Chapter 16

 

Negan had entered his kitchen having over heard his staff being unusually excited over something. He had had a long night and even though he now felt fully restored physically, his mind was wrecked and he just wanted things to be quiet. He knew that two things had to happen. One, he needed to make it very clear to Cash that he needed to go along with what his chief had planned for him because defending him would only put himself in danger. He knew that Cash could handle his own but there was also serious power in numbers and with Cash living out in the middle of the woods made him a sitting duck and such an easy target. The Mackey’s would kill him without a second thought and the chief would undoubtedly look the other way. He was not willing to risk Caah’s life. Cash had already proven himself now twice to him and that’s all that mattered. The second thing that needed to be stopped before it could even begin was any sort of relationship between them both. Being friends was also now out of the question since they had kissed. It wasn’t the sort of kiss that could be retracted or easily forgotten. That kiss had been felt and it would lead into much more and quickly at that. They had strong chemistry. That was all fine and good, in fact it was great but that turned the danger that Cash was in to be none other then himself. He had felt the pulse in Caah’s neck. He had restricted the blood flow by the the pressure of his hand that had him by the throat and that beat had become an aphrodisiac. He wanted to feast on him. Cash not only tasted good on his tongue but the smell of his pheromones had a strong and erotic pull on him as well. Negan knew that there would be an accident in the heat of passion and it would be an accident that he wouldn’t be able to correct. Once he sank his fangs into Caah’s artery, he’d have to finish what he had started. That meant that he would have thrusted his on life onto Cash because he certainly would not let him die. He’d make Cash drink from him and then Cash would have to join him and that wasn’t a decision that he’d make for Cash. This needed to be ended completely. It was for the best and besides, Negan figured that Cash would be happier with a woman anyway. Cash was just hurt from his messy divorce and was rebelling in protest to women. This would soon pass as soon as the chief would introduce him to who he had in mind for him to date and he would be happier. That was the lie that Negan was telling himself over and over in order to believe it and make this easier on himself. His mind was decided but as he walked into his kitchen, he immediately saw what his staff was fussing over. His heart sank to the pit of his already empty and upset stomach. He really, really liked Cash a whole lot and this wasn’t easy for him to do by any means. He didn’t need to be told, he knew that the arrangement wrapped in tissue paper was from Cash and the knife made another turn. “You have a delivery, Sir.” Tony spoke up seeing him over Minerva’s shoulder. He nodded curtly as if the arrangement was about to combust into flames. Tony’s smile flattened seeing how distinctly cold his boss’s expression was. Minerva turned to look at him. “Good morning, Negan.” She greeted. He indeed looked better but Minerva saw the distance in his eyes that were fixated on the arrangement. “Are you ok, Dear?” She asked stepping over to him to rub his shoulder. A moment of panic settled in his chest. Minerva knew nothing to his knowledge and forced a smirk. “Do your like them?” Negan questioned Tony to pass off like he had sent them to him. It caught Tony off guard. Truth of the matter was that neither he or Minerva truly knew who the flowers were for but Minerva knew that to be a lie. Minerva sighed and continued to affectionately rub Negan’s shoulder. “May I have a moment with Tony alone please?” He asked needing out of this situation. Looking into Minerva’s face was as hard as his mother’s. He wasn’t ready for this and he was ending it with Cash today anyway so he wasn’t about to come clean now or ever. There would never be a need. “Of course.” She said and tucked his collar under his vest better and turned to Tony with a sharp glare in her eyes. Tony smiled with a polite nod while thinking, like hell, Minerva. He had waited far too long for this. Not only for Negan’s sake but for his excitement too. His boss had found a new level of trust with him. Minerva pursed her lips into a sour pucker. “I’ll