Warning(s): Sexual situations in this chapter
I will be here
When you think you're all alone
Seeping through the cracks
I'm the poison in your bones...
Late during the evening, Michonne had snuck into Rick's room. Carl and Judith were asleep and Rick had been settled in the blankets, unable to close his eyes. He did a double take as he watched the woman silently slide through the door, shooting him a sly grin as she quietly closed the door behind her. It was the first time in awhile they had been alone together like this. Since Rick had started after Negan, both had taken a step back and the distance had been draining. Now, she stood so close, but still out of reach, looking more regal and beautiful than anything Rick had ever seen.
"Hey." She hummed, back pressed against the door as she looked down at where Rick sat. Rick fumbled to get up but she held out a hand, stopping him. "Thought I'd stop by for a visit."
"Michonne." Rick greeted, his lips twitching into a smile at the sight of her. He settled back against the nest of pillows. "You know you're always welcome." They had both promised themselves and each other that they would keep their distance, that they wouldn't seek each other out. It seemed they were both having trouble. Michonne suddenly looked uncharacteristically uncertain, dark eyes gleaming as they remained focused on Rick. Despite her earlier actions, Rick slowly stood, pushing the blankets aside.
"I've missed you." Michonne murmured, tongue darting out to swipe over her lips. The feeling was mutual. Rick had been so focused on keeping Negan occupied that he barely had time to see Michonne. Yet, here she stood.
There was a beat of silence.
They met in the middle, lips moving against each other as Michonne pushing Rick back to straddle his lap, hands moving to grasp playfully at his curly hair, tipping his head back to deepen the kiss. Michonne's kisses were fierce and consuming, practically dominating Rick's mouth as she nipped at his bottom lip.
"We shouldn't." Rick teased, holding back a laugh as she sniggered openly. "I'm a claimed man." Michonne snorted, teeth bright in the darkened room.
"That man-child has no claim over you." Michonne replied, half teasing half serious. She pulled back so she could stare into Rick's eyes. "Do you want to?" she still asked, refusing to go further until Rick nodded his consent.
"Fuck yes." Rick replied, earning another laugh from the woman. She swooped in for another kiss, hands gliding over his bare shoulders. Rick's hand moved down Michonne's toned stomach, fingers gliding between the curls between her thighs and dipping in. Michonne's hips bucked forward as he curled his fingers, cursing under his breath and shooting him a grin. She snatched his hand away and brought it to her mouth, sucking on his fingers and maintaining eye contact.
Michonne had always been adventurous. Had always looked to push a litter further and Rick had gladly followed her lead, excited and curious with each new game she offered. With Lori it had been all gentleness and quiet kisses, but with Michonne it was all new and exciting.
Michonne crawled forward keeping Rick's hand in her own. "Lay back." She instructed gently and Rick did so with no hesitation. Michonne stroked nimble finger's down the man's chest, smile tender. "I want to to try something."
"Try something?" Rick murmured, watching as she grabbed something from the bedside table. Rick rested against the pillows, relaxed under Michonne's steady gaze. She offered him a stunning smile and lifted her hand to show him what she had grabbed. It was a small bottle of vanilla flavored lubricant. Rick blinked, having not expected that. "What do you want to try?" He asked, curiosity winning out. Michonne laughed lightly, leaning forward to press a kiss against the center of Rick's chest.
"It's something I read about recently. Rosita scavenged some...books and I read them. Something caught my attention. I hear it is very pleasurable." She peered up at Rick dark eyes sparkling in the dim lighting. Rick nodded, unable to think of anything else.
"What is it?" He finally managed to ask and Michonne hummed. She flicked the lid on the lubricant open and poured a generous amount on her fingers. Rick watched as she coated each digit carefully. When finished she tossed the bottle aside and pat Rick's legs. He spread them easily, figuring she would reach for his cock. She did, gently stroking her fingers over the heated flesh as Rick tensed beneath her. When she then reached to cup his balls, he hummed, offering her a fond smile as she glanced up at him. Then she reached lower and Rick's eyes widened.
