The Night Monkey

1.7 Atoning for Mistakes

Y/N walked back home with his head hung low. He slowly brought out his key and opened the door into the family apartment. Julia and David were in the middle of a conversation when he entered. They stopped upon seeing their son. He looked distraught.

Julia: Y/N, what's wrong, baby?

Y/N brought his head up. He looked at them with bloodshot eyes and a running noise. His voice was coarse.

Y/N: I messed up.

Y/N's parents immediately moved over to comfort him. They assumed he was just having a mental breakdown. After grandpa's passing and everything going on, he must have been under so much pressure.

Julia wrapped her arms around her crying son. She held him close, cradling his head in her arms. She gently rubbed his head, speaking soft words of encouragement to him.

Julia: It's okay, sweetheart. It's okay.

Y/N eventually calmed down. He told them that he was in an altercation. That he got arrogant and someone got seriously hurt in the process. His parents sat down on either side of him, trying to comfort their boy.

Y/N: It's all my fault. If I had just focused, if I wasn't trying to show off... Grandpa would be so disappointed in me.

Julia held her son close, rubbing his back. David looked at his eldest boy. He gently took his hand in his.

David: No, he would not.

Y/N looked at his father, still upset and unsure.

Y/N: Yes, he would. I let someone get hurt. Someone paid the price for my mistakes.

David: But you recognize it as a mistake. 

Y/N: I just... People are expecting me to be like someone. Maybe I even expect myself to be like them. But I just can't. I can't be a hero.

Julia brought her head forward, looking at her son.

Julia: A hero? Y/N... 

She paused for a moment before continuing.

Julia: Do you remember when we first brought Grant home? He was so scared and frightened by this new environment. He'd come from a bad home life. But you gave him something he never had before. You gave him love and support. You helped him with his homework and stayed up late into the night just to help him learn how to read when I wasn't available. And you were so tired the next day. But it was worth it. 

David looked at his son with wide, proud eyes.

David: You weren't here when I last talked to your grandfather. He'd called over the phone just to tell me that he had such a wonderful time playing games with you. How he looked forward to always seeing you. How you'd drop everything just to talk to him. Even though he didn't say it, I suspect you were a glimmer of joy through the pain he tried to hide. 

Julia: In your own way, Y/N, you are a hero. Not by having superpowers or running around in a tight costume, but because of who you are. You are a hero just by being yourself. And I am so proud of the man you are becoming.

David: You made a mistake. Everybody does. The important thing is that you realized why. You are young. You're still trying to find your place in the world. Things are bound to be out of your control. But it is by being you, being the kind, intelligent young man you are right now, that makes you a good person.

Y/N smiled weakly at his parents. New tears started to stream down his face. Both David and Julia wrapped their arms around his head and held him close. Y/N held onto his parents, breathing deeply and letting their warmth and words of love and encouragement sink in.