Chapter Three (Aidan)
I can't believe what is happening. My whole life has been one fuck up after another, and it's just not fair, all I want to do, is be happy, what's wrong with that? What do I have to do, just to be happy? It's not fucking fair, and I just want to leave, I want to just go somewhere, where there is no one else and just get away from it, get away from everything.
Well, not everything, there is Riley, but even though I love him, he's part of the problem, a big fucking part of the problem, because if it wasn't for him, I could just go, but I can't leave him. We may not be related by blood, but he is my brother. In my heart, he is my family and the only family I have left, well, technically Lily is my legal guardian and Riley's older sister, but while I used to look up to her and like her, even more so after she took me in after my parents had died.
But that didn't last long. She has a lot of secrets, and they're big, bigger than mine and that's saying something, I'm a fucking Empowered, and I'm a pretty fucking powerful one at that, and the people love me, even though they gave me the shittiest of names. I mean I guess I could have just gone out there and told them what I wanted to be called, but fuck if I knew what I wanted to be called, I was only a kid, I had no idea what I was doing, let alone coming up with a name. Hell, I was hoping someone would say a cool one, and it stuck, but just my fucking luck, the name that stuck, is the lamest and shittiest name possible. They call me Hero, fucking Hero, I mean what in the actual fuck, how did that stick, out of all the shitty or cliché names that they called me, and Hero, sticks. Fuck my life and fuck this Empowered crap, it's not worth it, it's not worth not having a life of my own.
And here my phones goes again, and I don't even have to look at it, to know that it was Riley, he's called and texted me a billion times, and I just can't deal with him, right now. I know he is going through a lot, more than he even knows, and I did tell him I would call him, but I need more time. I need to make sure that when we talk, I don't fuck it up, it's too big to fuck up, and I am still not quite sure what I can and can't tell him, or if I am even doing the right thing. There is a lot, I could be getting wrong or misunderstanding, so just like all the other calls, I let it ring out and go to voicemail.
Instead, I start to relax and take in the view of the lake and hills. I loved this place, it's my little sanctuary, even though I have no idea what it's called, it's just somewhere I can just be alone and think about things. I'm actually surprised that I could even get a signal out here, maybe I am not as far away from civilization as it seems. I mean I guess I could fly around or something and look for myself, but that's not why I come here, I come here so that no one can bother me and the fact it's a beautiful place to be, didn't hurt either.
I'm still not sure what to do about Riley though. He's my best friend, my brother and I've lied to him for so long now and what makes the lie even worse, is that I know that he knows what I am. I know he knows I'm an Empowered and instead of outing me or confronting me about it, he's let it go and has waited for me to tell him. It just makes me feel like even more of a dick because I could just tell him, I want to more than anything, but I can't, it's not that simple, it's never that fucking simple.
And I could feel myself getting frustrated, and while it's childish, I can't help myself and pick up a decently sized rock from the ground next to me and launch it across the lake and watch as it lands right in the middle, with a satisfying splash. "It's a good thing that there is no one within a couple of miles from here Aidan." I suddenly hear behind me, and despite who I am and what I can do, I can't help but be startled and turn around, already knowing who it is, but not knowing how.
I have enough powers, even when I am not actively using them, to hear anyone approaching me and that includes almost any kind of Empowered that have revealed themselves, so to see Lily just standing there with a smug look on her face, has me more than a little rattled. "Lily?" I then find myself saying lamely in response, of course, it was Lily, she was standing right there, and I could tell from a little shake of the head, that she found my reaction more than a little amusing.
This was the side of his sister that Riley never knew existed and I doubted, would ever discover unless she wanted him to know. I wanted to tell him, I was going to tell him, but seeing her standing in front of me now, fuck, I'm scared. There is no way she should have been able to sneak up on me, and I could only assume, that she was hiding the same secret, that I was hiding from Riley.
And the fact that she was just staring at me, instead of responding, just made the uneasy feeling that I was experiencing, grow. "You're an Empowered." I then say, as I decide just to come out and say it, there was no point avoiding it and being scared. She had to be an Empowered, but so was I and I was a damn powerful one, even if she still scared the crap out of me right now.
