The Next Generation: Hades's Helm

Chapter 16: Thunder

Sorry if the translations suck. I'm using Google Translate.

Thunder was not excited to see her mother again.

Especially not since the last time they spoke, it was a fight about going to America. Jupiter was forcing Thunder to go, and she wanted her mother to come too. Her mother had refused.

Now Thunder was standing on her doorstep, not knowing if her mother would even let her in.

But, she sets aside her pride, and knocks on the door. A moment later, the door opens, and an older woman opens the door. Thunder's mother, Eun-woo. Silver rain.

Thunder sighs, bowing her head to her mother and switching to Korean. "안녕하세요, 어머니." (Hello, mother.)

Eun-woo raises her eyebrows, looking her daughter up and down for a moment, responding hesitantly. "안녕, 아이야." (Hello, child.)

Thunder takes a deep breath, trying to decide what to say. What do you say to a mother you haven't seen in 6 years? "나는 친구들을 데려왔다." (I brought my friends.)

Eun-woo glances back at Ally and Hayley, nodding slowly. Her gaze settles on Hayley. "친구가 마스크를 쓰는 이유는 무엇인가요?" (Why does your friend wear a mask?)

Thunder glances back at Hayley, who looks completely unbothered by the fact that she can't understand a word of the conversation. "그녀는 얼굴을 가리는 걸 좋아해요. 흉터." (She likes to cover her face. Her scars.)

Thunder's mother raises her eyebrows at the mention of a child as young as Hayley, the same age Thunder left, having facial scars. She moves aside, letting the three girls into her home.

Thunder glances back at the two younger girls, stepping aside to let them in first, relieved that her mother was letting them in.

Once Ally and Hayley are both inside the house, Thunder follows, keeping her head down.

Ally looks at Eun-woo, while Hayley just stays silent with her arms crossed. Ally smiles, trying to say 'Hello' in Korean, but her pronunciation makes it sound like gibberish.

Thunder's mother looks at Ally, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, before looking back at Thunder.

Thunder just shrugs, sighing quietly. "그녀는 배우고 있어요. 그녀는 안녕하세요라고 말해요." (She's learning. She says hello.)

Eun-woo raises her eyebrows, nodding slowly. She turns back to Ally, smiling warmly. "안녕하세요." (Hello.)

Ally smiles proudly, looking over at Thunder with a look of joy on her little face that a Korean woman could understand her. Thunder couldn't bring herself to tell Ally that she had to translate for her. So she just smiles at the younger girl.

Thunder turns back to her mother, still unable to meet her eyes. "우리는 탐구 중이야. 널 다시 만나고 싶었어." (We're on a quest. I wanted to see you again.)

Eun-woo steps towards her, gently lifting her chin to meet her eyes. "네가 여기 와서 기쁘다. 보고 싶었어, 내 아이야." (I'm glad you're here. I've missed you, my child.)

Thunder finally meets her mother's eyes, studying her face. Tears well up in her eyes, stepping forward and wrapping her arms around her mother, burying her face in her chest. "나도 보고 싶었어요, 어머니..." (I missed you too, Mother...)

Ally and Hayley stand silently, Ally trying to pick up on bits of the conversation while Hayley just zones out.

"배고프니?" (Are you hungry?) Thunder's mother asks, looking between the three girls with a smile. "제가 당신들 셋이 먹을 음식을 만들어 줄 수 있어요." (I can make food for the three of you.)

Hayley glances back at Ally and Hayley, looking between the two of them. "You two hungry?"

Ally and Hayley glance at each other, before they both look back at Thunder and shake their heads.

Thunder nods, turning to look back up at her mother. "아뇨. 고맙지만요, 어머니." (No, thank you, Mother.)

Thunder's mother nods, although her expression is a little sad. "좋아요. 이제 어디로 가시나요?" (Okay. Where are you headed now?)

Thunder shrugs, sighing quietly, trying to push down the helpless feeling in her chest. "우리는 모릅니다." (We don't know.)

Thunder's mother's expression softens again, gently stroking her daughter's hair. "머물러요. 적어도 하룻밤은요.) (Stay. At least one night.)

Thunder hesitates, glancing at the other two girls. Hayley looks slightly weary, but Ally looks fine. Plus, they had no plan. Staying one night couldn't hurt... "알겠습니다. 고맙습니다." (Okay. Thank you.)

Thunder's mother smiles, the lines at the crease of her eyes showing how much she had aged in the past 6 years. "제가 가서 객실을 준비할게요." (I'll go and prepare the room.)

Thunder nods, watching her mother walk down the hall. She watches as she takes some sheets from the linen closet, only tearing her eyes away when her mother walks into her old room.

She turns to the two younger girls, running her hand through her hair. "We're staying here tonight. Until we think of a plan. We can't just rush into this and hope things will work out."

Hayley glances between Ally and Thunder, her expression neutral, her eyes giving no hint as to her thoughts.

Ally nods, glancing around the house. "That seems smart. Your mother's a nice woman, from what I gathered."

"She is," Thunder answers, nodding. "I just... I don't know why I was so nervous. Sorry..."

A few moments later, Thunder's mother comes back out, leading the girls towards their room. She gives her daughter one more smile, before closing the door.