#the worst thing about the apocalypse is the people who prey on the weak under the guise of protection & order.

[assiraphales]

fedra was a fascist dictatorship. the fireflies posed as freedom fighters but just wanted the power fedra had. kathleen sacrificed an entire city for a personal vendetta — kansas city fell bc of her negligence. david controlled his religious cult through starvation. in this whole wide apocalyptic world the only people that were thriving were those who lived for love. bill & frank. the indigenous couple. tommy’s commune. ellie & joel (at times). there would have been so many more survivors and so much more success in this harsh world if people didn’t make it harsher

#the worst thing about the apocalypse is the people who prey on the weak under the guise of protection & order. #the last of us #tlou

[theliterarywolf]

Wait, it sounds like they have Professor Utonium the same personality as Dick Hardly? The former college mate that the Professor had who stole his research to create knockoff versions of the Powerpuff girls and exploits them to get fame and money. Yknow if the whole thing turns out that they aren’t the real powerpuff girls but clones that are effectively being gaslight into thinking they are, and exploring the potential mess that could create, that actually might be a cool concept.

And that's another weird thing. Because the original series had a few episodes that could be supporting pillars for an 'adult reboot' of the show. Under a cut because some of these got pretty long.

Speed Demon.

Have the show pull a Scooby-Doo: Apocalypse and have it be a what-if scenario about what would have happened if the girls never escaped the hellscape future and had to grow up constantly fighting an all-powerful, increasingly-deranged Him.

Collect-Her.

You want to talk about the struggles of being a child-superhero and growing up to a cruel reality? Fine. *rolls up edgelord Grimdark/Dead Dove; Do Not Eat sleeves* Let's do this. Have the collector character, after he's release from prison for kidnapping charges (because quirky cartoon shenanigans aside, he did kidnap three young girls) and continue his obsession but on a more subdued scale.

But one day he is finally reminded of the passage of time. The girls aren't the young children he obsessed over anymore. They're grown, adult women. This is... wrong! How dare they grow up? Don't they realize how much they MEAN to him?!

In a fit of rage, he starts destroying some of his old merch. However, upon calming down, he sees what he's done and bemoans how he destroyed everything. Just like the girls choosing to grow up destroyed everything. In a moment of weakness, he is visited by a certain voice asking him "Don't you wish that things could simply go back to the way they were~? In those good old days~?"

Him would basically take advantage of his unhealthy obsession and broken mind to trick him into a Faustian bargain of "Send enough innocent young souls my way and I'll have the power to make everything right~!" Prompting him to become the worst kind of villain Townsville had ever encountered: a sick, twisted individual preying upon and murdering children. Not before, of course, dressing them up in mock copies of the girls' former outfits.

A series springboarded from that episode could be dark, edgy, but still go on about it like 'Oh, how do each of the girls, now adults, react to such a horrible onslaught?' You would have Blossom, always having to bear the image of a collected leader, get buried in trying to hunt down this monster while still juggling the monster-of-the-day situations Townsville finds itself in. Bubbles would probably take it the hardest, breaking down at the first few bodies, but eventually realizing that this kind of monster requires her to dig deep down into herself to snuff them out as brutally as possible. And Buttercup would be the rogue-cop approach: going after any person who ever had an inkling of being such a sick fuck with an iron fist and acidic words.

Members Only.

Follow the girls, now grown up, and their trials and tribulations as members of the AWSM.

Or even the premise you put out there. There are numerous ways to do 'adult, live-action PowerPuff Girls' but they chose the laziest ones and got upset that people kept clown on them.

[ayellowbirds]

42 Webcomics Keshet Reads

I was recently reminded that I currently read a lot of webcomics, or have done so in the past. Here’s an incomplete list, linking to the first page where i can (which will usually mean the worst art). Organized thus:  Title, Author. Genre. Format (long-format stories, short-format & single-page stories, or mixed). Description.

The Adventures of Dr. McNinja, by Christopher Hastings. Comedy, Parody, Action. A man from a long line of Irish ninjas has devoted his own life to saving lives as a doctor, disappointing his family. His staff includes a sentient but non-speaking gorilla receptionist, and eventually a boy sidekick who grew a fabulous mustache out of sheer determination. Recurring threats include fast food mascots, ghosts, wizards, ghost wizards, and a disease that turns people into giant lumberjacks. Completed.

BACK, by Anthony Clark and KC Green. Comedy, Adventure, Absurdity, Weird West. Long-Format. A cowgirl comes back from the dead with no memory of who she was or how she died, and is told by a trio of “Cool Witches” that she has to bring about the end of the world—though what exactly that means remains a mystery. Consistently excellent visual storytelling from masters of sequential art; at least one WLW pairing among the characters. 

Bite Me!, by Dylan Meconis. Comedy, Horror, Historic Fiction. Long-Format. A young woman becomes a vampire amidst the chaos of the French Revolution. Featuring immortal angst, a Jewish werewolf, and sacré bleu, the chickens. Completed (website can be slow to load).

Broodhollow, by Kris Straub. Horror, Weird Fiction. Long-Format. By the creator of the original creepypasta that inspired Channel Zero. A young man abounding with neuroses and compulsions comes to a strange little town in order to settle a late relative’s estate. Themes of unreliable memories and differences of perception.

Chainsawsuit, by Kris Straub. Comedy. Short-Format. Three-panel gag comic.

ChaosLife, by A. Stiffler & K. Copeland. Slice of Life, Autobiographical. Mixed-Format. The life of a queer couple and their pets: humor, lgbt issues, mental illness (K. experiences paranoid schizophrenia), cats, and occasional puppets.

Crunchy Bunches, by Scott Warren. Comedy. Mixed-Format. Cereal mascot parody focused on snaggle-toothed feline mascot Munchy and his friends. 

Dead Winter, by Allison Shabet. Action, Horror, Comedy. Long-Format. Zombie apocalypse story with occasional partially-animated scenes, and a relatively low focus on the actual zombies. Infrequent updates, but has a Patreon with weekly content.

DRIVE, by Dave Kellet. Sci-Fi, Comedy. Long-Format. Humanity has taken to the stars, led by a second Spanish Empire that controls the secrets of FTL travel. When the crew of the Machito recover their science advisor and accidentally pick up a mysterious amnesiac alien at the same time, they become embroiled in intrigue that affects the whole of human space and beyond, caught between secret police, mind-controlling invaders, and a species dedicated to invention who have a grudge against humans.

El Goonish Shive, by Dan Shive. Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Superheroics, Slice of Life, Mad Science. Long Format. Difficult to pin down, once described as “the most squeaky-clean fetish comic online”—lots of characters undergoing fantastic transformations of their bodies. Starts out weak but gradually grew into one of the most progressive webcomics out there as the creator started to really think about the meaning of someone wanting to transform from a nerdy boy into a busty girl. I’ve said more about it, here. Significant LGBT content, including canon gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, genderfluid, and asexual characters.

