Work Text:
Maggie winced as her skull hit the wall and she immediately clawed at the hands around her neck, her hair damp with sweat and sticking to her face. Lance had ambushed her in the woods on her way back to Hilltop, two guards at his side that had wandered off at the start of his attack.
A scream bubbled up from her throat, but no sound came out as he crushed her windpipe viciously. A small cough escaped her lips while she struggled, unable to reach the holster around her waist before he unbuckled it with one hand and tossed it aside.
“You should've accepted my offer.” He breathed the words against her neck, letting his nose trail across her skin and into her hair. Maggie squeezed her eyes shut at the contact, kicking her legs wildly to get away. He pressed his body hard against hers, stilling her movement.
Lance trailed his fingers along the waistband of her jeans, and she sucked in a breath to get further away from his touch. He chuckled against her chest as he buried his face in her shoulder and squeezed her throat violently.
Maggie sputtered against his grip, dragging her nails down his arms until they bled. It was pitch black around them, and she could barely make out his face directly in front of hers.
“Thought all you politicians were about image.” Negan's voice cut through the darkened forest, and Lance grabbed the gun at his waist, keeping one hand firmly around Maggie's throat. “You don't come off lookin' too good here.”
Negan stepped into the clearing, his own gun poised.
“If you had half a brain in your head, you'd get the fuck out of here.” Lance warned.
Maggie's eyes slowly fluttered closed, her arms falling limp at her sides.
Negan took a long step forward. “Give her to me.” he demanded, extending his free arm towards Maggie.
“I can make you very comfortable at the Commonwealth.” Lance smirked, pulling her away from the wall and letting her body slump over him his arms. He pressed the small pistol to Maggie's temple and maintained eye contact with Negan as he ran his tongue along the shell of her ear.
Negan chuckled, repositioning the heavy gun in both hands. “You tryin' to bribe me?”
Lance seemed preoccupied with the smell of Maggie's skin, pressing his nose against the side of her neck where her pulse throbbed beneath the surface.
“You're used to getting what you want without a fight.” Negan's eyes narrowed, itching to squeeze the trigger. “That's not how it's going down today.”
Lance finally met his gaze and grabbed the walkie talkie at his belt, keeping Maggie close against the front of his body. “Yellow, come back.” When he got no response, he spoke again, louder this time.
“If you're looking for those two idiots you came with, I put em down half a mile back.” Negan said, watching as panic bled into Lance's features. “I'm only gonna say this one more time, asshole.” He sneered, keeping his eyes behind the sight of his gun. “Give her to me, now.”
Lance shoved Maggie forward, quickly raising his hands in surrender.
Negan grabbed for her, pulling the trigger in the same moment. He pressed two fingers to the side of her neck, and her pulse thrummed beneath them. He fastened the button of her jeans easily, muttering something behind clenched teeth. Readjusting her against his chest, he carried her through the gates of the Commonwealth.
______________________________________________________________________
His usual spot in the woods was already occupied later that night when he stepped through the trees, Maggie seated on the large, broken stump in the center of the clearing.
“You didn’t have to do that, you know.” she said as he approached.
He hummed in response, taking in the bruises along her neck and jawbone.
“One less jackass to worry about.” he replied coldly, flipping the small knife between his fingers.
“What’s your angle?” The question had been racing through her mind the last two years, and hearing it finally settle in the air between them made her spine stiffen.
“The fuck you mean, angle?” His eyes narrowed as he took a step closer. “Would you rather I have left you alone with him?”
“Yes.” It wasn't the answer he expected. “The last thing I want is to owe you.”
“Jesus, Maggie.” he breathed, running his hand through his hair. “I won’t be coming to collect.”
Her voice shook even as she tried to prevent it. “How can I know that?” she whispered, swiping a hand below her nose. “Why would you do anything but sit back with a smile on your face and watch me be torn apart?”
Negan's fist flexed at his side before he suddenly slammed it into a nearby tree trunk, the bark cracking from the powerful blow. “I already ripped you to pieces years ago.” He pushed the words through his teeth, his jaw tight. “Does it look like I’m fucking smiling?”
Silence filled the space between them before she finally spoke. “Thank you.” she whispered, wrapping her arms tightly around her middle. “Hornsby, he's...” she trailed off, biting the inside of her cheek. “He's been watching me since the day we met.”
Negan puffed out a breath as if that was obvious. “Dude like that doesn't deserve to breathe.” he spat, his jaw tense. “Who knows what the fuck he would've done to you or that kid.”