Chapter 9:
Michonne watched as Negan rolled on to his back, waking from his long slumber. He groaned, raising both his arms as if he was going to rub his hands over his face, but he stopped.
He examined his bandaged hand and growled, trying to sit up, "What the fuck-"
"Lay down", She instructed, causing him jump.
He squinted at her, "You have a lot of fucking nerve"
She blinked at him, "That's rich".
He looked around the cell, "Where the hell am I?"
"Alexandria", She sighed, resting her arms on her knees.
"What? Why?"
She inhaled slowly, "Because… we'll all get along better with you here"
Negan stared at her with nothing but disbelief, "You'll all get along better with me in here? How'd you come to that fucking conclusion?"
"What you were doing, was putting our people in danger-"
"Oh cut the crap Michonne!"
"No! You cut the crap!", She bit back at him, "You are the reason you're in here! Because you don't know how to lead without fear! You know you're bigger than most and you know you're stronger, so you use that to bully people into giving you what you want and I told you, I will not support you with that!"
"So you set me up? After everything-"
"Don't you dare!", She raised her hand at him, "You helped me when I was at my lowest. You put my son down for me when I couldn't. I will always appreciate and respect you for helping me when you didn't need too, but that does not mean I will continue to turn a blind eye to the type of man you are. You made me do this when you decided to become a tyrant. So yes, I helped set you up. Deal with it"
He was hardly impressed with her speech, "What happened to 'I'll protect you the same way you protected me?', huh? 'You won't let anybody hurt me'-"
"I stuck to my word. No one hurt you and you're protected in this cell", She shrugged.
"You cut my fucking hand off!", He yelled to her, his limb raised in the air.
"I never said I wouldn't hurt you!", She corrected, "That's the difference!"
His shook his head as he looked around the cell again, "Oh 'Chonne. What the fuck is this shit?"
"This is what it is now".
He snorted, "So let me guess, you're sole leader of the Savior's now?"
She shook her head, "No. Dwight is"
Negan's eyes bulged, a grin spreading across his face, "Oh that sneaky piece of-"
"No. I told him to do it. He didn't want to"
"Why him?", Negan's face pinched at the thought.
"Because he's capable and I believe he can do it. That's why"
He snorted again, "Yeah. We'll see how well that fucking works out"
She rolled her eyes at him.
"So you're working with the farmer now? Is that what's happening here?"
Michonne sighed, "I'm trying to work with all the other community leaders-"
"You know what I'm talking about. You came here after you left", He spat the words out of his mouth like venom.
"It was the safest place for the others", She shrugged, "I would have taken them anywhere that was safe-"
"He had a shit eating grin on his face when I saw him. Bet he thought he got the one up on me when he was in cahoots with you behind my fucking back-"
"Are you done?"
"Is he where your loyalties are now? Is that the kind of man you want to stand beside?"
She shook her head in exasperation, "I stand on my own and I have done for a while now-"
"But where do your loyalties-"
"My loyalties are with you. This cell won't change that, if anything this cell makes it easier"
"Easier for who?"
"Both of us. You can't do much in here, and I can rest assure knowing that", her eyes crawled up to him.
"I can't believe you cut off my hand", He was examining himself again, "After I let you leave-"
"But you had the others shot", She scowled at him, her eyes wincing.
He waved his hand dismissively, "So what".
She couldn't believe his disregard for his actions and she was sure her face registered her horror.
"You know what? If I'm such a bad guy, why are you in here with me? Why are your loyalties still with me? Why aren't you on the other side of that fucking door when you speak to me?"
"Because I know you. Because I know you're not completely rotten to the people you care about. I'm the only person you have and you were the only person I had, so I'm not turning my back on you"
He glared at her, "Had?"
She knew there was no point talking to him when he was in such a bad mood, so she slowly stood from her seated position against the wall, "I'm going doing you a favour here"
"How about you let me out instead?", He growled at her.
"Not gonna happen", Rick swiftly stepped in to view at to the door, opening it for Michonne to come out.
"What kind of fresh hell is this?", Negan threw his hand up in the air, "Why don't you just fucking kill me already?"
"Nope", Rick almost sang as he locked the door shut, "I mean, I wanted to. I planned to. But watching you suffer like this… you can't beat that"
Negan scowled at him.
Rick smiled at Negan before following Michonne out the home. To say it felt strange for her to be in Alexandria as a visitor, as opposed to a threat or co-conspirator, was an understatement. She narrowed her eyes at the street, where residents strolled the community looking much more carefree than she had previously seen.
"I don't think he'll be seeing the error of his ways anytime soon"
A part of her figured he had probably heard their conversation. Her eyes slid in Rick's direction, though she didn't look directly at him, "Yeah"
"Maybe in time… but I think you did the best thang for him"
She didn't say anything, though her body language showed she was listening.
