☆ All the Stars ☆ (rarl)

Vol. 11 | Not Why, But How.

Ron pulled his truck through the gates with a sigh. He was finally back at the sanctuary, and he wasn't sure how he felt about it.

"How was it out there kid?" Arat asked, her and a few others already unloading the melons and clothes.
"Same as always. Where's Negan at?" Ron said, getting out of the truck.
"Hm. I actually don't know. He's here somewhere I guess." Arat replied, knowing it wasn't very helpful.
"I hope so." Ron said, heading inside to find him.

——

"Are you sure this will work? I mean, what if they don't want to talk to us?" Carl said, sitting in the back seat while Rick was driving.
"They'll talk. If what Ron said is true, they'll be just as eager to fight the saviors as we are." Rick claimed.
They were heading to where Ron said Oceanside was, hoping they would join Alexandria, the kingdom, and hilltop in the war.
"Or they'll just shoot us." Michonne said, not as hopeful as Rick.
"If they're under the saviors, they don't have guns." Rick stated, his eyes on the road.
"Ok smart guy." Michonne said sarcastically.

——

Ron walked into the sanctuary, taking a deep breath. It smelled like cigarettes, bread, and forced labor. It definitely wasn't Alexandria, where Ron had grown up since he was nine.
And it most certainly wasn't what he had seen at the kingdom earlier. Hope, community, and happy people.

"Hey man, where's Negan at?" Ron asked Gary as he was buying some pickles.
"Hey! Back from the kingdom I see. How's Ezekiel? And Negan? I'm not sure. Maybe with his wives?" Gary said, happy to see Ron back.
"Ezekiel is good. And thanks, that is probably right." Ron said, wondering how he hadn't thought of that.
"See you around." Gary said, waving to him.

-

Ron knocked on the door of Negans wives room, not wanting to walk in unannounced.
"Come in." Sherry said from inside.
Negans wives were dressed in what Ron guessed was lingerie, every last one of them.
He couldn't imagine that it would be very comfortable for them.
Amber in particular looked unhappy.
"Uh.. hey guys. Where's Negan?" Ron said awkwardly, coming into the room.
"Don't you know? You have him wrapped around your finger." Tanya said, bitter that her husband seemingly loved Ron more than her.
"I can't find him. I thought he'd be here." Ron said, ignoring her comment.
"Well he's not. What do you need him for?" Sherry asked, sitting on a stool.
"I have something to tell him." Ron said vaguely, intending to tell him about Shiva.

"Please don't! Ron please don't tell him! Don't tell Negan!" Amber exclaimed, breaking down into tears.
She must think he knows something he definitely doesn't.
"Shh Amber honey it's ok." Frankie said softly, hugging her sister wife.
"Amber, I don't know what you think I know. But whatever it is, he'll find out. He always does." Ron said, thinking of his Alexandria secret.
"Ron, you're not helping. Just leave, please." Sherry said, wanting to discuss this with the other women in private.
"Ok. And I won't say anything. I promise." Ron claimed, leaving the room.
He had sympathy for Negans "wives." Negan claims he's against rape, but Ron believes that forced marriage had to fit in there somewhere.