Arc 2 Epilogue: A Family Reunion

"I'm home!" I yelled out, kicking off my shoes before walking in.

Instead of my normal greeting of Luna rushing to see me, I was met with resounding silence, which was odd, especially since most, if not all, the lights were off.

"Uh, I'm getting horror movie vibes right now, so the Black in me is telling me to run far away," I said, and I proceeded to do so.

But, of course, it's never that easy.

As I was putting my shoes back on, thinking about where I was going to sleep tonight (probably to Depra's house), I heard Luna's voice coming from upstairs.

"B-big bro, it's not wh-what you th-think. It's okay, c'mon up."

Well, that alone should be enough for me to nope on outta here. But, I do get the feeling its actually her though.

I scowled, looking from the door to the stairs, before finally deciding.

"I know I'm failing every Black person out there, but what choice do I have?"

I took off my shoes before walking up the stairs, the silence deafening.

I stopped when I reached the top, looking down to see my adorable lil sis hugging her knees on the floor.

"Hey, I didn't get transported to a horror movie, did I Luna?"

She shook her head, before pointing towards our parents' room.

"It's bad big bro, really bad. Just, go in there…"

Okay, I'm starting to freak out now. Damn, and here I thought my life was looking up.

I walked to our parents room, the door closed. It was also the only room with the light on. I really didn't know what to expect, but judging from Luna, it really freaked her out.

"Hey Luna, do I knock first?"

I watched her shake her head.

Well, I can think of two things:

Either Lesty somehow made an elaborate plan to squish and squash me, or something really bad happened.

I really hope it's the first one.

I swung the door open, wincing at the bright light.

"Get him!"

And before I knew it, I was tackled to the ground, getting squished and squashed.

"Oh, I knew it would work! Thanks a bunch dear!"

"Aha, not at all! I figured this might work best for the surprise!"

Wait, why are there two voices? More than that…

"OI, get off me already! You're heavy Lesty!"

"How rude! I'll have you know it's not only me!"

"Indeed, how could you forget about me!?"

Huh? Ah, shit, I forgot…

I managed to squirm away and turn on the hallway light, revealing the two perpetrators.

"Aw, he managed to get away. But thanks, I'm glad I got him at least once," Lesty said, grinning at me. She was dressed in pajamas, and her light-brown hair was tied up in a messy bun.

"Now it's my turn, c'mere already!"

I was suddenly squeezed hard by the second perpetrator, to the point where I couldn't breathe.

"H-hey! C-can't br-breathe!"

"Oh, I forgot you're not very strong, my bad." I was released, and I coughed, looking at him.

With skin only a shade lighter than mine, a bald head with a mustache as his facial hair, wearing matching pajamas with Lesty, this person was none other than my dad.

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"Ugh, I can't believe I forgot about this," I grumbled, sitting down at the table as I watched Luna happily cook up some food.

My dad was sitting across from me, with Lesty right next to him.

"Seriously, how did you forget? You even told Luna!" Dad said, readjusting his glasses.

"I know that, I just got busy with some stuff, so it completely slipped my mind," I said, thinking back to what had happened over the weekend.

"Oh, does it have to do with you sleeping for 2 days straight? Lesty was quite worried about you know."

Lesty pouted before crossing her arms. "Believe me, it's more than that! He gets back home so late nowadays, saying he's helping out a "friend" of his. He won't even tell me what he's doing!"

Ah shit, I might be fucked here. Actually, I say that quite a bit, now that I think about it. Funnily enough, I end up okay all the time, but that's besides the point, especially since it's about my dad.

I tensed up at Lesty's words, looking at my dad.

"Yeah, I've heard all about your exploits. You've had quite a lot of freedom lately, haven't you?" My dad looked at me with a curious expression, and I knew I was doomed. "Taking advantage of the fact us two aren't here most of the time, aren't you?"

"Ahaha, I would never do such a thing Dad. I'm an upstanding student, number 1 in academics."

"Uhuh, and that's exactly why you take advantage of the freedom, since you have such phenomenal grades." He leaned in closer, staring me in the air. "You aren't doing something like starting up another gang, are you?"

"Hey now, stop bringing up my dark past! Besides, I already promised you 3 I wouldn't do something as stupid as that again."

"Yep, and big bro keeps his promises to me!" Luna added cheerfully. "Oh, I'm almost done with dinner too, so just hold on a bit, okay?"

