Chapter 8.
"However much I would like to reminisce about the time you set fire to my most valued lab rat- I just don't seem to have any time right now," Medulla said, his face straight though the words were bitingly sarcastic.
"You don't look very busy," I deadpanned, more than a little annoyed that Medulla wasn't going to help me out. "Look," I began again, putting my hands down on his desk, "I need your help. I was up all night trying to get someone to answer my questions- but those idiots in charge of weapons tracking wouldn't tell me anything."
"Maybe you should have tried saying please."
I paused, unable to believe I'd become this desperate, "Please?"
"I meant to them you muscley pyro-ic pinhead."
"Pyro-ic?" I asked wearily, too tired to be angry.
"I invented the word and submitted it to the dictionary society three months ago. Just wait, it'll be officially recognized any day now."
"Along with muscley and pinhead?"
Medulla's gargantuan head, which I'd only seen the top of since I'd come in, now tilted so that he could glare up at me properly. I felt like a high school student again, waiting to be handed a detention slip or some other punishment. Straightening my shoulders, I cleared my throat and raised an eyebrow at him. He looked like he might say something more useful than the pointless conversation we'd been having, but at that moment the bell rang.
Smiling docilely, Medulla stood up, "Sorry, I have students to attend to."
The classroom door opened and I turned to see none other than my two bus buddies. The pale girl blinked at me and swept her blue hair back before taking a seat. I tried to remember her name as the chubby truth-teller sauntered over, looking between me and Medulla with a smile. I put my hands behind my back…just in case.
"Alejandro- do you and Victoria have the extravaganza preparations completed?" Medulla asked as the boy continued to stare up at me.
He nodded and motioned at me with a grimace, "What's he doing here?"
"Mr. Peace was just leaving."
"But, this is your free hour," I said, knowing I couldn't be wrong. I'd sacrificed an annoying conversation with a bubbly secretary just to make sure.
"Not today. Today I have to prepare for Sky High's second annual mad science extravaganza. I don't have any time to spare for your questions Mr. Peace, so I suggest you leave now."
"Is he really Lyd- Ms. Peace's husband?" Alejandro asked Medulla matter of factly.
"Unfortunately," Medulla replied, "Though, as I hear it, they're practically divorced."
"Yeah, I'm still here, thanks," I interrupted, the tips of my fingers heating up.
"Exactly my problem. Now will you get out and get on with your…cleaning? Or am I going to have to call the Principal?"
I curled my fists, "Two words- that's all I want you to think about ok? Mortis Angelus. Just let me know if you think of anything alright- remember, Mortis Angelus." Turning, I left the room, avoiding the round staring eyes of Victoria and Alejandro's glare.
I cursed under my breath and stomped down the halls of Sky High.
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Extravaganza my ass, I thought, walking through the decorated front lawn of Sky High. The local geeks and freaks had set up a bunch of booths with several science experiments (most of them boring) and were in the midst of explaining the principles of mad science to the judges who were making their rounds. It was all very Medulla-y. Just the sort of thing I hated. Just the sort of thing Lydia loved. I wondered why I hadn't seen her around yet, unless she was avoiding me like Medulla was.
"This is a complete con!" Somebody near me shouted. I turned to see a teacher leaving Alejandro's booth for 'A Study on Romantic Telepathy'. Mr. Leopard was up next and took his seat quickly before giving his palm over to the boy with a happy smile.
Shaking my head, I turned and walked on. A small figure charged into me, making painful contact with my shins.
"What the-" I started, bending down to lift the kid up off the ground where he'd landed. "Watch it," I growled, wondering why a little kid was running around the grounds anyway.
The kid shook my hand off and glared up at me from under his beanie. "You watch it," he retorted, nose scrunched up and fists balled.
I bent my legs and crouched down to the kid's level, a frown on my face, "Hey kid," I said, poking him in the shoulder. So much for being the adult, "Shouldn't you say sorry for running into me?"
"You ran inna' me," he insisted, pulling his knit beanie lower over his eyebrows.
I poked him again, annoyance from the day slowly transforming into amusement.
Growling, the kid held his fists up, "Wanna fight?"
"You'd get hurt," I replied, chuckling a bit this time.
"No."
"Yeah you would."
"Nuh-uh."
"Yeah huh-" I said and then looked around, hoping nobody had heard me saying something like that. "See this scar?" I asked, smirking slightly as I traced the line on my face.
The kid's fists dropped, "You…got 'em inna' fight?
I nodded, trying to look serious as I rubbed a hand over my stubbly head.
He nodded, trying not to look impressed.
"How old are you kid?"
Counting carefully, he held up four fingers. "How old are you?"
I flashed my ten fingers twice and then held up four more.
"That's a lot," he commented, eyes wide, "That's how many fingers my mom has-"
"Yeah, we're old…." I trailed off and frowned thoughtfully. I stared at the boy's face and subconsciously raised a hand to touch the freckles scattered over his nose. "What's your name?" I asked softly, grabbing the edge of the beanie.
"Fintan!" a familiar voice shouted.
The boy turned his head at the call and I pulled off the hat to reveal a messy shock of dark red hair. Frowning, Fintan turned and snatched the hat back before running towards a woman who was standing, staring at us.
"Momma!" he exclaimed, abandoning the hat on the grass to throw his skinny arms around her legs.
I rose slowly and looked over at Lydia. I could taste blood in my mouth and realized suddenly that I'd been biting the inside of my cheek. My whole body was tingling with the heat this time and I was suddenly afraid of burning up from the inside, swallowing up the stupid science fair in the conflagration and my family with it.
My family, I thought numbly, still staring at the two of them. It made sense now, like I'd always known it and just forgotten temporarily. Fintan was our kid…had always been our kid. He was still alive and well…at least for now. Fiona's warning, the questions about Mortis Angelus, the threats of Secondhand all came rushing back into my head. Like a tidal wave, the sudden fear for their safety from these threats washed out all other worries. Fear, first and foremost, because I was still without answers- and for now, without my powers.
I stepped over to them, ignoring the 'don't come any closer' look that Lydia was sending my way.
"Aren't you going to introduce me?" I asked hoarsely and looked down at Fintan, "To my son?"
"Wasn't planning on it," Lydia replied, not meeting my eyes immediately. "This isn't the time or the place Warren. Please don't do this now."
"Then when?" I asked angrily, ignoring the stares we were now drawing, "When is the right time for my kid to find out who his dad is? Maybe we could schedule an appointment or something?" I'd turned bitter and sarcastic, but I just wanted her to break, to stop this icy charade and tell me she needed me again.
Her glare, suddenly shooting up to fire at my eyes, told me I'd just made things worse.
I reached for her hand suddenly, knowing how this would end if I didn't do something. "Look," I lowered my voice, "Lydia, this is important k? You're both in trouble- I need to talk to you about this…a real talk." I wouldn't let her pull her hand away and waited, hoping for something.
Instead, the unwatched Fintan raised his foot and stomped down hard on mine with all the force of a protective preschooler. Letting go of Lydia's hand I glared down at the boy who stared up with a very similar expression.
"You're not my dad," he insisted with grim certainty and turned, running through the crowd on knobby legs.
"Shit," I growled, putting a hand to my head.
Lydia shook her head, "That's an understatement," she offered with an angry sigh and took a step in the direction Fintan had gone.
There were screams as the startling sound and sight of an explosion shook just up ahead. Right on the route Fintan had taken into the crowd.
AN: I know it's been forever! So sorry about that. I'm determined to finish this up and am well on my way. Thanks to all of you who have been patient. I should have the rest of the story uploaded within the next two weeks (or less).
