As they stood at the grave of the young woman he now knew as Maggie, Negan was wracking his brain, trying to find a way to convince this man of god to marry him and Sky. Of course he could just take the man with him, no questions asked… that part was easy.
But how did he stop the man from telling Rick and the rest of these assholes about the woman that meant everything to him? The last thing he needed was his enemies knowing about her, it was bad enough that his own people knew, because not all of them could be trusted.
He could always just keep him and he could become a part of the saviours, but he didn't feel like a man like him would be of much use for anything else. When Ricks whining little kid ran up to his dad, complaining that Negan's men were taking all their medicine, he couldn't help but get annoyed.
"You said half!" the boy yelled. "You're taking all of our medicine!"
"I said half your shit, and half… is what I say it is" Negan smiled cockily.
While Rick tried to calm his kid down, Negan took the opportunity to talk to the preacher man. "Father Gabriel is it?" he asked.
"Yes sir" the man replied politely.
"Are you an actual fucking man of god?"
"I am indeed" he smiled, trying to ignore the profanities.
"So you can legally do all the things required of a 'pastor' or whatever the fuck it is that you are?"
"Is there something you need from me?" Father Gabriel asked.
"As a matter of fact, there is someone back at my compound that could use your services" he told him vaguely, and the man eyed him suspiciously but didn't question any further.
"Right! I think we are about done here… except we are gonna be taking all your guns… can't have the young boy here going off all half-cocked with a weapon now can we. I certainly don't need you serial killers murdering any more of my people" Negan said as he signalled to his men to finish rounding up the supplies and load up the trucks. "Oh and I'll be taking the preacher man" he told Rick.
"Father Gabriel? Why? You already have Daryl" he said, not bothering to argue about the guns at this point, he knew when he was defeated. It was better to just cut his losses. They could always find more.
"Are you questioning me Rick? Are you telling me no? Because that wouldn't be very fucking smart now would it?" Negan said getting in the man's face in a threatening manner.
Rick gave Father Gabriel a look that said 'my hands are tied here'. "I'll go with you" he agreed quietly.
"Good. Then we don't have a problem here" Negan smiled charmingly as he wandered back towards the gate, the preacher and the leader following in behind.
Before they could leave he caught sight of the dark woman with the dreadlocks carting a deer back towards the gates, and he turned to Rick eyeing him.
He allowed Rick a moment to go talk to the woman, and lucky for him he seemed to get through to her as she came back inside with him. "I thought she was scavenging, but she was hunting" Rick offered. "This one never came inside" he said as he handed Negan the hunting rifle she had used.
"Look at this… this is something to build a relationship on. Good for you Rick" he smiled. "This is reading the room, and getting the message. I said it before and I'll say it again. You sir are special".
"Now that you know that we can follow your rules. I'd like to ask you if Daryl can stay" Rick said pleadingly.
"Not happening" Negan countered quickly. "Now what you gotta do is get over that tall wall of yours and earn for me, because we're coming back soon. And when we do you better have something interesting for us, or Lucille, she's gonna have her way" he threatened. "I want you to hear that again" he said as he leaned in closer. "If you don't have something interesting for us, somebody's gonna die" he smiled. "And no more magic guns…"
