Chapter 1
Pietro and I talk in Russian on the plane about the wedding and decide on doing it after I've finished studying. Zemo smiles slightly as he looks at us and ignores the rest of our conversation so we can have some privacy.
We land in Wakanda and T'Challa and Shuri's mother was waiting for us. "Mother," They say as they bow and she smiles slightly, bowing back.
"Shuri, T'Challa."
"Queen Ramonda," Zemo greets as he bows and she looks at him.
"Baron Zemo. Who might you two be?" She looks at us and Pietro bows slightly.
"Pietro Maximoff, Your Majesty."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mister Maximoff. And you-" She sees my arm and freezes, looking at me. "You are the Tundra Soldier."
"I'm Raziah Emyrada right now... It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty." I rest my right fist over my heart and bow slightly.
"Why have you brought her here?" I straighten up and notice the Dora Milaje closing in slightly, spinning my ring quickly as my eyes glow faintly. They raise their spears and I glance at them, stepping slightly away from Pietro so he doesn't get caught in the crossfire.
"I understand that you don't have any reason to trust me and I wouldn't trust me if I were you either," I say toward Queen Ramonda and she looks at me, eyes narrowed slightly. "But I am truly and deeply sorry for everything that I did as the Tundra Soldier under HYDRA's control. I know that it doesn't bring back your allies for you or... Or for their son, but... I was not the one who did those things and I did not do them of my own free will. I know that it's probably too much to ask after what I've done, but... Please, forgive me..." I lower myself to one knee and bow my head slightly. "I surrender myself to any punishment that you believe I deserve. I only ask that you allow me to do what I came here to do and learn."
Silence follows my words and I close my eyes since my hair was covering my face. "Rise, Miss Emyrada." I stand as I open my eyes and look at her, brushing my hair out of my face. "Your punishment is..." I keep my eyes locked on hers and she looks at me calmly. "The burden of trying to learn everything that you should have as a child now. It will not be easy." I furrow my eyebrows slightly in confusion and she smiles slightly. "I admire the courage it took for you to do that seeing as how I could have chosen anything and I admire how much you wish to learn what you missed. That combined with whatever turmoil is going on inside of your mind? That is more punishment than I could ever give someone. And from what I have heard about you, you have much turmoil inside your mind. Nothing I could administer would match that. I wish you the best of luck in your studies." She nods slightly at me and walks away with the Dora Milaje.
"I didn't end up in a cell," I whisper and Pietro wraps an arm around me, knowing I was about to fall over out of relief. So we both go down and he chuckles, running his fingers through my hair. "Jesus Christ... I didn't end up in a cell..."
"I'm aware, Rebel. Stand up, now." He gently pulls me to my feet as he stands and I lean on him slightly, still a little shocked.
"Is she OK?"
"Yes...?" He waves his hand in front of my face and I jerk back slightly, snapping out of memories. "Are you OK?"
"Yeah... Yeah, I'm good... Just... Y'know, memories." I shrug slightly and shake my head a bit to rid myself of them until later, running a hand through my hair. "So... Where do we sleep?"
"Right! I have a guest room that I mainly use for the storage of small trinkets that is close to my lab. You may sleep there."
"The castle, Shuri?"
"Why not, Brother? It shall be fine. Follow me." She leads us that way and I rub the back of my neck slightly, following with Pietro, T'Challa, and Zemo.
"Here we are. It is rather small so I apologize." I look around and it was a decent-sized room, noticing there was a second door. "That is a one-way door to the lab in case there is an emergency." I nod slightly and feel both mental states raise their hackles, continuing to look around the room as I go into it. "Does she do that a lot?" I hear a snap and look toward Zemo, raising an eyebrow slightly.
"What are you doing?"
"Looking at the room...?"
"With such intensity?" He asks as Shuri raises an eyebrow slightly and I realize that I was finding ways to escape if needed, things to fight with, places to hide, among other things.
"It's... It's a... A mix of a battle slave and HYDRA Soldier thing, I guess... I don't know... Sorry..."
