Hello! So the idea for this story popped into my head late last night after a lovely light of panic due to having a speeding ticket haha. I thought I'd write it out!
This story takes place about 10 weeks after Furiosa has taken the Citadel. Each Wife has a new place, it's actually detailed in my story "Clean" in the beginning of chapter 6. But all you need to know is that Capable is in charge of the War Pups, helping them learn how to read and write and be normal boys, and Nux still helps work on engines and cars.
There will be lots of OCs here, if you have any questions about them, or if I haven't fleshed them out enough, let me know.
Thanks for reading!
Tumblr: actualpuppyedwardscissorhands
"Dignitary Nux!" a bold voice called from the watch. It repeated once more, urgency in the watchman's voice.
Nux heard him, looking up from the book that Capable held next to him. The words she read to him halted, his immersion in the story disrupted. He was slightly irritated, though he stood, exchanged a knowing glance with Capable, and advanced towards the door of his bedroom.
All the rooms of the "dignitaries", Furiosa and the Wives (now called "The Sisters" by the Citadel and its personnel), were centered around the watch, the highest part of the hightower. There were always guards, always a watchman who watched over the platform from which they had risen upon. Each door was sealed at night, protected, one more protected than others via the arms of a lover.
Nux opened the door to a worried watchman, the sunrise glaring and burning his eyes. He still wore white clay like the other workers of the Citadel, to protect from the sand and sun that he was forced to endure. Nux, however, stripped himself of his paint, never to don again.
"Catch," Nux nodded to the watchman, honored to have his name uttered by the dignitary. The personnel of the Citadel had been worshiping a false God for so long that they latched on to these dignitaries, the War Boys knowing Nux was a traitor but also knowing that the leadership of Furiosa was fair, and there must be a reason that Nux was among the highest ranked. Nux still worked with them, fixing engines and supping up vehicles. Their defenses were better than ever, many of the Wretched able to help when their ailments were alleviated by sufficient water and food. Nux and the Sisters were respected among with highest, the most noble. Furiosa's diligent work had ensured flourishing trade, the healing of those that could be, and a new leaf turned for the Citadel.
"You have a visitation request," Catch announced, the other watchmen present that morning gazing over the ledge at the platform where their guest currently resided.
"From who?" Nux shifted his weight. He wasn't in charge of any foreign affairs, only making sure the garage and the vehicles they put out were up to par. It was strange to have someone not from the Citadel need him.
"He... um, she... um, they... won't say." Catch confessed, "They said they want to see you first."
"Are they safe?" Nux found this request odd. For them to have been at the platform, they'd have to have gotten though the scrutiny of armed, powerful guards.
"We assume so. They have no vehicles, no weapons."
"How many are there?" Nux wasn't sure if "they" were a singular person, or a group.
"One leader. About four men, two women, three children," Catch continued, "Such a strange group to see."
Nux joined the other watchmen, confused. Children? Women? Indeed, he saw as he looked down. One white being stood in front of the rest, the women, children, the men. He didn't know of any band like this, but they were painted white, with black garb, the children wearing full shirts and pants. He couldn't see much else, particularly focused on the leader. The women wore black straps to cover their breasts; the leader wore nothing on top.
"I'll see them, of course," feeling no threat from them, "but I want someone to be with me." Catch knew he alluded to Capable. Though two fiercely independent individuals, they knew when to collaborate. Capable's ability to work with people, she discovered only once in the hightower, would come in handy. The group had children, something Capable was much more familiar with than Nux. She did work with the War Pups after all, helping them learn to read and write and play. Many of their duties were alleviated, the need for young, impressionable followers of Joe's cult no longer needed. But they still met with Capable, to hear stories and learn new games. They loved her red hair, having none of their own. Capable hoped it would grow back.
Catch nodded. Nux returned to the door, entering explaining the situation. Capable stood and joined Nux, curious as to who these people were as much as Nux was.
