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batbloodhoney-blog · 8 years ago

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Bringing Up the Bodies

I apologize for taking forever! Life is just...you know. Anyway, here we go!

Chapter Twelve: Conflicted

Yes! But I’ll be back! You know I will!

Will you message me when you get there?

Duh, Mimi!

Naomi’s eyes burned with a fresh batch of tears. She seemed to be crying for the millionth time; she saw her sister’s bags at the door, by her feet made her upset, made her want to cry harder. Her closest friend, her only friend, the only person who truly understood her -aside from her father- was leaving her behind. I’m being selfish, she thought, Rosita is smart and normal, popular, beautiful, and she had to get out, I can’t hold her back.

“Gimme a hug,” Rosita had said, her arms out wide.

She couldn’t deny her big sister a hug, even though she was feeling upset with her. It wasn’t something she should be upset with, she was making something of her life; she was traveling, she was going to live and I had to deal with it - Naomi thought deeply. Rosita pulled her into a tight hug, her lips brushing against the apple of her cheek. She groaned happily, squeezing her little sister tightly; Naomi squeezed her back, the tears undeniable and free flowing.

“I promise I’ll message you,” she said softly against Naomi’s ear. “I’ll iChat with you when I can, okay?”

Naomi traced her fingers against her back, slowly so Rosita could understand, OK.

Her memories faded as a sharp rap came on the bathroom door. Naomi was back upstairs in the wives quarters; Sarai had helped her into the wives bath so she could clean the blood from her hair and neck. The painkillers she was given made her head swim and her faded memories more prominent.

“Naomi, are you okay?” Sarai spoke loudly behind the door.

Naomi knocked on the wall, letting her know she was fine.

“Okay, I’m just checking. We’re going to be having dinner soon, I don’t want your food to get cold,” Sarai leaned against the door, waiting to hear a sound.

Again, Naomi rapped her bony knuckles against the wall, letting her know she understood. Sarai let out a soft sigh, leaving her alone; Naomi let her memories fade, shakily standing, her knees tightened and didn’t fail. She held the steel safety bar, then turned on the faucet, letting the cold water wash over her head. At that moment, all feeling she had was fuzzy and didn’t bother her all that much; the painkillers were a miracle, she was able to move without feeling any pain or any sort of barrier. After rinsing off, she turned the water off and climbed out of the tub; her knees wobbled but did not give out from under her.

“Dinner’s ready!” A female voice Naomi hadn’t recognize called.

Naomi wrapped herself up in a large white towel she had been given. Standing in front of the sink, she checked her head and stitches, and then she looked at herself; there was a large blotchy purple and yellow bruise fading under her stitches up to her temple and the apple of her cheek. She touched the bruise with her fingertips, feeling the skin pound and burn under her touch.

“Naomi?” A different voice called. “I have some clothes for you.”

Naomi turned away from the sink and mirror, moving slowly to the door, careful not to fall. She managed to get to the door and open it; the girl smiled, her arms full; “Need me to come in?”

Naomi stepped back, holding onto the sink. Naomi tries to remember the girl’s name, but she had only met her briefly as Sarai had wheeled her inside the wives quarters and straight to the bathroom.

The girl set the clothes down on the sink beside Naomi, and stepped back. Naomi signed a thank you, causing the girl to smile wider, “That’s pretty neat. Uh, well, do you need any help? Sarai told me to ask.”

Naomi shook her head, the wet tips of her hair whipping against her neck. The girl nodded and stepped towards the door, “Okay, well, we’re all eating in the dining room…just knock if you need any of us.”

Naomi thanked her again and watched her leave, the door clicking closed once she was out of sight. She let out a soft sigh and began to dry her body, noticing she was given lotion and hair products on top of the clothing. Naomi wasn’t sure if she wanted to put any on; her mind and decision making was slow and fuzzy, she didn’t seem to care either way.

Swallowing, she grabbed the small personal bottle of nondescript lotion and poured some on her hands. The painkillers let her mind float as she rubbed her away at her skin, carefully moving so she wouldn’t fall. She seemed to be balancing better, she didn’t notice any failing movements as she continued to dress and then as she brushed her teeth. Her knees knocked as she stood up straight and brushed out her hair, careful of her stitches; she still had no memory of being struck.

