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He wasn’t stupid. Looking back it may look like he was but who would turn down being the sidekick to a famous superhero? Exactly, especially not when you're 13 and looking for any possible way to be out of your house. What was stupid, was never quitting this. Because for years he was thrown around, beat up, and risking his life while he should have been at home doing homework.
And that’s how he ended up here wasn’t it. Not graduating high school, and lost on what to do about it. Because I’m the end, sure it sucked he wasn’t graduating but who’s to say that was the goal?
“You're not as upset about not graduating high school as you should be,” Ray noted in the deafening silence. It was a simple observation, but something that didn’t feel right.
“Yeah Henry how are you so calm about this” Charlotte added on.
At that moment Henry was only thinking that he shouldn’t have been reminiscing on his past ‘life plans’, or technically the opposite. Because suddenly his lack of caring might start to make too much sense if they put the pieces together.
Why it was never an issue when he got hurt on missions. Why even when there weren’t any recent fights he was always hurt in some way. Why he was a little too okay in being in danger constantly.
God he didn’t want them to know about that. Any of it.
“Look it’s not that big of a deal, what would I even do after high school? Go to college? I never even liked school” he tried to argue back his reaction.
“Look kid, if the superhero business was too much you could have cut back. It was great to have you on all our missions but I could have done some alone if you needed that,``Ray said as he walked towards Henry, worry etched in his face. How could someone be this okay with not graduating? With not doing any of the ‘after high school’ things teenagers do. Something dark and ugly was planted in the older superhero’s stomach about the conversation.
It was the off putting air in the room that slowly made its way into people's throats, but none more so than Ray. There was clearly some resentment to the younger tone and opinion of the events happening, but who wouldn't be angry at this. The passive dismissal created a magnetic draw to the increasingly obvious fact that this was a deeper issue than what was initially at hand.
“This really isn't that crazy. I don't know why you're all concerned about this. It sucks but it's whatever, Besides finishing high school was more of a fantasy than dream for most of it,” Henry said, his tone light and airy at the end, almost nostalgic at referencing his years in high school.
“If you're sure you're okay with this then i'll believe you kid, i just don't want you bottling this up” Ray said trying to shift the topic and pocketing the pit in his stomach for after a talk with Jasper and Charlotte, hell maybe even Piper. Something about the way Henry had been was just off. Ray may not have been his father but he had seen Henry just about everyday for many years now and he'd be lying if he said he had not grown protective of the blonde and came to care for him and the rest of the kids like they were his own. No wonder he felt so concerned seeing this complete 180 of the kid he's known.
Henry had always been laid back and more carefree but even then he was high energy and high emotion. Not this quick to look away attitude, and passiveness he was receiving from him now.
After that it wasn't long before Ray sent a text asking Charlotte and Jasper to stay behind after Henry leaves, and was only about 10 before the blonde started packing up to leave.
“I'm gonna head home, you guys coming?” Henry asked, looking over at Charlotte and Jasper.
“Nah my mom’s coming to pick us up in like 15 minutes when she gets off work but we’ll talk to you later,” Charlotte quickly made up, something Jasper was deeply thankful for because he had drawn a blank on what he would have said.
Once the remaining trio had confirmed Henry was on his way over and out of the store they shifted their attention back to their ‘boss’ of sorts.
“Is this about Henry?” Jasper started with, clearly sharing some of the concerns the older had by the look of him.
“Yeah i was wondering if he seemed off to you guys earlier, and even after he seemed like he wanted to get out of here quickly which isn't like him. Hell he usually hates going home,” He replied, and mentally noted that maybe home had something to do with it. Quickly recounting all the instances of Henry drawing out leaving and his seemingly endless freedom, he was 13 when he started and no one noticed? Definity something that needs to be addressed.
“So we all thought that was weird right? He was acting like he was hiding something and then like it didn't matter, just seemed weird” said the girl.
Positive that it wasn't only him seeing the odd conversation Ray attempted to figure out how to ask his next set of questions, because at the end of the day it's hard to ask teenagers if they know something is going on with their closest friend.
“Has Henry ever talked to either of you about his parents, or anything like that?” supplied the older.
“Not much, at least not anything more than he's probably mentioned to you considering he spends more time here than at home, and definitely more time with you than either of his parents' ' Charlotte answered. Ray internally sighed, this wasn't what he wanted to hear. He had the sneaking suspicion that Henry's behavior came from an issue with his parents given the same reason Charlotte had just told him.
“That's what I'm worried about, over time he's spent more time at the store or being a kid danger, but especially recently I feel like it's near constant that he's here. Don't get me wrong I love having him, and all you guys, here but something about how little he cared was freakin me out”, he said giving the two teenagers a real explanation about why he asked them to stay back.
“Now that you're talking about it, he has always avoided the topic of his parents but I guess it doesn't come up a whole lot, maybe we can get him to open up a little bit. '' Jasper responded.
“Yeah we can bring it up at some point, and Ray,”
“Yeah?” the older man answered.
“He's gonna be okay, I can see your stressing out about this,” She said. She wasn't wrong, he knew it. He worried about his kids.
“Well thanks for the help guys, and you two should probably start getting home soon anyway, i'll see you guys tomorrow” Ray said, waving them out.
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It was late. Too late for Henry to be outside still. After he had gone home and been assaulted with the words from his parents calling him a failure on top of the regular insults he received on the daily, or whenever they were there to acknowledge his existence. Lucky for him Piper was out somewhere herself so she didn't have to get involved in the fighting between their parents and him.
