Work Text:
“It's okay, Maggie," he put his hands lightly on her shoulders. "Focus on me and breathe. You're okay. You're safe."
Was she?
"Breathe in. Then out. Just focus on me darlin' and do what I do."
Maggie stared up at him confused.
Negan studied her, his concerned gaze tracing over her face. Then he pulled her against his chest, folding her into a hug. On instinct, she clung to him and did as he’d asked, trying to mirror him as he pulled in deep, slow breaths.
"There you go," he rubbed her back, the motion soothing and comforting at the same time. "Just keep breathing, darlin’. You're safe."
A sob tore from her throat as her body shook and her knees buckled.
"You're okay," he breathed out, gripping her tighter. "It's okay, Maggie. Everything is okay.”
"I don't… What… What's happening?" Sobs punctuated her aborted sentences, and hot tears spilled over her cheeks.
"It's just a panic attack," he said quietly, his lips next to her ear. “Just breathe through it.” He pressed a kiss against her temple. “It's okay.” She clung to him and cried, unable to stop, and by this point she didn't even care. She was tired. So fucking tired.
"It's okay," he said and kissed her temple again. "Let it out, Maggie. Let it all out." She buried her face in his neck and did what he said.
He held her in his arms until her tears dried and her breathing finally returned to normal.
"Negan?"
"Yeah?”
"Why are you being nice to me?”
"Because contrary to what you may think, I'm not actually a monster." She felt his lip curl into a crooked smile against her temple.
"But you know I was going to hand you over to the Croat."
"Maybe. But you need someone to look after you right now."
"I'm so confused," she mumbled.
"I know." He dropped a kiss on her forehead. "But just take the goddamn comfort, Maggie. You can go back to hating me in the morning.”
“’Kay.”