Marked By Fire [Sky High Fanfic]

Ch. 10 I want to be called Eleos

Will sits on his bed, gazing at his parents' action figures that line his room's shelves. His shoulders are slumped, and his eyes are distant. The door creaks open, and his father, Steve, steps inside. He looks around the room, taking in the atmosphere before clearing his throat.

"Hey, Will. Got a minute?"

Will turns, surprised to see his father.

"Sure, Dad. What's up?"

Steve sits down beside him, placing a reassuring hand on his son's shoulder.

"Leah told me you've been feeling... out of place. Like, I might not be proud of you because you don't have powers yet. Will, I want you to know that I love you, powers or no powers. You are my son, and that's all that matters."

Will's face flushes with embarrassment. He looks away, unable to meet his father's eyes.

"Everyone in our family is a Super: Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, you, even Leah. And I'm just... me."

Steve squeezes his shoulder gently.

"Will, you are my son, and I am proud of you, powers or no powers. You have a strength and a heart that I admire. And there's something I want to show you. Follow me."

Meanwhile, in the living room, Josie sits with Leah. They share a quiet moment, the hum of the TV playing softly in the background.

"Have you thought of a codename yet, sweetheart?"

Leah nods, her eyes shining with excitement and determination.

"I have. I want to be called Eleos, after the Greek Goddess of mercy, pity, compassion, empathy, sympathy, and forgiveness."

Josie smiles, her heart swelling with pride.

"It's perfect, Leah. Eleos suits you beautifully."

Steve leads Will down a hidden staircase, pressing a series of buttons on a panel that reveals a secret door. They enter the Secret Sanctum, a room filled with memorabilia from Steve's days as The Commander. Will's eyes widen as he takes in the sight.

"Whoa... I didn't know this was here."

Steve walks over to a pedestal and picks up a shiny, futuristic-looking weapon that resembles a pacifier.

"This is the Pacifier. I took it from my arch-nemesis, Royal Pain, sixteen years ago. It's a reminder of the battles we've fought and the lives we've saved. But more importantly, it's a reminder that being a hero isn't just about powers. It's about courage, heart, and the willingness to protect others, no matter what."

Will looks at the Pacifier, then at his father, a newfound understanding in his eyes.

"Thanks, Dad. I needed to hear that."

Steve pulls Will into a hug, holding him tightly, being mindful not to hurt him.

"Anytime, son. Remember, you'll always be a hero in my eyes."

Leah and Josie continue their conversation in the living room, and the bond between mother and daughter grows stronger.

"Thanks, Mom. I want to make a difference, just like you and Dad."

Josie smiles, brushing a strand of hair from Leah's face.

"And you will, Eleos. You already are."

Leah smiles, feeling Josie's immense love and pride for her.

Leah stands in front of her vanity upstairs in her bedroom, brushing her hair and getting ready for bed. Her room is decorated with posters of her favorite superheroes, a testament to her admiration for her family's legacy. She places her brush down and picks up her phone, checking for last-minute messages. Just as she's about to set it aside, her phone buzzes with a new text message. She glances at the screen and sees it's from Warren Peace.

"Hey, Leah. It's Warren. Your friend, Maggie, or was it Magenta, gave me your number. You up?"

Leah's heart skips a beat. She met Warren at Sky High, and they quickly became friends because they were both in the superhero track. She smiles and taps out a response.

"Hey, Warren. Yeah, I'm still up. What's up?"

A few moments later, her phone buzzes again.

"It was nice meeting you at Sky High, and I hope we can be really good friends."

Leah smiles, remembering how Warren looked out for her during the sorting ceremony and on the bus.

"Same here. I am excited to see what we have in store for the superhero track."

Leah yawned, getting tired, and her eyes blinked when she received a response.

"It's getting late. I should let you go. Have a good evening, Leah. I'll see you tomorrow."

Leah smiled and responded.

"Good night! I'll see you tomorrow."

Leah sets her phone down, her heart still fluttering. She climbs into bed, pulls the covers up, and turns off the lamp beside her. Staring at the ceiling, she smiles, feeling a deep contentment.

"Goodnight, Warren."

With a peaceful sigh, Leah closes her eyes, her thoughts lingering on her new friend as she drifts off to sleep.

The Stronghold kitchen is buzzing with the morning routine. Leah and Will are sitting at the kitchen table, finishing their breakfast. Leah's plate is half-empty, while Will is devouring a stack of pancakes. Their parents, Steve and Josie, are bustling around, ensuring everything is in order before the kids leave for school.

Leah looks at Will.

"I can't believe it's only been a week. It feels like we've been at Sky High forever."

Will takes a bite of his pancake.

"Tell me about it. I'm finally starting to get the hang of being a Sidekick."

Leah grins at her brother.

"You mean Hero Support, right?"

Will rolls his eyes playfully.

"Yeah, yeah. Hero Support."

Josie sets a glass of orange juice before Will and ruffles his hair.

"You're both doing great. Just remember to have fun and be careful, okay?"

Steve nods, looking over the morning paper.

"And don't forget, if you ever need anything, we're just a call away."

Leah looks at her father, feeling a sense of pride and love.

"We know, Dad. Thanks."

A honk from outside signals the arrival of the school bus. Leah and Will quickly finish their breakfast and grab their backpacks. Steve and Josie walk them to the door.

"Have a great day, you two. And Leah, say hi to Warren for us."

Leah blushes slightly but nods.

"Will do, Mom. See you later!"

Will waves goodbye to his parents.

"Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad!"

Steve stands beside Josie and watches his children get inside the bus.

"Bye, kids! Have a great day!"

Once they got inside the bus, Leah and Will went their separate ways. Leah went to sit beside Warren while Will sat next to Layla. Magenta greeted Leah with a hug from behind, happy to see her best friend. The two girls looked at one another and smiled. Warren glanced at them and smiled.

Ron closes the doors and starts to drive the bus to Sky High as they head in the same direction, up in the clouds.