TROUBLE [twd]

playing both sides

Keeping ducked down in the night, Nanami watches as Merle and Martinez leave the Governor's apartment. They trade a nod before breaking off from each other.

Nanami looks around before taking hidden, careful steps to follow after Merle.

He'd listened into the men's conversation more before they left.

Glenn and Maggie were here. The others were in a prison.

The Governor was ready to kill them all until Merle made the exception that nothing happens to Daryl, Sakiko, or Nanami.

But, Shumpert was looking for Nanami. It wasn't adding up to him yet.

Governor had told Merle to bring Glenn and Maggie to 'the screamer pits'. Which means Nanami just has to follow Merle and he will lead the teen straight to the couple. Then, they could figure out how to get the hell out of this place and back to the others.

Nanami followed Merle until Merle ducked into a building that Nanami himself hadn't been in just yet. Looking up and down the street, Nanami pulls his bag closer around him before taking off into a jog.

Just when he's near the building, another door opens and arms grab him from behind- dragging him into the building with their hand over his mouth.

Nanami kicks at the person until finally sinking his teeth into their hand- elbowing the person away from him as another person closes the door.

He kicks at the person that held him, spinning around with his knife up only to come face to face with a sword that stops his motions.

"Calm down," Michonne warns.

Nanami follows the blade until he's looking in her eyes- his knife dropping to the floor in relief. Slowly, Michonne lowers her sword as the other three in the room let themselves be known.

"Sorry," Nanami panics, seeing it was Rick that he'd nearly stabbed.

"It's all right, Nanami," Rick pats his shoulder, wringing his hand that Nanami had bit.

"How.." Nanami begins to ask Michonne until he notices someone else.

Daryl sets his bow on the floor, taking a gentle step toward the teen.

"Daryl.." Nanami breathes.

"You okay?" Daryl asks, eyes pleading with the teen.

The question was more than just him checking on Nanami's condition. It was making sure Nanami was with them and now on Woodbury's side. It was checking to see if the teen he'd had a hand in raising was still the same boy and not someone else.

Silently, Nanami shakes his head because he wasn't okay. Far from it. This place, the Governor, Merle.. It had all gotten in his head and twisted his thoughts and morals until he was a blank slate up for their using. His hands were tainted with the blood of lives that he'd stolen because he was their sick version of a hero.

He'd been ruined. Betrayed. Lied to. His innocence stolen.

Daryl sighs, taking a large step to wrap his boy in his arms. Pulling his lips into a tight line, Nanami clings to the older man as he felt himself go back to a time before. When he was still pure. When all he wanted was to save himself and his sister from the monster they had lived with. Before he had become the monster.

"Sakiko.." he finds his voice.

"She's all right. She's waiting a few miles out for us with Ryan," Rick answers, seeing Daryl wasn't in the best shape to answer either as the man held unshed tears in his eyes.

Nanami only falls more limp in Daryl's hold- security and safety finally at the forefront of his emotions for the first time in nearly a year.

"Nanami," Rick begins, "Have you seen Glenn or Maggie?"