Chapter 8: Every Parent Cares
"Mom? Dad?"
Geo twiddled his thumbs as he waited outside his parents' house. He began to worry if they were attacked yet again. He was about to impatiently barge into the house when his mother suddenly opened the door.
Hope Stelar warmly smiled. "Geo. It's so good to see you!" she said as he greeted him with a hug.
It was obvious that she was, physically, not the same young woman as before. Signs of her aging were very clear, as her face revealed few wrinkles.
"Mom…" Geo grinned as he hugged back. He was much taller than her now.
"Who is it?" A man's voice boomed loudly in the house.
Hope closed the door behind her and Geo. "Kelvin, it's Geo!"
Geo observed the house. Not much has changed, except that they have gotten a new flat screen TV planted into the wall. The parents have also added a few flowers and plants inside the house.
Kelvin Stelar appeared behind the kitchen counter, revealing a big bulky man in orange sweats. Like Hope, Kelvin also showed signs of aging. His brown hair is beginning to show some grayness. Nevertheless, if warmed Geo to the core to see his parents once again. It almost made him forget everything that has happened the last horrifying days of his life.
Kelvin smirked. "Hey, lookin' big there, kiddo!" he joked as he gave his son a crushing bear hug.
Of course, Geo hugged him back even tighter.
Geo chuckled. "I'm not a kid anymore, Dad!"
"You'll always be my boy, kid!" Kelvin gave a hearty laugh as he ruffled Geo's hair, much to his annoyance.
Geo frowned. "Hey, are you two okay? I talking about after Hyde's attack here. I know you two didn't sustain too many injuries, but I'm just worried."
"We're okay, Geo. They brought a doctor to take a look at us right away. You don't have to worry about us; we're fine," Hope frowned. "It's us who should be worried about you."
Geo's eyes bulged out. "W-What..?"
"Don't worry, son, you don't have anything to hide from us," Kelvin explained with concern. "Ace told us."
Geo jumped. They…know? About me, and the Dark Power? How did they know, let alone Ace? "Um, I'm sorry, what are you talking about?"
"You don't have to lie to us, son. We know about the situation with Sonia." Hope said. "We believe in you, Geo. We know you could bring her back!" Kelvin laughed as he lightly punched Geo in the gut.
Geo's expression calmed. So they weren't talking about my…problem. They only know about Sonia and Neo Nebula. There's nothing wrong with that, I guess! In a way, it's better that they know. It's good to know that my parents have gotten my back. But… Geo frowned. Shouldn't I tell them about my inner darkness? They are my parents after all. I've promised them to never ever hide anything from them.
Geo shook his head. No! They can't know about this! If they know, I doubt they would be able to even look at me in the eye and say that I'm their son! They would feel disgraced! 'What have you done with our son, you monster! You sick bastard! You don't deserve to live, you twisted wretch!' That's what they would say, no doubt about it! But then again-
"Geo, are you okay? You're starting to get a little pale," Hope asked as she placed her hand on his forehead, checking his temperature for any signs for a fever.
Geo started to sweat. He recommenced the debate with himself in his head. What should I say? 'I'm fine'? Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just being ripped apart from the inside and becoming a monster! I'm feeling fantastic! Geo sighed. No…I have to tell them. They're my parents. They have to love me- no, they WILL love me, no matter what.
Geo looked up at his mother and father with his piercing eyes. He gulped. "Mom, Dad, there is something I haven't told you guys…"
"…So, it's that very darkness that's taking over me."
Hope was crying never-ending streams of tears. Kelvin had his hand placed over his face, perhaps to prevent himself to cry as well.
"The things I've done; I wouldn't have done them if I didn't have this problem. It just takes over when I don't want it. I just get so angry all the time…" Geo tried to explain the rest to his parents, but the words couldn't come out.
Geo groaned. Wow, great going, smart one! First, they get attacked my one of my archenemies, and now they have to face the fact that their own son is turning into some kind of twisted freak. Great going.
Geo breathed heavily. "Um, if you want me to leave, I'll…just-" Geo couldn't finish his sentence, as he broke down crying.
In a way, his tears kind of consoled him, telling that he was still somehow a human with a conscience. Sighing in frustration, Geo was about to leave when a hand suddenly gripped onto his arm.
He turned around to see a long slender arm holding onto his.
"No," Hope shook her head and sighed.
"No."
She locked Geo into a crushing hug.
"Ma…?" Geo whispered, confusion evident in his voice.
"Geo," Hope whispered, not letting go of Geo. Her tears pooled onto Geo's shoulder. "I know you, you…can do this."
"Wha…?"
Hope looked at Geo into the eye as her tears began to calm down. "I know you, Geo. I've raised you since you were small enough to fit in my arms. You…are now young strong man, and I'm not saying that because you're Megaman. I knew you were strong long before you met Omega Xis. Back when Kelvin disappeared in space.
"Despite this, you still pulled through. You didn't just sit in your room and cry. You manned up and accepted life. And now, you're the hero who has saved the world three times! If you could overcome all that, you can defeat this d-darkness."
Geo stared at his mother, and then shook his head in doubt. "No…no I can't. There's no…solution for me. I can't…can't-"
"You can," Kelvin cut Geo off. "You can, son. You can." Kelvin repeated as he wrapped his arms around his wife and his son.
"Whatever happens, no matter what you become, we'll always be there for you. Remember that," Hope reassured him.
Bewildered, Geo at his parents. A mixture of love, confusion, and frustration filled his mind. How could they accept me? After telling them what I have become?
He shook his head. The answer was simple.
They loved me.
And...I love them back.
As Geo stepped out of his parents' house, the bright sun gleamed in his eyes.
He smiled. Despite the situation he was in, he couldn't help but acknowledge the fact that today was perfect. The fresh non-polluted air of Echo Ridge entered his nostrils. At a distance, Geo noticed a few kids playing together in the park. He was grateful for them, not only because they were having a good time, but also because they are unaware of reality. They have lost themselves in a world where nothing else mattered, and that their only need to worry was having fun.
Ignorance truly was bliss.
Geo sighed. It displeased him that he wasn't a kid anymore. Even at the age of 10, he still had responsibilities as Megaman.
Deciding to stop his deep thoughts, Geo raised his Hunter VG to his face, dialing a phone number. After a few rings, an image appeared from the Hunter VG.
"Hello?"
"Ace," Geo began. "Did you check out the card I gave you?"
"The card that Hyde has given you?"
"The very same."
"Well, I've got good news for you; it's a go!" Ace said.
Geo grinned. "Alright, I'll meet you at WAZA," Geo said as he ended the call.
"...You ready, kid?"
Geo turned to his left to see his AM-ian friend making himself comfortable on his parents' porch.
Geo nodded. "Let's go."
As Omega-Xis led the way to the bus stop, Geo looked back once more at his parents' house.
They would always be there for him.
With his newfound confidence, Geo strode along with Omega-Xis.
