Daddy Issues»©

chapter 7

John knew what Peter was talking about, he tried to hide it, to be normal. He knew that there was always a silence in the house when it came to people who were different in those genetic and super ways. He wanted nothing more than for them to go away, only the more he ignored it, they caused physical pain. Like he was ready to implode.

"They hurt dad. Every time I close my eyes. I can't get rid of it. It's scary." John said.

Peter couldn't bare the thoughts if how he felt when he first got his powers. His were fun then, they brought him joy and power but the responsibility is what killed him. What could've happened to Gwen. What did happen to Liz. Those were the things that made him quit, but Ben... that he will never forget.

"I just feel weird."

Peter could only see those moments of the worst days if his life. Now he had to watch his son go through the same thing.

"What can u do?" Peter asked John.

He was nervous because he knew he could summon them by will, but he always did it by accident.

He stood and walked to a wall. While Peter watched John pressed his hand against the wall and then his palm shined bright purple. His hand faded right through the wall.

He pulled it back out and with him his father's wallet returned. "It mostly happens when I stay still for too long. Like sleeping or sitting in class." Expecting his father to be impressed all he saw in Peters eyes was emptiness. Peter snatched the wallet from Johns hands and grabbed John by the arm furiously. His movements were constructed in fear and anger. He dragged John to his room mumbling no all the way there. Hiding in the closet Clayton could only watch.

"Dad, what did i do wrong?" John yelled.

Peters eyes were glassy and his veins bulged fro his arms. "You are human! " He bombarded. "You hear me! Don't use those damn things again, don't tell anyone, don't play with it, don't even think about them again!"

"They are a part of me, i cant ignore them. I am one of those heroes, i'm special."

Peter rose his hand and it came smashing down onto Johns skin throwing him off the bed and onto the floor. Watching john whimper as he tried to stand peter hated himself more than ever. Clayton covered his mouth in the closet wanting to step out and do something, anything. His muscles froze and he could not move, he had not dared to breath.

"I'm sorry John. You are not special those powers will only bring death." Peter left out the room with just as much tears as John. As his father left Clayton emerged from the closet and locked the door behind Peter, rushing back to John who was cradling himself while drowning in sorrow.

Clayton held John arm and sat there with him without any words. he had nothing to say. How were you supposed to act when you find out that your best-friend is a mutant and his father almost hates him and himself for it. He could hear peter yelling, what have i done up stairs. Only having him hold peter tighter. "I'm sorry, John. I should have done something."

Despite the odd connection and emotion from Clayton John, buried his face in his chest. "I would have never guessed you were one of those. You didn't deserve that."

《◇》

John pulled the meat from his sandwich and chowed down throwing the rest away into the garbage bin next to the recycle cafeteria table. Clayton watched him recognizing how his mood dropped lower than usual. He wasn't angry or irritated, he was just numb. Swirling his straw in his milk staring out the window into the warm sun. The cafe was ignited in excitement with summer break on it's way. Tyrone was absent lately, he hadn't shown up since Wednesday and never gave his coach a heads up about his absence.

Clayton leaned forward to John watching his glassy eyes flicker in the sunlight. John looked at him for a moment before pulling his tray away and walking out the lunch court. No one noticed John leave in a bin of tears dripping from his eyes. He walked in the hallways with his hands in his pockets and his face puffy enough for all to see. It scared him, what he can do. The fact that he wanted to feel hurt, or sad. Despite all the tears he was shedding he hadn't felt actual pain. He did not feel anything. Every tear he felt surprised him. like his eyes were melting and he could not feel it. His face was warm and he always felt detached from everything.

John did not know what to do, now that he knew he was too different. More different than before, now he was so difference there was nothing to describe who he was. Before he was quiet, and weird, and closed off, and angry, but now.... he is just, that one thing the world hates most. Something it cannot understand. New. and he hated it, but he loved his home because no matter how much time passed it stayed the same. Not anymore, because he changed.

"Parker!" The principal called after him with his hands on his sides. The flaps of his jacket resting on his wrist. "Where are you supposed to be?"

John was in complete silence, the tears stopped shedding and his face was stiff staring at those doors of light in front of him. He could not even answer him because he had no answer.

"Your teachers have noticed your grades dropping young man, these halls will not help you... with whatever is going on."

nothing can help me. Hell i don't know what to do with myself.

"I was just looking for a clearer bathroom, and got lost in thought...sir." John said wiping the tears from his face.

"All right then. Don't be causing any trouble young man."