"Yeah, I know how he is. He pampers you way too much, you know that?" my dad grumbled, glaring at me. "If she ends up spoiled whenever she gets back in school, I'm blaming you."

"Luna would never! She's the most adorable, sweet, kindhearted girl I know! She would never end up spoiled!"

Lesty sighed, tracing her finger on the table. "It's statements like that that I end up worrying about you two's relationship. You sound like you're madly in love with her you know."

I grinned, giving her a thumbs up. "But I am madly in love with her! I would do anything for her!"

She just shook her head. "It's only because I've seen you grow up that I understand you don't mean it in any other way but a normal sibling relationship."

"I love big bro too! Very, very much!" Luna added, giving me a radiant smile.

Ah, I could die now with no regrets.

"Back to the topic, since I know you very skillfully changed the subject there son, what exactly have you been doing?"

Ah damn, thought I did a pretty good job that time. "Well, uh, I've been helping a friend I made recently, along with the fact I joined a club as well; I've been a lot more busier as of late."

"You didn't answer a thing," he said, and I could feel sweat dripping from my armpits.

My dad is way too perceptive, especially when it comes to me. He isn't like Eris, who has always been able to tell whenever I hide something, but instead has memorized my mannerisms and behaviors to the point where he could tell if I'm hiding something from him no matter how well I try to hide it.

Plus, he can be uh, quite harsh about certain things when it comes to me.

"R-really? I thought I answered it quite well. You should already know about the club Eris made me join. It's mainly the reason why I stay out so late. Our club president really does make us do some strange things."

Ugh, I really don't wanna think about that right now, especially after what happened today.

"And this friend of yours? Lesty told me they helped you out a lot, and yet we don't know a thing about them. Care to explain why this friend has you out so late?"

I grew quiet, looking down at the table. "Well, uh, how can I put this into words…?"

How the hell can I describe someone like Anna, let alone her impact on me. I doubt even she knows how much she's helped me.

"She was the one who helped me realize what I really wanted," I said simply. "That's all it is. Everything else that's happened, like me joining a club and helping her out, is all because of that. If it wasn't for her, I doubt I ever would've really accepted what happened to my mom."

Everyone froze at my words, but I continued, ignoring their reactions. "She's helped me out so much, and continues to do so every day. If I have to be honest, I kinda wanna be a little more like her. So yeah, of course I would spend my time helping her, and I'm sorry that I've been staying out so late to do so."

I looked up at my dad, continuing. "But, I will continue to help her, in order to pay her back for everything she's done. I promise I'll try to get back home earlier, its just that things got a little hectic while I was helping her the past couple of weeks."

"Sounds like insubordination to me," my dad said, leaning his head on his hand. "You got ballsier at least, that's for sure."

"Ahaha, sorry…"

"Well, let me think on it for a while before I decide what to do with you," my dad said. "I wanna spend my time with family and my wonderful wife instead of having to constantly worry about you you know, especially since Caelestis is leaving next week."

Ah, so I'm in the clear for now. I breathed a sigh of relief, relaxing my body.

"But, tomorrow, you and I are going somewhere, so you're taking the day off school got it?"

Huh? I scowled, furrowing my brow. "Uh, what? Didn't you just say you weren't going to spend all my time worrying about me?"

"Have you also forgot that family includes you too?" Ah, got me there.

"Okay, enough lecturing big bro; it's time to eat!"

Luna brought out the food she made, fried chicken, and placed it on the table. "Here you guys go; I also warmed up some frozen vegetables to eat as well, and made some biscuits too!"

Wait, isn't this…?

"Oh wow, you made my favorite meal for me!? I knew you were my favorite for a reason!" I watched my dad pat Luna's head, smiling at her. "Oh, did I say that aloud? Eh, not like my son cares."

"Jeez, thanks," I grumbled, and everyone laughed. After that, we started eating together in relative peace.

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I yawned, walking down the stairs as the smell of breakfast wafted up to my nose.

It was Thursday, around 10 am, and I managed to sleep for a total of 12 hours (apparently my body still hasn't recovered from, well, whatever the hell I did).

I entered the kitchen to see my dad already there, eating while watching the news.

"Oh, I see the dead hath arisen! Just because you don't go to school today doesn't mean you can sleep in so late."