Two very armed guards accompanied them, as well as Catch, as they descended down to the lower levels of the hightower, high staircases hidden from the populace. It was safe up there, a place to rest.
Finally on the lower level where more guards stood, Nux, Capable, and their accompaniments emerged from the rock stairwell. They hung their heads in respect, a tradition not imbedded by them, but by Joe. Their heads raised again, focusing on the group below them. The Wretched had began to surround the group, the children huddling against the elders.
To their surprise, Imperator Furiosa was also on the lower level, looking down at the guests. She turned to greet her comrades.
"The leader won't say anything," Furiosa explained, "Not who they are, or why they're here. But they demand to see you, Nux."
"They gotta be safe to get in here," Nux stepped towards Furiosa.
"They're completely unarmed. Not a single gun. No cars. How they even got here is unknown, the leader claims they walked. From where, who knows."
Nux and Capable approached the ledge, uneasy. When Nux's head peered out from the rock, the group erupted in cheer, clapping, screaming. Nux was confused, as was everyone else surrounding the visitors. War Boys and Pups emerged from their bunks to witness, too early to have started work already.
"True Traitor!" the leader called out, raising both hands up to Nux, the rest of the group copying them.
Nux couldn't tell the gender of the leader just as much as Catch couldn't. They had long blonde hair, but a bare, flat chest and baggy pants. He supposed it wasn't important. He exchanged a glance with Capable, then with Furiosa, who joined him to peer over the edge. They continued to cheer.
"Why... uh," Nux tried to shout, only to be drowned out by their cheering, "Hey! Uh..."
"Silence!" The leader called out, making fists in her hands, still raised, "He speaks."
It was then silent.
"Why are you here?" Nux called out then, the guards making their guns obvious.
The leader looked at their group, then back up at Nux. "We feel it would be better to talk to you face to face about that."
"We can't do that," Furiosa called to them without consulting the rest of the group. Nux glared at her, his gaze unmet as she bore down at the guests.
"Why not?" The leader called up timidly.
"Announce who you are," she insisted.
"We are the euthanized, the beheaded," she called proudly, "We are called the Expats."
Furiosa glared confusingly, looking towards Nux for any answer. He shook his head slowly, raising his brows, his piercing blue eyes equally as confused. She began to speak again, interrupted by Nux.
"Why me?" Nux yelled. He sounded diplomatic, a strange tone to hear, especially to Capable who was so used to hearing his soft, innocent murmurs in the dark.
"You are the True Traitor!" The leader called, "You are our True Traitor." The group erupted in a short burst of cheer.
"Yours?" Capable muttered under her breath, unheard by the rest.
Nux breathed out, knowing he wasn't going to get any answers from them.
"Announce your reason for being here, or you will be-" Furiosa angrily called.
"Let them up!" Nux yelled to the platform. Furiosa snapped her head to him, mad that he had undermined her authority and for potentially endangering their safety.
"Nux, what are you doing?" Capable prodded.
"You stay here," Nux held her shoulders. He placed a small peck on her cheek, heating her face. "You can see me from here." He didn't want to risk her safety by bringing her down with him, but he knew she'd come in handy if the group was brought up.
Furiosa went with him, though. She wouldn't have it any other way. The guards accompanied them both, their guns loaded and cold.
The platform was raised with a cheer from the group, a couple "True Traitor!" calls pointed throughout. It was a call of admiration, of worship. It made Nux uncomfortable. He was no God.
When the group met eye level to Nux and Furiosa who had descended to meet them, the leader's previously stoic face erupted in a wide, open-mouthed smile. The rest of the group had gone quiet. Now with the visitors obscured from their vision, the crowd on the ground began to disperse. The leader breathed heavily with excitement, the children unwound themselves from the adults to see him closer. No one approached yet, the guards holding their guns in front of Nux and Furiosa.