“Where is Naomi?”

Negan had returned; he sounded tired and fatigued. Naomi tied her hair back and looked up at herself in the mirror. Her mind was blank, though she knew she didn’t want to see him; she didn’t understand why she wanted to avoid him, but she was sure it had something to do with him moving her upstairs.

“She’s in the bathroom,” a female voice had said.

“Thanks,” Negan exhaled deeply; his large footfalls coming close to the door.

Negan wasn’t in the mood to be bothered with a single soul except one. He had spent the entire day and evening looking for Dwight, Sherry and Tina with his men. His temper was short, and he knew he’d feel somewhat better upon seeing Naomi.

He knocked on the bathroom door, opening it then without approval. He was surprised to see Naomi standing on her own, her tiny figure facing away from him, but her large brown eyes met his in the reflection of the mirror. Naomi raised her hand to wave at him, her body shifting a bit; Negan smiled, again releasing a small sigh.

“Hey, baby doll,” he stepped in, shutting the door behind him, “how ya doin’?”

Naomi shrugged, then turned towards her whiteboard sitting at the corner of the sink. She wrote quickly, and then slowly turned around, showing Negan the board; I feel okay, kinda fuzzy feeling. How are you?

Negan still smiled, “I’m okay. Rough day…” his smile faded then as he remembered the day’s journey. “We haven’t found them yet, baby doll.”

Naomi wrote on the board; It’s okay

He frowned deeply upon reading her response, “It’s not okay,” he stepped forward, his hand raising up and touching her stitches and then trailed to the bruising around her temple and cheek. “You need ice.”

His rough and calloused hands felt soothing against her face; she assumed it was due to the painkillers. He smelled horrible, like the dead, and it only reminded her of the Wolves. Her stomach knotted unforgivingly, she turned her head away from his touch and lifted the board to write.

You need a shower yourself

Negan let out a deep laugh when he read it. He shook his head, “Oh, baby doll, you’re the only one whose ever told me I stunk.”

Naomi smiled faintly, shaking her head. She began to write, You smell like the dead

“I know,” he grinned. “I wanted to check up on you before I cleaned myself up. You,” he cupped her cheek, “you needa eat, baby doll. Sarai’ll show you to your room after dinner, alright?”

Naomi nodded obediently; she still didn’t like the fact she was now going to be living upstairs. She didn’t like the idea of being a “wife”. She did like Negan, but being known as a wife reminded her too much of the Wolves, how she and the other girls that survived were passed around like nothing. She didn’t want to be nothing again, especially not to a man who saved her life.

Negan could see the distracted look in her eyes and dropped his hand from her face. He leaned in and kissed the bruising around her temple and then started out the bathroom. Naomi wanted to reach out and stop him, but she didn’t know why, she was conflicted, she just wanted him close again.

He left the room as quickly and quietly as he had entered. She heard his booming voice say something, but she could not make it out, nor did she strain to hear. Just as quick as Negan had entered, Naomi dressed, her knees wobbling and shaky.

“Is she okay?” Sarai approached Negan as he exited the bathroom.

Negan shrugged, “Seems fine. She just needs to eat, make sure she does.”

Sarai watched Negan navigate around her and go towards the women, immediately taking Kae’s arm. His grasp was firm but not rough; Kae stumbled as she stood, “What–?”

Without much explaining, Negan led her out the parlor, “Me and you needa get more acquainted.”

Kae looked back at the others, raising a brow; Tanya just shook her head, mouthing, “Go,” as she stumbled in her heels. Negan and Kae were gone within seconds, the large parlor doors shutting hard. They could hear the clicking of Kae’s heels straighten and then start to fade, heading towards her new bedroom.

“What’s up with him?” Tanya asked, her attention towards Sarai.

“He’s worried about her,” Sarai answered, nodding her head towards the bathroom.