Family Man, by Dylan Meconis. Historic Fiction, Horror, Romance, Libraries. Long-Format. A learned man of Jewish ancestry takes a position as a lecturer at a small Christian university in the middle of nowhere in the Germanies of the 18th century, and falls in love with the daughter of the head of the university—who has some secrets relating to her mother’s family  On hiatus as of July 2017.

Freefall, by Mark Stanley. Comedy, Sci-Fi, Furry. Long-Format. A larcenous alien and his naive robot pal living on a human colony world acquire the services of an uplifted humanoid wolf as their ship’s engineer under less-than-legal circumstances. As time goes on, the crew becomes caught up in the struggles and politics of the artificial intelligences of the colony. Binge-reading page here, colored strips here.

Girl Genius, by Phil & Kaja Foglio. Gaslamp Fantasy (Not-Steampunk), Action, Comedy, Mad Science, Alternate History. Long-format. A young woman discovers that she is the latest in a line of mad scientists including the vanished heroes of Europa as well as some of its most terrible villains.

Goblins, by Ellipsis Hana Stephens. Fantasy, RPGs, Action, Body Horror. Long-format. A tribe of goblins go from being mere MOBs to taking levels as adventurers themselves, facing ambiguity about alignment, morality, and the place of "monsters” in a world that seems to favor humanoids. Can get very gory at times. Light LGBT content including a prominent gay male character; transgender creator.

Goodbye to Halos, by Valerie Halla. Fantasy, Adventure. Long Format. Forced through a gateway to another world for her own safety, Fenic finds herself in the “run-down queer district” of a city of animal people—and spends a few years coming into own identity as a trans lesbian, forging a new life. But the reasons she was forced into this world are catching up to her, and she’ll need to turn her protective streak towards defending herself. Heavy LGBT themes; often not safe for work. The only work i can think of where a trans girl’s underwear bulge is treated as a completely nonsexual and innocent thing.

Grrl Power, by Dave Barrack. Superheroes, Sci-Fi. Long Format. Probably Not Safe For Work. Comics nerd Sydney Scoville winds up becoming a superhero herself after circumstances force her to reveal her powers and join up with an agency providing training and oversight. While consistently funny and clever with the use of powers, it can be very centered on the male gaze; the art starts out being pretty . I actually first started reading it because I recognized one of the characters from years prior when the artist was posting softcore smut to furry websites.

Guilded Age, by T. Campbell & Phil Kahn, art by John & Jason Waltrip and Erica Henderson. Fantasy, RPGs, Action, MMOs. Long-Format. A group of adventurers face off against threats to their world—such as the CEO of the company that programmed their world in the first place. Strong themes of intrigue, the nature of violence, and the concept of good and evil in fantasy settings. Completed, now running extras & side stories, including annotated repeats of the original pages.

Gunnerkrigg Court, by Tom Siddell. Fantasy, Sci-Fi. Long-Format. A young girl attends a strange boarding school specializing in matters of the supernatural and obscure, making friends with classmates, a ghost, robots, psychopomps, living shadows, fairies, and eldritch horrors in the form of silly woodland creatures while exploring the mysteries of the school and her own ancestry. Shows remarkable art progression; the style of the first storyline is unrecognizable from the present. Especially rewarding if you’re into alchemy. LGBT content, including prominent WLW characters. Warnings: unreality is a recurring theme, and there is a bit of “suicidal” fairies desperate to be reincarnated as humans. Boxbot is rubbish.

Johnny Wander, by Yuko Ota & Ananth Hirsh. Autobiographical, Fantasy, Humor, Mixed-Format. A mix of slice-of-life autobiographical pages, and short stories, including the longer format “Barbarous” and “Lucky Penny”.

Kevin & Kell, by Bill Holbrook. Comedy, Slice-of-Life, Furry. Mixed-Format. Extremely long-running strip (daily updates since September of 1995). In a world of anthropomorphic animals where predatory species can legally & without repercussions hunt & consume other species, a businesswoman wolf (Kell) and her uncommonly large rabbit husband (Kevin) make their blended family work in spite of social stigma against predator/prey relationships. Far more light-hearted than it sounds, though it often touches on social issues and drama. Light LGBT content from some minor recurring characters.

Kill Six Billion Demons, by Abbadon. Fantasy, Metaphysical, Martial Arts. Long Format. A college student’s attempt at heterosexuality is interrupted by the arrival of a legendary king of all reality. Thrust into a battle over the greatest power of all worlds, Allison faces devils, angels, and the city at the center of the 777,777 universes. It’s a lot to take in. Occasionally not safe for work. Frequent LGBT content, including WLW.

Love Me Nice, by Amanda Lafrenais. Comedy, Hollywood. Long Format. Set in a world shared by cartoon characters and ‘real’ people (think Roger Rabbit), where TV star Mac T. Monkey Jr. struggles between his irresponsible instincts and his attempts to build a life as an adult and a relationship with fellow protagonist (and manager) Claire. Some LGBT content; infrequent updates. Occasionally Not Safe For Work. 

Manly Guys Doing Manly Things, by Coelasquid. Comedy, Videogames, Parody. Mixed-Format. The staff of a temp agency for “ludicrously macho guys” tries to help the protagonists of video games, TV, and movies deal with their testosterone-addled brains in a constructive fashion. Occasional LGBT content—mostly MLM, naturally. Keep an eye out for the fluffy little velociraptors, and Mr. Fish the Gyarados. On indefinite hiatus since June of 2018.

Narbonic, by Shaenon K. Garrity. Comedy, Sci-Fi, Mad Science, Gerbils. Mixed-Format. Comp Sci. grad Dave needs a job. Helen B. Narbon, cute blonde mad scientist with a gerbil fixation, is hiring. Story arcs feature action-packed forensic linguistics, a worldwide conspiracy of guys with the same name, rodents uplifted to sentience, time travel. Some awkwardness around gender transformations, light LGBT content. Completed, with author annotations.

Nedroid Picture Diary, by Anthony Clark. Comedy, Absurdity. Short Format. Short comics that very quickly come to focus on the antics of the anomalous ursine orb Beartato and his friend/roommate Reginald, a bird who is just terrible. 

Not Drunk Enough, by Tess Stone. Supernatural, Action, Horror. Long Format. A survival horror styled webcomic by a creator with a history of exceptionally dynamic page composition and lettering. Expect lots of magnificently weird body horror.

O Human Star, by Blue Delliquanti. Roboticist Al Sterling died. Al Sterling woke up an android body mimicking his own. As he reconnects with his former partner-in-several-senses, he explores a world that remembers him as one of its greatest innovators. Major themes of identity, the definition of humanity, and gender and sexuality. LGBT themes including MLM and transgender characters. Warning for some discussion of self-harm.