"What I am, is not important, Aidan, what's important, is that you stop being a spoilt brat and leave Riley alone, he doesn't need to be involved in all of this, and you aren't going to tell him anything." She then states, as she finally says something else. Since she had first startled me and despite wanting to be brave, I couldn't help it. She had practically been a surrogate mother to me, for the past few years and now, now I find out that she was an Empowered and the possibilities that stemmed from that revelation, were immense.
And then there is Riley, why is she so intent on not letting him know that I'm an Empowered, or for that matter, why is she hiding the fact that she is an Empowered, especially from me, I just don't understand. "I have to tell him, Lily, you already know that he knows and I don't see the point, why do I have to lie to him?" I quickly ask in response, but before I even know what is happening, I feel myself flying back over the lake and then hearing and feeling a sickening thud, as I crash into what I assume are the rocks on the other side of the lake.
So, now I was really scared, because that hurt, it takes a lot to hurt me and that fucking hurt. So as I slowly get up and brush myself off, I can't help but look across the lake and see what the hell hit me, but where I was expecting to see some other Empowered standing next to Lily. I was instead seeing her slowly flying over towards me, and as she got closer and closer, I could see the smug and arrogant look on her face, and I couldn't help but step back against the massive rock wall, I had just been smashed into.
"As I was saying, Aidan. You will not be telling Riley anything, will you." I hear her then asking, well it was more of a statement, than an actual question and despite myself, and how ashamed it made me feel, I was struggling to find the courage to defy her. It wasn't just the fact she was an Empowered, or that she just smacked me across a lake, or had somehow managed to sneak up on me. It was also because of who she was to me. She was my guardian, and she had looked after me, stopped me from ending up in an orphanage or foster care.
So defying her, just seemed impossible, it just felt wrong, but so was lying and betraying Riley. Have I mentioned how much I hate my fucking life? "But why, if he already knows, what's the point in lying to him, Lily? I don't get it." I decided to respond back, as I slowly compose myself and try to figure out what to do because I wasn't sure how powerful she was. Sure, she smacked me across the lake and managed to sneak up to me, but that doesn't mean that she is more powerful than I am. Plenty of weaker Empowered can smack someone, or me around, if they got a hit in, especially if they were just standing there like I was.
Although even if she was weaker than me, it wasn't like I was going to attack her. Riley would never forgive me, even if I explained everything and despite being scared of her right now, I couldn't forgive myself either, she, along with Riley, is my family now and that means something, even right now, it means something. "Seriously, Lily, what's going on, because I'm scared, really scared and I don't care how that sounds, I just want to understand." I then find myself saying. I didn't care if it made me sound weak or pathetic, I just wanted to understand, and I am just sick of it all, I just want to be a kid, I don't want all this crap, it sucks.
"It doesn't matter what's going on Aidan, you know the conditions to you living with us, and you're still young enough, to end up in care, don't test me." I then hear her saying and I couldn't help but be stunned into silence, I had known since before my parents died, that Lily, was not the saint and sweet girl everyone thought she was, I saw the real Lily. But this was still a shock. There was no reason for her to bring that up, none at all and I don't see what that has to do with anything. I am not asking for much. I am just asking for her to explain it to me and help me understand, I'm not asking her to tell me everything.
"Do you understand, Aidan? Because despite what is happening, I do care about you, but there are bigger things in motion, and if I have to, I will destroy you and I can destroy you, Aidan, quite easily." She then says, and I have zero doubt, that she meant what she had just said. Which just left me even more stunned and I really wasn't sure what to do, I couldn't keep lying to Riley, and I couldn't defy Lily, I was royally screwed and I there was no way out, not as far as I could see.
"He's my best friend though, Lily, he's as much my brother, as he is yours and..." I then find myself starting to say in response, but before I can finish, I see a flash of movement and this time, I manage to block her attack, and even though I was still scared and afraid of her, I could tell that I was stronger and quicker than her. Although as I felt myself being lifted up and then slammed down to the ground, it was obvious, that speed and strength, weren't always enough.
"I suppose I could also tell him about your parents, Aidan, as you seem to insist that lying to him is too hard for you unless he already knows, does he, Aidan, does he know what you did?" I then hear, as I slowly get back up to my knees, the words stopping me dead in my tracks, as I just stare up at the person, who for the past few years, has been like a mother to me. Only now, I am seeing someone who could be actually evil, someone who could actually be a villain and it shocked me to the core.
