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cristinablackthornkingson · 4 years ago

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What Might Have Been, Part 3.

Check out part 1 here and part 2 here

It is a warm Spring day in March, year of The Chinchilla, 17 years after the Midmerican Scythedom were rocked by the loss of their High Blade Scythe Robert Goddard, when the woman formerly known as Scythe Ayn Rand, is faced with the conversation she has dreaded for the past 17 years.

Just last week Olivia Kwon and Tyger Salazar’s son Alexander, turned 17.

That day was also 16 years since Olivia and Tyger tried to make things work with eachother, they dated on and off throughout Alex’s early childhood, and though there was and is no doubt that they truly love eachother, after what Olivia did to Tyger, while she was Scythe Rand, he will never be truly able to trust her again, and as such would never be able to be in a long term relationship with her.

Despite this, they remained friends and were and are always a team when it comes to Alex and his upbringing, which is the best he could’ve possibly asked for, though now as he is getting older he’s finding his mother to be too protective and a little suffocating, he knows she means well and he loves her with all his heart, but he’s almost an adult now, he feels like he needs some space.

Olivia knows this, she can see much of herself at that age, in Alex (Though thankfully he doesn’t so far seem to have her temper and angry disposition.) and on this warm Spring day, she decides it’s time to give Alex the truth of his early life and how he came to be.

Standing in the doorway to his bedroom, watching him absorbed in a drawing he’s been working on for the last few days, Olivia almost wants to forget about this conversation and let Alex continue to live in blissful ignorance, let him innocently believe that he was conceived like any other child, that he was wanted because a child is a gift to many people, not because the man who was technically his father, wanted to use him as a weapon.

But she knows she can’t, Alex deserves to know the truth about everything and he’s old enough now to understand and comprehend it all. Olivia just hopes he doesn’t hate her.

Pushing aside her fears as she has learned to do over the last 17 years, Olivia knocks lightly on Alex’s door.

Alex looks up from his drawing, his dark brown hair falling into his eyes, his face lighting up with a smile when he sees his mother.

“Hi mom!” Alex says in a bright tone, setting his pencil down and pushing his hair back. Olivia’s heart aches with how much she loves him, and she wishes she could turn back time just for an hour or two, to when Alex was a baby and it was just the two of them against the world, for the first month of his life.

“Hi, what are you working on?” Olivia asks, nodding at his sketchpad. Alex’s eyes light up as they always do when someone asks him about his art.

“A piece of the portfolio I gotta submit to colleges, I’m almost done my whole portfolio!” Alex proudly tells her, holding his head high. He’s had a big interest in art since he was old enough to hold a pencil, he recently made the choice to go to an art school and get his degree in art and art history, then maybe he could be a teacher himself, or he could be hired by someone famous like a Scythe, to do a portrait for them.

“It looks really good.” Olivia tells him with a smile. “Listen, Alex, now that you’re 17 I need to talk to you about some things, about your early life and why... why we’re so secluded and why I came here from MideMerica, to raise you.”

“Oh... um... okay.” Alex shrugs, having always wondered about his mom’s life before him, and he’s been curious as to why she has hardly any friends and dreads parent-teacher meetings as his school, it’ll be good to get some answers.

With a sigh, Olivia sits on the edge of Alex’s bed, while he stays where he is in the chair at his desk.

“Okay, so this is a pretty long story and you’ll find out I did some pretty awful things before I had you, just bare with me until the end then you can ask any questions you want, and no matter what you feel about me or your dad, or anything about this situation, it’s okay, alright?” Olivia asks, looking her son dead in the eye, having always made sure he knows he has a right to feel his emotions and express them, and he should never push them down like she did at his age.

“Okay.”

“To start off with, I’m going to tell you something pretty shocking, something that only your dad knows and no one else in our lives knows.

I haven’t always gone by Olivia Kwon, from the time I was 17 until I was 25, I was known as Honorable Scythe Ayn Rand.

I apprenticed with Honorable Scythe Robert Goddard, when I was your age and was his Junior Scythe for 8 years, his right-hand woman.

I know you know about him, you learned about him at school, about me too though you didn’t know at the time that I use to be Scythe Rand. So you know we were both pretty awful people, and I hate to say it now, but for those 8 years I had a major crush on Goddard, I thought I was totally and utterly in love with him.

You know how he was killed the first time... and how he was revived, but one thing about that that you don’t know is... that the ‘donor’ body I selected... was actually your dad, because he was close to Rowan Damisch, the boy who killed Goddard the first time, and almost killed me. I... I chose him so I could and would hurt Rowan, and get back at him.

Thing is though, I fell in love with your dad during the time I was training him, I really loved him, not in the way I thought I loved Goddard.

As you know about 18 years ago, Goddard was elected High Blade of Midmerica, the first new High Blade after the 9th Commandment was lifted for Scythes and we were allowed to get married and have kids. He was also the first High Blade who would pass the title down to his child, when the time came.

So shortly after he was elected he started looking for surrogates so he could have a child, an heir. When I found out about this and he told me he was struggling to find the right candidate I... I offered to be his surrogate. He laughed it off at first but I conceived him, told him that I was the ideal candidate, we shared the same values and beliefs and we could make a strong child together. So... we did.

With lots of help from doctors to make our chances as high as possible, we did one round of artificial insemination, and 2 weeks later I found out I was pregnant... with you.

