Beyond Good and Evil (Lams Superhero AU)

- Fourteen (Part Two) -

I drop the picture frame, causing the glass to crack. I quickly scoop it up and examine it, the crack going right over Alex’s face. I frown at the photo gently. Oh Alex..

“John, are you alright?” I hear my mom call.

My mom… she's not really here..

She steps into the room and looks at the picture in my hand. “Who's that?” She asks.

I look at her and tears begin to well up in my eyes. Alex had made the wish. Which meant this wasn't real.

I mean, sure she was standing right in front of me, but I knew she wasn't supposed to be.

I wipe my eyes. “It's no one, Ma. Just.. an old friend.” I say, setting down the picture and standing up to hug her.

She hesitantly wraps her arms back around me. “John? What's going on?”

“Nothing I'm just.. It's good to see you.” I say, biting my lip slightly.

I wanted nothing more than to stay in this moment forever. To keep her with me. But who knows what this wish has done to the world. It’s already severely messed with my life a ton. I wonder what happened to Alex.

My mom pulls away and gives me a concerned look. “John? You’ve been acting strange all day. What is really going on?”

“I couldn’t explain it if I tried.” I shake my head gently before grabbing a bag, throwing some stuff in. “I have to go to New York.”

“Now? But John, we can’t-” 

“No, not we… Only.. Only me.” I say, not facing her. “You have to stay here.”

Sure, I could’ve brought her with me, but I already know it’s going to make it so much harder to fix the world if she meets Alex. All I’ve ever wanted was for her to meet him. To see how much happier he’s made me. But if that happens, who’s to say I would be able to let go of it.

No, it was easier to say goodbye here. At least I get to say goodbye this time.

I turn towards her as I pick up the picture frame, looking at Alexander, then back at her. “I love you, Mom. I love you so much. But I have to do this on my own.”

I think a part of her knew I wouldn’t be coming back to be with her, as she had such a sad look on her face. She pulls me into a tighter hug than before. “I love you, too, John. Be safe out there.”

We stay in the hug for what feels like forever, but still not nearly long enough. I finally pull away, stuffing the frame in my bag as I nod at her. “Goodbye, Mom.”

As I’m walking out, she grabs my arm. “I’m proud of you. And tell him,” She gestures to the picture in my bag, “to take care of you.”

I smile sadly and nod again. “I will. I just gotta take care of him, first.”

And with that, I was flying to New York, trying to shift my focus to Alex. I knew there was a chance he wasn’t there, but I don’t care. I had to start somewhere. I would search the whole world if I had to.

After a few hours, I finally make it to New York City, where luckily everyone was too busy trying not to step in dog shit to look up and notice me flying around. I land and walk through the city, heading to some of Alex’s favorite spots. Most of them being historical sights, of course.

While I’m looking, though, the sky starts to cloud up, and eventually it starts to rain outside. Which was just perfect, of course. Why would this go any differently?

I look around as everyone starts to scatter out of the rain and into various shops and restaurants and I sigh. My mission just got a lot harder.

As I’m passing Gristedes, though, I see a young man walking out, a paper bag full of groceries in hand. He looks up at the sky and before he can move his bag to avoid it getting wet, it rips open. And his groceries spill all over the floor.