EVERMORE ─ marvel ⁷

XIX. United As One

Chapter Nineteen
Naomi

I never got to have a funeral for my parents. I didn't get to say goodbye, didn't get to be there for their final moments. I found them dead and then left them in the hands of the people who had murdered them. Johnathon and Matthew helped me prepare a small ceremony to honor my parents after we fled the secret base. We marked my parents names in a tree in the woods, then we stood there in silence staring at those markings. Matt and Johnny never knew my parents, but they knew me, loved me, and therefore stood by me as I mourned my parents, said goodbye to them. Olivia, Steve, Liam, and Jo did the same thing for Zy'aire. Their bond reminds me of the bond I have with Johnathon and Matthew, a bond that goes beyond friendship. A bond of the soul.

The bond I had with them. Had.

I've been staying in Matthew's house the past few days, still helping out wherever I'm needed here in Wakanda while also slowly going through his and Johnathon's things. They didn't have many belongings in their houses, we learned over the years of being on the run to not get too attached to too many items. I don't have much in my apartment either. They had some clothes, cellphones, laptops, some pictures of the three of us, and some basic household items like toasters and coffeemakers. I took the photos, or most of them.

Yesterday I met Shina, a woman Matt met at the institute and had started dating. They had only been together for a few days before he died. I left some photos of Matt for her. It's strange to think of him dating someone. None of us ever had romantic relationships before, we were too busy and we never had time to think about romance with the lives we led...for the most part. There was a time Matt showed romantic interest in me, but I made it very clear that nothing would ever come of it. I never saw him, or any man, that way, and he respected that. He never brought it up again, in fact, the only times we talked about romance after that was when he encouraged me to go out and date.

He was always supportive of me, always there for me. He deserved someone nice like Shina. I wonder would would have happened if he had survived. Would they have gotten married? Had kids? I guess I'll never know. And neither will she. I saw the hollowness in her eyes when I met her, saw how deeply her heart was mourning Matt. It honestly made me feel better that at least one other person understood the loss I feel, though she could never know the weight of it. No one could. Losing Jonathon and Matthew was like losing part of myself, part of my soul. It will never grow back, the wound will always be open, the pain will never fade.

"Human funerals are not much different than ours," a voice says from behind me. I turn to find Talos approaching my side, his expression grave and respectful. "I guess death is something that isn't defined by planet or species."

We're all crowded outside the City of the Dead where the wake is taking place. There isn't any food, any background music, any photos of T'Challa hung around like at funerals in movies. No, this wake is just people gathered to mourn the loss of an incredible man. I nod solemnly to Talos. "I guess not."

"Did you know the king well?"

"Well enough to feel his loss."

"His loss is not all you feel though, is it?"

Perceptive. I shake my head. "No. I lost my brothers during this battle." It's not a lie.

"I am very sorry, I hope they find peace in the afterlife."

"So do I." He has no idea how much.