Gokudera holds onto Phoenix tightly as she cries.
"No, you haven't. He's still with you Aydan. You're every existence is proof of that. You're so much like him. He lives with in you. I know it."
"NO! THEY'VE STOLEN THAT FROM ME! I…I…I'm not like my Dad…I don't fight back…I…I…I'm not a Lynch…not really…"
She breaks down crying once more and Gokudera pulls back to look into Phoenix's eyes. His mint green eyes met her crystalline blue ones.
"Stop it. Just…stop! You are like him! From the little that you've told me and the bits that I've seen in the video, I know that you are! You do fight back, you are a Lynch, and it's proved in everything you do. No one has taken it from you Aydan. They'll never be able to. So don't give me that crap.
Gokudera pulls Phoenix into a tight embrace but Phoenix pulls back.
"I'm not! I don't…I can't…this isn't…If I was a Lynch I could have gotten us out already. If I was anything like my Dad I wouldn't be so scared. I'm…my life…everything I am…it's a lie."
"Just because you're scared it doesn't mean you're not like your father! Being scared is normal. It's human! I'm sure your dad had enough experience and had lived long enough to control his emotions. But even though you say he was fearless, I have no doubt that he felt fear." Gokudera runs his thumb across Phoenix's cheekbone. "I'm sure every time he thought of losing you and Nicky, he was afraid. He didn't want to lose you. And that was fear. But he was strong for you guys. He had to be." He looks at her with a soft expression. "You're only sixteen Aydan. You have so many years to go and so much potential. You just need more time to develop your father's qualities. They're there. I know it. You just need time."
"A Lynch stands tall, they're proud, and they hold their heads high. No matter the cost. I...I...I've bent my head...I've nothing to be proud of...I can't...I'm not...It's gone."
Gokudera runs a hand through his hair in frustration.
"Are you even listening to me! I said that doesn't matter! You have a hell of a lot of time to build those qualities up! Who said you have to be exactly what a Lynch is? You're you. I know for a fact that you have Lynch qualities but…Jesus Aydan, you can't expect for them to all cultivate now! You haven't had the opportunity to!"
"I'm a Child of Flame! I should have them already! I should be able to support them! But I can't!" She claws at the back of her neck, at her O-Loughlin ID. "And it's this things fault! It's their fault!"
Gokudera grabs Phoenix's hand before she can hurt herself.
"Maybe you're just a late bloomer. Look at Juudaime. He carried the Sky Flame and Super Intuition from his ancestors and yet he never knew about it. They didn't surface until later on. Maybe all you need is something to trigger it. I don't know what, but time will tell."
"It's not that type of flame Hayato…It's…hard to explain…But I can't…she won't listen to me! She…I'm not…I can't." Anger overrides Phoenix's pain and her hand erupts into a pulsing yellow flame. "STOP!"
The flames flutter and die out as Gokudera's eyes widen.
"W-What…What the hell was that!"
"My…My flame. The Flame of Sound and Sky…also known as…" She hangs her head. "The Flame of the Phoenix."
Gokudera looks at Phoenix in confusion.
"If it's not a Dying Will Flame then…What is it? Where did it come from?"
"…It's…her flame…" Phoenix looks at her hand in concentration. "Fallows flame." A spark jumps in Phoenix's hand and a small yellow flame appears. "My totem…"
"…Fallow? Totem? Wait…Who's Fallow and what do you mean by 'Totem'?"
"She, Fallow, she's my totem." Phoenix extends her fingers and the flames grow, heat rolling off of them. "She's a phoenix, a very old phoenix, and she's…she's bonded to my soul…"
Phoenix looks into the flame like she's waiting for it to do something, the flame jumps off her hand and lands on Gokudera's knee but doesn't burn him. It isn't even warm.
"It…It doesn't burn." Gokudera looks up at Phoenix in wonder. "What kind of flame is it?"
Phoenix shrugs sadly and holds out her hand. The flames jump back into her hand and the girl brings them to her forehead, closing her eyes.
"So what do you think Fallow? Did I choose well?" Phoenix smiles slightly and looks at Gokudera. "Fallow likes you…she thinks you're noble." Her frown returns. "I can't control her…I can't make her listen…she's too used to being free."
Gokudera looks at the jumping flame.
"I can't believe it…It's a spirit, isn't it?" He reaches out to touch the flame. "I thought they didn't exist anymore…"
"No, Fallow is a real live phoenix."
Gokudera's eyes widen as his fingertips touch the fire in Phoenix's hand.
"A…A real phoenix!" A smile begins to form on his face. "They're…They still exist…"
Phoenix bows her head sadly.
"I bet you think I'm a monster now don't you?"
"What?" Gokudera draws his hand away from the fire "No. What would I ever think you're a monster?"
"I have a freaking Phoenix bonded to my very soul and my limbs catch fire if I don't control my anger. Everyone thinks I'm a monster when they find out."
Phoenix looks away from Gokudera and the silver-haired teen places his finger under her chin, turning her face towards him.
"I don't think you're a monster Aydan. And I never will. Besides…this is amazing! You have a phoenix inside you! And you can channel it's flames and who knows what else!" Gokudera gives Phoenix a wide smile. "You're more amazing then I ever knew."
Phoenix smiles slightly before biting her lower lip.
"Do…Do you want to see her true form?"
"You can…YES! Yes, I want to see her true form!"
"Okay." Phoenix takes a deep breath and brings the flames to her lips but pauses and looks at Gokudera. "No matter what happens you cannot interfere, understand?"
Gokudera's smile falls.
"Why? Is it dangerous? If something happens to you then I don't want to see it. Your safety comes first."
"No, it just…It doesn't look good. Now do I have your word that you won't interfere?"
Gokudera bites his lip as he thinks about it.
"O…Okay. I promise."
Phoenix smiles slightly and brings the flames to her lips once more, closing her eyes and whispering.
"Fly Fallow."
The flames jumps and grows, encircling Phoenix, a million voices coming from the flames. They sing in a long forgotten language that makes Gokudera feel like laughing and cry at the same time. The flames slowly disappear and standing over an unmoving Phoenix is a dark skinned woman with flame like tattoos covering her arms, neck, and legs. She pulls a small silver cross covered in Celtic knots with a black onyx stone resting in the center from her neck and places it in Phoenix's hand.
"Stupid girl."