chapter twenty-five:

Caelum thought he was going to die.

At this point, he wouldn't question the likelihood of it. Principal Davis was in jail, along with his father and the ghost. His mother was dead, leaving him to take care of the boys. And the boys were gone.

The words seemed quite strange to Caelum. Sarah said that CPS came a few weeks ago to put them in the custody of their next relative, which was their aunt. Caelum didn't think his aunt would take custody of his brothers ― she didn't even come to his mother's funeral.

He called his aunt, vaguely remembering her phone number, and she confirmed that his brothers were not there.

Caelum remembered the police sending out an Amber Alert, it seemed very strange to him. Usually, hearing that, he thought of someone else's kid, some faceless child that meant nothing to him.

Now it was his brothers and they meant everything to him.

Caelum knew Principal Davis had something to do with it. He knew he orchestrated this just in case something didn't go as planned. He knew he should've just listened. He would have kept his brothers safe if he had just listened.

Sarah and Dorri rode with him to the hospital so he could get tested and have his DNA registered so that they'd have substantial evidence against Principal Davis. Spider-Man already gave an eyewitness account and had long been gone.

Caelum wished he could possess the enhanced man and make him keep his mouth shut. If he really knew Peter, he didn't want Peter to know what was going on with Principal Davis. Or, really he didn't want Peter to think differently of him because of it.

But he didn't have time for hopeless cases, he needed to find his brothers.

He hated every second he spent in the emergency room, he hated how long it took to get everything on file. And he hated how even after the police and the doctors let him go, Sarah and Dorri didn't.

"You need to rest, hun," Dorri said gently, rubbing his shoulder. Caelum wanted to shove her hand off. It felt so much like Principal Davis patting his head, it made him squeamish. He knew she wasn't Principal Davis, he knew she was good, but his head wouldn't get over it.

He tensed and kept very still, he didn't want to get hit if he flinched, but she didn't notice. "Let the police do their job, they'll find them, alright?"

"Sweetie," Sarah said, and placed a hand on Dorri's. She gently lifted it and Caelum gave a shuddering breath of relief.

"Oh," Dorri said softly. Then, she sighed, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't. . . I didn't mean to scare ya, I jus'. . ."

"Y–You're fine," he assured, even though his stomach was doing flips and his mind was streaming intense memories he didn't want to see or hear. "I just. . . I want my brothers to be safe." He wanted to change the subject. He wanted his mom back. He wanted his brothers home.

"We know, sweetie," Sarah said gently. "But right now, we need to focus on you. You're hurt, that man did terrible things to you. We'll let the police find your brothers while you heal, alright?"

"He took them," Caelum said finally. "Principal Davis, he took them."

Dorri rose an eyebrow, "How do ya know, hun?"

"He. . . he said that he would pay you two to host them, and then if. . . if I was good I'd be able to see them. He had them, I know he did. We have to find them. We have to make sure they're safe―!"

"Dorri and I will talk to the police," Sarah said. "For the time being, we'll go home and rest. We can talk to them in the morning, alright?"

"But―!"

"The officer said that if what that man was sayin' was true, if he promised to let you see you brothers, then there's a higher chance that they're still alive," Sarah explained sternly, her steely green eyes set. "We're not givin' up hope yet, but you can't be doin' this as best up as your as right now. It's far past midnight, you need to rest."

Caelum couldn't on argue with the woman, he knew from experience that to do so was useless. Not to mention that his limbs felt as heavy as steel and he had entered an new realm exhaustion. So much had happened that day, from waking up beside Principal Davis ― again ― to school, to Peter dragging him away from the Principal. From there, he went from getting beat, to Spider-Man, to Principal Davis' arrest, to this.

So when he sat back inside the police car, it was completely justifiable that he fell asleep immediately.

° · ° · ° · °

Caelum somehow woke up in his bed. He started at the ceiling for several minutes, then slowly turned to his side, expecting to see Principal Davis beside him, mostly naked and snoring in his ear.

Instead, he saw a pillow.

He started at the pillow for several minutes, as if it were completely impossible or unrealistic. He recognized the bed, or really the scent of it — peaches and vanilla beans — Sarah and Dorri's place, and the spare room. He remembered last night slowly, as if his memories where a leaky tap and had to keep dripping slowly.

