Guest 3: LOL. That would have been interesting. XD. Thanks for reading!
RedHood: I just read that story it was awesome thanks for the share.
Here? No, that doesn't work. There's already a four in this square…
"Father?" I say not daring to look up from my work. As if the answers to the puzzles could be found if I stared at the page long enough. An earthquake could have occurred, and that still wouldn't have made me leave my chair.
"Yes?" Comfortably seated in his desk's large chair, newspaper in hand, and a cup of lightly sweetened coffee to his left, my parent took a welcome break from work. Still, ever the workaholic, he had this break in his office.
"Can you move my mother to a mental hospital in New York?" I asked him as I experimentally added a 5 where I felt it fit. It worked.
Yes!
"No." Was his snappy response. I flinched at the sharp increase in volume.
No? I thought, frowning. Why not?
He continued without looking up from his paper, "I need you to be focused on our plan."
What does he mean?
"I don't understand." My head tilted and I scrunched up my face. The puzzle's spell was broken.
"Your mother would distract you." He told me, then turned a page.
I did not take this assertion well.
I stared at him with an open mouth. "I can't believe this. Mom's not a distraction. She's a person!"
"Do not raise your voice at me!" The veins in his forehead bulged and he finally looked up from the paper.
"Of course." Still, I glared at him with as much power as I could. Compared to his own glares, it must have felt as if a kitten meowed what it felt was a fierce battle cry to an adult cat. There was the same lack of fear, and same look of exasperation.
"Maybe you don't want to hear what I have to say, but that doesn't change the truth." He met my glare with a look of his own.
My puzzle workbook crumpled in my hands. And my teeth gnashed together.
"I talk to you a lot, often about things that have nothing to do with training." I spat. "Am I a distraction?"
"No, it's different," He shook his head as if silently saying how absurd the idea was.
How?
He spoke in his serious lecturing voice, reserved for things like that time I jumped off a high building,"My attachment to you makes me fight harder for your future, for the future of all mutants."
"It makes me strong. Your attachment to your mother however." He placed the newspaper down. "Makes you want to stay with her. It weakens you."
My anger obliterated any fear I had of punishment. I couldn't allow the conversation to end there,"What's the point of being strong without having those you care about?" I said, daring to challenge him.
That made the man pause, which made me smirk "...Sometimes I wonder about that myself. Still, I have a child and I know he has to be strong for his own safety. So, strong he will be. You can't afford to be weak."
"I know but... I train hard already, I've learned to kill those that try to harm me, why I do have to…" I could feel my control over the situation slipping away with each word as he cut me off with a sigh.
"You'll understand in a few years." He told me. "You can't afford to have any sort of weakness. Tell me, is there someone in your life you'd be willing to die for?"
That was obvious. "Mom."
"And that's exactly your issue. You're taking responsibility for things that aren't yours to worry about."
I kept myself from shouting my next words, "She's my mom."
"And I know that as insane as she is, even she wouldn't want you to do anything that could compromise your safety." My eyes widened.
For a while, I could say nothing. I had no defense against this very true statement.
"Okay, but there's another person. You." I said, feeling smug.
"No." He said in a tone the booked no further argument. My grin melted away at the look in his eyes.
"Electron, you will not. Under any circumstances. Do anything to save me that could cost you your life. I will not outlive my child. Not this time…" He was still using his lecturing voice, but it became far more melancholic.
He seemed so hurt. I looked at the puzzle in my lap, hands balled up in fists and my frustration gone. These feelings were replaced by a weird sense of tiredness from emotional exhaustion.
"I won't." I promise.
"Good. Listen to me. You might not think so, given how you act, but your life is valuable. And I will teach you what you need to survive."
I sighed. "And what is the goal in the end? What am I training so hard to be? Not power wise but mentally?"
"Someone who has their priorities right. Someone who knows who to trust. Someone with the ability to survive this harsh war mentally. You on the other hand, broke down in tears after you killed an innocent. How often do you think that happens in combat?"
As usual for every armor piercing question I asked of him, he hit me with two.
I suddenly found the window to my left fascinating, "...I'm not very interested in dying for no reason. And given how stupidly I can act sometimes... So, I'll have to be willing to give up everything? My mom, my friends... And you too?" I then stared at the ground slouched in my seat.
"Yes."
"I don't want to." I said softly.
"I know."
"No, you don't. You don't get this at all... Your parents and everything you loved and cared for were taken from you. You had no choice. Me? My mom is alive, my father is alive. You want me to choose not to spend time with Mom. You want me to distance myself from my friends. You want me to not be willing to risk myself for you... You're making the choice for me."
