Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Carrion

They had been coming home from the orientation for her latest school when a cat darted across the road and their wheels rolled over it with a soft crunch. Tess had gasped, her heart leaping into her throat as hot tears stung the corners of her eyes. Nasedo didn't even flinch. When they arrived at their new house in the subrubs and he had seen that she was still crying, tears running silently down her cheeks, he had yanked her out of the car and given an exasperated sigh. "It's just an animal, Tess."

Years later when she was just entering puberty, an agent had caught up with them, and there on the side of the road Nasedo had used her as bait, placing his hand on the man's back and burning him up from the inside out as he bent to check the small blonde lying on the asphalt. She had felt the man's hand grow cold and limp as it fell from her wrist and once again felt the burning sting of tears. That time Nasedo hadn't bothered to say anything, just watched her with cold eyes, but she could hear the words in her head anyways. 'It's just a human, Tess.'

When he had decided it was time to approach the others, inform them of their destiny, they had passed several dead animals on the long drive through the desert, the steaming carrion seeming to be an oddly fitting symbol for this new stage in her life. As thoughts of what the others would be like, and thoughts of the enemies and dangers she would now be expected to face crossed her mind, she couldn't help but wonder how her guardian would react if she ended up a carcass, rotting on the side of some desert road. Would he callously tell the others "It's just Tess," before leading them away?

Glancing over at his icy face and granite eyes, she resolutely pushed the thought away; she was the Queen, of course he would care if she died.

It almost worked to silence the small voice that said she was kidding herself if she thought he would have any reaction at all.