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Negan whistled a happy tune, climbing the steps to the room of one and only Judith Grimes.
“Judy! My little princess, how are you doing today?”
Negan was too busy to go to Alexandria for every single pick-up but he couldn’t stop himself from going at least once a month. Part of it was reminding them who was in charge. Another part was messing with Rick and nothing worked better than spending time with his cute-ass kids.
Carl? Carl was an adventure. Negan had spent countless hours with that kid and still couldn’t quite get what made him tick. It was fun and refreshing to interact with him, seeing as he wasn’t afraid to call Negan out on his bullshit. He just wasn’t scared. Not of the dead, not of Negan, not of dying. He was a hard-ass motherfucker and the scraps of the story he had revealed to him were probably just small pieces of the big fucked-up picture of his life.
But Judith. She was the cutest little angel, blunt the way kids just were, too innocent to know who Negan really was and what he had done. She loved him and the gifts he always brought for her and it was driving Rick nuts. Judith didn’t know she shouldn’t like him, didn’t understand he was taking stuff from her family, her community. She saw Negan as the guy who always spoilt her with little tokens of affection and care. Playing with her and parading her outside for everybody to see was just icing on the fucking cake and highlight of his usually shitty week.
He wouldn’t dare lay a finger on her. Despite the cruelty and brutality he usually displayed and entertained himself with, he loved kids, always had, and it’s not like there were that many out there. So whenever somebody went out scavenging, he told them to grab anything a little girl could want and gave out some extra points for all that shit. Toys, puzzles, coloring books and crayons, hair pins. Cute outfits. Anything and everything for the kid that had him by the fucking balls.
Which was why his heart broke a little when she didn’t react with her usual excitement at him kicking open the door of her bedroom. She looked up for a second and hung her head, refocusing on the coloring book he had gotten her some weeks ago.
“What, not even a hug? Aww come on , don’t be like your daddy. Gimme some love.”
Still nothing. Grimes family, Jesus Christ. At this point, Negan suspected that being a little shit just ran in their bloodstream. They were always—fucking always !—difficult.
But forcing Rick into submission was one thing and wrestling with his four-year-old daughter was another. Threatening her didn’t work, he had tried—albeit playfully—and whereas Rick almost shat his pants, the little monster just laughed in his face and told him he was ‘full of shit’. (Carl was responsible for that one if the smirk on his face was anything to go by.)
“Hi, kiddo, you alright?” he asked, sitting on the floor and bracing his back on her crib. “I brought stuff for you. Don’t you wanna see?”
She shook her head ‘no’.
“Wait, seriously? Why not? Is something wrong?”
She looked at him with her honey-brown eyes. She seemed sad.
“You can tell me,” he prompted, smiling encouragingly. “I can’t help if you don’t. So?”
She just stared at him for a moment. Negan gave her all the time in the world to answer him. He could see she was hesitating.
Still, she looked down and went back to coloring. He groaned internally. Shit.
“I can’t say,” she told him eventually.
“Why the hell not?”
“I promised Daddy.”
Negan frowned. He was sure his grip on Rick’s balls was strong enough to keep the man from getting any funny ideas. Was he wrong? Was something brewing in Alexandria, something he didn’t know about? That was another perk of playing with Judith. She was too small to keep secrets and kids had the advantage of seeing more than people gave them credit for. If something was up, she would tell him. He just needed to tread wisely.
“It can be our little secret. You tellin’ me. I wanna help with whatever is troubling you. But I can’t if I don’t know what’s going on, you know? I promise I won’t tell your daddy you told me.”
She hesitated again but after a moment she shook her head vehemently, her light curls dancing around her cute face. “I can’t . I asked and he said ‘no’. He made me promise.”
“So I can help you,” Negan observed. “You asked your daddy to talk to me because I can help, but he made you promise you won’t.” He grabbed her chin and lifted it gently, making her look at him. “You’re a good girl. You want to help. Whatever the problem is, everybody will be happy if you solve it. Your daddy will be happy. Carl, Michonne. You just need to tell me.”
She was struggling internally, the loyalty to her father too strong to break a promise with ease. But she liked Negan, she trusted him, so she relented and said, ”I’m hungry.”
