ALL NOVEL Chapter 8: Understanding
Flight!
He was actually flying!
The feeling was unlike any other of his abilities. Strength and speed were things that sort of just came to him, but this was completely different. It's like his body had an extra limb that could decide whether or not he accepted gravity. Most of all, it was intoxicating and felt so free.
"Brandon, we know this is cool, but please set us down!" his dad screamed while holding on as best he could.
'Agh, I forgot they were there. But how do I get down?'
"Ugh, Dad, would you believe me if I said I didn't know how to get back? Haha," Brandon said with a chuckle as he tried to ignore the growing worry. However, the faces his parents made just caused him to feel bad.
'Come on, it's just another power like all the others. It's mine, and I can control it.' Closing his eyes, Brandon began slowing his breathing as he imagined that extra limb. He pictured himself slowly coming back to the ground like a leaf. Not too fast but at the right speed to not hurt his parents.
While he was doing this, his parents saw the ground slowly getting closer.
"He's doing it!"
"Honey, shhhh, you might make him mess up. Just look at him," hearing her husband's words, Tori saw Brandon's focused expression and gave Kyle a silent nod.
After some moments, they eventually reached the ground where both of his parents practically jumped away in case he flew back up again.
Seeing their reaction, Brandon rubbed his hair with some embarrassment. "Sorry about that. It was my first time even doing that. I didn't know I could fly, so coming back was kind of difficult."
Kyle looked at Brandon with understanding. He expected that this was the case because his son wasn't one to make jokes like that. If that's true, then this meant Brandon was going through changes no other teenager on earth would be experiencing.
Now he really understood why his son ditched school today. If he had gone and done something similar there, in a public place… he didn't want to imagine it.
Glancing at his wife, he saw that she was experiencing similar worry and realized he needed to do something as the man of the house. But first, he needed to ask something just to be sure.
"Brandon, just how many powers have you awakened so far?"
Brandon thought his dad might just be curious and listed them down. "Well, the first day strength, then speed. Later, I awakened super hearing, and today I started flying."
"Three the first day and one the next… Do you think you're going to keep getting more?"
More… well, the most prominent ones had appeared so far, but he did still have some that had yet to appear like heat vision, X-ray vision, frost breath, electromagnetic disruption, and possibly even telekinesis since it seemed like Brightburn could do that in the movie.
"Yeah, I think I still have more, and I don't know how many more." A lie but he couldn't explain that he knew about the others.
"Then that settles it. We'll pull you out of public school and start homeschooling instead. If you awaken something more dangerous in school, then the government might come or you might hurt someone," Kyle pointed out while Tori placed her hand on her husband's shoulder, supporting this decision.
'Haha, this is great. I didn't even need to petition for it myself. Now this is exactly why I wanted to share my powers with my parents.' Brandon never understood why MCs in books hide their abilities and make everything harder when they can just do this. Much less drama and is way more efficient.
Smiling at his parents, Brandon gave them a nod. "I agree and think this is the best we can do at least until I have everything under control."
"Hey, if you want to practice that super strength, I got some work around the farm that could be a lot cheaper with your help," Kyle added, not wanting to miss out on an opportunity, causing his wife to hit his arm.
"Don't say that, Kyle! Brandon's powers shouldn't be used on something like that."
Brandon completely agreed with this statement. He didn't mind using his power to help around the farm, but he didn't want to become its only help…
"Haha, I know. I was just joking, though I wouldn't mind a hand here and there. But son, what do you want to do?"
'Dad's actually asking me?' He didn't expect this question. His parents really were different than the Kents.
They seemed to like his abilities, made jokes about using them for farm work, and even asked what he wanted to use them for. While Superman's dad wanted to keep him basically hidden away from the world.
'Well, if they are asking, now's as good a time as any.'
"I want to use my powers to help, like the heroes we saw on TV the other day," Brandon stated confidently. He knew it was a daring decision and didn't want to look worried.
"Huh, like Fight Force? But those guys lose all the time."
"Not like them, Dad! Well, sort of, just except the losing part. I meant being a hero like the Guardians."
"I knew what you meant, but I guess it was just sort of surprising. You've always been the quiet type and never really cared about the heroes."
This was true, at least in the case of the original Brandon. He was basically the quiet kid sticking to himself with few things that interested him. This didn't make him a bad kid, just an introverted one.
"And are you sure it's a good idea? You've seen some of the fights the heroes have had with monsters, aliens, and supervillains." His mom added with worry.
Watching heroes fight on the TV screen never bothered them much or made them worry, but if it was her son?
"I know it's dangerous, which is why I don't plan on being a hero anytime soon. At least not until I got my powers in check and a costume since I can't exactly go dressed like this. What will they say, Farm Boy to the rescue?"
The costume wasn't the only reason for this decision… This choice was also mainly because of Omni-Man. He didn't know how that guy would react to him. In the best case scenario, the Viltrumite will ignore him and focus on Mark. Worst case, he'll put him on the same threat level as the Guardians and will try to take him out. Not wanting to take the risk, he decided it best to just wait till Omni-Man is off-world.
"Hehe, Farm Boy. I guess they might say that," his mom said with a giggle, clearly enjoying that superhero name. "But first, let's go eat."
Brandon and his dad looked at each other, silently agreeing that food did sound good right about now. "I'll catch up to you guys. I need to put the ship back in the barn first."
"Alright, don't take too long."