Running From You I Negan x Maggie (ENGLISH VERSION)

Chapter 1 - Thorn in the Shoe

Maggie's eyes burned as she turned slightly to see who had arrived unannounced. The brightness of the sun dazzled her vision as she looked at the grizzled man in front of her. She noticed the crowbar being gripped by the older man's long fingers, prompting her to instinctively reach for the holster at her waist, searching for her dagger.

The green eyes held the hardness of Negan's gaze. The tension in the air was palpable, and for a moment, the man forgot to breathe. Maggie lowered her gaze to the freshly buried body, trembling, waiting for the moment she would have to strike. She took a deep breath through her nose.

"You always do what you did, don't you, Maggie?" Negan's voice was low and calm, different from his usual tone. But the small smile at the corner of his mouth never left. Green eyes stared at him intensely, causing Negan to flinch. "Oh...I don't blame you, but you know in my case here, promising or not...it's just a matter of time until you do the same thing." He explained patiently.

He saw when Maggie finally lowered her gaze and felt like he could breathe again. He noticed when the woman in front of him moved dangerously slowly, but he did nothing out of respect.

"So...I'm not going to give you the chance to do that...at least not when I'm not expecting it." Negan chuckled humorlessly, pursing his lips afterward. Maggie got up without haste, already with the dagger in her hands. "You'll have to decide that now, darling..." The man's mocking smile widened, and Maggie tightened the dagger firmly.

x----x

That was a good day, actually it was a damn wonderful day! Negan hadn't felt relieved like that in a long time. The threat of the Whisperers had been extinguished, and with his help! He had killed Alpha, and now he had at least the respect of a good part of the Alexandrians.

Negan walked calmly with Lydia by his side to the supply cart. The teenager smiled sincerely as she recounted how she and Carol had gotten rid of the horde of walkers, leading them to the cliff. The morning was cold in the forest, the cool wind kissing the man's lean cheeks.

Negan couldn't remember the last time he could just chat with someone, with no ulterior motives since he left his cell. Lydia was good company and liked him; that feeling of belonging, of being part of a group and something bigger, was slowly taking hold of the man.

"Just one more, kid." Negan lifted the last bag of supplies onto the cart, where Gabriel was. "Damn, today we're gonna have a damn celebration!" Negan exclaimed proudly, making Lydia smile shyly.

"These supplies are for the community, Negan," Gabriel calmly reminded. "We can't overdo it, we're still short because of the damage from the Whisperers in Alexandria," he lamented.

"Just kidding, father." Negan mocked with his hands up in surrender. "You Alexandrians have no sense of humor," he complained, puffing. "See you later."
"So are you going to stay?" Lydia asked eagerly.

"For now." The older man gave a gentle smile to the girl. Lydia approached timidly for a fraternal hug. Negan always liked children and felt a different connection with Lydia, as if he could protect her from what Alpha had broken. "See you later, kid."

Lydia left his embrace, giving a final smile and going to the other side of the cart. Jerry and his wife were also with the convoy and waved to Negan, who stayed behind.

"All be safe." The priest smiled sincerely at Negan and left. As the cart moved, Negan's heart stopped. And a shiver ran down his body. Two emeralds stared at him with the same shock he had.

He had dreamed of those emeralds a few times during the six years he spent in that cell. He remembered the coldness and misery those eyes left him when he had begged her to let him stay with Lucille. But no, she condemned him to stay in the dark and alone, wasting away.