecting.
Propositioning Rick had been an easy decision. Negan had never been the type to beat around the he hadn't expected for Rick to agree to his terms so easily. He had known he would for the sake of his people, but he had anticipated dragging feet and reluctance, which ultimately would have made any victory turn to ash in Negan's mouth. But once again, Rick had surprised him. He had seemed willing rather than resigned. Uncertain for damn sure, but still willing. Negan had Rick's game all figured out. Rick couldn't have been more obvious if he tried. As soon as Negan had offered a reprieve to Rick's people, he had melted like butter. Rick thinks that by cozying up to him it will make things easier for his people. By sacrificing himself, he could offer them something more. Negan would allow that for now.
Rick would eventually warm up to him. A small nudge was all he needed. He'd eventually have Rick seeing things his way. Offer him little rewards and soon Rick would be lapping out of the palm of his hand.
Negan could already picture him all splayed out on the familiar grey satin sheets, all flushed and wide eyed, begging for it as he should have from day one. Negan would picture what he looked liked, hard and dripped, muscles clenching around Negan's length as he screamed his name. Yet, he could also see that shy smile, how his baby blues would light up as he looked at Negan. As Negan had seen them do when he was with Michonne. It was unnerving how Negan wasn't certain which fantasy he preferred.
So, maybe Negan had a puppy crush, it happened. He didn't doubt that once he finally had Rick it would go away. He could go on with his life as normal, keep Rick around as some side ass, or take him back to the Sanctuary to make it fucking official.
The next several weeks pass with little issue. Negan of course, stuck by his promise and cuts back on the tributes. He still came for Rick once a week, with Rick offering any concerned citizens an excuse of scavenging. Rick never initiate anything. That first kiss seemed to be the only thing he felt comfortable with. Negan wasn't about to push him. As much as he wanted to fuck him and he really wants to fuck him, he was not about to force Rick to do anything he was not ready for. It was only a matter of time anyway. He could be patient. He would have Rick on his cock in no time. He would be a perfect gentleman.
Sometimes, he swore he could hear Lucille's chuckle in his ear at those times, asking him if he could actually do it. Negan chose to ignore that voice. He didn't need her accusations, even her dead ones. This was how the world was now, and Negan was on top.
Negan really should have expected his own people to catch onto his little game. He never exactly hid it from them, but most of them were smart enough to not open their mouths. Simon wasn't one of them. The leer he had fixed on Negan was unnerving as it was hilarious. Negan wished he would pay more attention to driving, then to him though. They had been returning to the Sanctuary from the Kingdom, and Negan had allowed Simon and Arat to deal with thepeople there. Negan really had no interest in them. The Kingdom really held no interest to him. Simon seemed far too pleased with something as they finished up for the day and Negan should have expected him to start talking at some point.
"You look awfully happy as of late, boss." Simon had begun conversationally, voice a lazy drawl that was nearly drowned out by the rumbling engine. Negan sighed, leaning back in his seat as far as it would allow. He looked out the window, watching the trees in the distance.
"I'm always fuckin' happy, Simon. He replied flippantly. "The glass is always half full and all that." He did not look at his second in command, fighting down a sigh as the man side eyed him knowingly.
"Hmmm," Simon hummed, fingers tapping on the worn wheel, glancing from Negan to the road, jerking the wheel to run down a stray walker. "I get that boss, but I'm talking about something else. You been watching Grimes a lot likely." His mustache twitched as he fought down a leer that Negan was tempted to return in response.
"I always watch Rick. He gets into trouble if I don't." Which was true. His boy never seemed able to just fuckin' let go and follow. At Simon's unconvinced snort, Negan sighed, running a palm down his face. "Okay, that's part of it. I don't know if you've noticed, but Rick Grimes is a fine piece of ass. And you know me, I have a really big fuckin' appetite." He finally grinned, feeling like a teenager regaining his conquests. Simon chuckled, shaking his head.
"I doubt he'd ever put out. His poor delicate sensibilities would never allow it." He sniggered, shaking his head and Negan felt stung at the blow to his abilities. Had he not met all of Negan's wives? Negan knew what he was doing.
"I don't like your pessimism Simon." Negan drawled, fingers drumming his knee idly, "You should know to have more faith in me." He waggled his brows and watched as Simon's eyes widened in surprise.
"You're actually fucking going for him." He breathed, thick brows raised and expression impressed.
"And he's actually into it." Negan felt the need to rub it in his face. He watched Simon frown thoughtfully, eyes moving to the truck in front of them. For a moment it was silent and Negan thought the issue was passed, but then Simon suddenly laughed. The road became bumpy as they headed further towards their territory, several dead walkers still splattered across the road from the last time they passed through.
"You haven't fucked him yet, though." Simon noted and Negan wasn't surprised he knew this. The asshole seemed to know all this shit. Negan threw his hand up in defeat, wondering how it was that obvious.
"Not yet, Rick's a regular Southern Belle after all. Return home before dark, open doors for him, make sure the vapors don't get to be too much." The radio buzzed as one of the Saviors reached out to another truck, but neither man noticed. Simon shook his head in near exasperation. His long fingers drummed over the wheel.
"You got yourself a Scarlett, and you're acting like an Ashley when you and I both know you're a Rhett." Simon had an odd way of making a lot of fucking sense, it didn't mean Negan had to like it. He fought down a scowl, choosing instead to look back out the window.
"Simon, mind the fuckin' road." Negan finally bit out, wanting to change the subject and Simon sniggered, eyes returning to the road as he shook his head in amusement.
"You got it bad boss." Simon replied, obviously still not letting it go. Negan snorted, leaning back in the seat. Another beat of silence passed. "You wonder if he's a screamer?"
"Fucking hell!" Negan groaned, then slyly looked at his second. "You and I both know he is." Negan couldn't help the rumbling laugh that escaped him and Simon joined him, both men seeming to find great humor in the morbid comments. When it died down, Simon was still grinning, looking back to Negan.
"But seriously boss, you sure this is a good idea?"He drawled, jerking the wheel once more to take another walker out. "You gettin' dirty with the man who said he was gonna kill you." Simon brought up a fair point and Negan couldn't fault him for being concerned. He would be a shitty second if he wasn't.
"You know me, Simon. I like to live on edge." Outside, the sun began to dip below the treeline, casting the road in heavy shadows. "But I get you. I have a plan, though. I way to make Rick come under heel, if you would. He thinks he's gonna use me to help his people, and that's fine and all, eventually he's gonna see things my way. I'm gonna seduce him," Negan explained, voice lowering as if to keep it a secret. "Make him beg for it and mean it." He watched some of that uneasiness wash away at his familiar words, he laughed, slapping a large palm against the wheel.
"You did say you liked it when he begged." He conceded, with a tilt of his head and Negan hummed in agreement. "But how's this all going to work?"
"I have a plan." Negan replied. "I have him all figured out, Simon. I know exactly what buttons to push to have him on his back." And he did. He knew what he needed to do to win Rick over and he knew how to do it. Simon made a noise of approval, dark eyes intense in the fading light.
"Well I wish you luck boss, just tell me if there's anything I can do to make things go...smoother."
Yes, Negan was in trouble, but eventually Rick would be too.