Zai's tone shocked me and I gasped. Even my mom's expression changed. Her eyes turned a pale yellow.
"Did you think I wanted to see you because I wanted your blessing or something? No fuck you. Snowe still has nightmares because of how awful of a mother you are. I just wanted to put a face to all the knowledge I have of you."
"You... Dare insult me, but what about her?!" Mom said pointing at me, "She was always scheming for attention and looking down on me," ... Was I? Hearing my mom saying this makes me feel like I should reevaluate my motives.
"Oh... your child wanted attention from you? And you know you weren't someone worth looking up to, so why are you shocked that she looked down, instead?" Zai placed his chin into the palm of his hand and rested his elbow on the table.
"... Fine... I know I was a crappy mom... I know but... I can't control how I feel... I wanted to be a good mother."
"Then you admit you're a failure?" She clenched her fist. "You only have 2 redeeming features... the fact that you are brave enough to choose the power you want, no matter what anyone says... and giving birth to Snowe. Nothing else about you is worth anything." Her eyes actually swelled up with tears, maybe if her powers weren't suppressed she'd try to fight but right now all she could do was cry.
"...If that's all you have to say, you can leave." She replied. I started to rise from my seat but then Zai said,
"No..." I sat back down but he wasn't looking at me so he must've been talking to her. "You're going to die. Sad that it won't be by my hand but... at least you can suffer in here until they finally get around to your execution." My mom put her hand to her neck, it seems she forgot she's on death row. "I believe it was fate that you were spared so long... so that before you die." She cringed at the word die, "You can at least apologize to your daughter... I'm sure some small part of you wants to." She stared down silently for around 7 minutes, the silence was deafening. I'm tempted to just leave...
"Snowe... I'm sorry." She said, her voice sounded strained through her tears. "I knew I wasn't ready to be a mom... but when Caem asked me... I felt so happy that for a brief moment, I wanted a baby and because of that passing thought, you were born. I still wanted all his attention, I wasn't mature enough to share it... I don't even know if I'd do any better now but... You... were caught up in a fight that had nothing to do with you. I went through a lot before I had you but that... had nothing to do with you so... he's right and I'm sorry. I was so happy when you decided to visit me... but some part of my brain still saw you as my enemy, and I was awful to you... I don't... I shouldn't be like this... I don't want to stay this way." My heart was moved... I could tell she was sincere and for the first time, I saw my mom... as a person... not a dark force that I needed to be careful around.
"You were happy to see me?" I asked, sniffling and joining in on the crying.
"Of course I was! I thought you were dead! But... I don't deserve forgiveness... You should keep hating me." She said while wiping her eyes.
"I ... never hated you... I wish I could but I can't..." Our eyes met and she smiled softly,
"Oh dear... I'm... really a stupid b**ch, aren't I?" I laughed, it was almost like she heard the first convo I had with Zai over her.
"You are pretty dumb... that's where I get it from," I replied. She snorted.
"I'm... also sorry to Caem... I clung to him and refused to let him go... I knew he needed to be away from me, but I wouldn't allow it... This is where I belong... in prison... in chains... Your husband is right though... the only good thing I have ever done is create you... I wish I could've been better for you..."
"Times up." The guard said, approaching our table and touching my Mom's shoulder.
"I guess... this is goodbye." She said sadly,
"Thank you... for telling me that, it means a lot to me and I know it wasn't easy for you."
"You're welcome and... I know you didn't come for it, but I bless your union. I hope you stay as happy and devoted as you are right now, until the end of time." After she said this she was escorted out. Zai held my hand as we exited the visitation room.
"Thank you... I had no idea... my mom could say things like that." I commented. She was always so quick to attack whenever she got emotional in the past and I would never have the guts to confront her... I guess my upbringing has been weighing on Zai's mind.
"Yeah..." He still seems deep in thought... then he grabbed my a** and as I gasped he kissed me deeply and pinned my back to the wall.
"Zai! We're still in the prison." He kissed a lock of my hair and looked into my eyes.
"Is it illegal to kiss my wife?" He asked. I looked away from him shyly then he gripped me harder and placed his other hand on my butt as well.
"It's not illegal but... PDA is highly frowned upon when it's at this level." He kissed my neck and whispered,
"We're alone right now."
