No Way Out •Daryl/Negan•

Live Bait

Daryl stared at the road ahead of him, his fingers tapping nervously at the steering wheel in the process. The truck he drove was loaded with supplies; food, blankets- everything the Alexandrians had worked hard to produce and scavenge for, and every bit of that was going to one place, and one place only. In the clutches of Negan. The man everyone feared- Even Daryl himself and Daryl Dixon feared no one.

The archer cursed his luck of having to be the one to deliver everything to the Saviors' leader, but it was obvious he was the only one. Rick and Michonne wouldn't dare let each other do it, Carl was too young plus Rick wouldn't allow it, Aaron and Eric didn't have the guts, Carol and Morgan were gone again doing god knows what, Sasha volunteered out of grief but Rosita dismissed the idea and vise versa, Eugene was too much of a pussy, and then there was was Maggie, but Daryl couldn't even force her to face the man who mutilated her husband. So the only person to fulfill the job was the rogue hunter himself.

Daryl thought briefly to the conversation Rick had had with him before departed.

"You be careful, ya hear?"the leader told him, his eyes showing real concern. Rick knew this was dangerous, but he also knew this had to be done. Besides, what wasn't dangerous in this knew world they were dumped in? The archer just nodded in acknowledgment but nothing more. Rick continued "We all appreciate you doing this, Daryl. With Glenn being... It's been rough on everyone. Then Negan's demands on supplies on top of it all. It's just good to see someone still functioning correctly."

Daryl scoffs to himself. 'Functioning correctly' was the last thing he'd describe himself as at this moment. He was on the last straw. It was a wonder why he could act so coolly when the worlds gone to shit and you watch everyone you know die one by one. He shivers at the thought of Glenn... of what Negan had done... of what they had. Daryl shakes his head, burring those thoughts away deep inside him.

It wasn't too far from Alexandria before he could make out a three cars pulled over on the road where Negan had made the meeting place to be. Swallowing all fear, nervousness, and anxiousness, he parks the truck to the side and clambers out. Daryl counts eleven Saviors as he looks around; each one loaded with guns and knives. He tries to keep his cool as he spots Negan leaning up again one of the car sides, his posture calm and easy as if no care in the world. In his hand he loosely held Lucille. He subconsciously swallows as the barbed wire glints in the sun. Daryl is subtle as he nears the man, his face forming into the usual 'scared of nothing' face. He crossed his buff arms over his chest in efforts to looking more threatening.

"Well, look who finally decided to show the fuck up," Negan grins to no one particular, pushing himself off the car to stand straight. He was taller then Daryl by a long shot, but Daryl had the muscles. The taller brunette moves to stand in front of the hunter, his eyes daring the man to back down. Daryl, however, stands his ground. Several minutes pass as Negan stares Daryl down before suddenly breaking off to walk past the shorter of the two, to the truck. Wordlessly, he pulls the hatch to the back of the truck up, revealing half of all of Alexandrian goods. It wasn't much. Not nearly enough for what Negan had demanded of, but it was all Rick's group could managed to spare in order to survive. Daryl felt suddenly uneasy.

There's a moment of silence as Negan looks over the load, his lips pursing together. The leader then bursts out into a loud chuckle as if he were amused. He turns to Daryl causing the hunter to pull in a sharp breath. Negan's eyes crinkle as he looks down at the shorter man.

"By God, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to cut me short. You aren't that fucking stupid, are ya?" his smirk fades quickly, replaced by an angry scowl instantly. Daryl tries to keep from fidgeting but the angered frown made him want to cower more than ever. He absentmindedly brings his thumb up to his mouth to nibble on the already bitten down nail.