Chapter 23: Legacy

Q'Wasim watched the bright red eyes of the previous Crimson Tiger darken. When the man next spoke, he was Gaven. Q'Wasim's old friend said, "You…did it."

"I did," Q'Wasim said with awe in his voice. He had not lied to D'Shar. Q'Wasim would have kept fighting until he had won, but he was not upset to avoid more deaths.

Gaven grinned. "Congratulations, Wasi!" The prince wrapped Q'Wasim up in another hug and said, "My future brother-in-law! I am so proud of you! Priyansi is going to be in good strong stubborn hands," Gaven declared, clapping Q'Wasim on the back.

Whatever lingering animosity he had towards Gaven for his part in the night's events left Q'Wasim's heart in that moment. He knew they had both been playing their roles. Now it was over and his friend was truly back. "Thank you. For everything," Q'Wasim replied, meaning every word. "My hands never would have become so strong, good, or stubborn without your help, Gaven."

Gaven shook with laughter at the odd statement and this time, he slapped Q'Wasim on the back hard enough to bruise. "You!" The prince of Takanda straightened his arms to look Q'Wasim in the eye. "I am going to miss your absurdly earnest nature, Q'Wasim. Truly."

Q'Wasim, who was at a loss for more words, just nodded.

With a smile, Gaven continued, "Please, tell Priyansi that I love her and that I am sorry I failed."

"I will," Q'Wasim promised.

"Give her a hug too. She probably will not admit it, but she definitely needs more hugs in her life right now."

"She does," Q'Wasim agreed. The two of them often saw eye to eye when it came to Priyansi. "I will give your sister as many hugs as she can stand."

Gaven's smile widened into one of his full-on grins, but then…

It faltered and faded.

After several moments passed, Q'Wasim tentatively asked, "What is it?"

It was very unusual for Gaven to hesitate, but hesitate he did. Some more time passed, before he at last said, "Wasi, I know it will be awkward, but could you tell Chinmay's family I am sorry as well? Please let them know that Chinmay fought bravely and that his passing was blessed by the gods. See that him, and Nayan too, receive the highest honors their tribes can provide. They were both good men, Wasi. I do not want anyone to doubt that. Chinmay was…"

Gaven closed his eyes.

Q'Wasim felt his pain and suspected Gaven was reliving one of his deadly battles against his best friend. Even so, Q'Wasim had no love for the fallen Champion of the Vajra tribe. Q'Wasim could honestly say he preferred Nayan despite their only interaction being a duel to the death. Chinmay had caused some of the worst parts of Q'Wasim's adolescence and Q'Wasim's adult experiences with the conceited champion and his elitist family were not much better.

Still, a Crimson Tiger of the mother goddess and a mere mortal champion were unlikely to cross paths in the afterlife. This was all Gaven could do for his dearly departed friend. Q'Wasim could not deny his request. "I will make sure it is done," Q'Wasim vowed.

"Thank you," Gaven said, regaining some of his composure. "I know I can trust you on this and more, Wasi. I know you will take care of all our friends and family as best you can. Even I cannot ask for anything better than that."

Q'Wasim nodded, his throat tight again.

Gaven, too, went quiet, and for a while, neither of them spoke. Despite the silence, tears, and things still left unsaid, the old friends were content and smiling. Being here with each other felt better than any words they could come up with.

Sanguine mist came off the previous Crimson Tiger like steam off of hot water. As he and Q'Wasim spent their last moments together, Gaven's form became transparent as though his image was merely a reflection through red glass. Though neither wanted to admit it, this meeting of souls was coming to an end. Gaven's teary eyes filled with regret because even miracles have limits.

The see-through prince stepped away from his mentee-turned-equal and said, "I have one last thing that I need to tell you."

Q'Wasim nodded, bracing himself.

"Wasi, after all the rituals and ceremonies are done, you must go to Shehrabad."

The command tore through Q'Wasim's wordless grief. Suddenly, he was filled with questions. Q'Wasim spoke fast, trying to make up for lost time. "What happened to you in Shehrabad, Gaven? I know your death could not have been a simple accident. Is your killer there? Is it the queen? Did she steal the Agni?"

The previous Crimson Tiger opened his mouth to answer, but he had become too insubstantial for speech.

"Gaven!" Q'Wasim shouted, reaching for him, but Q'Wasim's hand went right through his friend. The strongest living warrior of Takanda stared at the prince, feeling helpless and scared of what came next.

Unlike Q'Wasim, Gaven was not afraid. His dark red eyes shone with affection and a bit of amusement at the futile but earnest efforts of his friend. Then Gaven gave Q'Wasim one last signature sharp-toothed grin before he dissolved completely.

Q'Wasim closed his eyes tightly, thinking it was all over. Emotions crashed inside of him. Fear, anger, guilt, longing, joy, and sadness came upon him like boulders in a rockslide, nearly killing him where he stood.

Until, at last, they settled.

Q'Wasim exhaled through his nose.

