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Totally Not My Problem| Prologue | "Legacy Isn't  Destiny"

 
The cemetery lay still and silent under the pale light of dawn, a realm seemingly removed from the waking world. Tendrils of mist wove between weathered headstones, their chipped edges softened by the ethereal fog that blanketed the hallowed ground. The air hung heavy with the earthy scent of dew-drenched grass and the faint, sweet aroma of wilting lilies left by grieving hands.

Amidst this tapestry of muted grays and faded epitaphs stood Blaire, a lone figure dwarfed by the weight of her sorrow. Her boots, scuffed from countless missions, pressed into the sodden earth as she stared down at the marble marker that bore her father's name. Frank Thompson. The letters etched into the stone seemed to blur before her eyes, the finality of their meaning still too raw, too incomprehensible to grasp.

She remembered the day they laid him to rest, the skies above mimicking the leaden grief that settled in her chest. The heroes had come out in force, their brightly colored uniforms a jarring contrast against the somber black of the mourners' garb. They spoke of his bravery, his selflessness, the countless lives he'd saved. But their words had rung hollow in Blaire's ears, a cold comfort against the ache of her loss.

Now, a year later, she stood alone, the weight of her father's legacy an almost tangible presence in the crisp morning air. Her hand trembled slightly as she reached out, fingertips grazing the unyielding stone. "I'm sorry, Dad," she whispered, her words misting in the chill. "I tried to be like you, to carry on what you started. But I'm not strong enough. I can't do this anymore."

The admission tasted bitter on her tongue, tinged with equal measures of guilt and relief. She thought back to the day she'd announced her decision to the Super Society, the day she'd stood before her fellow heroes and renounced her role as one of their own.

"What do you mean, you're leaving?" Orion's voice had been sharp with disbelief, his brows furrowed beneath the golden mask that concealed his features. "You can't just walk away from this, Blaire. It's who you are."

But that was the problem, wasn't it? For so long, her identity had been wrapped up in her father's mantle, in the expectations placed upon her by a world that demanded its heroes be unwavering, unbreakable. Each mission, each battle had chipped away at her, the cracks in her façade growing wider until she felt like she might shatter under the strain.

"I need to find my own path," she'd said, straightening her shoulders against the weight of their stares. "I need to figure out who I am without the mask."

And now, here she was, standing at the precipice of a new life, one untethered from the burdens of her past. Yet, even as a flicker of hope kindled in her chest, trepidation coiled like a snake in her stomach.

The crunch of footsteps behind her pulled her from her reverie. She hastily swiped at her cheeks, erasing the tracks of her tears as she turned to face the approaching figure. Carlton regarded her with a mixture of concern and understanding, the lines around his eyes deepening as he took in her red-rimmed gaze.

"Car's here," he said, his gruff voice softened by the early hour. "You ready to go?"

Blaire cast one last glance at her father's grave, the marble now glinting in the growing light of sunrise. "Yeah," she murmured, drawing in a shaky breath. "I'm ready."

They walked in silence to the waiting car, the damp grass leaving dark streaks on their shoes. As Carlton opened the passenger door, Blaire hesitated, her hand resting on the sun-warmed metal of the roof. She looked out over the cemetery, at the rows of headstones stretching towards the horizon, each one a testament to a life cut short, a story left unfinished.

"This is the right thing," she said, almost to herself. "It has to be."

Carlton's hand landed on her shoulder, a comforting weight amidst the maelstrom of her thoughts. "You're doing what you need to do, kid. No one can fault you for that."

Blaire nodded, drawing strength from his words as she slipped into the car. The engine hummed to life, and they pulled away from the curb, leaving the cemetery and its ghosts behind.

As they merged onto the highway, the sun crested the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant streaks of orange and gold. Blaire watched the cityscape rush by, the towering skyscrapers of Newport Haven giving way to the sprawling suburbs that ringed the metropolis. Somewhere in the distance, Mission Creek awaited, a town she hadn't set foot in since she was a child. A town where her Aunt Tasha lived, the woman who had become her reluctant guardian in the wake of her decision.

Blaire's memories of her aunt were hazy at best, snippets of a severe woman with sharp eyes and a sharper tongue. She remembered hushed arguments overheard through closed doors, her father's voice rising in frustrated tones as Tasha's cut like a whip. Even then, Blaire had understood the source of the tension between them - her mother's death, and the role her father's hero work had played in it.

Now, Blaire was going to live with this woman, this stranger who shared her blood but little else. Nervousness fluttered in her chest, mingling with a tentative curiosity. What would Tasha be like now? Had time softened the edges of her grief, or had it only sharpened them into weapons waiting to be wielded?

And then there was Leo, the cousin she barely remembered. A boy who had been little more than a toddling shadow at their last meeting, all grasping hands and babbled words. What kind of teenager would he be now? Would he resent her sudden intrusion into his life, this wayward cousin with a tragic past?

Blaire shook her head, pushing the thoughts aside. There would be time to worry about all of that later. For now, she focused on the road ahead, on the blur of trees and power lines whipping past the window. In the driver's seat, Carlton hummed tunelessly along with the radio, the familiar sound a balm to her frayed nerves.

