It was six o'clock, the sun was beginning to set over the city of New Metropolis. The front door to a small suburban house on the outskirts was sung open violently then slammed shut loudly. The boy responsible stormed through his house and headed up the stairs. He had short dark brown messy hair, a broad build and pink eyes. He ran into his room and shut the door.
The noise attracted the boy's father's attention he looked away from his cooking and came to the bottom of the stairs. His wife soon joined him, she could sense her son's distress. They exchanged a worried glance and started to come up the stairs it was unlike their son to behave like this. He knocked on the boy's door.
"Zephyr? You ok?" Asked Rokk Krin, no response "I'm coming in with your mother."
He opened the door and walked in. The kid was sitting on his bed looking out of the window. He turned to face them, one of his eyes was black and he had a cut lip. It didn't take Zephyr's parents more than a few seconds to figure out that their son had been in a fight of some kind. He gave them a sorrowful look. His parents came a little deeper into the boy's room. It was decorated with wall paper that represented the stars and planets but that was how he liked it.
"Are you OK?" Asked Irma, there was no answer
"What happened?" Questioned Rokk again no response
Zephyr made some hand movements which his parents carefully watched and interpreted. A movement towards his head and then over his lips. No telepathy. That was how he usually communicated, the boy had been born with damaged vocal cords making it impossible for him to speak. He could however use his own form of sign language.
"Why not Zephyr?" Asked Rokk
"Got hit by a beam that removed my powers." He acted out
"I'm guessing you were in a fight." Said Irma
"Yes... Against, Dacian and his friends."
"Why?"
"He removed my powers so I couldn't speak. Called me a freak"
"Oh, I'm sorry... Do you want some ice for that eye?" Asked Rokk
Zephyr shook his head, Saturn Girl gave him a brief hug. He was clearly quite shaken up. Rokk shook his head in dismay, this wasn't the first time this had happened. For some reason, his 14 year old son was constantly being given grief by other teens. To his credit, Zephyr usually took it in his stride but tonight seemed to be somewhat different. Irma's legion ring started to beep.
"Oh! I forgot that I'm on monitor duty I'll call them and say..." Zephyr shook his head
"No, mom... I'm fine, you go..."
"Ok... But you promise not to be upset while I'm away?"
"I'll look after Zephs, Irma." Said Cosmic Boy
"Keep an eye on him Rokk, he's really upset..." She said mentally
"I thought the word freak disappeared in the 21st century" snarled Rokk, the ring beeped a little louder
"Urgh! I'm coming!" Sighed Saturn Girl
"Careful mom, don't do another Pluto..."
"Less lip from you Zephy! You've spent too much time with Garth!"
"Irma! Don't insult the boy! Garth can't come up with wit like that!" Laughed Rokk
"Come on! When mom got captured on Pluto, I had to spend an entire weak sorting out the insurance with dad!"
Saturn Girl smiled warmly at her son and husband, her family followed her down the stairs. She had left her costume at the Legion HQ as always and was ready for another all nighter on patrol. She'd much rather spend the time with her husband and only child but didn't really have any choice in this matter.
"Be careful!" Said Rokk as she was about to leave
"Don't worry. You take your medicine!"
"I will..." Said Rokk
"You say that but you forget! Come on, now so that I'm not worrying!"
"Mom's got a point dad... You do forget!"
"Urgh... Consider yourself lucky Zephs and hope you don't end up like me when you're older!"
Rokk chuckled and pulled out of his pocket a little box full of pills. He swallowed some before shaking slightly and grimacing. Irma watched him and smiled sympathetically. She gave him a hug and kissed him gently on the cheek. It was enough to make Zephyr stick his tongue out in disgust. The adults chuckled and Saturn Girl have her son a kiss on the forehead.
"You look after him!"
"I will..." Said Rokk
"What makes you think I was talking to you?"
Zephyr's mouth moved as if he was laughing and waved his mother off; using her ring she flew off. His eyes were full of wonder and pride, that was his mother! There was however also a glint of sadness. Every time his mother flew off on a mission, he felt lonely. The boy turned on the holographic projector and searched the channels to see if anything good was on, every now and then he would let out a deep sigh. This didn't escape Rokk, who kept a worried eye on him from the kitchen. Today was spaghetti bolognaise. When it was ready he called his son to the table, Zephyr came dragging his feet and sat down at the table unenthusiastically. He pushed the food around the plate.
