Separated by a Screen - Regan

Chapter Two

The next day, Rick was sitting in his office at work trying his best to get some work done, but of course like usual - something or someone always managed to distract him.

Shane stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Once Rick looked up at him, he was met with a smirk, one of those 'I was right' smirks.

"What?" Rick huffed, leaning his back against his chair, relaxing a bit.

Shane stepped closer and sat himself down on the chair at the opposite side of Rick's desk. "See, I knew you would end up liking it." He spread his legs and rested back on the chair.

Rick gave him a confused look. "Who said I liked it? I never said anything to you." He protested, voice soft and low. That's when Shane smirked even wider, almost showing a full blown smile.

"One thing you'll get to know about Negan; he doesn't keep shit to himself...ever. He told me you guys talked privately last night - he said you enjoyed it." He spoke knowingly, cheeks starting to hurt from smirking so wide.

Rick rolled his eyes subtly, subtly enough that Shane didn't even notice, otherwise he would've gone all drama queen on him.

"Yeah, we did. I enjoyed talking to him, not talking in that group chat thing." Rick flicked his hand away, like he was telling someone to leave. After Negan had told him a few of the guys had avoided him at all costs after they found out he's pansexual, Rick really wanted nothing to do with them. He hates homophobes with a passion.

Shane chuckled at Rick's little hand movement. "Why? What's wrong with it?" His voice pitched a bit in curiosity. He assumed Rick would probably come up with some lame excuse on why he didn't like it, but he wanted to be sure.

Rick breathed deeply. "Well, I heard a few of them are homophobic - avoiding Negan like he's got some zombie virus. I don't wanna be a part of that shit, and you know that." Rick's tone changed from soft to harsh within seconds.

"Alright, sure, maybe two or three guys ain't the best, but I swear the rest of em' aren't like that. You barely talked in there anyway, you spent more time talking with your new boyfriend." Shane shrugged his shoulders softly, sprouting a smirk from his own comment.

This time Rick made sure when he rolled his eyes, Shane would see it nice and clear. "Shut up, Shane. I barely know the guy." He protested calmly, seeing no reason to put up a fight about it since Rick knew all they are is friends.

Shane huffed a laugh and got up from his chair. "Alright, if you say so. But uh, you can just leave the group chat if you want, no one's forcin' you to stay." He explained bluntly, then turned around and left Rick's office.

Rick laughed to himself quietly. "Negan is right, Shane really is a drama queen." He sighed softly.

Minutes later he pulled his phone out and saw he had gotten a text from Negan. He found himself smiling a bit, which was odd. Usually Rick preferred talking in person since he was so awkward over text, but texting with Negan felt different - he was able to be himself without even thinking twice about it.

"Hey, you work during the day?"

"Yeah, but I'm usually home before 6. Why?"

Rick found it to be a bit of an odd question, but after only knowing Negan for a day, he knows he asks weird questions.

"Alright, I just didn't wanna distract you from your work or anything. I tend to be a clingy son of a bitch sometimes and I'll end up sending text after text until you respond."

Negan stopped in front of a mirror as he texted, needing focus on what he was typing. When he finished and looked up, his face was as red as a tomato. He was embarrassed as shit if he was being honest. He's not usually clingy to anyone, so yeah he lied a little to make it seem like that's how he acts with everyone - but really, he hasn't found himself being clingy with someone in months.

"I don't mind. Work is always slow and I really just sit around on my ass all day."

"I bet you have a flat ass then"

They chuckled simultaneously, though neither of them knew it.

"You'd be surprised"

Rick knew his cheeks must've turned bright red by now, just by how hot they felt.

Negan sat himself down on the couch and laid back. Once he saw that text from Rick, he almost instantly felt a tingling sensation between his legs.

"Am I really getting fucking hard right now?" He said aloud. "From a goddamn text?" He added. God, I'm pathetic.

"I won't believe it until I see it"

Rick shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He wasn't sure how to feel about Negan's comment, but he assumed he was just joking...hopefully.

"Shut up"
"I gotta go, Shane is dragging me out on patrol. I'll text you whenever I get home."

"Alright"

I hope I didn't go too far with that shit.

Around 5:30 Negan assumed Rick would text him soon - he became antsy. He sat for what felt like hours until finally his phone buzzed. He grabbed it quickly and smiled when he saw it was actually Rick.

"Hey I just got home, but Shane invited himself in so I guess I gotta spend time with him."

Negan giggled to himself. Of course that's something Shane would do.

"Don't worry about it, I'm a little busy now anyways. Just text me later."

Negan lied again, he wasn't doing shit. He was actually still sat in the same spot on the couch. He didn't want Rick to think he just sits around waiting for his text, or that the only thing he does is sit on his phone. Maybe he's trying too hard. Too hard at what? He's only known Rick for maybe a day, he can't already like him - can he?

Shane has talked about Rick for a few months and Negan's gotten to know him without actually meeting him. But, he knew once he did meet him, he would get attached - maybe he didn't know he would end up liking the guy, but his excuse is always, 'you can't control who you like'.

He feels stupid; vulnerable maybe. How can he even like someone so quickly? Knowing Negan, things probably wouldn't work out with Rick anyway. All of Negan's past relationships always ended badly, or even just the friendship with someone that he was starting to like. People always used Negan, though he never really tried to stop them because he didn't wanna lose that person.

Now, he couldn't stop himself from thinking about Rick. Maybe he'll be the one person that doesn't fuck him over, and actually cares about him. Who knows? But after about three hours, Rick still hadn't texted him - he was left on read. It hurt him, but he knows it shouldn't. It seems so ridiculous to him that he's upset over a guy not texting him after they've known each other for only a day. Negan can't help the way he feels, though he wish he could.

Maybe Rick isn't that one person that actually cares.