revenant|c.g.|

xii

Clary couldn't help but keep a careful eye on the freshly shaven man sitting just two seats away from her at the dining table. She was seated to the left of Carl, finding little comfort being close to him as Negan was still within the home. However, there was a slight peace now that Judith had moved from the man's arms to Olivia's. Her eyes moved only to glance at the food before them, which Negan had forced both Carl and Clary to help prepare.

As they waited for Rick's return, the spaghetti and rolls went untouched. Clary realized that would change as she heard the man sigh, keeping her gaze on him. "I'm not waiting for your dad anymore. I don't know where the hell he is, but Lucille..." Clary watched as he propped the bat on the chair to his right. "Is hungry."

Unfolding a napkin, Negan tucked it in the collar of his shirt before looking to the two teenagers seated to his left. "Carl, pass the rolls," Negan demanded, to which Carl made no movement to until Negan looked at him. "Please." It was with that one word that Carl reluctantly passed the basket of bread to the man.

The four people around the table ate in silence, Clary not even looking to the meal. Instead, her focus stayed solely upon Negan, watching for any slight movement that could bring harm to Carl, Judith, or Olivia. Negan noted this, watching as she didn't falter even when his gaze held hers. Instead she only watched, the man unknowing that her fingers were ready to grip the small blade under her cuff. If she needed to kill the man where he sat, she was ready, and that was something he did know.

"Damn, your dad has no idea the genuine cooking he missed out on," Negan declared after a while, cleaning his mouth with a napkin. With a content sigh, he smiled. "I gotta say—"

Shouts sounded from outside the home, stunning all of them as the silence of their meal was cut short. Letting out a dramatic groan, he stood up before pointing to both Clary and Carl. "Don't you two go anywhere," he demanded before heading out of the home.

Immediately, Clary sprung out of her seat before making her way towards the window. She couldn't see much at first with Negan blocking her view, until he moved to reveal Spencer on the steps of the porch. She could feel her blood boiling as he gave him a coy smile, lifting the bottle of alcohol and two glasses in his hand.

With a scoff, Clary pulled away from the window, not liking the kindness in Spencer's eyes. She didn't care if it was genuine or fake, she only saw that he was kissing ass. "What is it?" Clary turned, Carl looking expectantly at her as she shook her head. "Spencer. Looks like he's kissing ass to Negan." Carl clenched his jaw, fully aware of the lengths Spencer would take for power. That was all the meeting between him and Negan could be about, a grab for the power that his father held.

Clary didn't waste another second as she moved past him towards Olivia, who stood shakily with Judith in her arms. "Clary, I— I'm so sorry. Enid left and I don't know where she is or—" Clary waved off the words. "Enid's fine. I sent her to Hilltop to watch over Maggie for me." Her hand fell upon Judith's, rubbing it consolingly even though the girl held no fear in her young gaze. "She's safe?" Olivia asked, to which Clary nodded. "I had Carl follow just to make sure she got there safely, although he was supposed to come straight back." Clary declared, turning back to the boy. His gaze met hers only for a moment before he turned away, his jaw clenched.

With his avoidance of the matter, Clary looked back to Olivia. Removing her hand from Judith's, she placed a comforting hand on the woman's arm. "Take Judith back upstairs. Keep her safe. If we need you, we'll let you know." Olivia nodded gratefully before moving away from Clary's hold and towards the stairs with Judith in her arms.

As Clary watched the woman go, a voice sounded behind her. "I was scared he wouldn't bring you back like he promised." It was a rare tone of voice for Carl, but she understood it too well. A tone that spoke of fear and an exhaustion that came with losing so many people that you just can't bare to lose another.