TIES THAT BIND | Negan Smith

5. Monsters Within

"Auntie?"

Negan's head was on a swivel, whipping back and forth between Rick Grimes, his son, and Thea. His eyes shot around, taking in every aspect of the scene as he attempted to piece together what was happening.

Never in all the time that Smith had known Athena had he seen the color in her face drain in such a way, now standing completely void of the usual rosey tint he found so endearing- and yes, she had attempted to take a swing at him when he first told her as such. But not only was the color gone, the woman was shaking- literally shaking- where she stood.

It wasn't in actuality the most noticeable part about what was unfolding, but as soon as his keen eyes landed on the way in which her hands trembled at her side he knew that whatever this was went beyond the trio simply recognizing one another.

Athena genuinely looked downright terrified, and Negan had never once seen her in such a state.

Slightly scared, perhaps, right when the roamers began taking over the earth and sent civilization into a downward, shit-storm spiral.

Without delay, he moved to the woman's side once more- to where she had stumbled backwards a couple steps to. He did not attempt to touch her again, but his worried gaze flickered over her features, which were trained solely on the two individuals in front of her.

"Thea darling," He cooed quietly, more for the hopeful benefit of snapping her out of whatever daze had taken ahold of her than for the normal reaction he usually hoped to draw out of her- a barely suppressed smile and eyes alight in amusement, "You wanna tell me why Officer Friendly over here has your damn face?"

The fact that Athena and Rick looked strikingly similar was not the part that had caught Negan off guard the most. Sure, the resemblance he now saw plain as day had him second guessing how he hadn't noticed it in the moonlight a few nights prior, but it was the blonde woman's visceral reaction to the people around that saw to the flares of protectiveness and suspicion lighting up inside the man.

Finally ripping his eyes away from the woman beside him, he allowed his piercing stare to rest on Rick, who had still stood, frozen in the place he had attempted to stumble forward from before the woman's countermovement backwards had him halting in his steps. Their gazes clashed, and something flared behind Rick's eyes then, something Negan had no doubt he would hate, but also did not have the time nor energy to care to figure it out.

Athena was more important.

Athena, who ruled with an iron fist. Athena, whom he admired and adored greatly. Athena, who was feared by every single person in attendance- whether based on reputation or actually witnessing first hand what she was capable of. Athena, who was unraveling right before the eyes of a large- unwelcomed- audience.

Although he had already sent away a majority of the Saviors to raid the newfound community and take whatever they saw fit, Alexandria's citizens still stood in a semi circle facing the two co-leaders of the most feared organization in the tri-state area, gawking at Athena like she was a zoo animal put on display. That fact alone had Negan clenching his jaw, sending a withering glare at all the onlookers from behind Athena's head, hating the way they scrutinized her so blatantly in front of him. As if he was above teaching them a lesson about keeping their gazes to themselves when it came to her.

His question had gone unanswered, but that was to be expected. He was the first one to fully register the scene that was unfolding, and one by one he watched as the others in attendance came to the conclusion he laid out so nice and clearly for them. Even the small group of Saviors that still stood nearby- Daryl included in their ranks- had a first row ticket to the show.