"Nux..." the leader breathed out. The voice was now unmistakeably feminine. She took a step closer, the details of her person how visible. She bore two crescent scars where her breasts would be, red and dotted with an amateur stitching job from times passed. She carried one more large visible scar, under her belly button, also red and thick. Though covered by white war clay, her scars were noticeable on her face, a large "X" crossing her lips and two horizontal gashes across her forehead.
These marks were unmistakable. Furiosa was immediately nervous. These were the facial marks of traitors. When War Boys had disobeyed Joe, or stood against him, they were marked with X's and the two lines, denoting that they were to live only on Earth, under the dirt, never to ascend to Valhalla.
How had a woman acquired these marks? She'd never heard of a woman been doomed to a painful death by the hands of Immortan Joe like traitor War Boys. The sudden thought gave her a stronger admiration for Nux. He had risked getting caught in this way to help them, risked getting shredded by his once supreme god.
Everyone else in the group had these facial scars, except the children. The men donned their own unique scars on their chests and arms, like Nux's.
Furiosa stared at the group, stealing a glance at Nux. What she saw shocked her; Nux teared up, his lips pursed into a weak smile, his fists clenched, his brows furrowed. He knew this person. How?
Nux pushed the guards away, sending them to balance themselves, and strode over to the leader. She immediately stepped to meet him, the both of them extending their hands to grip the back of their heads, touching foreheads, a traditional greeting of friends. Furiosa let her guard down, obviously this group would not hurt them.
"How... how?" Nux mumbled to her, their foreheads still connected. The woman let a tear fall, moving her body closer to his. The rest of the group cheered once again, only for the woman to reach behind her with a fist, silencing them.
"Is he alive?" the woman maintained her strong gaze with Nux, "I need to know. Is he alive?"
Nux's breathing slowed. His widened eyes softened. "No."
She nodded into him, closing her eyes. Furiosa could hear them, but not strongly, as she whispered things to him. She could make out few words, not enough to understand what the woman said.
Capable watched carefully at the display, her jaw clenching lightly and intermittently. Who was this? Why had Nux never discussed them? She still didn't know their visitor was a woman.
They broke their brotherly embrace, now hugging fully, tightly. The rest of the group moved closer to the pair, obviously very interested to see him. They had heard stories of the death of Immortant Joe, only to be replaced by a True Traitor, a War Boy no longer. It inspired them.
"How are you... alive?" Nux broke the embrace to grip her upper arms. His eyes scanned down to her scars, botched and angry.
"I will tell you everything. Please, meet everyone. They've been waiting for you for forty-two days, walking this damned wasteland," she stepped to the side. The children gazed up at him, their round faces completely unmarked but emaciated. The women held their chests, covered their mouths as he scanned over the group. A man was the first to approach.
The man collapsed on his knees in front of Nux. He looked up at him, the traitor's marks burning into Nux's eyes. There had been a time where he witnessed traitors receive those marks and cheer as they were ripped apart. "You are valiant," the man uttered, his breath shaky, standing once again. He held his hand out, offering a brotherly embrace that Nux accepted, feeling the lack of water in the man's skin. He did this with each person that approached him, the children just wanting to touch his hand, his chest. They were young, no older than six or seven years old. The thought of them walking the desert to the Citadel for six weeks turned Nux's stomach.
"We can get you water and food," he choked his tears back, the emotion of meeting this woman once more still present, "and a place to sleep."
The woman nodded, smiling, her eyes wide and green. She embraced him once more.
Capable looked on from above. Why didn't Furiosa do anything? She gripped her linen dress in a loose fist, feeling the morning desert wind on her legs. Who was this person? Why did Nux hug them so long?
The other Sisters moved to the platform watch, joining Capable. They questioned, but there were no answers to give. Soon the Dag would have to make her morning rounds in the greenhouse, the rest of the women off to their duties. Capable said nothing as they chattered theories, ideas. She never broke her gaze on Nux. She, for the first time, felt a strange possession of him, now that it seemed threatened.
The embrace broken, Nux turned to Furiosa, his hand on their visitor's back. She had respected their need to speak, staying silent but observant, careful.
