twenty two

Ariana rubbed her temples as she walked down the hallway of the Sanctuary, the fatigue of a long day helping in the Infirmary weighing heavy on her shoulders. Her shift had been gruelling, filled with the usual stream of minor injuries and illness that came with life in the Sanctuary. All she wanted was a hot shower and a place to clear her mind, away from the chaos and noise.

As she turned the corner to head back to her room, she almost collided with a group of Saviours who were lounging, cards and chips spread out on a makeshift table. They were laughing, passing a bottle of whiskey around between them, their rough voices filling the air with the scent of cigarettes and alcohol. She'd seen them all before around the compound, their hard eyes and cruel smiles who always made her feel uneasy.

"Hey, look who it is!" Simon called out, his grin widening as he saw her. "Little miss Nightingale. You look like you could use a break. Fancy a game?"

Ariana hesitated, her instincts telling her to keep walking. "I'm exhausted, Simon. I was just heading back to my room."

Simon smirked and leant back in his chair, his boots up on the table. "Aw come on! Don't be a spoilsport! Just one game. Come on. We don't bite. Unless you want us to."

The Saviours burst into laughter, one of them, large and dark with a scar running down his face, patted the seat next to him. "Come on, sweetheart. We promise to be real nice." He said in a mocking tone.

Simon laughed, his eyes glittering with amusement. "You know you don't have a choice right?"

"One game." Ariana sighed before taking the seat reluctantly, tensing as the men's eyes followed her every movement.

She took the cards dealt to her, trying to ignore the men as their gazes felt like hands crawling all over her skin.

"I can tell why Negan likes you." Simon smirked as he dealt the cards.

Ariana rolled her eyes. "What does that mean?"

"You've got a pretty face." The man with the scar slurred, leering towards her. "You're nice to look at aren't you?"

His hand slipped underneath the table, his fingers brushing over the top of her thigh. Ariana recoiled.

"Keep your hands to your fucking self." She snapped, her voice sharp.

The man laughed, a harsh sound that grated against her, whilst he reached for her again. "Feisty. I like a fight."

"Stop it." Ariana snapped, her hands trembling with anger. She stood up abruptly, her chair scraping behind her. "Don't fucking touch me."

The men all laughed, Simon scoffing as he lowered his feet from the table.

"Jesus, can't anyone have a laugh anymore? He was just having a little fun! You know you've got this way about you." Simon replied, his tone dripping with a of mockery and admiration. "Tough as nails but still somehow... appealing. You know how to keep people guessing. I suggest you sit back down and finish the game."

Ariana felt trapped her options narrowing and she slowly sunk back down into her chair.

Simon leant forward and winked. "Good girl."

The man with the scar leant to her ear, his breath stunk as he leant in. "Do what we say or there will be trouble." He grabbed her thigh again, causing her to jolt away.

"Don't fucking touch me like that!"

She was terrified but before she could make a move, a familiar voice cut through the air, laced with cold fury.

"What the HELL is going on here?!

Negan's voice was low and dangerous, more than usual. The kind of tone that made the room fall silent. Lucille resting on his shoulder and his eyes blazing with fury as he took in the scene in front of him.

"Hey boss..." The man with the scar began, his smirk instantly disappearing at the sight of Negan. "We were just-"

Before he could finish, Negan had crossed the room in long strides and had the scarred Saviour pinned by his collar against the wall, gasping for breath as Lucille pressed against his skin, barbed wire digging into his skin.

"Just what exactly?" Negan spat. "You think you can put your filthy hands on MY girl?!"

The saviours eyes widened. "I didn't know she was yours boss." He choked. "We were just messing around! We didn't cause any harm!"

Negan's grip tightened, his knuckles white around Lucille's handle.

"No harm?" He repeated. "Let me make one thing very fuckin' clear. Ariana is mine. You don't touch her. You don't even fuckin' look at her. Hell, you don't even think about her. If you do, Lucille here is going to have to teach you a hard fuckin' lesson. Got it?"

He released him, the saviour sagged against the wall, gagging for breath. Negan turned to the others, his gaze burning into them.

"That goes for all of you. Anyone messes with her, you answer to me. Fun's over. Get the hell out of here."

The men nodded quickly and submissively, quickly scrambling away as Negan approached Ariana, a softer expression on his face.

"You all good, doll?"

Ariana nodded, trying not to cry in front of him. "I'm fine."

"It'll never fuckin' happen again. Not on my watch."Negan lifted her chin to meet his eyes, his movements gentle. "I take care of what's mine. You're safe with me, always."

Ariana's heart still pounded in her chest, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away as the room fell silent. Negan's hand lingered against her cheek for a moment longer before he dropped it to his side. His intense gaze never left her, and the air between them thickened with unspoken tension.