He looked at her, "I guess I should apologise"
She frowned, her gaze dropping, "No need."
"No… there is", He insisted, tipping his head to catch her gaze.
She turned to him, "Don't let anyone open that door there unless he's asleep or its to let me in"
His eyes darted to the basement, then back up to hers, "Fine."
She turned back to the street, "...I'll come be back at the end of the week"
"The kingdom will be here… Ezekiel, he wants to have a… I don't know what to call it, a party, I guess? To celebrate… the end of it all"
She pulled a face before she could consider a better reaction.
He smirked, "Yeah. I think I thought the same thang you're probably thinking but… I guess it will be good way to raise people spirits again so… why don't you tell the others, they're more than welcome to come"
She slowly nodded, though the idea, quite frankly horrified her, "I'll be sure to pass on the message"
"Rick!"
They both turned to the call, and saw Daryl coming up the street towards them with the large man Michonne knew to be Abraham. She decided it was time for her to leave, and started stepping towards the entrance.
"You gonna stay for a while?"
She looked back over her shoulder at Rick, "Maybe another time"
"...Alright", He nodded, slowly turning to face his friends.
The relaxed tone of their conversation was something that played on her mind as she left Alexandria. The little smile he gave her was the first expression she'd witnessed from him that wasn't serious. It didn't occur to her that he'd be one of the people most relieved to see the end of Negan's terror. If she was being completely honest with herself, a small part of her wondered if he could actually be a pleasant man to be around. While she didn't particularly dislike him, though she had valid reasons to, she was content with keeping him at arm's length.
The Sanctuary was in higher spirits than Alexandria. The environment was substantially more relaxed, and people were working together to mend the front of the compound.
"How was he?", Dwight asked when she arrived at the front gates.
She raised an eyebrow at him, "You can guess"
Dwight gave her a crooked smile, "I probably can…"
"You're getting rid of the walkers?", She asked as residents where removing the remaining corpses from the fence.
"Yeah…", the man looked back over his shoulder, "I always thought it was creepy?"
"It was...I can't really disagree with that…", She nodded as she watched them work, "Oh… there's gonna be a get together at Alexandria at the end of the week… to celebrate the fall of Negan"
Dwight raised his eyebrows at her, "Really?"
"Yeah. Rick told me that everyone's welcome", It felt so strange for her to say the other leaders name aloud.
"Sounds good. I think it would be a great way for us all to get familiar with one and other. I want us to be able to work together, trust each other"
Michonne smiled at him, "You can make it all happen. I know you can"
The man sent her a bashful smile back, "Well I hope so. I'm trying here"
"Yeah", her gaze dropped, "I'm thinking about staying at Alexandria… well I've thought about it, I need to talk to Rick...but I'd feel better being closer to him...just in case he does try something stupid"
Dwight seemed to be thinking about it, "I think you'd be putting a lot of people's minds at ease… especially mine"
"I think so too"
It was an idea she was toying with, but the only positive side of it would be that she could keep an eye on Negan. She didn't think staying at Alexandria would be a negative thing, but it wasn't her home, and she figured it would take her a while to adjust.
She made sure to travel to the Hilltop during the week with a small group, taking as much as the Savior's could offer as a form of peace offering. She had come to like Jesus, as the man had a similar, peaceful disposition as Dwight. She couldn't help but be drawn to people like that.
The Hilltop seemed to be coming along well when they arrived. From what she had heard, Negan had left in tatters, but their wall was almost completely rebuilt. The stalls and trailers were being worked on as the Savior's entered, and Michonne noticed a few people still looked at them wearily as they passed. She understood their scepticism, and tried her best to put on a more neutral and friendly expression.
Her eyes caught glance of familiar vehicles near the largest building, and she soon learnt that they weren't the only visitors. The teenager who had helped her stepped in to view, and gave her a warm smile as they approached the door. Her eyes darted to the bandage on his neck, and she hoped her wasn't badly injured.
"We're gonna unload", Caine informed her from behind.
She looked over her shoulder, "Alright, I'll come help in a little while"
The man nodded, and led the others back to their vehicle to hand over their olive branch.
She turned back to the teenager, "I never did get your name?"
"Carl", He answered, "And you're Michonne"
"I am", She gave him a single nod, "I never got to thank you for letting me out. I'm sure your dad wasn't pleased with that…"
"Yeah… he was pretty mad but, he gets why I did it now", the boy assured with a small smile, "He's in there with Jesus and Maggie now"
Michonne frowned at the name she didn't recognise, "Okay, well I should get in-"
"Shit! Walkers!"
The two of them spun around when they heard the call, and Michonne unsheathed her weapon without a second guess.
