Chapter Text
“My son is a failure!” Jake cries as Henry slowly opens the door to the house. “D’s and F’s for every class! How does one even fail study hall?”
“He promised his grades would be better this year.” Kris says, her hands shaking. Henry attempts to sneak up the stairs but accidentally steps on the one squeaky step. Henry freezes when his moms head snaps over to him.
“Henry Prudence Hart! You get back down here!” Kris yells. Henry stares in fear at his mother.
“Your mother said right this instant Henry!” Henry’s father is glaring at him. The stairs thud as Henry rushes back down them.
“I’m here. What do you need to talk about?” Henry asks. Henry’s hope is that his parents will get to the point so it doesn’t feel like a double punishment.
“Don’t act innocent Henry,” Jake slams his grades on the table, “you know what this is.”
“My grades.”
“Do you know where we found them?” Jake asks, “Actually, you know where we found them. Hidden, in your room. Just like last time.”
“Yes,” Kris says, “and majority of the assignments you failed or they are missing. It’s almost like you’re trying not to graduate, that you don’t care that you’re not graduating with your friends”
“Do you think I don’t know that?” Henry screeches, “Do you think I don’t care that I’m not graduating with my friends?
“YOU KNOW NOTHING” Jake yells back. “You don’t even know how hard it is. To find out your son is a failure. After all your promises, all of your swears that it will be different this year, you still end up a failure.”
“Do you think I mean to fail them?” Henry retaliates, “I’ve been trying to make the missing assignments up but not all the teachers will-”
“Maybe you’re not trying enough. Maybe you’re destined to be a failure.” Jake says.
“It’s that stupid job, isn’t it,” Kris interrupts.
“Hey, you’re the ones who said I should get that job in the first place! You said it would help me learn accountability and responsibility!” Henry stresses.
“Well,” Kris says, “After you got that job selling junk of all things, you’ve become a recluse. You never spend time with us, and whenever that watch of yours beeps three times. You make up an unbelievable excuse to leave”
“No I don’t” Henry responds, “I never do tha-” At that moment, with spectacular timing, Henry’s watch beeps. Henry starts fiddling with it to try and silence it.
“See, that watch of yours beeps and suddenly all of your attention is gone.” Jake says, he gets off of the sofa. Henry backs up as Jake approaches him, “you don’t even care about this conversation.”
“I’m sorry I need to go, can we finish this conversation later?” Henry pleads.
“Then go,” Jake hisses, “But know that if you do, you can never come back.”
“But-” Henry stutters.
“Go.” Jake says. Henry throws his bag on the floor and rushes out of the house.
~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~
Henry runs.
His feet pound against the ground as he tries to get away from the house, from his parents as soon as possible. The beeping of his watch has become background noise as the screams of his thoughts bounce inside his head. Why did he run? Why did his parents find his reports? Why didn’t he hide them better? He knew from the last time that they found them. Why did he even expect a different outcome? Why did he leave his classes in the first place? Why did he agree to become Kid Danger in the first place? Why did he even search for the job? Why did he want money so bad? Why didn’t he just do his homework? Why? Why? Why?
The sudden rush of water pulls him from his thoughts. He was on a bridge.
It was his dad’s favorite bridge, a bridge whose name he couldn’t bother to remember. The first fight Henry had as Kid Danger. The first place Ray took him as Captain Man. The first place Kid Danger was sighted.
The bridge meant a lot of things to a lot of people. But not Henry. Not anymore. He jumps over the bridge’s railing and looks out at the sunset. Suddenly his phone vibrates in his pocket. Henry pulls it out to see his mom calling.
“Would have expected her to call later.” Henry muttered as he hangs up. He slides his phone back into his pocket.
A couple seconds later it vibrates once. Henry takes his phone out once more to see it’s a voicemail from his mom. He opens his phone and plays the message.
“Henry Hart. When you come back home, we will continue the serious talk about your grades, your attendance, and your attitude at home.” Kris’s voice says from the speaker.
“Piper talked to us and we realized you could be struggling with a drug addiction, we will have a chat about that when you get home.” Jake’s voice says. Henry quickly sends a text back.
Henry: i thought you didn’t want me home
Kris: It was the emotion of the moment. You know your dad did not mean it.
Henry: that’s a lie. what is that one saying again? “say what you mean, and mean what you say?”
Kris: do not use that tone with your mother. You ungrateful brat.
Henry glares at his phone. He looks out at the river, then back at his phone. Anger clouds Henry’s mind as he throws his phone into the river.
Suddenly the city goes dark.