"Have a good sleep last night?" Negan asked Michonne as they walked through the deserted streets. He had been on gate duty the night before and wasn't home. The two of them were out on a day run, looking through some abandoned buildings for food. Alexandria's food supplies were steadily dwindling, and if the town didn't catch a break soon, rationing would have to be the norm.
The pair had wanted to get out from behind the town's walls, so they'd volunteered to go look for food. They weren't overly attached to Alexandria. It was a place where they could get food and a warm bed, but beyond that they preferred to be on their own. Not like the townspeople minded too much anyway. Especially since Pete had died a few hours after Negan threw him through the window.
"Not really" Michonne said emotionlessly. "I had a nightmare, woke up in tears."
Negan's head snapped towards her. "Holy shit, I was just making conversation. I didn't expect you to be depressingly honest."
Michonne shrugged and kept her eyes facing forward. "Why'd you ask if you didn't really care?"
"Shit, I didn't say all that. Yea I care. I told you, I care about you. You just caught me off guard. Shit. You wanna talk about it?" Negan asked.
Michonne shook her head and continued walking.
"Bullshit" Negan said, causing Michonne to turn back towards him. "If you didn't want me to know, you wouldn't've told me that sad shit. You used to have 'em bad when I first met you, but it seemed to go away for a while. Now they're back?"
Michonne was floored. "You knew I had nightmares?"
"Hell yea. If we lived with anyone else they'd know too. You're fucking loud as hell. I didn't tell you because I figured you couldn't change much about it."
Michonne looked away from Negan. She was embarrassed he was already aware of her nightmares.
"Fuck, you gonna go all quiet on me now?" Negan asked.
A sudden noise like the creaking of a car door caught both of their attention. Negan raised his gun, and Michonne aimed her katana in the direction of a group of cars that were the remnants of a 7 car pile-up. Negan tilted his head, signaling for Michonne to go right while he went left around the pile-up. The two of them carefully circled the cars, looking for the source of the noise. As Negan approached the side of a van, the door slid open quickly, and a wild looking long haired man jumped from the back, knocking Negan's gun out of his hand.
"Ahhhh" Negan yelled in surprise. The man quickly stepped on Negan's gun to keep it in place, and put his hands up.
"Hey! I don't mean you any harm, just relax" he said.
Michonne, unsure of if the man had spotted her or not, silently snuck closer to the duo.
"What the fuck?" Negan asked. "Give me my fucking gun."
"You'll get your gun back, when I'm sure you won't shoot me" the man said calmly, his hands still up. Negan dove for his gun and the man landed on Negan's back with the reflexes of a cat. Before Negan could fight back, the man had him in some kind of martial arts hold. He couldn't move or get out of it.
"Get the fuck off me!" Negan screamed, trying to kick the man away.
"I'm sorry. I'm not trying to hurt you. I just want to talk to whoever makes decisions in your community. You can tell your friend to stand down too. I don't want anyone to get hurt" the man said.
"What friend?" Negan asked, continuing to struggle.
"Ma'am, please don't try it. I just want to talk without a sword or a gun pointed at me" the brunette man said to Michonne, even though he wasn't facing her. Michonne froze.
Negan tried to flip the stranger off his back, causing the stranger to focus on the struggling man. Michonne used the distraction to run up behind the man and aim the katana at his neck.
With a speed that was unexpected, the long haired man dropped his hold on Negan and did a flying kick through the air, sending Michonne's sword skidding down the street.
Before Negan could grab his gun, the man tackled him again, redoing his previous hold.
"Now I'm fucking impressed!" Negan said, giving up the struggle. "You gonna kill me?"
"I told you, I don't want to kill anyone. My name is Jesus, I come from a town called the Hilltop. I just want to talk to your leader. I have a proposition for you."
***can08writer***
After talking to Jesus, Michonne and Negan agreed to go with him and some other Alexandrians to his town called the Hilltop. Once there, Jesus told them about their town's dilemma.
"We're under the control of a group called The Family. They showed up one day, made a lot of demands. They outnumbered us. They had guns, we didn't. They told us that they were going to cut a deal with us. We pay them tribute once a month, a truck full of crops, supplies, and livestock. The truck has to be full." Jesus said, rubbing his beard. "In exchange they keep our roads and woods clear of walkers. I mean, I'll admit, it's gotten a lot safer out here since they came. Walkers are few, but many of us aren't happy with the deal. We're not happy that we were forced into it."
