Chapter 22

It was only four more days until Drax turns back. Then two days after that he's in school once more. Drax was excited to go back for once, yet he doesn't know how he will explain his summer vacation if asked about it. "You spent time with your dad. That's all!" Snek said.

"Yeah… I think I can make something up so it doesn't sound too strange or anything. It has to be convincing."

They had a productive day. Snek and Drax went to a festival in City F, just because he was a snake kid, didn't mean he couldn't enjoy himself! He played games and was asked by other children how he became what he was. It was difficult to explain, but Snek stepped in and said. "Next time, don't wish on a falling star so hard!" Despite the answer, the children were stunned and rather satisfied with the response! There had been a few instances were people didn't take kindly to Drax or how he appeared. Some men went as far as trying to confront him on the subject matter. Snek was about to intervene, yet Drax stood his ground rather well. It also helped there were other heroes in the area who were quick to step in. Suiryu for one was at the festival with Alley. He was quick to step behind Drax and dared those who hassled him to make a move.

One did make such an attempt. Yet Drax moved too fast to be seen, he struck harder than they expected him to! Even Snek was stunned to see a full-grown man fly out of his shoes from a single strike! It made the others quickly backed off and leave him alone.

Snek was swift to check on him, as brave as he appeared. He soon began to weep. "Why?" he sobbed. "Why did they say those things to me?" Snek plucked him up off the ground and let him coil around him.

"People are assholes kiddo," was all he could say. He felt Drax rest his head on his shoulder. "Do you want to keep going through the festival? Or do you want to go and get something to eat?"

"Food please." He whispered.

Suiryu however was quick to approach, before they left he smiled to Drax. "Since when did you get so powerful!?" he questioned. "You were amazing. And you know, I always got your back. Right?"

Drax smiled. With that Snek slithered off and tried to find something good for the both of them…

#

After a good meal, they went home. Snek brought him into his room and curled up before the TV. Drax rested in his coil. "Dad… thanks for this." He said.

"I didn't think you would be thanking me after that incident… I'm sorry you went through that. It was part of the reason I didn't want you to become like me for the summer. Assholes are everywhere." He then sighed as his hand rested on his son's shoulder. "I still don't get why you wanted this as a reward for getting your grades up."

"I kept telling Amai, how come you had to be the one to change in order for us to spend time together? It's always you turning from this to human… but not wanting me to do the same for you. It's not fair. Besides, I have a whole new respect for you like this. I never realized how difficult it could be, let alone thankless it can get at times too. You ate so many monsters before and no one even thought much of it!"

Snek laughed. "Yeah, well, it's no big deal. I got to eat too so, getting thanked or not is not an issue. As long as I'm full in the end, it's a job well done right?"

"Yeah…" he then felt Drax's cling on to his side, the embrace grew a little tighter. "You think Garou will let me do this again? If I want to that is, I don't know if I do as of yet."

"Oh I am sure he would find a way to say the least, knowing Garou. If it will scare the hell out of me, he'll do it."

He heard Drax let out a big yawn, Snek continued to watch TV until he heard a little snore come from his son. He was out like a light. "I got to admit kid, you handled this a lot better than I did." He turned the TV off, letting out a yawn himself, Snek laid down and fell asleep, but smiled with pride.