I was silent for a few seconds before realizing something. "No, none of this matters. I won't have a say in this anyway. You've already made up your mind."
"I'm helping you. This is all for your benefit."
"I hope it works out then." I said, my mood utterly deflated." My mother barely recognizes me. Something has to come out of this and not just power. I don't care about that... Am I dismissed Father?"
"Yes." I leave.
Man that sucked, Rebellion said.
The others agreed.
A few weeks passed.
On Thanksgiving, I was just about to leave the house when I heard my father ask "Where are you going?"
"Volunteer work." I told him.
He didn't like the fact that was going to help humans but said that at least I wasn't wasting time on video games.
I closed the door and sighed.
That was close. It's a good thing he didn't ask anymore questions.
I met up with Marie at our rendezvous point by a flower shop.
"Hey, what took you so long?" She said, clad in a green and black plaid coat and white hat.
I looked at my watch. "I'm on time, what do you mean?"
"Um well I- Y-you shouldn't have kept me waiting." She said, blushing.
I shook my head but said nothing. She walked forward but as I followed, the man that owned the flower shop handed me a piece of paper.
Odd, I thought, but I thanked him for it.
The local homeless shelter had needed volunteers and Marie thought it best to conscript me since she knew I didn't celebrate Thanksgiving. In fact, my father hated that holiday. His hate for it was almost as bad as the Fourth of July. Which really sucked since I loved fireworks and barbecues.
While I certainly wasn't planning on working there and would ordinarily say no, I made an exception for my friend. I just couldn't say no to her. It was strange and I had been wondering why that was the case.
Turns out, working there was quite fun. I helped feed people who often hadn't eaten in days. Helping people in other ways was fun too.
Still, there were a few downsides. When people asked about my background, I told them that I was an MIT student studying mechanical engineering and thinking about double majoring in Computer science. That got mixed responses.
Some were awed by the fact I went to MIT. Others were angry and jealous. I'd hurt their pride through the crime of existing, it seemed.
Then, came the subtle attacks. According to them, I was 'bragging' or I thought I was better than them. And like always, my expensive as hell coat was called in question. I was "the rich kid", not Chris. Truly, it was little different from how everyone at home saw me as Magneto's kid and was careful about what they did and said around me.
I heard these insults as I was serving soup but kept quiet about it. Marie seemed to be having a good time serving macaroni to people, and despite a hairnet looked really cute. And she looked happy. I didn't want to ruin that.
I decided to make the most of it and proudly showed off some of my skills. I'd speak Spanish to the Spanish speakers, then switch to German, and then Chinese in less than a minute. My speaking skills were extremely good due to my parent's insistence on me practicing how to say essential phrases until I said them perfectly.
I excelled at my position and enjoyed the rage people felt towards me. I was learning how to better cope with unfair isolation.
Heh. Haters gonna hate. Rebellion said, shrugging.
I just had to understand that I would never be normal and that people will always judge me based on their preconceived notions. Before, I would always sneak into the background, be "normal". Not anymore.
My father wanted me to understand that sticking out was fine and didn't want me to compromise me being myself for other people. He knew early on that thanks to my mutation, I'd always be an outsider. Even among other mutants.
I didn't stay for dinner and headed home happily. Screwing with my enemies' heads was fun. No wonder Father did it.
After I returned home, I read the note. It offered to give me a bouquet at half price.
The next day, I visited the store.
"So you came." The man said, as he looked up from a bouquet he'd been working on.
I nodded.
"Getting these for the girl I saw you with earlier?"
I nodded and smiled at the man before reciting my order.
I asked him "You sure that they'll be ok in the mail?"
"But of course. I use a very expensive vendor to do deliveries. " The man said, looking proud.
"Thank you." I left carrying my package.
I headed over to the park.
"Hey Chris." Marie said, waving from where she sat on the grass.
"Hey Marie. I got you something."
"What?" She asked, surprised.
I walked over to her and took out my present.
"You got me flowers? Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She hopped up and down in excitement.
"It isn't an issue. You've been a wonderful friend to me." I said.
"But how? I ain't teach you nutin'."
"That doesn't matter. My father and professors can teach and lecture all day but I don't care about that. I needed a friend. One that I really trust. That's you."
She began to cry.
"Now, these are yellow roses. They're symbolic of friendship."
"Oh. Great." Her tone changed but I didn't really notice.
"Really? I thought just one color would be over-."
Before I knew it, I was snatched into a hug.
"They're perfect."
Hugging Marie was very different from hugging my father. My father's hugs were loose but tight enough for me to feel secure in his arms. No, these bone crushing hugs could only be compared to my mothers.
"So about that trip... Where to?" She asked.
"Japan?" I say.
"I ain't got no passport."