Outsider, by Jim Francis. Sci-Fi. Long Format. Beautifully-illustrated science fiction story that is painfully slow to update. If you watched a lot of 80s and 90s sci-fi anime, you’ll get the vibe that this has—including its arguable weak point of being centered on a man who finds himself among an alien race dominated by warrior women. 

Patrik the Vampire, by Bree Paulsen. Supernatural, Slice-of-Life. Long Format. The unlife and history of an exceptionally awkward vampire and the mortals around him—book club, knitting, coffee shops, violent murder. Some LGBT content.

Poppy O’Possum, by I. Everett. Fantasy, Furries. Long Format. A single mother in a world of animal people where only opossums lack magic, Poppy just wants to settle down in quiet and safety with her daughter Lily. The world has other ideas—but fortunately, Poppy is mind-blowingly strong. On hiatus. Some LGBT content.

Questionable Content, by Jeph Jacques. Slice-of-Life, Comedy, Sci-Fi. Mixed-Format. Starts out focusing on indie rock fan Marten and his robotic “anthroPC” Pintsize. As the art evolves, so does the subject matter, focusing more and more on the rest of the cast and topics like the nature of personhood and identity for artificial intelligence. Eventually comes to feature significant LGBT content, including bisexual and transgender characters in the main cast.

Rae the Doe, by Olive Brinker. Comedy, Slice-of-Life. (Mostly) Short Format. If Garfield was a transgender doe and wore clothes and also there weren’t any jokes about Mondays or lasagna and the comic was constantly assumed to be autobiographical in spite of its creator frequently asserting otherwise and the comic was still genuinely funny. But otherwise just like Garfield, really.

Selkie, by Dave Warren. Sci-Fi, Slice-of-Life, Comedy, Drama. Long-Format. Former adoptee Todd becomes a father himself to a strange young girl who turns out to be a refugee from a secret underwater civilization. While the public gradually becomes aware that humans are not alone, family forms and is redefined as secrets from both Todd and Selkie’s past are revealed and dealt with, and kids confront issues of inclusion and exclusion. Also, for some reason two of the kids from Evangelion are Todd’s neighbors.

Skin Deep, by Kory Bing. Fantasy, Coming-of-Age, Monster Girls (and Boys). Michelle discovers the secret world of mythical monster people after a small medallion unlocks her own heritage as a sphinx—supposedly long-extinct, according to the other monsters. Michelle must explore who she is and her family history while also trying to avoid completely upending nonhuman society and maintaining secrets within a culture already used to the use of magical illusions and transformations. Light LGBT content.

Skin Horse, by Shaenon Garrity.  Comedy, Sci-Fi, Mad Science, Zombies, Canadians. Mixed-Format. Set in the same universe as Narbonic (see above), “Skin Horse” follows an organization of  the same name dedicated to providing social services to beings only recognized by the secret shadow government—staffed by a patchwork zombie bioweapon, a talking sled dog, a cross-dressing pansexual psychologist, and a receptionist in the form of an immobile Victorian robotic weapon of mass destruction, all overseen by a sentient swarm of bees. Frequent LGBT content.

Something*Positive, by RK Milholland. Comedy, Slice-of-Live, Parody. Mixed-Format. Very long-running comic that gradually grows from a dark and misanthropic sense of humor into a dark and misanthropic sense of humor with a warm and gooey center. Earlier comics can be pretty weak and handle many subjects very poorly (the first strip, linked above, features an abortion “joke”); gradually improves.in terms of LGBT representation to the point that it’s one of the better webcomics in that regard. I might recommend skipping ahead in the archives to the current decade (the “1937″ and “1938″ are strips flashing back to the previous generations).

Spacetrawler, by Christopher Baldwin. Sci-Fi, Comedy. Long-Format. The naive but brilliant alien race known as the Eebs are enslaved by interplanetary society at large, depending on their servile nature to maintain the high standard of technology and transportation across the void of space. A group of utterly incompetent aliens come to Earth to seek help in freeing the Eebs... and generally fuck everything up for the best with their terrible choices of sample humans. Currently in the midst of a sequel series focusing on new intrigue and antics, including a talking, murderous kangaroo.

Spinnerette, by Krakow Studios. Superheroes, Comedy, Sci-Fi. Mixed-Format. A grad student develops spider-themed superpowers—including extra arms—and attempts to navigate both concealing her transformation, and becoming a superhero in a world where super-powered vigilantes and criminals are a fact of life. Not Work-Safe due to suggestive artwork including improbably form-fitting costumes over improbably large bosoms. Recurring LGBT content.

Val & Isaac, by @tredlocity​. Sci-Fi, Fantasy,  Comedy. Mixed-Format. A space mercenary, her wizard buddy, and the cyborg fish girl who keeps all their technology functional, occasionally featuring their shapeshifting assassin friend Space Dread. Major LGBT content, including WLW and MLM, and a prominent transgender character.

Vattu, by Evan Dahm. Fantasy, Worldbuilding. Long-Format. Born to the Fluters of the grasslands, Vattu finds her traditional subsistence lifestyle torn away as a multi-species empire asserts a claim over her people’s lands. A fantasy epic with several major arcs; see also the creator’s earlier completed works Rice Boy and Order of Tales.

XKCD, by Randall Munroe. Science, Parody, Comedy. Short Format. Stick figures and scientific silliness. Make a point of checking the alt-text of each comic by moving your cursor over the strip. Early pages are much more along the lines of experimental sketches; link above directs to a random comic in the archives. Some comics are more along the lines of interactive games!

Yet Another Fantasy Gamer Comic (YAFGC), by Rich Morris. Fantasy, Comedy, Parody. Mixed-Format. Not Work-Safe. The inhabitants of a world heavily based in Dungeons & Dragons go about their lives as monsters, humanoids, and soul-searching mixes of the two. Begins with a romance between a beholder and a goblin, gradually builds up to battles between nations and the gods themselves, while also finding time to explore family, loss and love, and whether kobolds count as sapient. Moderate LGBT content including recurring gay & bisexual characters (it’s a very large cast); new readers guide here.

#long post #webcomics

[beet-rootesoupevodkabanya]

Post-apocalypse military AU.

