𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘺, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙨

𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙪𝙚

"HEY, BUD!" SAMUEL TURNED HIS HEAD TO THE MAN ENTERING THE LIVING ROOM. He crawled off of his mat, his mother giggling as she watched her husband crouch with open arms to greet his baby. Samuel babbled happily once the man picked him up, kissing his head sweetly. "Yes, hello!" He urged, Samuel's mother watching the boy reach for his father's cheeks before leaning his head on his chest, his mother smiling warmly at the two. "Has he...?" The man asked, his mother sighing. "No, Adam." The woman put down the pile of clothes before meeting the man.

The two kissed, Adam Miller shrugging. "You're pressuring him." His mother stroked his cheek, Samuel giggling mindlessly as his father gasped. "I'm not. Honey, listen." He met eyes with the woman. "Most kids usually have powers by now. I did." He shrugged, watching the woman in front of him sigh. "Sammy's fine with or without powers." She spoke tiredly, sick of hearing her husband go on and on about it. "Yeah, course, but wouldn't it be nice-"

"We did not have a family just to make a little Supe baby." The woman stated, her husband cupping her cheek gently. He stared into her eyes, shaking his head. "Of course not!" Samuel babbled between them both, his mother smiling. "What's that?" Adam asked his son, Samuel babbling more as the two separated. "Oh, yeah, I get it. Yeah, totally." He 'agreed', holding Samuel out to face his mother. "He wants powers just like Papa." Adam watched the woman scoff, stroking Samuel's head fondly. "Go feed your son."

She reminded, watching her husband huff. "I know! How mean!" His voice faded as he left the room, rounding the kitchen. His smile fell, sitting Samuel down on his knee as he reached to grab food. "One day, Adam." He told himself quietly, Samuel opening his mouth for some mashed up spaghetti. "He can't just not have them." He fed Samuel without a care to how messy he got, the boy obviously eating happily.

"One day." The man smiled.

∞

THAT DAY NEVER CAME. Samuel walked into the living room quietly, Adam Miller turning to his ten year old son. "Where were you?" He asked, Samuel gulping. "Playing outside with Josh." He spoke quietly, his father sighing. "Speak up." His son flinched as his tone got firmer, the boy shaking from a single glance. "Playing outside with Josh." He did as told, wishing for his mother. She was out on one of her girl's nights, leaving Samuel alone with his father. He stayed silent, Samuel sniffling as tears welled up in his eyes. He watched the man stand up, facing him quickly.

His face was blank as he stormed towards the boy, Samuel's cries getting louder. "No! Please!" He begged, his father not replying as he continued to walk forward, raising a hand that made Samuel fall back. He scrambled against the wall, covering his face with his hands as he sobbed. He felt nothing, hearing a sigh from across the room. "Samuel. You have to be better." His father spoke, still sat in his chair. That test. The test where he'd make Samuel scared by an illusion that would hopefully bring his powers forward.

He's been trying that test for years. Nothing happened. "You're a mistake." Samuel listened to the man ramble on again about how he hated the boy, his back still turned. "I mean, how does the son of a Supe not get powers?" He asked his own son, turning around. Samuel sniffled, shaking his head. "I don't know." He answered honestly, Adam scoffing before sitting back down. Samuel moved around the seat quickly, standing by it. "I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!" He begged, tears and snot streaming down his face as he didn't want to be in trouble.

No kid wanted to be in trouble. Especially not Samuel. The boy flinched, his father cupping his jaw harshly and pulling his face forward. "Whatever you're hiding from me... drop it." Samuel's chest heaved, the grip on his face tightening. "I'm not hiding anything." The boy cried, Adam's tongue poking the inside of his cheek. "What did you just say?" He asked, Samuel beginning to sob. He couldn't lie to his father. He wouldn't. But the man would not accept the truth.