"What is a battle slave?" Zemo asks and I look at him.
"The name is pretty explanatory. A slave that battles to the death with other slaves."
"And were you good at it?" I don't respond and set my bag on the bed, looking at Shuri.
"Thanks. The room's awesome. Perfect size."
"Not a problem. We shall allow you to get settled and invite you to join us for dinner in thirty minutes."
"We'll be there," Pietro says and they nod, leaving. He sits and beckons me over. I go over and kneel between his legs, pressing my head into his stomach slightly. "My poor Rebel..." He pets my hair gently and I relax slightly, sighing softly. "I don't care about your past, Love. I just care that you're happy now and healthy. Do you understand?"
"Yeah... Knowing what I did just... It hurts..."
"I know... But we will get through it together, alright?"
"Alright..." He pets my hair still and I sigh softly, relaxing more. "Thank you..."
"You don't have to thank me for being here for you."
"I know, but I like to..."
"Then you're welcome." He gently pulls me onto the bed and hugs me close, kissing my head gently. "I love you."
"I love you, too..." I doze lightly and he lets me for about twenty minutes.
"Rebel, you need to get up now. Dinner," He reminds me gently when I start to complain and I sit up because of the offer of food.
"Mmm. Food. M'kay. I'm awake." He chuckles softly and stands, pulling me toward the door gently. I follow and we use the last ten minutes to find the place we eat.
Shuri gestures us over and we sit across from each other, Queen Ramonda sitting at one end of the table with T'Challa on the other end. I sit by Shuri and Pietro sits by Zemo. The Dora Milaje was keeping an eye on me as I eat with them and my phone rings in my pocket. "Sorry." I take it out and see it was a video call from Bruce. "Um, excuse me for a minute..." I leave the table politely and go out of the dining hall, answering the call. "Hey, Bruce. What's up?"
He groans and had his glasses off, rubbing his temples. "I see. Wanna hear a joke?" He nods slightly and I think a bit. "OK. Little Johnny came home from soccer practice early one day and plays in his parent's room. He hears his Mom's car pull in the drive and hides in the closet. His mom comes in with her lover and they, well... Y'know. Little Johnny's Dad's car pulls in the driveway and his mom shoves her lover in the closet with Little Johnny. He says, 'It sure is dark in here.' The lover is startled and agrees with him. 'Yeah, it is. Now, hush, alright?' Little Johnny doesn't feel like being quiet and says, 'I have a baseball.' 'Good for you, kid.' 'Do you wanna buy it?' 'For how much?' 'Fifty dollars.' The lover nearly yells at Little Johnny but instead says, 'Fifty dollars is too expensive.' Little Johnny, not one to be denied, says, 'You know, my Dad's right outside. Do you think if I screamed and he came here to find me that he'd be happy to see you?' The Lover is mad but gives Little Johnny fifty bucks.
"About a week later, the same thing happens. Little Johnny says, 'It sure is dark in here.' The Lover is already tired of the conversation and agrees. 'I have a baseball glove. Do you wanna buy it from me for fifty dollars? Or see how happy my Dad would be to see you in his closet?' 'Fine. Just shut up.' That weekend Little Johnny's Dad tells him to go get his ball and glove. 'I can't Dad. I sold them.' His Dad thinks he sold them to his friends and asks, 'For how much?' 'Fifty dollars each.' His Dad is furious. 'That is too much to charge your friends! I'm taking you to church so you can confess because that is wrong!' So, he takes Little Johnny to church and puts him in the confessional booth, closing the door. Little Johnny looks around and softly says, 'It sure is dark in here...' The priest responds, 'Oh not this time you little shit. You're in my house now.'"
Bruce laughs and I smile. "Thanks, Raz."
"No problem. Good? Or want another one?"
"Do you have a short one?"
"Yeah. But, it's dark humor." He gestures for me to do it and I smile slightly. "I'll never forget the last words my Grandfather said to me."
"What were they?"
"Stop shaking the damn ladder." He laughs and had calmed down. "Good?"