As always dedicated to my forever partner-in-crime against canons- dear Feli.😘

The quote is from Brodsky poem that was inspired by Pavese poem...❤️✨

- Werewolf! Cover me! - Capitan Plisetsky rushes forward breaking into the object. He is fast. Unspeakably fast. And hates to wait. That’s the reason he’s always in vanguard. He maneuvers through black smoke with a agility of a wild animal. And grins. Grins with happiness and rage at once. Hunting tiger is a scary thing… Prey rushes to meet him. A lot of prey. A lot of stupid prey. Otabek sighs in the corner of his mind. They could survive if ran away immediately. (Maybe… Of course if they wouldn’t meet Snow King a floor lower…) But gun in hands make people unreasonably confident. They act as if armor can fight itself. But to use it U need to detect the target, work the bolt, press trigger… Ordinary people do it so slowly that Yurio always laughs he can have a smoke while they finish preparing the shot and still have time to kill them before the bullet is let out. Werewolf stops for a second to put one more explosive. Snow King’s team has one unspoken rule - never leave survivors. Wherever they were, only desert was left after them. No building, no armor, no enemies. Clear emptiness of the North Pole after burning blizzard. - It’s not here! - Shere Khan growl with a clear disappointment, changing the cartridge. His partner supportively taps his shoulder: - Snow King said he’ll find it. Let’s go. We have to put more explosives around. Yurio nods grinning. He won’t say it aloud but with ruffled hair and traces of cinder on his face Beka resembles a shaman-warrior from ancient fairytales. Next time in Safe Zone he’ll definitely buy for him an amulet imitating a monster tooth on the chain. Must be suitable. Of course if they won’t die today or soon… A couple of silent without shots seconds is shattered apart with human’s scream. Half-howling full of helpless unendurable pain. It’s from the yard. They both rush to the window leaning to walls. No matter what - the worst thing is to get under random bullet. It’s newbie outside. Surrounded with “pets”. Fizzing Shere Khan throws the riffle to shoulder and presses the trigger… Snow King’s voice from headset stops him: - We’re fine here. Finish with explosives. I found it. Muttering curses Capitan Plisetsky follows the partner according to order. It’s not time and place to argue. But in the base he’ll definitely kick arrogant Nikiforov’s ass! Because… Just because… - They will be fine. - reassures Werewolf out of nothing. - Да похуй!/ I don’t give a fuck! - roars Yurio. And they both know perfectly it’s a lie.

A bit earlier…

While Beka and Yurio cleaned up the upper floor Snow King rushed with Yuuri around the building. Why this weird choice?… Telling the truth Private Katsuki could fix it even alone… And of course General obviously doesn’t need his help at all. But. Following Commander he doesn’t regret even a little bit. Because the living Polar Storm is in front of him. The northern death pretending to be a human. It’s enough just to inhale to be murdered in one short move. Does he even look into sight while shooting? Or is it a weird KNOWLEDGE where is the aim? Knowledge from icy wind and frosted grass. And from eternal cold of outer space watching everyone endlessly from the back of the Sun. If he is the death, Yuuri would happily agree to die painfully again and again. Just to feel his cold touch for a second. He’d swear he won’t ever complain… They almost finished the circle. Snow King gives his partner a sign to be quiet. Is something behind the corner? Moves of his General are almost unnoticeable. He is fast. Very fast. Maybe not as fast as Yurio. But much more reasonable. He always chooses the shortest and easiest way. Enemy has no chance from the very beginning. Like this couple of guys packing some stuff in the car in hurry… Why didn’t U shoot, Snow King? Blade of the battle knife touches that two lightly. Maybe with a slight burning sensation like an icy wind. They stay frosted for a second. The one, who’s face Yuuri can see, stares at him without even seeing. With a childishly offended, shocked expression. General Nikiforov grabs a small thing from hand of the second victim and makes a step to his Kaiyo. And only this moment the tempest of blood bursts out of that two. Burning arterial blood. No hope to stop bleeding. “Russian rouge” - Yuuri repeats in unwillingly inside his mind. Snow King is already close to him. Wipes the blood of that soldiers (Or better to say - prowlers…) away from porcelain skin and stares at the yard. Silver locks still keep some red spots on them. Cranberry under the snow… How. Beautiful. Private Katsuki reaches to wipe the crimson drop away from silver silk. -Eh? Oh, I see… Thanks.- General whispers sloppily not taking his eyes away from the waste-land in front of them. High grass on it often moves not according to the wind… For a second Yuuri feels a burning desire to rush forward and kill or burn everything and everyone that takes so much attention of his Commander. And of course immediately feels ashamed of such thoughts. Who is he to demand of these sky splinters to be locked on him?… Long(?) time ago, in Safe Zone Yuuri read a line from an old poem. It was written by the person from Snow King’s land at times when such things as countries still existed. And it suited his General so much Yuuri sometimes whispered it to his photos begging all the existing Kami to grant him a chance to die for this man…

It all is drivel, lies - Scull, scythe and bones. When Death will come, eyes It’d have exactly yours.

- Listen, Kaiyo. - cold fingers embrace Yuuri’s wrist, bringing him closer. Blue eyes of his Snow King still watch the yard intensively: - “Pets” are here. In the grass. A lot of them. I’m sure our item is in that thing pretending to be an old ventilation under the wall. Right in the middle of their nest. The key is here. Can you make me an opening? And… It’s better not to shoot. We still don’t know about traps here… General Nikiforov finally turns to Katsuki: - Can U? He slightly nods suppressing an embarrassing wish to stroke this beautiful face. To make sure Snow King is real: - Aye, sir. The task itself is clear: to get out of their hideout, rush to the nest and kill as many of them as possible while running. Shere Khan already reported they cleaned up the inner object. It means they won’t be attacked from above.

