LOYAL [TWD] (third book to TROUBLE)

final stand

"Goddamn, you are cold, Sara," Negan blames, "Or, should I say 'Sakiko'? Michonne let it slip that you lied to me the whole damn time about your name."

"You didn't deserve to know my name," Sakiko rests her hands on the bars, peering into the darkness.

She drops the radio on the floor from where she'd just finished talking to Nanami. She turned it off when he was shouting her name.

Negan laughs again, "Well.. What are ya doing here? You finally come to me so we can say our 'I do's?"

"I came to make it right. You know why I'm here. You know why I haven't been here."

"Damn."

"Get on your knees," Sakiko demands.

"Usually I'd be the one saying that-"

"Not today. Not anymore. Get on your fucking knees," Sakiko growls.

"I think you got even hotter there, darlin'-"

Sakiko rips the cell door open, kicking Negan between the legs. He drops to his knees and she grabs him by the ever growing beard on his face, pulling him eye level with her.

"Look at me," she demands, pulling his beard harder, "Look at me you piece of shit!"

Negan relents, opening his eyes to meet Sakiko's.

"You gonna kill me now or are we gonna make out?" Negan questions.

Sakiko takes her knife out, placing it at Negan's neck.

"This way, huh?" Negan chuckles, "You're gonna leave a bigger mess for Rick to clean up than when I bashed your hubby's brains out."

Sakiko smiles, bending closer to Negan's height.

"You look just as demented as I was that day. But, at least I can say I had fun," Negan continues to push.

"You think you're funny? You think you're under my skin? No fucking man has ever gotten under my skin. Not you. Not my deadbeat sperm donor of a 'birth dad'. Not Rick Grimes. Not a single fucking man. you understand?"

"You on that feminist shit?"

"I don't kneel to a man, Negan," Sakiko promises, "They kneel to me."

"You want me to beg for my life?"

"No. Really, I don't even want you in pain. I don't want you to suffer."

"That's why you're here."

"No. No, I'm here because you're in my brain as long as you're alive. Rent fucking free. I think about you more than I want to. So, I'm gonna end you so that I can move on with my life and my daughter can grow up without ever knowing you existed."

"Daughter?"

Sakiko smiles again- a truly eery sight compared to the flames in her eyes.

"Keep trying. Keep pushing me, Negan. Please," Sakiko urges.

"What do you want from me?" he finally breaks, a tear rolling down his cheek, "Just kill me."

"Why should I? Why do you want me to kill you? Why do you keep pushing me?"

"I.. I want to be with my wife."

"This is why you're lucky, Negan," Sakiko lets go of his beard, caressing his face gently.

"What- What do you mean?"

"I told you. I don't want you in pain. I don't want you to suffer. I don't want you in misery."

Negan sniffles, flinching at the delicate touches of Sakiko's hand. It was such a contrast to the blade against his throat.

"If I wanted you to suffer, I'd walk out these doors and let you keep living. You're already worse than dead."