โ
โ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
โ โ rest in peace,
โ now get up and.
โ go to war. โ rick
โ grimes. survivor.
โ ( slightly au ) all
โ seasons portrayal.
โ bisexual, multiship.
โ eighteen plus.
โ
โwhy did you wanna talk?โ he grabbed the bottle, uttering a quiet thanks, and took a couple swigs. โi know you ainโt here to do anythinโ but what made you come in the first place?โ
as the extra seat was pulled over val sat down in it, cracking the lid of the bottle open and taking a swig of it before passing it to rick. "it's a good show of an accomplishment. so what are these other questions you got?"
rick took the seat heโd been on before, pulling up another next to him for val. his feet were back up on the ledge as they settled. โthanks. worked hard for this place, iโm pretty proud of how far weโve come.โ
val nodded, picking up his rifle by the strap to put it back on his shoulder. he followed rick, sticking close to him and within the corner of the man's vision so he could see him. together they made their way up to the watchtower and val looked out of it. "damn, nice place."
โyou can come up to the tower with me so i can keep a close eye and weโll drink from the bottle.โ rick gestured for him to follow, heading to the gate.
he held the bottle out towards rick, putting his backpack on right once more as he did. "that's why i brought it. you got some glasses? or are we drinking from the bottle out here if you don't want me inside?"
it certainly had taken rick by surprise, enough to give him the confidence to stand in front of val now with a hand rested habitually on his hip where his belt sat. โyou fancy sharinโ that drink you brought? got a few more questions..โ
val's eyes were rather expressive and those brown hues were gentle, friendly. probably a surprising look for a savior. "yeah, hard as it might be to believe. if i weren't i wouldn't be alone would i?"
pulling the heavy gate open with a grunt, rick would step out, immediately closing it behind him. โso you jusโ came for a chat and a drink?โ he said skeptically.
"i won't." true to his word, val stayed in the same spot as rick made his way down. he didn't even stoop to pick up his rifle. "i'm not here to pick up shit, i'm not here to kill anybody, hell i'm not even here to threaten anybody."
the others reassurance was the only reason rickโs twitchy trigger fingers didnโt take val out immediately, sucking in a small breath. could it be true? โiโm cominโ down,โ he finally announced, rifle lowering. โdonโt move.โ
slowly he moved one hand towards the strap of his rifle. "i'm just takin' it off." he spoke before rick tried to take him out. he eased it off his shoulder and nudged off backpack he wore, reaching inside and pulling out a bottle of whiskey. "just a visit. i promise."
his stomach churned, mind racing, thinking of his family and how best to protect them. โwhy?โ was all he could manage, voice gruff. why had he come to visit? to install more fear in him? to torment him? he was so scared, so tired, he feared giving in and being weak again.
"rick, c'mon." he'd known his name the whole time, what with negan going off about him. "if i meant trouble it would have started already. i'm really just here for a visit."
after a beat his rifle is raised, one eye shut as he focuses the other through the sights on the gun. โthat didnโt answer my question so iโll ask again, which community do you belong to?โ
"woah, easy." he held his hands up, that smile never leaving his face. "the hilltop, the kingdom, they were talkin'. originally? not really. just myself in a small fenced in town farther north."
โi meant,โ he spoke through gritted teeth, taking a deep breath. relax, rick.. โwho has been talkinโ โbout us? do you come from a community?โ
his skin crawled for a moment. how many people knew of alexandria? it unsettled him .. unless this man had come from another community, like the ones jesus had spoken to him about. โcare to tell me whoโs talkinโ? iโd appreciate it.โ
he couldn't help but smile a bit at the man's obvious distrust. hell if he told him the truth he might be shot on the spot. "you got a lot of people talkin' about you. the beautiful town."
"i can work with that, long as there ain't a herd nearby but i took out what i found out there so shouldn't be a problem." he motioned to the general area behind rick and the tower. "alexandria, right?"