𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 // 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘭 𝘋𝘪𝘹𝘰𝘯

ᴄᴏᴜᴄʜ ꜱᴛʀɪɴɢꜱ

I crave being near him. Just for a second. We don't even have to be alone. I just want to know he's ok. I need to know he's watching over our family, making sure they are safe after everything. I hope he gave Maggie a hug for me. 

"Wake up!" His henchman bangs on the floor, his annoying voice startling me. I jump backwards, pressing my back harshly against the cold concrete of the farthest wall from the door. You'd think after two weeks of this I would have gotten somewhat used to it, to expect this, but I still don't.

Some mornings I forget where I even am. I'll wake up with a smile on my face after dreaming of him, reaching my hand up and rubbing my eyes. They fall to the spot next to me and only then do my eyes go wide with dark realization. 

The heavy metal scratches against the floor as it opens, the heavy door revealing sunlight and for a second, I can see the grass and trees just out of reach, right behind Leo's ugly head. "Sleep good?" He yells with a chuckle, his sarcastic tone good enough reason for me to want to claw his face off. But before I can leap off the ground I remind myself he's the only person I've spoken to in the past two weeks besides the ghosts of my past and I sink back into the hard floor.

Bringing my knees to my chest, I wrap my arms around my scratched up legs, wishing I could be wearing more. I just stare at him blankly, unwilling to let him hear me just yet. I'm not going to let them win. 

He shakes his head, standing in the doorway, looking down at me like a predator ready to pounce. Leo hasn't done anything necessarily wrong since I've been here. Sure he's working for Negan and sure he's following his orders but we all do what we're told on the simple hope that maybe we will survive another day. He might be annoying but he wasn't among the men at the line up or even the men who drag me out of the truck and into this shed those weeks ago. If I go along, maybe he'll help me?

"Negan needs you to start eating more, ok?" He asks, his country accent thick as he speaks. It reminds me of him and I swallow harshly. "He doesn't like his wives too skinny, though I think you'd be pretty in any form." Leo looks down, whispering the last part before looking back up. His pale skin is a tint of pink around his neck and the little chest peeking out underneath his button up shirt.

I look up at him strangely before drifting my eyes to the tree swaying behind him, the motion making me slightly dizzy. "Do you miss the outside?" He asks and I scoff, the first noise I've made in front of him. He flinches like he didn't expect it and I roll my eyes, looking back down at my knees in front of me. 

"That was a stupid question, of course you do." He sighs before looking over his shoulder and quickly turning back to me. There's a glint in his eyes I can see even in the slight darkness and a sliver of hope runs through me.

When our eyes meet again I nod my head quickly once, like a hurt mutt begging for a treat. Leo thinks for a while, staring between me and the woods. "Fine, but only for a few minutes" Joy consumes me and I almost say thank you, "But then Negan expects you in his office." My heart drops and my shoulders sag. 

Why did I think that would go my way? 

His dark eyes scan over me, a grin forever etched onto his face even as he licks his lips. We sit across from each other. His couch is black leather, a velvety and rich looking texture in contrast of the floor I've been sleeping on. Mine seems to be a bit older, the brown fabric coming up at the sides and I anxiously pick at the strings poking up. 

I'm not entirely sure why I'm here but I could make a few assumptions. Firstly, I haven't been eating nor talking, I'm not doing what he expects from his wives. A man like Negan needs to have his way. I'm upsetting him. Which means I'm either here for a scolding or sadly, for a "reward".