I sat down next to him, shrugging. "You know I can sleep till 12, right?"

"Yeah, but that's normally because you stay up till 3-4 in the morning. You went to bed at 10 yesterday." He sipped some coffee, looking at me as I patiently waited for Luna to make me some food.

"I hadn't been getting much sleep lately is all," I said, nodding a word of thanks at Luna before digging in.

"It's true, big bro really hasn't been lately. But he seems to be okay for now though!" Luna said, sitting across from me.

"Really? How come Caelestis never said anything?"

Luna and I could only stare at him before he got it. "Ah, I guess she wouldn't really catch something like that."

"By the way, where is Lesty?" I asked, shoveling cheesy eggs into my mouth.

"Asleep. She's tired after all the uh, action, last night."

I wrinkled my nose in disgust while Luna tilted her head. "Dad, I really didn't need to know that! Ugh, I don't even wanna think about it!"

Dad laughed, patting me on the back. "Oh, you'll get it one of these days. It's pretty natural after all!"

"Gross! Stop it already!"

He started to laugh harder, and I could only turn away to face Luna, who was still confused.

"Big bro, what did he mean by action?"

I nearly choked on my food, coughing as I pounded my chest. "Uh, they were, you know, playing a sort of game. Anyway, dad, where are we going today?"

"The only place we should be going," my dad said, finishing his coffee before getting up. "We'll be leaving at noon, so make sure you're dressed by then."

He vanished from sight, heading back upstairs, leaving me alone with Luna.

"Do you have an idea where we might be going?" I asked her, taking a bite out of bacon.

"If you don't know, how am I meant to know?"

"Got a point there," I said, patting her head. "You need anything while I'm out by the way?"

"Nothing except you!" She said, and I crashed down to the floor.

"H-hey, you gotta warn me before saying stuff like that. You're super effective against me, you know that?"

Luna rushed over to me, kneeling. "Oh, was it bad that I said that!?"

"Au contraire, mademoiselle, it was beyond perfection…"

Luna pouted, lifting me up. "Oh, you know I don't know what that means. Anyway, what should we do about Anna and Charlotte?"

"Indeed, what should we do about me?"

I turned to find Charlotte sitting in one of the chairs, swinging her legs back and forth.

"Are you crazy!? You do know that if you get caught, I'm the one who suffers, right!?"

"Oh please, if that stepmother of yours hasn't noticed, then I doubt anyone will."

"No, my dad is different, trust me. He's grown super perceptive since I'm quite good at hiding things; he'll know something is wrong," I hissed, and she yawned, drumming her fingers on the table.

"I can just teleport if things get hairy, don't worry so much."

This girl, I swear will also be the death of me.

"C'mon, at least go back to your room for today Charlotte. I'll give you and Anna food when big bro leaves."

"Fine." She hopped off the seat, teleporting to the front door before vanishing.

Wait, something is most definitely off. I turned to Luna, who went back to her seat in front of me.

"Hey lil sis?"

"Yeah big bro?"

"You wanna explain how you're not freaked out by Charlotte?"

She frowned, tilting her head. "Why would I be? You told me about her already."

"Okay, but you would normally freak out for a week if someone you just met decided to stay over for long periods of time. Remember that time with Lesty's friends?"

"Oh yeah, I guess that is true huh."

"And beyond that, you accepted Anna even without me telling you, since she followed me home without me knowing the first time we met."

"Yep, that's also true! What about it?"

Wait, does she really not see the problem here? "What I'm getting at it is, why is your reaction to those two different than anyone else?"

"Oh, that's what you meant." Luna stopped and smiled a pure wholesome smile that could render me useless as I would be overcome with Luna overdose. "They don't feel like people is all."

I blinked, staring at Luna, before blinking again. "Huh?"

"Oh, I guess that isn't a very good explanation. Hmm, how do I explain it…" She stopped, scrunching up her face before it lit up.

"Oh yeah, I guess it would be because they feel so much like you big bro!"

Okay, now I'm lost. "What does that even mean?"

"I dunno, it's just how they feel."

"So, basically, since they feel like me, and you're already used to me, you're technically already used to them?"

"Exactly! You're so smart big bro, I couldn't have figured that out very easily."

HUH!? The fuck is that even meant to mean!? No, more importantly, why do they even feel like me!? The hell!?

