"That's family for you. Can't live with them, can't murder them." Holly Black, Black Heart


Running With The Boys

Chapter IX: The Father

On the awkward levels, this was a big ol' fifteen right beside your mother finding your porn stash under your bed. While Rider didn't have to worry about Keira finding anything like that under his bed, he did have to sit through the dinner from Hell with his family.

Laney sat beside Wren, speaking in their silent language they developed at a young age. Rider assumed it had something to do with their twin connection and Eco powers, it didn't bother him -he was more then used to being ignored by his sisters while they talked. Beside Laney was Keira, gingerly cutting her meat and bringing it to her lips. Rider glared at his mother; how could she be so calm after everything that happened? Her husband, Mar, Jak, whatever he wanted to call himself had returned after years of leaving her to raise three kids on her own. Rider glared down at the man that claimed to be his father. The man that he saw leaving so many times for missions that only lasted a day or so, until he finally never returned.

Rider straightened himself and stole a glance at Jak's face. Unlike the others, Jak was watching Rider with a curious expression. He twirled his fork between his fingers, a playful smirk was on his lips and dared Rider to speak to him.

"Alright." Wren started, bringing her red wine to her lips. "Is anyone gonna say anything about the eplhant in the room or shall we talk about the weather?"

Laney raised her hand. "Oh! I heard there's a storm coming in tomorrow afternoon and Sig wants-"

"Shut. Up. Laney." Rider snapped.

"Don't talk to her like that." Wren snarled.

"You can shut up too."

"Don't talk to your sisters like that." Keira spoke calmly.

Rider glared at her. Out of all the people at the table, the man who left for fifteen years, the sisters that lied and ignored him, the person he hated the most was his mother. Instead of telling him the truth, she lied to him for years. She didn't tell him who Jak was and let him believe that he was some random sperm donor that left her. She knew he loved Mar, the Hero of the Dark Wars, and didn't feel like mentioning that Jak was Mar; the Mar. She watched him read all those books about Mar and obsesse about the hero that made the Mar Accords. She listened to him pray for a Dad until he was thriteen and waste every birthday wish for Jak's pressence. She comforted him when he cried out for his Dad after a nightmare and let him look for other father figures in the few men that he knew. He hated her. Hated her more then any other person. "I hate you." He snarled. "I wish you were dead."

Laney and, to his surpise, Wren both gasped.

"Rider." A low bartone spoke. Rider's head snapped to his left. Jak had set his fork down and now wore a calm expression but Rider could see anger behind his eyes -that almost matched his. "You need to calm down. It's not your mother's fault. And I won't have any son of-"

Rider slammed the table his fist, causing all the drinks to fall over and make Laney jump up with a squeal. Keria even stood, hugging herself as Rider pointed at Jak and grounded out the words with as much hate as he could manage. "You will not call me that. I am not your son. A real father would never leave. And I hate you." The anger built in his chest before he launched himself over the table at his father, but he smashed against a warm of heated enegry. His nose cracked and pain raidiated over his face making his eyes tear up. Through his tears he saw an angel standing beside his mother. Laney wore an expression of tranquility and peace. Dosed in a glow of blue light, Laney dropped the shield around Jak as Rider struggled to stand.

"Thank you Laney." Jak said as she returned back to normal. "Are you okay Rider?"

"Fuck you." Rider snarled stomping away from the room, he grabbed his door and slammed it, hard enough to shake the frame. He paced around his room, going through ever moment in his life. Counting every tear that he wasted on that man and the idea that Mar could change everything. His father was nothing.

And that was the same for Mar too.

TBC...


Author's Note

I know, very short chapter but I didn't feel like it needed anymore. To make up for the shortness, I wrote another chapter so click that next button and read it! Thank you to LightJakRise, EcoSeeker and a guest for their reviews.