sin and sawdust

18

Negan stood, absolutely bewildered at what had just happened and not entirely sure he'd made the right decision. That woman made his dick twitch and it would seem that that part of his anatomy had just made a decision without consulting him first.

He closed the door with a scowl and sat behind his desk, massaging his temples with gloved hands. Women never affected him, quite literally the opposite but ever since he'd laid eyes on her in the common area, the unexpected white hot fury that had flowed through his veins at seeing Jared putting his hands on her and then again when he'd watched her in full flow in the cafeteria, he hadn't been able to stop the thoughts that entered his head. She was something else, not like the pretty little useless women he'd made his wives. No. She wasn't helpless, she was fierce. She was a survivor and fuck only knows Negan loved a woman who could handle her own shit.

However, he'd let Little Negan make a fucking monumental decision for Big Negan, one that could have a drastic blowback and he needed to mitigate it, fast. She'd been here for a month and he had given her a sought after job, that shit did not go unnoticed in the compound and he didn't, couldn't, want to be seen as weak.

Negan sighed and raked his fingers through his hair, leaning back into his chair. For now, this little problem could wait.

He stood up and walked towards the connecting door, pulling his gloves off as he went. He cracked his neck, pushed any thoughts of Eve to back of his mind and entered the adjoining room with grin,

"How are my girls?" he purred, shutting the door behind him with a soft click.

------------------

Eve was dumbfounded. She hadn't expected her request to be taken seriously, let alone accepted. She felt giddy at the thought of being let outside of the compound, to feel some semblance of freedom but there was nagging itch tugging at her, it all seemed to good to be true. She pushed it down, determined not to let her own mind ruin her happiness, however fleeting it may turn out to be.

She hurried along the halls, she had become accustomed to the twists and turns navigating her way without any second guessing. The cafeteria loomed and she took a deep breath before entering through the doors, the crowd had thinned and only a few people remained, the latecomers Eve assumed.

"Oh my god, you're actually alive!" a voice from the kitchen sang out, the smile on Val's face mirrored on Eve's.

"I am," she laughed, "But it was definitely hairy for a moment,"

Eve flopped down in a chair, the full scale of what had happened hitting her like a freight train. She was glad to be alive, of course, but it just brought with it more questions, to which there were no answers.

"I'm going on runs," she announced to a suitably stunned Val,

"How? I mean, what, how?" the older lady stumbled over her words and Eve shrugged,

"I asked, I got," she replied, "Couldn't tell you why,"

Val whistled softly, "Thought for sure you were gonna end up on the fence," her face was etched with both concern and relief.

"He asked me to be his wife," Eve mumbled and Val gasped, she started to speak but Eve held her hand up,

"I said no, that's the end of it,"

Eve really didn't want to talk about it, the thought of Negan and his wives made her stomach turn. It was weird, creepy, so fucking misogynistic and she couldn't be absolutely sure that they were all in that position through their own volition. It didn't sit right with her.

Val grabbed her by the shoulder,
"Be careful, Eve, Negan doesn't do anything for nothing, keep your wits about you," the concern on her face slipping into her voice.

"Go rest," she ordered, "You're gonna need it if you're going outside the fences,"

Eve nodded, she stood up and wrapped her in a hug, she'd been kind in her own way, making Eve's internment to the Sanctuary a lot easier than it probably would have been alone. She'd helped her navigate the points system, got her deals on new clothes and boots with people she knew and had favours with. It was the most kindness Eve had been shown since Daryl and it meant the world to her.

"Make sure you bring us good food," Val joked, "The stuff we have to work with is fucking awful,"

Eve stifled a laugh, she didn't do it often so hearing Val swear was always funny.

"I will, of course," she promised and turned to leave, a heavy dread setting into her stomach that she pointedly tried to ignore as she walked, still swirling as she made it back to her room and locked the door behind her.

She dropped onto her bed, kicking her boots off and stared up at the ceiling. Val's warning bounced in her brain like a ball, what could Negan possible want from her, to allow her such a coveted position so easily? She felt her eyes getting heavy and turned over to sleep, a Cheshire cat grin surrounded by salt and pepper the last thing she remembered before sleep washed over her.

A/N:

Clunky chapter, sorry guys, I'm having a bit of trouble moving from one to the next! Hope you enjoy regardless

xo