"Zai! No! Let's wait till we get home!" Then he released me and pouted saying,
"I'm glad she apologized... she's not as crazy as I imagined... I was prepared to cause her a little pain if she resisted." What was he gonna do?! "I'm... glad I met you... I'm 30% happier now that you're in my life." As we walked towards the exit I elbowed him playfully,
"Only 30?" He snickered.
"It'd be much higher if you'd let me do you in the prison hallway." I gasped,
"Zai?!"
"What?... I mean it feels so wrong... that I just want to try it." Is he secretly mischievous?!
"No!... and I don't think this is the best place to discuss this!" I said... I know there could be someone recording all the conversations, we're probably on camera right now, or someone is using telepathy to watch us. As long as we don't do anything suspicious we should be able to leave with no issues but I think getting it on in a hallway after saying bye to my mom would be suspicious. We returned to the hotel so I could gather my things and Ibij met us just as we were preparing to teleport home.
"Wait... Smoke wants to talk." Zai's face distorted in anger and I prepared to turn Ibij down but then he pointed to Zai and said, "To him... you made a man's agreement right... so he sent me to ask in his place." Zai scratched his head and sighed.
"Fine... Snowe... do whatever you like while you wait. Text me your location and I'll meet you there when we're done." I nodded, then watched his back as he walked off... I guess I'm alone for a while. I decided to look around the shops... Zai is always buying me things... maybe I can get him a gift. I ended up getting him some earrings, made with Infaniyan metal with a chin link cartilage cuff, studded with 3 red stones. It's nice to be able to buy him something for once. After that, I sat in the park and texted him my coordinates... I hope the conversation is going well.
The conversation:
"Why are you hiding what you are?" Smoke interrogated. Zai rolled his eyes and looked away.
"What am I?" He asked, sounding uninterested in the conversation,
"You're... A chosen of lightning! There's no way someone who adopted the affinity could keep up with me the way you can." Zai scoffed. "Shouldn't you make your presence known? You could be a huge asset in the war and..."
"so could you... and your brother doesn't look like you're planning on going into battle anytime soon." Smoke frowned,
"My brother has fought and I can't just do whatever I want. I have royal obligations."
"Oh... so since I don't have those, I can do what I want. Alright." Zai remarked Smoke's eyes lit up and his hair began moving rapidly as his face scrunched from annoyance.
"The chosen of lightning was reported dead, 5 years ago... Even if he was reborn there's no way you're only 5. So you faked your own death to avoid your obligations. One of you is worth ten thousand trained soldiers. It would be selfish to stay out of this fight."
"... I am selfish... and to me, this is a war that's gone on too long and is only perpetuated by the foolish... Is wiping out all the Afarions really necessary? Are they all evil? Weren't we once one people?" Zai noted and Smoke sighed saying,
"Of course, they're all evil." That's when Zai smiled and turned away,
"This fight has nothing to do with me... and the Infaniyan Chosen of Lightning is dead... So don't bother me again."
Back to Snowe:
"Hey... sorry I kept you waiting..." Zai greeted me, sitting beside me on a bench.
"It's fine," As I replied he kissed my forehead, causing me to blush, and then I thrust the gift bag into his arms.
"What's this?" He asked while peeking into the bag,
"It's a gift..." He lifted the earrings out of the bag and held them up in the light. The stones shimmered in the light and he grinned widely.
"I see... thank you, Snowe." My heart fluttered when he said my name so I hung my head and replied,
"You're welcome... I don't need my currency here for anything... so I thought it would be nice to do something for you, for a change."
"Hmm... okay, put them on me." Zai requested, then he leaned towards me and closed his eyes. I carefully removed his old earrings and put them into the bag so they wouldn't get lost, then put on the new ones, my hands trembling slightly from nerves. Once I was done he smiled at me and said, "I love them."
"W-well... I love you! Handsome." He snorted from trying to hold in his laughter. "I mean it! I love you... I got so much more out of this trip than I thought possible and it's ... because of you being here with me... I love you so much Zai, thank you for the courage you've given me." After I said this his face turned red and he leaned over and kissed me, this time on my lips, over and over. He ended the kiss by gently biting my lip and I pulled away, flustered. Some of the passersby noticed us but none stopped to stare.
"I love you too... now let's go home," Zai said while looking into my eyes, increasing my heart rate even more. He held my hand and we stood up together, then he teleported us and our things into our backyard back on Earth.