Brother's Keeper ¹ || The walking dead

107.

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Riven let out a long, deep breath as he sat outside on the porch stairs after making sure Melanie would be okay.

He had removed the nail and did everything he could to make sure Melanie wouldn't end up paralyzed.

It was morning now. He spent all night helping Melanie, and he didn't take a break once.

Reagan spent the whole night holding Melanie's hand and just talking to Melanie about random things they did as kids, and Negan chimed in a couple of times to correct them or to simply add embarrassing moments.

Riley and Maggie were by the truck a couple feet away from the cabin, quietly arguing, but Riven could still hear them a little.

Maggie still wanted Negan dead, but Riley seemed against it now, like Negan rotting in a cell was better than rotting in the ground.

He let out a small groan as he stood up, using the wooden railing as support, his leg exhausted from having to stand for hours, but it was worth it and he'll do it all over again.

He walked over to Maggie and Riley and cleared his throat, "You guys should go, The kingdom isn't that far from here."

"Not until Negan is on the ground with a bullet between his eyes." Maggie replied, going to head back to the cabin to do just that, but Riven blocked her way.

"No. I do not need you to storm in there and cause a ruckus while Melanie is trying to rest. Do you understand me?" Riven told her, sounding exhausted but kept his voice calm and steady.

He glanced between the siblings, "Now, like I said, the kingdom is close by, a couple miles walk, that's all. You two can stay there for the night and head back to the camp or Hilltop in the morning."

"Riven.."

"I am not arguing with the both of you about this. You will not kill Negan. Most importantly, you will not disturb Melanie. This is her house and her property, and you will respect that." Riven interrupted, giving them each a pointed look.

"And we are." Riley spoke, nodding his head, throwing Maggie a look, "We are leaving now, but update us on Melanie's condition."

Riven nodded, "I will."

Riley gave him a small smile, "It was nice seeing you again, kid."

Riven gave a small smile, and Riley turned to face Maggie, who sighed and turned around to walk away.

Riven watched Maggie walk away before Riley followed her, and he let out a deep sighed before turning around and heading back towards the cabin.

He walked up the stairs before opening the door and walking inside, quietly closing the door behind him.

Reagan appeared from the kitchen, a small frown on his face as he approached Riven.

"You look exhausted. Get some sleep, I'll keep an eye on Melanie and Negan." Reagan told him, standing in front of him.

Riven sighed once more, shaking his head, and Reagan pulled Riven into his embrace, feeling Riven relax against him as he wrapped his arms around him, resting his head on his shoulder.

"You did amazing, Riven. You saved her life." Reagan told him, but Riven didn't respond.

He may have saved her life, but he could've accidentally killed her. He was afraid of doing just that.

One mistake could've easily killed Melanie or made her paralyzed.

A throat clearing made Reagan roll his eyes as he turned his head to look at Negan, who sheepishly grinned at him.

"Am I interrupting something?" He questioned,

"Yes." Riven and Reagan replied, and Riven flicked Negan off.

Negan chuckled lightly, "Well, I don't know about y'all, but I am starving! So, breakfast?"

Riven pulled back from Reagan's embrace with narrowed eyes as he looked at Negan, "You do know you have two hands, right?"

Riven suddenly remembered Negan's wrists and how bad they looked eariler, and he walked over to him, grabbing his arm and lifting it.

The rope burn was horrible, and the bruising was a dark shade of purple and green.

"Your wrists look like shit." Riven told him, guiding Negan to the living room and gesturing for him to sit.

"Does that mean we get to cut off his hands?" Reagan asked, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed over his chest.

Riven huffed, sitting beside Negan after getting his medical kit. "Unfortunately, no."

"I guess hating me is a couple goal, right?" Negan threw a smirk at Reagan and Riven.

Negan let out a small shout as pain shot up his left arm as Riven pressed against his bruised wrist. "Ow, the hell, kid!?"

"Oops," Riven smirked a little, his eyes holding fake sympathy for the man in front of him. "My bad."

Negan sighed, "Alright, since breakfast is a no-go. What are we going to do about Maggie? She knows I'm here now, and she won't stop until I'm dead."

"Nothing," Reagan told him with a small shrug, "Nothing at all."

"Negan is right," Riven spoke, "Maggie won't stop until he's dead even if it's gets people killed in the progress."

"So, what do you suggest we do, Doc?" Negan questioned as Riven wrapped his wrists with bandages.

Riven hummed, "Well, I gotta check on Melanie." Riven threw a look at Reagan, who pushed himself off the frame,

"Me too."

Negan let out a small chuckle as Riven and Reagan walked out of the living room and headed to where Melanie was, to her bedroom where they moved her earlier so she would be more comfortable.

He stood up from the couch, and he grabbed a bag from near the door. It was empty, and he walked to the kitchen, filling it with a bit of food for a while before he headed out of the cabin.

He took a deep breath as he stood on the porch of the cabin before letting out a huge sigh, and he walked down the steps, walking away from the cabin.

He paused by the treeline and turned back to look at the cabin with a frown, "Sorry Lucille,"

"The kids are better off without me."

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