-Rick Riordan

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"Okay, anything else you need before I go?"

"Maybe one last kiss?"

"You are the weirdest mix of sweet and spicy," John growled but didn't dare refuse as he leaned towards Seras and planted a last farewell upon her soft and supple lips. Seras moaned as he began to pull away, her hand lightly fighting to keep him there as long as possible. It wasn't until John grabbed her wrist that she finally let him go, John smirking as he restored the distance between them.

"Talkin' about me like a snack, but 'ere I am the one left 'ungry for more," Seras whispered, winking at John as she embraced his euphemism fully.

"I know I've got free reign on this Order vehicle Moira lent me, and I'm sure Moira has me under guard - even if she won't say it outright - but I'm not going to venture out too far just yet. No sense placing myself in unnecessary danger, so I'll see you as soon as I can. I get the feeling I'm not going to want to stick around very long…"

"Still, you sure you don't want me to tag along? I could always sit in the car, if you're worried about me gettin' seen by your mum."

"No, that's alright… if I run into trouble, I hope I can handle myself. If not, I'll World Shift out the second I think there's trouble. The Order's got my mother under protection already, so backup will be nearby anyway."

John shook the apprehension slowly washing over him off as best as he could, giving one final farewell to Seras before striding out the door and toward the driveway. The safehouse was a decent distance from his home, which gave him plenty of time to think - one of the things he would have very much liked to avoid, but not something he could totally circumvent. Even after a good night’s rest and with the early morning sun shining down on him as he drove, John was overwhelmed by thoughts.

His new ability was weighing heavily on his mind. The multiple instances of Deception Successful popping up were running through his mind. They had always left a poor taste in his mouth - what would happen now that he knew such notifications were tied directly to magically altering someone's worldview?

John didn't get his answer by the time he pulled up to his home - though it comforted him a little to realize that he still thought of it as his home, even after all that had happened. Muscle memory carried him where desire failed, bringing him quickly towards his once-welcoming abode. John strode to the front door of his home and knocked loudly, hoping that he had caught his mother while she was at home. She wasn't the type to run off on a weekday, but with her son out of the home and her social life what it was, there was no safe guess as to where she might be.

Fortunately she was waiting for him, like she always seemed to be. Brenda opened the door before John had even touched the handle, smiling brightly and ushering him inside.

"Oh, what a surprise! I didn't expect you back until tomorrow, or at least later this evening; don't tell me you already got kicked out of the Brightons' extra studies? Or did you just ask to leave so you could come back to your entertainment center? Don’t think for even a minute that I didn't notice you left everything here, even your laptop!"

"Well, I didn't get kicked out. I did come to pick up some stuff, though. I thought that since I had to stop home we could spend some time together. It's been a few days, what's been going on with you?"

"Oh, nothing special to me - but half the town is trying to burn down," his mother spewed, shaking her head as she trotted over to the refrigerator. "Over the past few days, they've reported five major homicides, can you believe that? I heard six people died in a gang-related incident, and in a nice neighborhood! Apparently they brought **** rifles into a residential area! Thank god nobody outside their little turf war was hurt, but it's been a while since the gangs were this bold. I'm getting a little worried, honestly - I was kind of glad you were somewhere safe and secure!"

John nodded, caught off-guard by her total acceptance of these events. Springfield had never been quiet, that was certain (although John was no longer sure how much of it was mundane), but to hear her accept the idea that gangsters were waging turf-war with full-auto weapons in places where people lived… there was no question in her mind, no doubt that such a thing was believable or even likely. Was this what spells like the one he'd just learned did to people? How many things had he forgotten, back when he was one of the mundane civilians unaware of the magical world around himself?

"Well… yeah, definitely safe," John agreed, shaking his head.

Deception successful!

"Fuck you," John thought, brushing off the notification when his mother wasn't looking.

"So, how has it been? I hope it hasn't been too hard - I know you always do well in school, but I heard this program is pretty intensive!"

"Super intensive… but I'm learning a lot," John agreed, realizing the only way to avoid those accursed pop-ups was going to be telling half-truths.

"That's great, sweetie! Between the Academy and your private studies, I bet you can get into any college you want. Have you given any more thought to what you want to do with your life?"

"I'm… still not really sure, kind of in a weird place right now," John muttered. This wasn't good. His mother was diving into the questions, and the more she asked, the more he was encouraged to lie. He had realized, somewhere in his subconscious, just how odd and centered around supernatural things his life had become over the last week and a half, but he had never been so starkly aware of it as now when he couldn't explain where he'd been for even a single day of the last week without delving into Abyssal society.

"Well, just remember - you only have a couple years before you need to decide what major you want to go into. I'll support you with whatever you decide, so pick something fun! Life isn't all about money and success if you hate every day of it."

"I know… I know. You've been so supportive and generous… I really appreciate you, Mom. I love you."

"I love you too, sweetie… but what exactly do you appreciate? I haven't done anything special lately. Are you trying to ask for a car? Because you know I can't-"

"N-no! I mean, you've already done so much…"

John sighed, taking a quick breath. His mind struggled to word what he was about to say properly against the thrashing of his heart that urged him to walk away before he could do any damage. His body fought against a fight-or-flight instinct that he abhorred feeling in the presence of his only real family.

"…especially with helping me find my apartment and get set up there. I really appreciate the independence… it's really helping me adjust to life as an adult. Now that we agreed I don’t need to attend the Academy anymore, I feel like I’m getting a good start on my life. I can't thank you enough, and I really… I really…"

John broke down as his eyes caught the message popping up before him, unable to continue speaking. It was all he could do to stop himself from crying, throwing himself into his mother's confused but caring arms. John pulled himself tightly to her, sniffling wildly and almost nuzzling himself into her as he shook his head to fight away the guilt and shame.

Mental Override Successful!

"Well, what did you expect?" Brenda said quietly, running her fingers through John's hair. "I told you I wanted you to feel more independent, have your own life… I love having you here, and I really enjoy giving you a chance to not have to worry about money, but it's important for you to live your own life too. You're eighteen now, after all - I don't want to stifle you."

"I… thanks, Mom. I know you… always want what's best for me. I just hope you don't hate what I've become," John half-whispered, doing his best not to look away from her eyes. Judging by the confusion on her face, his mother was wondering why John even bothered pointing out something so obvious.

"Of course I don't! I've never been more proud of you than when you got accepted into the Brighton program; you seemed so excited to learn more advanced subjects and to really prepare yourself for your life ahead. How could any decent mother be anything but proud? What brought that kind of worry on, John - did I do something to make you think I was angry?"

"N-no, Mom," John gasped, throwing himself forward into her arms. "There's nothing wrong at all. I'm not sad, I just… I'm so glad to have a mother like you. I love you."

Mental Override Successful!

John winced, struggling to keep himself in check as he embraced his mother. The mere sight of the notification sickened him; the thought of which part of his statement had triggered it sent convulsions through his body.

"I know that, John. Thank you for visiting…"

"Yeah, of course. I, uh… I need to get going now. I have some errands to run in town."

"Didn't you say you came to pick something up?"

"Yeah, I'll make it quick - thanks again, I love you, Mom!"

John did his best not to let his anger and frustration at what the Abyss was turning him into show until he was out on the road again and could safely beat his palms into the steering wheel, cranking the radio and daring the Order's sedan to carry him fast enough to escape himself.