"I don't get it at all, but at least I understand why you're okay with them," I mumbled, starting to eat again. "I can ask them about it later. Make sure to tell those two to stay low until I figure out what to do with them, okay?"

"Roger that big bro!"

Man, the day's barely started and I already feel wiped. I hope this thing with my dad isn't getting chewed out again…

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My dad and I were riding the bus out to the farmlands, a similar route I took when went to visit mom; the only difference being we got off two stops before, nearer the southern part of Mount Olympus.

"I thought for a second we were going to visit mom," I said as we got off, and my dad smiled softly.

"We are, there's just something I want to show you first."

The place we got off at was covered by foliage; I'm pretty sure the only reason why there's a bus stop here is because there's a school nearby somewhere.

My dad walked towards the green mountain, looking up at it with a sigh. "The way is almost covered, but it looks like it's still here."

He pulled at a bush, revealing a beaten path that went up Olympus.

"Uh, isn't this mountain sacred or something?"

My dad chuckled. "Yeah, it might be. Its history is rather muddled. No one really knows why it's sacred, we just all get a sense that it is. Besides, that didn't stop Cassandra and I from meeting up here all the time."

He proceeded to walk ahead, and I followed shortly after him. The path was starting to become overgrown from the lack of use, but my dad navigated it like he had come up here a million times before.

"H-hey, seriously, where are we going?"

"Just keep going, you'll see soon enough."

We walked some more in silence, the only sounds being the trees rustling in the wind along with some woodland critters. It was honestly pretty relaxing compared to everything I did last week.

The slope started to flatten out, until eventually, we were just walking on a flat ground. The foliage started to get thicker around us, and still my dad seemed calm, never losing sight of the overgrown path.

"We're here," he said as he stopped in front of me, blocking my view.

I squeezed past him, falling onto my face as I tripped on a tree root.

I groaned, picking myself up as the trees around us vanished into a similar grove where mom's grave was.

Except in this one, there was nothing but flowers.

Flowers spread as far as I could see, almost endlessly. To my left was a cliff that showcased the glistening blue sea, scattering its light onto us.

I'm pretty sure every type of flower that had ever existed, exists, or will exist is in this place. I have no clue why I felt like that, but that was the feeling I got from this place.

"I know you don't know this, but Cassandra and I grew up out here, away from the confines of the city. This was where I first found her, standing over this cliff, looking at the sea."

My dad walked over to the cliff, picking up a random flower before sitting down, patting the ground next to him.

I sat down next to him, sitting in silence as my dad gazed at the flower in his hand.

"Cassandra and I, we were so young back then. We thought we could take the City by storm, making our mark there. This was the place where we made all our promises, told all of our secrets, and where I proposed to her."

He let the flower drift off in the wind, towards the sea. "The last promise I made here with her, was that one day we would show you this place. But shortly afterwards, she died. I honestly didn't know what to do for a long time afterwards, and even now, I'm not exactly sure this was the right time for you to come here."

He turned to look at me, placing his hand on my shoulder. "But, since you decided to visit Cassandra out of the blue, I figured I at least should start telling you more about her, since you were so young and all. This was her favorite place to go; she would simply sit for hours on end, just staring out into the open sea, enjoying the field of flowers."

Ah, I think I get it now.

"You don't have to worry anymore Dad. I've managed to accept it now. I'm sorry for keeping you waiting for all this time."

"Stupid son, I'm always going to worry about you," he said, turning away. "That's just a part of being a parent."

"You turning away doesn't mean I still can't hear you crying you know," I said.

"You're crying as well."

Huh? I felt my face grow wet and warm, the tears starting to stain my shirt.

"Oh, I guess I am…"

And there we sat, finally crying together over the loss of the person we loved…

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There were tears.

There were laughs.

There were fears, and then there was pain.

There were highs and lows, happiness and sorrow.

There was despair, and then there was joy.

There was denial, anger, bargaining, and depression.

They told it all to the woman they loved so dearly.

Laughing, sobbing, raging, and everything in between.

They let out everything they had been holding.

The cracks that were once there, still there, but growing smaller.

The pain that was there, still hurt, but less so.

The family that was once whole, still whole, though a different whole.

They truly let her know everything, from the bottom of their hearts.

And most importantly…

There was acceptance, acceptance at long last.

Arc 2: The Makings of a Hero, Fin.