I don't own TWD or any of the characters; only my OC's. Sorry for any grammar mistake, enjoy!
*Early August, 2013*
The young woman glared at Tom when he tried to walk past her. His eyes met hers, but he quickly looked away; the girl grabbed his arm in a solid grip that probably surprised the man. It effectively stopped him.
'' Tom… '' She trailed off.
For over a month, every single man around had been avoiding her. They were only talking to her when it was absolutely necessary, they were not even meeting her eyes… The other day, she had patted a guy on the shoulder and she swore he had almost pissed his pants.
'' Amelie…'' He said softly.
She frowned: '' What's going on? Everybody is afraid of me or what?''
The man rubbed his nape in a sheepish manner: '' It's not that…''
She released him: '' Then tell me: everyone has been avoiding me like the plague! '' She complained.
Tom shifted from one foot to another, glanced around and finally said: '' It's the Boss…''
Cocking her head, the girl asked: '' Negan?''
The man nodded: '' He-he warned us…he said that if one of us touched you he…well…'' He trailed off.
Amelie's eyes widened: '' What? ''
The man placed a gentle hand on her shoulder: '' Negan has put his claim on you…'' He whispered.
The girl shook him off: '' What claim? What the Hell? ''
Tom looked down: '' You know how our leader is …''
The girl rolled her eyes: '' Yeah, I know him. About a month ago he asked me to be his fourth wife: I said no.''
Her friend stared at her with big eyes: '' He actually asked you and you said no!?'' He babbled fearfully.
Shrugging the girl explained: '' I don't like him and I will never serve him in this way.''
Tom turned his back to her and put a hand over his mouth as if she had revealed him something terrible. He scratched his stubble covered chin and once more, he watched their surroundings. At least, he spun around: '' I've been with him since the beginning… The man loves a challenge…I'm sorry Munchkin… When this man wants something, he finds a way to get it.''
Scowling, the girl growled: '' I'm not some object he can possess.''
The man started to slowly back away: '' I'm sorry…'' He apologized again as he recoiled.
Amelie watched him go; how could a wise, grown man like Tom act like this? Accept this? She was his friend… How could he be afraid like this?
The young woman reflected on Negan's behavior during the last month; after his proposal, he had been…acting weird with her. It was like the man had two ways of behaving around her: he was flirty and making suggesting comments or he was more direct and rough as if to make her regret her choice.
The girl felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise and she turned her head; Negan was watching her from afar, standing on one of the factory high balconies.
The girl grumbled and headed back to the warehouse.
Xxxxxx
Tom dragged his feet across the Sanctuary and watched the sun setting; maybe it was his last. He let out a shuddering breathe; he was afraid and he was not ashamed to admit it. Some would even call him a coward: the man never took stupid risks and never attempted bold moves…and he was still alive today.
He had been a simple owner of a small grocery; life had been calm and easy for him before. He had been a happy man with his wife and his two daughters… now he was alone. The new world had swallowed up his entire family… at the age of 57, he had thought he wouldn't last long in this new era where the strong and the vicious survived and the weak died. Yet, here he was…his years of experience had saved him. The fact that he wasn't that old and still in good shape had helped too.
Well, perhaps now he would not last long. Tom was afraid, but he was an honest, good man: what was taking place now wasn't pleasing him. He liked that Canadian girl…she was kind and righteous; he had watched, like the coward he was, when she had stood up to Negan at Hilltop. He had watched her bring their leader back from the dead when all had fled. He had watched her save a defenseless kid when he, would have let the infant fend for himself.
Now he would do more than watch.
His legs brought him to their leader's house; Negan was sitting on the veranda, sipping a glass of alcohol and talking with the guard there. Both men looked at him when he halted in front of them.
'' What is it, Tom?'' Negan asked.
The fact that the man remembered his name whereas they had barely interacted at all spoke warnings to him. Tom frowned; this man wasn't stupid no matter how gruff he acted.
'' May I speak to you, Boss?''
He spread his arms: '' Nothing's fucking stopping you!''
Tom glanced at the other man: '' …in private.''
The Savior's leader rolled his eyes and sighed: '' Can't a man have a mother fucking break? '' He grumbled as he shooed the guard with a gesture of his hand.
The tall man gulped down more of his drink and looked at Tom: ''So? I don't have all evening.''
Building up his courage, Tom breathed out: '' Leave the girl alone.''
The leader raised a brow and grinned: '' which girl?''
Tom scowled at him and remained quiet; he knew better than to believe the man's supposed ignorance about the subject. Negan lost his smile and rose to his feet before coming face to face with him:
'' You've got balls to come here and give me orders. If I'm not wrong, you've been with me since the start, right? ''
Stiffly, he nodded.
'' I had pegged you as a gutless man…but here you are.''
Tom glanced away, unable to look at the man in the eyes: '' Amelie's a good lass… '' he murmured.
'' That, she fucking is…''
'' She saved your life…''
'' That, she fucking did… '' Negan humored him.
The older man looked up again: '' I know you have threatened her, otherwise she would already be gone…And now… you… it's not right. '' He mumbled.