"Imperator Furiosa-" The woman stepped towards her, a guard rushing a gun in front of the Imperator before she could move farther. Furiosa placed her hand on the gun, her bionic one at her side. The guard lowered the gun with caution. The woman advanced towards her again, now careful. "Imperator Furiosa. We are the Expats. We are the surviving traitors of Immortan Joe, we escaped his damning and have banded together. We ask for your forgiveness in our difficulty to reason with, it was just... we were afraid that you would forbid us from seeing Nux. As you might imagine, he is a powerful figure to them."
Furiosa nodded. How they'd escaped certain death was a wonder, something that Furiosa gave the group respect for. She offered the brotherly embrace, something the woman was visibly ecstatic about. Without words, and with a single embrace, whatever issues were there, were reconciled.
Capable looked on his disbelief. A stranger receiving such a momentous embrace was strange.
"The children are healthy," the visitor motioned towards the group, "The women fertile. The men are strong. We can be of use to you. We would be honored to help you in any way we can."
Furiosa smiled. "Is that why you came here?"
"Yes," the woman confirmed, "Your regimen is what we have dreamed of, it is beautiful."
Furiosa was humbled. They had come all this way to help. And they sure did need help.
"I'm sure we can find a place for you. First, we should find you some water," Furiosa said diplomatically. The woman seemed overjoyed, her sun-toughened features wrinkling in a smile. Furiosa stole a glance at the woman's scars where her breasts should be, the one under her belly button. She recognized it immediately.
A hysterectomy.
She followed the woman's back now, for she faced her devoted group.
"The Imperator was agreed to allow us the gracious position of labor within the Citadel!" she called to them. They cheered, Nux looking at the woman who raised her fist. The group followed.
Nux led the group inside, the children first. He found it odd to have them so close to him- he was never fatherly. Now, he found himself drawn to them, they were so unmarked, so new. They hadn't been born in the Citadel- did they worship Immortan Joe? Did they worship anybody?
The leader stayed with Furiosa as they ascended to the lower level, where Capable remained. The sisters had gone about their days, the time for work nearing. She herself had things to attend to, but not before witnessing this stranger and their followers.
Furiosa was the first to enter, the leader following, then Nux, then the rest. Nux surprisingly held one of the children, a small girl, whose head bobbed around from the heat and lack of water. She'd never seen him show interest in the Pups she mentored. She was a tad pained to see him like that; why hadn't he been like that before?
"Capable," Nux handed the child to one of the men. He approached her, smiling, beaming actually. She was reluctant to embrace him, confused, but did. "What a wonderful day, yes."
Capable maintained eye contact with the (she was very sure now) woman, who saw Nux holding her with such reverence. She examined the woman's scars as she maintained a small smile, letting Nux break their hug.
"Furiosa, Capable," Nux began, "I'd like you to meet my War Mate, Stone."
Stone bowed her head, smiling and maintaining eye contact with Nux. Capable and Furiosa exchanged a confused glance. War Mate? Capable reeled. Had he... mated with her? Was she a breeder?
"Nice to meet you," Capable extended her greeting, thanking her ability to be cordial even in times where she didn't want to. She had no reason to dislike this woman, but she did.
"They want to help us run the place," Furiosa relaxed. "We're going to need it."
Capable nodded. Nux approached Stone once more, placing a hand on her white-covered shoulder. Capable had a bad feeling in her gut, not knowing why, seeing Nux touch her like that.
"Go get them some water," Furiosa told Capable. "I'm going to take them to the resting room." Capable nodded, her red hair bouncing around her face.
As she ascended the staircase alone, Furiosa having departed to show the group a place to rest, Capable mulled over what had just happened. What is a "War Mate"? How did Nux recognize her? Who followed her? Why? Who were those children? Why had Nux been the one to hold the girl?
She retrieved enough water to satiate each member's thirst, and ascended towards the resting room where the group would surely be.
