Chest heaving, breath coming in gasps and with a stitch in his side that threatened to kill him, Adrian crossed the line that signified the end of his torture and collapsed to the hot sand heaving dry gusts of hot air. Booted feet entered his vision, the broad body wearing them blocking out the punishing rays beating down on him. Turning his head, Adrian tried to project his meanest stink eye to his father's broad muscular frame. All he got for his troubles was a toothy grin and being hauled like a sack and carried into the blessedly cool interior of their house.
Out of the sun and feeling a modicum of strength return to his legs, Adrian stumbled his way to the sink eager for a drink and to wash away the dirt sticking to his face. As Adrian ducked his head beneath the tap his fathers deep voice made him jerk up in shock.
“Its almost time.”
The words spoken nonchalantly sent a thrill of energy, anticipation and wild excitement through Adrian. Trying to appear relaxed an endeavour spoiled by the foolish grin threatening to bloom on his face he asked;
“Are you sure? Like really really sure. ”
“I'm as sure as I can be yes, give it a day or three and the change should kick in. Though had we been in one of those new cities out there the fixers could tell you definitively. ”
Adrian had stopped listening when his father gave him a time frame, a day or three was all he heard. 13 years ago, any mention of the outside world, that being everything not their hidden little valley would have seen a younger Adrian wheedling his father for answers. Now though they were bigger stakes, finally he'd be just as strong as his father. Well almost.
With the idiot grin in full bloom Adrian rushed his father, arms wide and jumped in for a hug but was easily caught and held at arms length.
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“Bath first, you stink. ”
Adrian zoomed out of the house peeling his sweat soaked clothes as he went, heading for their outdoor bathhouse. A few minutes of vigorous scrubbing later and Adrian emerged clean and smelling of his own floral scent of handpicked flowers mixed into his soap.
If his father was to be believed, the making of soap and other necessities had been forgotten by most of the world, and thus was used as a reason to make Adrian learn to make them. It was one of the insidious ways his father used to make him study and learn new skills. Diabolical.
Adrian skipped back into the house a too big towel around his skinny waist. His days of running around naked were over. The sounds of his father bustling around the kitchen called attention to his empty stomach and made him dash into his room. Dressing quickly, Adrian was out and helping his father around the kitchen.
In companionable silence, Adrian washed and prepared their home grown vegetables and started on a stew. Once there was salt and spices that made everything taste heavenly now Adrian had forgotten the taste of such luxuries. They still made do though and Adrian made a mean rabbit and chicken stew.
It was a fact of life that his father ate way more than Adrian did. That was true for all powered people. So while Adrian was polishing off his first bowl his father was heaping more stew on his third mound of rice. Bent over and scarfing down rice, his father didn't show it but Adrian knew he worried for him. His change was first dubbed as delayed then passed off as him being a late bloomer but there was worry behind the assurances. The world was a dangerous place and Adrian needed to be able to protect himself.
His birthday was in a day or three and then they'd know till then he'd hold onto the hope and excitement. Adrian's father seeming to sense his thoughts let out a loud belch that sent them both laughing and trying to out belch each other. Adrian lost.
Tucked into his bed that night with the window opened to allow in the cool breeze and allowing a sliver of moonlight into his darkened room, Adrian hoped and prayed to any who would listen to grant him his change.
Hours later, Adrian awoke to a crippling pain spreading throughout his body, that he had expected and prepared for. The increasing waves of agony drowning out thoughts was something his father hadn't prepared him for. His thinking seemed to ratchet up the pain to unthinkable levels till Adrian thought no more.