Sonic Series Fan Fiction ❯ The risks you take to be accepted ❯ Twenty years later ( Chapter 4 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Manic pulled his car in front of the Mobotropolis middle school. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as his thirteen year old twins Glitch and Cyber made their way to his car.

 Manic glanced back as the kids got in. “How was your day?”

 “I hate school.” Cyber said, folding her arms.

 Glitch motioned to Cyber. “Girls are bullying her again.” He said. “Same old stuff.”

 “Do you want to talk about it later?” Manic asked. He glanced in the rearview mirror.

 Cyber gave a halfhearted shrug. “I dunno.”

 Manic nodded. “Okay.” He said, pulling the car onto the road.

 “Gives me time to think about what to say.” Manic thought.

*

 Manic walked the kids into the house.

 Cyber continued on to her room without a word to Surge, who was looking over a takeout menu at the table.

 Glitch helped himself to leftover taco salad.

 Surge finally looked up as Manic sat down across from her, then groaned. “Is it the same junk again?”

 “Yeah.” Manic replied. He glanced at Glitch. “You can take that in your room.”

 Glitch took his food and water bottle to his room.

 “Listen, I know I said I’d take over helping with Nikòs when I got home.” Manic said. “But Cyber needs to talk, so I’ll take her with me to pick up takeout. I’ll take over for the rest of the night and tomorrow.”

 Surge gave Manic a blank stare. “I’ve been scrubbing puke off the carpet, washing it off the blankets and mine and Nikòs’ spines all day.” She replied. “What makes you think you’re able to help her anyway?”

 “Cause it’s the same stuff I went through in school.” Manic said. “Get Glitch to help out. They don’t have homework today.”

 “Fine.” Surge replied. “But you owe me.”

 “Definitely.” Manic said, getting up. He kissed Surge. “Thanks, babe.”

 “Go on.” Surge replied. 

 Manic headed to Cyber’s room and knocked on the door.

 “Come in.” Cyber muttered.

 Manic opened the door and stepped into the room.

 Cyber was laying on her bed with her headphones on, listening to music.

 Manic sat on the foot of bed.

 Cyber paused her music and sat up. “I don’t feel like talking, Dad.”

 “You need to.” Manic said. “I’m going to pick up takeout and thought you could ride along so we could talk. Not taking no for an answer since this is important.”

 Cyber sighed as she got up. “Fine.” She muttered.

 Manic got up. “I’d let your Ma handle it if I thought she could help you with this.”

 Cyber rolled her eyes. “I don’t think you get it.”

 Manic got his phone out and scrolled through the photo gallery until he found the right picture. “This was me before I met your Ma and why I got bullied at school.”

 Cyber looked at the picture. “But you were… like my age.”

 “No, I was seventeen.” Manic replied.

 Cyber grimaced. “Oh….”

 “Yeah, so I kinda understand.” Manic said.

 Cyber grabbed her jacket off the back of her chair. “Let’s go.”

*

 “So after that I found out your Ma wouldn’t have cared if I still looked like that.” Manic said.

 Cyber nodded.

 “My point is you haven’t found the right friends yet.” Manic said. “You shouldn’t have to do something drastic that’ll potentially damage your body just to fit in with shallow snobs.”

 “But you did.” Cyber replied.

 “And I shouldn’t have done it.” Manic said. “I might’ve caused myself, you and your siblings, and your Ma problems that hadn’t come up yet. I passed on the mutations I know about to you and your brothers.”

 He sighed. “Your ma has some residual effects from being around me when I power up.” He continued. “You have no idea how much that worries me. I didn’t think past the short term effects back then and I wish I had. I don’t think I’d ever forgive myself if I found out that I potentially hurt you all.”

 Cyber bit her lip. “But….”

 “Cyber, there’s nothing wrong with you.” Manic said. “Those other kids are being stupid. If they’re comparing you to whatever they see online or wherever, they’re comparing you to something as fake as your old action figure collection. A lot of that stuff is heavily filtered or photoshopped. Remind me, I’ll show you how much they photoshopped your uncle Sonic’s photos when we get home.”

 “They really did that to him?” Cyber asked.

 “Yeah, because I was constantly compared to him while I was in school.” Manic replied. “It hurt and it took a while to move past it. I’d go in my room and listen to music like you do. You’re more like me than you realize.”

 Cyber nodded.

 “Is that it for now?” Manic asked.

 “Yeah.” Cyber replied.

 “Okay then.” Manic said, turning on the radio.

*

 Cyber helped Manic load the dirty dishes into the dishwasher. “So do you have those pictures of uncle Sonic you were talking about?”

 “Yeah.” Manic said, starting the dishwasher. “Sit on the couch. I’ll be there in a minute.”

 Cyber headed to the living room.

 Manic threw the boxes in the trash, then joined Cyber in the living room. “Okay.” He said, picking up his tablet. “I saved them all in my cloud storage recently.”

 Manic opened the folder, then handed the tablet to Cyber. “Here you go.” He said. “You’ve seen our high school photos to know what he looked like back then.”

 Cyber furrowed her brow as she shook her head. “He never looked like that.”

 Manic nodded.

 “He barely looks like a hedgehog in a few of these.” Cyber said.

 “Exactly.” Manic replied. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”

 Cyber handed Manic the tablet. 

 “There’s nothing wrong with you, there’s something seriously wrong with these Mobians who try to sell everyone on a fake image.” Manic said, setting the tablet on the table.

  “I see, Dad.” Cyber replied. She hugged Manic. “Thanks.”

 “Don’t mention it.” Manic said. “It’s my job to make sure you don’t learn from my mistakes the hard way.”

 Manic picked up the remote. “Since everyone else is busy, you want to pick out a movie?”

 Cyber grinned. “Wanna watch Birdemic with me?”

 “Sure.” Manic said, handing Cyber the remote. He got up. “After I get Nikòs in here so I can keep an eye on him. Get it ready, I’ll be right back.”

 Manic headed to Nikòs’ bedroom while Cyber turned the tv on.