☆ All the Stars ☆ (rarl)

Vol. 23 | The Sun Won't Shine On Your Grave

"What the fuck do we do now?! Simon! Negan is dead and Ron is inconsolable!" Laura yelled, assuming Simon was in charge now.
"It's really quite simple Laura. We kill them all. Every last one of those Alexandrians, hilltopers, kingdomers, Oceanside bitches. The trash people too. Because why not." Simon said, seeming too excited for his new found power.

"We can't do that!" A savior from the crowd said.
"We can't we? Why not? They killed Negan! They shot ron and Lucille! Do I even need to say all the other things they've done?!" Simon yelled over Ron's crying.
"We need to get him home first. He needs rest." Dwight said, gesturing to a distraught Ron.
"Yes. Let's get Ron home! Then it's war!" Simon said, gaining himself some applause.

——

The saviors filled back into the old factory they called home, Dwight and Laura basically dragging Ron in.
"Oh my god. What happened?" Sherry said, surprised at Ron's state.
"Where's Negan?" Frankie said, scanning the group.
"He.. didn't make it. He risked his life for us." Simon said, faking a sadness at the loss.
"No!" Tanya said, the only one besides Ron in tears.
She had married Negan of her own will, and truly did love him.

"I know. It's terrible. But what he did was honorable. Brave, even. We need to finish this fight! A won't stand for one more casualty on the saviors end! It's gone far enough! I, as your leader now, declared full on war with Alexandria, the kingdom, the hilltop and anyone who associates with them!" Simon addressed his people.

A few people clapped and cheered.
One brave savior raised his hand.
"Yes Andrew?" Simon said, his hands on his hips.
"Um.. I thought that.. I thought that Negan said if he died that Ron was in charge." Andrew said sheepishly.
A few others agreed, shaking their heads or speaking up.

"What!? He never said such a thing! It was always me! Ron! Is this true?!" Simon said, angry now.
"I don't know." Ron whispered, tears falling down his cheeks as he looked down.
"I actually think he did say that." Gavin said, having forgotten until now.

"It doesn't matter! Look at him! He's sick! And he's a kid! Do you all really think he's fit to lead us in war?!" Simon exclaimed with anger.
"I trust him." Someone said anonymously.
"Me too." Another agreed.
"If it's what Negan wanted." Tanya said, wiping her tears.

"I agree, but he needs some rest now. Everyone needs some time to process all of this." Laura said, taking the new leader of the saviors to rest.

Laura took Ron up the stairwell to his room, setting him on the bed.
"You ok? I know this is tough. But you were especially close with him. You could have told me he was your dad and I'd have believed it." Laura said, genuinely worried about him.

Ron wiped his tears.
"I'll be ok." He whispered, not sure it was true.
"Are you sure? You can talk to me." She said, putting her hand on his.
He cried for a minute, finding his feelings and forming them into words.
"He kind of was like my dad. My real dad sucked. He'd beat me and my mom. My little brother too if he could get his hands on him. Negan is.. was the only person who ever protected me." Ron said, breaking down at the end.
"I'm sorry." Laura said, hugging him.
"What happened to him? Who did it?" Ron said, an anger for revenge replacing his sadness.
"They followed us." Laura started.
"Negan drove in another direction to distract them I guess. Simon and Dwight followed not long after and said he was gone. Only Lucille was there all burnt." She said, not wanting to use the word dead.

——

The sun was beginning to set, and Ron was feeling particularly sick.

Knock knock