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Negan's War

Negan's Weakness

“Before I answer that, can I ask you something?” She leaned forward, her deep brown eyes serious and wide.” Daryl nodded. “Aight.”

“Is your group the type who will just buckle under pressure and do what you’re told because one of you was brutally murdered in front of you all?” His eyes were like blue lasers, fierce and feral. He didn’t say anything, wary of a trap.

“Are you the type of people who fall apart, each man for himself when shit gets real? Or are you the type to band together and fight through anything in an effort to stay together and stay free of having your lives dictated to you, of having everything you work for taken away from you?”

Daryl didn’t need to think of his answer but the memories flooded through him, what they had been through together, what they had done together and survived together. Walker herds, assholes like Shane and Andrew at the prison. Sociopaths like the Governor and Joe and his group of Claimers. Even damn cannibals at Terminus. They always stuck together and they always pulled through. They had to do horrible things to survive, but survive they did and always together. “Nah. That ain’t us. We been through the shit together. we're stronger together.”

“I thought so. So to answer your question, I don’t know you, not really. I’m making assumptions about you based on the small things I’ve noticed.” She put down her soup bowl to tick them off on her fingers.

“First, you were travelling with 2 women when Dwight captured you. Capable women, ARMED women. They weren’t your captives, they were your equals.” Daryl nodded, agreeing to this point.

“Second, your second group, that arrived with the RV – Rick’s group. They were travelling to bring a sick woman to see Doc Carlson here at Hilltop. A sick pregnant woman. Negan’s group doesn’t protect pregnant women. Won’t have them. Women are forced to abort, he won’t have babies or children in his camp.” Daryl looked disgusted at the thought.

“Third, you have pair bonds, marriages. I couldn’t bear to watch what Negan was doing to your people last night but I could hear it. I heard one of your men scream out when Negan threatened his woman. You would never hear of Negan’s men doing that. Women are owned, they are property, status symbols, rewards for hard work in service of Negan’s group. Your women are respected, treasured and protected. You are more than a group surviving together. You are family.” Daryl nodded again, his blue eyes bright with strong unspoken emotion.

“My final observation.” She paused, ensuring she was making eye contact with him. “Any redneck asshole who is a welcome part of that strong family must have left behind any stereotype borne from his upbringing long ago.” Daryl’s face coloured slightly but his electric blue eyes held her soft brown ones. She got it. She got him. She got them.

She picked up her bowl of soup to finish it and nibbled on the ham and cornbread. Her voice was quieter again. “So I see this as one of Negan’s major weaknesses. He makes assumptions frequently and whenever he’s right, they serve him well. When he’s wrong, most often no one contradicts him so it doesn’t matter that he’s wrong. No one has ever used this against him. It’s a weakness that he may be aware of but if he is, he obviously doesn’t think it’s a risk to him. That makes him overconfident.”

“Why you tellin’ me all this?” Daryl asked, his voice a low rasp a rumble in the quiet room. Mandy looked at him critically. He’d finished his meal and drunk his water and his eyes looked heavy. He needed rest.

“We’ll talk more later.” She said gently. “You need to sleep.”

She removed the bowl and plate and water bottle from the bed and bid him to slide forward in the bed while she adjusted the pillows behind him. The king size bed was dry but the room was cold so she was glad there were thick blankets and a down duvet covering it. He slipped down in the bed and lay on his left side with his back to her so he could prevent his right shoulder taking any pressure.

She pulled the covers up over his shoulder and tucked them in to trap his body heat. A small half smile lit his face as his eyes fluttered closed with exhaustion. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had tucked him in. Not since he was a little boy of about 7 or 8 and his ma had sung him drunken snatches of lullabies. He chased after the faint memory and was instantly asleep.

Mandy quietly gathered up the dishes as well as his dirty discarded clothes and took them away to wash them. The door closed silently as she left. Dwight’s men, Earl and Clay stood at the top of the stairs at the end of the hall walked toward her when they saw her.

“He’s sleeping.” She notified them.

“You do him yet, Mandy?” Earl of them asked crudely. She sent him a withering glance full of disgust and anger. Clay laughed.

“He’s an injured man, you cretins.” Mandy shot at them, disgusted.

“Won’t be long, Mandy. These here hillbillies like women as much as ‘shine. He’ll be on to you soon as he’s able, no doubt.” Clay’s disgusting grin was missing a few teeth, most likely rotted out rather than knocked out going by the smell of him.

Earl ran his eyes down her body, his look so heavy she could almost feel it on her skin. “You got lots of paddin’” he observed, taking in the rounded curves of her shoulders, hips and bum in her jeans and sweat-shirt. “More cushion for the pushin’”, he leered. “Givin’ away any free samples?”

“Pigs.” She said with disgust and walked past them, heading downstairs.

“You might not be so prissy and picky after he’s had a go at ya!” Clay called down the stairs after her, her skin crawling at the thought of either of them touching her.

Notes

Comments

I just found this story! Love it! Looking forward to an update! xo

Spock Spock
8/9/16

OK, take your time. I will keep a lookout for it.

cactuscrawler cactuscrawler
5/21/16

@cactuscrawler
I am continuing, just taking some time to get happy with it.

Darylfan1969 Darylfan1969
5/20/16

Hope you are continuing this story, can't wait to read more.

cactuscrawler cactuscrawler
5/20/16

@Grimesgirl63
Thank you!

Darylfan1969 Darylfan1969
5/14/16