He got beat up, which was probably why he felt so sore, but he didn't dwell on it. He remembered his brothers ― still missing. At least the police were searching for them now and they weren't just being forgotten.

He needed to get up, he needed to move. He slide it of the bed, throwing a shirt over his ratty boxes shorts, and opened the door.

He saw Peter on the couch, leaning precariously over the side, mouth gaping and a lot snore escaping. Caelum started at the boy, laughing at his position and the silliness of it.

At the sound of his voice, Peter moved, an eye opening. He saw Caelum starting at him, amused and blinked. "Cael?" He muttered, and closed his eyes again.

Then, he shot up, slipping and nearly breaking good neck. "Oh my God, Cael! You're awake!" He stumbled over to him, still looking half asleep, but managed to wrap his arms around him in a tight hug. Caelum stayed completely still, not like how he was last night with Dorri and reliving memories. Now, he was awkward and scared. Peter held onto him tight and Caelum didn't want to let him go. He wanted to have him hold on and smell Shea butter lotion forever.

"Peter―"

"I know what happened. I know everything and, oh, my God, Cael, why the hell didn't you just tell me?! I asked you if something serious was going on! I saw the bruises and, damn it―" he pulled away, wiping at his own face, a few traitorous tears coming loose. Caelum was a bit disappointed for him to move away, but he was also keenly aware of his lower regions starting to wake up and get. . . emotional.

Caelum started at him and his tears. He started at the concept of Peter crying over him. Peter feeling guilty for him. He started at his adorably long eyelashes, that just caught a tear on it delicately.

Caelum wanted to kiss it.

Good, god, why couldn't he go to minutes without being hopelessly in love with him? Why not?!

"I apologise," he said in his serious, business tone he sometimes used to deflate his overwhelming love for Peter. "I'm sure Spider-Man told you everything you wanted to know, and. . . I wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to. . . be friends with me, anymore."

Peter stared at him, "Cael, what are you talking about?" Caelum didn't want to explain it, he didn't want to put it into simpler words. He didn't even want to think about it.

"After. . . what he saw with Principal Davis, after what happened, I'm. . . I wouldn't be surprised if you wanted to stop being friends. People will talk about me, I wouldn't be surprised if I got permanently expelled. But, I don't want you to end up losing friends because I―"

"Cael, shut up," Peter snapped and Caelum stopped talking immediately. "First of all, do you really think so low of me that when something happens, I'm just going to pick up and run? Do you really think our friendship is that flimsy? I mean, what the hell, Cael!? You're one of my best friends, you and Ned and May are some of the closest people I have. I'd be a complete idiot to brush you off like that ― especially when you need it most! I'm not going to leave because our Principal was an asshole who kidnapped you and made you do terrible shit! I'm not going to ditch you like that. Second of all, I'm hungry, so let's make breakfast."

He let go, leaving his skin tingling slightly where he had touched him, and went to the kitchen. He opened the fridge, scanning it with meaning and emphasis.

Caelum stared at him, surprised and his words still sinking in. He didn't know what to say, he didn't know how to respond. He must have been standing there for a minute too long because Peter glanced over the side of the fridge door, one hand a carton of eggs, the other box of pancake mix, and between his teeth a bag of bread.

He spoke through the bread, somehow still managing to have that sunny grin that brightened his significantly darker world. "Areh yah gon' com' eat, or wha'?"

° · ° · ° · °

The morning after with Peter was fun. They ate sloppily made eggs, played video games, cracked jokes, and talked. Eventually, Peter called Ned over and suggested that they should build their AT-AT Walker Lego model.

At first, Caelum thought he was joking, but no. Ned showed up with a huge box labeled Lego AT-AT Walker with a very interesting graphic on the side.

They started immediately, Peter turned on some music ― Caelum realised he didn't listen to a lot of today's music because he couldn't recognize any of the songs ― and they began to build. Peter tore the instructions into three halves after glancing over them for a few minutes.

Meanwhile, Ned plugged in three hot glue guns. "Make sure you glue down every piece," he instructed seriously, as if he was handing Caelum the Declaration of Independence.