"Who's in charge?" Michonne asked, crossing her arms.
"A guy named Rick."
"Rick?" Negan scoffed. "And how many of these fuckers are there?" Negan asked.
"We don't know, we've seen groups as large as twenty" Jesus responded.
"So you give them a truck full of food every month, and they kill Walkers for you? Who the fuck agreed to that?" Negan asked.
"Our former leader, Gregory. I heard he did or said something to piss off their leader, Rick. Rick was gonna kill Gregory, but instead Gregory agreed to the deal with them."
"Former leader?" Michonne asked.
"Yea, there was an incident with Gregory. He was a real scumbag, tried to drug a young girl but he got caught before anything serious went down. But uh, he was executed."
"Deserved it, the nasty prick" Negan said, shaking his head.
"So, did anyone try to end the deal once Gregory was executed?" Michonne asked, sitting down in a plush chair and crossing her legs while the men stood.
"Well yea, during the last pick-up Rick himself came along. I asked him if we could end everything, and each of our groups could go about their own way, but Rick wouldn't hear it. He said his people needed the supplies, and our people benefitted from the Walker removal. He wasn't taking no for an answer. He's a little bit of a scary man."
"You couldn't karate kick the motherfucker?" Negan asked.
"Did I mention they had a lot of guns?" Jesus responded.
"So what do you need us for?" Michonne asked.
"We need an alliance. The Family has lots of people from what we've seen, lots of guns and people who know how to use it. We don't have that. We don't have many people who know how to fight. But if we have allies and a united front against them, maybe we can convince them to leave us alone. Maybe this Rick guy will get the message if Alexandria is on our side."
"Nah, fuck that" Negan said as he paced across the room. "I have a new deal for you. This prick Rick won't listen to you if you ask him to leave you alone. He's a threat. And the only way to deal with threats is to fucking destroy them. Our town needs food, you got it. We're gonna kill off Rick and The Family together. Every last one. In return, your town hooks us up. Starting today. We want food and medicine."
"What do we get out of that deal?" Jesus asked, tilting his head.
"You get rid of your enemy, you gain an ally, and we will train your people how to fight. In a few months, when we figure out something to manufacture, we can even start trade with your town. We don't have much now, but we'll find something to trade" Negan said.
"You sure we can do this? Kill them all?" Jesus asked skeptically.
"Confrontation is something we've never had a problem with" Michonne said, her hand resting on the katana in her lap. She looked over at Negan and he gave her a confident wink.
"Those motherfuckers are good as dead" he proclaimed.
***can08writer***
A half hour later, Alexandria was given the supplies they'd asked for. While the residents of Hilltop and Alexandria loaded the RV up with the supplies that Jesus' people were providing for them, Negan gestured for Michonne to meet him around the back of the RV where they could talk.
"You up for this?" Negan asked Michonne, bending down slightly so he could stare into her eyes. She had been awfully quiet since they made the deal. Not that she was a big talker by any stretch of the imagination, but he had an inkling that something was bothering her. He could always tell by looking in her eyes.
Michonne shifted uncomfortably and finally brought her eyes up to meet Negan's.
"It's gonna be a fight. I don't think these people will go down easy. I don't think we have enough information about them. You know I don't like walking into a situation blind."
"I know" Negan confirmed, "but you also know who we are. We are fucking savages, Michonne. You think some prick named Rick is going to beat us? Whatever he throws at us, we can handle it. I can handle it, 'cuz I got you with me. We'll win." Negan said.
Michonne nodded slowly and a brief smile crested on her lips. "We'll win" she repeated.
***can08writer***
It was the night before Alexandria and the Hilltop were scheduled to find and take out Rick and The Family. They had a rough idea where this man and his people were hiding out, a radio station where people from the Hilltop had dropped off supplies before. They had to estimate the interior of the building based on speculation, and the few pieces of information that people from the Hilltop could give. How many people were inside and where they were was unknown. The weapons they were dealing with were unknown. Most of the variables were unknown, and it didn't sit well with Michonne.
She was lying in bed on her back, staring up at the ceiling. Negan was snoring softly beside her, his back to her. It had taken her a while to get used to sleeping next to a man again. When she was on the road with Andrea, the two of them would lay their sleeping bags together for warmth during the winter, or sometimes take turns being the big spoon or little spoon to make sure that they didn't freeze to death in the cold buildings where they'd take shelter for the night, but that wasn't the same. There was something different about lying next to a man, and in the beginning, too often she'd wake up almost in a panic when his large muscular arm would hold on to her while he slept. But now, she was used to it. She was used to him.
