ORDER (sequel to Trouble) [TWD]

blackout

Nanami picks his bag up with a sigh, following behind Tyreese to the doors.

"Be safe," Michonne tells him, "Come back in one piece."

"Gonna try," Nanami tries to joke but only makes Michonne frown.

"We'll see you later," Carl tries, switching Judith between his arms, "In one, breathing, piece."

Nanami huffs and Carl sends him the faintest smile until Sophia steps between them. She kisses a kiss on Nanami's cheek, squeezing his hand.

"Bring her back," she whispers in a gentle plead.

Nanami nods shortly, giving Carl another glance before he is ducking out of the church.

Nanami had faith in the group, of course. He was just.. tired. He's been tired for a few weeks now. But nearly getting killed multiple times, Sakiko leaving, his talk with Daryl- everything was piling up.

But, this was just what they needed.

Go back to Atlanta where it all started, get Beth and Carol back, and catch up to the others. Maybe this was how they set things right.

All they needed was a win.

All that stood between them was a group of asshole police officers.

Nanami had tried to not get his hands bloody at all since Woodbury. He hardly wanted to kill walkers unless they were outright attacking him and he had no choice. But, maybe that's what he needed, as well. Maybe if these bad people cross that line, he can take out his frustrations on them. 

It could work.

--

This wasn't going to work.

"A trade is only gonna put our guards down. We'll be right up in enemy territory and they'll have the advantage," Nanami points out.

"Nah, it'll work," Daryl supports Tyreese, "Noah- you said this 'Dawn'.. She's just trying to keep it together."

"Trying and doing are two different things," Noah shakes his head.

"We take two of her cops away, what choices does she have?" Daryl asks, looking between Rick and Nanami, "Everybody goes home."

"And give 'em a chance to come back and find us later?" Nanami asks, "Like Terminus? Like the Gov-"

Nanami's voice cracks, emotions too deep to even try and say that cursed man's name out loud in front of everyone else.

"Is that something we can risk?" Nanami finishes instead.

"Going in and killing folks left and right.." Tyreese sighs, "Is that something the world can risk?"

Nanami begins to shake his head, hating that he and Rick seemed to be the odd ones out.

"Son, I was there, too," Tyreese reminds and Nanami's eyes darken, "We ain't them."

With Woodbury being at the frontline of conversation again, Rick, Daryl, and Sasha tense up. Noah looks between the group in confusion but can notice the shift in the air enough to not ask anything verbally.

"Not out there," Nanami tells Tyreese, "You were there.. but you weren't."

"I was there," Tyreese reassures.

The two look at each other for a few more seconds until Nanami sighs largely, his shoulders dropping in a confusing mix of relief and defeat.

"We do the trade," Rick nods.

--

Capturing two officers wasn't a hard task. It was the unexpected third driving up and taking them back that surprised Nanami.