At first I was indifferent to the pregnancy, Goddard was thrilled of course, he was going to have his heir.

I didn’t start feeling anything about the pregnancy until I was four months, and saw you clearly for the first time at an ultrasound, I could see your hands and feet and see you moving around inside me, and I got to hear your heartbeat. That’s when I started forming a bond with you and becoming attached to you. I tried so hard not to, tried to remind myself I wasn’t your mom just doing Goddard a favor.

But then... then I felt you kick for the first time and you responded to my voice, and I just felt this huge rush of love for you that was so beyond intense, I couldn’t believe it, but again I tried to push those feelings away, not because I didn’t love you but because I did love you and I knew it would hurt like hell to hand you over to Goddard, if I bonded with you.

I couldn’t stop myself though, how could I when we were together 24/7, I felt your every move and shift of position, you heard everything I heard, ate everything I ate, went everywhere I went, it was impossible not to bond with you.

Throughout my pregnancy Goddard was always raging on about what a prodigy you would be and how you would be the best Scythe in the world, and would carry on and uphold his legacy.

It was when I was 8 months pregnant that I had enough. Goddard took me to a mass gleaning at a Tonist Cloister, as a way of saying thank you, for carrying his child for the past 8 months. Looking back now I of course know how obscene and evil that sounds, but back then I thought nothing of it.

During that mass gleaning Goddard started spouting his usual crap about how his reign would never end, and that you would carry on his beliefs and values, uphold the New Order and would show no mercy to The Tonists either.

And then... then I just snapped and before I could even fully comprehend it, I had my knife in his heart and he was dead again.

I told the Tonists to tell everyone that unsavories had killed Goddard and burned his body, and I threatened to glean them if they didn’t.

After that I got straight into a public car intent on getting as far away from MidMerica as I could, I was thinking of leaving the Mericas altogether, but then I had this awful pain in my stomach and then my waters broke. The stress of the day put me into labor.

The rest you know, I had you in MidMerica, and the moment I held you and saw you I knew I couldn’t be Scythe Rand anymore, that I had to get you away from The Scythedom and those who would expect you to be just like Goddard.

So I changed my name back to my birth name, cut my hair, put on street clothes and with just you, and my robes and ring in a bag, I left for Texas where I would be off-grid, and I had your dad revived.

Like I said, the rest you know.”

Unsurprisingly there is a tense silence in the room for a few minutes, before Alex finally speaks up.

“I... I’m glad you’re not Scythe Rand anymore.” He quietly says, surprising his mother who expected him to rage and yell and tell her he hates her, etc.

“Me too kid, me too.” She says, reaching out to squeeze his hand lovingly.

“so... you really did a total 180... because of me?” Alex asks in an unsure tone, hardly able to believe that he had such a great impact on someone. Olivia nods.

“I did, I wanted to give you your best chance at life and I knew to do that, I would either have to change my ways or place you for adoption, and there was no way I was letting you go, so I chose the other option and changed, I destroyed my ring when you were a month old and the last person I ever gleaned was Goddard.” Olivia explains.

“So... does this mean Goddard is my biological dad?” Alex questions, tilting his head to the side. Olivia shakes her head.

“No, it was your dad’s body, with Goddard’s head. Your dad’s name is on your Birth Certificate and he is your biological father, but if Goddard were alive today he would probably have legal rights to you.” Olivia sighs, grateful that she doesn’t have to worry about Goddard showing up and taking Alex from her.

“Mom, can.... can we go to Midmerica for a while? So I can see where you’re from and where I was born and suppose to grow up, please?” Alex hopefully asks, looking at his mother with big and imploring brown eyes.

Olivia is hesitant, she doesn’t want to be recognized by anyone in Midmerica, it’s why she never want back after Alex was born. However after a minute of thinking, she decides she can’t deny Alex this very simple request.

“Yeah, yeah of course we can.”

So a few days later the two of them board a train and head for MideMerica, completely unaware of the destiny they are about to face.

______________________________________________________________

Meanwhile in Midmerica, 16 year old Sophie Faraday-Curie accompanies her mother to the local museum in Fulcrum City, so Sophie can gather some information for a history project for school, and so her mother can gather some information she needs for a meeting with the other High Blades of the other regions of the Mericas.

Sophie usually hates going out in public, because of all the attention she gets. As the first child born to two Scythes Sophie is pretty famous and despite her parents best effort to keep her out of the spotlight and give her an ordinary childhood and life, she is still recognized practically everywhere she goes, which results in a lot of staring and whispering from the people around her.

However when Sophie is with her mom or dad, people tend to stare less, they know how protective High Blade Curie and Honorable Scythe Faraday are of their daughter, and have no doubt either of them would not hesitate to glean anyone who upset or bothered their daughter, so it’s easier for Sophie to be out and about when she has one of her parents with her.

What bugs her the most is that technically she’s not actually the first child born to two Scythes, Honorable Scythe Rand had been due to give birth to Honorable Scythe Goddard’s child two months before Sophie was born, but after Goddard was killed by unsavories, a heavily pregnant Rand disappeared and no one has seen her or the baby she was carrying, in 17 years.

But non of that is really at the fore-front of Sophie’s mind right now, she is totally taken in by her surroundings the minute she and her mother step into the museum, there’s so much to learn and see and though Sophie has visited here often, there is always something new.