Kaiyo steps in the waste-land… And it all comes to life. How many human figures appear he can’t say for sure. They are up from the high grass. Of different ages. And genders. All more or less damaged, dirty and obviously degraded. At least they don’t react at machine gun at all. No reasonable person would ever attack someone armored like they are now with bare hands. But these “pets” rush forward without hesitating. With decently fast moves by the way… Much faster and purposeful than zombie in stupid movies. Somehow thought about zombies makes Kaiyo almost laugh. With a pair of battle knives he reaches the closest one. Steel easily goes through soft flash and digs into the next enemy. Again. And again. Others slow down their moves and stay on the distance. Not really thinking. More like simply waiting what will happen and when it’ll be possible to attack. Like stray dogs do when they hunt humans. With one long jump Private Katsuki covers the distance appearing right between them. Minus one. Minus two. Minus three. Minus… Silver shadow darts past, shamelessly stepping on one of “pets” while jumping. Snow King slides past corpses and wounded ones and finally reaches that very ventilation. Yes. The key is exactly from the grating. But there’s a hatch behind. Plain piece of metal welded instead of being locked. Such difficulties… What for? The item is seeing through holes. But is still out of reach. Of course they can just shoot down all the pets and spend some time to unlocking this shit. Everyone would do so. But… Something is wrong here… No slow down. Hurry! Snow King is breaking the weak barrier with knife. It must work! Enemies were going to take out the poisonous shit absolutely like him now. There’s no other way. What did they know?… Or is it better to ask - how much time do they have before the trap will work? Scream from behind. “Pets” finally paid attention on the activity in the center of their nest. How clever to put it here - the only service line intentionally left outside. Warmth and regular left-overs of meal attracted all the “pets” perfectly. Of course they will fight for the nest until the death. The first one who rushed to the Snow King’s side is met with Kaiyo’s knife. Blade reaches the backbone through dirty rugs, making the body fall down helplessly with limp legs. Scream of the victim is too loud. Others even rush back for a couple of seconds. But than flounce forward. Snow King doesn’t ever look around. He’s desperately breaking through barrier. In one almost unnoticeable jump Kaiyo stands between him and enemies. Man or women. Child or adult. Human or not. Who ever they are if they’d try to touch his General, it’s simply a suicide… Knives are short. Mittens and sleeves are soaked with blood till the elbows already. But at least armor can’t become slippery, thanks to it’s conformation… Now Yuuri bitterly regrets he didn’t take his katana here. Honestly he thought it won’t ever be useful. Middle-aged weapon in modern world… Where could it be needed?… Actually… Exactly here and now. But ok… He’ll do it like that. “Pets” are more cautious already. They step back a bit, trying to make a circle to attack from all sides. Naive creatures. As if Kaiyo would let them… - Shere Khan, Werewolf! Get out of here and detonate it from the outside. Move according the plan. - somethings in Commander’s voice in a headset makes Yuuri shiver. What’s wrong, Snow King?… - Kaiyo, retreat for now. Meet Shere Khan and follow him to the van. I’ll keep up with U later. General. Pushes. Me. Away… For a second Yuuri looses his breath. One more stab to the attacker is almost automatic. …Why?… …What for?… And on the top of that how the fuck is General Nikiforov going to finish his task and fight against “pets” at the same time??!! As if reading his thoughts Snow King lays his left hand on the gun. He definitely will have time to shoot some of them even blindly. But what’s then?.. - Kaiyo, go! It’s an order! Private Katsuki steps closer to his Commander and grips fingers on handles in more comfortable position: - I refuse to obey. U can kill me later on the base. - Дебил блядь… - exhales Snow King almost inaudible. …May be he’d try to talk some sense into subordinate’s stubborn brain. May be…

[Less then a millimeter left. Please, boy from the Safe Zone. Run.]

But the first explosion on the distant part of this waste-land interrupts the conflict. The chain reaction begins. Bursts of fire. One by one. Closer. And closer. “Pets” are in panic. Some of them rush to the nest where Snow King finally finished to open the hatch. Now not to fight. Just in desperate attempt to hide somewhere. Rush only to meet their death as Kaiyo’s knives. Time seems to be so slow and sticky… In fact it takes seconds but for Private Katsuki it feels like an hour. The land around coughs with flame. Closer and closer. Now it’s clear why Snow King prohibited to shoot here - not to detonate it accidentally. To avoid the explosion was impossible. Opening the first barrier would provoke it no matter what. But time between the furthest and closest explosions must be exactly enough to grab the thing and run out of here. “Pets” wouldn’t attack owners after all. But for intruders they would be a huge problem… Snow King… He finished the task. Now he jumps up from the ground with an item in his pocket. Explosion too close. Over-sharpen by tension Yuuri’s senses perceive it all like a slow-motion. Every detail is so clear. Flame cloud grows up slowly. Silver silk of General’s hair slide his beautiful face lazily like under water. Slowly he turns to Yuuri and fire reflects into icy splinters. How could he be this gorgeous even a step from death?… Moves are felt like in thick liquid. Not fast enough… Still not fast enough. Is it possible at all to outrun the time itself?… Private Katsuki throws himself on Commander in one short move. Although it feels like an endless falling. Covering him from explosion. Loud. Too loud. Something hot and heavy on the back. The world is blurry.

It’s finally quiet.

A high-pitch ringing in ears is slightly annoying.

[Eyes are tired. It won’t hurt - to close them for a second, right?…]

Kaiyo only blinks. (At least it feels so) And finds out the burning object is pretty far from them. But it doesn’t really bother through thick, sleeping mist. Face of his General appears in front of him. Silver locks stained with blood and cinder, pale face, tightly shut lips and wide icy-blue eyes with absolutely terrified expression.

[What’s wrong, Snow King?..]

Yuuri tries to touch this beautiful despite of everything face. Of course it’s impossible.

[How to reach the star?…]

Perfect lips move but don’t make a sound. Nothing makes a sound around. Only that very annoying ringing. General’s brows are narrowed. But despite of stiff expression, panic leaves his features.

[Seriously. What happened?]

Snow King throws mittens to the pocket and begins to tear Yuuri’s clothes off. His icy-cold fingers touch bare skin almost painfully, contrasting with hot, sticky something. Oh… It’s clear. It’s just a dream. Stupid products of exhausted after training mind and body. Yuuri happily closes eyes. Everything is ok…

[Hey, Snow King! Don’t turn me around! I NEED to see your face, whatever U’re going to do! Even in a dream…]

Of course dream doesn’t listen. In a second Private Katsuki happens to be laid on General’s arm as a support. Cold fingers aimlessly touch his face, leaving crimson trails. Oh… U damaged your hands this much while opening that hatch?… Half-conscious Yuuri leans to cold skin, leaving a sloppy kiss on it. Taste of iron shadows his lips.

[Why red? It must be white. White roses… Or even better - frosted flowers…]

Strong arms slide under his back and knees, holding him like a child. - Task completed. Territory is clean. Object eliminated. - familiar voice in the distance. Sounds returned?…

But the room is dark already. Parents are watching tv. The voice is from there. Why did they switch off the light?…

[Why doesn’t General Nikiforov return to my dream? Sleep. I just need to sleep to see him again…]

************************** Waking up is horrible as always. All the body aches. Head feels shitty heavy. And it’s painful to open eyes.

[Of course it is. How long did I stay up chatting with Phichit?.. Despite of all the trainings…]

And why didn’t alarm clock… Alarm clock??!!!

Yuuri shivers returning to reality. - Woke up finally, pig! - growls Capitan Plisetsky glancing at teammate. He sits rather close in their van. Beka is shoulder to shoulder to him. And they both look unwounded but…perplexed? And where’s General? Yuuri tries to get up and look around but soft embrace holds him in half-laying position. Without any word. And Kaiyo realizes he’s literally laying on his Commander. Back on his chest, head on the shoulder… And Snow King’s legs lean to Yuuri’s from both sides… WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?????!!!!

