moonlight // negan

twenty

After gathering my thoughts, I went to find Negan.  I figured he was in the meeting room and I walked in the direction of it.  Damian was standing outside the door, I'm assuming guarding it.  

"I'm not letting you go in there."  He said, standing in front of the door.  

"Damian, let me go.  I deserve to know what's happening.  This involves Alexandria.  I have people I care about there."  I pushed him to the side and opened the door.  There were about ten men sitting at the table and they all turned to look at me.  

"Avery, you shouldn't be in here."  Negan said. 

"You need to tell me what's going on.  I deserve to know and you know it."  I ordered.  

"Come here, sit."  He motioned me over.  I sat in the seat next to him and listened intently.  "Some of my men, came across people from Alexandria again.  This is the third time they've killed a group of our men and I'm not letting it slide anymore.  This time is was eight people."  His voice became loud.  "I don't care what it takes, bring them here.  They need to be taught a fucking lesson in respect."  He ordered.  

"What are you going to do?"  I asked him, already knowing the answer.  

"Bash their fucking heads in."  He held no emotion when he said those words.  With that, he got up and moved to the door.  I followed him.  He was going back to his room.  Negan opened the door and let me in first.  

"Negan, there has to be another way.  You know I'm not crazy about them either anymore but you can't kill them."  I pleaded. 

"I'm not going to kill them all, Avery.  Maybe just one."  He smirked.  "Besides, you don't feel any type of anger?  I know there's anger in you still about your brother."  He spoke. 

"Please, don't bring Jackson into this."  I whispered, knowing he was right.  

"You know I'm right."  It's like he could almost read my thoughts.  "I want you there."  Negan told me.  I shook my head.  As much as I knew he was right and there was so much anger in me still from Jackson, I don't think I could face seeing them pleading and begging for their lives.  I couldn't bear to see Daryl like that, or Carl, or Rosita.  "Think about it, doll."  He said, cupping his hand on my cheek and leaning down to place a small peck on my lips.  I sighed and walked out of his room.  It was too much to ask.  I didn't know what to do.  I couldn't watch him kill someone I cared about.  

"Avery, wait."  I could here him call to me.  I turned around to face Negan.  He walked closer to me until we were inches apart.  "I know it's a lot to ask.  I'm sorry I brought up Jackson.  But you know I'm right, even if you can't admit it out loud.  This needs to be done.  I can't keep having them kill my men.  This time, it wasn't self defense.  They were on a run and ran into Alexandrians, didn't even have a chance to explain, just shot them off one by one thinking it would solve all the problems.  Damian was there.  If you can't believe me, believe him at least.  I know what he means to you.  He was off in a store when he sat it happening.  It was too late to stop it."  I listened to him explain.  I was believing him, but I needed to hear what Damian had to say.   

"I'm going to talk to Damian."  Was all I told him.  He nodded, understanding.  I turned away from him and began walking.  

"He's in the courtyard."  Negan informed me.  I walked outside and saw Damian on the bench I see him at often.  I sat next to him and he noticed my presence. 

"Tell me Negan is right.  I need you to tell me so I don't feel so guilty with what he's going to do."  I commanded.  Damian turned to me. 

"He is.  We were on a run, ran into them.  I was off in a store by myself and then I heard yelling from our group and then a gun shot and then more.  I couldn't stop it so I was a coward and hid.  The last thing I heard was from Isaac, he said 'Negan is going to find you' or something like that.  And the group ran off.  They didn't even have supplies, looked like they were out to find us."  Damian explained.  I was angry and sad.  I didn't want to believe him but I did.  I nodded my head at his story and stood up.  

"Where are you going?"  He asked.  

"I'm telling Negan that he can do whatever the fuck he wants."  I said, my back facing him.  I was angry and felt betrayed.  All of the anger of Jackson and this flooded in my body all at once.  I opened Negan's door and he was sitting at his desk, a glass of whiskey in left hand and a pencil in his right, writing on a piece of notebook paper.  

"Change your mind?"  He asked, not even looking up because he knew it was me.  I walked over to him and waited for him to face me.  He turned with a smug look on his face, knowing I was angry.  His arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me onto his lap.  "You don't have to say anything, doll.  I know how you feel."  He said.  I rested my head on his shoulder.  

"It's not fair, they were my family."  I mumbled.  

"Sometimes people aren't who you think they are."  He sighed.  I stood up and took his hand.  

"I'm going to see Jackson, come with me?"  I asked.  He smiled and stood up and followed me outside.