ELEANOR . NEGAN

120.

Negan didn't believe his ears when the Warden notified him about a certain someone. It felt like his heart dropped to his asshole and his hands began to shake, and it was practically normal for Eleanor and Negan to be split apart but brought together. But this? He couldn't stand the fact that Eleanor was here – she shouldn't be here at all.

He was quite literally shitting himself when the guards guided him through buildings he was all too familiar with. Negan wanted to visit Eleanor's house; see if they changed it to be something else. He hoped they didn't – he prayed they didn't.

But then, he was led across the estate and straight to her house.

Taking one step into her front door was a gut punch, but taking in the inside to see all personality was stripped away – was another. There was no colour, no furniture, everything gone like it was never there before. The fireplace was missing the logs, the kitchen was taken over by cases of medical supplies and guns, and then when he stepped into the hallway, he saw the absence of one thing.

Maya's name on her bedroom door was painted over.

"In here," A guard ordered, grabbing a hold of the door handle that led to a spare bedroom. "We'll be waiting by the door."

Then the guard twisted the handle and Negan's air all left his body. To see his girl, curled up into herself, led facing the window with her hair cascading down her back... God, Negan wanted to get her out of here.

He stepped in and the guard closed the door behind Negan.

"Doll?"

There was no reply. He was praying the Warden didn't set him up and that he actually murdered her long before Negan even knew she was here. He sighed in relief when he turned the corner to see her chest raise up and down soothingly, sleeping. She was sleeping.

Negan carefully sat down next to her on the bed, the mattress dipping while he dragged a finger along the softness of her skin. He traced her scars, her eyebrow, the bridge of her nose and down to the dip of her lips. He saw a new bruise sported across her jaw – shit, is she unconscious?

"Sunshine?"

There was a grumble but no movement.

"Fuck off."

For once, he laughed. A deep chuckle spilling from his throat. "Fuck, doll, you was scaring the shit out of me."

Eleanor just smiled under his touch and placed her hand over his. Her hands were soft, they were always soft. He didn't know how they stayed like that. Then she shuffled in the bed to lie on her back, facing Negan with such love he didn't know how to handle it.

"You shouldn't be here." Negan whispered, looking down at her with a frown.

Eleanor frowned with him. "I couldn't leave you." She admitted. "You and me, right?"

He nodded and leaned down to reach her, his lips brushing against hers. "Always, doll." Then he kissed her, soft and loving, nothing extreme about it. But then he pulled back and his eyes looked sullen. "But this life?" He shook his head. "It's a shithole, Ellie. You're better than this."

Elle grabbed his hand, holding it tightly. It was like support she so very much needed, and the more she gazed over Negan's features, the more her eyes looked teary. "Doll..." Then a sob choked from her throat and she fell apart.

Negan didn't say anything but rolled to her side and brought her close to his chest; his large hand cupping the back of her head as she sobbed into his shirt. It was disheartening to Negan because there was so much that happened, that he didn't know what exactly was wrong.

He just let her cry.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry–"

Negan's heart broke. "No, doll, don't be sorry – there's nothing to be sorry about."

"There is, there is. I- I left you... I should've come back, with you and Maya, and- and maybe you would never be in this situation." She choked another sob. "I made promises I can't keep, and- and..." She stopped herself. "Fuck, I'm just glad you're alive."

Negan held her tighter and pressed a kiss to her head. "I'm not going anywhere, sunshine."

Eleanor pulled away from his chest and looked into his eyes, brown meeting green. "Please... don't go." She clutched his cheek and sobbed again. "Please, don't do it."

Don't do it?

Do what?

Negan looked down at her with clear confusion spread across his face, it only stirred her on more. "I can't lose you, Negan... and I'll have an aneurysm if I repeat that one more fucking time–"

Oh, that.

He frowned with a sigh, looking away from Eleanor like he was caught red-handed. "Is that why you're here?"

She gently lifted his gaze with the palm of her hand. "We- we were gonna go in together through the windmill. But–" Eleanor forced a gulp. "Someone told me how the Warden is and... and who he is. I knew you would catch on."

"Fuck," He whispered. "You're in here because of me?"

"I wasn't gonna let you die 'cause you think you have a debt to pay." She reached forwards and kissed his nose, his cheek, eloping him with such love that a man like him never deserved. "What kind of woman does that make me?"

"A fuckin' crazy one."

She was silent for a moment and Negan feared he said the wrong thing, but then he lifted his gaze and saw the biggest smile on her face; full of teeth and smile lines. "Takes one to know." She whispered.

"Oh, I'm a crazy woman?"

Eleanor nudged him in the chest and laughed. "You knew what I meant!" Then she shuffled forwards and dropped her hand on his jaw, allowing him to hold her instead. "Who else is here?"

Negan held her tighter. "Ezekiel and um, shit, what's her name?"

"Are you taking the piss?"

He chuckled. "Just a bit, doll." Then he cleared his throat. "They're all here: Frank, Annie, fucking Glenn. Some of your guy pal girl pal's friends. Pretty much everyone."

"And Maya? She's here too?"

Negan hated this so fucking much. How was he going to tell her that he fucked up in the one priority he had? He'd rather get stabbed. "I..." He sighed. "I don't know, doll." Negan could feel her go rigid in his arms. "She was taken out of Carol's before they knocked me out – didn't hurt a hair on her head... so, I know she's okay."

"But–"

He pressed a kiss to her hairline, mumbling against her skin. "She's a strong kid, Ellie. Like you. Everything that kid knows is because of you... she's okay."

"Then where is she?"

Negan frowned. "That's what I'm trying to find out – and I will. I just... I just need a little bit of time."

"What about the kids? Jude, RJ, Hershel – the lot. Where are they?"

His frown just deepened. "I don't know."

Eleanor sighed against his chest, a shaky and heavy one. "Fuck."

"I know, doll. It's one goddamn fucking mess."

really short chapter but im watching the election updates at 2:17am and thought ill get this out now.

rishi get out of office now.