Varen hated everything. He would have preferred to being tortured to death. Instead, his father had decided to try to have a conversation.

As if he'd not made it perfectly clear ten years ago what he thought about Varen. It was far too late now to talk about anything at this point.

Varen angrily tugged on the cuffs holding him bound to the kitchen chair. He was alone with his father right now. The perfect opportunity to kill him at least. And yet he was stuck in place, forced to hear him yep.

"Son, it doesn't have to be this way," Morrey said, having the audacity to look concerned at Varen's struggling as he stood over him, leaning against the kitchen table. Varen's wrists stung, but he didn't let that stop him from trying to get free.

"You made sure it had to. You did," Varen growled. "There is nothing to talk about. I won't tell you anything."

Morrey sighed sadly. "You were not meant to find out."

Varen choked a bit, genuinely shocked at Morrey was actually trying to even say anything about what he'd done. "You killed her! Me finding out has nothing to do with anything. How do you live with yourself?"

"I didn't," Morrey said, his voice just as sad as his eyes. Varen yearned to choke him to death. "Those thugs did."

"They weren't thugs! You forced them. Do not dare to talk about them like they were random," Varen snapped. "And now you are doing it again. How many people have died from your fake supervillains? How many are being forced to do it?"

Morrey set his jaw. "I do what I must for the greater good. It's not always easy. If SOPISOC's position is threatened or questioned, it may lead to its demise. And SOPISOC is the only thing standing between the Undertakers and innocents. Life and death."

Varen snorted, just so done with this conversation. He yearned to get shot. "So to protect the peace you endanger it? Right. You're just as bad as the Undertakers."

"I disagree, son," Morrey said, narrowing his eyes a bit. "I do things for the betterment of society. You only destroy for selfish reasons."

Varen scowled. At this point he wanted to bite his father if that was all he could do. Unfortunately, Morrey was too far away. "At least it's honest. We don't pretend. You're too self-righteous to even fucking recognize that killing your wife was a bad idea!"

Morrey gritted his teeth, looking away. "You weren't listening. You needed to see why being a superhero is important. And instead you sullied her memory by betraying me."

Varen stared at him, in utter disbelief about just how much audacity Morrey had to blame the situation on him. To twist this around. Varen couldn't speak for a moment.

"But I...despite all you've done, we are still family. There is still time to do the right thing and repent."

Varen sputtered, jerking in his restraints. He wanted to rip the bastard's heart out of his chest with his hands. "When did I ever imply that I want this? I never wanted to be a SOPISOC superhero! You forced it onto me."

Morrey shook his head, looking disappointed. "I would have thought you'd have outgrown your rebellious phase."

Varen glared daggers at him. "It's stronger than ever. Either kill me, or I kill you. Your choice."

Morrey sighed, sitting down. He was silent for a moment, just thinking, before speaking once more. "I have no interest in killing you. I want us to be together again."

Varen scowled hard, his hands balled into fists. His wrists were bleeding now. "You should have thought of that before killing my mother."

"She would not have died if you had simply done the right thing. Instead you chose to be selfish," Morrey said, shaking his head. "Having powers means making sacrifices to protect those who cannot protect themselves. And instead you did the exact opposite and turned into a villain."

Varen snorted, glaring at the table. With every word, Morrey's tone was calling him a disappointment. It was incredibly clear. And while Varen didn't want to care, it still hurt. It all hurt. And he wanted it to be over.

"Luckily for you. We both know you only want information from me," Varen grumbled, not looking at Morrey. "And I won't give it."

Morrey hummed sadly. "What makes you think I want information? And not simply to redeem my son? There is still time to do the right thing."

Varen had to laugh then. "Redeem me. Right. By working for SOPISOC while knowing full well what you do? What you are capable of doing just to keep the status quo? No, I'd rather die."

Morrey sighed, pausing for a moment. Varen studied him as Morrey stared out the window, then speaking without looking back at Varen. "You'll change your mind. I'm certain of it. And so will Fireman."

Varen tried not to wince at that, especially when Morrey's eyes met him, the gaze sharp. There was no doubt about it, this was a threat.

"Hurt him and I'll—"

"You'll do what, Varen?" Morrey asked flatly, interrupting him. "You're trapped. You're powerless. You should be locked in prison until the end of your life. I wanted us to have a conversation in private. To give you another chance. As ever you are incredibly ungrateful."

