Queen's Princess

PART V: Chapter 29

I stayed the night with my parents since I didn't want to return home and sleep alone another night. I was going to sleep alone tonight in my own bed, but at least it was a bed I didn't associate with Odessa and I sleeping beside one another. Even though we have slept beside one another in my bed and hers, something about the bed back in Junkertown made me not want to return without her there. Maybe it was because there was a large divot in the mattress of where she slept. Or that her pillows had left traces of her scent behind. And the missing warmth was something to get used to, but I never did. Even opening the door and walking into the house was never the same after she left to go join Overwatch. 

My father and I were sitting outside and behind the house. He had started a fire and we were sitting on the log stumps waiting for my mother to come out. I stared into the fire, being reminded of how it looked similar to Odessa's eyes. I let out a sigh, still fixated on the blazing red, orange, and yellow flower in front of me. 

"I hate seeing ya like this," my father said. "It reminds me of that time when she left and fought in the Burning Lands."

"It does, doesn't it?" I asked, not once looking up from the fire. 

"I'm sure she's out there somewhere trying to get back to ya."

"I keep telling myself that, but," I blinked, finally looking up from the flames. "After her being gone for so long, I don't know if she's ever going to come back."

"Don't tell yourself that, Y/N," my mother came out with a tray of bread, sandwich meat, and other condiments. She set it down on the empty log stump and my father stood up, making himself a sandwich.

"It's just like your father said. I'm sure she's out there somewhere doing her damndest to get back to ya."

I just nodded my head, taking my parents words. It was hard to accept them, but I still held onto it like the small amount of hope I had. With each passing day that she's gone, a small ounce of that hope diminishes and maybe one day, that hope will fade out. I don't wish that to be true, but with how things are going, it may as well come to fruition. 

"You know Odessa better than anyone other than her mother," my mother said. "You held out hope when she left to fight in the Burning Lands."

"She was gone for a year, mum. She's been gone for more than a year. People in Junkertown are getting restless without their queen and there have been people wanting to challenge me in The Reckoning. She worked hard to get where she needed to be to at least make it into Junkertown. She'd have to repeat the process all over again. If she struggled the first time around, who knows what will happen if she attempts The Reckoning again."

"Maybe if that were the case, the people would know their queen has returned and give her back the title."

"Not in Junkertown. Ya gotta fight for that title and Dez already did that when she claimed the title for herself. I'm doing my best to hold onto that title right now, even if it is temporary."

For the rest of the night, it was filled with silence. I ate in silence while my mother and father talked to one another about possibly moving back to Junkertown until Odessa returned. My father was against it, but my mother tried to push it. I stood up and headed inside after I finished my sandwich. Swinging the door open, I stepped inside and walked over to my room. I sat down on the edge of the bed before falling onto the cushions, my legs dangling over the side. I put my forearm over my eyes and let the tears slide down my face quietly. I sniffled a bit before letting out a quiet sob. I needed her comfort right now and that was the one thing I lacked. I turned to where I was fully on the bed and curled up into a little ball, silently crying myself to sleep.

"I really mean that much to ya?"

"Ya mean everything to me, Dez."

She chuckled, "I didn't think I would mean everything to ya."

"You were there when no one else would. You protected me from those boys and their relentless bullying. You trained me to become faster and somewhat stronger and you were there when my grandparents died. How could ya not mean everything to me?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "I guess I only meant something to my family and not anyone outside of it."

"Well, now ya know how much ya mean to me."

She pulled me into a hug and rested her head on top of mine, "Ya mean everything to me as well, Y/N."

"Dez?"

"Yeah?"

"How long are ya going to be gone?"

"I-I don't know, Y/N. They're going to release me when they no longer need me. I don't know when that will be. They may need me for a longer period of time more so than others. I know Junkrat, Hammond, and Roadhog are being called as well. At least you'll have Meri and Geiger."

"Yeah. I suppose I won't be entirely alone. But I'll still be alone in this."

"I know. I'm sorry to leave on such short notice, especially when ya need to take over authority."

"I'll get by just fine, though. It might take a while to get used to being in that position, but I'll get used to if. If need be, I'll have Meri and Geiger to help out."

She leaned towards me and pressed a light kiss to my forehead, soothing me as we shared the final night together before she had to leave the next morning.

My eyes blinked open and there was a remnant feeling of something warm against my forehead. I let out a sigh before sitting up and getting my things ready. I said goodbye to my mother and father before heading back to Junkertown.