She wasn't ready to admit it, but she found comfort in being with him. In knowing that someone would be there when she woke up, that someone would notice if she disappeared, that someone cared about her. She was content with that. She knew he wanted more, she could tell, but she wasn't ready for a relationship. She was damaged. At least that's what she kept telling herself. She was incapable of loving anymore. The trauma in her life had broken that part of her, and it would never be healed. Negan seemed resigned to take the scraps of her that she gave to him, and she was thankful for that at least.
Slowly she climbed from the bed, trying to prevent it from squeaking. She made her way to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water, still amazed that she had a full glass of water to herself whenever she wanted it. She sat on a stool in the kitchen and drank her water quietly. When she was done, she stayed still and listened to the sounds of the night as they infiltrated her's and Negan's house. Usually the sounds of crickets chirping and owls hooting was comforting and made her feel safe, but this time a sense of dread settled in her stomach.
If the attack the next day was going to be simple, why was she still awake? Why couldn't she shake the feeling that they shouldn't be doing this?
***can08writer***
"All clear" Negan barked into the walkie talkie.
They had just finished annihilating everyone inside of the radio station. There had been 25 people inside, and the team from Hilltop and Alexandria had taken them completely by surprise. There were a few gunshot grazes and black-and-blues from one on one fights, but no one from Hilltop or Alexandria was killed. Michonne couldn't believe their luck. She couldn't believe it worked. But something was still bothering her.
Jesus had seen Rick before, and he didn't identify him as any of the bodies. Rick wasn't here, and that was going to be a problem.
"Maybe he went on a run. He may be back soon. We need to clear our cars away so we don't tip him off that anything went down. We'll ambush whoever shows up" Negan said into the walkie talkie, to keep all of the teams informed.
Michonne nodded at his words, barely listening. That same feeling of dread was back.
Jesus, Aaron, and Eric came from around a corner. "We'll start moving the cars around back" Aaron said, "the look outs haven't spotted anything. We'll radio in every 15 minutes to let you know what's going on outside."
Negan nodded and the men set off to their task. Negan and Michonne took the opportunity to explore Rick's compound. They went from room to room, looking for anything helpful to learn more about The Family.
While they were searching one of the bedrooms, Michonne found a polaroid picture of a couple. An asian man, probably Korean, was standing behind a white woman with brown hair and green eyes. Both of their hands were placed on her slightly rounded belly. The couple was smiling from ear to ear as they stared at the camera. 'They seem happy' Michonne thought. She wondered if the couple was out on the run with Rick, or somewhere else. No one in their operation had reported shooting a pregnant woman.
She and Negan found more supplies, ammo, and a stockpile of food while searching the compound. The spoils would be divided up between Alexandria and the Hilltop. Everyone would be eating well for at least a few more weeks.
Suddenly, a voice came over Negan's radio, interspersed with static. "Negan… there are… approaching... OUT OF THERE!"
Michonne's heart sank. "What?" Negan yelled into the radio, "what's going on?"
The radio crackled again, and Michonne recognized Jesus' voice with gunfire in the background. "GET OUT OF…" the transmission abruptly cut off. The two of them now could hear the gunfire that had been echoing over the radio.
"Let's go!" Michonne yelled. The two of them sprinted through the maze-like hallways of the radio station, other teams joining them, until they reached the entrance. They cocked their weapons and could hear car engines and gunfire.
"We have to get to our cars" Michonne said, "Jesus, Aaron, and Eric moved them to the loading dock out back. We'll have to run around the building. Stay in the shadows."
"They could have this place surrounded!" a man from Hilltop said, "we could be sitting ducks."
"If we stay here and let them box us in we will be sitting ducks" Michonne barked back.
"We're going" Negan confirmed. "Have your weapons ready, run for the cars."
Negan swung the door open and they took off around the building into the dark night, the rest of the team close on their heels.
As they sprinted past a dumpster, Michonne heard her name being called. She spun around to see Jesus, Aaron and Eric hiding behind it, gesturing for the group to join them.
"Negan, wait!" Michonne called to him since he hadn't heard the warning and had continued to run for the cars. He skidded to a stop 30 feet away from the nearest car, and turned back to look at her, when there was a bright flash and then a loud bang and the car exploded behind him, showering glass and shrapnel on everyone. Everyone hit the deck, shielding themselves against the rain of debris. A trail of smoke billowed in a horizontal line coming from an area in the woods nearby.
