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Rick quietly made his way out of the walls of Alexandria, careful not to make any noise as to not alert whoever was on watch for the night.
Truth is Rick has had a hard time adjusting to life at Alexandria once Andrea died and Carl moved to Hilltop.
After all he has never had an empty house to himself. Going from living with his parents, to rooming with Shane, to finally moving into a house with Lori.
Needless to say the silence was starting to drive him insane. After all everyone he had called a friend had either passed or moved away.
Between Aaron, Jesus, and Maggie at Hilltop and Michonne and Eugene at Commonwealth he didn’t have anyone from his past to talk to.
As a last resort he went to the only person he had left, Negan.
Once Rick rached the door of the small wooden cabin Negan had been placed in after being let go as a prisoner in Alexandria, he gently knocked twice.
Rick heard a bit of shuffling through the door before the door opened to reveal Negan in boxers and a plain white t-shirt.
“To what do I owe the glorious honor of seeing the ferocious leader Rick Grimes at my doorstep in the middle of the night,” Negan said, rubbing his eyes showing to Rick that he most likely woke the other man up from his slumber.
“Can’t sleep, haven’t been able to for a while. Mind if I come in?” Rick asked, shifting his weight between his feet.
Negan didn’t say anything, just stepped aside and gestured for Rick to come in, shutting the door once Rick stepped through.
“Sorry for the mess, I wasn't exactly expecting company,” Negan said quickly, picking up some clothes that were thrown around the room, tossing them in a basket against one of the walls.
“Sorry for waking you if I did, it’s just been hard adjusting to life since everyone else I know lives miles away,” Rick said frowning, taking a seat on the small grey sofa that sat in the middle of the room.
“Ah don’t worry about it Rick, always a pleasure to see the legend himself. I don’t exactly get out much since you know, why don’t you fill me in?,” Negan suggested, taking the spot next to Rick on the couch.
So Rick told Negan about the Commonwealth and how he essentially stopped a civil war from breaking out by taking their leader out of power.
“Well you are good at taking people out of power,” Negan chuckled, getting a glare out of Rick.
Just then, Rick let out a yawn as his eyes got heavier. Sensing the other man’s fatigue, Negan grabbed the quilt sitting on the back of the couch and placed it on top of them both, trying to indicate to Rick without words he was free to fall asleep here if he wanted.
And just that is what he did. Rick’s head fell into the crook of Negan’s neck, the feel of another warm body subconsciously allowing Rick to feel safe enough to get some proper rest for the first time in a while.
Something that would eventually become a routine to the pair until eventually Rick made less and less trips back to Alexandria and more and more stops into Negan’s bed.