Negan felt as if somebody punched him in the stomach, and then twice as hard in the dick.
But Judith was not finished. “Daddy tried to scavenge more food but he couldn’t find much. I tried to eat less, Carl too, but it’s just not enough. Daddy—he doesn’t eat anymore, says we need the food for you because you need it more but,” the tears welled up in her eyes and ran down her cheeks, “it’s bullshit! We need it too!”
From all possible scenarios, he did not expect that.
After the intial surprise came burning anger.
“Did your dad tell you to say that to me?”
Judith rubbed her eyes and shook her head. He shot her a look to stay put and sprang to his feet. A quick check around the kitchen proved Judith’s words to be true. The only thing they had at home in terms of food were some crackers left in the living room and a few slices of bread, probably saved for Judith. He went through every place he knew contained food but couldn’t find anything edible. Not on its own, at least.
He thought back to the last time he had been in Alexandria, Rick yappin’ in his ear about cutting down on taking from their food supplies and how Negan disregarded his words, too distracted by the man’s ripped flannel to pay attention to his words. Alexandria had plenty at the time, he recalled, and they didn’t have much of anything else to offer. No guns or bullets, laughable amounts of medicine, some booze and cigarettes. The next three weeks when he wasn’t there to pick up their tribute were pretty similar. The winter was a harsh one, so growing stuff and scavenging was not exactly an easy fest, but Rick always had something for the Saviors, making sure his people were protected from their wrath.
But maybe Negan miscalculated. Maybe he was so used to Rick providing for him that he simply got too greedy and missed the obvious signs. Because whatever he thought about that prick, Negan knew that keeping the kids fed would have been his first priority. And if Judith said that she was hungry, their food situation had to be far worse than he could anticipate.
He thought about the way people reacted to them. They had gotten used to the pick-ups ages ago, and understood their place in Negan's little kingdom. They were not exactly friendly, but definitely got past rebelling, leaving only traces of resentment behind. But they seemed just… defeated and hopeless. Rick was not different. He was always quiet, sometimes sassing Negan when he felt like showing off his claws, but this time Negan didn't think he had heard him say more than one or two words.
Which meant that Judith was telling the truth. And he fucked up big time by not paying attention, draining the community of too much. It was dangerous. It put ideas in people’s heads. It made them desperate, and desperate people were unpredictable.
And fucking useless.
With a grim expression, he went back to Judith’s room. He helped her put on a jacket and a cute winter cap with cat ears—he had gotten her that one and she looked fucking awesome—before they went out to the pantry.
“Don’t be mad at us,” Judith begged him, wriggling anxiously in his arms. “Daddy said I can’t make you mad anymore.”
Negan snorted. Rick had no control over his spawn. Why he still even bothered to reprimand them was beyond him.
“I’m not mad,” he assured her. “You were right to tell me, Judy, I promise. We will both sort it out, okay?”
She sniffed. He pushed past one of his man, making him slip on the wet pavement and fall on his fat ass. He didn’t care, though.
“Okay, sweetheart. What would you like to get?” he asked her, showing her the crates of food they had loaded on the truck. “What strikes your fancy, Princess Judy?”
She looked around but didn’t hesitate. She went right for the pack of mint Oreos—shit, Negan hoped she would share—and a can of vegetable soup.
“Anything else?” he asked her, ignoring the protests of his men who eye-fucked the Oreos more than Negan eye-fucked Rick’s ass on a regular basis. And there was plenty of eye-fucking since that prick had amazing goddamn ass.
She frowned and beamed at a can of sweet corn.
“Bring her a spoon,” he said to no one in particular.
It was not a secret Negan took a liking to Rick’s rascals but he never wavered on taking their stuff before. And it hadn’t been all smooth sailing. Far from it.
“Negan—”
He silenced the protests with one pointed look. Someone provided a spoon for Judith. Negan put a blanket over the edge of the truck floor and sat her there. She dug in, swinging her feet up and down, her eyes sparkling with happiness.
“Negan, the Oreos,” one of the Saviors groaned.