His attempt to jump to the furthest corner (and bury himself there being all red) is stopped by General’s arms holding him tight and his unusually cracked, hoarse voice: - There, there… Calm down, Yuuri, it’s safe now… [As if it matters…]

- U were just stunned with the explosion. And covered General. - finally Beka made at least something clear - Honestly, at first we thought we lost both of U… Then Commander appeared with U on his arms. Unconscious and coughing with blood… And then we found out U just hit your nose and it was bleeding badly. U played a good prank on us, U know… Lieutenant Altyin tries to laugh to ease the atmosphere but it looks more like a wry grin. Shere Khan sniffs angrily for a couple of minutes. And desperately kicks both Victor’s and Yuuri’s legs: - I thought U, fuckers, both dropped dead there!!!! Honestly kick isn’t painful… Otabek pulls partner into a hug, making him to hide face into his shoulder. Muffed sobs are still generously spiced with curses…

*******************

The world is more and more blurry… Why?.. Kaiyo tries to shake his head but General’s fingers goes softly through his hair, holding him tighter: - Try to have a rest, Yuuri. We injected U a painkiller. U’ll be completely fine soon. Painkiller… That’s why the world is a kind of fogged. And the body is dizzy…

[Is it still a dream?… It explains s lot…]

Private Katsuki leans more to his Commander, nuzzling his chest with a cheek: - General Snow King… V-victor… - he smiles with half-lidded eyes, obviously falling asleep again - Kiss me, Victor… Soft lips gently touch dark, silky hair.

[Too good even for a dream… But no. Not only here…]

Yuuri strokes bruised, partly bandaged hand, and falls asleep again.

- Disgusting…- fizzes Yurio and turns away from teammates unsuccessfully hiding a smile of relief.

#Hope dear Feli will have fun reading it😉 #feel like it's not bloody enough but I'll compensate it in next parts😋 #and I already miss writing their smut... #🤔😉 #of course no rush...but time-skip.

[lovingzombiechaos]

The Price We Pay-Chapter 5

Summary: Negan and Nayna have a frank conversation Word Count:3650 NAYNA

When she had entered her bedroom, she found it practically stripped bare, aside from a dresser containing her clothes. Pillows, sheets and blankets were strewn pell-mell across the floor. The box that had contained all her worldly possessions had been unceremoniously dumped in the middle of the room. Someone had gone through it.

Nayna pawed through the remains as tears gathered in her eyes. Sohpia’s clip had been snapped neatly in half. Dale’s watch and Hershel’s flask were both gone completely. There were pages missing from Amy’s favorite book and the flower lay in crumbs across the carpet. Beth’s bookmark crinkled and tore as she turned it over in her hands. Her engagement ring, the last thing she had left of William, was missing as well.

The only untouched thing was Shane’s hat. Nayna pressed it to her heart as she gathered up what was left of the mementos. They were the only things she had left of the dead. Things she’d carefully kept from the rest of the group. Things she’d risked her life to retrieve at Terminus.

But the true icing on the cake was when she stood up and noticed the only picture she had of William had been torn into quarters and left like a pile of trash.

She dropped the hat and fell to her knees as she tried to piece the picture back together, whimpering and sniveling all the while.

So busy she was, she hadn’t noticed Michonne enter the room. No, she didn’t realize Michonne was there until two strong arms wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her close.

“Shhh,” Michonne said. “We’ll make them pay.”

She allowed herself to cry—truly cry—for the first time since the apocalypse started.

The next week passed mostly uneventfully. The only trouble were several uncomfortable, warm dreams where Negan and Lucille were the star features. Sometimes it was her death. Sometimes, it was Negan gleefully tearing her ring in half while stomping on Williams face. More often though, it was something much more sinister.

The Savior’s had cleaned them out. Taken the TVs, taken the mattresses, lamps, nightstands, shampoo, deodorant. Nayna, Michonne and Carol were all down to using the same stick.

Sleeping on the floor didn’t necessarily bother Nayna because it was a hell of a lot more comfortable laying on the carpeted floor than the frosty, dirt-packed earth.

Walking through the half empty house made her feel nearly empty inside. She couldn’t help but feel this was her fault. If she had stopped Rick somehow, or if she hadn’t bowed to the Saviors…Well, then they’d all be dead.

Not for the first time, Nayna felt the burden Rick carried on his shoulders. And she hated it. She didn’t want to be in charge and yet, they looked to her just as they did Rick.

It was a sunny May afternoon, when Negan’s men came to collect their share. Nayna disappeared into the house, muttering about the dishes she’d left for ages.

Michonne had given her a half smile. “Maybe he should come more often, if it means you’ll actually do some dishes.”

“I’ve been busy,” Nayna protested.

Michonne patted her back. “I’m teasing.”

“If Negan asks I’m here and I’ll come find him when I’m done.”

Michonne nodded and swung her sword over her back. She slipped from the house without another word, leaving Nayna alone with her thoughts and a mountain of dishes.

As she filled the sink with hot water, her anger and resentment built a wall around her pain. She tried not to think of William, but sometimes she missed him. The way he was before everything went to shit.

She heard the familiar whistle coming up the stairs to the porch. The door opened and Negan stuck his head in. “Anybody home?”

“No,” she replied sullenly, stacking a clean plate in the drying rack. She should have known he would fucking come find her.

“Well, hello there, doll. How in the fuck are you today?” Negan asked. He stepped into the house and kicked the door shut behind him, leaving behind a muddy heel print. Her eyes flicked from the streak on the door to Lucille, swinging back and forth as he stalked into the kitchen.

He sighed, leaning an elbow on the island. “Are we going to have to do this every time?”

She turned her attention back to the dirty pile of dishes and added soap to the hot water in the sink.

“Nayna,” he said, his tone harsh and commanding.

She looked up at him and swallowed hard, taken aback by his frostbitten stare.

“You will speak when you’re spoken to. Do not make me have to fucking say it again. Understand?”

She squeezed her eyes shut, counting to three in her head before replying, “Yes.”

Picking up a plate, she started to scrub with the vigor and eagerness of someone who actually enjoyed doing dishes. The rhythmic motions soothed her, somewhat and she could breathe a tad easier.

“That is mother fucking wonderful. Now you did not answer my question. How in the fucking fuck are you today?”

“I—”

She had meant to say she was fine, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Not with the torn picture of William in her mind, or with the artifacts of the dead broken or missing. She rinsed the plate, sloughing off the soapy remnants.

“You?” he prompted her as he set Lucille on the table. His brow cocked up as he surveyed her with an interested eye.

Her knuckles turned white from the grip on the plate. But she feared she would drop it if she loosened her fingers because her hands had started to tremble so.

She put it down using both hands and leaned forward on the counter. “I am pissed.”

The evenness in her voice surprised her, but it also gave her the strength to look him in the eye.

His lips twitched and he gestured for her to go on.

“I don’t give a fuck about you taking the mattresses. You burned them. Fine. You took our guns, our ammo, our protection. Fine, we’re dangerous I get it. But you crossed the line when your people walked into my room and rifled through my things and took—”

Her voice had begun to break, so she took several deep breaths. Luckily, Negan seemed to be in a listening mood.