"Okay," he said, but Ned looked very serious.

"If you don't, it'll come apart and everything will be ruined," he warned, and Caelum nodded.

"I understand, I will," he said, now more seriously. Ned seemed to accept this and they began their work.

The first couple hours were grueling. They hardly made progress, working slow as hell, and Caelum had to keep taking apart bricks because he forgot to glue them. Then, he would accidently put the wrong pieces together and have to pry them apart with a screwdriver. Or, he would mix the pieces together, or he couldn't find them.

All in all, the experience was very taxing, but eventually, their AT-AT had began to gain form, and soon detail. It took them four hours altogether, but they managed to finish it.

Caelum didn't know what an AT-AT Walker was, and when he saw the giant, camel-looking robot, he wasn't sure he wanted to. It was strange, with long legs, bulky feet, wide body. Caelum wasn't sure how the mechanics worked ― he hoped the thing had workable knee joints so it could actually move. Peter said that it was kind of like a tank or a twisted land-submarine, but he still wasn't sure.

After they finished, they decided to go to the store. Caelum made them wait for about ten minutes as he showered and dressed, but eventually he was ready and they left.

It was a strange experience hanging out with Ned and Peter. When he and Peter first starting coming back on speaking terms, Ned didn't like him at all ― mainly because Caelum did push Peter down a flight of stairs ― but they grew close with time. Ned was funny, goofy, and an all around nice guy. He saw Caelum as a threat to Peter's safety, or a bully to Peter, and wanted to protect him. Caelum admired that in him and saw it as a formidable trait to have in a friend. He hoped one day Ned would feel the same level of protection for him.

They didn't do much, Peter insisted on going to a comic book/geek store that Caelum had never seen before. Caelum didn't really read comic books and wasn't allowed to be into superheroes as a kid.

But when he saw the very detailed cover of a Superman comic, with his detailed abs and tight tights, he was a bit invested.

They laughed and had fun, Peter made him feel like he was actually part of the group and not just. . . there, on the side. Caelum appreciate it, especially since if it were up to Ned, he wouldn't have been given the time of day.

Eventually, it was getting late, and Ned had to catch a taxi home. They waved him goodbye and made their way back to Sarah and Dorri's.

Caelum stopped a few blocks from the Café. "You head back, I have to do something."

"Do what?" Peter frowned.

Caelum waved a hand, "Don't worry about it, it'll only take a few minutes. I'll be back at Sarah and Dorri's soon. Do you have to go back to the apartment? I'm sure May wants you home, it's a school night. I don't want to get you in trouble."

Peter considered this and gave a semi-nod. "Okay, I gotta head back and grab my backpack. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

Caelum smiled, pleased by the thought of actually being able to see Peter tomorrow. Of being able to hangout with him. "Sounds like a plan." He began to walk off, turning the corner and heading down toward the Shop, it should be open for a few more hours at least.

Caelum made it there without trouble and greeted Austin, who had been leaning near the side, drinking from a water bottle. "Hey, Caelum," he said, rubbing his hands on a dirty towel at his waste and tossing the plastic bottle. "How have you been?"

"Tired," he replied honestly. "I wanted to talk to Mr. Goldson,"

Austin waved a hand, "In the back." Caelum nodded and began to walk, but Austin stopped him. "I just wanted to say, uh. . ." he wrung his towel, biting his lip. "I'm sorry about your mom. You take it easy, alright? You deserve a break."

Caelum gave a grateful smile. He's been hearing that for the past several weeks, but he still hasn't gotten used to it.

"Thank you, Austin. I appreciate it," Austin smiled and let him go. Caelum walked to Mr. Goldson's office, "Mr. Goldson?" He called, and the man looked up. He was wearing reading glasses and had what Caelum assumed was tax information surrounding him.

"Caelum," Mr. Goldson always growled his name, like a turning over motor. Caelum used to find it annoying, now he thought it comforting. Something familiar that he knew. "What are you doing here? Aren't you takin' a break?"

"Yeah, but," he frowned, "I just wanted to know if I could come back soon? I don't want the work to get overwhelming for you, and I―"

"You're fired." Caelum blinked, the words striking him right in the chest.

