Where Your Loyalties Lie: Book One

Waiting for an Opening

Author's Note: This has been my favourite chapter that I've written so far! You'll find out why XD

Overview: You and Negan remain stuck in the container outside the Sanctuary. Your "relationship" takes a turn when the matter of life and death comes into play.

You don't know how much time had passed while you and Negan were hiding in the container but you could tell that the walkers had calmed down a bit. Negan was sitting with Lucille by his side. Neither of you had said anything to each other to avoid getting the walkers' attention. The silence started to get unbearable.

"Your friend Rick is an asshole," Negan finally spoke.

You lifted your head off the wall as you looked at him. His eyes were closed as his head was up against his side of wall. "You're an asshole," you replied. As soon as he heard those words, a grin grew on his lips.

"Yeah, I am," he said, calmly. His eyes opened and met yours. "But he's gonna get people killed."

You rolled your eyes at his comment. "Oh, like you haven't gotten any of your people killed?"

Negan's smirk began to fade as he addressed you. "Look, I bashed the widow's husband and the ginger's heads in, but I didn't get them killed." He paused and the smirk returned to his mouth. "That was all down to your boy Rick."

You shifted in your seating position to face Negan head on. "You didn't have to kill them," you expressed, trying not to raise your voice. "You could have punished us without shedding any blood."

"So, what? I should have let you people get away with killing a shit ton of my men?" Negan asked, sarcastically. "Prick was the one who brought this on you people. I was willing to cooperate with you, strike up a few deals. But he didn't get that. He still doesn't get that." Negan's voice got lower as his last remark left his lips. "You see, I can tell that we have a problem here," he said, after a moment. "You people don't seem to understand who's in charge. You also don't understand how all of this shit works. This... system we have, it's how you live now. Your shit belongs to me. You belong to me."

A sudden desperation spread through your body and you quickly got to your feet to walk over to Negan and knelt in front on him. He looked confused at your actions.

"Negan, this doesn't have to end badly," you begged, trying not to choke up. "Rick is a reasonable man and I've known him too long to know that he wouldn't just give this up easily. But he is willing to negotiate!" You paused as you noticed Negan studying your face.

"There can be peace between us, there doesn't have to be anymore killing!" you continued, the tears beginning to swell in your eyes. "Please, Negan. Just think about this for a minute."

"I've been thinking about this since we first set foot in Alexandria," Negan said slowly. "I know what your people are like and I sure as hell know that Rick is going to try and kill me one way or another."

You looked at him sincerely, trying to find some source of compassion in his eyes. "Please. Carl doesn't want this."

The mention of Carl's name sparked a hint of sadness in Negan's eyes. You knew that he liked Carl and you knew that he had respect for him.

You placed your hand on Negan's arm and he looked down at it in silence. After a moment, he looked back up at you, curiously. "I know that Carl wants you and Rick to compromise and come to a deal of peace."

"It's too late for that," Negan responded, coldly.

You removed your hold on Negan's arm as you looked at him, stunned. You started to see that there was almost nothing but hatred in his heart at this point.