Nayna licked her lips and continued. “You took personal things that belonged to our dead. And what you did not take, you broke, or tore or destroyed.”

“I did say half.”

She looked up at him, her chest heaving with the effort to remain calm. “Those things were beyond precious to me. Things that will never, ever be replaceable because they represented people I loved and who were taken from me.”

Negan’s eyes flickered over Lucille and then back to her. He frowned, but said nothing.

“The worst part,” she said, her voice becoming soft and hoarse. “Is that you people ripped the only photo I had of William…”

Her nerves finally broke and she had to turn away from him. She couldn’t let him see her crying. He was the type to prey upon weakness.

But she’d been so strong for so long…

“Doll,” he said, coming up behind her. His voice was much more gentle than she’d heard from him before. “I am truly sorry.”

He did sound sincere, but it wasn’t enough. It wouldn’t bring back the picture or the things she’d treasured so dearly.

“I don’t want your sorry, Negan. You did it for no reason other than you could.”

He sighed. “If you recall, I was with you and Rick the entire time.”

“Your fucking people, then,” she snapped. “Not only was that the biggest fuck you ever, but someone took my engagement ring too. That was the last thing I had that he gave me.”

She tried to hide her sniffle under the guise of a cough, but she knew Negan wasn’t fooled. He’d already seen the first signs of tears. She’d seen the slight panic in his eyes.

“Nayna,” he grabbed her arm and twisted her around, tilting her chin up to look into his face. A stray tear skidded down her cheek, only to be caught by his gloved thumb.

He bent over, making her heart jump and throb. His cool breath wafted over her cheeks and he trailed a fingertip over her face. She briefly wondered if he was going to kiss her. And she wondered what she would do if he did. Her anger was quickly dissipating as his face loomed closer and closer over hers. If she tilted her head forward, she would be able to feel his mouth on hers.

“I could find a way to fucking make it up to you, doll.”

She stared at him, slacked jawed. Had he just offered to fuck her in exchange for her husband’s picture and her engagement ring? She didn’t know who she was more angry at. Him or herself. Him for being a pig and her for wanting said pig to kiss her.

“You have five seconds to let me go before I kick you in the nads,” she said.

He chuckled. “You’re standing too close to do much kicking, doll.”

Nayna raised her leg and pressed her knee threateningly against his crotch. Though her face heated up when she realized the semi-hard state Negan was in. He only looked amused.

“Don’t worry, doll. If you’re not agreeable to it, that’s fucking fine too. Though…you look like a mighty good fuck,” he said, letting her go and stepping out of ball-kicking range.

“Can you be any more vulgar?” she asked under her breath.

“What the fuck was that?”

She turned back to the dishes. “I said, could you be any more vulgar?”

“Probably, doll. Actually, make that definitely.”

She soaked the sponge in the water and snatched a bowl up. “Well, you’ve seen me. I’m here, I didn’t run off. Leave me alone and let me wash the dishes in peace, please.”

Negan busted out laughing. “Wait—you’re doing what to the dishes?”

She rolled her eyes, though her cheeks grew even hotter than before. Placing the bowl in the drying rack with one hand, she used to other to grab a plate to scrub. “You heard me the first time.”

“You are ‘warshing’ the dishes.”

Nayna said nothing as she continued to ‘warsh’ the plate she was holding, though she could feel her neck and chest burning.

“What part of Maryland?” he asked, holding his hand out for the clean plate.

She eyed him as she handed it over. “Why do you think I’m from Maryland?”

He grinned. “The first thing that tipped me off was the fucking tiniest of twangs in your accent.”

She submerged a bowl into the hot, soapy water. “I have an accent?”

Chuckling and shaking his head, he dried the plate. “Again, the twang and the word ‘warsh.’”

She raised a single brow. “Rick has a twang.”

“No, Rick had a fucking full on southern drawl. Huge fucking difference between a southern drawl and a fucking country twang.”

She handed him the bowl. “You a linguist or something?”

He ran the cloth over it. “Fuck no. Your accent isn’t something I’ve heard since fucking college.”

Intrigue and curiosity battled with her anger and frustration. As always, her nosiness won out over her temper. Nonchalantly, she dunked a glass into the water  “Where did you go to college?”

“Fucking University of Maryland.”

Despite herself a small smile ticked her face. “Baltimore or College Park?”

He stacked the bowl on top of the plate.  “You first, doll.”

“Baltimore.”

He snorted. “College Park.”

She nodded absently as she slid the soapy sponge around the glass. For a moment she’d forgotten what Negan was. For a moment she’d forgotten she was supposed to be pissed at him for his Saviors behavior.

It wasn’t Negan’s fault they had torn the picture. Though it was his fault they’d helped themselves to the box. Of course, she wasn’t supposed to be rationalizing it away, but… She never could resist a charming asshole. Hell, William hadn’t even been half as charming as Negan and she never could stay mad at him, even when they were first together. She sighed and swiped her wrist over her nose, hoping to hide the little sniffle. Even thinking about William made her heart ache. She didn’t want to think anymore. All she had been doing since she came to Alexandria was think.

She needed a safe topic to steer Negan away from teasing her and away from her temper.

“You know,” she said, rinsing the glass. “I’d never noticed that I had a twang.”

He chortled. “You do. Especially on the fucking word twang.”

She shook the glass in his direction, sending droplets of water flying everywhere. “Well, it’s hard not to have a twang with the word twang. Part of the word is well…twangy…Fuck.”

What the fuck? Was she fucking flirting? No, she was supposed to be mad! Nayna pursed her lips together as Negan held his hand out for the glass. She glowered at him.

“Doll, you’ve said twang so much it doesn’t even sound like a fucking word anymore,” he said, tugging the glass from her hand.

Nayna snorted as she dumped another dish in the sink.

“Jesus fuck, doll. Why are there so many dishes?”

“I hate doing dishes. So, I skip out on it as much as I can. This is Michonne and Rick’s way of paying me back,” she said.

“You know there is a dish warsher—” he ducked as she made to snap at him with one of the other towels.

“It doesn’t work,” she said with a laugh.

Negan began to speak but his words were drowned out by the sounds of Judith’s wailing.

Shit. In her mixed range of emotions she’d forgotten Judith. His eyes met hers and then it was a race to the stairs. She won, of course, but he was right behind her all the way up and to Judith’s room.

They reached the door at the same time and Negan’s hand covered the doorknob. He met her eyes, challenging her to speak.

However, she jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow and slipped into the room where Judith was pouting up at her from her crib.

“Look at this little angel,” Negan said, pushing past her and picking Judith up. Nayna held out her arms expectantly, but Negan shook his head as he bounced her.

Judith turned her face away from Negan and grimaced. “Nay?”