"Yeah. Thanks."
"Sure thing. Are you good with the others if I go now?"
"What? In the middle of eating with royalty?" I don't respond and he looks at me. "You were in the middle of eating with royalty, weren't you?"
"Hey, it's fine. You needed my help because no one else has my range of humor and we get each other. We both have other people in us that we have to try hard to keep control of. I'm sorry about leaving without talking to you about it. That was a bad bestie move." He shrugs and looks at me. "Tony can be such an arrogant a- person sometimes and I couldn't deal with him after that..."
"It's fine. I get it. I'll get someone else to help me in the lab when you get back, though. So, good things. I'll let you go so you can get back."
"Alright, later Bruce. And don't hesitate to call if you need to, alright?" He nods and hangs up. I put my phone back in my pocket and head back into the dining hall, sitting back down. "Sorry..." We go back to eating and the royalty talks while Pietro adds his input sometimes, leaving me to feel awkward while hiding it well.
The chorus of Dick by StarBoi3 and Doja Cat comes from my phone and I try to turn it off, muttering swears in space languages all aimed at Peter. I break my phone but it shuts up so I count it as a win and set it down calmly on the table, everyone in the dining hall looking at me. Pietro was barely managing to keep his laughter contained and I clear my throat slightly. "Is everything alright?" Zemo asks and I nod slowly.
"Yeah... Yeah... Just, y'know... Got this one spider that I can't squash cuz it's Peter Parker... I'm going to throttle him next time I see him..." Pietro laughs and hangs his head as his shoulders shake with silent laughter.
"Next question, do you not know how to use a cell phone?"
"It's confusing, OK? I used a wrist com for twenty-four years and... Forgot how cell phones work... Plus, they've changed a lot since I was ten... So... Yeah..."
"How are you going to calm your Bestie down now?" Pietro asks through settled chuckles and I rub my face, having forgotten about Bruce.
"Use the information I gained about technology those twenty-four years to try and fix it...? Or use your phone." He pulls out a flip phone and hands it to me.
"Feel free."
"These still exist? What? This is almost as much of a fossil as Steve and Bucky," I wheeze through barely contained laughter and he chuckles. "Kevin got one of these from his adopted parents... Oh, my God..."
"Who is Kevin?"
"Oh, right. You weren't with us yet when he busted into the cabin, which you haven't seen yet either. He's Keiko's brother who got adopted by my Mom's adopted parents. So, he's my adopted uncle but he's also kind of my brother and I'm about ninety-nine percent sure that they were both high when they decided to do this because we lived in Colorado. And, yeah. The only thing they didn't do was snowboard or ski. That was me and Keiko's thing."
"You know how to snowboard?" Shuri asks and I nod.
"Yeah. When I was a kid I would... Snowboard, ski, skate, rollerblade, kind of play piano, kind of play violin, was good with marksmanship shooting, archery, and dirtbike riding. But I couldn't run for too long or I'd try to die because of my asthma. It was fun. And I've always been good with weapons and learning quickly."
"So how long do you think it will take you to learn what you want to learn?"
"Not sure. Mainly because, past the rest of free schooling in America, I don't know what I want to learn. Just that I want to rub in Tony's smug, jerky face that I'm smarter than him. Well, not quite that... I just want to show him he's not as amazing as he thinks he is because the stuff he said made me want to rip all of his teeth out. That was violent and I need to get Ravager interrogation techniques out of my brain. Lord..."
"Speaking of your mind... We need to continue with your treatment to further what we have done about the Tundra Soldier," Shuri says carefully and I nod.
"Are we going to start at ten and work to twenty this time? Or up to thirty? Or just an hour?"
"We will continue the increments of ten for now."
"Fun. What's the end goal?"
"Two hours..."
"Awesome. Where and when?"
"The lab, after you have prepared for bed?"
"Sounds great. Thanks." She nods and I notice Queen Ramonda was looking at me quizzically. "Um... Yes?"
"What about the Tundra Soldier?"
