Brother's Keeper ¹ || The walking dead

123.

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Infection.

Riven's wound was infected, and his skin was reddish with a slight fever. Currently, he was sleeping on Reagan. Reagan was glad Riven was sleeping, but now he was worried about the infection and not only that, but he's worried about Mercury and Melanie. They were at the kingdom, but Alpha was looking for Madi, It was only a matter of time before  she finds the kingdom and takes Madi by force, only this time, she might actually kill anyone who gets in her way.

He didn't have time to worry about Negan, but he couldn't stop thinking about him, and it was frustrating him. It's been six whole years since he last saw his father. He wasn't on good terms with him when he left. He didn't care that he left, but now, seeing him with Annie, hearing that he's expecting a baby, Reagan just couldn't help but feel angry.

In what life did his father deserve to be happy after ruining so many people's lives? Did he truly think he could just change and live a happy life?

He shouldn't care at all. He has his own family he needs to worry about. Negan wasn't his family, never again will he be his family.

"..hey.." A knock on the open apartment door caught his attention, but he didn't turn his head as he heard the voice of Negan. "How is he?"

Reagan clenched his jaw. "Why do you care?" He questioned through gritted teeth, Peanut whined at him. Reagan let out a deep breath, turning his head to face Negan with narrowed eyes. "He has an infection. One that we can't treat unless I get him to the kingdom. The second the sun is out, we're leaving."

"Can we talk?" Negan questioned, already inviting himself inside. He paced in front of them. "We need to talk."

"About what extacly? I am not apologizing for punching you repeatedly. You deserved it." Reagan told him, Negan sighed as he stopped his pacing, fully facing Reagan.

"I'm sorry." Negan said, his tone genuine and full of regret. "I am so sorry about everything. I am so sorry that I wasn't the father you needed me to be, I am sorry that I abandoned you when you needed me the most. I am deeply sorry to you and your sister."

Reagan stared at him for a moment before scoffing. "You can take your apologies and shove them up your ass because no matter how much you apologize, I'm never going to forgive you,"

"You're only apologizing for you. Not for me, not for Melanie, but for yourself. To make yourself feel better now that you have a new wife and a kid on the way." Reagan spat out, his voice low but harsh.

"I am truly sorry." Negan quietly said, walking over to the door, pausing for a moment, like he wanted to say something else, but he decided against it, closing the door behind him as he left.

Reagan glanced down at his hand as he felt a hand uncurling his fist. "..you okay?" Reagan leaned his head against Riven's.

"I will be once you are." Reagan whispered to him. "How are you feeling?"

"Answer me first, then I'll answer you first." Riven mumbled, and Reagan chuckled.

"I'll live." Reagan told him. "Being pissed at my father is something I'm used at. How are you feeling and don't bullshit me."

"Tired. What about Mer? Madi, Lydia? Are they okay?" Riven questioned, slightly moving away from Reagan, rubbing the sleep away from his eyes.

Reagan frowned, Riven didn't even get that much sleep, and here he was, forcing himself to stay awake. "They're fine. Mer and Madi are at the kingdom with Melanie."

"And Lydia? Don't tell me she's with Henry, uh, someone needs to tell that kid to back off." Riven mumbled, feeling a protective instinct over Lydia.

Reagan deeply sighed, and Riven furrowed his eyes at him. "She's with Alpha -"

"What? What happened?" Riven asked, worried, now more awake than before.

"Alpha showed up at Hilltop. Luckily, Mercury, Madi, and Melanie were already gone by then, but Lydia decided to stay back, I told Henry to take her away, but Lydia came back, offered to go with her mother if she didn't hurt anyone." Reagan explained, "She had Luke, Alden, and Carl hostage. Bitch even left a baby on the ground for the walkers, Connie saved the baby, they're fine by the way."

"We need to go." Riven told him, standing up, stumbing a little, Reagan quickly stood up, grabbing him.

"You can barely even walk. The sun isn't even up yet. You should rest." Reagan said, Riven shook his head.

"No. We can't leave Lydia with Alpha, Rea. She's in danger, I'm fine, I can walk." Riven insisted, and Reagan let him go, stepping back.

"Alright, then walk to the door without stumbling." Reagan told him, knowing that Riven couldn't do that. He was exhausted, and his body was fighting off an infection.

"Right, you can't. Riven, stop being so stubborn and just rest -"

"I can't fail another kid!" Riven snapped, not really meaning to. Unwanted tears welled up in his eyes. "I can't.. I can't fail another kid, Rea."

Reagan pulled Riven into his embrace. "You won't. I promise you that I'll save her. I'll bring her back, but you need to rest, your body is fighting an infection, and your seizures are unpredictable right now."

"And he won't do it alone." Reagan resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he turned his head towards the door, seeing Negan with a sheepish smile. "Sorry for interrupting, but thin walls can't help but overhear."

"Annie can take him to the kingdom. You and I can find this kid and save her." Negan told Reagan. "It's the least I could, Riven helped me, now let me return the favor."

Riven mumbled something against Reagan's chest. Reagan sighed, throwing an annoyed look at Negan. "He said you shouldn't fucking eavesdrop -" Reagan cut himself off with a small grunt as Riven gently whacked him in the shoulder.

Reagan rolled his eyes. "He said, thank you." Negan grinned a little.

"No need to thank me."

⭐️
1036 words

Short chapter

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