Project Renegade: Genesis

Happy Birthday

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December 30th, 5:04 p.m.

The living room was alive with button mashing, explosions, and shouted insults. Ryan and Max sat side by side on the couch, controllers gripped tightly as their characters battled across the screen.

"Ryan! I'm telling you, watch out for the low! Watch low!" Alex cheered from behind them. 

"I'm trying!" Ryan blocked Max's attack, "Since when did you get so good at this?!"

"I've always been this good." Max laughed, putting Ryan into a 25-hit combo.

Across the room, Jennifer sat comfortably with a soda in hand, watching the chaos with an amused grin. Adam wandered through the dining room, occasionally glancing toward the television. As he passed Jennifer, he reached down and gently messed up her puff.

"Uncle Adam!" Jennifer swatted his hand away, "That took forever."

"I envy those with hair, what can I say?" Adam grinned. "

He chuckled and continued toward the couch. On screen, Ryan's character knocked Max's through a window. The stage transition triggered as Max's character crash-landed into a car below.

"OKAY!" Ryan jumped up.

"I BLOCKED!" Max shot to his feet as well, the fight growing more intense.

Adam watched his two sons battle for another few seconds, then slowly stepped in front of the television.  Adam spread his arms wide, blocking the screen completely.

"Dad, move." The twins leaned sideways, trying to see around him.

"You know, in my day, we celebrated birthdays with real games. Like spades or, I don't know, going outside. "

FWOOM!

The twins looked past their dad as the television flickered and turned off. The final glimpse of the game showed both characters collapsing onto the ground. 

"Well, looks like I can have all your attention now." Adam chuckled, "It's like it was yesterday when you two were running around the house, fighting over whose action figure was whose."

Ryan and Max took their seats as Adam suddenly covered his face and began fake crying. The twins exchanged a side-eye, completely unimpressed by his attempt at humor.

"But seriously." Adam's expression softened, "I want you to know something. I'm proud of the men you two are becoming. I may not say it enough, but I am proud."

Max smiled. Ryan paused. For some reason, those words almost didn't feel real.

"Before you know it, you're twenty-five," Adam continued. "Then maybe one day, you'll be telling your own kids this."

He walked over and pulled both of his sons off the couch into a massive embrace.

"Just...take your time on the kids part, okay?"

DING!

The doorbell rang. Everyone paused and looked toward the front door.

"Guess your mother's back with the pizza." Adam stepped away. "Go set up the table."

Ryan's stomach tightened. Something felt off. He couldn't explain it. Max looked left and noticed his father's phone buzzing on the counter. It was their mom.  Multiple missed calls.

"Dad?" Max grabbed the phone.

BOOM!

Adam's body suddenly rocketed through the hallway. He slammed into the refrigerator hard enough to cave the metal inward around his back.