"Micho-"
"Shhh, Rick," She hummed, moving her fingers. "Let me take care of you." She traced her slim finger over his hole, lightly tracing the rim as Rick slowly relaxed. "Do you trust me?" Michonne asked, fingers stilling and Rick nodded.
"Yeah, I trust you."
Her fingers were slick and Rick managed a weak gasp as she curled them.
"Ahhh, Ahhh...Micho-" Rick's voice cut off into a weak moan, hips jerking upwards. He heard Michonne chuckle against him. The sound was teasing and comforting.
"You like that, baby?" Michonne whispered against his ear, fingers working vigorously. He could hear the smile in her voice. He liked whatever she gave him.
"You like that baby?" Michonne's voice was husky and low as she lowered herself onto his length, one arm still reaching out to keep him pinned against the mattress. Rick moaned a confirmation, attempting to keep his voice down as Michonne watched him with heavy lidded eyes. Rick fought to keep his voice down, grasping at Michonne's hips as she moved against him.
In the darkened room, Michonne stared down at him with warm, bottomless eyes, and for a moment, those eyes changed. Turning from those familiar brown to something lighter, something dangerous.
'You like that baby?'
The shift was obvious to the Alexandrians. They couldn't put their finger on what that shift was, but they saw it in the way Negan interacted with them now, with how the Saviors stopped baring their teeth and pushing and started treating the citizens with...not quite respect, but perhaps less hostility. Carl however, had grown antsy very quickly. Rick had noticed the way he watched the Saviors, tense and narrow eyed as if he expected some sort of backlash and Rick could hardly blame him. One wrong move and everything could go to pieces.
"We never go scavenging together anymore." Carl stated one evening after Rick had settled Judith to sleep. Rick quietly closed her door behind him, looking to his son in open surprise.
"You go out with Michonne or Rosita twice a week." He replied and Carl huffed out a breath, fixing his dad with an exasperated glare.
"Yeah, with them. But we haven't gone out together in forever." He indicated to Rick and Rick shuffled, half surprised by Carl's admission.
"I didn't know you wanted to." He admitted, quietly sneaking down the hall and after Carl who stood near the staircase, arms crossed.
"Why wouldn't I want to go with you?" He asked, moving to follow Rick down the stairs. He followed Rick into the kitchen, hopping onto the counter as Rick leaned against the sink.
"It's just-" Rick looked out the window, releasing a low breath. "I just thought you didn't like going out with me anymore." He admitted, feeling shamefully weak. He looked out at the darkening sky as Carl snorted in response, setting his hat down beside him to run a hand through his long hair.
"It's not that dad. I like going on runs with you." He assured his father, his dark blue eye watching Rick carefully. "Maybe I can go with you and Negan. He's always dragging you out." The hair on Rick's neck stood on end and he fought to keep his face level with the way Carl was openly staring at him.
"I...I'll ask him." Rick replied, stepping away from the sink.
It turned out he didn't have to wait long to ask. The Saviors arrived two days later. "Negan," Rick greeted as the man grinned at him from the other side of the gate. "You're early." He pushed the gate open with Rosita who remained stoically silent and stoned face. Negan didn't spare her a passing glance, dark eyes dancing as they remained focused on Rick.
"I missed ya." Negan drawled, a callback to their first pickup. Rick fought down the uneasy twist in his stomach, stepping aside to allow Negan and the rest of the Saviors to pour in. "I figured we can go scavenging together." He offered, Lucille propped over his shoulder. "Found a place worth looking into." Negan tilted his head towards Rick, grin in place. Rick nodded mechanically.
"Carl-" Rick licked his dry lips. "Carl was askin' if he could go with us one of these days." He could feel Spencer Monroe's eyes fixed on them, looking upset as ever. Rick had learned to tune him out and Rosita was quick to drag him off, hissing at him to keep moving.
"Really?" Negan's thick brows raised in surprise as he lifted his head to search around for the boy. "He wants to go with us both?" Rick nodded and Negan rubbed his mouth with his gloved hand, long fingers dragging down his cheek in thought. "You know what? Why not! Kid's a little badass!" He nodded in the direction of Rick's house. "Bring him with us."
