Knife Edge [Daryl Dixon]

Chapter Fourteen - These Things (1/3)

Maybe one day we shall be glad to remember even these things. 
Virgil

'You know Rosita, it's always such a pleasure when you come to call.' Negan leaned nonchalantly against the bars of his cell door, 'I mean really, these chats are the highlight of my goddam life.'

Rosita didn't answer, hoping the scorn she poured into her expression would make the thoughts going through her mind clear. That it was a miracle he was alive. That by rights, he should have been dead a long time ago.

But no, everyone in the Sanctuary had either worshiped, or been too scared of the son of a bitch to do it, and now that Will had gone to get Negan some dinner, he was her problem. Okay, Will would be gone five minutes but it was five minutes longer than she liked. 

Two car doors thumped closed in quick succession nearby and Negan looked up at the ground level windows, 'So, it's time for the wagons to roll again, is it?' He raised an eyebrow at her as if he was in the know, 'You found the men Rick was lookin' for?' 

Sighing to hide a grimace, she checked the door again. Negan could fish all he wanted, but she wasn't for taking the bait.

Negan grinned as if her sigh was an answer, 'What? Everyone disappears and I'm left holdin' the fort. Then you come back and the place is like a county fair. You think I don't know what that means?'

Even though Will got antsy when people stirred Negan up, Rosita found it nigh on impossible to spend any time with him without losing her patience. She raised her eyes to the ceiling. Where the hell are you, Will?

'Who's up there?' Negan drawled, picking at a fingernail as if it was of more consequence than his question. 

She snapped, 'You mean, is the Sanctuary up there?'

He slid his gaze from his fingernail to her and as much as he tried to hide it, every inch of his face showed how important her question was to him. 

Words could hit harder than blows. The urge to tell him that the Sanctuary was up there, over thirty Saviors and workers, but that none of them had tried to see him, was almost overpowering. He was alone and forgotten, the way he deserved to be.

For all she said nothing, she was relieved when Will gave a hollow cough as he came back down the steps.

'Sorry,' he said straight off when he opened the door with one hand, balancing a tray with the other. 'I bumped into Nancy.' 

'Don't worry,' she said, then added with exaggerated regret. 'He's still alive.'

Will gave her a warning frown before he turned to Negan and checked the dishes on the tray. With a wry smile, he said, 'Just for a change we have soup and tea.' But he followed the smile with a firm, 'To the back of the cell, please. You know the drill.'

'Really?' Negan grumbled, but he was already on his way.

Rosita felt this was a dance Will and Negan had done a thousand times but Will didn't respond until Negan was at the back of the cell, when he said amiably, 'I'm an old man. Forgive me if I like to follow the rules. But I tell you what, as Rosita is here, we'll forego the handcuffs this time. What d'you say?'

Rosita waited for Negan to make some sort of wise-ass comment, but instead he waited while Will unlocked the cell and slid the tray inside.

It was only when the door was locked again that Negan came forward, though before he bent to get the tray, he spread his hands at Rosita, 'What? You gonna watch me?'

She couldn't believe it, 'So, let me get this right. You're okay with me watching you beat my friends to death, but eating a bowl of soup is too much?'