Nayna’s lips twitched and she grasped the chubby hand and kissed the little fingers. “Right here, love.”

Negan smiled down at the baby. “She yours, doll?”

“No. She’s Rick’s. And if Rick catches you in here, he’s going to explode,” she said, reaching over and smoothing the blonde curls from Judith’s face. Her knuckles accidentally grazed Negan’s beard. His eyes floated over to her and she flushed at the unexpectant contact.

“Yeah? No kidding. She is just precious,” he said with a grin as he cuddled Judith to his chest. “What’s her name?”

Nayna pressed her lips together. “Judith.”

He chuckled. “Who named her?”

“Carl did.”

“Why don’t we go outside and scrape up some of that fine powdered lemonade I left you people?”

She shrugged. “Fine, just don’t ask me to make it unless you like flavored lemon water.”

Twenty minutes later they had settled on the front porch. Nayna had extracted some lemonade from a glowering Olivia, while Negan grinned in the background as he tickled Judith’s belly.

Negan sat in the rocking chair with Judith in his lap. He rested his chin on top of her head and hummed. He was surprisingly comfortable with her. Comfortable and paternal. The idea left excited shivers in her spine.

“Don’t you want kids, doll?”

Her eyes cut to Judith. She shrugged. “Kids are complicated. Especially now.”

“Not if you’ve got a fine, grand place like this,” he said, gesturing all around him.

She leaned against the rail, staring over his head at the front door. Truth be told she hadn’t thought much about babies of her own. Not since she’d miscarried and William decided he didn’t want to try again. She sometimes liked to pretend Carl and Judith were hers, and that filled the lonely ache in her heart.

“Unless,” Negan chuckled, “you don’t want  just any kids. You want Rick’s kids.” He moved the baby onto his knee and bounced her up and down, making her laugh. “Adorable.”

Her brain froze and her heart sped up. Her cheeks burned and her eyes stung. She looked away from him, squaring her jaw. Funny how the truth hurt.

Goddammit, here she was about to cry again. Nayna hated Negan for it. He was making her weak. He was taking Nayna away and replacing her with her old, boring and weak willed-self.

Negan said nothing else, but Nayna longed to slap the knowing smile from his face.

“It doesn’t matter anyway. It’s not like I have anyone to have kids with,” she said through gritted teeth.

Negan’s knowing smile turned more…biblical. “You know, I am always willing to lend a—ah—hand with that.”

Daryl’s voice echoed in her head. I don’t know. Fuck him?

She wrinkled her nose. “Ew. Hard…well soft pass.”

“Touche, doll. To-fu—ahh—freaking—che.”

She rose a brow at him. “Suddenly, you’ve abandoned the word fuck?”

“Well, I didn’t want to corrupt this sweet, sweet little girl,” Negan said in a baby voice. He bent forward and kissed Judith’s forehead. She wore a stony, unimpressed expression, reminiscent of Lori. It would have made Nayna smile had she not been so bewildered by Negan’s sudden fatherly gestures.

He looked up at her, taking in her furrowed, questioning brow. “What?”

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

Negan went back to kissing Judith’s chubby face and talking to her in that same baby voice. Nayna stopped listening and glanced over her shoulder, down the street. She half hoped Rick would come home to relieve her from Negan and half afraid he would lose his shit if he discovered Negan holding Judith.

He snapped his fingers at her. “Doll?”

“What?” she asked with a gasp. Fuck, she hadn’t even realized she’d zoned out.

“Why the hell do you do that?”

She readjusted herself, crossing her ankles. “Do what?”

“It’s like you go temporarily retarded.”

“Fuck you.”

“Well, what else am I supposed to call it?”

She tapped her toes idly on the floorboards, not meeting his eye. There wasn’t a simple explanation as to why she daydreamed. It just happened that way.

“You do that a lot before this whole mess started?” he asked shrewdly.

She shrugged.

He set Judith higher on his knee and bounced her up and down. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. Now the big fucking mystery is why.”

“No, the real mystery is why you care.”

Negan mimicked her shrug and turned his attention back to Judith. “My, my. Your auntie is mighty touchy, isn’t she? You think it’s because she’s not getting any? Cuz, that’s what Uncle Negan thinks.”

“Or maybe it’s because you’re annoying the fuck out of me.”

Judith sighed. “Puck.”

Both Negan and Nayna looked at her. She winced while Negan began to laugh, making Judith laugh with him.

“I’m telling Rick she learned that from you,” he  said with a grin.

She changed tactics, not wanting to talk about Rick. “Do you want kids, Negan?”

He chuckled. “Never had any before this. If I did, I’d like to think they’d be like Carl.”

“Really?”

He stroked Judith’s hair as he rocked her. “Mmmhmm.”

Nayna watched Judith’s drowsy eyes slowly disappear. “Why?”

“Giant man-sized balls.”

“So, you’re that kind of guy.”

He rested his chin on Judith’s head. “What kind, doll?”

“You want all boys who you can teach football and baseball and wrestling and all that manly shit.”

Negan gave her a wry smile. “Boys or girls. Wouldn’t matter to me.”

“That’s surprising.”

“I’m full of surprises, dollface,” he said and his face split into a wide grin. “If you had a kid, what would you want? Boy or girl?”

“Boy,” she said.

“Really? Why?”

Nayna shrugged. “Always heard boys are easier. And I’ve never been very…feminine.”

His eyes ran up and down her body. “Extrapolate.”

She pressed her cheek to her shoulder, eyes fixated on the siding of the house. Negan’s stare made her unusually self-conscious. “I don’t know. I’ve just never been very girly, I suppose. I’ve always been more of a man’s woman. Had more masculine hobbies. Hell, my job was a male dominated field. I wouldn’t know how…I wouldn’t know how to raise a little lady. I’m not…well…a lady.”

He shifted Judith in his lap, running a hand over her curly head. “Doll, you’re fucking ridiculous.”

“What?”

“Trust me, you’re a fucking lady. I’m the leading expert in ladies,” he said.

She rolled her eyes and barely suppressed a groan. “Sure you are. I doubt you’re even married.”

Judith’s blue eyes reappeared and they wandered between Nayna and Negan.  

“Got a wife. Five of them, actually,” he said in a singsong voice as he rocked back and forth. “You know, I could always use another one,”

Nayna wrinkled her nose. “Pass.”

He looked back up at her. “Why the fuck not?”

Her gaze locked into his and stayed, even as she kissed Judith’s chubby face. “I do not play well with others.”

Time froze as neither one of them backed down. Negan’s eyes glittered, encouraging her to continue with her defiant glare. Determined as she was to not back down, the spell broke when Judith slapped her soundly across the face. Negan burst out laughing as she gave the baby the shit eye and rubbed her cheek.

Judith giggled and squirmed. “Puck!”

#tpwp #nayna #negan #tpwpchap5