be making my run to the post office and to the market now.” She said excusing herself. Negan kept a hawks eye on his flowers over Tony’s shoulder and listened to the echo of her footsteps become distant before he’d speak. “You take that arrangement to your room please.” Negan ordered. “They aren’t mine , Sir.” Tony declined shaking his head. Negan’s eyes narrowed in order to be taken seriously. “I am refusing them and wish for you to take them from my sight.” He darkened resorting to his defense mechanism that he knew best. Tony hadn’t been expecting this reaction at all but knew that he wasn’t going to let his boss get away with it either. Butterflies immediately swarmed Tony’s nerves. This would be the first time that he had ever declined a direct order. “No.” He said gripping the back of the bar stool in order to brace his nerves. “Excuse me?” Negan asked in shock tilting his neck as if he had been mistaken of what he had heard Tony say. Tony straightened his composure. “All due respect, Sir but, No.” Tony spoke with confidence gaining on him. “I have given you an order. Now take that arrangement out of my sight and to your quarters. I do not fucking want it.” He growled. “Like hell you don’t.” Tony argued. Negan’s eyes widened as his chest expanded. “I will rid you of these flowers but not until you take a look at what you will be throwing away first.” Tony stressed in his challenge. Negan fumed to find the words. “Go on.” Tony persisted stepping away from the bar to give his boss the room. “On or off the record, you know damn well that you want these flowers, Sir.” He furthered with his gumption that was now fully in tact. “You don’t have a fucking clue what I want.” Negan fought. “Yeah, well then prove it. You open your gift and prove it. You open it and then I will gladly throw them in the dumpster for you. I will toss it in so hard that you will hear that crystal vase shatter to make you feel better but I will NOT be taking them to my room. YOU will deal with the thought of them busted in the dumpster but they do NOT belong to me.” He continued from his heart and in a heated tone pointing to the arrangement. Tony’s words stung and Tony had knew just where to hit him too. No. No, he wouldn’t be able to deal with them being in the garbage. “You’re not going to fire me and you’re not going to hurt me either. You know damn well that I’m your friend and the only one you got.” He said taking in a deep breath. Negan looked hard into Tony’s eyes for a moment knowing that Tony had just defeated him. “You don’t play fair.” Negan answered knowing that Tony spoke of the truth. “No. I’m playing it fair to you. Now open them before I explode.” He chose to chuckle to lighten the mood. Negan knew that he wasn’t going to win and reluctantly stepped up to the counter and peeled back the tissue paper ever so gently to reveal a beautiful bouquet of red roses and baby’s breath. Tony watched as Negan delicately folded the paper to not bruise a petal and folded his hands. The room was quiet and Negan read the card wishing him well and signed lovingly with the nickname that he had jokingly given Cash the day before. He must’ve read the words a dozen times as that longing met up with his every desire and it hurt. Tony waited patiently and finally Negan had peeled the rest of the paper off and carefully crumbled the paper in a wadded ball in his fist and held it out to Tony to throw away. “What do you wish for now?” Tony asked. Negan couldn’t bring himself to look from the flowers to find Tony’s eyes to answer his question. “Well?” Tony pried. Negan swallowed hard “To be in his arms.” He hushed. Tony smiled to himself. “And that just sounded really fucking gay.” Negan said shaking his head and pulled out the chair to have a seat. “Aside from the fact that you are, wanting to feel love has nothing to do with any label.” Tony shed light on. Negan nodded that he understood. “Can I get you a cup of coffee?” Tony offered. “Please.” Negan accepted turning his vase to admire it from a different angle. Tony poured them each a cup and came to join him. Hiking up his pant legs he took a seat. “I don’t want to hurt him, Tony.” He spoke truthfully. “You’re not going to. Your mother hadn’t chosen this life until after she had you  and your father never harmed her correct?”  