As she looks around her while walking toward the section she needs to go to, Sophie is not paying attention to where she is going and soon feels herself collide with something, or rather someone. They both immediately crash to the ground, Sophie cursing herself for being so clumsy and not looking where she’s going, while the other person yells in surprise.

“Oh I’m so sorry! I’m such an idiot, not looking where I was going!” Sophie apologizes, pushing herself off the floor and holding her hand out to help the person she collided with, a young boy around her age with messy dark brown hair, light brown skin and wide and inquisitive brown eyes.

“No it’s okay I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going either.” The boy says, grabbing Sophie’s hand letting her haul him to his feet.

Before either of them can say anything else, Marie comes up behind Sophie holding a leaflet and smiling softly.

“Soph I just found some physical copies of the statement your dad and I put out to the world when you were born, it’s not very long but it’s got some photos of you as a baby that I thought you’d like to see.” Marie says in a soft, reminiscent tone, brushing her daughter’s hair out of her eyes, remembering writing this article with Michael like it was yesterday. It had taken them almost a week to write just two paragraphs because Sophie was so fussy and wouldn’t let them put her down for more than five minutes at a time.

Before Sophie can reply, a tall willowy woman with dark hair and pan-Asian leanings comes up behind the boy Sophie just collided with. She puts a hand on the boy’s shoulder and smiles at him, and is clearly about to say something to him, but before she can, Marie speaks up.

“Rand? Scythe Ayn Rand?” Marie gasps in disbelief, staring at the woman in front of her. She looks different from the last time Marie saw her, her long dark hair is now cut short to just above her shoulders, the black is streaked through with some gray and she clearly looks older, but she is still instantly recognizable.

Olivia/Rand immediately pales and is about to put up a fight and tell Marie that she’s mistaken, but then she realizes she made a silent promise to both herself and Alex that there would be no more lying and no more keeping secrets.

“Wait, are you High Blade Curie? High Blade of here, of Midmerica?” the boy asks in a tone of excitement. Marie smiles at his excitement.

“Yes dear, I am." she softly says. She then turns her gaze to Rand/Olivia, her smile faltering. “I think we better have a conversation, Miss Rand. Sophie you stay here, don’t go anywhere.”

“You too Alex, don’t wander off you don’t know the place and might get lost.” Olivia warns her son, before reluctantly following Marie to a quiet section of the museum.

The two teenagers look at eachother in confusion, not quiet sure what to say or what just happened.

“So... what’s going on?” Sophie asks a few seconds later. Alex shrugs.

“Beats me. Was that your mom, the High Blade?” Alex asks curiously. Sophie nods.

“Yeah, was the other lady your mom?” Sophie asks.

“Yep, though her name’s not actually Ayn Rand, it’s Olivia Kwon.” Alex tells her.

“My mom’s not actually called Marie Curie either, well she has been for the last 200 odd years, but her birth name’s Susan, Susan Goldie. I’m Sophie by the way, Sophie Faraday-Curie.” Sophie explains, sticking her hand out for Alex to shake. He grins and grabs her hand.

“I’m Alexander, Alexander Kwon, but you can call me Alex.” They shake hands.

“Nice to meet you Alex.” Sophie grins.

“Likewise. Hey, so your dad’s super famous too right? What’s his name again, Fara something?” Alex asks, racking his brain for the name of the High Blade’s husband.

“Faraday, Scythe Michael Faraday. Yeah he’s pretty famous too, my whole family is. My Aunt- well she’s not technically my aunt, it’s honorary but you know what I mean- she’s Scythe Anastasia, and my other honorary aunt, my Aunt Munira, she used to work with my dad when he was trying to find the founding Scythe’s fail safe plan, when Goddard became High Blade.” Sophie hurriedly tells Alex, always eager to talk about her odd yet interesting family.

“And you’re pretty famous yourself, must be cool.” Alex grins. Sophie shrugs, shoving her hands in her pockets.

“It’s okay I guess, it gets annoying when I go out in public and everyone recognizes me and stares at me in the streets and stuff, I don’t even know how they recognize me when I’m not with my parents, those baby pictures mom and dad put out when I was born, they’re the only pictures of me that have ever been published, and I never went to public appearances with mom or anything, and during Conclave, when I was younger I would stay with my Aunt Munira all day.” Sophie’s tone turns from sullen and irritated to bright and joyful in just a matter of seconds, despite the annoying fame and always being recognized, Sophie has had a perfectly happy childhood.

Alex nods understandingly.

“Hey I know our moms told us not to go anywhere but do you want to go grab a coffee or something in the café in the lobby and then come back here?” Alex asks, finding himself wanting to talk to Sophie more, be around her more. Sophie’s face lights up.

“Sure! Hey, wanna bet? I bet you I’ll get recognized at least 3 times on the way to and from the café, and in the café. If I do, you pay for the coffees, if I don’t, I pay.” Sophie suggests, giving Alex a sly smile and looking around to make sure her mom isn’t in hearing distance.

Alex laughs, liking Sophie more and more by the minute.

“You’re on!”

While Sophie and Alex are talking and sneaking off to the café, Olivia is facing her worst nightmare, standing here in front of High Blade Curie having been recognized right away, with Alex off on his own with some random girl. Olivia is glad that Alex just came out to her as gay, otherwise she would worry that Curie’s daughter would break his heart.

“I think you’ve got some explaining to do.” Marie tells Olivia, her tone firm and not much different to the one she uses with Sophie when she knows she’s been up to something she shouldn’t have been.

