steepwithdead | Folkmore

[Well there's a quote if he's ever heard one. There's things he could say to the rest, but he'll start with that.]

Who told you that?

My aunt said it to me last I saw her. My uncle used to say it occasionally. [He's trying to just eat a biscuit to pretend this conversation isn't weird for him.]

[Quietly judging these lovely people in the background.]

Were they aware of the power you have?

My uncle died before I could tell him. [He manages to not talk with his mouth full, thanks, manners.] May knew. She- wanted me to protect people, do the right thing. Only after we talked about boundaries and stuff, since I tried hiding it from her originally.

[Quietly judges them A LITTLE HARDER.]

I see... [He takes a ponderous sip of his tea.] ...I am sorry for your loss, Peter. And I'm sorry that you weren't protected as you should have been, at such a young age.

[Peter definitely makes a face at that, conflicted on what to even feel or say for a second.]

I- I was protected. I chose to do this. It was my idea. May wanted me to stop, but knew I wouldn't. So we had like a deal about not doing it too much.

Peter, do you know what the responsibility is for a guardian with a child with powers?

[He's sipping tea, his expression uncomfortable. He takes a guess at an answer.] Take care of them?

Mm. What do you believe "take care of them" entails?

Feed, clothe, care, love and protect...? [He says hesitantly back.] May and Ben did all of them.

All very worthy and good traits in a parent. However, for a child with special abilities, there are important ones missing from that list: guide, and teach. And the manner of protection changes a lot, too.

No one else in my world had powers exactly like mine, so, they... didn't really have a guide book or anything to that. May and Ben taught me a lot though.

[Hmm. Caduceus lowers his mug.]

Guiding someone toward understanding their power doesn't require they have the same ability. It comes down to effort, experimentation, support. What's important is that the child doesn't experience it alone.

[He clears his throat.] And... that the child is not putting themselves in danger with said power, until they are grown and in control.

[Peter knows he's being a little defensive, but, it's hard not to be. May and Ben were the only people he had.]

It's not like I really told May about it. She found out when I was like... sixteen, and we had to figure that out together. I didn't want to make her worry about me anymore than she already did.

[A curious look.]

Why did you not tell her? For the same reason, so she wouldn't worry?

Yeah, I thought... if she didn't know, it would be fine. [He's fidgeting with the tea cup absently.] It was actually not fine.

No, I imagine not.

[He folds his hands in his lap.]

I think maybe there's a fundamental misunderstanding for what is normal, so let me ask... is it unusual to have powers of any kind in your world?

It's definitely unusual to have powers. Maybe 4% of people would have powers or decide to be a superhero. [Peter offers back, trying to help. Also being vague because the marvel universe is a mess.] I kind of lucked out I guess.

[....Kiddo,]

Has it brought you joy?

[Was it lucky?]

Yeah, sometimes. [That biscuit is history, he's just finishing it off.] I got to meet a lot of cool people, I met my idol and helped him with a fight in a different country. I like helping people around my neighborhood, making them feel safe.

[Peter can't help but frame it in what he can do for other people. Even now.]

I'm kind of... stepping back though. I really wanted to just be normal for a while, but, it didn't work out exactly.

[More biscuits where that came from.]

What happened?

[He is taking another biscuit, breaking it in half.]

I was pulled into a place like this- [He gestures with the cookie half.] I asked an oracle what my future was like. They showed me my death. My second death, technically.

I just wanted to live. Just for a little while longer.

Your second?

[Caduceus doesn't sound especially surprised, mostly curious. It is admittedly unusual for people to die more than once, but, well. An adventurer's life (or perhaps a "superhero"'s) is just like that.]

Sort of. The way the oracle framed everything... it made it seem like I died a second time. [His life doesn't get any less weird. Peter is glad Cad isn't overly alarmed by it at least.] After I saw what looked like my second death, I thought I needed to step back for a while.

I had died once back home, for five years. I came back, and tried to pick back up on my life. Tried to not be a superhero for a while, but, I kept being dragged into helping by other people.

[Interesting. So he's been revived... it doesn't make the death any easier, but a second chance at life is nothing to shrug at. Certainly can change one's perspective.]

I'm sorry you had to go through that. Dying can leave behind a scar, one that often becomes unseen even after returning to life. It's difficult to go back to normal after the fact, doubly so when it feels as if life is forcing you to do so before you're ready. Those who pushed you should have given you time to heal.

[His tone is soft, sympathetic- perhaps more significantly, understanding. His words are more than guesses.]

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