A small group was making its way towards the Hilltop, and she assumed it was from the racket the residents were making as they fixed their homes. She could have kicked herself for not bringing weapons for the people to protect themselves, as most only carries spears and machetes, and most looked like they barely knew what to do with them.
She was the first in line to disperse the dead, her sword swinging in all directions as quickly as she could. It was a technique she preferred, since she was already substantially faster than the living, and up against the dead she moved at lightning speed. She could hear someone beside her, and glanced over to see Jesus fighting his way next to her. Gunshots rang out around her, and she could only hope that whoever was shooting had a good enough aim to avoid her. The shooters took down the remaining corpses, while she impaled head of her last target.
It was only when she stopped moving did she feel an stinging pain in her arm, and she was slightly annoyed to see she had been grazed by a bullet. She looked back at the Hilltop and saw a few Alexandrians lowering their weapons, and none of them looked apologetic, so she assumed none knew they'd hit her. She groaned, flicking her sword.
"Thanks for that", Jesus breathed, pulling his knife free from a skull.
"No problem", She scanned over the bodies in front of her, as she stepped over them.
He followed her back up to the community, "We can wrap that up for you"
"It's fine", She insisted, peaking at it again, "Just a graze"
"Better to wrap it up than have it exposed"
"You have a point"
"What brings you by?"
Michonne waved her hand in the direction of their truck, "Thought we'd help out"
Jesus's eyes lit up, "Thank you for that"
"It's the least we can do. Most of its probably yours anyway"
He chuckled, his eyes flashing with amusement, "You're probably right about that"
Rick shifted his stance as they approached him, tucking away his weapon, "I think I might have caught you"
"No, I think that was me", Carl admitted apologetically, "It was hard to get a clear shot… you were moving pretty quick"
She shook her head, not wanting to worry the boy, "It's okay, I've had worse"
"Come on, I'll take you to Richards", Jesus offered.
She sighed, but followed after him anyway. The paediatrician did his best to wrap up her arm, and she managed to refrain from hitting him when it hurt. It was a quick task and she soon left to help the other Savior's unpack the remaining items. The few Alexandrians that where there helped rebuild what they could. Michonne thought it was a nice gesture, and she knew Dwight was striving to have that kind of relationship with the other communities. She felt for a her friend, as he'd probably have to do a lot to prove that he wasn't Negan, and nor would he turn, like the previous leader.
"He's doing just fine in case you're wondering"
She slammed the truck door shut and turned to face Rick, "I know"
He raised an eyebrow at her, "You do?"
"Yeah", She shielded her eyes from the sun as she looked at him.
He nodded, his gaze dropping, "To be honest? I'm surprised you trust him with me… after everythan'?"
She slowly inhaled, "Yeah well, I think I've made it pretty clear what would happen if anyone touches him"
His brow furrowed as his eyes grew cloudy, "I understand that, but if he hurts any of my people... then I'll kill him"
The battle began as she glared at him, "That won't be a problem if we stick to our deal"
"He has to be fed. His bathroom's a bucket. We only send someone in when he's asleep, but otherwise, he needs to learn to cooperate. He doesn't hurt the people that are looking after him and I won't have to kill him"
She barely blinked.
"I think that's fair", He cocked his head at her, "Don't you?"
She pursed her lips in annoyance, and his focus dropped to her mouth for a second, before crawling back up to her eyes.
"Fine", She finally bit out.
He took a small step back, "I think we can get along as long as he behaves himself. You wanna protect him and I understand why that is but-"
"What do you mean you understand why that is?", She narrowed her gaze on him.
His eyebrow raised again, "I mean, what I just said"
Her mind flashed back to her time with Negan in the cell, and she realised he had heard all of their confrontation. Anger fuelled her words, "I don't want you around when I see him"
He sniggered disbelievingly, "I'm not agreeing to that"
"I don't want you listening in on my conversations", She enforced, her finger pointing at her chest.
"I can be wherever I please on my ground", He closed the space between them, "If you don't like that, then feel free to build your own cell and take him back. I don't give a damn where he is as long as he ain't hurting anyone, so what's your pleasure?"
Their faces were inches from each other, she could smell the his breath laced with mint, and the faint scent of right guard on his clothes. It wasn't the time or the place, but something in her was about to give way as he invaded her personal space.
She stepped back, needing air, "Don't talk to me unless it's to tell me that there's something wrong with him"
He looked as if he was confused for only a moment, but his face soon returned to its usually stern expression, "Deal"
He turned and stalked away from her, while she spun on her heel and walked the other way. She didn't know why she was so angry but she could barely focus; all she could think about was how much she couldn't stand him. All she could see in her mind was his face, his eyes glaring into hers as he argued with her. She released a low growl as she shook her head, desperate to dispose of all thoughts of him, but it was proving difficult.