Chapter Text
Rick woke up only to find himself with his hands tied up and wearing some sort of cotton bag to his head so that he couldn't see. He sighed miserably as he trembled a bit. The room that he was put in, was quite cold. Had woken up early to go scavenge for Negan's tribute when some people had attacked him out of nowhere and kidnapped him. Now here he was. Tied up and defenseless against whoever had taken him.
He heard a door getting opened and felt himself tensing up. Would they hurt him? What could they possibly want from him? He knew someone who liked to kidnap people but he had been very co-operative. Why was he kidnapped now? Heard footsteps getting closer to him and he tensed, expecting to get harmed.
The bag was removed from his head and he blinked his eyes, trying to regain control of his view. Looked up and saw Negan smirking at him. Rick groaned. Damn it, he thought.
"Hello prick" Negan said smugly.
"What the hell do you want?" Rick demanded "I was about to go scavenge for you...-" as he eyed his tied up hands and the bag that Negan was holding.
"I'll admit that my men were harder on you than I would have liked ,but then again you're not so easy to get caught. Had to get you when you least expected it. The tying up is just a precaution..."
Rick looked around and he was at a cell. He felt fear growing inside of him. Was he planning to keep him like he had done with Daryl...?
"Please...I've...why are you doing that? Did I do anything out of line?" Rick asked as he couldn't understand.
Negan smirked a bit at him.
"No, I'll admit that you have been very well behaved lately. Today is a very special day though and that's why you're here"
Rick swallowed hard at that. What day could that be?
"It's my birthday" Negan announced "and... you're my gift"
Rick's eyes went from confused to narrowed as he looked at Negan. Was he serious right now?
"I'm not a gift. I am a human" he snapped at Negan "Untie me right now. I'm out of here!"
Negan pouted but he had expected this reaction.
"Sorry, can't do. For the next 24 hours you are my gift and you'll do whatever I want, because it's my birthday" Negan explained ,like it was something very normal to do.
"Didn't know that being your slave, was called a "gift" now" Rick said in anger. He eyed his tied up hands and the cell that he was in. Had to escape from there and soon.
Negan guessed his thoughts though.
"Everyone knows it that you're here. So even if you manage to escape from this cell, you won't be going far. The only way out, is to behave and tomorrow you'll be let go"
Rick felt miserable. What had he done to deserve this?
"Why the hell would you want to spend your birthday with your enemy? Don't you have so many wives? Let me go Negan, they will be worried about me back home..." Rick pleaded him.
Negan ignored him though.
"You are mine , as you know already. So if I want to spend this day with you, don't get to question it" Negan said to him "Now...will you behave to untie you? Hate having to stay here more than the necessary" he added as he looked around at the cell.
Rick sighed in exasperation. Didn't think that he would manage to get away after all. He was very afraid of what Negan would be doing to him, to "celebrate" his birthday. His feelings didn't matter at all, apparently.
"Ok" he mumbled eventually, defeated "Do whatever you want..."
Negan cut the rope and Rick tried to relieve his wrists from being tied up. He stood up and Negan motioned him to follow. Negan eyed Rick's sore expression and sighed to himself. The guy was acting like he was about to get tortured.
He just didn't have anyone to pass his birthday with and the only person that he would like to be with on that day, was Rick who hated him though and thought only the worst of him. Wasn't planning to keep him more nor to be treating him in a bad manner. Rick couldn't see that though.
He led him to his room where he had asked to be waiting for them, a big and delicious breakfast. Rick walked behind him, very hesitantly and frowned when he saw the amount of food for breakfast. It was ridiculous when his people were barely scraping by.
Negan didn't seem bothered though as he walked to serve himself. Rick dropped himself to a chair. He wouldn't be eating anything. That was stolen food. Negan brought him a plate filled up as well. He sat down opposite from him, eyeing Rick's mood or lack of one.
"I won't be eating food that was stolen" Rick announced and saw Negan pouting at that.
"If you would just try for a bit, you'd make it so much easier..." Negan drawled "you know that nothing grows at the Sanctuary. So why are you accusing me of offering you stolen food? Couldn't have had anything else, either way. Do me the favor to eat, please...?"
"You don't seem to care when elders and kids don't have to eat or that I'm sleeping on laid out bedsheets on the floor instead of a bed, like that comfortable one you have here. What try are you talking about?"
"I don't wish to talk about Alexandria on my birthday or the tributes. Alright?" Negan said defensively although he felt bad for making him sleep on the floor. "You'll eat and that's an order. Don't make me repeat myself" he added demandingly and Rick frowned at Negan's behavior. Negan kept staring at him until he would start eating.
"Wish you had never been born" Rick said instead as he took a piece of bread and ate it slowly. Negan felt hurt at these words.
Many times he wished he hadn't been born as well to not cause pain both to others and to himself. He kept himself from tearing up and began eating with Rick in silence, unsure of what to say. Maybe his idea wasn't so good after all. Should have spent his birthday all alone, like he always did and let Rick be...