"I–I'm sorry?" He stammered.

"I said, you're fired." Mr. Goldson rose from his seat and looked over at Caelum, folding his hands on the desk. "I know a lot has been goin' on with you. I know you've been dealin' with a lot, concernin' your dad, now your ma, and I remember your sister way back when. Son, what I want you to do is go home. Go back to school ― I know you dropped out of that rich school too, dumbass. I don't wanna see a young, hard workin' black man like you being stuck in places like this. Get your degree, kick some ass. I wanna see your diploma, alright? Let someone else handle your siblin's and your dad. Think about you. Be selfish, for God's sake. I don't want to see you back here workin'. I want to see you at that school, you got me?"

Caelum was staring at him. "Sir, I. . ."

"You don't need this job," he waved a hand. "You don't need this place! I don't pay you enough anyway ― don't tell Austin that," he gave him a wry grin. "Go back to that school with that boy you came with, alright?"

"Sir―"

"Don't fuckin' 'sir' me!" He snapped, but then gave him a grin with all his missing teeth. "Go be a damn kid."

° · ° · ° · °

Caelum walked away without another word. Austin gave him a pat on the back, telling him to "come visit them" when he had the chance.

He didn't have anything to carry, all his things were given to him by Mr. Goldson, but the thought of it still irked him. Well, the entire situation was still strange. Mr. Goldson fired him ― but said that he could come back over the summer if he could prove that he got his grades higher.

Caelum walked down the darkened streets, his arms drawn close as he made his way to Sarah and Dorri's. What was he going to do now? He still had Delmar, but he couldn't work full time, or the hours he probably wanted him to. He still had the Café, but he only really helped with clean-up, not full day shifts.

He could always get a new job, but a part of him hesitated, and for good reason. Mr. Goldson said to take a break, why didn't he just do that? He could go back to school now, he could live easily now. Principal Davis was gone, his dad had no real hold on him, and Peter was right there.

And what about this ability? Was he just supposed to forget about it? He wondered what it was like for Spider-Man, did he just wake up one day able to shoot webs out of his wrists? Did he have an accident, like Caelum? Could Caelum actually use his power and help people?

But, he didn't like possessing people and he didn't want to get involved in places that didn't, well, involve him. He didn't want people getting hurt because he was being nosy.

But, he didn't have to look for trouble. He could do little things, that still kept him in disguise. He didn't have to go swinging around the city in a red and blue hoodie. He could stick to the streets, and smile at people. He could be in the front lines, but completely disguised.

He could use his power of possession for good.

° · ° · ° · ° · ° · ° · ° · ° · ° · ° · ° · ° · ° · ° · ° · ° · °

Just a bit of an update, I finished writing the last chapter for this story as of writing this note. (I know! So sad!!) I am now editing and reviewing it, but yeah, I've finished.

So, for more aestethic purposes, I really want to post the last chapter on October 10th -- which is my birthday, for those of y'all who don't know. Now, in order to do that, I'll have to post a I think two or three chapters earlier than usual. 

So, for the weeks leading up to the last chapter, I'll be posting a new chapter on Friday along with the Sunday and Wednesday chapters, that way the final chapter can be posted Wednesday, October 10th.

From there, the story will hopefully have the first chapter of the next story published on January 1st, and then the next chapter will come out either January 21st or February 1st (depending on my mood).

If you don't already know, on the first month of every year, I try to write as much as possible. So, for each story that I am continuing, I stockpile chapters so that I can either have them ready for a consistent posting rate, or just on standby in case I get antsy. Of course, throughout the year, story ideas pop up -- like this one, or Blue -- and I either incorporate it into my posting schedule or rework it completely, depending on how I feel.

Anyways, sorry for the long note. If all goes well, the last chapter will be on 10/10, officially ending this story, and the first chapter of the sequel will be 1/1.

Thank you so much for your support! I know this story has been and absolute rollercoaster of emotions. I love reading each and everyone of your comments and I sincerely hope you will join me in the continuation of Cael and Peter's story!

I'll see y'all next time and remember...

Don't melt~!
- Happyritas <OOO