“I knew I should never have left Texas.” Olivia sighs. “Look Marie, it’s a long story. The short of it is that when I was pregnant with Alex I started bonding with him and loving him, I didn’t expect to but I did_” Before she can finish, Marie cuts her off.

“Of course you loved and bonded with him, he is your child, a child you were going to just hand over to Goddard and let him turn him into a monster!” She berates, which grates on Olivia’s nerves. It takes everything she has not to snap at Marie, she knows nothing about her situation or why she agreed to be Goddard’s surrogate in the first place.

“Oh don’t act all high and mighty like you’ve never made mistakes! I thought I was in love with Goddard, I just wanted him to love me back and I thought by having his kid I could do that, I never gave much thought to how he would raise Alex, not at first anyway.

Throughout my pregnancy though I did start to realize what a stupid and selfish decision I had made, by the time I was 8 months along I knew I couldn’t just hand Alex over to Goddard, so you know what I did, Marie? I gleaned the bastard and I told the Tonists to spread that lie about him being killed by unsavories.

I gleaned him and used his body to revive Tyger, the man I gleaned a year prior to bring Goddard back. But before I did that I gave birth to my son, alone and frightened, you had your husband with you when you gave birth, I had no one and for the first month of his life it was just me and Alex, and the minute I held him after he was born I knew I had to change, had to get away and give him the best upbringing I could, so I cut my hair, stopped wearing my robes, took nothing but one old pair or robes so nobody could trace me using them, my ring, my son and I left for Texas.

And it was the best thing I have ever done, I turned my whole life around for Alex and I gave him a fucking amazing upbringing, he’s an absolutely amazing kid and I am so proud of him and so goddamn honored to his mom.

So there, Marie, there’s your explanation.”

Despite Olivia’s angry rant, Marie remains totally calm and levelheaded, as always.

“That is all well and good Ayn, but a Scythe cannot just up and abandon their position.” She calmly says.

“Well what was I suppose to do Marie, huh? I was 8 months pregnant with the future High Blade of Midmerica, I had just killed the current High Blade of Midmerica and I was totally alone in the world.” Olivia’s tone is turning tight and she is doing her best to hold back tears.

“You could have come to me and explained your situation, I would have helped you.” Marie softly says.

“No because I didn’t want Alex involved in the Scythedom as he grew up, I wanted him to have a peaceful and normal childhood, I didn’t want any of Goddard’s followers to try and influence him or tell him about the bastard who was at the time, his father.

You have to understand, you’re a mother too, don’t act like if you were in my situation, you wouldn’t have done the same for you daughter.” At the mention of Sophie, Marie’s face and demeanor soften.

“You’re right, I would do anything for my Sophie, if I had to go off grid to give her the best life and to protect her, I would.

I won’t tell anyone you were here or that you’re living in Texas, and I won’t tell anyone about your son either, I promise.” Marie tells her, unable to stay angry at her because she knows how she feels, she would do anything to give Sophie her best shot at life, luckily, though Marie’s pregnancy was a surprise it was a very welcome one, and she Michael were in a good position to have a baby and raise Sophie, but not everyone is so fortunate.

_______________________________________________________________

Over the next couple of weeks Sophie and Alex remain in touch via social media and often hang out together, soon growing very close and become the very best of friends.

One day, a month after meeting for the first time, Alex insists on taking Sophie for lunch to celebrate her birthday, and Sophie is thrilled to spend the day with him. After lunch they just ramble around town, and end up sitting on the steps to the library, enjoying the good weather and each other’s company.

“So what do you wanna do after school? What job do you want to do?” Alex asks Sophie, leaning back on his elbows and tilting his head backward to look up at his friend who is sitting on the step just behind him, where there’s more shade, since she is not a fan of the heat. Sophie sighs.

“The whole world expects me to be a Scythe, I am the heir to the MidMeircan Scythedom. I’ll be expected to drop out of school soon and start my apprenticeship, neither of my parents are by law allowed to be my mentor, but my Aunt Anastasia said she’ll take me on, she was mentored by both my parents at one point, so there’ll be elements of mom and dad’s training in there.

But... the thing is Al, I don’t think I want to be a Scythe, I’ve learned a lot about the Sycthedom and how it works and I know the best Scythes are the ones who never wanted the position in the first place, but I know I’m never going to morally be able to be a Scythe.

He doesn’t know it but sometimes I see my dad come back from a gleaning and he just... he breaks down crying, and my mom sits there with him and holds his hand and assures him he’s a good person and she loves him, and I don’t look down on dad for that, not one bit, but the thing is he’s always able to remind himself that he is doing a necessary task and doing it in the kindest way possible. But I don’t think I could ever do that, I’m not like my mom or dad in that way, I... I’m too empathetic and I could never know a moment’s peace as a Scythe.” By the end of her explanation Sophie has tears in her eyes and her throat is closing up, this always happens when she thinks about her future.

“Oh Soph, it’s okay.” Alex soothingly says, pushing himself up one step so he’s beside Sophie and pulling her in for a hug. “Can’t you tell your mom and dad all this? They seem like really nice people, I’m sure they’ll understand.” Sophie sniffs and lays her head on Alex’s shoulder.

