totally meta

chapter 41

The sun was beginning to set as Henry and Dr. Harris approached the Meta's Redemption Church, its tall spires casting long shadows over the street. The sight of the church brought back memories of the angelic meta-human attack that had happened not too long ago. It still felt surreal to him, the idea that people believed metas could redeem themselves in the eyes of the public—and maybe even God—after what some of them had done. He wasn't sure where he stood on that yet.

"You've been awfully quiet," Dr. Harris said, breaking the silence as they walked up the stone steps. Her tone was casual, but Henry could sense there was more beneath the surface.

"Just thinking," he replied. "About last time I was here... with the fight and everything."

Dr. Harris gave him a nod of understanding. "Yeah, I figured that might be on your mind. But tonight's different. I thought it might be nice to come and see the church when it's not... under attack."

Henry chuckled softly. "Yeah, a normal service might be nice. So, you know their services are at 6 PM?"

"Yep," Dr. Harris said, a bit too quickly. There was something in her tone that caught Henry's attention, but he didn't press her on it. He glanced around as they entered the main hall, the stained glass windows casting colorful lights over the pews, giving the church a peaceful atmosphere.

They found a spot near the back and sat down, Henry feeling a little out of place. Religion wasn't really his thing, but he knew Dr. Harris was trying to help him see different aspects of life—especially now that he was a meta himself.

The service started off simple enough, with the pastor talking about redemption and forgiveness, especially when it came to those with extraordinary abilities. Henry had to admit, he found it interesting how the church had embraced metas as part of their congregation. There was something hopeful about the idea that people, no matter how different, could change for the better.

As the service wrapped up, Henry began to stand, thinking it was time to leave. But before he could, Dr. Harris gently tugged on his sleeve.

"Wait a minute," she said, her eyes glinting with something he couldn't quite place. "There's more."

Henry sat back down, glancing around as people began to fill the aisles. He noticed there were more people than he expected for a regular Sunday service. His brow furrowed in confusion as the pastor stepped forward again, this time with a wide smile.

"And now, as we close our evening, I'd like to invite everyone to stay for a very special occasion—a wedding between two of our own."

Henry blinked in surprise. A wedding?

He glanced at Dr. Harris, who was watching him with an amused smile. "A wedding?" he whispered.

"Yeah, a meta wedding," she whispered back. "I thought it might be fun to see."

He nodded, unsure why she seemed so invested, but he figured it was just because it was different. He hadn't exactly seen many meta-humans get married before.

The doors at the back of the church opened, and Henry's eyes widened as the bride and groom entered. The bride, a woman with short white hair, wore a gown that glittered like frost, her breath visible in the air as she smiled. He didn't need to guess—this was the meta with ice powers. She looked stunning, the cold radiating from her in soft waves, but it didn't seem to bother anyone.

The groom was equally impressive. Tall and athletic, his dark hair was cropped short, and his tuxedo was sharp. Henry had seen this meta before—the man who could teleport, but only to places he could see.

The ceremony began, and Henry couldn't help but be drawn into the beauty of it all. The vows they exchanged weren't just about love; they spoke about their powers, their burdens, and how they would support each other in using them for good. It was... touching, in a way Henry hadn't expected.

As the ceremony continued, Henry noticed Dr. Harris was unusually quiet, her eyes flicking between the couple and him, as if waiting for him to realize something. He gave her a curious glance, but she just smiled and shook her head.

After the vows were exchanged and the couple kissed to a round of applause, Henry stood, ready to head out. But as they walked out of the church and into the cool evening air, Dr. Harris cleared her throat.

"So... what did you think?" she asked casually.

"It was nice. Unexpected," Henry said, shrugging. "I didn't know we were coming for a wedding, though."

Dr. Harris laughed softly, shaking her head in amusement. "Of course you didn't," she muttered under her breath, though Henry didn't catch it.

"What was that?" he asked, glancing at her.

"Nothing," she replied with a sly smile. "I just thought it was nice to see people committing to each other like that, you know?"

Henry nodded, though he was still trying to figure out why she seemed so focused on this particular event. He glanced at her, noticing the way she seemed to be watching him, almost as if waiting for him to piece something together.

"Yeah, I guess," he said, still a little lost. "But... why the wedding, though? Why did you really want me to come here?"

Dr. Harris smiled at him, her eyes soft but teasing. "Oh, Henry. Sometimes you're just too oblivious for your own good." She laughed lightly, giving him a playful nudge before walking ahead, leaving him to puzzle over her words.

As they walked back to the car, Henry couldn't shake the feeling that she was trying to tell him something important—something beyond just seeing a wedding. But for the life of him, he couldn't figure out what it was.

Still, he was glad they had come. If nothing else, the evening had reminded him that there was more to being a meta-human than just fighting. There was room for love, forgiveness, and maybe even redemption.