"That was a fucking RPG!" Negan yelled in shock. "They have fucking RPG's?"
"Get over here!" Aaron yelled, waving the group behind the dumpster with them. When the group of ten crowded behind the dumpster, Aaron said "There's some of them in those bushes over there, and they've totally surrounded the front of the building, they took out our lookouts, that's why we couldn't warn you in time. I don't know where everyone else is. As far as we know, we're the only ones left."
"Our best bet is running across the parking lot and straight into the woods. I don't know if they've gotten over there yet, but it's the only option we have if you don't want to get blown up" Jesus threw in.
The group nodded and on a count of three they took off in the direction that Aaron had mentioned. They were out in the open as they ran across the parking lot. They could hear bullets hitting the pavement behind them, but they continued onwards full speed, knowing they could be hit at any moment. Once they reached the woods they moved as quickly as they could, skirting trees and bushes that threatened to tangle them. They'd run for a few minutes and could no longer hear gunfire or any signs that The Family was near.
"I think… I think we got away" Eric said, short of breath.
"They'll come looking for us" Aaron said, "after what we did they're gonna search for us."
"We gotta keep going" Michonne said, "C'mon!"
They continued to run through the blackened forest. Luckily the moon was out, giving them a small amount of light to run by.
"I think there's a road up ahead" Jesus said, pointing to where the trees seemed to thin out. "I think this is the back road we saw on the map when we were scoping the place out. We follow that road it'll lead us back to the main highway, and we can get back to Hilltop from there."
"Okay, stay quiet" Negan commanded, "these fuckers are out here somewhere."
They quietly approached the road and noticed a few scattered cars. "Maybe we can jump one of these" Michonne whispered. Across the road they could hear the loud moans of walkers approaching them. Probably drawn from the gunshots and explosion at the radio station.
"I got it" Michonne whispered. She unsheathed her katana and cautiously crossed the road. A walker lazily swiped an arm at her and she promptly decapitated it. Another one approached and she plunged her katana through it's cranium creating a sickening pop. Putrid liquids poured down it's forehead before it dropped to the ground.
"Try to jump the cars" Michonne called at her comrades before spinning around and decapitating a third walker. As she raised her sword to stab a fourth, the headlights on all of the abandoned cars turned on simultaneously, blinding the small group. Distracted, Michonne put her hands up to her eyes, and the walker that she'd been about to kill lunged at her. Still blind, she put both hands on it's shoulders to keep its head and snapping teeth away from her. She had to shut her eyes to protect them from the blinding light, but the walker was still going after her, its mouth inches from her face.
A loud crack suddenly tore through the night, and the walker instantly went limp. Shocked, Michonne pushed the corpse away from her and raised her katana with one hand, still shielding her eyes with another.
She squinted around, trying to figure out what was happening. She could see shapes moving in front of the headlights but she couldn't tell if it was her group or someone else. In a few moments her vision cleared, and she could make out Negan being held in a chokehold, a gun pressed to his temple. She could also see Aaron, Jesus, Eric, and the others being held at gunpoint as well.
Angry, Michonne took a step towards her friends when she heard a deep southern voice speak from behind her.
"Drop it" the voice demanded calmly, but with authority. Startled, Michonne swung around, her katana pointed at the man, while he pointed a pistol in her face. She held her sword up to defend herself, even though she knew she was outgunned. The man's blue eyes shone in the light from the cars, and Michonne stared into them, strangely thinking it'd be okay if those eyes were the last things she ever saw. The man's gaze never flinched, and neither did hers. After a few seconds of staring, Michonne slowly lowered her katana and then lightly placed it on the ground.
"Put your hands up" he ordered. Michonne slowly put her hands in the air, never breaking eye contact with him.
"Turn around. Turn around." the man commanded. Michonne slowly turned away from him and the man patted her pockets and waistline, looking for any concealed weapons. Indignantly, she turned back around, glaring at him.
"Get on your knees" he directed, tilting his head to the right.
Author's note: Thank you for all your reviews, I really appreciate them and keep them coming! I just wanted to say the Negan in my story is not tv Negan. I'd like to think he's more like a mix of comic Negan, Abraham, and Shane. He is an alternate version, so if you hate tv Negan, I'm right along with you, but keep in mind he isn't the same as this Negan so bear with me. And those people who don't like Nechonne thank you for sticking around and reading this story anyway. Like I said before, I am a Richonne fan.