Fire With Fire // D. Dixon

chapter thirty-eight

"Come on, kid," Negan put his hand out for Carl to grab, "I'll show you around."

Carl sat there, watching the man closely. He studied his movement as his face fought to remain as stoic as his father's.

"You know, you do that same damn stink-eye as your dad, except it's only half as good 'cause well...you know, you're missing an eye."

"Okay, you've had your fun. Take Carl back to Alexandria-" Chloe spoke, her hands pulling her brother up to his feet. He looked at her, angry, as he glanced back at Negan again.

"No way, Momma Grimes! This kid needs to learn some things, since apparently his father hasn't taught him any goddamn manners." Negan spoke, trying to get some sort of reaction out of the boy, but to no avail. This was going to be harder than he thought.

Chloe gave Negan a warning look, a look he had seen many women give him, and he sighed. He watched Carl as the pair exchanged knowing glances, which all the more confused Carl. Did Chloe actually trust this guy? After everything?

"Now," Negan spoke to the Grimes siblings, "You two are coming with me."

They followed him, as reluctantly as possible. Chloe watched her brother, trying to figure out what the hell he was thinking coming here. Was he trying to get himself killed? She knew Negan wouldn't hesitate with killing someone, but Carl? She hoped that he wouldn't dare lay a hand on her little brother. She didn't know if she could help herself from killing Negan if he tried.

"What are you gonna do to me?" Carl spoke, his voice not wavering. He had stopped, next to his sister.

Negan turned around, rubbing his beard angrily, "Number one...do not shatter my image of you. You're a badass. You're not scared of shit, don't be scared of me. It's a disappointment. Number two...you really wanna ruin the surprise?"

Neither Chloe or Carl said anything after that, they just stood next to each other and waited. Negan was sure to do something, show off his power at the Sanctuary. Maybe kill someone. Who knows.

As they walked inside, they were atop the balcony that overlooked the worker's area. It had been the first part of the Sanctuary Chloe had seen, and now it was Carl's too. As Negan approached the overlook, the entire Sanctuary sank to the floor, looking up at Negan with respect.

"The Saviors have gone out into the world and fought the dead and come back with some really good stuff. Some of that stuff can be yours if you work hard and play by the rules," Negan started, looking back at Carl, "Today, everybody gets fresh vegetables at dinner. No point needed!"

The group applauded, as Negan turned to face Carl, "You see that? Respect."

Continuing on, Negan walked away with the Grimes siblings in tow. Based on where he was leading them, Chloe knew where they were headed. It made her heart race.

They were headed to Negan's room.

-X-

"This is your room?" Carl asked, as the trio entered a large bedroom. The room was finely decorated, in shades of gray and ornate couches that stood in the center of the windows. It looked like an apartment more than it did a bedroom, Chloe noticed.

"Yes, it is," Negan chucked, before pointing to the couch, "Speaking of...sit."

Chloe did so, watching and silently begging him to comply. He did, sitting next to his sister on the couch. She felt herself growing anxious, not knowing what Negan was going to do or how he would handle Carl's attack on the Sanctuary.

"I want to get to know you a little better, Carl." Negan smiled, looking at Carl.

"Why?"

"Work it out, you're smart. In fact, I'm gonna tell you just how smart you are, in case you don't already know. See, I'd expect a kid your age to be moping around, not doing a damn thing except crying about missing the prom. But you..." Negan paused, smiling at the boy, "You go on a mission. You find me, you kill two of my men and you're smart enough to know that I'm not gonna let this slide." Negan laughed, watching Carl's gaze slip everywhere but him.

"Please don't-" Chloe pleaded, but ignored the girl.

"I can't do it," Negan laughed, "It's like talking to a birthday present. You got to take that crap off your face. I wanna see what Grandma got me."

Carl was quick to respond, shaking his head firmly, "No." He panicked. He didn't want to take his cover off. Nobody had seen it, not since the night Ron had shot him. He was lucky to still be alive after that ordeal, let alone have to walk around showing it off like some arrogant asshole. He wouldn't do it.

"Two men!" Negan yelled, before lowering his voice again, "Two men. Punishment. Do you really want to piss me off?"

Carl sighed, knowing what he had to do. He unwrapped it, taking his hat off in the process. He let his hair cover it, before Negan urged him to continue. Chloe watched her brother, a slight shake in his movement. She knew he was scared now. He hadn't let anyone see, but now he was forced to.

"Christ!" Negan shouted in shock, making Chloe wince for her brother, "That is disgusting. No wonder you cover that up! Have you seen it?"

"Negan!" Chloe shouted, hoping that he would stop. She knew how uncomfortable Carl was, she knew that he wondered about her and Negan, but she had to get him out of here. She had managed to get Daryl out, now she had to get Carl out. It was the only way.

"I mean, have you looked in the mirror? That is gross as hell! I can see your socket..." Negan jokes, but leaned closer, "I want to touch it-"

"NEGAN!" Chloe shouted louder this time, standing up with outrage. Negan watched her, and sighed. Shit, he really had gone a little too far with this. Poor kid was on the verge of tears now, something that had to be painful for him.

"Holy hell, kid. Look...It's easy for me to forget that you're just a kid," Negan spoke much softer now, making Chloe sit back down, "And I didn't mean to hurt your feelings or anything. I was just screwing around-"

A knock interrupted him, making Negan sigh. He urged the knocker to come in, revealing one of Negan's men. Carl tensed, not knowing who it was. Chloe put a comforting hand on her brother, hoping to ease his fear. She would do her best to keep him safe.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, sir, but...you left Lucille out by the truck," The man spoke, the bat in his left hand.

"Seriously?" Negan leaned back in shock at himself, "I never do that. I guess a kid firing a machine gun is a little bit of a distraction. All jokes aside, you look rad as hell. I wouldn't cover that shit up. It may not be a hit with the ladies, but I swear to you, no one is gonna screw with you looking like that. No, sir!"

The room was silent for a moment, just as Negan looked at Joey. With that, he left.

Chloe looked at Negan, as he fiddled with the brutal bat in his hands. The sight of it made her stomach churn, making her want to run away from this place with Carl. But she couldn't. They'd find her.

"Well...you mowed down two of my men with a machine gun. I want something in return for that..." Negan shouted, still fuming at the kid, "Sing me a song."

Carl froze, turning to look at his sister. She sat there, eyeing Negan with her eyes of fury. She wanted to punch him, teach him a lesson. You mess with the Grimes family, you bite the dust. Alas, that wouldn't solve much. Sure, Negan would be dead, but they'd never make it out of here alive.

So, Carl was forced to sing, all the while Negan's bat was swinging all around the room.