"You're sure you wanna go to school today?" Chris asked as Cody put a bowl in front of me.

"I know this is gonna be good. I woke up at five to start this. It'll be amazing. It's shredded oats with honey, cream, and a sinfully delicious mixture of puréed strawberries, raspberries, and cherries." He puffed out his chest proudly.

"I'm sure." I said firmly. "The last thing I need to do right now is give up turf."

"I find its best served with a side of pumpernickel toast, to counteract the sweetness of the dish." Cody said, gesturing to the plate in the center, with about ten pieces of toast stacked on it.

Chris frowned, "Andy, you're not on the streets anymore, this isn't a turf war."

"I also brewed some tea this morning; I ground the jasmine for it myself last week." He said, setting a kettle on the table.

"I know how dumb jocks think. If I take off today, they'll say I'm a coward. If I go to school today, all they'll be able to say is that I got my ass kicked." I brushed my fingers over my stitches. "It's all about what I'm gonna allow people to say about me."

"This is only half of what I made, the other hale I take to class with me today, to be graded, and I'd really like an opinion on it."

Chris reached over the table, squeezing my hand, "Just be careful, ok? I'd feel better if we rearranged your classes a little."

"Like how?"

"Higher levels. How about AP English?"

"Isn't that for geniuses?"

"How do you know you aren't one? You need to challenge yourself, Andy."

"Alright, I'll try it. Anything else?"

He nodded, "I still have a lot of Mickey's old hockey gear in the basement."

I frowned, "Why does everyone want me to play hockey?"

I had bigger plans for school than hockey. The bastards that jumped me yesterday needed a very quick and harsh message, regarding what happens to anyone who touches me. I knew how to work the streets, a high school shouldn't be that much different.

"Because it gets you out of gym class," Cody yelled, "And away from attempts to jack up your pretty little face again! Now eat your breakfast and please tell me it's perfect!"

Stunned, I grabbed my spoon, and shoveled about three bites in before I discovered the fatal flaw in Cody's weird ass oatmeal. It was way too thick.

I grabbed for the kettle, pouring myself a cup, but when I tried to drink it, it burned my tongue. Not to mention it smelled awful. Like if a construction worker got down with a eighteen hour day, his armpit was rubbed with toothpaste and rotten flower petals.

I couldn't swallow it. I rushed for the kitchen sink, spitting it out. Behind me, I heard Cory fall onto the floor, and start sobbing.

AT SCHOOL:

AP English 1 went be pretty fast. They were reading a series of short stories called the Canterbury Tales, the current one being The Wife of Bath. Unlike my last class, they could read out loud without stuttering over every third word.

Come PE, the coach zeroed in on me the second I walked in. He made a bee line to me, putting a hand on my shoulder, and steering me into his office. He locked his door, and shut the blinds.

No, I've heard of a pedophilic priest before, but not a pedophilic coach. He turned around to look at me, a glare resting firmly on his face. "I don't need kids sneaking out and getting me in trouble."

Oh.

"You wanna know the only reason I don't have you in detention for a month for pulling shit like that?" He asked, settling down into his chair.

I shrugged, crossing my arms and raising my chin.

"You're Mikey's little brother." He pointed to a framed newspaper clipping on the wall. The school's hockey team stood there, a boy with spiky blonde hair in the middle, holding a big ass trophy. "When Mikey was captain of our hockey team, we won state. He worked those boys every day after school, until it was impossible for them not to win."

"I've never played hockey." I said, interrupting his unspoken wish of a new Mikey. "Unless you count bashing some guys brains out with a lead pipe in Crime Alley, and running off with his wallet."

He went silent, staring at me like I had told him I murdered someone. Oh… yeah. I did. "If I go to try outs Friday, I need a favor in return."

"What?"

"I imagine some of the kids around here talk loud enough in the locker room for you to overhear. I wanna know which kids are into what."

His first move was denial. "I don't ever see any evidence of drug deals, if that's what you're after."

"But you're smart enough to know which kids would be doing it if there were any." I gestured to the picture of Mikey. "I actually read up on your sports teams here. Seems none of them are doing well. Football team is the laughing stock of all high schools in Gotham, hell, all of your teams are, except your hockey team. But even they're on a very slippery slope. I imagine, as the coach, any raises or bonuses in your salary are dependent on teams that win."

He gave me a very long look, weighing out the situation, trying to decide if it was worth the information I was asking for. "If anyone in this school is dealing, it's either Gavin Thompson, or Beth Howard."

"Thank you. I'll see you on Friday."

Now it was just a matter of getting something on Gavin and Beth.

WITH CHRIS

Officer Grayson was waiting for me at the coffee shop we agreed on. He waved to me from across the room, smiling. I honestly didn't trust his smile. It just seemed a bit off.

"Mr. Bennet." He greeted as I sat down. "How is Andy settling in?"

"He got jumped yesterday, but he's making a legitimate effort to fit in. he's trying out for hockey Friday."

Officer Grayson raised an eyebrow, "Jumped?"

"Long story, I'd rather not get into it." I waved off. "What is it you wanted to tell me about?"