“I could, and they would understand, I know they won’t be angry or anything, they’ve never raised their voices at me in all my life, they’re awesome parents. But... I’m scared they’ll be disappointed and I’m scared of how the public and the rest of the Scythedom will react, I’m suppose to be the first person to ever inherit the title of High Blade, if I step down from that people are probably going to be really really pissed off with me, no one can glean me obviously, I automatically have immunity as the kid of two Scythes, but still... I don’t want to be called to Endura and have to face the Grandslayers or something.” She tells him in a wobbly tone.

“Hey if anyone tries to mess with you they’ll have me to deal with, you’re my best friend Soph, I got your back no matter what happens.” Alex firmly tells her, pulling back from the hug so he can look her in the eye. Sophie smiles through her tears and squeezes Alex’s hand.

“Thanks Al, I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“So.” Sophie begins, wiping her tears away. “What do you want to do after you leave school?”

“Well up until now I always thought I’d be an artist, I’ve always planned on going to art school and I still do, but I... I kind of want to learn more about The Scythedom and my past, in detail, not just what mom can tell me.

But... I’m scared that my interest in the Scythedom means I’m fucking evil like Goddard, he loved gleaning, he was a serial killer not a Scythe. I know there’s no biological connection between him and me, but.... I mean he was around mom practically all the time when she was pregnant. She said that he would talk to me when she was pregnant, but instead of telling me stories like normal dads would, he would talk about what a great Scythe and ruler I’d be someday and how I would make him so proud and uphold his legacy and other crazy shit.

What if... what if that impacted little fetus me, and affected my subconscious and now I am going to be the crazy evil dictator he wanted me to be?” Now Alex has tears in his eyes too.

“Oh Lex, no there’s no way you’re like Goddard. You’re the sweetest, kindest and most wonderful person I’ve ever met, you used your savings to buy me a really nice birthday present when you’ve only known me a month, you took me out for lunch for my birthday, and you always listen when I need to talk. And I know you value life and care about others, unlike Goddard. Alex you literally won’t even harm a fly, the other day you cried because we saw a little kid get upset because they fell and scrapped their knee.

You could never be like Goddard, Alex, never.” By this stage Sophie has taken Alex’s face in her hands to make him laugh, but also to make him listen to her and not get distracted. She wants him to know all this, and realize what an absolutely amazing person he is.

Alex laughs through his tears and playfully slaps Sophie’s hands away.

“Get off me you goof.” He laughs, wiping at his tears. Sophie grins and lightly shoves his shoulder.

“You love me really.”

“Yeah, yeah I do.”

________________________________________________________________

The next day, after thinking about her conversation with Alex, all night, Sophie comes to a decision and asks her parents to talk, so she can tell them about it.

“You’re going to hate me for asking this but I need peace of mind before we get into this conversation so I have to ask, are you going to tell us you’re pregnant?” Michael asks Sophie, after they sit down, knowing this will embarrass her but needing to know.

Sophie wrinkles her nose up.

“No dad! I’m asexual, remember?” Sophie says in an exasperated and embarrassed tone. She had come out to her parents just last week and they were extremely supportive, and acted like it was no big deal at all, for which Sophie is very grateful.

Michael holds his hands up in mock surrender.

“Just checking, I’m too young to be a grandpa!” Sophie gives him a ‘Are you kidding me?’ look.

“Dad you’re like 300.” She laughs.

“230 something actually, do I look old enough to be 300?” He asks, raising his eyebrows and making Sophie roll her eyes, no one else would believe that the legendary Honorable Scythe Faraday is such a dad and makes stupid jokes and comments to mess with his daughter.

“Yeah I can see why Aunt Munira told me not to listen to your jokes.” Sophie replies. “Anyway, can I tell you what I wanted to now?”

“Of course dear, go ahead.” Marie encourages her. Sophie takes a deep breath.

“Okay, so... you know how we were talking about me training to be a Scythe, the other day, with Aunt Anastasia, and how I got all those offers from other Scythes, offering to train me?” Sophie begins. Both her parents nod. “Well I’ve been thinking about it ever since, and I talked about it with Alex and.... I don’t want to be a Scythe, I know the best Scythes are always the ones who never wanted to do it in the first place, but I won’t be able to live with myself if I become a Scythe, I won’t be able to deal with it like you guys and Aunt Anastasia.

I would never be able to sleep at night if I gleaned someone, couldn’t look at myself in the mirror. My life would a misery if I did.

So... that’s it, I don’t want to be a Scythe and I don’t want to be High Blade.”

Before Sophie can even take a breath after finishing her explanation, her mother is by her side and pulling her into a tight embrace, kissing her forehead while her dad puts his arm around her shoulders and kisses the top of her head.

“We love you and support you no matter what.” Marie firmly says, cupping Sophie’s face in her hands.

“You never have to do anything you don’t want to Soph, never.” Michael tells her in a loving but firm tone, squeezing her arm reassuringly. Sophie can’t stop the tears from welling up and running down her cheeks.

“Oh my love what’s wrong? Why are you crying?” Marie softly asks in a concerned tone, wiping at her daughter’s tears.

“Because I’m scared.” Sophie says in a tight voice, feeling as though she’s 10 years old again and just woke up from a bad dream.

“Of what, did something happen, did someone hurt you?” Michael asks, his tone also full of concern and worry for his baby girl.

