totally meta

chapter 37

Henry arrived home later that evening, still buzzing with the adrenaline of his run and the conversation with Dr. Harris. As he entered the apartment, he noticed his mother sitting at the kitchen table, surrounded by stacks of old newspapers and reports. The glow from the laptop illuminated her face as she scrolled through footage of the Flash on various news channels.

"Hey, Mom," he said softly, apprehensive about her reaction after their earlier confrontation.

She turned to him, her eyes tired but determined. "I've been looking into all of this," she said, gesturing to the chaotic spread of articles and videos. "I wanted to understand what you're involved in."

Henry walked over, pulling out a chair to sit beside her. He watched as she clicked on a clip showing the Flash saving a group of people from a collapsing building, the hero's iconic red suit gleaming against the wreckage. "I can't believe you're really part of this world," she murmured, shaking her head in disbelief. "I've seen how dangerous it can be."

"I know it looks intense," Henry said, his voice steady. "But I'm trained to handle it. I'm not just running around blindly. I've been working with Seven Labs, and we're trying to make things safer for everyone involved, especially the meta-humans."

She nodded, absorbing his words. "I still don't understand all the details. It's overwhelming. But... seeing this, knowing you're out there doing something good, it makes me realize I have to trust you."

"I'm glad to hear that," he said, relief washing over him. "I don't want to worry you. I want to be able to share this with you."

She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I'm sorry for my reaction earlier, Henry. I was just scared. The thought of you getting hurt or caught in something you couldn't handle... it terrifies me."

"I get it," he replied, reaching out to hold her hand. "It's a lot to take in. But I promise you, I know what I'm doing. I wouldn't put myself in danger without a plan."

After a long pause, his mother looked at him, her expression softening. "I'm proud of you, Henry. I really am. You're doing something meaningful, and that takes courage."

"Thanks, Mom," he said, his heart swelling with gratitude. "It means a lot to hear that from you."

"But," she continued, her voice taking on a serious tone, "you should have trusted me with this. I would have understood sooner if you had just told me. Keeping it a secret only made me more anxious."

Henry nodded, the guilt gnawing at him again. "I know. I was just trying to protect you from worrying. I thought it would be easier if you didn't know."

She shook her head. "You should have known I'd rather know the truth, no matter how scary it is. Just promise me you'll always be honest with me moving forward, okay?"

"I promise," he said sincerely, squeezing her hand. "No more secrets. I'll keep you in the loop."

His mother smiled faintly, but the worry still lingered in her eyes. "I just hope you're safe out there. You're still my son, and I want you back in one piece after every adventure."

"I'll always come back," Henry reassured her. "I promise."

As they shared a moment of quiet understanding, Henry felt a weight lift off his shoulders. For the first time, he could see a path forward, one that included his mother's support rather than her fear.

"Now," she said, glancing back at the laptop, "let's watch some more of these reports together. I want to learn about the Flash from the best source available."

Henry chuckled, the tension in the room easing as they settled into a comfortable rhythm of sharing stories and experiences. For the first time since he had embraced his identity as the Flash, he felt not just like a hero, but also like a son who had made his mother proud.