"So what did you do in school today?"
"Nothing much, I got an A for maths."
"That's great Zephyr! You're a lot better than I was at school that's for sure." His son smiled slightly before pushing his food around some more "You're not eating... You do realise I cooked the food right? Not your mother."
"I know." Zephyr smiled before frowning "It's not the food dad... I'm not hungry. Is it ok if I go to my room?"
"Yes of course."
Rokk watched as his son went back upstairs. He let out a deep and regretful sigh before putting the dishes in the dish washer. Zephyr had barely eaten anything... If he was Irma, he'd be able to check what was going through his son's head but he wasn't telepathic. He decided that the classical form would have to do. He went up the stairs and slowly opened the door, his son was lying on his back with the window open listening to some people yelling at each other in the street. He turned his head as his father came in, Rokk's pupils shrunk and his eyes widened as he felt a familiar presence in his mind.
"Can you hear me?" Asked Zephyr, his voice was about than that of his father's when he was his age but somewhat softer
"Yes." Replied Cosmic Boy, he always made an effort to speak as normal even when Zephyr was using telepathy
"Dacian's powers must have warm off."
"You feel like talking about that?"
Zephyr looked at his feet then back up at his father. Rokk had learnt that despite not having a voice, the boy was very expressive, you needed to watch everything that he did to understand. He didn't just use his hands. The kid's pink eyes always had something to say. The people outside continued to yell and Rokk wondered if he'd have to go outside and chase them off.
"Do you think they know?" Asked Zephyr "How lucky they are to be able to yell like that."
"Maybe but... A lot of people take it for granted, you know. I know I used to."
"I can't imagine you being mute, you've always got something to say."
"Oh, I talk a lot but I don't say anything."
"That's not true..."
"I'm glad you think that." Said Rokk with a smile "But enough about me, I might not be telepathic but I can see you're not yourself. Is it about what Dacian said?"
"It's just... I'm tired of people thinking that I'm a freak or there's something wrong with me..." He admitted
The people in the street were walking off now. The father thought about what his son had said and walked over to him, he put an arm around Zephyr's shoulder. He run some ideas through his head trying to figure out which words would best comfort his little boy. He had some idea of what Zephyr was going through but not to the same extent, that was for sure...
"It's hard son I know but... What really counts is showing others that there's nothing wrong with you and you can still carry on. You're strong Zephyr, you can do that!"
"I'll try..." Rokk smiled somewhat
"And you know what, just between you and me... Don't tell your mom..." He bent down to whisper into his son's ear "Next time that brat gives you a hard time how about giving him a headache he won't soon forget?"
"I'm not supposed to use my powers for that sort of thing..." Stated Zephyr
"Pft... You're starting to sound like your mother."
"And you're starting to sound like uncle Garth."
"Don't insult me Zephy."
"Dad! Only mom can call me that!"
Garth Ranzz was a family friend and a fellow legionnaire of Saturn Girl. He often paid him a visit or they went to see him but for some reason which Zephyr didn't care to ask, his father seemed to have somewhat of a playful rivalry with him. Once again, the teen's face clouded over, Rokk looked a little bit more worried. He couldn't recall seeing Zephyr in a state like this before.
"There's something else isn't there?" Deduced Rokk "-and it's about that eye of yours"
"I didn't get into the fight because Dacian called me a freak that would be stupid." Sighed Zephyr "I got into a fight because -cause... He said that you were a pathetic excuse for a dad and that mom must have been mad when she married you."
Rokk raised an eyebrow, he hadn't thought that Zephyr would get into a fight over him. He raised his gaze to the starry sky. The man's dark eyes looked up as spaceships flew over head, his son was doing the same. He let out a deep sigh and drew his son a little closer to him.
"You don't have to do that you know... I don't like seeing you coming home with a black eye." Said Rokk
"I know that!" Snapped the teen "But you're such a great dad. I can't bare to see them say those things about you. I wish- I wish they could see that powers aren't everything."
Rokk frowned and cratched the back of his head thinking. Then he gave his son a harsh look. Zephyr looked somewhat worried. Pink eyes met dark purple as the two Krins exchanged glances.
"Is that what's been bothering you since you came in?" Asked Rokk, Zephyr nodded "Well then I'm just going to have to use my superpower on you."
"What?"
