Savior

Grief

Of course Negan invited Rick inside, and walked him to the living room where two beers waited on the table. "Pick a seat" Negan said, waving his hands towards the couch and recliner. Rick chose the couch, and sat down slowly while Negan made his way over to the recliner.

As Rick was opening the beer bottle, Negan couldn't help but stare at him. Specifically his eyes, they were such a deep blue. They drew him in almost instantly. Wow, Negan thought to himself. He's...pretty? No, no. Handsome.

The cap popped off the beer bottle, bringing Negan back to reality. "You know, this is one of my favorite beers" Rick mentioned, softly smiling at Negan, who giggled. "See, I just knew" he said with a smirk on his face, winking. As he said that Ricks face became warm. Negan noticed that Rick was blushing, yet again.

"How long of a drive is it from your house to here?" Negan asked curiously. "About 10, 15 minutes. Not long at all." Rick answered. Again, Negans smirk came back. "Good. Nice to know I have a friend that's close." He stated.

"Of course. You don't have any friends that live close?" Rick asked hesitantly. Negan was silent for a moment, "uh, no not really. I don't have many friends to begin with" he paused, "my wife was truly my only best friend." He finished quietly.

"Oh. Where is she now?" Negans heart dropped at that question, and Rick definitely noticed something was wrong. "She-she passed away about 6 months ago" Negan exhaled the breath he was holding for a little too long.

Rick slowly placed his beer down on the table, still holding the neck of the bottle. "Wow I, i'm sorry to hear that. Really." Rick said softly, feeling a slight pain in his chest. He had experienced the exact same thing, so he really felt for Negan.

"She had cancer. Only took about 4 or 5 months." He sighed. "There was nothing I could even do for her, and I still feel fucking terrible." Rick looked at Negan with somber eyes, "Hey. It's not your fault, at all. Don't blame yourself for what happened. Trust me, it will tear you apart, piece by piece. Slowly." Rick assured him.

Negan thought about that for a moment, "How do you know?" Rick saw this coming. "I was in the same position as you, my wife also passed away, two years ago. Not from the same thing, she was in a car accident and I blamed myself for that shit. All it did was make the situation one hundred times worse than if I didn't." Ricks voice started to break towards the end of his little speech.

Negan took a deep breath, loud enough that Rick could hear it. "Look at us, two fucking messes right?" Negan chuckled quietly, as Rick did the same. "You got that right." He agreed.

The time passed quickly as they blabbered about the most random things. Negan glanced over at the clock, "Shit, it's already 10? I guess time flies when you're enjoying the moment." He smiled at Rick, "It does".

"Kind of a weird question, but would you mind changing my bandages on my wrists? I just can't really handle doing it myself." Negan asked hesitantly. "Weird? Shut up that's no where near weird. Where do you keep the gauze?" Rick stood up and Negan followed. "I'll go get it." Negan said as he walked out of the living room, disappearing into the dark.

Rick sat back down and waited for Negan. This guy already seems like my best friend. I've never clicked with anyone so quickly. Rick thought to himself, resting back on the couch.

He heard footsteps coming closer and Negan reappeared from the dark with a small box. He set it down on the table and opened it, pulling out some gauze and tape. "Sit down" Rick said, and moved over to make room.

Negan did as Rick said, placing his arms out in front of him. Rick slowly peeled off the tape securing the gauze to his wrist, making sure to be gentle. He did the same for Negans other wrist. As Rick got new gauze and cut off new strips of tape, Negan said "Thank you", in such a calming voice that Rick found himself liking.

"Stop. You don't need to thank me." Rick said, assuring him. Negan rolled his eyes, "You stop, I do need to thank you." Rick smiled at Negans stubbornness, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah." Rick giggled, looking up at Negan who was already staring at him. "If you need me to do this again I will, I'll come by anytime. I don't mind." Rick offered. Now Negan was the one blushing, and Rick could definitely tell.

"Thank you. Again. I'll hopefully be fine." Negan said. "Don't hesitate to ask me." Rick responded.

Rick was finishing up the bandages. Without even thinking, he placed his hand on Negans lower thigh as he used his other hand to grab for a strip of tape he had already tore off. Negan noticed immediately, but didn't care. He liked his touch for some reason, it made him feel safe.

Rick put on the last piece of tape around the gauze tightly, patting it down. "Feel better?" "Yes, thank you." Rick decided to accept the thank you this time, just smiling.

They stared at each other for a moment. Both men were appreciating the others company. Negan pulled Rick in for a hug, wrapping his arms around the smaller mans neck, squeezing him gently. Rick placed his hands on Negans back. "Sorry, i'm a hugger." Negan said quietly. Rick clearly already knew that by his greeting from him.

"I'm not. But I can be." For you, Rick wanted to add, but didn't want to make him uncomfortable. Negan pulled out of the hug quickly. "You can be?" Negan smirked. "For who?" He asked mischievously, sliding his tongue between his lips. Rick instantly panicked, feeling embarrassed. "Uh, for...you?" Rick stuttered, feeling his body freeze up.

Negan laughed, "Relax, you look like a fucking tomato." Rick also laughed at Negans comment, feeling relieved. Negans laugh faded into a smirk and he moved his face closer to Ricks, only inches apart. "I know what you mean." He whispered. Ricks body flared up in goosebumps, and a shiver went through him from head to toe.

He needed a minute to recover from what he just heard. It didn't make him uncomfortable, but he was surprised to hear such a seductive tone come out of Negan.

He pulled back from Ricks face, still smirking. "It's late, you should head home. I don't want you driving when you're tired." Negan said as his smirk disappeared from his face. "Yeah." Rick agreed, that's all he could get out as of now.

Negan stood up, waiting for Rick to do the same. He did a moment later, picking up his keys and putting them in his pocket. Rick followed Negan to the front door, but before walking out, Rick hugged Negan this time. Proving his point.

They released from the hug. "Goodnight" Rick smiled, "Goodnight, blue eyes." Rick was taken back by what Negan called him, but all he could do was smile, before walking outside to his car and getting in. Negan watched him from the door, admiring how the smaller man moved.