"What are you looking forward to most?" he asked suddenly, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. "About starting over, I mean."

Blaire considered the question, worrying at her bottom lip. "Anonymity," she said at last. "The chance to just be... normal, I guess. To go to school and make friends and not have to worry about saving the world every other day."

Carlton chuckled, the sound warm and rich in the confined space of the car. "Normal, huh? Not sure that's a word I'd ever associate with you, kid."

Despite herself, Blaire felt a smile tug at the corners of her mouth. "Yeah, well, I'm willing to give it a shot. Can't be any crazier than what I'm used to."

The airport appeared on the horizon, its gleaming terminals sprawling like a futuristic city amid the surrounding fields. As they drew closer, Blaire felt anticipation thrum through her veins, electric and undeniable. This was it, the start of her new life, the first step on a path she had never dared to imagine.

Carlton pulled up to the curb, shifting the car into park with a smooth motion. For a moment, they sat in silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. Finally, Carlton cleared his throat, his eyes suspiciously bright as he turned to face her.

"You're going to do great things, Blaire," he said, his voice gruff with emotion. "With or without the mask. Don't ever forget that."

Blaire's throat tightened, a sudden swell of gratitude washing over her. "Thank you," she managed, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall. "For everything."

Carlton just nodded, his expression softening into a smile. "Go on, then. Your future's waiting."

With a deep breath, Blaire opened the car door, stepping out into the crisp morning air. She retrieved her bag from the trunk, slinging it over her shoulder as she turned to face the terminal.

Blaire stood at the entrance of Newport Haven Airport, the faint scent of jet fuel mingling with the salty breeze from the coast. The sprawling expanse of the terminal buzzed with life—families reuniting, travelers rushing to catch flights, and the distant echo of announcements melding into a chaotic symphony. She let the cacophony wash over her, each sound a reminder of the world bustling beyond the small confines of her past.

The polished floors gleamed under the harsh fluorescent lights, reflecting snippets of her own past—flashes of her childhood, laughter echoing in sunlit rooms, the shadows of heroics she had worn like a second skin. She paused at a display of postcards, vibrant images of places that felt like distant dreams, foreign landscapes beckoning her into a future unburdened by duty. Each postcard seemed to whisper promises of adventure, a world untouched by expectations and legacy.

Blaire took a deep breath, her chest expanding with the bracing air of change. She could still see the outlines of Newport Haven through the glass, the horizon a blur of soft blues and greens. This place had been her anchor, but it was also a weight, one that had pulled her down with the heaviness of a legacy she never asked for. Her father's shadow loomed large in her mind—a figure of unwavering bravery, a hero in a world that had once needed saving.

A child's laughter pierced her reverie, drawing her gaze to a small girl tugging her mother's hand, eyes wide with wonder. In that fleeting moment, Blaire felt a pang of longing for the innocence of childhood, a time when the burdens of heroism hadn't weighed on her shoulders. She brushed her fingers against the smooth surface of the airport's marble wall, grounding herself in the present while letting go of the ghosts that lingered.

As she moved deeper into the terminal, the hustle around her intensified. A couple kissed goodbye, their faces flushed with emotion, while a businessman shuffled papers, oblivious to the life unfolding around him. Blaire felt the pulse of the world quicken, each heartbeat echoing a truth she had buried for too long: the expectation to carry on a legacy that no longer fit her.

She reached the security checkpoint, her heart steadying as she removed her shoes, the act symbolic, shedding the weight of who she was supposed to be. With each step forward, she imagined leaving behind not just her shoes, but the burdens they represented. A bag dropped here, an obligation discarded there—she felt lighter, unshackled.

As she approached the final gate, the air shifted, a breeze flowing through the terminal, invigorating her spirit. She glanced back one last time at the entrance, the view of Newport Haven a tapestry of memories and moments stitched into her heart. The horizon beckoned with the allure of the unknown, a siren song pulling her away from the familiar.

Blaire paused, a smile playing at the corners of her lips, her resolve crystallizing in that quiet moment. It was time to move forward, to embrace a future unbound by the chains of legacy. She stepped through the gate, crossing the threshold into the bustling concourse, the hum of life enveloping her like a warm embrace.

With a final breath of Newport Haven's air, she let it all drift away, the weight of expectations unraveling like a thread pulled from a tightly woven fabric. She turned her face toward the horizon, a glimmer of excitement sparking in her eyes, and whispered softly to herself, "Not my problem anymore."

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Word Count: 2056

Whew! I did it, all of you! I wrote the prologue to this Lab Rats Fanfic I've impulsively uploaded. I promise I won't take too long to post the next chapter. Yes!! My character is based on China's comic book counterpart, Jenifer Pierce. Yes!! The plot of the story aligns with the Mighty Med world. But it's somewhat different. I can't wait to continue writing this book. Also, this chapter is dedicated to Peters_suit_lady; they inspired me to write this fanfic next time.

-bbdqqce1