n. a moment that seemed innocuous at the time but ended up marking a diversion into a strange new era of your life-set in motion not by a series of jolting epiphanies but by tiny imperceptible differences between one ordinary day and the next, until...
"Look, no offense, but we need a bit more time for what we're trying to accomplish." Marah answers, finally looking at her father.
"So much can change in a matter of seconds." Reginald answers softly. "One could overthrow an empire. One could fall in love." Reginald looks at us as he says the last part. "An acorn doesn't become an oak overnight."
"I was really hoping you had more than that." I mutter, grabbing Marah's hand and squeezing it for comfort.
"I'm sorry I can't be of more help." Reginald apologizes.
"I'm sorry, too." I apologize, knowing this is my only time to do so. "I gave you such a hard time as a kid. I didn't know any better."
"Hmm. No skin off my teeth, old man." Reginald says, drinking his cognac with a small smile on his face.
I stand up, expecting Marah to follow but when I turn around I see her looking at me as her body is turned towards her father. "I'll wait." I whisper in her ear, before kissing her forehead.
I walk to the elevators so I can take them down to the lobby to wait.
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We're silent as we wait for Five to clear the room. He takes the elevator and waits in the lobby for me, I hope.
I reach over the counter and grab another drink, not caring that my father is watching me. I don't have Five here to stop me this time.
"So...you're biologically a Hargreeves. Is that correct?" Dad asks, looking towards me.
"Yes, it is." I answer softly, taking a sip of the strong drink. "I was born to you and my mother, who I don't know of. You never talked about her. Just said that she died when I was born."
"I adopted all of them, for you, I assume." Dad states more than asks.
"You told me as I got older that even though I had powers, you didn't want me to be the only one." I answer, not looking at him. "But when I was younger, you said that it was so I don't get lonely."
"Hmm. Interesting." Dad hums.
We sit in silence for a little while, just sitting in each other's presence.
"Do you know who she is?" I ask softly, turning towards him. "Have you already met her?"
"No, I'm afraid I don't." Dad responds. He moves his hand to my shoulder and pats it, the closest he will ever get to comforting us.
"You're probably so disappointed in me." I mumble, a tear falling from my eye.
"Not really. I don't know you well enough to know if you've disappointed me." Dad answers.
More tears start to fall down my face, I don't bother to stop them as I've wanted to know his answer for quite some time now.
"Well, when you do meet her. If I'm born again, try to save her first. Forget about me. I'll survive." I mumble, standing up and getting ready to walk to the elevator.
"Do you know why you were born as a Hargreeves and not just adopted as one?" Dad asks, stopping me in my tracks. I shake my head, not wanting to speak.
"Because, you're more powerful than all of those kids." Dad praises. "And from what I've heard while in Dallas, you're just as ruthless, cunning, smart, and passionate as all Hargreeves. You could have never learned that from being adopted by me, you had to have been born with that."
I stand there for a minute, thinking over his words. I smile at them, liking the compliment. I continue my walk to the elevator, when he stops me again.
"Why did I name you Marah?" Dad asks.
I look down to will my tears away. Once I've composed myself, I turn to look at him. "You said it was Mom's sister's name, and that she always wanted a daughter named Marah."
Dad nods, taking in the information. "Did I ever tell you who your mother was?"
"No. But you did say you met her in Dallas, in 1969." I answer. "Goodbye."
I turn away from him and step into the elevator, not turning around when I hear him speak. I wait for the elevator to hit the lobby floor, where I find Five waiting.
I walk over to him, he stands up as he hears my footsteps.
"Ready to go?" I ask, not wanting to talk about me and my father.
"Sure." Five responds softly, grabbing my hand and leading us out to the car I took here.
Me and Five drive to a motel that he says he needs to speak with someone is at. I get out of the car with him, not letting him go alone. He explained what he was asked to do in the car, and said that I was asked to help.
We knock on the door and wait for it to open. When it does, it reveals a tall brown haired woman, in a fitting dress, holding a drink in her hand.
"Ahh! Just in time for a night cap." the woman responds.
Me and Five step into the room. The woman, who's name is the Handler, sit's on the couch while Five closes the door.
"To be clear..." Five starts. "We take out the board...you get us and our family home." Five sighs, pointing between us as he speaks.
"No more doomsday, no more apocalypse. Is that correct?" I ask, not wanting any surprises.
"That's the deal." the Handler responds.
Me and Five look at each other, before Five responds. "Then we're in."
She hands us a piece of paper and we grab it. Five grabs my waist as he blinks us back to the car.
