MAKNAE [twd] *editing*

【111】

"I'd like to offer the five of you residence here at Oceanside."

"Awesome!" Daniel cheers, immediately receiving a slap on the shoulder by Jae.

"Look, Natania, there's something we should talk about first," I step closer to where she sat at the table.

"Go on," she nods with a smile.

I glance to Taeyang who nods in support, my veins filling with more strength at the gesture.

This wasn't Rick who I could easily speak to, nor Deanna who I had to play it smart and strategic with. And she definitely wasn't Negan.

Natania was different in the idea that she was easy to talk to, yet also a ticking time bomb if I said the wrong thing.

She was still grieving and clearly hesitant and refused to take chances that would put the people she still had left at risk. But, we'd had a couple days now, she trusted me and I trusted her to a degree.

And we were going through loss caused by the same people.

"We're from a community. A couple different ones, actually."

"I figured as much," she nods, "There's enough signs to prove that."

"It's not just that," I shake my head.

She looks confused and I take another step closer, pulling myself to be more confident.

"Those people you fought.." I begin and her eyes flicker to grief, "We're fighting them now."

"You.." she startles, "You're currently.."

"We're currently fighting the Saviors," I name and she gasps out a breath.

"But, it isn't going to last. I can promise you that," I kneel in front of her, "Natania, those people-"

"Those people killed my daughter. My grandson. So many of our people- our friends and family," she begins to raise her voice, "My family was slaughtered-"

"Mine too," I call above her.

She pauses, looking down to me.

"My brother I told you about. The one from the airport that's raised me," I remind, "Negan himself killed him."

Natania's eyes change every time she blinks. Anger, pain, sympathy, hatred, sadness..

"My friend's father as well- the same time he killed my brother. Another Savior killed another one of our group members. They're treating us just the same."

"Okay," Natania nods, "Then, there is more reason for you to stay here and keep safe from them."

"My brother's pregnant wife is still back there-"

"Then, go back, get her, and bring her here as well. We'll take your entire family in if need be."

"There's others. We have two communities of people. Family."

Stressfully, she runs her hands over her face, "And what do you want us to do? What are you proposing, Hana?"

"Join us," I plead.

"No. No, absolutely not-"

"Natania," I call, grabbing her hand, "Natania, hear me out."

"We lost everything to those people," she recalls.

"Not everything," I deny.

"We will if we go back into that fight."

"No, you won't," I argue, "Natania, I promise you that if you join us we will win."