☆ All the Stars ☆ (rarl)

Vol. 26 | Metamorphosis

Ron sat on the edge of Carls bed, tears streaming down his cheeks as he listened to Rick and Carl tell the story. He had been in tears every since he had heard Simon aimed his gun at Carl.
Carl was hugging him, and kissed his cheek.

Rick stood up, putting his hand on Ron's shoulder.
"I'll put this away." He said, taking the plate of spaghetti that was once again cold.

"It's not your fault love. You couldn't have known." Carl whispered in Ron's ear, kissing him again.
"I should have. He told the story, but I wasn't listening." Ron whispered, wishing he had payed more attention.
"It's still not your fault. You don't control him. Or anyone else." Carl said softly, moving Ron's hair.

"I just don't even know what to say to him now. Like, he didn't know you were my boyfriend, yeah, but does it matter? He shouldn't treat people like that, I guess." Ron said, angry with Negan.
"You don't have to say anything to him. Not unless you want to. What's he going to do? Come find you? He's locked up." Carl said, not wanting him to feel pressured to talk.

"Here. I got you some soup instead." Rick said, entering the room and handing Ron the bowl.
"Thanks." Ron said, attempting to eat it.

—

Rick came back later to get the dishes, finding Ron asleep as Carl cried.

"Are you ok?" He whispered as to not wake Ron.
Carl got up and went to the hallway with Rick, closing the door so Ron wouldn't hear them and wake up.

He wiped his tears.
"He's just so sick. I've never seen anyone as sick as he is. Except maybe Jim when we were going to the cdc. And he just won't stop and rest. He was taking about how he has to go back to the sanctuary before he fell asleep. Apparently he's in charge over there now." He explained some.

"He was bitten. At least he'll be ok." Rick pointed out the good.
"He will be. But not if he gets himself killed. He said Simon feed him something with peanuts. He tried to kill him dad. Ron said Simon said it was an accident, but I don't believe him. He wants to be in charge of the saviors, of course. So he accidentally gave Ron peanuts when he was in charge? Yeah sure. I'm going to fucking kill him." Carl said, getting angry at the thought of Simon.

"I know you're worried about Ron getting himself killed, but you'll be no help to him if you get yourself killed Carl. Stay away from Simon, ok?" Rick said, honestly thinking he was more dangerous than Negan.
"Yeah ok. For now." Carl said, crossing his arms.

"How do I get him to rest? I can't force him, can I?" He said, not wanting to strain their relationship.
"I don't think you can. Maybe you could talk to him. Tell him the things that you're worried about." Rick suggested.
"Yeah. You're right. I'll try it." Carl said, opening the door to go back with Ron.

———

Simon hummed a song he had made in his head, mixing up the "protein shake" for Ron.
He sighed, opening a container of peanut butter and scooping some in to the concoction.
It's not that he didn't like Ron personally, no, he was a good kid, rather that Ron himself held too much power. Not just as the supposed leader of the saviors, but just in the nature of his, well, condition.

Whoever had Ron on their side in this war, he believed, would be the winner. Ron alone could take out an army of men, not sustaining even one scratch in the battle.
Now with Negan "gone," Ron would most definitely become loyal to Alexandria, if he wasn't already. Hell, his husband lived there. Negan was probably the only thing keeping him from running back there anyway.

When Simon and Dwight had gone to find Negan and only found Lucille, the two agreed to say he was dead. They never saw his body, but that doesn't mean he's not dead. Especially these days. Simon had to admit, he almost felt bad for Ron when he learned of Negans death. He quickly forgot about that sympathy and only remembered how Ron and Negan had always been in his way, the saviors way, of reaching their full potential.