Up The Wolves | Negan

Chapter Thirty-Five: Lady Balls

"Tomorrow we can be better than we were yesterday."

Negan, taken by surprise by whatever I said, pushed closer to where I now stood beside his bed, and without considering what may have been going through his mind, I allowed him to close the distance between us.

But just how much distance he closed took me by surprise when he smashed his lips on my own. I immediately, I drew back, shoving the palms of my hands onto his chest.

"What the fuck?" I asked, incredulous shock on my face as confusion washed over his.

"What? I thought we were having a moment—I-I thought that's where you were going with that," he replied, seemingly in an offense that I would push him away so quickly.

"Jesus Christ, Negan, I want to be your friend, not your booty call! God, you're such a man!" I shouted, my voice getting louder as the words came.

"I take that as a compliment!" he shouted back.

"Well, it was derogatory! God, Negan, if all you want from a woman is physical touch then go talk to Frankie," I rolled my eyes.

"Maybe I will," he glowered at me, refueling my anger.

"Good!"

"You don't have to act like it's weird, we've kissed before!" He changed the subject and I faked a gagging noise. Perhaps a bit over dramatic, but in my mind it was a little bit humorous.

"Dude I'm like young enough to be your daughter," I mentioned the obvious elephant in the room and watched him grimace in disgust at the idea.

"Don't paint me like I'm some kind of pedophile!" he said in reply.

"Don't try to kiss people without consent!" I shouted back at him.

"I thought that was consent! I thought there was consent here," he gestured between the two of us.

"Exactly what a freakin' pedo would say," I retorted.

"You are of age!" he shouted.

"You're disgusting! Now, are you going to show me to my room or not?" I questioned, moving the conversation along while never losing the tone in my voice.

"Fine! Follow me!" he said, grabbing Lucille and moving towards the door.

"Fine!" I replied, and by the time he opened the door, we had fallen right back into silence.

The new room was very similar to the old one, only slightly closer to his room than the last one had been. We didn't say a word to each other the entire walk and by the time we arrived, any awkwardness or strange emotions from what had just happened had completely fallen from my shoulders. As he swung the door open for me, I gladly stepped in and turned around to face him.

"I meant it, you know," I said before he had the opportunity to shut the door to attend to whatever business he had to deal with. He cocked an eyebrow in response.

"Meant what exactly?" he asked.

"I know you aren't the charitable type, but I know you're not a bad guy either. I meant it when I said I didn't want to fight anymore, that I wanted to be friends. You don't have to believe me, and I really don't expect you to, but I just want to put it out there that I meant that," I said, backing up to sit on my new bed, which was unsurprisingly exactly the same as the last one. I watched a small glimpse of a smile grace his lips as he nodded.

"Well..." he thought for a moment, "I do appreciate that," was the last of what he said before he shut the door.

And for the first time in a while, I felt content.

-

"So, you want to be friends," the door swung open again, and it felt like barely an hour had passed since I'd last seen him, and I was already tired of seeing him again. Still, I sat up, placing the book that I'd found on the counter down, and looking up at him.

"Yes, but I feel like this question sounds like some sort of trap," I said, narrowing my gaze at him as he stepped into the room and shut the door behind him.

"Maybe you can help me with my little mole problem then. See, I just found out one of my operatives from in here has been helping Rick and y'all's little group; giving y'all guns, information, everything you guys needed to blindside us today," he explained, stepping closer slowly as he did. Immediately, I thought of Dwight and everything he'd done to help us with our attack, but I didn't let it show on my face. Instead, I smiled, then burst out with a short laugh that I had to keep from turning maniacal.

"Oh, boy, you really are funny," I said, leaning back slightly, "Sure, maybe somebody helped, who knows. Do you really think Rick shares that kind of information?" maybe it was a long shot to make Negan think that I didn't know, but Rick didn't put it out to everyone, so I just counted myself as one of the ones he wouldn't have told. It wasn't like we were super close, out of everyone there I was by far closest to Daryl, and ever since everything started, I'd barely seen him. Negan glowered at me and sat on the edge of my bed as he thought.

"How about we start building some trust back up here, huh? What can you tell me about things in Alexandria?" he asked and I sighed.

"Honestly, Negan, what little I do know about everything, I don't even want to tell you. I want to be friends, sure, but I want the fighting to end. I don't want to give you information that I know you're going to use on my friends to fight. I don't want to hurt you... But I don't want to help you hurt them either," I expressed. Even if he didn't understand, it was the truth. If he decided he wanted to torture the information out of me, then so be it, but he wasn't going to gain much by doing that. Still, he nodded, looking deep into my eyes as if for secret answers I wasn't budging on.

"I respect that, kid," he said, standing once again, "You got some major lady balls on you, you know that? I don't think there's a single damn person in this building who would willingly tell me they don't want to help me, other than you," he said with a grin, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"I'd ask that you please refrain from talking about my lady balls," I said, but couldn't help but let out a small snicker at the idea. Come on, lady balls was a little bit funny. He smiled and nodded, patting my shoulder before making his way back to the door. "Negan," I called after him before he opened the door, and he turned to me, "We aren't close, and I know that, but... Well, if you ever need somebody to talk to, to get anything off your chest or vent or whatever, I am here," I offered. I doubted he'd take me up on it any time soon unless it was to complain about Rick, but he smiled and nodded.

"I'll be sure yours is the first door I knock on when I need that," he assured and was on his way.