Don't get me wrong, ever since that day I went to her about my parents, and what they did to me, I have known that she wasn't the saint, everyone thought she was, not by a long way. Seeing her now, at this moment though, I was starting to realize, that I might not be safe around her, and even more importantly, Riley might not be safe. There had to be a reason, that she didn't want him to know anything, I just had no idea what that reason could be.
And I wasn't even sure, that I wanted to know, it couldn't be anything good. "You can't, Lily, you promised..." I then decide to say finally, but before I finish, I saw the look in her eyes and knew that I had no choice, not right now. "He can never know, Lily, you win." I then say almost too quietly to hear, but the small smirk on her face, lets me know that she heard me and for the first time, I think I actually hated her, truly hated her.
But then I see her face softening, and I can see that she is thinking about what to say next, and I had no idea what to expect. "No one is winning here, Aidan, but thank you for seeing sense and I am sorry that you have to lie to Riley, I know that it's not easy or fair, but for now, it's necessary, and you have to trust me. I may have secrets, but Riley is my little brother, and ever since our parents died, he's been like a son to me, Aidan and even if you have your doubts, never doubt my love for Riley." She says with a passion, which left me in no doubt, that whatever else was going on, with the lies and the threats, that she was sincere and that she meant every word.
But despite the sincerity in her voice and her expression, I couldn't just ignore everything else and while I could tell Riley anything now, I would eventually and I wouldn't let anyone talk me out of it, not again, not even Lily. "I know, I love him too, but what do I tell him, he's going to want to know what's going on. he's not stupid, and he already knows something is wrong, and he's not going to buy just any crappy excuse or story." I then decide to ask, as I think about what I am actually going to tell Riley, he is expecting me to explain everything.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, I hate this fucking life, I fucking hate it. I'm a good person, I want to help people, and all I get is crap and pressure and stress, it shouldn't be like this, heroes shouldn't have to put up with this shit. "You're on your own with that, Aidan, I tried to talk to him, but he won't believe anything I say, so you need to think of something. Don't think I don't know you have at the very least, told him that you would explain everything to him. I'm not stupid, Aidan and this is your mess, just remember what we just talked about, because I will tell him the truth about your parents." I hear her then say in response and despite her words stinging, I had no choice, I couldn't risk Riley knowing the truth, even if I didn't really do anything myself.
"I know and I won't, Lily." I meekly respond, and I just felt so pathetic. I was Hero. I was the first Empowered to be seen and here I am, being scared into silence. If only the world could see this, maybe they would stop expecting me to save the day all the time, maybe I could even be free of hearing the lamest Empowered name ever. I fucking wish it could be that simple.
However, those thoughts quickly vanish, as I feel a hand around my neck and find myself being pushed back against the same rock, that I had been thrown into, not so long ago and I can only look at her, as she smiled at me. "Sorry, but I may never get another chance to push you around so easily, I may be an Empowered, Aidan and pretty strong, but I could never beat you in a fair fight." She then says with the same smile, as she lets me go and backs away a few steps.
"But fights are never fair, Aidan, never forget that. The next time you come here or go somewhere to get away from things, remember never to let your guard down, we taught you better than that and despite what we've just been talking about, Aidan, I care for you, and we believe in you. You're a hero and symbol to the world, don't let that go to waste because you let your guard down, you don't get to do that anymore, none of us gets to do that anymore." She then says and if what she had said before, had shocked and confused me, this change of tone and subject, well that just threw me completely off.
And I had no idea how to respond really. She wasn't lying, and I knew that she had taken me under her wing and helped me make contact with other Empowered and people who could help me train. She was my mentor, as much as she was my guardian and I really just couldn't make sense of it all. One moment, she is kind and caring. I know that she genuinely cares about me, and loves Riley, and she's helped me so much with being an Empowered, and yet, she is not a saint, she is not a good person. I've seen that for myself just now, and I don't think I can ever look at her the same way again.
"Will you at least tell me the truth, eventually?" I suddenly hear myself asking, and I am sure the surprise on her face, matched the surprise on my own because I had no idea where that came from and I certainly didn't want her to stay here any longer. I was pretty sure that she was about to leave, but now, because I'm apparently a complete moron, she was definitely not going anywhere, not until she either threatens me again or by some miracle, actually give me some kind of encouraging response.