"There are two sets of trigger words to bring her out and one of them has another word to bring me back. Shuri's helping me to make it so I don't succumb to the Tundra Soldier when the words are spoken."
"Why not start at two hours then? And of what?"
"They used electricity to brainwash me, similarly to what they did to Bucky. We're doing increments so that I don't succumb to Feral."
"Feral?"
"It's what... Part of the turmoil you mentioned earlier was that I was a battle slave under an alien race called the Kree for seven years... They used electricity to break my spirit and make me... Obedient so that it wouldn't happen again... As a battle slave, I had to fight others and..." I drift off for a moment and clear my throat. "And the way that I would do it was reminiscent of the movement and attacks of a feral beast... So, the Kree and other battle slaves took to calling me Feral..."
"And when was the last time you succumbed to that side of you?"
"When I married Loki and the Skrull tried to take my children and family as slaves while killing everyone else I cared about... I'm not sure of a time frame but maybe two years ago? We're doing it in increments because it gives me time to ground myself and get control of Feral again."
"How many people have you killed, if I may ask?"
"More than I can count... At my hands or Tressit's hands... In those seven years, it was probably over... Five thousand, closer to six now with Tundra... I haven't been an amazing person, I'd be the first one to admit that... But I'm actively trying to be better and make up for what I did while under other people's control because I know that isn't a good enough excuse... I know it was just me being a coward about not wanting to get beaten or electrocuted or killed... And if there is a Hell for me after I'm dead, if I can die at this point, I know that where I'm going... But I'm still trying to make up for what I've done because that's what I need to do and what I should do..."
"I see... Were my children aware of the number of people that have died due to your... Cowardice?"
"No... The other Avengers were... Pietro and Zemo didn't know either..." She nods and looks at me as I try my best to maintain eye contact.
"And who was Tressit?"
"My owner..." I feel so many things clawing out of the deep holes I've put them in and can't handle it right now in front of them. "I'm sorry... But, can we... Please, talk about something else?"
"Of course. What do you plan to do when you go back to the States?"
"I haven't planned that far... That happens a lot with me... Um... Make my own company and outdo Tony, maybe? Or talk to Pepper and secretly climb the corporate ladder until I'm on the same level as him? Mainly just show him..."
"That you're good enough?"
"Yeah..."
"But is it truly to show him or to show yourself?"
"Heh... Good question... And I don't have a good answer... Both?"
"That's fair." She smiles gently and I respond with a half-hearted quirk of my mouth since the other conversation had taken a lot out of me.
"If you are done, we should prepare you for the next session." I nod and people come in to take care of the dishes. Shuri leads the way to the lab and I follow with Pietro. "This is your area for when we do this. I took the liberty of having it padded to make it more comfortable. The room can be locked down if it's necessary and it will be much harder for you to break out of in case you do lose control to Feral."
"Good, good..."
"Are you ready?"
"Let's do this." I sit in the chair and take the mouth guard from her, putting it in.
"Ready?" I nod and the chair reclines before the pads settle over my face as I grip the chair carefully.
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About six months later, we've gotten the sessions increased to two hours straight and Pietro had stopped coming at about thirty minutes straight. The shocks stop and I jerk out of the chair, eyes narrowed at Shuri. "Raziah?" I growl and she presses a button, sirens going off above us.
Pietro, T'Challa, Zemo, Queen Ramonda, and a few members of the Dora Milaje come in, worried, and I try to launch at Shuri, getting stopped when the room is cut off quickly. "What is happening, Shuri?"
"It seems as though this is Feral."
"Not quite. Feral is a fighter. This is a caged version," Pietro explains and I pace the room I was in, punching the wall to no avail. "Do you have a water pipe above her?"
"Yes. Zemo said that if she was ever unconscious during the original sessions they would use freezing water from a bucket. So, I took the liberty of having pressurized, warm water in case something happened."
"Use it." She nods and water cascades over me.
I gasp and pant, shaking my head. "What happened? And why am I wet?" I spit out some water as I flip my hair back and they look at me, relieved.
