{kofi siriboe, twenty-five, cis male, he/him} || nicholas walker is a mutant with the ability of nullification. theyâve been in new york for four months where they spend most of their time as a therapist at xavierâs institute. when i think of them, i think of tear stained cheeks, a field of flowers dancing in the wind, and jazz that soothes the soul.
connections . pinterest . tasks . the walker family .â
A man born and raised in California, he was born into a life filled with misfortunates. Even before his birth, he lost his father due to an altercation he had with someone else. It was just his mother and grandfather who raised him, a woman who wanted him to feel and an older man who wanted him to conceal. A bitter rivalry on how to raise him, though it was his mother who won in the long shot. She raised Nicholas to be a man who can understand not only his own emotions but also others.
They called him soft at school. Whenever they teased him, he would cry. If he fell down during recess, he would cry. If he got an answer wrong, he would cry. Crybaby Nicholas, they sung, laughing into their little hands. He hated that name so much, was it wrong to be like this? His mother told him no, that there was nothing wrong with crying. Being able to freely cry is another form of strength, that power doesnât always revolve around using your fists or weapons. âItâs better to be a crybaby than a bunch of losers like those kids.â
The nickname Crybaby Nicholas soon changed to The Gentle Giant. Once the same height as his peers, years went on as he grew taller than them, to the point where he was the tallest kid in his grade. The teasing that was once to hurt his feelings snuffed out as his peers began to fear him. All thinking that one day Nicholas will take his fists and turn it on them. He soon realized why his mother was so particular about raising him like this, aware of how many will see her son. A tall black kid that could and would cause problems, a menace to society. If his grandfather had raised him, then maybe he wouldâve been that stereotype. But he wasnât and heâll never be that, it was thanks to his mother.
The Gentle Giant nickname lived with him for years. Nicholas who always helped out after school, Nicholas who was an impressive student, Nicholas who was a hardworker, Nicholas who was always there for everyone. He was well liked by everyone, unlike a certain someone. Her name was Inaya Mokri and she was his complete opposite. Selfish, outspoken, rash, explosive, intelligent, and most importantly beautiful. It was love at first sight for him. Like a moth, he easily swarmed the light with eyes filled with desire and amazement. Her own held nothing more than annoyance.
Their friendship was a rocky one that consisted of insults and Inaya mocking him. She constantly questioned why he was talking to her, he would just smile and tell her that he wanted to get to know her. Heâll always remember her words, âGross.â Despite the wall she tried to put up, it soon fell as the two became closer as the months went on. They went from strangers to friends to best friends and finally boyfriend/girlfriend. At the age of sixteen, Nicholas had got his first girlfriend and anyone could see how happy he was. Inaya as well.
But with dating Inaya, there were things about her that she never wanted to share with him. Trying so hard to keep it a secret, she didnât want him to be afraid of her and leave her behind. However, luck was not on her side. It was during an argument with another individual that got to her. While Inaya was an explosive individual, she wasnât entirely explosive. She couldnât be, not with her ability. A mutant with the ability of pyrokinesis, she always had to keep herself together if she didnât want flame to burst around her. But in that moment, they were about to appear, Inaya only seeing red. Though the flames never came, no matter how hard she tried, nothing happened. Why? Because of Nicholas Walker, the man who grabbed her hand and made her run away. Just his touch alone caused her to stop and it had nothing to do with her feelings for him.
When they were alone, Inaya was the first to speak. âWhat are you, Nicholas Walker?â she asked him. âWhatâs your ability?â She left him with nothing more than confusion and worry. It was there that she spilled everything, about what she was, who she was, and how he stopped her. Love had nothing to do with it, there was more to it.
He was nearing eighteen when he found out that he was a mutant with the nullification ability. An ability that youâll never be aware of unless you surround yourself with other mutants and for him, Inaya was his first. It was a shock and hard to process, he needed time to himself. He couldnât tell his family of this unless he wanted to frighten them, the only people he had were Inaya and her family. Which was something, at least he wasnât alone.
Months after that, the two graduated from high school. During that time Nicholas learned more about mutants, about the Mokri family, and of the rumors. Inaya in turn learned about his family, his father, and his dreams. I want to help others, I want to act as their support system when they most need it. He planned on studying psychology in undergrad and become a therapist in the future. A lovely dream that she chose to support. When the two turned twenty, they had their first daughter, Ava Mokri- Walker. A beautiful and healthy child that brought joy into both of their hearts. They felt normal, they were happy, nothing could ruin this.
Until two years later when the Mokri family disappeared, leaving Nicholas and Ava with nothing but each other. No note, no letter, no phone calls, nothing. The entire family packed up and left California without a trace. And it left Nicholas completely heartbroken. Just a recent college graduate, he had his heart set on New York for graduate school, with Inaya and Ava to follow behind him. But that dream was no more as his whole world shattered before him. He had to pull out of grad school just to be there for Ava, who in turn was there for him. His mother and grandfather helped with her, at least he had them as well.
Even as the days, weeks, months, year passed by. Nicholas never stopped thinking or looking for Inaya. She was alive, that he knew, he just didnât know where or why she left. He promised himself that heâll look for and bring her back home to their daughter, so that they can be a family. That was all he wanted.
When Ava turned five, he was accepted into a grad school program in NYC for psychology. With enough money to support the two of them, he took off with his only daughter for their new life. It took him a month to settle in, two weeks after that to find a proper school and daycare service for Ava, and another month to receive a job within Xavier. It happened by luck that another mutant came across him, in a very similar way as Inaya. Charles offered him a position as the schoolâs guidance counselor, a fantastic way to receive the experience and credit that heâll need for graduate school.
Nicholas took to it, happy to be surrounded by other mutants but also in hopes that one of them will lead him to the love of his life.