Chapter Text
Daryl stared at the road ahead of him, his fingers tapping nervously at the steering wheel in the process. The truck he drove was loaded with supplies; food, blankets- everything the Alexandrians had worked hard to produce and scavenge for, and every bit of that was going to one place, and one place only. In the clutches of Negan. The man everyone feared- Even Daryl himself and Daryl Dixon feared no one.
The archer cursed his luck of having to be the one to deliver everything to the Saviors' leader, but it was obvious he was the only one. Rick and Michonne wouldn't dare let each other do it, Carl was too young plus Rick wouldn't allow it, Aaron and Eric didn't have the guts, Carol and Morgan were gone again doing god knows what, Sasha volunteered out of grief but Rosita dismissed the idea and vise versa, Eugene was too much of a pussy, and then there was was Maggie, but Daryl couldn't even force her to face the man who mutilated her husband. So the only person to fulfill the job was the rogue hunter himself.
Daryl thought briefly to the conversation Rick had had with him before departed.
"You be careful, ya hear?"the leader told him, his eyes showing real concern. Rick knew this was dangerous, but he also knew this had to be done. Besides, what wasn't dangerous in this knew world they were dumped in? The archer just nodded in acknowledgment but nothing more. Rick continued "We all appreciate you doing this, Daryl. With Glenn being... It's been rough on everyone. Then Negan's demands on supplies on top of it all. It's just good to see someone still functioning correctly."
Daryl scoffs to himself. 'Functioning correctly' was the last thing he'd describe himself as at this moment. He was on the last straw. It was a wonder why he could act so coolly when the worlds gone to shit and you watch everyone you know die one by one. He shivers at the thought of Glenn... of what Negan had done... of what they had. Daryl shakes his head, burring those thoughts away deep inside him.
It wasn't too far from Alexandria before he could make out a three cars pulled over on the road where Negan had made the meeting place to be. Swallowing all fear, nervousness, and anxiousness, he parks the truck to the side and clambers out. Daryl counts eleven Saviors as he looks around; each one loaded with guns and knives. He tries to keep his cool as he spots Negan leaning up again one of the car sides, his posture calm and easy as if no care in the world. In his hand he loosely held Lucille. He subconsciously swallows as the barbed wire glints in the sun. Daryl is subtle as he nears the man, his face forming into the usual 'scared of nothing' face. He crossed his buff arms over his chest in efforts to looking more threatening.
"Well, look who finally decided to show the fuck up," Negan grins to no one particular, pushing himself off the car to stand straight. He was taller then Daryl by a long shot, but Daryl had the muscles. The taller brunette moves to stand in front of the hunter, his eyes daring the man to back down. Daryl, however, stands his ground. Several minutes pass as Negan stares Daryl down before suddenly breaking off to walk past the shorter of the two, to the truck. Wordlessly, he pulls the hatch to the back of the truck up, revealing half of all of Alexandrian goods. It wasn't much. Not nearly enough for what Negan had demanded of, but it was all Rick's group could managed to spare in order to survive. Daryl felt suddenly uneasy.
There's a moment of silence as Negan looks over the load, his lips pursing together. The leader then bursts out into a loud chuckle as if he were amused. He turns to Daryl causing the hunter to pull in a sharp breath. Negan's eyes crinkle as he looks down at the shorter man.
"By God, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to cut me short. You aren't that fucking stupid, are ya?" his smirk fades quickly, replaced by an angry scowl instantly. Daryl tries to keep from fidgeting but the angered frown made him want to cower more than ever. He absentmindedly brings his thumb up to his mouth to nibble on the already bitten down nail.
"No. Was all we had," he mumbles around the thumb. The hunter had never been more intimidated by another living being than the man in front of him now.
"What'da say? I don't think I heard you properly," there's a split second of silence before he snaps, "Where the fuck is the rest of my shit?" He's full on yelling at this point, face red and spittle flying from his lips. Daryl can't help but flinch for the first time as the man towers over him. It reminded him so much of his pa back when he was young. Full of anger and retribution.