"Feral."
"Oh, great... Is everyone OK?"
"Everyone's fine. Shuri acted quickly."
"Thank, God." I sit and rub my face, sighing softly. "Sorry, Shuri."
"No need to apologize. Nothing happened that you would need to apologize for. It was... Startling, but that is to be expected."
"Yeah... Sorry... Feral has that effect on everybody... I'm just glad no one got hurt... Other than my clothes needing to dry out now... The water was smart though. We might need that later on too."
"Noted. Would it be safe to reverse the emergency protocols?"
"Yeah, should be fine." She nods and the partitions slowly rise to get rid of the blockage while I get a handle on Feral again.
"Allow us to see if the words work any longer." Zemo goes through them and I only struggle slightly. "Hm. A few more sessions. One a day, until the end of the week should finish deprogramming the words." Shuri nods slightly and I rub my face a bit.
"Alright... I've got homework to do..." I had gotten to their high school level classes now and Pietro pulls me to my feet, steadying me.
"I have your recovery snack prepared and your study area cleared."
"Thanks..."
"My pleasure, Rebel." He takes me into our room and I had gotten the OK from Shuri before changing the door to a two-way so I could cut through it to get to our bed after a session, which is necessary. I stay in contact with most of the team, except for Tony, and they were doing well.
Shuri was going to help me with my multiple majors since I'm going to get a special pass to do them at the same time.
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Ten years later, the team all get transported to Wakanda and Tony is complaining quietly. "Why are we here again? And why is there press?"
"Because we got invited, this is a big thing, and this is important for Raziah, Tones," Rhodey hisses and he rolls his eyes slightly. "Now hush. It's starting." Shuri steps on stage where she, T'Challa, Queen Ramonda, and I were sitting while the other graduates were in other chairs. "I wonder why she's up there with them..."
"Who knows? Probably for no good reason."
"Hello, everyone," Shuri greets and silence settles over the crowd. "I am going to keep my introduction brief. You have all done wonderfully and we are proud of all that you have accomplished. There is one among us who has accomplished a significant amount while going through other things. They are graduating separate from their other classes who have already graduated. The reason is that they are graduating at the top of ten degrees, all of which are Ph.D.'s. They are the definition of an overachiever." The crowd laughs and I smile. "I shall hand it over to the valedictorian for the entire school for this graduating class. Please give it up for... Raziah Quill Emyrada!" She claps and the crowd does too, most of the Avengers joining too while the rest were shocked.
"Thanks, but even with this knowledge I still don't know what to call you." She laughs and I smile, standing at the podium where she was. "I was told ten minutes ago, well reminded, that I was to give a speech... And, well... Heh... I'm not good at those so this? This might be a trainwreck so bear with me, please."
"Talk about what you got," Shuri hisses and I nod.
"Right, that's a good idea. As my fellow graduates, that feels good to say, know I am receiving a Ph.D. for ten things. They are in business administration, physics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer programming, astrophysics, bioengineering, computer science, mathematics, and law. So... If any pictures are to be taken today, one of them might as well be put right next to the word overachiever in the dictionary. And my plan for after this? Get rid of the caffeine in my body after pulling at least a week straight of all-nighters and sleep for a year. Because that's healthy."
"Reporters have their hands raised. She should answer questions," Queen Ramonda whispers and I look at Shuri, seeing her nod.
"I'm also taking questions now... Uh... You?"
"What else were you doing while getting your degrees?"
"Well, before this my highest amount of education on Earth was an elementary school in the United States so I had to expand on that. Besides that, I was... Working on myself. Uh, you?"
"What do you mean by working on yourself?"
"I was working on my Michael Jackson moonwalk. What do you think I mean?" Pietro snorts and I smile at him.
"Are the rumors of you marrying Quicksilver true?"
"Yes. The wedding will be happening soon and there will be no vultures- I mean reporters there."
"Is it true that you're the Tundra Soldier? And that you're a former slave? That you've killed nearly six thousand people?" I don't respond and Shuri quickly takes over.
