Chapter Text
The flight back home was excruciating. His legs being squished by the small space between seats wasn't fun- neither was realizing his powers were back, the ones that ruined his life. He could remember the day that the fire grew brighter, his fear of himself only fueling the flame like gas to a grill. Watching as the building crumbled around him. Nobody died, thankfully, but it ruined so many peoples' lives.
He sighed with relief when people, including him, began flooding off the plane. His parents were waiting for him as well, their eyes lighting up at the sight of him. They hugged him as quick as they could, squeezing the teenager as tight as one could possibly hug. A swarm of questions followed, Kit simply dodging them as overwhelmed as he felt.
"Mom, dad, please- I just wanna go home right now." He finally interrupted them. They finally got silent, looking at each other before glancing at him and nodding.
"Alright." His mother started grabbing some of his luggage, dragging it towards the exit of the airport. His father quickly followed her example, leaving only a bag or two for Kit himself to carry.
The bright sight of the eight AM sun blinded Kit for a moment as the doors opened. The time in the plane he'd been mostly distracted, either in his thoughts or texting one of his friends, so he hadn't seen the daylight for.. a while. The three packed his bags in the car, his dad sitting in the driver's seat. They soon went off, headed towards home.
"So.. Kit." His father's surprisingly nervous voice spoke, "About the fire."
"Dad you know I don't want to-"
"I know, I know, but.." He seemed regretful, eyebrows furrowing and eyes looking down before he focused back on the road. "Riverfork hasn't been the same. They have stories, little kid stories and legends about the demon boy who burnt down half the town. They even have MERCHANDISE- do you understand how much they believe this?" There was a moment of silence, Kit slowly processing his father's words. "..I just.. I don't want you to reveal your abilities. Or even mention the fire at all, to be honest. Don't draw suspicion, you know?" His voice was much more gentle now, more like a soft plead rather than a request.
Kit sighed. "I understand, dad. But you know, I wouldn't have told anyone anyways. I kind of hate the abilities anyways." That was the final sentence in the car ride home. They rode in silence for a while, just listening to the bumps on the road and the distant call of birds in the wild. At some point his mother tried to turn on the radio, but it was all either static or stuff about the legend of the demon boy, which no one in the car wanted to hear.
A wave of relief swallowed Kit when they finally got home, the dull, greenish lights already on. *Did they leave the lights on??* He grabbed some of his packs, stepping silently to the house. He of course had to wait for one of his parents to unlock the door, Kit lacking a key. He sped-walked into the house the moment it was open, going upstairs and opening his room, the place a bit dusty, though untouched. He flopped down on his bed, staring at the ceiling before lifting his hand, reaching for stars he couldn't see, stars he couldn't reach. His glared at his hand, the burn marks of the fire still scarring his hand, all the way up to his neck. It was a vicious reminder of the sin he'd done. At least they could play the scar off as something he couldn't talk about.
His body lifted at the sound of knocking at his door, his mother speaking softly outside.
"I know you didn't want to come back, but.. you're safer here." There was a clinking on the wooden floor from out of his room, the shuffling of his mother's sandals loudly moving. "I promise we'll tell you more tomorrow. Today, you- you just need to rest." Silence again. "...I love you, Kit."
If only everyone else did.