7 Chapter 7

"...This sucks"

I can't believe I'm in school again.

How is it that I met Alfred and Barbara just in time before the start of the semester? If I had met them in the middle of it, I'd be able to get my mind ready because I would have to enter in the next semester.

I just got thrown into something again.

"At least it's an online course." I muttered to myself as I stared at my computer in my room.

Alfred enrolled me in Gotham State University. I'm currently taking an online course for an Engineering major and a double minor in business and law. Damn. I'm taking four to five classes a week.

My mom said I have it easy. Both her and dad were double majors in Biology and Physics. They even took other classes outside of their courses. She even offered help if I needed it.

Although, I don't think I need it. I'm usually fine studying on my own even back in high school. I was either number two or three in my class with little effort. My little brother is the same. I guess it's in the genes. Thank god for my parents.

I looked down at my broken right leg. The cast is getting removed next week but I still have to attend therapy sessions.

I frowned at the fact that my classes and therapy sessions will take up most of my time now. Even when I get better and stop therapy, I have my job now as a personal attendant.

I know what I used to do was morally wrong but it was more fun than this. The satisfying feeling of executing your plan that you carefully formulated is addicting. It's the rush from the feeling that you might get caught. The frown on your targets' faces knowing that you outsmarted them gets you high. But I guess that's all over now.

I heaved out a sigh of and swallowed.

"I need a drink"

I hopped on my knee scooter to get to the fridge and get a beverage.

Tsp.

My bottled water made a small noise when I opened it. I gulped down half of it then brought the rest with me towards my desk where I'm studying. I then got back to the video presentation that I was watching for class.

After five minutes of being in class, I concluded that...

"Yup. This is f**king boring."

------

"Mary. Are you on break?" Barbara said as she leaned on the doorway.

"Commisioner. Yes, I am."

"Would you like to get coffee together?"

"Sure." Mary replied with a smile

Inside the cafeteria, they brought their drinks on a table.

"How have you been? Have you gotten used to your job?"

"Like riding a bike." Mary said.

"Good. I was a little worried you might have second thoughts about it."

"I did, but I'm okay now."

"Why?"

"Because of ARGUS" Mary said.

"What happened in ARGUS?"

"As you know, my husband was killed. ARGUS investigated it and eventually got the killer. I requested many times to be on the team that investigated his case but got declined every time because I was related to the victim. I argued many times that I won't be biased and get the job done right. I wanted to be the one to get justice for Warren."

She blew on her coffee and took a sip before continuing.

"That's why they fired me. The grounds was for being emotionally unstable. I hesitated accepting your offer because I worry about crossing paths with them again due to our line of work. I try not to be so bitter though because they did help us when Warren and I were having trouble getting pregnant."

"You did? How did they help you?"

"A free IVF for employees."

"Both Terry and Matt?"

"Yes."

"Interesting. Is that why they have a huge age gap?"

"Yes" Mary chuckled. "We thought too long about having another child."

She wanted to ask another question about his husband's case but she didn't want to dampen Mary's mood again.

-----

-Sittin' on the couch and I'm going through my Netflix (Yeah)

Bored than a moth********, I ain't doin' s***

Tell her pull up make it shake like Nesquik (Woo)

Music was blasting in Terry's room while he's laying down on his bed playing catch with himself.

He has already scrolled through social media posts, watched a movie, played video games. He can't think of anything to do anymore.

Bzzzz.

"..!"

It was the door buzzer. He sat up and grabbed his phone. The drone in his room turned on and then flew up. He controlled it using his phone and made it fly out of his open window towards the delivery guy.

The delivery man saw Terry on the screen of the drone but he wasn't startled because this technology is common at this time.

"Your pizza, sir." The delivery man said.

-The money is on the drone. Leave the pizza on it.

"Got it." The delivery guy took the money and plazed the pizza on the drone.

-Thanks.

The drone flew back up and then entered the window. The drone landed near the bed where Terry was sitting.

He quickly grabbed a slice and bit onto it.

Looking at the pizza that he can't finish alone, Terry realized that he never really had friends he can talk to except for the ones from the mutants who he made an enemy out of. Namely, Don, his second-in-command. He wasn't close to his social media friends in real life. Most of them were his classmates in high school that he didn't really have a close relationship with.

Although there is one, he hasn't really talked to him since he was sent to Arkham Asylum. Doug Tan.

"...Dana" A name escaped from Terry's lips.

Dana Tan. Doug Tan's younger sister. He remembered her because unlike other girls, she wasn't scared of him. Maybe because she's used to guys that are like her brother. She's probably the only girl he was close to. Girls talk to him but it was either because of his influence in the mutants or because of money.

He opened his phone and checked his social media. Terry searched "Dana Tan" then stalked her on her profile.

"How about that. Psychology Freshman in GSU." He smiled thinking about the coincidence that they'd both end up in the same university.

Terry opened a chat window to talk to her.

-Hey. How's it going?

"No. That's too creepy." He said as he deleted his message.

He was about to construct another one but...

"Terry~!" His mom and brother came home.

He hopped out of his room on his one good leg. Even though he has his knee scooter, he sometimes just does this so at least one of his legs don't atrophy.

"Hey, mom."

"Did you have dinner yet?"

"I'm eating Pizza."

"Pizza!?" His brother exclaimed.

"Yup. A whole box just for me~"

"Can I have some?"

"Nope."

"You suck."

"Language, Matthew."

"You can have some if you beat me at cry of duty~"

"Prepare yourself!" Matt McGinnis shouted as he raced up the stairs towards Terry's room.

The truth is, Terry would give his beloved brother food. He just wanted to tease him a little bit.

"I'll make some salad and grilled chicken. You boys can't have just pizza for dinner."

""Okay"" The two replied before going into Terry's room.

The brothers played and ate in Terry's room while their mom just gave them more food and took a slice of pizza before going out.

"Hey, Terry." Matt said

"What's up?" Terry replied while still facing the screen.

"You'll be out of the house again after you get better, huh?"

Terry turned away from the game they were playing and looked at his little brother.

Matt admired his big brother. They didn't get to spend much time before but when they do, they get along really well. Without a father, Terry was the only one who Matt looked up to. And he was afraid when he heard the news of Terry going to prison. He didn't know how long but it in his young mind, prison was forever. He was scared of losing his older brother.

"For my job, yes. You want me out of the house that bad?" Terry said as he threw a pillow at Matt.

In fact, Terry knew that his brother looked up to him and he didn't want him following his footsteps. The fights. He did it to stand up for his mother and his deceased father. His involvement with a criminal gang. To help his mother and brother have a little bit of leisure with the money he got.

Not knowing it, he formed a gap with his mother and little brother because he was guilty. He knew all of what he's doing was wrong despite the reason for it.

"I do want you out so that mom only has to worry about me."

"You punk."

"Bleh" Matt stuck out his tongue.

Then Terry threw another pillow at him and it initiated a wrestling match.

Despite all these unsaid things, the one thing they do know is that they love each other.

"Keep it down you two." Their mother peeked her head into their room.