That was how Rick found himself tracking Carl down. The boy had been dragging supplies towards the gate with Enid. "Carl," Rick called out and the boy looked up from his box, setting it down carefully. "Negan wants to go scavenging. You still want to go?"
He had hoped Carl would have changed his mind, but the boy looked almost excited at the prospect, throwing a quick goodbye over his shoulder to Enid and bounding after Rick. Ten minutes later, they were in the truck with a way too eager Negan.
Carl placed himself in the seat between Negan and Rick, almost as if attempting to block his father from the Savior. It was a sweet attempt and Rick's heart swelled with that familiar affection and pride he held for his settled against the seat, arms crossed as Negan shot him a knowing grin, starting the engine.
"Well isn't this just precious," Negan crooned as he pulled out onto the dirt road, arm sliding over the back of the seat, "A family outing with my favorite family." He winked at Carl who scowled at him, adjusting his hat and scooting closer to his father. Rick shot Negan an exasperated stare, moving his hand to lightly squeeze Carl's shoulder.
"Did you have anywhere in mind?" Rick asked as he found his voice. Negan clicked his tongue, dark eyes staring down the empty road. he drummed his fingers over the worn wheel.
"We can head south, towards the abandoned chain stores. See if anything catches our eye." He offered and Rick nodded.
"We hit a Walmart awhile back, was full of walkers but still had a good selection."
"Sad we're at that time in life that the shit from Walmart would be considered good." Negan snorted, turning the wheel to run down a stray walker as it lumbered on the edge of the road. Eventually they reached a main road. There were several abandoned cars and debris littered the street, but very few walkers. Negan pointed ahead to a barricaded wall.
"Just past there." He muttered, pulling the truck off the side of the road and cutting the engine. They were forced to park a distance from the store, due to debris in the parking lot and the lingering suspicion of walkers nearby. "You ready for some good old family bonding?" Negan asked, leaning back in his seat and offering Carl a wink. "Don't worry though, I'll protect you and your daddy if things get too hairy."
Carl scowled at the man, fixing the stetson with an air of exasperation. "I know how to defend myself." He muttered, tone sullen. Negan's grin remained firmly in place, obviously getting a kick out of needling the boy. Children. Both of them were children. Rick shook his head, pushing the truck door open and hopping out, ignoring Carl's calls for him to wait up.
"Don't want daddy to leave you alone?" Negan jeered, earning some choice words from the boy that had Rick sighing.
"Carl watch your language." He muttered on impulse, earning a scowl from the boy.
"Yeah Carl," Negan teased. "Don't you have any fucking manners?"
Ahead, Rick could see past the piles of broken down cars and overturned shopping carts. It looked like someone had attempted to fortify the Walmart into a base or something, now it looked overturned and eerily silent. He ignored Carl and Negan's bickering, grabbing a piece of jagged shrapnel from the pavement. He stepped over some rubble, peering around the corner of the makeshift wall and into the parking lot.
"Dammit." Rick muttered as he spotted several dozen walkers in the distance, none having noticed him yet. The doors to the Walmart were gone, leaving Rick with the biting suspicion that there were many more walkers hidden inside. "Negan," Rick hissed, taking a step back from the entrance to the parking lot, "We should probably find another way in."
"What's that, Rick?" Negan called out, sauntering forward with Lucille over his shoulder and Carl following behind. Before Rick could reply, Negan looked over his shoulder, spotting the mass of walkers shambling ahead towards the entrance doors. "Ahh," He breathed. "Well shit."
"We can get something to distract them." Carl offered, standing by his father and watching the walkers shuffle around.
"Like what?" Negan asked, dark brows furrowed. His hand moved up to Rick sleeve, pulling him further back as one of the walkers lifted its head. The walker however, didn't notice them and continued on down the pavement.
"I don't know." Carl muttered, eye darting from Negan's face to the hand holding onto his father's sleeve. Negan's fingers suddenly loosened, releasing Rick. "There's got to be something around to get them away from the doors."