"You heard me! Prepare yourself for the ultimate noogie of surrender!"
"What? Dad no!"
Too late, Rokk grabbed Zephyr's head and got him in a head lock, the teen struggled briefly and gently knuckled his son's head. The boy smiled warmly and his face showed that he was laughing. His father smiled lovingly at his son's expression. After a few seconds, he released him. The boy's hair was in a mess, he tried to sort it out and gave his father an exasperated look. Rokk grinned.
"I thought you'd stop doing that when I turned ten!" Said the boy
"I'll stop doing it when you stop smiling." Replied Rokk "Come here you!"
Zephyr smiled and gave his father a hug. At fourteen nearly fifteen Zephyr still had some growing to do if he wanted to catch up his father who was still a very tall man with broad shoulders and his son knew he was stronger than most humans. Other than his mother, he couldn't imagine someone he'd rather talk to more than his father.
"Zephyr Ardeen Krin, you are my son and the only respect I need is yours and that of your mother. I don't want you getting into trouble over me. You have nothing to prove."
"I know..." Said Zephyr pulling away
"There's something I want to show you!" Declared Rokk
Zephyr walked after his father and stopped outside his parents room. He wasn't normally aloud in there but his father signalled him in. The room was a simple one with a bed, a wardrobe... Just as he had imagined it to be, Rokk was currently searching through the bottom of the wardrobe. He pulled out a large leather book with the legion's golden seal on top. He walked out with Zephyr following, he went into the living room and sat down on the couch. Zephyr sat next to him, Rokk opened the front page of the book, there was a note it read "To Rokk and Irma, from Garth".
"This was a wedding present from Garth, I'll give that light bulb one thing- He sure can make a good book."
"Uncle Garth made this?"
"Yes." Chucked Rokk "He made it by himself too."
"What is it?"
"Look."
Rokk turned the page to reveal a picture of a young boy with brown hair smiling next to another boy with red hair and a girl with blonde hair. They were all in swim suits. Zephyr stared at it for a few seconds. He knew he'd seen those people before they all looked so familiar but he just couldn't quite put names to the faces. Rokk smiled seeing his son's confusion.
"Perhaps, I should fill you in..." He said, pointing at a picture of the red haired boy "That's Garth."
"Really? He's still got both arms..."
"Yes, it was the early days if the Legion." Rokk said before chuckling "Very early..."
"Hang on... So this is mom!" Said Zephyr pointing at the picture of the girl, his father nodded "And this, oh man, that's you!"
"That's right... Hm, I'd forgotten how scrawny I was."
"These are the family photos!"
"You got it kid!"
Zephyr smiled as they flicked through the photo album. There were quite a few photos of his father, mother and Garth. Then came those of the wedding which had Zephyr sticking his tongue out several times in disgust. They laughed at some of young Zephyr playing football with his father and mother.
"We really need to do that again sometime." Said Rokk
"You're on! First to fifty goals!" Challenged Zephyr
"Think you can handle it champ?"
"You bet!"
"Then I accept your challenge." Rokk looked at his watch "Goodness! Is that the time? Bed time Zephy!"
Rokk was given a brief telepathic jolt from his son who glared at him. It was like being given a small static shock in the head just enough to make him jump.
"It's Zephyr or Zephs! Only mom can called me Zephy!"
"Right, get to bed sport!" Zephyr smiled warmly before looking a little unsure again
"Dad, how can you relax knowing that mom's out there, getting shot at?" Asked Zephyr, Rokk sighed
"Your mother is a very strong and brave person Zephyr, she is more than capable of looking after herself besides she's part of the Legion they look out for each other but..." Rokk hesitated "In answer to your question... I don't sleep."
"Goodnight..."
"Goodnight."
Zephyr switched back into sign language for a second, he placed on of his hand over his heart and then faced it towards his father. Rokk imitated the movement. It was simple really, most people could probably figure it out. It meant, I love you. The teen smiled and turned his back before heading back to his bed. Rokk watched his son go up the stairs and turned the page again, his eyes fell upon a picture of the entire Legion taken over 16 years ago. He looked at the various faces some which had changed more than others. He let out a deep sigh and closed the book before returning it to the wardrobe and heading to his own bed. He lay awake as always, praying silently for Irma. As usual, he wouldn't sleep tonight.
…... Author's notes : Zephyr uses his own form of sign language not the real one