"The truth, Aidan, is that right now, you know what you need to know. I will not patronize you, there are a lot of things that you don't know, some bigger than others and as and when, you need to know, you will know, I promise you that." She responds calmly and clearly, which is definitely not what I was expecting, maybe hoping, but definitely not expecting her to actually respond like that and despite being a pleasant surprise, with everything else, I was still on edge and still wary of trusting her. I don't know if I could ever trust her again, not completely.
And as I look at her, looking for any signs that she is playing some kind of game that I don't understand at all, I decide just to try and end the conversation. I came here to clear my head and think about how I was going to tell Riley, everything and now, here I am, standing in front of his sister and my legal guardian, with a slightly bruised ego and a million more questions floating around my head. While being actively convinced, not to tell my best friend anything and right now, I just want to strip off, get in the water and sink to the bottom for a couple of hours and forget about the world.
"Okay, I just hate lying, even if there are reasons for it, but I get it, Lily, well I don't, but don't worry, I won't tell him anything, I promise." I then say, and while it was hardly what I wanted to say or how I wanted to say it, I really did just want this to be over now. I needed just to get away from the world and then try and think of something to tell Riley, something he would either believe or be too embarrassed to question, but it isn't going to be easy. We've known each other too long to be embarrassed around each other, so I would have to make it believable.
But again, as I start to lose myself in my thoughts and slowly drive myself insane, I suddenly feel a hand on my shoulder and actually flinch, actually fucking flinch. Surprisingly though, as I look at Lily. I can see a genuine look of concern, the kind a parent would give their child, if they saw them hurt themselves and weren't quite sure if they were going just to dust themselves off, or have a complete meltdown, and to be honest. A meltdown was starting to look like more than a little tempting right now.
"Don't stay out here too long, Aidan, you need to talk to Riley before I get home, so you have four hours. If you aren't back or haven't talked to him by then, there will be consequences, don't force my hand." I hear her say, but I was barely paying attention now, I mean I heard her and understood, but I just wanted her to go and thankfully, as I look at her and then down at the ground, she turns away, and I assume, that she flew away.
I didn't bother to look, I just slowly flew back over to the other side of the lake and back to my backpack and towel, that was still laying on the ground, where I had left it and quickly stripped off all my clothing. Then, taking a final look around, to see or hear if anyone was around, I slowly walked into the lake and made my way to the middle and just sat down. The perk of being able to hold my breath for hours made this the perfect place, and I just slowly let my mind clear away and just focused on nothing, calming myself down and relaxing from everything running through my mind right now.
I should have guessed. Almost two hours of just clearing my thoughts at the bottom of the lake, I should have expected Riley to have called me again, I know I told him I would see him soon and explain, but I guess, that was almost four hours ago now. I just need to think about what to do now, what story could I possibly come up with, that's not only believable, but believable to Riley. Which as it stands right now, I have nothing. Even after clearing my head and calming down, I can't think of anything that he would believe, and I was starting to worry. I only had less than two hours to get home and somehow talk Riley around and convince him, that nothing was wrong and I had fuck all. Just what the hell can I tell him, there is literally nothing that would make sense, and apart from the obvious, I didn't have any secrets that I could pull out of thin air, well, shit.
There is one thing, but that could backfire and to be honest, I think I've grown out of my crush on Riley, and the reality check he gave me the other day, definitely let me know where he stood. Sure we have fooled around, quite a bit, but he is definitely straight and even for me, the one with the crush, it felt a bit weird, we're basically brothers now, not just because we grew up together or that his sister is our legal guardian.
We've just always been close, and even with the crush, I see him as my brother, and there are plenty of other guys around, guys that are actually gay and aren't basically my brother in every way, except for blood, and as this crosses my mind, I suddenly realize. Riley doesn't know that I am gay, fuck he might have suspected it, half seriously at least, as I did about him, but after our talk the other day, it was obvious he had no idea, and this was the perfect way out of this whole fucking mess.
I won't be lying, and he shouldn't want to push the issue either, and even if he did, I could maybe gross him out enough, by admitting that I had an actual crush on him for at least two years. Yeah, that should shut him up, at least until he processes it and probably starts getting curious, but I can handle that, it might actually be nice to be able to talk to him about it. I know he would never judge me and maybe if I can help him get a date, I know a girl at school who likes him a lot, maybe he could help me.