Their last meeting had been too short and now his friend was gone forever. And yet, after all Q'Wasim had overcome, all he had promised to do for his friend, their families, and himself, Q'Wasim felt able to try to exist in a world without Gaven there to provide support, guidance, and laughter.

Q'Wasim opened his eyes. He wanted to give voice to his new state of gratitude and resolve to carry on the Crimson Tiger's and more importantly, Gaven's legacy. He meant to begin a eulogy, but when Q'Wasim opened his mouth, sanguine mist rose up from the blood pool and rushed into him.

Q'Wasim stumbled back and gagged on the mist. He started to cough and cough, but there was no ridding himself of it. The mist was burning through him and igniting all of his past wounds from all of his battles.

The Crimson Tiger fell into the blood pool. He did not notice that he was slowly sinking into its depths. He was unaware of the strangled gurgle that ripped from his throat like the last cry of a dying beast. To him, life was once again nothing but unending pain.

A/N: I am so sorry this chapter is late. Don't worry. I plan to publish another this month so that we can hopefully finish this fic up on June 16 to celebrate Detective Parkson's birthday one more time. I do have a good excuse for my tardiness though. I caught COVID this April which is too bad because, among other reasons, I really wanted to get this one out on April 18th.

Why April 18th?

Well, the rest of this fic is for my dear Detective Parkson, but this chapter really can't be for anyone else than my brother. So, if you're feeling up to it, follow me as I process my feelings about him and Black Panther 2.

Spoilers for Black Panther 2 below:

Being a younger sister with a dead brother, Black Panther 2 hit me a bit harder than the average person as in I thought that movie was trying to kill me. For those of you who don't remember my very first author's note: Chadwick's portrayal of T'challa reminds me of my brother, both confident charismatic black men with teasing families and a good heart. My brother actually died of a rare condition that allowed his heart to grow too big for his arteries to function and the fact he died because his heart was literally too big is sad and also incredibly apt.

Black Panther 2 is about Shuri's grief over losing her brother. It was a beautiful movie, but I never want to see it again. It threw me back into middle school where I kept looking up at the lovely sky and expecting it to fall to pieces Chicken Little style to reveal this reality was a lie and that I could see my brother again, if I just woke up. That was horrible enough, but then Shuri's mom died and I just lost it. I cried for the rest of the movie and the end where we find out about T'Challa's son, only made things worse. My brother meant to propose to his long-time girlfriend on Christmas, but he died in spring, April, specifically, so no proposal, no marriage, no nieces or nephews to take his name and carry on his legacy. So, yes, I recognize Black Panther 2 as a really good movie, but I probably would have been much happier if it did not exist. Because now, my brother, Chadwick, and T'Challa are all officially dead.

But that's enough about death and grief, this is supposed to be a dedication after all. When people die, they often get canonized as angels or demons in the eyes of the people who remain on this earth. I like to remember my brother wasn't perfect. He was a troublemaker with a trail of misadventures too long to contain, a hothead who argued with his girlfriend, and a bit of a bully who used to sit on me after dinner if I couch-potatoed on the floor. But of course, despite that, he was a very good man. He had the ability to make friends and bring joy wherever he went. Most of my best memories of my brother relate to him deciding to coach my city basketball team one year. (Yes, my family all played basketball. We were very stereotypical that way. My parents and brother even played in college). How many of you would opt to teach your kid sister's basketball team when you were only 23? It was really nice of him and a good bonding time for us. As I said, lots of memories, but what I remember most was a conversation we had out on the sports court.

He asked me: "What do you want?"

Me being 13 and having never been asked that question seriously answered: "Candy."
This was my typical reward for playing well. I didn't want to put my brother out and I, to this day, really love candy.

But my brother told me: "Think bigger. This isn't just about basketball, it's about you. What do you really want?"

And I realized I had no idea. Beyond what my parents expected of me and trying to live up to my sibling's past accomplishments, I had no big dreams or wants. In the end, we settled on the newest Zelda game, Twilight Princess, but nowadays I think back to that conversation because when I answered with a video game we both knew that wasn't really what he meant. I'm the youngest of three and part of a well-off family that has a sports court in their backyard. I had most everything a kid could want and a future that seemed pretty set, but that day when my brother told me it was okay to think bigger, the idea stayed with me.

When my brother died and my father asked the question: "What would your brother want you to do?"

I answered, "Get good grades and make varsity basketball" I did in fact get good grades...I didn't make varsity basketball, but I tell myself that's alright because that answer was wrong I think. My brother wanted me to think bigger and for myself and today, I can say I have. I have officially stepped off the path and am going for my own dream.

So, I just wanted to say to him:

"Thank you for everything. I am doing my best to do right by you and carry on your teachings and legacy. I'm making trouble, fighting for what I really want, and attempting to take care of our family. I wish you all the happiness up in heaven. I hope you can look down upon me and smile at my future misadventures.

I love you, Charlie.

This chapter is for you."