Chapter 2 : Getting back home

[Author note : fresh chapter, right out of the press ! Not really… Still it is something you haven't read before ! Second chapter of my other fanfic in the Marvelverse.

You can read up to 10 chapters ahead on my Patréon (replace é by e)if you're interested ! Search for Cathbel on their website. Or you can also use this link by simply replacing * by o :

https://www.patre*n.com/user?u=66371596

Enjoy your read !]

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Won't you look at that ! Apparently, I look like a beggar. Then again, I am not really surprised. For weeks, I spent my life in the underground tunnels and then the sewers, scraping by and getting beaten up. Now, shop owners don't really look kindly at me entering their stores. Maybe I could go to the mall or something, but I think the security would throw me out too. Besides, I was looking for dip pens… Something I realized was rather expensive, especially for someone like me who had nothing ! Not to mention, it isn't exactly something commonly found.

Nowadays, it's easier to find fountain pens rather than dip pens. They are more practical after all… The thing is, I don't see myself emptying a cartridge just so I can fill it back up with my ink by spitting inside it. I mean, that'd be messy, no doubt !

Also, as I walked under the light of the sun for the first time in weeks, I discovered something… For some reason, my power doesn't seem to have turned me back completely into a human. Although the suction pad fade somewhat, they're still there. My eyes still have this somewhat strange shape where the pupil is flat and elongated. And my skin tone, although lighter, is still different from what it used to be ! Also… I'm still bald !

I need to find out why, but for now, I probably can't do it on my own… Hence why I am currently standing in front of my parents house, with my finger hovering over the doorbell, trembling. Do I tell them the truth ? They'll obviously notice my change… What to do ?

As I am inwardly starting to panic, I see movement out of the corner of my eye. Then, the sounds of footsteps almost running through the house, the lock unlocking swiftly… And the door opening wide, my mother, tears in her eyes, is standing there.

« Hi, mom ! » Dad is approaching from behind her. « Hi, dad ! »

They are an attractive middle aged couple of caucasian descent. My mom had auburn colored long hair, flowing loosely on her back and shoulders, brown eyes and a skin so white you'd think her sickly. She isn't.

My father, on the other hand, was tanned, with dark blond short hair styled neatly, brown eyes, a tall and muscular figure. He is currently looking at me with a raised eyebrow, probably assessing my changes.

My mom engulfs me in a hug without a word. After a while, she releases me, looks me in the eye and asks :

« Where were you ? » Before I can speak, she continues : « Your dad and I have been worried sick, looking for you ! You disappeared almost a month ago, without a word… We thought you'd been kidnapped ! »

Still nervous, I say :

« Can… can we talk inside ? »

After a moment of looking at me silently, my parents allow me inside. Despite everything I put them through, I can see they were, and still are, worried about me. Still, there's also something in their eyes… I can't quite put my finger on but it makes me curious.

We all go to the living room and I sit on the couch, with my mom close to me. It's like she doesn't want to let me go. Afraid to lose me again, probably…

« Mom ! I'm not going anywhere ! And I'll explain… Why I haven't come home… » I add the last part in a small voice, afraid of their reaction as well as my incoming revelation. Before they could say anything, I just blurt it out : « I am a mutant… God, I hate that word. »

Silence. My parents look at each other, then a question I don't expect come out of the blue :

« You've awakened your X-gene ? »

It's my dad. For some reason, I feel like he knew it would happen… Or perhaps it's just something they expected ?

« Hm… Y-yeah ! Dad… How do you know… ? »

He shrugs and it's my mom's hands grabbing mine that catches my attention.

« Your dad's a mutant, too. We knew it was a possibility. We didn't tell you because we wanted you to have a sense of normalcy… »

« I've seen what the idea of having the X-gene do to people. After all, I've lived it. Either you wait your whole life for something that might not happen, or you dread it… And in any case, it's not really something you can prepare for. » My dad says. « My question is this… Why the hell did you think we wouldn't accept you ? 'Cause that's why you disappeared isn't it ? »

I nod, then I shake my head. My voice catches in my throat and I can't find my words. Finally, I say :

« I don't… know. Every day, on the TV, the Internet or the papers… You hear about mutants rampaging, getting arrested for something or other or rejected by their loved ones… I just… » I sigh and admit : « I thought it was possible you'd be the same… I mean, you've always seemed to like your current life. It's normal… »

My mom snickers and soon, my dad joins too.

« What… ? »

« Dear, we've never been normal. But well, we have time for that later… For now, what's your mutation ? »

I turn my hands up on my lap, looking at them. I can still see the tiny dots which were previously suction pads. I tell them :

« I'm some kind of cephalopod-human hybrid, I guess. Oh ! And I can produce magical ink ! »

Another look exchange between my parents. They keep silent though, so I explain to them :

« I'm almost human right now, but it wasn't like this a few hours ago. I didn't have bones, had suction pads on my limbs and face-tentacles ! When I found paper in the sewer, I just wrote on it with my ink… I think I was desperate to be back to normal, with you… I wrote that I returned to human form. And it happened ! At least for a while. The paper was damp and the ink got blurred, which made me blur before I reverted back to my squid-like appearance. »

I continue to explain for a while how I then started experimenting and making plans, hoping to come back to them. And then, about my trip back to the surface only to be thrown out from the few shops where I thought I could find dip pens… My hope was that I'd come back as I left, with my hair back and everything…

Something I don't tell them is that I feel kinda pathetic coming back here like this… Especially after what I've apparently put them through : they were really worried for me, I can tell !

After 12 years living with my new parents, I love them too, of course. But, as an adult (in mind, at least), coming crawling back to them still feels like a failure to me. Not to mention spilling the beans like this. I guess, the good thing is, at least I have supportive parents !

My mom takes on a thoughtful look and muttered :

« So, that's why scrying didn't work ! »

Scrying ? Wasn't it some kind of mystical term ? Or perhaps it was a superpower ?

« Are you… a mutant, too, mom ? »

My mom looks at me, then as if realizing, she shakes her head, then nods :

« I guess, you could say that. A different kind, though. See, I come from a long line of witches. »

I open my mouth, gaping at her. I know some witches exist in this world, like the Scarlet Witch (though she hasn't made an appearance yet). At this point, my father chooses to speak :

« His ability is partly mystical in nature, don't you think ? Maybe we should start to teach him what we know… »

My mother nods after a while of looking at me seriously. She adds :

« He's always been serious enough… Besides, I'm interested in our son's power. » With a dreamy look, she says : « It's been so long since I've truly practiced magic. Let alone, researched it ! »

My anxiety is gradually being replaced by a feeling of dread as I look on the devilish smile shared by my parents…