"I'm going to get some air for a bit," He muttered before getting up from the table heading straight for the door.
Not long afterward Jamie joined him outside- "Hey, nice night huh?"
Shaun had his head down on a bench under an Oak tree – "I guess."
Jamie with a reminiscent look – "You might not remember this, but that Oak tree was mom's favorite spot.
Shaun – "Really, why?"
Jamie – "You see she had this rebellious kid, who always had a tantrum. He screamed and cried whenever he didn't get this way. She was more patient than dad, who was a bit old-fashioned and fancied his belt. But one day after arguing with dad and storming out with the kid in her arms, she realized he had suddenly calmed down under this very oak tree. So every night when he had a tantrum she would hold him in her arms and bring him under this tree. Dad, although having a tough exterior, made that small bench so she could sit".
Shaun – "and it calmed him down?"
Jamie with a smile – "Every single time."
Shaun – "Why was that?"
Jamie – "Mom and dad had different theories. Dad felt it was the calm of the old tree, but she saw it differently. She realized the house was like a prison for you. It bounded you and in your most heightened state all that emotion came to the surface, exploding into the little bastard you are." He laughed while rubbing his brother's head, "The outside represented freedom and the shackles were lifted.
Now Chin up, while your big bro is here everything will be alright. You're never to give up."
His words brought a smile to Shaun's face. Who felt somewhat selfish with his action? His life wasn't perfect, but he had a brother who loved him unconditionally and worked hard so he could have a good life. So maybe the window of becoming a hero had passed, but he would not give up on his aspirations.
Jamie, seeing the spunk return to his brother's eyes, questioned, "So tomorrow, 3:30 am," He placed his fist outward to Shaun who bumped it replying with a grin, "Sharp like a razor."
Morning came and Shaun's alarm buzzed. He rubbed his eyes and saw 3:15 AM blinking in blinding lights on his phone. He stretched and yawned making his way to the bathroom. Oddly the lights were on, normally his brother was so fixed with his routine he didn't even need lights.
Knock! Knock! – "I still have fifteen minutes of me time, Jamie," He cursed at the door but to his dismay, he found his privacy was impeded when the door was opened. He hurried to turn around from his pee when he saw that not only was Jamie at the door but Lucy as well, she was chuckling away.
"You two perverts!" Upset he shouted but realized something odd. Jamie who usually was in his overalls at this hour was dressed casually and actually in sneakers.
"Hey cry baby, I'm kicking you out!" Jamie uttered as he had an empty suitcase in hand. "What!" Shaun replied, trying to make sense of what his brother said.
"You heard me; I'm removing the shackles. Now, are you going to stand there with your wee-wee out? Or are you going to let us take you to the city?" Jamie and Lucy laughed as he spoke.
"Shackles? City?" Slowly the look changed on Shaun's face to utter excitement, "NO WAY! NO WAY!" He launched himself at the two of them, bringing them all to the floor.
"Aah Shaun..., Zip-up!" Uttered Lucy as she dared not to look down.
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In Lucy's blue jeep, the three-headed out into the early morning. Their destination, Lake View City, the twenty-fifth most traveled city in the world. It had high skyscrapers, a large man-made lake, and perhaps one of the most known features, Lake View Super Academy. It was one of the most elite superhero training facilities, which accepted only the top tier of talent. It was what most youngsters from birth dreamed of, however, few got the chance to enter. Within the city, it held the supreme right to mold future heroes but to keep its integrity, its population was small.
Thus smaller licenses were issued to other institutions with varying conditions. So when Nick bragged about his early admission, it was not Lake View Super Academy, but one of its smaller affiliates.
Shaun singing excitedly – "We're going to the city.., beep beep beep! We're going to the city in Lucy's blue jeep! We're going to the city.., beep beep beep! We're going to the city in Lucy's blue jeep!"
In the front seat of the small jeep, Jamie and Lucy could be seen wishing they were anywhere else but in the car at the moment. The number of times Shaun sang the same song over and over again was truly infuriating. "The radio had to die today of all days!" Lucy looked at the radio hatefully, the only seeming frequency was static as Jamie drove.
"Just another hour and we will arrive," Replied Jamie before the two heard – Poosh!- A flobbing sound as the car began to titter on the road.
Shaun - "We got a flat tire.., beep beep beep! We got a flat tire while driving Lucy's blue jeep! We got a flat tire.., beep beep beep! We got a flat tire while driving Lucy's blue jeep!"
"Shaun!" The two turned around to yell simultaneously.
Shaun with his hand in the air - "Ok, ok, ok damn! If you two had requests all you had to do was say something."
Lucy - "I'm going to kill him!"
Jamie – "You have my permission…"
_________________________
After changing the tire the trio then made a stop at one of the known tourist attractions before entering Lakeview. It was a fifteen-minute detour at the top of a mountain. From there the massive city could be seen in full. For Shaun, his eyes opened up wide pseeing the place he had only known through the portals of a television screen. But now before him, was his dream. Seeing his reaction Jamie and Lucy allowed him to enjoy the moment.
"Let's go! This city shall be mine!" Motivated Shaun walked past the two who sat on the hood of the car. "You sure he doesn't want to be a supervillain," Lucy teased. Knowing that Shaun was not the most selfless person you could find. She could just imagine before saving someone he demanded payment for his services.
Jamie- "Let's hope not, the first one that usually gets the blame is the parent."
Ha-ha!- Shaun clapped sarcastically while in the back of the jeep –"You too are at it again huh? The jester and his beautiful maiden. Well, this king demands swift transport in this small carriage. Come! Come! Jester, make haste, onward!" The two could only shake their heads before jumping into the front of the jeep.
As they came closer to the city, Lucy knew there was something that needed to be said. "Shaun, you do know the likelihood of the supergene being within your body is quite low, right? I mean really low."
Shaun – "I know. There is a one in three thousand chance statistically and perhaps even lower since Jamie is known to have no traces of the gene." Seeing that he was indeed aware Lucy was surprised at Shaun's upbeat nature.
Shaun – "Once there is a chance I will live on that high as long as possible and then wait for those inevitable few seconds where my spirit is crushed." Hearing his words Jamie looked at him in the rearview mirror and smiled.
Shaun - "Until then…., We're going to the city.., beep beep beep! We're going to the city in Lucy's blue jeep! We're going to the city.., beep beep beep! We're going to the city in Lucy's blue jeep!"
"Oh hell no!" The two screamed.