fourteen

As they drove back towards the Sanctuary, the sky darkened ominously. Fat raindrops began to splatter against the windshield, quickly turning into a torrential downpour. Negan cursed under his breath, leaning forward to peer through the rain-blurred glass.

"Shit." He muttered. "This ain't good."

Ariana gripped the edge of her seat as the car fishtailed slightly on the slick road. The peaceful serenity of their earlier excursion felt like a distant dream now, replaced by a growing sense of unease.

Suddenly, a flash of lightning illuminated the road ahead, revealing a fallen tree blocking their path. Negan slammed on the brakes, the tires screeching as the car skidded to a stop mere feet from the massive trunk.

"Fuck!"

Negan growled, slamming his hand against the steering wheel. The rain pounded relentlessly against the roof of the car, creating a deafening roar that matched the fury of the storm outside. Lightning flashed again, illuminating the tangle of branches and leaves that blocked their path.

Negan turned to Ariana, his face a mask of frustration and concern.

"We can't go back the way we came. Road's probably washed out by now." He ran a hand through his hair, leaving it standing on end. "Gonna have to find shelter and wait this out."

Ariana nodded, her heart racing as she peered out into the gloom. The world beyond the car windows had transformed into a nightmarish landscape of wind-whipped trees and sheets of driving rain. She could barely make out the shapes of the forest around them, everything blurred into shadowy forms in the relentless downpour.

"I think I saw an old cabin about a mile back." Ariana said, straining to remember through the haze of adrenaline. "It was just off the road, hidden in the trees."

Negan's eyes lit up. "Good eye, darlin'. That might be our best bet."

He threw the car into reverse, carefully manoeuvring around on the slick road. As they backtracked, Ariana kept her eyes peeled for any sign of the cabin she'd glimpsed earlier. The windshield wipers worked furiously, barely keeping up with the deluge that battered the car.

After what felt like an eternity, a dilapidated wooden structure emerged from the gloom. Negan guided the car off the road, following a nearly overgrown path that led to a small clearing.

The cabin loomed before them, a dark silhouette against the storm-ravaged sky. Lightning flashed, briefly illuminating the weathered wood and sagging roof. Negan killed the engine, plunging them into a cacophony of rain and howling wind.

"Ready to make a run for it?" He asked, his hand already on the door handle.

Ariana nodded, steeling herself for the dash through the downpour. On Negan's count, they burst from the car, immediately assaulted by the full fury of the storm. The rain felt like icy needles against Ariana's skin, her sundress plastered to her body in seconds. She stumbled after Negan, her feet slipping in the mud as they sprinted towards the cabin's porch.

Negan reached the door first, throwing his shoulder against it. The aged wood groaned in protest but finally gave way, swinging open with a loud creak. They tumbled inside, drenched and shivering, as the door slammed shut behind them. For a moment, the only sound was the pounding of their own hearts, mingling with the muffled roar of the storm outside.

Negan took a deep breath, raking his wet hair back with both hands as he surveyed their surroundings. The cabin's interior was as decrepit as its exterior, dusty, cobwebbed, and filled with the musty scent of decay. The furniture, what little there was, looked like it hadn't been touched in years. An old stone fireplace dominated one wall, filled with ashes long since cold.

"This place has seen better days." Negan muttered, his voice low and rough. He turned to Ariana, who was wringing out her dress, her eyes scanning the room nervously. "But it'll have to do for now. Better than getting swept away out there."

Ariana nodded, still catching her breath. She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the chill seeping into her bones.

"I just hope it's still sturdy enough to hold up against this storm."

Negan walked over to one of the windows, peering through the cracked glass. The rain pounded relentlessly against the cabin, the wind howling like a wild animal trying to break in.

"It'll hold." He said with a certainty that was more for her sake than his own. "But we should get a fire going. Might take the edge off the cold."

Ariana moved towards the fireplace, bending down to inspect it. "There's some old wood here, but it's damp. We might be able to dry it out enough to get it burning."

Negan grabbed an old, rusty poker that lay discarded nearby and began to clear out the fireplace, making space for the logs.

"I'll take care of that. You check around for anything useful. There might be some candles or a lantern around here."