The Leader brought his face so close to his their noses were almost touching: ''…And what will you fucking do about it? '' He growled lowly.
Tom averted his eyes again and his head involuntarily buried itself in his shoulders.
'' That's right; you won't do shit. Abso-fucking-lutely nothing!'' The taller man said as he shoved him away.
Stumbling a few steps back, Tom looked back at Negan as the man pointed at him: '' Get your ass out of my front yard and you're fucking lucky Lucille isn't with me right now!''
Tom needn't to be told twice.
Xxxxxx
*end of August 2013*
Amelie stood with her hands resting on her daggers hilts as she passively observed the people of the small village near Hilltop loading the Saviors trucks.
Once it was done, the men from the Sanctuary began to enter the cars. The girl headed toward one of the pickups when she heard Negan shout her name. She stopped in her tracks and rolled her eyes before turning around.
However, she quickly lost her bored attitude: their leader made eyes contact with her, pulled out a gun from his pants and shot the man kneeling in front of him. Her eyes widened in horror and her heart skipped a beat. Her ears were deaf to the people gasping and crying out around her at the sudden, violent death.
Negan grinned at her and rage filled her chest: '' Why did you do that!?'' She roared as she walked directly toward him.
The tall man leaned back on one hip, using his bat like a cane: '' You better watch your fucking tone; I'm displeased.''
Now being near the corpse, she looked down at the now dead man, before glancing back up to Negan. '' This community has always given you half their stuff!''
'' I never said I was displeased with this shitty community. I only said I was displeased.'' He said, looking at his nails in an indifferent manner.
'' This man was innocent.'' She grounded out through clenched teeth, her eyes hard.
He stared back at her: '' I don't give a fucking fuck. ''
Her hand clutched her right dagger tightly; the Leader glanced down at it and smirked:
'' The question is: why am I in such a mood? And more importantly: what could get me out of this unpleasant mood?''
Her nostril flared as she understood; the son of a bitch…He was doing this because of…her?! The Savior lost his fake smile and placed Lucille on his shoulder and walked toward the cars only to stop when their shoulders were at the same level.
'' I thought I made myself fucking clear with my expectations of you. I have waited…I've given you some time to digest the idea…Yet you still ignore my not so subtle hints and warnings… '' He trailed off.
They remained unmoving, each other facing the opposite way yet standing close.
''…And I thought I made myself clear about your expectations of me. I told you 'no'.'' She growled, knowing she was pushing her luck.
Negan hummed lowly: '' It doesn't work this way darling and you fucking know it. I am in charge…and remember: I always get what I want.''
On this, he started to advance again toward the others, then halted again: ''Oh! And by the way, every time we'll come to collect our shit, someone will regrettably die if you fucking keep refusing me. That means a death a week; think about it Canadian.''
Amelie stared at his back with a disgusted, terror filled look; he couldn't be serious.
Xxxxxx
*3 weeks later, mid-September 2013*
The gentle, orange light of the setting sun was getting in through the dirty windows of the warehouse. Its calming gleam was enlightening the room and showing the dust in the air. Amelie sat with large empty eyes on her makeshift bed, her knees pressed against her chest. Theo was watching with a worried air, not sure of what he should do.
Four. Four people were dead because…because of her... and Negan, mostly him. Yet, guilt gnawed at her guts. If she had accepted his proposal, they would be alive today. Four, useless deaths…She had thought he was bluffing to push her into agreeing to his offer…he hadn't been.
After the first week, the girl had foolishly thought that if she'd go hunting while they were collecting, he would not kill anyone in her absence… The man had brought his chosen victim back to the Sanctuary to make sure she would see.
Five days ago, he had killed someone else…and he was saying to everyone he was reinforcing their authority over the communities or they weren't giving them enough…His idiotic followers were actually believing him.
Silent tears trailed down on her cheeks; the lives of innocent people were resting in her hands… Lives had rested in her hands and she had stupidly crushed those.
A soft touch on her cheek tore her away from her dark thoughts.
'' Why are you upset? Pourquoi tu pleures?''
She looked up at Theo with sad eyes: '' Parce j'ai peur, Theo; je ne sais plus quoi faire.''
The little boy sat beside her and leaned his head against her shoulder: ''You told me that when you didn't know what to do, you had to think: did you think?'' He asked innocently.
The teenager raised her arm and drew him into her side: '' I did everything I could…I thought the situation over and over again… and there is nothing I can do that won't lead to disastrous consequences. I've been outmatched, Kid.'' She murmured.
She looked down at him with a tight throat; she knew he was feeling sleepy now… they had played outside today; he had spent his energy. Theo was the only thing giving her joy right now…
The child yawned and installed himself more comfortably against her: '' You shouldn't be afraid though… you're strong. ''
It brought more tears to her eyes; the girl sighed: sometimes, being strong wasn't enough.
The young woman didn't want to be his 'wife', concubine or whatever; she didn't want to belong to him in any way. However, people would die if she didn't do anything…lives were at stake now; her pride and self-preservation were not as important.