“No, I’m scared the Scythedom and the public are gonna hate me for not becoming a Scythe and inheriting the title of High Blade like I’m suppose to. All my life I’ve known that the public and The Scythedom have this huge expectation of me to become High Blade, to become an amazing Scythe like you guys, but I can’t do that and now I’m scared everyone’s going to hate me, or that the Grandslayers are going to call me to Endura and punish me somehow.” Sophie sobs, the tears falling rapidly now.

“Oh my baby.” Marie swears she can feel her own heart breaking, as she pulls her daughter in for another hug.

“Sophie we will never, ever let anything happen to you. Nowhere in the rules does it say that you have to become a Scythe and take over from your mom when she steps down as High Blade, that rule means that if you choose to become a Scythe, you will automatically inherit your mother’s position, but if you choose not to become a Scythe then another election will be held and someone else will be elected.

The Grandslayers cannot and will not punish you, and if anyone tries to hurt you or say anything nasty to you because of this decision, then they’ll have your mother and I to deal with. We are not going to let anyone hurt you or force you to do something you don’t want to.

This is entirely your choice and we support you all the way, we love you so much Sophie, and we will do absolutely anything to protect you.”

Her father’s kind and reassuring words just make Sophie sob even harder and bury her face in his shoulder, when he puts his arm around her in an embrace.

“I love you so much.” Sophie quietly says. Michael kisses the top of her head and rubs her back soothingly.

“I love you too Sophie, more than anything in this world. You and your mother are the very best things to ever happen to me.”

“Here.” Marie softly says, holding a tissue out to Sophie, as she lifts her face from her dad’s shoulder and leans her head against his chest. “Have a good cry if you want to sweetheart, don’t bottle it up.” Sophie nods and wipes at her eyes.

“Thanks mom, I love you.” She sniffles. Marie smiles and kisses her cheek.

“I love you too my sweet girl.”

After about another half hour, Sophie calms down but has totally drained herself from crying so much, so decides to go rest in her room for a while. Once upstairs she texts Alex almost immediately and tells him what just happened and how her parents are going to help her make an official statement to the Grandslayers that she will not be training as a Scythe and will not be accepting her inheritance of position of High Blade of Midmerica.

“Glad your parents were supportive, I knew they would be, you’re gonna be awesome at whatever job you pick, I know it.

I told mom my news too, about wanting to stay here in Midmerica for longer, and learn more about the inner workings of the Scythedom and the life I could’ve ended up with, had mom not gleaned Goddard and gone off grid with me. She was conflicted at first, she doesn’t trust the Scythedom and is afraid Goddard’s supporters will try to influence me but I reminded her that I’m old enough to not be so easily swayed, and I’ve got lots of good examples of Scythes too. So she agreed. I dunno exactly how I’m gonna learn more about the inner workings of the Scythedom, but I’ll figure something out.”

After reading Alex’s text, Sophie is struct with an idea, one that she frankly finds ingenious.

“I have an idea, a really good one. Come round to my house tomorrow at around 11.” Sophie replies. Then remembering she hasn’t told Alex her plan, she excitedly sends him a voice note, detailing her idea, and spends the next five minutes staring at her phone waiting for Alex to text back.

“Sounds like a plan, see you tomorrow.”

The next day it has just gone 11 A.M. and Michael and Marie are just back from grocery shopping, when Sophie appears in the kitchen doorway, grinning proudly to herself and looking like she’s up to something.

“What did you do?” Michael asks in a suspicious tone, looking around for any sign of something amiss.

“Nothing, can’t I just come say hi to my parents?” Sophie asks, still grinning ear to ear.

“You can but you’re usually not this enthusiastic at this time of the day, if you didn’t do anything, you want a big favor don’t you?” Michael asks, knowing his daughter perfectly.

“Maaayybbee.” Sophie admits.

“If the favor is letting you skip school tomorrow the answer is no.” Marie tells her. Sophie rolls her eyes.

“I asked once, once! Let it go mom!” She protests.

“What is it then?” Michael asks, still suspicious of what Sophie is up to. Her smile brightens and she turns around and reaches out into the living room, before two seconds later pulling Alexander Kwon into the kitchen with her. Marie and Michael aren’t surprised to see him in their house, he’s Sophie’s best friend and comes around all the time, but what they don’t understand is what he’s got to do with Sophie wanting a favor.

“Okay now I’m confused, what has Alex got to do with this?” Marie asks, wondering just what the hell her daughter is up to.

“I have a proposal.” Sophie tells them, earning odd looks from both her parents.

“Okay.... which is?” Michael asks.

“Alex really wants to learn more about the inner workings of the Scythedom, he’s interested in how it all works and what it would have been like for him if things didn’t turn out the way they did. .

So I was thinking that maybe you guys could teach Alex everything there is to know about The Scythedom, like you taught me? It could be like an apprenticeship except he won’t go to Conclave and there’s no chance of him being ordained at the end of it all, oh and obviously no physical training or tests or anything.

So what do you say?” Sophie explains, now having wrapped her arms around Alex’s waist, leaning against his chest, hugging him tightly.

Marie and Michael share a look. They can clearly see how much Sophie adores Alex, and they can’t deny she’s been so much happier since she met him and they became best friends, it’s so good for her to have someone who wants to be her friend and likes her just for her, and not her fame and status.

It’s clear Alex is like the brother Sophie always wanted and asked for but never had. Marie and Michael do feel a bit guilty about not giving her a sibling, they would have loved to have another baby and even discussed it when Sophie was 1, but decided that ultimately they were far too busy and their family felt absolutely perfect with just the 3 of them.