Well, okay, maybe that's not quite how it works, and well, it doesn't matter, this might actually work, and it's definitely better than the alternatives, and that's all I need right now, just some breathing room. The only issue is, how Lily fits into this because Riley knows something is up between us, and Lily is not homophobic, I mean, she is potentially a villain of some kind, but not homophobic.
So I need to work out how she fits into it, and it's not easy shit, just when I thought I had it, I mean, fuck it, I just need to think. Shit, shit, shit. Maybe I could have tried hitting on one of her bosses sons? No, that's just stupid, oh for fuck sake, I may not be a genius, but I am not stupid, this shouldn't be that hard. Seriously, how can it be this hard, maybe if I keep it simple, maybe she was trying to give me the talk, I mean, she already gave both Riley and me, the sex talk, but that was about boys and girls.
So yeah, fuck yes, this could be perfect. I mean the talk was bad enough, especially since she gave it to us both, at the same time, which was all kinds of awkwardness and embarrassment. So I could spin it that a gay sex talk, was going too far and yeah, fuck it, I am not going to come up with anything better. I just need to work out the details, and I can do that, I just have to take my time getting home, I still have around two hours before Lily gets home, so I have time.
I better text Riley though, he's probably getting pissed off or worried, I mean, he does know that I'm an Empowered, even if we all have to pretend he isn't, so he could actually be worried about me. Which is now making me feel like a piece of shit, fuck, I need just to stop that train of thought, right now, because I can't spend another two hours at the bottom of the lake and I need to have a clear head.
I mean don't get me wrong, it may not be about the actual reasons, that it should be about because those are so fucking massive, it's almost unbelievable. But coming out gay? That's a big deal, even if I am not quite sure why I never told him before, and the more I think about it, the more I find myself wondering why. Riley would be cool with it, although maybe him freaking out and getting pissed off with the whole sneaking into his bed naked thing, might have been a very different conversation and one that could have ended our friendship.
Fuck, I really did fuck up with that. I seriously have no idea what the hell I was thinking, maybe it was the part of me that had a crush on him, you know, subconsciously hoping he would be gay. But now that I am actually seriously thinking about it all, I still stand by what I said about being brothers, even if he is pretty cute and great, it's not sexual, I can see that now, just not a few days ago I guess.
It's amazing what a few days can do, and being shit scared of your legal guardian, who has turned out to be an Empowered, with very questionable ethics. Is a pretty good excuse to give yourself a reality check and actually take a look at what you've been doing and the choices that you've been making, Which, I have definitely been questionable at best, even when I am doing the hero thing, I have been getting a little cocky.
So I really need to… Oh shit, I'm fucking almost home, so much for taking it slow and giving myself time to think about what I am going to say to Riley, fucking hell, I didn't even text him either, fuck, fuck, fuck. Okay, regroup and think about this. I'm not at the house, so I can send him a text, and say that I'm on my way and then sit in the park or get us food. Yeah, shit, I am actually hungry and maybe eating, will make the talk a little less embarrassing, it will definitely help me relax.
Sending the text, actually proved easier than I thought it would, just nice and simple, there was no need to write an essay and mentioning that I was getting food, should relax a little bit, hopefully, god, I really hope it does. Then again, shit, what if he thinks I am messing around, fuck, fuck, fuck. Seriously, why the fuck can't everything just be easy and fuck, I already sent it, fuck, he's going to be pissed, I can imagine him now, wanting to punch me or throw something at me, fuck my life.
I better make sure I get him something decent to eat, fuck, better not take too long either. Although as I look at my watch, I start to worry about the time. I still have around two hours, well nearer one and a half, but it should be enough time, by the time I get to the restaurant, order the food and get it home, that should leave just over an hour. That's plenty of time to talk and eat and talk, yeah, plenty of time. I just have to… fucking hell.
Seriously, fucking seriously? What the actual fuck, it's like mid-afternoon, well, just about and he's trying to steal a… a fucking oil truck, seriously, what the actual fuck. He can't even fucking lift it, I mean look at him, his going to rip those ridiculous tights that he's wearing and if my Empowered name was both embarrassing and lame than his outfit, fucking hell, it makes my name sound amazing in comparison.
