Mod Superhero (Book 6 STUBBING on Oct 27th)

Chapter 6.53 - New Living Arrangements

Mod's family spent most of the day getting used to their new surroundings and trying to process their new situation.

...It was going to take a while.

Mod didn't want to intrude, but he kept tabs on his family through the night. Clara was the only one that drank coffee anymore, but they'd saved two old coffee makers in case of guests. As everyone woke up, Mod brewed coffee and brought them cups.

Well, everyone except the nephews.

He also brought them a can of Shower-in-a-Bottle. They had plenty of water in the lab, but every ounce of it was accounted for—used to cool servers or in various productions. Mod's team had been living off his invention for most of the last two years. The little canister was part deodorant, part dry shampoo, and part disinfectant spray. The nanites broke down sweat, grime, and dirt, and lasted three to four days on one application.

Mom and Dad were the first ones up. When Mod stopped by, he found them wearing the new robes that TINA had made. They both eagerly took the coffee and hugged him.

Mod hugged them back.

He knew that they were relieved—relieved that they and everyone else had survived and that they were safe now. Maybe they were even relieved to see him. Hugging each other was normal enough, too. His family always hugged hello and goodbye. But doubt and insecurity was eating at Mod, and some variation kept gnawing at him anytime Mod saw his family, or Clara, or his former self... Even now, that doubt only grew.

Were they hugging him because of who he was or who they thought he was?

The moment ended, and his parents pulled away.

Dad put on his glasses and stared at the tiny canister. "It's got what in it now?"

Mom replied, "Nanites, honey. The same stuff both the boys are using for their powers."

"More or less," Mod replied, clearing his throat. She wasn't talking about Mod and Lock. She was talking about Mod and Emmett... Mod pushed the thought away and continued.

"I know we've got a lot to talk about, but we should wait until everyone's up."

Dad set down the shower canister. "Let's go wake them up now—"

Mom grabbed his arm. "Just hold on. You let them sleep."

"If we wait on Antony to wake up, we'll be here all day!"

"Dad... I don't know when you'll be able to go back home."

Dad rubbed the back of his neck. "I know. Bad joke. Sorry. It's just... What are we supposed to do until then?" He looked around the sparsely furnished room to emphasize his point.

Mod used nanites to conjure a universal remote in one hand. In the other, he conjured two tablets. He handed the gadgets to his parents. To their credit, they only hesitated a moment before accepting them.

"Just point the remote at whichever wall you want the TV on and say what you want to watch. Same thing with the tablets. TINA already logged your books and apps. Let me know if you have any trouble."

Dad asked, "You do tech support now too?"

Mom replied, "It probably has a manual, but we all know you won't read it."

The pair snorted, and Mod managed a small smile. "That was engineered by TINA herself. It blows those other smart TVs and devices out of the water."

It was Dad's turn to smile. "If that's true, then she has a fan for life."