"Washington DC?"
"Ooh, I haven't been there before. It'll be an awesome trip. Though, how'd you get your father to let you go?"
"He's going on a trip for his job and can't train me."
"So, he just drops you like a sack of potatoes?"
"I-its not like that." I stuttered at her blunt response.
"Really? But-"
"It's dangerous. He'll be in danger and I can't go. Ok? And even he thinks it's risky."
She frowns "Oh. I'm sorry. And your mom?"
"In a mental hospital." Her eyes widened in shock.
"Oh... We could visit her before you go."
"I can't. She's in a different state."
"But she's your mom. Oh! We could go see her during the trip instead."
I stared at the ground. "No. Because Father won't let me visit her very often. I'm sure I'll be able to get Christmas with her though" She frowned.
"Won't let you? But doesn't he have, like, unlimited cash?"
"Yes. I'm not allowed to. I'd get in trouble for going there. They won't even let me in." I'd attempted this before.
"Sneak in?" She asked with a grin.
"Yeah, and frighten my mentally ill mother. Great idea." I quipped, letting myself fall back onto the grass.
"I get it. But why is your dad acting like such a dick about this?" She said, laying down beside me.
I laughed. "He says she weakens me."
"But wouldn't having people to defend make you want to be stronger?"
"Not according to him."
"Wow that sucks.. And what do you think about that?"
"I hate it but. I can't change it."
"Wow. "
"Yeah, he wants me to distance myself from people to make sure that no one knows about my mutation. He knows how much attention my mutation attracts."
"That seriously sucks."
"It does. It also means he can never know that we're friends."
I had something to say. Something I'd meant to say earlier because she deserved to know what she was getting herself into. But, I was afraid she'd stop being my friend.
"If he is for some reason suspicious of you... You'd die."
Even if you are a fellow mutant I thought. I'm his son and he'd do anything to prevent harm from coming to me. I had to kill someone the day my mutation was revealed by accident... I'm not taking any chances. He doesn't have to know.
"What? But he can't do that can he?"
I frown. "They'd never find a body... I've already revealed far too much."
"Wow."
"Yeah. So if you don't want to be friends..." I felt a cramp in my stomach.
"No. We'll be great friends. Your first act of defiance against your father."
I smiled at my friend, thankful for my good fortune.
Well, it was the first defiant act since he became my father. It was already too late. I'd been keeping my new friend a secret from my father. That might as well have been me lying to him.
This wouldn't be too much of an issue except for the fact that she knew that I was a mutant. Sure, I'd used my electricity to keep her out the loop but just one mistake and she'd know. My father would certainly want to know about that.
We started talking about the details of our trip.
"And how will we get there?"
I smiled. "Leave that to me."
"So mysterious." She says with sarcasm.
The next few weeks went by at super speed. We raked leaves for the elderly (after a bit of jumping in them, of course) then we went to the zoo. Watts barked at a sleeping lion which woke up and roared at him! He then ran back to us whimpering. I'd never laughed so hard.
A few days later, we picked apples upstate and on the way home I taught Marie how to lie better. Everyday brought with it a new adventure, and I loved every moment.
Oh, and the fate of the mailed flowers? Those were chrysanthemum's that I sent my mom. She loved them.
One day after another outing with Marie, I walked home and saw a very interesting, very old document on my father's desk. I just had to look at it.
I read the yellowed paper and said, "it's tomorrow huh."
The next day instead of going to hang out with Marie, I made a gorgeous chocolate cake without frosting and headed to my father's office.
"Happy birthday!" I said as I walked in.
"H-how did you know?" If possible, his eyes would have popped out the socket.
"Your birth certificate was on your desk. I kind of had a peak." I say shyly.
He decided to overlook my offense and thanked me for the cake.
"At my age, celebrating birthdays isn't as important." He said.
"Well it is to me."
He smiled.
"I kinda don't have a present because I just found out-"
"Don't worry about it. Thank you." He said
He took a few minutes to eat his slice and tell me a few stories about his childhood.
"Wait, Father, you dyed a girl's hair blue?"
"Yes, she always liked annoying me. I got in so much trouble for that. I also had to face the wrath of Mother's wooden spoon."
"Not fun." I say
"But worth it."
I laugh. "You're 80 now, father, I thought that means you'd be mature and regret it."
"No, not all." He shook his head "You're not going to have any cake?"
"No, I kinda binged on the batter. Then I found out you hate frosting..."
I made sure that none of it went to waste.
He rolled his eyes. "You're going to end up throwing it all up."
I disagreed. "I've had worse."
"It's a wonder you didn't get diabetes."
I smiled happy that I had gotten to spend some time with him.