I haven't got time for this though, but then it is an oil lorry, well, I think it is, and I can't risk the moron blowing up the place because I don't know what power he thinks he has, but super strength isn't quite working out for him. "Hey, Moron, want to do everyone a favor and step away, before that ridiculous outfit rips or something." I then say, after quickly looking around and making a quick dash to get changed and coming back, to see the guy still straining to barely lift the lorry, which on closer inspection, actually looks like it might be just milk or something like that, which just makes this even more pathetic.
But a hero's job is never over, and I can't risk him hurting anyone, even though it's looking more and more likely, that the only one who was going to be hurt, was the idiot himself. "Seriously, who are you and what the hell are you trying to do?" I then decide to ask, after he just looks at me and completely freezes, I mean what the hell, is he new to this, is this some kind of joke or publicity stunt. Because I have never seen him before and while he apparently had some power, if his strength was anything to go by. He was one of three things, he was either hiding his real strength and trying to bait someone, or he could just be very weak, which while it wouldn't be the first time. I think it's likely, the third possibility and that is, he is entirely new to being an Empowered and just went straight for the most basic of powers and is unaware of what his specialty might be.
Most Empowered have a specialty. That's not to say they only have one power, but usually, they has one power, that is very, very powerful. While the rest range from pretty weak, to pretty strong in their own right. Myself, I am one of the lucky ones. I have more powers than I know what to do with them and they're all pretty much equally as powerful as, and as I gain experience and get older, they will only get stronger. I'm not invincible, but it will take a lot to put me down, but this guy, standing in front of me now, he's got a lot to learn.
I mean, he might not even be a bad guy, he could literally be so new to his powers, that he is just testing them out or trying to show off to someone. That's possible, I mean, I can remember when I first became an Empowered, it's definitely something you want to show off. So I decide to reign it in a bit and not be too hostile or judgemental towards him, because for his part, he looks like a deer in headlights, right now. Although as I stare at him, I could swear that while he looked nervous, he also looked a little guilty. I know what guilty looks like, because Riley and I have used that expression many times in our lives and we've seen it on each other face, enough to know what it looks like, so there was definitely something else going one. "I er… I'm sorry, Hero." I then hear him say, although
it was so meek, even with my enhanced hearing, I wasn't sure I heard what he said.
But a sudden spark of pain, followed by the feeling of flying across the road and crashing into a solid break wall, thankfully, not a building, but it still hurt like hell, gets my full attention. Although as soon as I get back on my feet, I can't help but feel a little worried. I might be one of the strongest Empowered, but as I said before, I was not invincible, no one was, and as I look at the three Empowered now standing in front of me, I quickly swallowed a lump in my throat.
This was going to be tough. Although I suspect, there will be contractors getting a nice payday, by the time this fight was over, I just had to hope, I lived to see that. Fuck my life, right now. "Hero, nice to see that there is actually an Empowered in this town, we were beginning to wonder, where you all disappeared to." The ringleader suddenly says, and I can't help but grow a little more worried, these were powerful Empowered villains, and I wasn't actually sure if I could take them, especially as they will be attacking as a team.
Maybe if they were just a random team, it would be a lot easier, but this was no random team, they've been working together for years, and that made them even more dangerous, and already, they were spreading out and trying to flank me on both sides. So I had to be careful, very, very careful. "Leave now, and we can forget about this whole thing, Baine." I decide to say in response, I know it's lame and predictable, but it's all I had.
Oh and yes, his Empowered name is Baine, and yes it sounds like Bane, yep, that Bane from the Batman stuff. He just put an ‘I' in the name, so people couldn't flat out accuse him of being some lame copycat villain, despite the fact it's so obvious why he chose the name. I mean his outfit, isn't exactly helping his case, it's like a child designed it, well it is made well, they've been around long enough actually to have decently made gear. But if he weren't so dangerous, it would be hard not just to burst out laughing every time he appeared somewhere.
But instead of the expected response, he throws me completely off guard. "By the way, meet our newest member." He states with a smirk, and before I can even say or do anything, I feel and hear someone landing behind me and suddenly feel a sharp and painful thud across my back, and I find myself flying across the road again. This time straight into Baine, who was openly laughing now and I knew I was in trouble, three of them was almost impossible, but four, fuck, I didn't even know who the fourth person was. I'm fucked.
To be continued...