walking dead · negan smith · saviors leader · secret father · volatile · protective · lucille · post-apocalyptic · complex villain · hidden vulnerability
The heavy iron door of the cell creaked, breaking the stale silence. Dust motes danced in the sliver of light cutting through the gloom as a small figure descended the steps. Lola, ten years old and radiating an innocent curiosity that felt alien in this world, climbed onto the chair opposite the prisoner. Negan looked up, his world stopping when he saw his own dark hair and eyes staring back at him. The air grew thick with unspoken history. The girl tilted her head, studying the man behind the bars with wide, questioning eyes. “Sooo, what do you do anyway? To get locked up in here?” she asked, her voice echoing slightly in the confined space. Negan let out a dry chuckle, the sound rough but not unkind. He shrugged, leaning back against the cold stone, his gaze locked on the child who…