Ariana nodded, stepping carefully across the creaking floorboards. She made her way to a small, rickety table in the corner of the room, where an ancient oil lamp sat, coated in a thick layer of dust.

"Found a lamp." She called out, wiping it down with her sleeve. "Looks like it might still work if we can find some oil."

Negan grunted in acknowledgment, striking a match and holding it to the wood. The flames sputtered at first but gradually took hold, licking up the dry edges of the logs. A faint warmth began to spread through the room, though it was little comfort against the storm's fury.

Ariana continued her search, rummaging through a battered cabinet that looked like it might fall apart at any moment. Inside, she found a few old cans of food, a half-empty bottle of whiskey, and a dusty blanket. She pulled out the blanket, shaking it out before wrapping it around her shoulders.

"Well, it's not much, but it's something." She said, handing the whiskey to Negan, who took it with a grin.

"Now we're talkin',"

He said, unscrewing the cap and taking a long swig. He passed the bottle to Ariana, who hesitated for a moment before taking a sip herself. The liquor burned as it went down, but it also brought a welcome warmth to her chest.

They settled in front of the fire, the flickering flames casting long shadows across the room. The storm continued to rage outside, but inside the cabin, there was a strange sense of calm, a fragile bubble of safety in a world that had long since gone to hell.

Negan leaned back against the wall, his eyes fixed on the fire.

"You did good back there, spotting this place." He said after a moment, his tone softer than usual. "We might've been screwed without it."

Ariana glanced at him, surprised by the compliment. "Just lucky, I guess." She replied, pulling the blanket tighter around herself.

"Nah." Negan said, shaking his head. "Not luck. You got a good head on your shoulders. That's what's gonna keep you alive out here." He took another swig from the bottle, his gaze never leaving the flames. "World's a shithole, but if you keep your wits about you, you'll make it."

There was a silence. It was uncomfortable. Ariana enjoyed watching the flames dance around the fireplace.

"So, what do you say? We've got a roof over our heads, a fire going, and a bottle of whiskey. Might as well make the most of it." Ariana smiled.

Negan raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "What do you have in mind?"

Ariana grinned, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Ever played 'Never Have I Ever'?"

Negan laughed, the sound almost foreign to her in the midst of all the chaos. "Are you serious? That's a fuckin' drinking game."

"Exactly." Ariana said, smiling. "We're stuck here with nothing else to do. Might as well have a little fun while we wait out the storm."

Negan settled back, making himself comfortable. "Well then I'll go first." He said, his voice playful. "Never have I ever... been afraid of the dark."

Ariana smirked, lifting the bottle to her lips.

"Really?" She said after taking a drink. "Never?"

"Not once," Negan replied, his tone teasing. "Your turn, darlin'."

Ariana thought for a moment, then said. "Never have I ever... led a group of survivors in the apocalypse."

Negan chuckled, lifting the bottle and taking a swig.

"Touché." He said, handing the whiskey back to her. "But it ain't as glamorous as it sounds."

The game continued, their questions ranging from lighthearted to revealing, with each round loosening the tension between them. The whiskey flowed freely, warming them from the inside out, as the storm raged outside, temporarily forgotten.

"Never have I ever... used a baseball bat as a weapon." Ariana said with a grin, eyeing Negan.

Negan laughed, his deep, rumbling voice filling the cabin.

"Guilty as charged." He said, taking another drink. "But you knew that one already."

Ariana laughed along with him, feeling a strange sense of camaraderie despite everything they'd been through. The storm outside seemed a distant concern now, replaced by the warmth of the fire and the shared moments of levity.

As the bottle grew lighter, Negan's expression softened, his usual bravado fading into something more genuine.

"Never have I ever... been bad at keeping people close."

Ariana paused, the bottle halfway to her lips. She looked at him, seeing a flicker of vulnerability behind his eyes, something she hadn't expected. Slowly, she took a drink, acknowledging the truth in his words without needing to say anything.

Negan met her gaze, the firelight dancing in his eyes. "Guess we all got our demons, huh?"

Ariana nodded, the unspoken understanding passing between them.

"Yeah." She said softly. "We do."