He knew they weren't wrong. From where he stood, and their limited knowledge no shit he looked like a fuck up, but even knowing they didnt have the whole story he knew they thought this anyway. These words were not new to him.
And that's how he got here. Sitting on the tree outside his winter. The cool air was biting at his skin, being in only a tank top and thin pajama pants. He had climbed out to get some fresh air and away from that house. Even the few feet mentally comforted him knowing he technically wasn't inside. Piper had come home about 20 minutes ago meaning no one would catch him outside.
Not that he was doing anything. And that was funny isn't it. He was scared of getting caught when he genuinely wasn't trying to do anything.
It was late, a thought his brain kept coming back to. And it was. It must have been past 1am at this point given that he had seen no one on the street recently. No cars, no people, no one to notice, was the other part of that thought he was choosing to ignore. Because it was late. And he was not outside because he wanted to die. Because it was late and he was not going to kill himself over a stupid argument he's had a hundred other times. Because it was late and he was going to kil-
*Beep Beep*
Because it was late and Ray was calling him at 1am for some reason.
He got up and whipped his face off, already climbing back in his room. The last thing he needed was his overprotective boss to ask why he was outside in the middle of the night alone.
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Something wasn't right, he was sure of it. He couldn't sleep, whenever he tried to he got the sinking feeling something was wrong. It wasn't difficult for Ray to figure out this was a worry for his sidekick. All for what very well could be senseless panic and concern. If something was wrong he'd tell someone, right? Henry wasn't the type to stay quiet, always quick to speak and for lack of better words lacked a filter.
Truthfully he should be asleep, he should have made dinner once the kids went home, finished any business he needed to and gone to bed like any other night. But the idea that this concern should have been here longer kept sinking into his thoughts.
Why would it randomly start? Whatever ray was afraid and worried about couldn't have just appeared today. No, these things develop over time. So why hasn't he seen it? Charlotte and Jasper seemed just as lost as he did. So maybe there's nothing there. Maybe this gut wrenching feeling of fear was for nothing.
Just made up in his mind. Something his brain was fixated on despite minimal proof it even existed.
But maybe it wasn't. The superhero sat back down and sat on his bed already opening his contact list.
‘If it's nothing then he’ll have woken the kid up for nothing. But if it's something better safe than sorry’
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“Hey man, what's up?” Henry said once he slid the call to accept, it was probably some emergency mission otherwise Ray wouldn't call him this late at night. “Something going on? Need me to come in? If i do it might be a little longer than usual to get out of here without waking anyone up here”
“Nah there's no mission or anything we need to do”
“Okay. Then why are you calling me?”
“What, a superhero can't call his favorite sidekick? Maybe i needed an opinion on if i should take your mother to dinner?” Ray chirped back at the younger.
“What about my mother-” Henry cut himself off, generally not wanting to push that train any further than he had to. “And Ray it's like 2am what if i had been asleep?” he droned out only slightly actually annoyed, instead he was just confused.
“Were you not asleep? We were out fighting crime for multiple hours and you're not asleep. Jeez kid no wonder you've been acting weird you're probably exhausted!”
“Yeah I am exhausted but what 17 year old isn't” Henry replied, choosing to ignore his boss who thought he was acting weird. Today was an off day but he hasn't been any different recently has he?
“Yeah you're right, either way I was just calling to make sure you're okay. Had some weird feeling you werent and it was keeping me up. Decided id just check in. see if ya needed to get anything off your chest or if you're alright” He finally admitted out loud, trying to make it more casual than telling a teenager he was scared shitless over a hunch.
This took Henry aback. Was this just from today? Had he said something? Did Ray see something? He stopped doing that a while ago but the evidence still remains and honestly he'd rather talk about anything else than that.
“Yeah man I'm fine, didn't mean to make you lose sleep over if I was acting weird about that shit earlier today. I'm dealing with it on my own, don't worry it was just overwhelming earlier” The lie rolled off his tongue like it was actually the truth. Fuck it maybe it was, who knows. Not Henry, that's for sure.
Just because the lie came faster than any actual truth didn't mean Ray didn't catch it. He had been working with the kid for years and he could tell when he was lying. Right now wasn't an exception.
“Alright kid, but if somethings wrong you can tell me. I don't mean to overstep but I get the feeling you're keeping something from me and I'll respect that. But come to me or someone else if you need anything. Charlotte and Jasper are worried as well. I don't want to push you to tell me anything but you can if you want to. I love ya kid.” The older superhero finally spilled out. It was close to 2am and he knew he wasn't getting any real information out of him anytime soon, so the least he could do is make sure he knew he was there for him.
Henry on the other side of town was trying to process what he was being told. He knew Ray cared about him but didnt know he cared enough to call just to make sure he's okay.
“Shit man” The sidekick started, not sure how to respond. Part of him wanted to let his mentor know all the shitty things. The crap with his parents, the shit in his head. But also he just wanted to go to bed. A different day.
“Man that's. Jeez” he took an audible deep breath, “heh, yeah i guess shit hasn't be going great lately” he started, staring down at the fading lines on his wrist, “but i'm okay, okay enough for right now. I think I want to tell you eventually. Just not yet” He said, finally finding his words.
“Of course kid i'm here for you, now get to sleep. Can't fight crime while sleep deprivation” He said, his voice steading out now that he finally got something out of the kid.
“I will, goodnight ray” Henry said, clicking the call off and throwing his phone onto his bed, followed quickly by himself.
Both superheroes went to bed feeling a little lighter than they had a few hours previously.