Varen barked out a laugh. This was so rich. "Or maybe you don't want everyone to know that I am your son."

Morrey raised his head. He wanted to appear unbothered. But Varen knew better. He could see his father's eye twitch. "Your misdeeds do not reflect on me."

"Oh, they don't? Is that why you silenced anyone trying to report on what happened?" Varen prodded further.

Morrey glared. "I could not let your actions ruin SOPISOC's reputations. But I see I am wasting my time here. Perhaps you need to be alone for a while. To think. Appreciate what I am trying to do here."

Varen shook his head. "You can keep dreaming. I'll never appreciate what you do."

Varen had more to say, but suddenly the door burst open. He assumed it was just Morrey's guards at first when he heard a very familiar voice.

"Leave my husband alone!"

Varen turned enough to see Marek, Aira, and Nerian standing behind him. For a second, relief washed over him. He would be freed. But then he realized. Morrey could defeat them all. He had control over air. Which meant—

"No!" was all he managed to say before Morrey raised his fist and the three of them began to choke, clawing at their throats.

Varen watched with horror as they went to their knees, his eyes filling with desperate tears as he saw Marek gasp and struggle for air.

"I see we have more traitors in our midst," said Morrey. "Disappointing."

Varen turned to Morrey, his heart clenching in a panic, desperately fighting the cuffs. He couldn't let Marek die. He'd do anything. "You can't kill them. Please."

Morrey raised an eyebrow at Varen. "Join me. And I'll let him live."

Varen looked between his dying lover and Morrey. He couldn't bend his knee. He couldn't work for Morrey. But...he could never let Marek die. Not when he could save him.

Morrey leaned closer. "Well, son? Will you finally do the right thing and save a life? Or will you let someone die once again? Will you be selfish or selfless?"

Varen's blood boiled, his hate letting him think through the panic as he pulled all of his strength together, jerking up to headbutt Morrey in the stomach, his wrists screaming at the strain.

Morrey gasped, while Marek, Nerian, and Aira coughed and took desperate breaths behind Varen. But Varen didn't look, didn't pause. Instead he yelled as he charged again, this time managing to get himself to his feet, dragging the chair with him and slamming into Morrey with his whole body, falling with him onto the floor.

Varen groaned as he made impact, praying that this would be enough to give Marek and the twins the upper hand because now he was stuck on the floor, chained to the chair as he was.

Thankfully the next moment the three ran to Morrey, grabbing him and wrestling his arms behind his back, locking cuffs onto them. Varen groaned in relief, sighing long. He wanted to weep in relief.

"Baby!" Marek cried as he started looking Varen over, producing the keys to his cuffs and freeing him. Varen immediately clung to Marek.

"You're okay," he said, breathing out, taking in Marek's scent. "You're okay."

"And so are you," Marek said, hugging Varen so tight it made it hard to breathe. Varen didn't mind at all. Next to them, Morrey was yelling about something, but Varen couldn't comprehend the words.

In that moment, all he could do, all he wanted to do, was hug Marek, let the rest of the world melt away, forget about it all.

He clung close to Marek, so relieved that it was over. Morrey had been defeated, and Varen had been rescued, and no one had gotten hurt during it. At least Varen hoped not.

That thought immediately made him pull away from Marek so he could fuss over him, checking for any wounds that he might have sustained from Morrey's attack or even while making his way over here. Marek must have escaped SOPISOC after all.

But thankfully there was nothing to be concerned about. Marek smiled fondly at him as Varen stopped checking, hugging him again.

"Everything is fine, baby," he said, helping him get up. "Everything."

Varen nodded, glaring at his captured father. And Morrey glared right back.

"You will regret this. All of you," he told them, scowling harder, now looking at the twins. "You are no heroes. You are exiled from SOPISOC."

Varen couldn't help but snort. "It is you who will be in exile. In a prison. SOPISOC will no longer be under your leadership."

Morrey shook his head, his eyes wide and outraged. "There is no SOPISOC without me."

"We'll see," Varen replied, not truly caring about any of this. If SOPISOC fell, so be it. People would always rise up to fight against evil. The only things that ever changed were allegiances and morals.

"Let's go tell SOPISOC what you've done," Varen said, smirking at Morrey. It was impossible not to enjoy this. "Let's see what they think of you then."