Rick's eyes remained on the herd, watching shadows move from within the darkness. There were many more hidden in there. "We should probably just move on. It looks like it's already been picked clean." He spoke up, eyes fixed on the entrance to the store.
"Won't know until we try, will we Rick?" Negan pointed out, running his gloved hand over his mouth, distractedly. Rick looked from the doors to Negan.
"Look at it, Negan," He motioned with annoyance. "It looks like someone already tried and failed to fortify it. There are too many to take on right now."
Slowly, Negan turned towards Rick, Lucille over his shoulder and his long expressive face impassive as he stared down at Rick. The Alexandrian felt his neck itch uncomfortably at that stare, but he forced himself to hold it, not wavering as that familiar cruel sneer curled over the Savior's lips. "You're sounding like a little bitch, Rick." Negan drawled. "We can get through. Just stand back and let the real men fight."
Rick's face flushed at this, humiliation and annoyance mixing in his stomach. Here he was. The real Negan. Rick knew he would never wander far. He could play well when he wanted something from Rick, but here he was in all his glory. Ready to pick and bleed Rick dry. Carl fell silent, watching the exchange with tense uncertain features.
"My son-" Rick finally bit out, voice wavering with that force of his emotion. ain't going out there just so you can wave your dick around. You want to take that chance, go ahead. Carl is not."
"Dad, I can-" Carl tried to speak up, tone suddenly petulant and defensive. Rick rounded on him, silencing the boy with a single look. Carl backed down, staring at his father, furious over his refusal. His fingers curled into fists, jaw clenching and looking painfully like his mother. Rick did not budge. He then rounded on Negan, righteous father fury bolstering him against the man.
Negan fixed Rick with a cold, furious stare, jaw clenched. "Fine." He muttered, voice gravelly. He despised being spoken back to and it seemed he was at the end with Rick's mouth.
He suddenly turned on his heel, stalking towards the truck while Carl and Rick stared after him. "Where are you going?" Carl called out in annoyance. Negan offered no response, hoisting himself into the truck and firmly closing the door, starting the engine. Rick watched woodenly as the Savior tore out, driving around the pair and around onto the other side of the wall. Dread in the pit of his stomach at what his thoughtless words may have caused. Was Negan heading to Alexandria to dole out some punishment? Over something so small?
"Why do you always fucking do that!?" Carl rounded on his father, breath coming out in furious pants. "I'm not a fucking kid anymore!" Rick was suddenly tired. Too tired.
"I know this might come as a shock to you Carl, but you are still a child," Rick replied softly, "My child to be exact. I know you like to forget that every once and awhile. It's my job to keep you safe." Carl's glare wavered, his defensive glare softening.
"Well, now what?" He asked. "Looks like Negan left us. How do we get back?" It was a good question and Rick was wondering that himself. Negan had taken off so abruptly, leaving Rick and Carl miles from Alexandria.
"We better start heading ba..." His voice trailed off at a noise in the distance. He frowned, craning his neck and unable to see the source of the noise. It sounded like a...of course. Negan had always been one for dramatics.
Negan was laying on the horn, drawing the walkers attention. They lumbered off towards the sound, several pouring from the Walmart and into the herd. Rick grasped Carl's arm and pulled him out of sight. There were many of them, all moving towards the truck and leaving a clear path. They listened as the snapping of jaws and movement faded away and the horn cut out quickly. Both remained where they were, hardly daring to breathe. Rick peered around the corner, seeing no walker in sight.
"Where's Negan?" Carl hissed. Rick glanced around for the man, seeing him nowhere. Just a long empty parking lot. He stood up, pulling Carl to his feet. He glanced around uneasily, fingers grasping at Carl's shoulders.
"You two ready to head in?" Negan's voice drawled out behind them and Carl sighed, pulling away from Rick. Negan motioned dramatically to the now empty parking lot. Carl walked ahead and Negan met Rick's eyes and although he said nothing, his eyes were apologetic. It didn't mean much, but it gave them an opening. Rick looked away, following his son and feeling Negan's lingering stare on his back.