The start

The Iron

"Come in." Negan clears his throat.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, sir, but, uh you left Lucille out by the truck." Fat Joey walks inside.

"Seriously? I never do that. I guess a kid firing a machine gun is a little bit of a distraction. All jokes aside, you look rad as hell. I wouldn't cover that shit up. It may not be a hit with the ladies, but I swear to you, no one is gonna screw with you looking like that." Negan chuckles as he points at Carl.

"No, sir." Fat Joey response as he looks Carl up and down.

"Fat Joseph, did you carry her all the way up here for me?" Negan asked.

"Yes, sir."

"Were you gentle? Were you kind? Uh Did you treat her like a lady?"

"Mm, yes. Yes, sir." Fat Joey says.

"Did you pet her little pussy like a lady?" Negan asked. My eyes widen. What the hell? So did Fat Joey's.

"I'm just screwing around, man. A baseball bat doesn't have a pussy." Both Negan and Fat Joey laugh.

"Get the hell out." Negan tells Fat Joey as he scrambles out of the room.

"Now, you see? That's what I'm talking about. Men breaking each other's balls. This is the shit your dad's supposed to be teaching you." Negan sighs.

"What do you like to do for fun? You like music? I want you to sing me a song." What? Right now?

"What?" Carl asked.

"Yeah. You mowed down two of my men with a machine gun. I want something in return for that. Sing me a song." Negan says. Sing a song? Are you serious?

"I, I, I can't think of any." Carl stutters.

"Bullshit! What'd your mom used to sing you? What'd your dad play in the car? Start singing." Negan tells him. I tighten my grip around Carl.

"Uh You are my sunshine." Carl starts.

"Go on." Negan encourages Carl. Carl looks at me as I nod my head.

"My only sunshine. You make me happy When skies are gray." Carl sings as Negan swings his bat causing him and I to flinch.

"Do not let me distract you, young man." Negan says as he kept swinging the bat.

"You'll never know dear, how much I love you. So Please don't take my Sunshine away." Carl finishes the song. My eyes tear up as I hurry to wipe them away.

"That's pretty good. Lucille loves being sung to. It's about the only thing she loves more than bashing in brains. Weird, huh?" He walks over

"Did your mother sing that to you? Where is she now?" Negan asked. Carl sniffles again.

"Damn. Dead, huh? You see it happen?" Negan asked. That's not something you ask.

"I shot her before it could," Negan cuts him off.

"Damn, no wonder you're a little serial killer in the making. That was an example of breaking balls, by the way. Come on, kid. Get up. It should be ready." Negan says as he stands up.

"What should be ready?" Carl asked.

"The iron." His voice was deep and caused me to shiver. We head out of the room up to the platform. Everyone was gathered down below and kneeled. I could see Daryl look up at us as he held a mop. There was a single man sitting in a chair isolated. He was going to get the iron. Negan walks to the railing as Carl and I stayed back a few feet.

"Hold that for me." Negan hands Lucille over to Carl as he hesitates to take it.

"Harley, baby you stay with Carl." Negan smiles at me. He then turns to face the people who were all kneeling. My face scrunchies up. He has always called me sweet Harley or Sweetheart. Never baby. I hated it.