They sat in silence for a moment, the game forgotten as they stared into the flames. The storm continued to batter the cabin, but inside, it was calm, an uneasy peace between two survivors who had seen too much and lost too many.

Finally, Negan broke the silence with a small smile. "One more round?"

Ariana returned the smile, grateful for the distraction. "Sure. You go."

Negan considered for a moment, then his grin returned, a spark of mischief in his eyes.

"Never have I ever... had to make a run for it in the middle of a storm with a guy like me."

Ariana laughed, a genuine, carefree sound that she hadn't heard from herself in a long time.

"Well, I guess there's a first time for everything." She said, taking another swig of the whiskey.

"I'll drink to that."Negan leaned back, his eyes fixed on Ariana with that familiar cocky grin. "You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you're startin' to enjoy my company."

Ariana smirked, shaking her head as she set the whiskey bottle down beside the fire.

"You think pretty highly of yourself, don't you?"

"Confidence is a survival skill." Negan shot back with a wink. "And it's kept me alive this long."

Ariana rolled her eyes playfully. "Or maybe people are just too afraid to tell you to your face that you're a dickhead."

Negan let out a deep laugh. "Guilty as charged again. But you seem to be handling me just fine."

"Someone's got to keep you in check." Ariana teased, her tone light but with a hint of seriousness beneath it. "Besides, I've seen worse."

Negan's grin widened, and he leaned in a little closer, his voice dropping to a low, almost purring tone.

"Is that so? And here I was thinkin' I was the worst of the worst. Gonna hurt my feelings if you keep talkin' like that."

Ariana raised an eyebrow, meeting his gaze without flinching. "You're not as scary as you like to think you are, Negan."

He paused, surprised by her boldness, then chuckled softly. "Most people would be shaking in their boots right about now."

"Maybe I just know how to read people." Ariana said, her eyes not leaving his.

Negan leaned back, folding his arms across his chest, intrigued. "You've got me all figured out, huh? So tell me, what am I?"

Ariana tilted her head slightly, a playful smile on her lips.

"You're someone who hides behind a lot of bravado, but underneath all that, you're just as human as the rest of us. You put on this big, bad act, but deep down, you care more than you let on."

Negan stared at her for a moment, the firelight casting shadows across his face. He was silent, as if weighing her words, then he slowly nodded.

"Maybe you're right." He said, his voice unusually soft. "But don't go spreadin' that around. Got a reputation to maintain."

Ariana laughed. "Your secret's safe with me."

Negan's eyes twinkled with mischief as he leaned in again, this time close enough that she could feel the warmth of his breath.

"So, what about you, darlin'? You've been keepin' up with me all night, but I gotta wonder... What's really goin' on behind those pretty eyes of yours?"

Ariana felt a blush creeping up her neck but held his gaze, not willing to back down. "You'd like to know, wouldn't you?"

"Damn right I would." Negan replied, his voice low and flirtatious. "You're a mystery, Ariana, and I do love a good mystery."

She let out a small laugh, feeling a thrill at the game they were playing. "Maybe I'll let you figure me out, if you're lucky."

"Oh, I'm always lucky."

Ariana shook her head with a smile, her heart pounding just a bit faster now. "We'll see about that."

Negan leaned back, a satisfied look on his face as if he'd won some unspoken challenge.

"You know, for all the shit that's happened, this ain't so bad. A storm, a cabin, and some good company? Could do a hell of a lot worse."

Ariana nodded, the playful mood tempered by a touch of sincerity. "Yeah, could definitely be worse."

Negan's expression softened for a moment as he looked at her, something unspoken passing between them.

"You know, I wasn't kiddin' earlier. You've got guts, Ariana. Not many people would've kept their cool in that storm, let alone put up with me."

Ariana smiled, the compliment warming her despite the chill in the air. "Takes a lot more than a storm or you to scare me off, Negan."

Negan chuckled, shaking his head. "Damn, I like you. You don't take shit from anyone, do you?"

"Not if I can help it."

Negan leaned in one last time, his voice low and teasing.

"Well, here's to not taking shit and finding trouble where we can."

Ariana met his gaze, feeling the electric tension between them.

"To trouble." She said softly.