*ON HOLD* 𝘽𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙀𝙮𝙚𝙨 (𝘽𝙣𝙝𝙖 𝙭 𝘿𝙤𝙡𝙡)

True Colors

"You enjoying the new house, sweetpea?" Dad asks.

"Yeah, I guess it's nice..."

Recently, Mom and Dad bought a new house for us. Saying our old house was "too small" and "not fit for our family" but I don't really get what they mean by that. They also bought new cars and hired a personal chef. That's what they've been doing with the money we get from my interviews and training.

After my first interview where I expressed my feelings about heroes, more and more have come up. Mom has been encouraging me to talk about it more and more. Sometimes purposely steering the conversation in that direction if she's there with me.

A lot has changed recently, too much to process. I mean, just a few months ago we were in a small, poor town. A poor family of three. Little interaction with anything outside the town. And here we are now. Interviews and talk shows nearly every week, fight training everyday for multiple different styles, so much money we could literally buy our old town and still have some left over.

Mom and Dad have changed too. I'm not sure about looks, but their personalities have changed a lot. It started back in the hospital, when the press first started asking about me and got answers. They're more public now, always itching to go out and be confronted by the press. More controlling too. Dad makes sure that I don't get many breaks during training. Mom schedules interviews that I don't even want to go to.

It's all for money.

I realized that. Since my first appearance on the news, they've been getting money for it. It wasn't a lot at first, but as my condition got better and more doctors wanted to run tests on me, they got more and more. Eventually buying things they've never seen before, things they have seen before, upgrades to things they have.

It was only just recently they actually bought something for me. A phone and laptop, both voice controlled. That's it. Not like I'm asking for anything, but it'd be nice to be able to spend the money that I got. Anytime a check or cash is addressed to me, Dad will take it saying he'll keep it safe. Then ends up spending it on a new suit or something.

I started school too. A private school. It's nice. I don't have to be around my parents all day, I've made a few friends. But most just want to talk to me for money.

Why is that the only thing people want?

When I got home from school, I asked Mom that.

~~~

"Hey, Mom?" I stand in the room timidly, feeling her presence lounging on her brand new bed, a book of some sort in her hands.

"Yes?"

I cringe at her tone. It's calm, with a sharp undertone to it.

"U-Uhm..." I swallow the lump in my throat. "Why... Why do we need all this? All of this money?"

I hear her breath hitch then she closes the book and stands. I keep my head tilted down, letting my four senses let me "see".

Her presence walks towards me, body heat getting warmer until she stands in front of me. She kneels down in front of me.

"Are you not happy with what we have?" She asks with a flat tone. I shiver and shy away from her.

"W-Well... i-it's just... that..." My mind swirls as I try to find my words. "... uhm... we already... have a lot... er... you and... Dad have, a lot... I was just wondering, uhm, why do w-we need all of this?"

It goes frighteningly silent in the room, my heartbeat combating her's. Then she scoffs and before I could react, I'm forced to the side with a stinging pain in my cheek. I gasp and push myself up onto my arms as I hold my cheek.

"M-Mom?" I whimper as she towers over me.

"You should be grateful for what you have, brat."

I whimper again before crying out when her foot collides with my stomach. She kicks me back against the wall knocking the wind out of me. I gasp as sharp pain enters through my back and stomach.

"You say anything about this, then you'll lose more than just your sight," she threatens.

I whimper and nod quickly. Jumping as her footsteps walk towards me but she walks past and out of the room.

Today, my parents started to show me their true colors.

~~~

"You show up again with bruises, what are you practicing when you aren't here?"

My boxing coach sighs and helps me wrap my hands.

"Just... my Taekwondo, nothing too serious, sir," I lie. Something I've gotten good at now, all because of my parents of course.

"Be careful, kid. I get you're strong and all, but you can't just go and get yourself hurt so much. Take breaks often so your body can rest."

I laugh dryly, "you know my Dad wouldn't allow that..."

He sighs again, "I know... "

He guides me towards the gym, a punching bag now hanging in front of me.

"If you ever need a place to take a break, or just need to stay somewhere. You're always free to come here. You know where the spare key is. Even if I'm not here, you can come in and rest. Just tell your father you're coming here to practice more, I'll cover for you."

I smile softly, "thanks, sir."

He pats me shoulder, "of course. Now, you know your workout. When you're done here, we'll move to the ring and practice your reps."

"Alright."

~~~

"Abe! Abe! Can you sign this for me?"

"No wait! Sign this first!"

"Can I get a picture with you?"

"Can you just say happy birthday for my daughter?"

I groan, holding the headphones closer to my ears as I'm escorted out of school towards Mom's car.

When people found out what school I was going to, they started waiting outside for me in crowds. I've started to need headphones to block out some of the sound, everything is so loud...

I get into the backseat, closing my door before I put on my seatbelt and take off the headphones.

"Wow, you're so popular now, honey," Mom says, I sense her grinning at the crowd being held back from attacking our car.

"Yeah..." I nod.

"You ready for your interview? It starts in an hour."

"Yeah," I agree. Refusing is futile now, it only gets me in more trouble.

"Great, we'll get you fixed up and ready. I'll be joining you this time."

"Great..."

I lean against the window, listening and feeling the electricity flowing through the car. It was calming, hearing the quiet buzz. I focus on that sound and let it take over the other sounds until we get home.