I think I liked you better when you didn't have a knife in your hand, Peaches

A change of scenery

"So where exactly is this change of scenery then?" asked Blake as both she and Negan walked along the dimly-lit hallways of the Sanctuary, side-by-side.

"Well, Christ, Peaches," hummed Negan beside her, letting out a low chuckle, as he swung Lucille from his hand between the pair of them. "You've really got no fuckin' patience have you?"

Blake gave a scoff, her green eyes darting his way, as she gave a small smirk.

He could be so annoying sometimes.

"I'm just curious is all. Is that a crime now?" she swiped back.

But Negan just raised his dark eyebrows.

"No, but you know what curiosity did to the fuckin' cat, Darlin'," he said, leaning his tall form in towards Blake slightly, causing her to roll her eyes, tutting.

This back and forth between them reminded Blake of how it had once been, back when she had first arrived here...long before Mia...or her return to Alexandria...long before she and Negan had been, well....anything.

They turned a darkened corner, as Negan dragged a hand over his bearded chin, giving a heavy sigh.

At this, Blake eyed him carefully.

"Have you actually slept since you got back from the outpost?" she asked questioningly, her gaze roving across his long and tired-looking features.

She knew that Negan wasn't really one for getting much sleep anyway....but he looked far more worn-out and exhausted these days than he had before Blake's birthday....as though everything now was weighing heavy on him.

Perhaps just the same as it was weighing heavy on her....

Blake hadn't really considered that perhaps she wasn't the only one lying awake at night, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

But Negan grimaced a little, shrugging his broad, leather-clad shoulders easily.

"I'll sleep when I'm fucking dead, Doll," he muttered with a small scoff, striding along on his long legs.

But Blake narrowed her eyes gently.

"At the rate you're going that'll probably be sooner than you think..." she murmured back, pursing her lips a little reprimandingly.

But Negan just licked at his lips, giving a grin and turning to face her. "That a threat?"

Blake rolled her eyes once again.

"You know what I mean," she tutted, nudging him affectionately with her hip.

As much as she pretended not to, Blake really did care for Negan. A lot.

Nothing would change that. Not now. Not after everything.

The pair of them turned another corner as Negan looked her way for a brief moment, before nodding over towards a rickety-looking metal stairwell at the end of the long corridor up ahead.

The two of them had already made it up to the sixth floor....a space full of disused dusty rooms, barely frequented by anyone. So Blake didn't quite understand what would be yet another level up from this.

"Up there?" Blake asked, glancing at Negan a little warily, as the pair approached the staircase.

But Negan just gave a nod, coming to stop at the bottom, his chocolate eyes peering up at the small wooden door, covered in peeling paint, at the very top.

Blake watched as the dark-haired man chewed on his lip, grinning.

What was he up to?

She narrowed her eyes in his direction yet again, before grasping the railing beside her and stepping forward.