Marie is the first to speak.

“You really know how to argue your case Sophie, there’s no way I can say no.” Sophie and Alex’s faces both light up.

“Thank you so much, Your Excellency, I promise I’ll be the best student you could ask for!” Alex exclaims.

“Marie’s right, you’re a hell of a speaker Sophie, just like your mom. If it’s alright with your mother, Alex, then we’d be happy to teach you.” Michael calmly says. Sophie and Alex share an excited look and share a quick high-five.

“Thank you, your Honor, thank you so much I swear you won’t regret this!” Alex promises.

“Come on, lets go make sure it’s okay with your mom.” Sophie says. tugging at Alex’s hand. He nods, but turns to Marie and Michael before he goes.

“Thank you again, so very much, it’s going to be an honor to learn from you both.” He says, then tentatively holds his hand out for one of them to shake.

“Oh don’t be so formal Alex.” Marie says, lightly swatting his hand away and pulling him in for a hug instead. “Call me Marie.” She insists. Alex smiles and nods, a little shocked at what just happened.

He then turns to Michael, and goes to hold his hand out for him to shake, thinking he may be a little more formal. Michael just laughs and shakes his head before also pulling Alex into an embrace.

“Welcome to the family, son.”

Special thanks to @i-love-side-characters for allowing me to use their idea of Sophie and Alex becoming best friends! I had so much fun writing about their friendship!

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iliketowrite1996 · 6 years ago

Text

Burn for Burn part 7- The Aftermath

WARNING- MENTIONS OF VIOLENCE, EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALING

t’s been exactly six months to the day that Adanya and Erik Stevens, otherwise known as N’Jadaka Udaku, battled for the throne.

It’s been five months since he fully recovered from his wound, thanks to Shuri’s

It’s been four months since the family began going through counseling together. ANd things are not perfect, but they’re making connections. They’re burying hatchets and revisiting things that have been buried. Erik and T'Challa may never be friends, and Adanya and the rest of her family may never trust him again, but..

It’s something.

W’Kabi attends, too. He and T’Challa have over thirty years of feelings, emotions and betrayal to discuss. So they do, and they aren’t friends but there’s some hope yet.

It’s slow, but Erik starts making amends. Starts healing. Says that he accepted her offer because he had something more to lose this time around- Nyala.

It’s progress, and that’s all she can ask for,

Nisa has moved out of the palace, again. After she began recovering, Adanya begged T’Challa and you to let her stay. She did, but she immediately moved,deciding it was best to take some time and figure things out, without putting added pressure on Nyala.

So,a s far as Nyala knows, her mother is on a business trip and will be back within the next month or so. Which is all true, but Nyala has even though enough. She’s getting to know the man who is really her birth dad and cong to terms with the fact that the family that she has always known isn’t the one that she’s now getting to know.

Her younger siblings return home, and Adanya is thrilled. She rushes towards them. Hugging them and picking Afia up and pressing kisses to her chubby little cheeks as she basks in the love that is being rained down on her family.

Erik has a small apartment not too far away. It’s where Nyala spends weekends. She spends the weekdays with your family, going to school and playing with your youngest children.

Because for all intents and purposes, T’Challa still considered her his child. The paternity test means nothing- that is his daughter. So he affords her the same opportunities that Adanya, Ado, Abioye, Abimbola, Afia, and the baby have

Because he can’t give her the world, but he can be there for her.

Really, that may be all that she needs right now. Her world has been changed and she needs all of the support she can get.

And T’Challa will give her that until he takes his last breath.

Speaking of the Six more months pass,and you find yourself on your balcony, cuddling new baby. your last child to your chest, the six month old sound asleep and wrapped in his purple blanket, cloth soft against his cheek.

‘’He’s so beautiful,’’ T’Challa presses a kiss to his youngest child’s forehead, ‘’Our little prince.’’

‘’Our last child,’’ you correct, a slight giggle escaping your throat.

‘’We said that with Ado. And Abioye. And Afia,’’ he remind you, placing a hand on your waist.

‘’I mean it this time,’’ you shake your head, ‘’I love our babies, but I think this is enough for us.’’

‘’Whatever you say, dear,’’ he kisses your forehead now, plump lips landing on the skin ‘’I love you.’’

‘’I love you too.’’

With days colored with uncertainty, splashes of what’s normal for you and T'Challa give you hope that this will all be fine.

‘’Um, hey, y'all,’’ Erik’s standing at the door, Okoye right behind him.

Because, no. He will not be in this place without a member of the Dora Milaje accompanying him at all times.

‘’What is it, N’Jadaka,’’ T'Challa calmly questions, shielding ou and the baby out of habit.

‘’We need to go to the throne room,’’ he states, putting his hands in his pockets, ‘’All of the leaders are there.’’

‘’Thank you,’’ T'Challa says.

Because so many decades of hatred, anger, resentment and hurt do not go away overnight. It’s taking effort on both of their parts. There are good days and bad days, but this is more progress than any of you ever could’ve hoped for.

You follow T’Challa to the throne room, Ayo and Kya informing you that all of the other children are there.

‘’And where is W’Kabi,’’ T’Challa questions, still wary of the man.

‘’He’s doing his community work,’’ Okoye breathes out, shaking her head, ‘’That was quite a merciful punishment.’’