“How come?” Tanya was confused by this; Negan never seemed to care about anyone or anything -aside from Lucille. It was odd that he had seemed upset about this girl getting hurt; the thought was confusing and a bit upsetting to Tanya.

“Well, she’s so tiny and defenseless,” Sarai explained, “someone hurt her and stole from him, what do you expect?”

Before Tanya could respond, Naomi came walking in, her knees knocking slightly. Sarai hurriedly rushed to her side, “Naomi, you should’ve knocked for me!”

Naomi only shook her head, but accepted Sarai’s help to the plush couch. After sitting, she set her whiteboard in her lap and wrote: I need ice for my head

“Okay, I’ll get you ice, and then you should eat,” Sarai affirmed.

Naomi smiled, looking up at her, signing, Yes mom

“I dunno what you said, but it better not be mean,” Sarai teased.

She continued to smile waved Sarai away. Tanya only watched, in her own mind she was beginning to grow an ego, one she hadn’t known was becoming unleashed. In such a short amount of time she was beginning to feel superior.

“Are you gonna eat?” Sarai asked Tanya.

Tanya shook her head, shaking away her thoughts, “Uh, yeah, gimme a sec.”

Sarai went back and grabbed a bowl of rice for Naomi. Naomi ran her hand over the bruise on her cheek, wincing slightly. Sarai got back, handing her a bowl and the ice pack, “Here ya go.”

Naomi signed to her, thanking her before taking the bowl and ice, placing it against her cheek. Sarai left Naomi alone, going and sitting at the table with Tanya, eating the chicken and rice they made. They both talked a little, having put on the boom box Negan had gotten for them, playing soft rock from the 60’s CDs that he had found. It was the only music the girls could tolerate, and the soft sounds seemed to put Naomi to sleep, as she had drifted off on the couch with the rice finished and the ice still on her cheek.

“Do we wake her up?” Tanya whispered as they prepared to head to their rooms for the night.

Sarai shook her head, “Nah, I’ll just get her a blanket. You can head off to bed.”

Tanya made a face, “If I can, my room is right next to Kae’s.”

Snickering, Sarai gave her a playful push, “She’s new, I bet they’re already done and Negan’s in his room.”

“I hope,” Tanya hummed. “Goodnight.”

“‘Night,” Sarai waved as exited the room.

The room fell silent; Sarai had shut the music off, then moved towards the closet, grabbing one of the few quilts they had inside. She unfolded it, carrying it and set across Naomi as she continued to sleep, and then took the melted ice pack from her face. Sarai let out a soft sigh, seeing what Negan could see: a fragile little girl who needed protection.

The sight of Naomi made Sarai think deeply about her predicament. She was scared, deep down, and didn’t know what to do, or how to tell Negan. She knew that he would be upset…he would be angry, she thought, really, really pissed when I tell him. The thought of getting rid of the baby frightened her as well; I won’t be able to keep up if I’m nursing myself…Negan’ll ask what’s wrong and then Carson will have to tell him. Sarai wrapped her arms around herself, swaying as she thought, then sighed deeply; I should tell him…maybe he’ll be okay…maybe even happy…

Sarai rolled her eyes, knowing the mention of a baby would upset him. She felt overwhelmed and exhausted, deciding then to head to bed herself. As she began to leave, she grabbed Naomi’s whiteboard and left her a note:

Naomi: We went to bed, didn’t want to wake you. When you wake up, come out the parlor, the second door on the left with the painted S on the door is my room, wake me up and I’ll help you. If you don’t wanna get up, just stay in the parlor and make yourself at home. There’s some good books on the table behind you. -Sarai

Sarai dotted her note with a heart and set it upright on the table in front of a tumbler. Naomi still slept soundly, her breathing was heavy and even. Sarai brushed her hair back, frowning slightly upon seeing the Wolves scar; “Poor thing,” she whispered softly, brushing her hair back.

Sarai left then, leaving Naomi be.

@negans-network @melodicdolls @dunne31 @haleyea @miiraal @alyisdead @movieholic92

#butb #the walking dead fanfiction #twd #The Walking Dead #negan fanfiction #negan x oc #Negan's thirst squad

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