Chapter Text
Was death supposed to hurt this much?
His entire body ached.
Or maybe he was just in hell. Probably deserved it.
Though, he wondered if hell would have that annoying beeping…
…
Wait.
John cracked his eyes open. Everything was white. He looked around - he was on a cot.
In a hospital.
A breathy huff of a laugh escaped him. Even after all that, he failed.
No one was in the room with him. That made sense. Him being alive didn't, though.
Sitting up, he felt a tug on his arm. An IV? And the ECG…
He pulled them off, ignoring the resultant pain and bleeding, before throwing his legs to the side of the cot. The aches flared, but… he's been through worse. This was nothing.
He stumbled to the door, putting a hand on the wall for support, before slipping out.
He wasn't sure where he was going. "Away" seemed good. He was so tired.
He sat down on a bench.
John opened his eyes.
"John?"
He blinked towards the voice.
"Are you awake?"
A face swam into view. It was—
"Dad?"
His dad's face relaxed slightly, but it almost instantly hardened.
"Mind explaining what happened?"
John flinched, turning away.
"John. Son. They said—they said you stopped others from helping you. They said they had to wait for you to—to pass out and stop using your ability! And then you go and wander off, I wonder if you don't have a de—…" He sighed, running a hand across his face. "What happened?"
"..." John sighed. "You were right, I guess. My 'secret' blew up in my face."
"John…"
"I guess I just didn't feel like... living... any more…"
"John!" He curled into himself further. "John, please, look at me." He didn't move. "... I'm going to hug you, alright? Tell me if you want me to stop."
John gripped his sheets, but said nothing. A hand touched his shoulder, slowly. If he still wanted to pull away, he could.
Next thing he knew, he was enveloped in warmth. His arms lay limply at his sides. His eyes burned, vision blurring.
"Please don't think that. I don't know what I'd do without you." His dad squeezed tighter. "They said it was close. Almost dumb luck that you survived."
John slowly reached up and wrapped his arms around his dad. "Sorry," he whispered. "I just." His voice became muffled as he buried his face in his dad's shoulder. "... Sera hates me now. I… I don't know what to do anymore. I just want everything to stop. Why am I like this? I just wanted to live a normal life away from all that hierarchy bullshit. But I guess I couldn't escape it after all."
"..."
"Maybe I should try homeschooling. Or online classes. Or if Wellston would let me work from home. Then I don't have to deal with anyone, and no one has to deal with me." He cracked a single laugh. "I don't think they'd let me do that last one. I'm just an average student, disregarding all of my personal issues. Plus I live in the dorms, now..."
"John…"
John slowly pulled away. "... I'm tired, anyways. Thanks for visiting, dad. I know you're busy."
"I'll always have time for you, son. We'll talk again later?"
"... Yeah. Thanks."