Queen's Princess

PART I: Chapter 4

Who knew at thirteen I would find the person I would want to spend the rest of my life with? Forget spending the rest of my life with, who knew at thirteen I needed to fight for my life out here in the Wastelands, let alone find someone who I want to call my own. As I was making my way back towards my house, all I could think about was her eyes and how piercing they were. They definitely stood out among the others here who have normal looking eye colors, well, if they have eyes that is. Some of the people here have robot eyes so that doesn't really count. 

I snuck back into the house and propped the back door open. Seeing that everyone was still asleep, I quietly made my way back to my room, sitting down on the edge. Sliding the strap off my shoulder, I set down my bag in the corner. I laid down on the cushions, my hands behind my head and my one leg over the other. Closing my eyes, my thoughts could only think of Odessa for some reason.

Blinking my eyes open, I look around to see the sun was shining through the only window we had in the house, which was where my grandparents were always sitting. I sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing my hands against my eyes. Getting up, I grabbed my bag and walked out to the back to find my father still working on the motorcycle.

"Mornin', kiddo," he said and hugged me, but he was careful of my sunburns.

"I got the parts you needed."

"When?" he asked, grabbing my bag.

I leaned in close to him, "Last night."

"Last night?"

"Don't tell, mum."

He looked at me and winked, "Our little secret."

I chuckled and he opened the bag, placing the parts on the workbench.

"Want to help me out since ya can't go out today?"

"Sure."

"Your mum is going to be heading into the central area today with your gram. She'd ask ya to come, but," he gestured to my sunburns.

"Understood. I'll go with 'em the next time they head out there," I said.

"Besides, it'll give you time to explain yourself."

"I snuck out. How else do you think I got out to the junk yards at night?" I asked.

"Go on."

"I went in and the boys from earlier that day who stole my stuff tried to steal my stuff again. They made a trap for me at the entrance of the junk yard and they caught me in it. My ankle was all tied up and they tried to take the parts. Thankfully someone else was there and they helped me get my stuff back."

"Who was it?"

"Her name was," I was cut off when my father turned and was greeted by another man.

"Stone!" my father said and clapped his hand with Stone's. "How are ya, mate?"

"Not doin' too bad. How 'bout yaself?" he asked.

"Not too shabby, hey listen, my daughter, Y/N, got me the needed parts. Since you're here, want to help?"

"I'd love to."

"Hold on, Y/N was telling me something. What was the person's name you ran into last night?"

"Odessa."

"Odessa?" Stone asked. "You met Odessa?"

"Yes. Do you know her?"

"She's my daughter."

"She is?" I asked.

"Yeah. In fact," he stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled, "Oi, Odessa!"

Coming out from the front side of the house was the girl I saw last night. I was now finally able to get a good look at her with the sun. She walked over and greeted her father and when she looked at me, her eyes lit up.

"Aye, you were the one from last night. I never did get your name."

"O-Oh, sorry about that. I was just a bit shaken up."

"I don't blame ya there."

"I-It's Y/N."

"Nice to meet ya, Y/N. What were you doing at the junk yards last night?"

"Just getting some parts for my dad's motorcycle he's tryin' ta fix."

"Hopefully my father can help him," Odessa said.

"I hope so too," I said, looking over at my father.

"Y/N, why don't you head inside. Your mum did say to rub the ointment on your sunburns every two to three hours."

"Yeah," I said and opened the door.

"Need an' help?" Odessa asked.

"I-I'd appreciate it," I said, feeling my cheeks growing warmer and my heart race getting faster.

I held the door open for her and Odessa walked into our humble abode. 

"M-My room doesn't have much space, but it'll make do."

"Y/N, if you need more room, come in here," my grandfather said. "I can move into our room."

"Are you sure, papa?"

"Yes," he stood up and slowly made his way to his room. "G'day, mate. How've ya been?" my papa asked Odessa.

"Doin' well, sir," Odessa said.

I grabbed the ointment and walked over into the small living room we had. I sat on the torn up old couch and Odessa sat beside me.

"What areas do ya have trouble getting?"

"My shoulders," I said, putting some of the ointment on my hands, rubbing them together before rubbing my arms. 

Odessa grabbed the ointment container and poured some into her hands. She rubbed it in her hands before she placed her hands on my shoulders, rubbing the ointment deep into my skin. She had a firm grasp, but it was gentle with it. 

"There, it's all rubbed in," she said and patted my shoulders.

"T-Thank you, Odessa."

"Ya don't need to call me by my full name."

"But I like it," I said.

She chuckled, "I prefer Dez, but I will still answer to Odessa."

"How were you banished to the Wastelands?"

"The Junker King, Mason Howl, banished us even though my father fought in a war with him. Yet he turned his back on his own people. Even though the Wastelanders are not really part of Junkertown, we are still Junkertown's people. One day, I will be part of The Reckoning and become the Junker Queen of Junkertown. Only then I can make things right. I will make things better for the people in the Wasteland. Everyone except him."

"You've got a strong opinion on him."

"Wouldn't anyone who was banished by him? Surely you don't like him."

"I don't like him, you're right. I do want to get back at him, but I also don't know how to go about it. I'm not strong like you, Dez."

She chuckled, "That we can work on."