moonlight // negan

ten

Negan left me alone to ponder my thoughts.  I wondered what Jackson would want me to do.  

"Give me a sign, baby brother."  I whispered.  I sighed and stood up.  There was something about Negan that I trusted.  Of course, he wanted to murder my family but there was a side to him I saw when he told me about my brother.  I could see the pain he had when he told me what happened to Jackson.  I was knocked out of my thoughts when I was almost quite literally knocked to the ground but a hand stopped me.  "I'm so sorry."  I said to the person in front of me.  He was young, maybe a few years younger than me.  

"It's okay.  I wasn't paying attention.  I'm Damian Wilson."  He smiled, holding out his hand.  

"Avery Brown."  I introduced.  

"You new around here?"  He asked. 

"Not really.  I guess you could say I was taken and brought here.  This morning, actually.  Negan wants me to join the Saviors."  I said casually. 

"Man, isn't even having you work for points first."  He laughed. 

"What?"  I asked, unaware of what he meant. 

"Negan runs things around here.  Usually you have to work your way up to be a Savior around here.  He uses this point system for the people to receive things.  I'm not really doing justice explaining anything.  It isn't that bad, I promise.  He must really like you though."  Damian complimented.  

"We just met."  I laughed, slightly.  

"I saw him over there with you, that's your brother right?  I heard about that whole thing that happened last year.  I'm really sorry.  I'm sure Negan told you.  He was fuming when he found out what happened.  Tried everything to keep that kid alive."  Damian explained.  Maybe Negan wasn't as bad as I thought.  

"Avery!"  I heard a familiar voice call.  I looked over Damian's shoulder to see Negan strutting our way.  

"I better get going, I'll see you around."  Damian smiled.  He stalked off towards another door.  

"How are you?"  Negan was genuine.  "Why were you talking to Damian?"  He asked, his tone suddenly changing.  

"I feel better, now that I was able see my brother.  Thank you, for all that you did for him.  I literally ran into Damian trying to find you and he explained what happened.  I really appreciate it, even if you didn't know him."  I explained. 

"Your brother seemed like a good kid."  Negan complimented.  

"He really was.  Always put others before himself."  I smiled.  "How long have you known Damian?"  I asked curiously.  "He reminds me of Jackson."  I finished.  

"Rescued him with this all started.  Kind of became like a son to me, I guess you could say.  He's been by my side through this all."  It was almost comedic to me how Negan's manner could change so quickly.  I then realized that Damian Wilson was my sign from Jackson.  The way he reminded me so much of him and how close in age they were.  Damian's genuine personality and his willingness to defend others.  This was a huge risk I'd be taking, but I trusted Negan.  These people had good intentions.  I needed to do what Jackson would have wanted.  

"I'm going to stay."  I said abruptly.  

"You what?"  Negan asked.  He knew what I said, he just wanted to hear it again. 

"I want to stay here.  I want to be a Savior."  I told him again.  A large smile grew across his face.  

"I knew you'd come around."  

"I need to say goodbye first.  Please.  And Daryl, he goes home."  I told Negan.  

"I'll let you say goodbye, but I don't think I can let Daryl go just yet.  He'll be a good asset to me."  Negan smirked. 

"No, he won't give in to you.  It won't be worth it to make him try, I know Daryl better than anyone.  Please just let us go back to Alexandria, I promise I'll come back tomorrow.  Please trust me, my brother is here.  I'm coming back."  I pleaded.  Negan hesitated for a minute.  

"I don't know what it is about you that makes me trust you so easily, but you have a deal."  Negan finally said.  I breathed a sigh of relief.  

"Thank you, Negan.  Right back at you.  Now where's Daryl?"  Negan nodded his head to follow him and I walked along side him to the same doors that Damian walked through.  We walked into a long hallway of cells.  Side by side, some vacant, some holding what looked like prisoners.  Negan walked up to Damian who was sitting at a desk with his feet up.  

"Keys."  He held his hand out as Damian shifted to get them out of his pockets.  He put them in Negan's hands and smiled at me.  I followed Negan to the cell he held Daryl in.  The door swung open and Daryl was sitting against the wall, being blinded by the sudden light.  

"Come on, Daryl.  We're leaving."  I held out my hand to him.  He hesitated but took it and I helped him up. 

"It's your lucky fucking day.  I'm feeling nice.  Get out of my sight before I change my mind."  Negan ordered.  I noticed how his personality changed when it wasn't just him and I.  He became more of the leader he was known for.  

"Did he hurt you?"  Daryl asked me as we made it out of the gates.  I shook my head.  

"Daryl, you need to know that I'm escorting you back to Alexandria and then I'm coming back to live in the Sanctuary."  He needed to know before anyone else. 

"What?  Have you seen those guys?  They want to fucking kill our entire group!"  Daryl yelled.  

"Listen to me.  Jackson is buried there.  Negan's men were the ones who killed my brother last year.  Negan told me that he didn't order that to happen, his men went behind his back.  He doesn't mess with groups that don't mess with his so when that happened, he was furious.  He tried to save Jackson but couldn't, he was already gone when the Saviors brought him back to the Sanctuary.  But Negan killed the guys who did that to Jackson, out of respect for us.  I know this all sounds crazy but I need to go back there, for Jackson.  If I come back here, we won't hurt us anymore, he'll have me, and that'll cause enough trouble."  I explained to him. 

"Are you fucking crazy?"  He asked, but I cut him off. 

"Jackson sacrificed himself for our entire group.  I was the only one who tried to stop it.  Even you didn't do anything and I know you thought of him like a little brother."  I admitted.  I remembered the route we took from Daryl's bike that was left in the vacant town to the Sanctuary.  We had about another hour of a walk to get there.  

"And you almost died along with him by doing that."  Daryl reminded me.  

"It doesn't matter.  I still did something, more than what you can say.  I need to be where my brother is.  I don't care if he's dead, I just need to be there.  I'm saying my goodbyes.  I'm sorry, Daryl."  He wasn't winning this argument.