"C'mon. Let's get you outta here. You've had a long day and you don't need to be dealin' with shit like this."

They began walking, Ariana feeling embarrassed and angry at the whole ordeal.

"You didn't have to do that out there. I can handle myself."

Negan let out a low growl, his eyes narrowing as he turned to face her.

"Oh really? And what were you gonna do, doll? Talk 'em to death?" He scoffed and shook his head. "Those assholes don't give a shit about words. They only understand one thing which is force."

Ariana's anger rose at his condescending tone. "I don't need your help, Negan. I'm not your property for you to control."

Negan stopped walking and grabbed her roughly by the arm, pulling her close to him.

"Listen here, princess. You may not be my property, but you sure as hell belong to me. And I'll protect what's mine no matter what anyone else thinks."

Ariana glared up at him, angry tears welling in her eyes. But she saw something flicker in his gaze... something almost resembling genuine care. She hated how he could always make her feel so conflicted.

"I'm tired." She muttered through gritted teeth, trying to break free from his grasp.

Negan's grip softened and he released her with a sigh.

"Fine. Let's get you to bed then." He said, his usual charm returning as he placed a hand on the small of her back. "But don't forget who's looking out for you."

Ariana allowed Negan to guide her back to her room, her emotions still in turmoil. As they reached her door, she hesitated, her hand on the knob. Despite her anger, she felt a lingering unease about being alone after what had transpired.

Negan seemed to sense her reluctance. "You want me to come in for a bit, doll?"

She nodded, unable to meet his eyes. As they entered her small quarters, Ariana sank onto the edge of her bed, suddenly feeling the full weight of exhaustion. Negan leaned Lucille against the wall and pulled up a chair, sitting across from her.

"You gonna be okay?" He asked, studying her face intently.

Ariana sighed, running a hand through her tangled hair. "I don't know."

Ariana's gaze drifted to the small window, where the fading light of dusk painted the sky in hues of orange and purple. The Sanctuary's imposing walls loomed in the distance, a stark reminder of the world they now lived in. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts.

"I just... I don't know how to feel anymore." She admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "The way the world is now... it's just fucking terrifying. I don't know if I can handle it."

Negan leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. The leather of his jacket creaked softly with the movement. "This world ain't easy, doll. It's fucking brutal. But you're stronger than you think."

Ariana looked at him then, really looked at him. Beyond the cocky grin and the intimidating presence, she saw a flicker of vulnerability in Negan's eyes. It was gone in an instant, but it made her pause.

"How do you do it?" She asked softly. "How do you stay so... confident in all this chaos?"

Negan leaned back, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Practice, sweetheart. And a healthy dose of not giving a fuck."

Despite herself, Ariana felt a small smile tug at the corners of her mouth. Negan had that effect on her... infuriating one moment, oddly comforting the next.

The room fell silent for a moment, the only sound the distant hum of generators and the occasional shout from the yard below.

Ariana shivered slightly, the chill of the evening seeping through her thin scrubs. Negan noticed and stood up, shrugging off his leather jacket. Without a word, he draped it over her shoulders. The warmth of the leather enveloped her, along with the scent of smoke, leather, and something uniquely Negan.

"Thanks." She murmured, pulling it tighter around herself.

Negan nodded, his eyes softening as he looked at her.

"Come here." He said, his voice low and gravelly. He held out his arms, an invitation.

For a moment, Ariana hesitated. Part of her wanted to maintain her anger, to push him away. But the events of the day had left her emotionally drained, and the promise of comfort was too tempting to resist.

She stood up and closed the distance between them.

Ariana stepped into Negan's embrace, her body melting against his as his strong arms enveloped her. She buried her face in his chest, inhaling the familiar scent of leather and tobacco that clung to his shirt. His warmth seeped into her, chasing away the chill that had settled in her bones.

Negan's hand came up to cradle the back of her head, his fingers tangling in her hair. He held her close, his chin resting on top of her head. For a long moment, they stood like that, the silence broken only by their steady breathing and the distant sounds of the Sanctuary.

Slowly, Negan guided them towards the bed, never breaking contact. He sat down, pulling Ariana onto his lap. She curled into him, her legs draped over his thighs, her head tucked under his chin.

Ariana nestled deeper into Negan's embrace, savoring the warmth and security of his strong arms around her. His leather jacket enveloped them both, the familiar scent mingling with the earthy musk of his skin. She could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest against her cheek, his heartbeat a comforting rhythm in the quiet room.

Negan's fingers traced lazy patterns along her spine, sending little shivers through her body. His other hand cupped her face gently, thumb stroking her cheekbone with surprising tenderness. Ariana's eyes fluttered closed, the tension of the day slowly melting away under his touch.

"You're safe now." Negan murmured, his voice a low rumble in his chest. "I've got you."