"That will be all for the questions and reporters. I hope you all got lovely pictures." The Dora Milaje escorts them out and she looks at me. "You can sit down now, Raziah." I do that and she looks at the crowd. "I once again congratulate all of the graduates! You are free to go!" They cheer and get their degrees before leaving. Pietro comes up to me and gently pulls me to my feet.
I shake myself out of my stupor and smile a bit, heading down to see the others. "Razi!" Morgan launches herself at me and I catch her in a hug, spinning her slightly with a laugh.
"Hey! Wow, you got taller!"
"Yeah! Your hair got longer!"
"Yeah! And I got smarter! I'm exhausted!"
"I bet," She laughs and it was a miracle I was still standing. "How many all-nighters did you have to pull at the end?"
"Um..." I look at Pietro and he shakes his head slightly.
"Her record has been two months straight."
"Wow. Only two months?" He nods and I nod slightly. "Huh. Interesting."
"How are you still alive?" She scoffs and I shrug.
"I'm a Celestial...?"
"Checks out." I nod a bit and look at Shuri as she comes over. She hugs me and I hug her back.
"You have made history here today."
"Of course I did. I'm the only one crazy enough to go for ten doctorates at the same time."
"Good job, kid." Bucky pats my arm and I smile. "Not to rain on the parade or anything, but..."
"The words don't work anymore. The only one we have to worry about is Feral and she hasn't come out for almost the whole time I was here. I've got a handle on her and Tundra, they'll only come out if I want them to."
"Good." Tony comes over and I look at him.
"Tony."
"Razzle Dazzle." We stare at each other and he looks at the degrees Pietro had gotten a hold of. "Trying to outdo me?"
"I don't have to try anymore."
"What are you planning to use those doctorates for?"
"Well, firstly, I'm going to help Bruce get full control of the other guy."
"Wait, really?"
"Yeah, dude." We fist bump and I smile. "We're gonna figure that out and, once we have..." I look at Tony and he quirks an eyebrow at me. "I'm thinking of a business plan..."
"You're going to try to compete against me? Me?"
"Did I say that? No. Does your cockiness kinda make me want to? Oh, hell yes. Am I going to? No, even though I should and could compete against you. No, what I meant was-"
"Oh, I get it. Internship with another SI competitor?"
"Dad, she's gonna slap you."
"Sorry, sorry. What?"
"Forget it, Tony. I want to go find a bed and sleep for a while. Thanks, Shuri. I appreciate everything."
"I know. I shall let you know if I ever need your help with something here."
"Sounds good. You think your brother could do me a favor?"
"I am already doing one for Pietro. Is that not enough?"
"Calm down, Bagheera. I didn't know you were doing him a favor."
"Yes. Follow me, everyone." He leads us outside to a lovely-looking field and Pietro smiles.
"Is this spot nice?"
"It's amazing. Open field, open sky, no sounds of traffic... I could fall asleep here and now..."
"Soon. Are you ready?" I furrow my eyebrows slightly before I remember and nod.
"Yeah. Now is perfect." He smiles and nods toward T'Challa.
"Lovely. Now then, we are all gathered here today to witness Raziah Emyrada being an overachiever and to witness her being wed to Pietro Maximoff, after ten long years. So, let us make this quick, yes? Do you wish to marry her still?"
"Yes."
"Lovely. Do you wish to marry him still?"
"Yup."
"Perfect! You may kiss and please get some sleep, Raziah. You look like you are about to fall over."
"That's cuz I am." We kiss shortly and I have to break it to yawn. "Sorry," I laugh and he chuckles. "Sleep on the plane back?"
"Sleep on the plane back."
"Awesome. Let's go." We go to the SUVs that were parked nearby and I climb in with Pietro, Steve, Bucky, Peter, and Sam while Scott drives it. "I am exhausted." I take the cap off and run a hand over my head slightly. "And I need a haircut. One thing at a time." I close my eyes to rest for now and get on the plane once we reach the airport, falling asleep against Pietro before we've even taken off.