Tony asked. Negan hadn’t yet considered this but Tony was right. “You did not worry for Emily even though your brother was born a vampire.” Tony added. Negan nodded again that Tony was right to some degree. “Nox and Emily had a very unconventional but yet a very traditional wedding ceremony by a vampire’s code.” He added.Tony turned his cheek in question.  “She became a vampire at the alter.” He clarified. “Oh, wow..” Tony answered imagining it in his mind. “A traditional vampire wedding is very romantic.” Negan smiled in remembering. “Emily had become a vampire before me. It was her choice.” He lingered. “And do you worry for Ethan?” Tony asked. “Of course not.” Negan was quick to defend. Tony nodded. “And you’ve never at any point come after me or Minerva so you see, you have full control, Negan.” He pointed out and then quickly apologized. Just because Minerva called him Negan did not make it ok for him to. Minerva had been with him since he was a child. “Sorry, Sir.” He apologized. Negan waved his hand in dismissal. “It’s Negan from now on.” He answered with a heavy sigh. Tony let that process what that meant for a second and pinched the bridge of his nose under his glasses to yield a tear. “You’re so gay.” Negan chuckled watching Tony now dramatically fanning his eyes caught up in his emotions as he found his laughter as well. “Give me my moment.” He pleaded. “It’s ok. Me too.” He winked and turned the vase once more to study it. Tony rubbed and patted his chest. “You need to give yourself  and Officer Howlett a chance.” He said reaching for his coffee. “It’s Cash. Which by the way, how fitting is his fucking name?” Negan asked with a grinned dimple. “It really is. I met him last night when he came up to the door to check on you. He obviously cares for you wouldn’t you say?” Tony asked pointing to the the flowers. “He’s confused.” Negan argued shaking his head. “No. I don’t think so. By the looks of that man, I think he knows exactly what he wants. Don’t think for him and stop making excuses in order to punish and distance yourself.” Tony said in slight irritation. He could just slap him silly with these excuses. “It’s time for Negan to be happy. For crying out loud already, let that man make you happy and get yourself laid. God.” Tony said balling his fists in the air. “A bit too liberal.” Negan corrected. “I’m not apologizing for this one. I’m about to strangle you.” He  spoke threw gritted teeth showing Negan the frustrated gesture. Negan couldn’t help but laugh. “What am I supposed to do?” Negan asked sincerely. “I’ll tell You what you’re going to do, you’re going to call him and invite him to dinner here tonight. It gives you your home field advantage. You’ve been at his place now twice. Make him come here..” Tony said pointing into the counter. “And Minerva?” Negan questioned taking a drink of his coffee. “News Flash” Tony said waving his hands “she’s known you were gay since you were a kid I’m sure. She loves you no less and besides, it’s not like Minerva and will be dining with you two. We are here to serve you as usual.” He stated. “Fine.” Negan sighed feeling his gut tighten again. He was ok with Tony. He always had been but Minerva was a different level he wasn’t sure he was ready for. “And then what?” He asked. “What do you mean and then what? You play it by ear like anything else. If you’re feeling it, have him stay over. I’ll take the morning off.” Tony offered. “I’d like to go back to his cabin.” Negan admitted thinking of that bed. “So go back to his place.” Tony shrugged. “I’ll still have the morning off. Either way I win.” He laughed. “But have him to dinner here. I can pour you something special to drink to make sure we don’t repeat last night and Cash will not have a clue. We can pull this off until you’re comfortable to share with him the truth.” Negan nodded in thought. “But by all means, indulge yourself in the mean time. There’s a whole lot of man you got yourself there.” Tony laughed and heard the front door bell. Negan was laughing too and wasn’t sure if he was laughing at Tony or the fact that he was right in what he said. Maybe it was both. “I have to get that.” Tony said straightening his pleated suit pants. “Do we have a plan?” He asked.Negan nodded. “Yes.” He answered. “Are you going to give this a chance?” Tony asked walking towards the archway needing confirmation. “Go answer my door.” He pointed. “Negan.” Tony played. “Yes. Fuck.” He laughed watching Tony leave the room and left him alone for a moment. “I don’t know as if I can wait till tonight to see you.” He spoke to his flowers and buried his nose in them to smell.