‘’Adanya’s choice,’’ T'Challa clarifies, ‘’I love her benevolent demeanor. Her intention is to help us all heal from this.’’

Slowly, but surely, that is exactly what’s occurring.

Adunbi begins to fuss a bit but you comfort him, easily removing his blanket and placing him on your hip and pressing a kiss to his curls that adorn the top of his head.

After all- giving birth to and raising four of his other siblings gave you a lot of practice.

‘’I am glad that she is,’’ Erik states, trying to make conversation, ‘’She… she’ good.’’

There are a million things that he wants to say. He can’t thigh. He’s not there yet. Adanya has a good heart though and he can appreciate that. Especially because she gave him the greatest gifts of all: a chance at redemption and to be able to see his daughter.

The constant surveillance that he and W’Kabi are under make it worth it.

So the group enters the throne room. Ramonda is there, her youngest granddaughter in her lap. Afia looks just as regal as her grandmother does, and her grandmother looks more calm, more relaxed than T’Challa has seen her in ages.

So does Shuri, who is glowing as she discusses her plans with Nakia, who is helping her in California next month on their technology outreach.

Kamaria, Ife, Chane, Bakari and Jelani sit in their chairs. They have all taken over as leader of their tribes, or are getting ready to do so. The next generation of Waknadan leaders are being shared in, and progress is sure to be made.

‘’Where is Adanya,’’ T’Challa questions, turning with the rest of you when the doors open.

Adanya strides in, ebony curls flowing behind her back and looking like the leader that she is in her golden dress.

For you and T’Challa, it seems like she was just born. No. She is twenty-two, smart, funny, beautiful, and every bit the leader that you knew she’d grow up to be.

So she gives the Wakanda salute and you all return it, watching as she beams at T’Challa..

Before taking her seat on the throne.

Because just yesterday, she finally on the battle. Finally stepped into the role that was meant for her.You, her baba and her sibling look on with pride.

‘’Thank you all for meeting with me today,’’ she gives you all a warm look, ehr eye lingering on Jelani for just a second longer than they did with everyone else., ‘’We have a lot of things to discuss. So, we had better get started.’’

You’re not sure, but you think that you can hear wedding bells on the horizon.

The look that Ado gives his sister is unreadable, but you don’t question it.

You’re set on seeing the positive notes in this day.

A new sun has begun to rise on Wakanda. It gives you hope for the future and hope for change.

And that’s what Wakanda needs. You already thrive, but it will be even better.

It’s a new day.

A new start.

What was meant to burn ended up letting Adanya come into her own, rising out of the ashes and stepping into her full potential.

It’s a fresh beginning, for everyone.

And for the first time in so long, it looks like the family will eb stepping into it together.

That’s just the way it's meant to be.

Later that night, T’Challa will hold you close, eyes firmly closed and lips pressed to yours as you lounge on the balcony, in a chair that’s meant for the two of you.

‘’Easy there,’’ you sigh when he nips at your lips, ‘’Remember what I said earlier.’’

‘’I know. I just wanna enjoy my wife,’’ he quips, and you lean further into hum.

‘’Did you ever think, nearly seventeen years ago when we were divorced, tat we’d end up here,’’ you question, searching his eyes for honesty when he opens them.

‘’No. I was lucky if we could be in the same room and speak if the kids were not with us. But look how far we’ve come,’’ he reminds you, ‘’New beginnings, new.’’

New beginnings, new life.

It’s the slogan that works for Anaya's vision of Wakanda. But it also works for your marriage. You two have been through so much. It’s amazing that what was meant to burn our marriage and love actually only made you stronger. You have seven beautiful children- because, it's, you still love Nyala and will not blame her for the faults of her parents. Adanya, Ado, Abimbola, Abioye, Afia, Nyala and Adunbi… they are yours. They are testimonies of how strong yours and T'Challa's love for eachother truly is. The fact that you are still together after so long prives that so many things you used to doubt are now possible.

‘’I could not have.. I would not have made it through all of this with anyone else,’’ T’Challa explains, pressing a kiss to your hand, ‘’Our situations have been less than ideal, but here we are. W’Kabi and Erik are healing, Nisa will be back next week. Our children are doing well, Ado is off to do amazing things and or daughter… she’s queen… we did it. We finally, truly have it all.’’

You thought you did once upon a time ago, but that was all a hoax. You truly do now, and you can’t imagine life being better.

But you know it's coming, so you sit relax and enjoy this moment.

‘’I love you. Only you,’’ T’Challa breathes, a phrase that still sends the emotions rushing through you like a shooting star after all these years.

‘’I love you, too, T’Challa.’’

‘’Only me?’’

‘’Only you.’’

And that, my friends, is the way it will always remain.

@ashanti-notthesinger @destinio1 @afraiddreamingandloving @starsshines-blog @airis-paris14 @syreanne @chaneajoyyy @90sinspiredgirl @shemiahsmelanin @zillmonger @skysynclair19

Excerpt to story I probably won’t write but wanted to get out

Eight years later, someone with Udaku blood will feel the blood stinging rage of inadequacy and jealousy, turning against Adanya after nearly a decade of peace in the Udaku family. Their motive will be understood, the execution will be flawed. A hard to swallow pill for this individual.

And , for once...

It’s not Erik.

#t'challa udaku x you #t'challa x reader #t'challa x you #tchalla x reader #reader insert #reader #black panther #black panther x you #black panther imagine #marvel imagine

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