The Saviors would go to Hilltop tomorrow…Amelie looked down at Theo who was now sleeping; she had to think about his safety too. It was only a matter of time before Negan decides to threaten the child.
Slowly, she untangled herself from the boy and covered him to the waist with one of their blankets. The girl stood and walked to the water basin; she washed her face and cleaned up a bit.
Breathing deeply, the teenager tightened the lace of her boots and the leather covering her forearms. Amelie pulled the elastic from her long, pale brown hair and re-did her ponytail. Finally, the young woman straightened her clothes.
Drying her eyes, she headed toward the door and abruptly stopped; she removed the blades at her hips and deposed the weapons on a small table nearby. No one entered Negan's office armed.
Xxxxxx
It was almost dark now as she walked toward the Leader's house. She dragged her feet there, her spirit low.
She was doing the honorable thing, the right thing.
Amelie put her foot on the first step of the veranda and tried to calm her nerves. The guard checked her for weapons and let her pass, opening the door for her and informing her that their leader was in his office.
Knowing where Negan's study/office was, she walked there and knocked on the door.
'' 'The fuck…Enter!''
The teenager came in the room; the man was bent over his desk, looking at maps. He raised his head and his eyes brightened.
'' Amelie… what a fucking, pleasant surprise. I wonder what you're doing here?'' He drawled, victory plainly showing in his voice.
Looking down, she muttered: '' you know why I'm here…''
The tall man straightened and walked around his desk to lean on it from the front: '' Give me the pleasure to fucking hear it.'' He said, crossing his arms over his large chest.
The young woman glanced up again; he was giving her his trade mark grin, the one full of malice and arrogance.
Staring at him with steely eyes, she growled: '' You can't keep killing innocent people.''
'' I believed I already had proven to you that I actually could…''
Amelie averted her eyes again: ''stop killing people…''
His playful mood slipped away: ''You fucking know what you have to do.''
'' If I agree to become your wife…you will stop murdering people?''
Negan placed a hand over his heart in an indignant manner: ''Why? Do I look like I enjoy killing these poor fellows? Yes, I will stop. The communities won't suffer useless losses anymore.''
Of course he enjoyed it; she had no disillusions about him.
Amelie fought hard the desire to run out of the room: '' Then…I agree to be your wife…'' she murmured, defeated.
His face lightened up, his eyes shining with triumph; he trotted to her and raised her chin: '' Why so grim looking? Marriage is a happy affair, no?'' He jested as he stroked her cheek.
She moved her face away from his grip: '' this is not marriage, this is a stupid joke.'' She grumbled.
He tut-tutted her: '' Don't be like that…I told you: you will have everything you want…you will be a fucking queen.''
The girl made a disgusted face and the man became suddenly serious. He stared at her directly in the eyes: '' What's so damn terrible about it? I've never hurt my wives and they are well treated. Think about it; You probably have never seen bruises or any other mark on Amber. ''
She frowned: it was true…but it was not what worried her.
His eyes crinkled: ''Oh I get it; you're so fucking proud. You actually don't like surrendering…losing to me…''
Amelie's demeanor cracked and she shoved him away:'' You have no honor; you're a vicious, sly, deceiving, weasel of a man!'' she raged.
Taking a step back, Negan chuckled and raised his hands in a mocking way: '' Get it all out now, because I won't let it pass next time.''
Breathing deeply, she said in a controlled manner: '' I sincerely believe you're a depraved, psychopathic maniac and I'm fairly certain you don't own a soul.''
He burst out in laughs: '' What a way of speaking to your fiancé.''
A feeling of failure soon replaced her anger; the Leader clapped his hands together:
''Well… We'll have a ceremony—''
'' I don't want one.'' She cut him off.
The leader glared at her: '' how will my men know you belong to me unless I make it official? Hum?''
'' I think you already made it clear that I was yours or so I heard…''
'' True…but why fucking not?''
She looked away and he rolled his eyes: '' Pride again.'' He thought for a moment: '' You will move your shit here, then.''
The girl shook her head: ''No; that neither.''
He raised a brow: '' So we're fucking bargaining now?'' the man groaned.
Amelie gave him a hard look: '' …And, as I already told you I won't stroll around dressed like a stripper. '' She continued: ''…I won't remain stuck in the factory, pampered like your other wives either.''
The man rolled his eyes: '' Anything else?''
'' No.''
''Good; because I have a few conditions too.''
The man advanced on her and made her recoiled until her back it the wall behind her. The Savior braced his hands on each side of head and brought his face to her level: '' You won't live here? Fine; but you will be at my beck and call whether it's day or night. No funny business: I already told my men to put you down if I die while you're around. No other man will fucking touch you either.'' He rumbled.
The girl slowly nodded: '' Okay…and the last one won't be a problem: because I never wanted a companion from the start.'' She grumbled pointedly at him.
He tipped her chin up: ''Well…you fucking have one now.''
Translation:
Pourquoi tu pleures?- why are you crying?
Parce que j'ai peur; je ne sais plus quoi faire. - Because I'm afraid. I don't know what to do anymore.