A Slight Family History. || The Slights

Chapter 1

Storm was different. In how he looked, how he acted and what he could do. It was clear to him and everyone around him he was different, but, he was no different to his family members. So tell me, who was the different one there? No one. Not that difference was a bad thing, at least in his eyes. No matter what Storm thought, however, the taller, older townsfolk would always speak over him. They would push his ideas down, thus silencing him.

Storm on the other hand, always listened to other people's ideas and thoughts on things. He was a happy child, usually giddy and always looking for something to do. I should probably explain why Storm was so different to a usual seven-year-old then; he had black hair, oddly styled to the side with slightly dark, olive skin. He had a shining cyan left eye, then his right was an endless, inky void. That was why he was so different.

This inky eye of his leaked sometimes, though not because he was crying. At times, the ink would just overflow and he was powerless against it, he would just have to tissue it up and hope for the best that it wouldn't continue. On his left arm was a blazing symbol of a crow, almost like a tattoo except he was born with it. The reason he was so different in those aspects was because of something that had happened to his mother, Maria, while she was pregnant with him. His mother didn't tell him the details...

Once his tattoo was touched with his fingers, he could change his form into a crow. Yet another difference that cast him into the unwanted spotlight. Though this power came with a few perks, it wasn't worth the bullying, the torment and the hiding he had to go through. Storm had subsequently resided in the forest beside his home, using his free time to control his shapeshifting abilities.

One day, Storm was absent-mindedly creating a spear from a sharp rocks, vines and a sturdy piece of wood when a twig snapped behind him. Fear crackled through the now ten-year-old and without thinking, he changed into his crow form. He thought he'd gotten the hang of this! Then at some fear, he'd change without even touching his tattoo! Storm quickly switched back to a human and leapt to his feet, pointing the spear in the direction of the sound, "Who goes there? I'm armed!"
"I know." A familiar voice replied and Storm's arms relaxed a little. A tall, well built man in a blue suit stepped out of the bushes and Storm saluted to him.
"Damien."
"Slight." The man known as Damien nodded to him, giving him a hand motion and Storm stopped saluting. "How are you, Slight?"
"Fine. Lonely, but fine." Storm replied, a little annoyed that he insisted on using his second name. Damien was the highest ranking officer of his home town, he was puzzled at why the taller man was out here. "If you don't mind me asking, why are you here?"

Damien leaned against a tree, inspecting the spear Storm had made. "I came looking for you. I happened to overhear some of the townsfolk talking about you earlier." Storm winced, looking down and gripping the spear. Damien continued, "I understand how regularly this happens and have decided to intervene. I wish to train you, Slight."
Storm looked up incredulously, "Really, sir?" Damien nodded as a reply, cracking a smile. Storm stood up straight, saluting again, "I will not disappoint! Just say when and I'll be there!"

Damien chuckled, "Eager. That's good. We can schedule training on Tuesdays and Thursdays? Only if you're willing to put in the effort of training yourself as well."
Storm nodded determinedly, his single eye blazing with excitement for his upcoming training. "Sir, yes sir!"
Damien nodded to him, "See you tomorrow then, Slight. 8:00am sharp. Good day to you." Damien then turned and walked back the way he came, leaving a much happier and definitely a much more determined Storm behind.

(Shorter than usual because eh I cba)