There's a brief moment when the world slows down and blurs together as Negan's fist came down, punching Daryl right in the gut. All breath escapes his lungs as his knees collapse from underneath him; he folds over in pain, feeling extremely nauseated. He doesn't have another second to register the pain before another blow is delivered to his face. The sound of his nose cracking echoes his brain as he falls back onto the ground again. A strong hand grips onto the long strands of his hair, forcing him to look up at his assaulter.
Negan's face is more serene, almost thoughtful as his grip on Daryl's hair dwindles to a soothing rub to his tender scalp. He sighs, moving down to his knees to look the hunter into the piercing blue eyes of his. His next words are surprisingly calm and reasonable, " I should kill you for this. I do not appreciate being betrayed, not at all. But, I'll be honest with you- I have taken a strong liking to you. You're too pretty to be a dead corpse, so I'll make a deal with you. Either you come with me to my camp with ease, or I'll just have my people kill all your people and take you unwillingly. It's up to you."
"What do you mean?" Daryl finds himself rasping.
"I can't be any fucking clearer with this: you come with me and be a good boy or all of your fucking group dies," Negan restates impatiently.
The hunter looks away from the man, thinking over what was just said. There was no debate. He would go with Negan either way. Even if Daryl defied the man, he wasn't strong enough to over take all eleven Saviors plus the leader himself. Plus he couldn't risk the lives of all of his group. Daryl looks up at the man looming over him and sure enough Negan's lips were pulled back in his usual cocky grin; he knew he had Daryl trapped. With a defeated look, the hunter looked back down at the ground. He couldn't look at Negan's triumphant grin.
"Oh good. For a second there I thought you were going to fight me on this. Nah, you're not that ignorant," the taller of the two comments, moving from his knees to his feet, dragging Daryl to his as well. The archer stumbles from the pain in his stomach where he was hit, but he ignores it as he tries to stand taller in efforts of one upping Negan. It's an unfruitful attempt as Negan just laughs, gripping Daryl's chin, "Don't be getting cocky on me. Now come on. I'll have one of my men take the truck you came in and you'll come with me. Don't need ya fucking running off first chance you get."
"Wha-"Daryl tried to argue, but Negan only interrupts him by putting a finger to his lips as if the hunter was a child.
"Shhh," the leader coos, dropping his hand to the other's shoulder. He's considerably gentle as he nudges him to the three vehicles in front of them. Daryl didn't know what to do so he let the man lead him. He was starting to despise himself for giving in so easily. Negan opens the back door of one of the SUV's and motions for Daryl to get in. "In ya go."
Obediently, Daryl does as he's told, crawling into the seat and sliding as close to the door as he can. The leader calls for the rest of the Saviors to get a move on before clambering into the seat next to the archer. Daryl eyes the man beside him, curious to why he was dragging him all this way when he can just kill him and get done with it. There was something Negan wanted from him. What of? He didn't know but he promised to himself to find out- and quickly.
A man with blonde hair plops into the drivers seat and turns the engine on when Negan exclaims suddenly, "Ah. Almost forgot something." His hand disappears from behind the seat, coming back with rope. Without a word, he grips Daryl's hands causing the hunter to pull back with a snarl. With one warning look, he looks away as Negan grabs his wrists again, knotting the rope tightly several times. Negan continues, "This is just so you don't get any damn ideas. I don't trust ya just yet. Plus, I know how much damage you can fucking do."
Daryl doesn't respond. Nothing seemed like the right thing to say, being tied up and practically kidnapped and all. Words weren't his strong suit anyway.
"Oh boy, I am going to have fun with this!" the man beside him bellows, shooting a big grin towards the hunter. Daryl tries to ignore him, not interested in talking to the man. Instead, he stares out the window, refusing to pay any attention to the man babbling to him. His head was still spinning from what happened only minutes ago, and he tries to figure out what compelled him to give in so easily. He was angry at not only Negan but himself. He was such a pussy to throw in the towel to this dick.
Lost in thought, Daryl hardly registered what he was doing before he's swinging his bound hands at Negan's face. Once he makes contact with the man's nose, he fumbles to open the door. Negan lets out a curse as he struggles with the fighting man in his grasp. Hand's grab Daryl by the neck, flinging him back into the car. The hunter catches a glimpse of Negan; face bloody and fed up. It's the last thing he sees before the man's fist connects his temple making his vision go black. He hears a faint 'fucking shit' before he's completely gone.