“Shut up, Mike.”
“Yeah,” Judith mimicked Negan. “Shut up, Mike.”
Negan cackled, adjusting the cap on her head. Mike sent her a dirty look. “Language, Miss Grimes.” Negan told her off jokingly, amused, and scratched his beard. “Why the Oreos, though? You like a bunch of other stuff in that truck.”
“They were Mommy’s favorite. I want some.”
“I gotcha. Share with me?”
“No.”
Arat laughed, but quickly covered it up with a cough. Negan sighed and looked through the inventory. As he suspected, Alexandria was struggling big time. The last time it had happened, some people tried to hide stuff from him, and he ended up chopping off their arms as a punishment. He knew this shit wouldn’t fly this time around.
After Judith got her fill, Negan confronted Rick who finished up in the infirmary.
“There you are, prick,” he greeted him, his voice playful, but eyes stern and upset. “It seems like we have some shit to discuss.”
Rick frowned, surprised by the cold admission. They had settled into their agreement, the debilitating fear left behind, leaving wariness and mistrust in its wake. “We aren’t short. Everything’s there.”
“Oh, I know. But you see, as a co-parent to this beautiful angel here I couldn’t not notice the alarming lack of basic shit in your house OR your pantry.” Rick blinked, his confusion growing with each sentence. “Here I am, busting my balls day and night to bring this little princess whatever shit her small heart desires. And here you are, lettin’ her get fucking hungry.” He looked around. Everybody was listening. Good. “Do you hear this shit, guys? Rick divorces me so I get half of his shit. BUT I’m a reasonable guy. It’s a shitty time in a shitty world, after all, and kids gotta eat. So here’s the deal and you won’t get another one so listen fucking carefully.” He leaned down, his nose almost touching Rick’s. “I will consider letting you keep the food you have here because Judith asked me nicely . You see, she gets it. We all need to eat. You aren’t worth shit to me dead. But you need to ask for it as well. Nicely .”
Rick seemed more taken aback than angry. His tired gaze moved to Judith who avoided his eyes bashfully. She knew she was in trouble for telling on him.
It had happened time and time again. Negan would make him beg for something, implying he could have it, only to tell him no when Rick relented. He clearly got off on being an asshole. It was humiliating but Rick got used to it.
“Could we keep our food?” Rick asked calmly, his eyes locked with Negan’s. It was clear he didn’t believe it would get him anywhere. “Please.”
Negan smirked. “Atta boy! I’ve gotta tell you, it tickles my balls just right whenever you say ‘please’, Rick. Unload one of the trucks, guys!”
Mike threw his arms, exasperated, but moved his ass to follow the order. Everybody looked incredulously as the food was put back on shelves. Negan sat down next to Judith, trying to wrestle her into giving him at least one Oreo. She pushed it under her jacket to stop his greedy fingers from getting any.
“You see, kiddo? Problem solved. Gimme high five!”
She wrinkled her nose at his wiggling fingers. “No.”
“You are set to break my fucking heart today, ain’tcha?”
“Why would you do that?” Rick asked. Negan looked at him, his usual smirk in place. He knew he confused the poor guy and every situation like that threw him off. But Negan wasn’t joking. Taking too much wouldn’t help anybody. They had plenty at the Sanctuary, so it wasn’t a hardship to leave Alexandria with a smidge more than usual. When the spring came, Alexandria would bloom and produce for them once again. They could take more then.
“Judith said that me needing this stuff more than you is bullshit. Her words, not mine.” Rick groaned. “And you’re worth horseshit dead, so there's also that. I would have to take our kids to the Sanctuary if you died and I doubt they’d like that.”
Rick sighed tiredly. “Can you stop referring to them as yours? It’s disturbing.”
“Hell no! You all belong to me. So she’s mine too. And I always get her cool shit. We can even make it official. I’d love to tap that sweet ass of yours.”
He licked his lips, his hungry gaze moving down to Rick’s crotch area. The man flushed. He had quickly caught on that Negan wasn’t joking.
“Shut up, Negan,” Judith forcefully pushed one Oreo in his mouth, almost choking him. He started coughing, his wide eyes watering from the abuse on his throat. “You talk too much.”
