"Foggy! Foggy, slow down son!"
Foggy Nelson wasn't listening as he continued to push the car down the road, ignoring how passers-by called out at him.
"Foggy!"
When they reached the market-place, Foggy managed to pull the car to a complete halt, beaming as his Father got out and started to chuckle, "You know, when I said push the car to bump-start it, I didn't mean push it all the way into town!"
Foggy beamed, laughing as his Dad pulled him into a one-armed hug.
"Now, you wait here for the tow-truck, and I'll get the shopping." Before he could head away, his Father turned to him and frowned, "Remember, stay here."
"I know, I know."
Foggy sighed as he watched his Father leave, leaning against the car. On the path, a group of students headed towards him, all with identical sneers on their faces.
"Hey Foggy, your Daddy leave you the butcher shop yet?"
Foggy rolled his eyes, "Original, really original."
They didn't seem to get the hint, almost starting to back him into the car.
"Why, why do you have to be like this." Foggy found himself sighing, "What is this going to prove?"
"It'll prove that you're a freak!"
"Oooo, how long did it take you to come up with that one?" Foggy rolled his eyes, only to wince as the young man only continued to advance on him, "Okay seriously, you don't want to do this? It's such an unfair fight!"
They continued to advance, and Foggy knew he had to get out of here.
"Guys, come on- "
CRACK
"AAHHH!"
The other man clutched his broken knuckles, glaring at Foggy who winced in sympathy.
"Oh don't try- "
When the man lunged again, Foggy pushed him away, only to yelp in surprise as the man went flying, smashing into a wall and falling unconscious.
"Shit." Foggy whispered, as the man's friends all backed away in fear, "Shit!"
Before anyone could say anything, he made a run for it.
…..
His Father found him hours later, sitting on a park bench, watching the sun setting in the distance.
"Son…" The man sighed wearily, "… you shouldn't let them get to you like that. We've managed to smooth it over for now but- "
"- You shouldn't do that." Foggy interrupted, not looking his Father in the eyes, "They're right… I am a freak. I've tried to fit in, but I can't!" He shook his head, "Sometimes I feel like…like I don't belong here… like I'm meant to be somewhere else."
"Franklin, I- "
"- I know, it doesn't make any sense."
Foggy stormed away, missing the worried look on his Father's face.
…
Hours later, after he'd wandered through the streets, staring up at the night sky, he made his way back home, only to find his Father waiting for him in the doorway.
"Foggy…" The man looked like the weight of the world was on his shoulders, "… there's something I've been meaning to-to tell you."
…..
"But if you found me, then where did I come from?"
Slowly, his Mother brought a box over from the mantelpiece, opening it up and pulling out a gold medallion, "This was around your neck when I found you… when I met your Dad, he told me it was Greek."
Foggy traced his fingers over his engraved name, turning it over and frowning at the symbol. "How did you know Dad?"
"… Call it a passing fancy."
"Well, this is it then." Foggy whispered, leaping to his feet, "Don't you see! There's a Greek section in the museum this month, I can visit and – " He stopped, turning around and wincing at the fond smile on his parent's faces, "- Mum, Dad… I'm sorry. You two are the best parents anyone could ever hope for but… I need to know where I came from."
"We know." His Dad whispered, "Which is why I'm taking you to the museum tomorrow."
….
The museum exhibit was just how he expected it to be.
History was never Foggy's strongest subject, but even he could admit that some aspects of history was fascinating, with Greek mythology being one of them.
"Alright, so what should we be looking for?"
Silence.
"Dad?
As he turned around, the wind started to pick up and swirl around the room, everyone else freezing in place.
And his Father was glowing.
"FOGGY… FRANKLIN."
Foggy yelped at the suddenly louder, deeper voice coming from his Father, stumbling backwards and falling to the ground.
"I KNOW THIS MUST COME AS A BIT OF A SHOCK TO YOU, BUT- "
"- A bit of a shock?!"
His Father winced, "SURPRISE?"
Silence.
"I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU SOONER…" His Father sighed, "… BUT- "
"So, you're my Father… my actual Father? Zeus? But that would make me a- "
"- A GOD."
"A God… A GOD!"
"YOU WANTED ANSWERS, AND BY MY BEARD, YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW THE TRUTH."
"So…. You're my Dad, but Mum isn't my Mum. Why? W-what happened? Didn't my other Mum want me?"
"I THINK SHE WAS JUST… NERVOUS. SHE WOULD HAVE GROWN INTO IT. BUT SOMEONE STOLE YOU FROM US BEFORE SHE WAS GIVEN THE CHANCE AND TURNED YOU MORTAL. ONLY GODS CAN LIVE ON MOUNT OLYMPUS, SO… I DECIDED TO KEEP AN EYE ON YOU."
"Sooo… you can't do anything about this mortality thing?"
"NO. BUT YOU CAN."
"Really?" Foggy couldn't deny it, he was excited by the prospect, "… What is it? I'll do anything!"
FRANKLIN…. FOGGY. IF YOU CAN PROVE YOURSELF TO BE A TRUE HERO ON EARTH, THEN YOUR GOD-HOOD WILL BE RESTORED.
"A hero…. And how do I do that exactly?"
FIND THE DEFENDERS, THE TRAINERS OF HEROS.
"Again. How do I do that?"
His Father smirked at this, before placing two fingers in his mouth and whistling sharply. There was a burst of light from above, before a gorgeous tanned, winged horse swept in from out of nowhere, doing several somersaults before landing next to Foggy.
"What the- "
"- MEET KAREN. SHE WAS GOING TO BE YOUR FAITHFUL COMPANION BEFORE… EVERYTHING."
Karen whinnied and nuzzled at Foggy, who couldn't help but smile in delight. "And… she's going to take me to the Defenders?"
When his Father nodded, Foggy nodded in determination. "Okay. Find the Defenders, become a true hero and then become a God…. Sounds easy."
"I HAVE EVERY FAITH IN YOU, MY SON."
"I won't let you down!"
He gently climbed on Karen's back, flying up into the air and staring down at his Dad, who beamed up at him.
"GOOD LUCK FOGGY."
A gust of wind sent them flying out of the museum, and Foggy couldn't help but whoop in delight.
"WAHOOOOO!"