Officer Grayson scanned the room, and then leaned forward, speaking softly. "How much do you know about meta humans?"

I frowned. "Not much. Is this some kind of a prank?"

"No. Years ago, during a fight in Jump City, a meta human was injured, and her DNA ended up in the criminal database. Chris, I ran Andy's DNA illegally, off the books, and according to the results, Andy is the son of that Titan."

They ran Andy's DNA illegally? This… this can't be true. I mean, Andy is normal. Well, not normal, but he isn't half robot, or green, and he doesn't have an obsession with disco collars. "Officer Grayson, this is ridiculous. If you're going to say things like that, I don't think you should come around Andy anymore."

"Chris, I'm not lying, and if you want a paper copy of the results, I can get you one. But I'm not looking to tell Andy any of this, or expose him as a possible meta human. I just wanted to warn you about certain… traits you might want to watch out for."

He isn't lying… Andy might really be a meta human. No, that's ridiculous. The weirdest thing Andy does is refuse to tell anyone whenever he's the victim of bigotry. "What traits?"

"Reports said flying, inhuman strength, and one man reported that she made some type of green energy, and was able to throw it at people and things. It destroyed a car." He said slowly. "Chris, I don't know if these traits will show up in Andy, but if they do, I have a friend who runs a program for kids like these, and he could help Andy."

I got up, grabbing my bag. "Officer Grayson, if Andy shows these traits, nothing changes. He's still my son. He still lives in my house. And I'll still crush the first person who tries to change that."

I walked out, texting Arnold to take the night off of work. He needed to come home, immediately. I might have talked a big game in there, and I meant it, I really did, but I still have to make sure that Arnold is on board with this.

WTH ANDY:

I wanted to do my homework in my room, but Harvey didn't let me. I am not kidding you, every time I tried to get up from the living room couch and go to my room, he would shove me back down. So I gave up after like ten minutes, and just accepted that this dog was the boss.

"Hey Andy." Arnold said, walking into the living room. "That homework?"

"Yeah." I mumbled. "English essay."

"What's it on?"

"The Wife of Bath." I said, "Due by Friday."

"What's it about?"

"It was about this knight who raped a girl in the forest. The only reason he got in trouble for it was because one of her family members was in the king's court, her uncle, I think. And the king handed over is sentencing to the queen. So she tells the knight he has one year to find the answer to her question, or he will be put to death. Her question is 'What is it all women want, more than anything?'. So he goes off on this year long journey, and it isn't until he's walking back to the castle, that some old lady tells him that she'll tell him the answer, but he owes her a favor. So she tells him the answer that women want to have equal power to men. He tells the queen, she spares his life, and the old lady comes back to claim her favor. She makes him marry her, and he gets really depressed about having to marry an old chick. But she finally tells him that he can either have her as an old lady, who will forever be a dedicated wife who would be faithful to him, or as a young wife who would cheat on him all the time. He told her she could chose, and because he gave her equal power in their relationship, she turned into a young beautiful wife who was also faithful, and the unpunished rapist gets a happily ever after."

Arnold slowly sank down onto the coach, "When I was your age… we read Little Women… now they're having you read stories about rape?"

"We read Macbeth next. I hear it's about mass murder. He says that essay will be about who the real protagonist is." I explained.

"What is this essay about?"

"Whether justice was served, or he got off to easy." I said, "In my opinion, he did. I mean, I guess he respects women now, but where is the justice for the rape victim? I Googled it, and back then, since she's not a virgin anymore, she probably won't get married, and women didn't really own property, so her life was going to be shit."

Arnold took his glasses off, folded them up and gestured towards me with them. "I like your viewpoint. Anyone else in class agree with you?"

"All the liberals."

He laughed, gabbing his chest as he gasped for air. "Andy… that's… funny as hell!"

I nodded, closing my binder. "Cody thought so too. He failed his test today."

Arnold's giggles stopped almost immediately. "Oh no."

"He locked himself in the kitchen… he says he isn't coming out." I whispered. Harvey got up from the floor, crawling his way onto my life, and rolling over onto his back. I obliged his want of a belly rub.

"How bad was his food?" Arnold whispered back.

"The oatmeal was good, it was just too thick. And the tea tasted like hot sewage."

Arnold groaned, rubbing his temples, warding off the oncoming migraine. "I swear, that boy has the lowest self esteem…"

Cody walked in, swiping off his sunglasses an setting his bag (it's a fucking purse, I don't know why he can't admit that) down on the coffee table, "What's wrong?"

Arnold put his glasses back on, "Cody failed his test today."

"Locked himself in the kitchen again?" Chris asked.

Arnold nodded.

"I'll see if he's talking." Chris said, walking towards the kitchen. I heard him knock on the kitchen door, "Cody? Sweetheart? Are you in there?"

No answer.

"Cody, I know you're upset sweetie, but you can't lock yourself in the kitchen forever. All our food is in there. And you're gonna have to use the bathroom eventually."

"I'M A FAILURE!"

Arnold flinched, and Harvey let out a whine. Cody was turning out to be quite a mixed bag of nuts.

I frowned, looking at Arnold. "What are we going to eat?"

"I have no idea."