Carl’s obnoxious snickers could be heard from behind the truck.
“This little monkey has one set of lady nuts on her.”
Rick only sighed again, but he seemed relieved that a big chunk of their food was being moved back onto the shelves.
When the Saviors finished, Negan told them to wrap it up and go.
That seemed to be it, but right before Negan climbed into his truck, he stopped and turned to Rick with a smirk.
“Oh, I forgot. I can’t just let you keep everything like that, can I?” Rick tensed and so did everybody around. “I mean, begging me is only going to get you so far. So you gotta pay other way.” Negan grinned and poked his lips with a gloved finger. “And no grandma bullshit, Rick. I want it right here, right now.”
He knew provoking Rick that way was dangerous. Docile and obedient on a regular day, Rick had proved he could still bite if pushed too far. Negan couldn’t help but tease him anyway. He never punished Rick for refusing his advances, and the sexual back and forward was a given whenever Negan came for the tribute. Some people in Sanctuary even bet on it, engrossed in the drama of Negan being fucking slapped on more than one occasion for being a horndog. Over the years, Rick had done more slapping then most, though.
“Gross! Knock it off! That’s my dad, you perv!” Carl protested, his face contorted with disgust.
“You can’t be serious.” Rick deadpanned. Negan had come on to him many times before but there was never anything on the line, regardless of his answer.
“You want this food free of charge or you don’t?”
The man looked around. Everybody was waiting with bated breath for his decision. After about ten tense seconds, Rick shuffled his feet and came closer, grimacing overtly. He moved his eyes over everyone as if looking for a route of escape but nobody was there to save him from that.
“Just a kiss,” Negan’s low rumble was barely louder than a whisper, his eyes eager, lips stretched in his usual grin. “To show your gratitute, Rick. The food is yours. I sure as shit think I deserve a fucking reward for being so understanding, huh?”
It was apparently a wrong thing to say because something in Rick’s eyes shifted. Challenge fucking accepted, his eyes said, before he grabbed Negan by the back of his neck and crushed their mouths together. And it was not a grandma kiss, no sir. Negan’s knees almost gave out under him when a hot tongue penetrated the inside of his mouth, plundering his brain of any logical thoughts. He was used to being with women, their kisses soft and sweet. But Rick kissed as he fought, aggressively and with passion, and, man, did Negan hope he fucked the same way.
When Rick abruptly stopped the kiss and separated their mouths with a loud smacking sound, Negan almost fell on his ass, his body swayed back so much.
“I’m very grateful,” Rick told him, tone weird, lips wet and swollen from the hot kiss, eyes hooded and challenging.
“Hot damn,” Negan finally commented, his lips tingling as if stung by urtica. He shifted his weight, his pants somewhat tighter than a moment ago. All because of a damn kiss with Rick fucking Grimes.
Negan was going to masturbate to that little kiss for weeks, adding some stuff in his mind to make it a little bit more interesting.
“Can someone give me a gun so I can shoot myself? Please?” Carl interrupted Negan’s train of horny thoughts, snapping him out of his stupor.
Nigan shook his head like a dog, showing with his usual dramatics that he broke loose from his sexual fantasies.
“You fucking punk,” he adressed the teenager, giving him a stinky eye. “We will see how gross you find it when you finally wet your dick.”
“Thinking about my dad doing that will always be gross,” Carl countered. “No offense, Dad.”
“None taken.” Rick’s voice was a little weak, cheeks pink. He looked like he was praying internally for Negan to just fucking go.
Negan smirked, catching his tongue between his teeth. Grimes family members were fucking adorable. He leaned into Rick’s space, but didn’t touch him. The way Rick’s body tensed in anticipation made his cock stir.
“See you soon, Rick. And if you haven’t noticed so far, I’m a practical kind of guy. I’m sure we can work out a practical, satisfactory solution for both of us.” He moved his eyes up and down the man’s body. Rick’s eyes narrowed and he bristled at the lecherous suggestion. Amused, Negan bid them a firewall and left.
Somehow, it felt like he and Rick were getting on the same page.