Joey finished up work for the day and started home. The past week had been a blur after some unknown villains calling themselves Cold Snap and Shell had caused problems with the military, killing some civilians in the process. The Legion hadn't been there to stop them. Lightning - Courtney - had told him that they were still trying to find out what had happened exactly. Eyewitness reports had mentioned something like ice spreading across the ground.
It was scary. Once again, he wondered if what he was doing was the right thing. Should he join the Legion proper and help out? Even if it meant casting aside any chance of being normal?
No. He wasn't making that decision today. Ned had finally managed to get his high school diploma. He'd had to repeat a year, and back in June his grades had been just short of being able to graduate so he had to spend the past couple months studying and preparing for a test to get his GED. Ned's diploma had just arrived yesterday, so everyone was celebrating.
Their parents were relieved that Ned had managed it. In their minds, this was a basic requirement anyone could achieve and the fact that Ned had struggled with it was baffling. Joey had heard a couple conversations about what they'd do if Ned couldn't manage it.
They hadn't needed to worry. Even if Ned struggled with studying and exams, he was a smart kid. Joey picked up a cake on the way home since he figured his parents wouldn't think of it. After all he'd done, Ned definitely deserved a celebratory cake.
By the time Joey got home, everyone was in the dining room, with supper ready to eat. He quickly put the cake in the kitchen and sat down.
"Congratulations, Ned," he said with a smile, dishing up some meat and vegetables.
"Thanks, Joey. Finally." Ned rolled his eyes with a laugh, and Joey shook his head in amusement.
"Unfortunately, Ned can't go to post-secondary this year, so I guess he'll be looking for a job now," their dad said. "Any ideas?"
"Dad..." Ned sighed.
"We can think about that tomorrow, can't we?" Joey asked. "Today's a party."
"Ned's put this off long enough," Dad replied with a sigh. "Frankly, I was starting to think he might never graduate. The least he can do is try to make up for the time he's lost."
"This is also a good time for you to reconsider things, Joseph," Mom added. "Working a dead-end job like that won't get you anywhere in life. Even if you don't like your major anymore, you can choose another one."
"She's right. Better to get a degree than spend all this time goofing around. Before you know it, you'll be thirty, still working a dead-end job and living with your parents. Then thirty will become forty. You don't want to end up like that, do you?"
Joey sighed and glanced at Ned. Today was supposed to be happy. Celebrating his accomplishment. And yet their parents were once again tossing the existential dread at them.
Go to university.
Get a diploma at the very least.
You don't want to be one of those people who works minimum wage for your whole life, do you?
Ned had shut down completely. He'd already spent fourteen years in school. Post-secondary would be even more difficult. Couldn't their parents see that school was absolutely not the place for Ned?
Joey cleaned off his plate while Ned listlessly poked at his. Their parents were still going on about possible career options. All requiring more schooling, of course.
"Ned," Joey said quietly, "finish your food quick and come to my room." Ned didn't need to listen to this anymore, and Joey really didn't want to either. His life was so much more complicated than what his parents were talking about. It wasn't as simple as going to school to get a good job. Last week's incident flitted across his mind again.
Would they think joining the Legion was worth his time? Somehow he doubted it. And yet he couldn't seem to shake this 'destiny' of his. If he sat back and did nothing while people got hurt - while people died - he wasn't sure he could forgive himself.
"Sorry, I'm tired." Joey stood up, cutting off his parents' lecture. "I think I'm gonna turn in early."
"If you got a degree, your job wouldn't wear you out so much," his dad replied, letting him go.
Joey ignored the comment, grabbed the cake and headed up to his room. About five minutes later, Ned knocked and came in.
"So, I was going to share this with everyone, but I don't think Mom and Dad deserve it," Joey said with a conspiratorial grin. "It's all yours, Ned. Only rule is no evidence left behind."
The cake wasn't very big. It was something that Ned could finish on his own if he really wanted to. Joey grinned as his brother's expression immediately lit up.
"Seriously? I was starting to think this whole 'grad party' thing was a complete sham." Ned grabbed one of the forks Joey had brought up and pulled a piece off. "You help me eat it," he added through a mouthful of cake.
Joey picked up the other fork and obliged. It was good cake. Chocolate and cheesecake layers with fluffy icing and strawberries on top.
"So what do you wanna do now, Ned?" Joey asked. "Take a break for a bit?"
"Nah," Ned replied. He speared a strawberry and continued. "I want a job as soon as possible so I can move out. I don't care how many crappy roommates I have to live with."
"Seriously?" Joey asked.
"You heard Mom and Dad. They never think anything I do is worthwhile. They don't even acknowledge you, and you got a job all on your own."
"It's not exactly a glamorous job," Joey said.
"Maybe, but you're earning something. I don't care what kind of job it is. I'll work so I can do what I want to do. And that starts with moving out."
"Then don't you dare go alone," Joey said before he'd even realized what was coming out of his mouth.
"Huh?" Ned stared at him, the strawberry in his mouth. He chewed it slowly as Joey tried to get his thoughts caught up.
"Uh, I mean..." The racing thoughts in his head came to the conclusion that moving out with Ned was a good idea in fact. They'd lived together their whole lives, so they knew each others' idiosyncrasies. They liked each other. It would certainly be better than Ned living with four strangers.
"Joey?" Ned swallowed the strawberry and stared at him, slowly moving to take another forkful of cake.
"Wouldn't you rather live with me than a bunch of strangers? Even if we got a small place, as long as the two of us could afford it, I think it'd go over well enough. And then Mom and Dad could be assured that we won't in fact be living at home when we're forty."
Ned grinned and burst into laughter. "Sure thing! Soon as I have a job, let's start looking for places."
"If you want to work at Green's, I get the impression that the requirements are that you have a pulse and don't mind heavy lifting."
"Ha! Seriously? I'll check a few other places, but I'll definitely send in an application there too."
Joey glanced at his closet, where his super costume was hiding. Maybe it would be okay to tell Ned about it. Maybe Ned would get it. Maybe it would be better with someone he could talk to about it, someone who wasn't associated with the Legion.
Instead, he looked at Ned and took another bite of cake. They discussed future plans - what they'd do once they moved out. Ned's first idea was that they never eat asparagus again. Joey had to laugh at that one.
Maybe someday he could tell Ned. But today wasn't that day. He'd gone through enough for today already. Instead, they'd look at the future and bask in how bright it looked.
