No Such Thing as Super-Heroes

[midst_of_threads]

There is someone in her forest.

Flynn runs her hand over her creature's back, and then sends it fluttering away into the trees with a flick of her wrist.


Her first creation, her guardian, lets out a small growl.
"I know," Flynn says.
"Go. Get rid of them."

It slinks into the forest, feline features molded from broken glass.
It quickly vanishes from site and Flynn pushes down a flash of loneliness.

Comments

[midst_of_threads]

Flynn begins to set the table, "Arsenic, cyanide, wolfsbane, poison ivy, and rotten milk."

[there_is_no_such_thing_as]

"Oh, well," Henry says with mocking defeat "there goes my plans for dessert."

[midst_of_threads]

"I wouldn't mind if you had some."

[there_is_no_such_thing_as]

"Sorry," Henry says solemn "I can't serve you poison that you are allergic to. We will have to settle for varied canned fruits."

[midst_of_threads]

"Pears?"

[there_is_no_such_thing_as]

Henry thinks they probably have a lot of those.

"Sure," Henry says "if you eat your vegetables and don't talk with your mouth full."

[midst_of_threads]

"Yes, mother. So, what's your guys' story?"

[there_is_no_such_thing_as]

That throws Henry off for a moment, then he started talking.

"My parents died when I was a baby and my aunt Rose took me in. Gabe's dad, her ex-husband didn't like it... I don't remember anything, but apparently he would yell at me or hit me for no reason. It got bad enough that they divorced and my aunt had to raise me and Gabe on her own. She... it was rough on her, she had to work odd jobs and sometimes... she would lose her temper, she never hit me!" Henry hastily adds "but she would say hurtful things about the sacrifices she made... a few months ago she got really mad and I decided to leave, Gabe came with me."

Henry never thought saying those words would feel.. relaxing. He was confused to have said that much at all, and even more that he wasn't defending his aunt more. He couldn't say that his aunt caught Henry and Gabe in bed. But he could defend when she lost her temper. It was fair after all, the woman worked so hard to support a kid it wasn't hers, what a few words meant against that? Aunt Rose left her husband for Henry's sake how could he demand anything more from her? And Henry repaid that kindness by sleeping with her son for several years...

Unless spoken too Henry is going to be very focused on the food.

[midst_of_threads]

"I'm really glad you got out of there. I'm sorry about attacking you."

[there_is_no_such_thing_as]

"Thanks..." Henry mutters weakly.

But part of him thinks he shouldn't be thankful, that it makes no sense for him to treat this woman this well, so soon. That part of him doesn't reach the surface, specially when he's still thinking about the past few months.

"So... You..." Henry falls silent.

[midst_of_threads]

"What?"

[there_is_no_such_thing_as]

"I am not sure... I was going to offer to hear you if you wanted to talk. It seemed fair after."

[midst_of_threads]

"There's not really much to say. I didn't like the place I was at. I started making my creatures. I was worried about them and saw a chance to escape, so I took it."

[there_is_no_such_thing_as]

"I can relate," Henry says still very focused on the food "Huh... do you think there is someone looking for you?"

[midst_of_threads]

"I don't think so. My mother isn't herself anymore and there's no one else who would particularly care."

[there_is_no_such_thing_as]

"Gabe's parents might be searching for him," Henry says "you really don't have better options than the wildness?"

[midst_of_threads]

"Not if I wanted to keep my creatures with me."

[there_is_no_such_thing_as]

Henry thinks for a moment.

"Maybe a... Warehouse or something? I don't think open spaces are a good idea. Someone is going to spot you or a creation eventually... Do they need to breath? Are they buoyant enough to swim?

[midst_of_threads]

"They breathe, but they might not need to. I don't want to test it. None of them were really made for swimming, though I could make a creature that is."

[there_is_no_such_thing_as]

Henry decides to drop the subject for now. The meal is prepared and he serves a portion to Flynn, himself and Gabe.

"Gabe the food is ready!" He shouts.

[midst_of_threads]

Flynn starts devouring her food. If she once had table manners, too much time spent alone and hungry had overcome them.

[there_is_no_such_thing_as]

Henry doesn't seen to mind (part of him was somehow expecting that). He is enjoying his own meal too, funny how traumatic events can make food taste so good.

"Let me know if you need anything."

After a few minutes Gabe walk in the room, a quick exchange of looks and Gabe quietly sits down and starts eating his meal.

[midst_of_threads]

Flynn finishes hers first, scraping the last bits of food off her plate with her fingers.

[there_is_no_such_thing_as]

"More?" Henry offers.

[midst_of_threads]

"Uh, yea, thanks." Flynn looks away and picks up a napkin to wipe the food from her hands.