Queen's Princess

PART IV: Chapter 22

Sitting up and looking at Carnage in the morning, thinking back to the first time she disappeared and didn't tell me where she was going. At least this time when she did leave, she told me where she was going. I stood up and walked over to the door, sliding my shoes on and opening the door. I closed it behind me, finally deciding today would be the day where I would get it fixed. Heading over to the woodshop, I talked to the person who worked there and they sent someone out to the house to get the door fixed. While I was doing that, I decided it was time to give someone a long over due visit.

Walking towards the warehouse, I grabbed the second set of my swords. These were the ones I had made back when I was in the Wastelands. I made another set when Odessa became the Junker Queen, which they were made out of better metal and they were sharper than the ones I am carrying now. I use those for mostly any type of fighting within Junkertown. When I head out into the Wastelands, I use my original swords to avoid getting the newer ones damaged. I said goodbye to the others and headed to the gates of Junkertown.

Greeting the gatekeepers, they lifted up the gates and I was met with the harsh sands of the Wastelands. I took in a deep breath, not wanting to relive what had happened long ago. Stepping out onto the scorching sands, I was immediately hit with memories of the past, from being banished by Mason, to fighting for my life, to losing my grandparents, but they were all overshadowed by the night I met Odessa. A small smile appeared as I slowly walked out into the Wastelands. The gates closed, but before they did, I waved to the gatekeepers. They waved back and the gates were shut. Turning forwards, I picked up the bandana that was around my neck and covered my mouth and nose, treking into the cruel environment.

Finally reaching the sand dune I knew so well, I climbed up it and was met with my home. I smiled and removed the bandana, walking towards the back door. The motorcycle was still there and so was the workbench. The door was propped open and I could hear the old radio my father found when he went out to find something to keep noise inside the house flowing. After I left, he wrote a letter to me how he went out into the junk yards to find a radio to fill the silence. I had visited them after Odessa became Junker Queen to invite them back into Junkertown, but they grew acquainted with the life they created out here in the Wastelands and decided to stay. Odessa told them that whenever they wish to come back, we'd be the ones to greet them at the gates.

I poked my head into the house to see my father was sitting in the chair my grandfather used to sit in. My mother was sitting on the couch and they were fanning themselves since it was a scorcher today. I knocked on the door frame before stepping inside. They turned and smiled as I walked in.

"Good to see ya, Y/N," my mother stood up and hugged me.

"Hi, mum. I decided it was time to visit after a while."

"It's about damn time," my father stood up and hugged me. "Welcome home."

"Thanks," I said and walked over to the couch, sitting next to my mother.

"How have things been?"

"Alright. Junkertown has changed for the better thanks to Odessa."

"How is she doing?" my father asked.

"Fine," I said quickly.

"Everything fine between the two of ya?" my mother asked, remembering the day before she left suddenly when we were seventeen.

"Yeah everything's fine," I said, my voice hiking in range.

"How has Junkertown changed?"

"Well, Odessa wins against every challenger she has faced when another Reckoning comes around."

"There's no doubt that she puts on a show."

"Always does," I said. "It's great to see her in the arena fighting against the challengers."

"Make any new friends there?" my father asked. "I know ya struggled out here to make friends."

"It was because everyone had the mentality of every man for himself. At least Odessa helps people in Junkertown whenever someone is misbehaving. In fact, she was even teaching kids how to fight. Of course, they had wooden knifes and everything, but you should see her when she's teaching them. Giving them the best insight, telling 'em how well they're doing and such. She keeps everyone in check, but she looks after the little ones."

"Speaking of kids," my mother said.

"No, mum. We're not adopting any kids," I said. "Even though Odessa would make a great mum herself, both her and I are not ready."

"Y/N, you and Odessa are growing older. If ya wait any longer, your body won't be able to keep up with a child."

"You might, but not Odessa," my father said.

"Dad," I laughed.

"He's got a point."

I chuckled, "I don't know, yet. Maybe if we think about it, we adopt a child that's a bit older than a baby."

"Never too early to start reconsidering," my mom said.

"Enough of the talk, mum," I said, looking down at the ground, getting this feeling of loneliness within.

Whenever I would visit my mother and father, Odessa would come with me and we'd visit her family as well.

"She's nowhere to be seen," my father said, reading my somber expression.

"How could ya tell?" I asked.

"Ya avoided talking about her when we first brought her up."

"And you haven't visited in a long while, so we thought something was wrong when you appeared out of the blue," my mom said.

"She left to join this group called Overwatch. It's where they protect the world against outside forces. Or invaders. I haven't heard from her since she left."

"How long has that been?"

"Going on two years now. Yesterday I received a package at the repair warehouse. It was Carnage, her axe."

"Don't let that bring your thoughts down, Y/N. Maybe she's out there somewhere getting back to ya. If there is one thing I know about Odessa, she's a fighter. And she'll do anything to win a fight. But not only that, she had a duty to ya once you two formed a relationship. She doesn't want to let ya down and she'll crawl all the way back to Junkertown if she has to. Heaven forbid something gets in her way of getting back to ya."

I smiled, realizing what my father said was true. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw someone walk by the door, creating a shadow walking by. Maybe it was just my mind playing tricks on me.