Marvel: Father of Superheroes

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After repeatedly reminding (or threatening) Erik and Charles not to invite any strange individuals to the birthday party, the two turned to Clark, shrugging helplessly.

Since they lived outside of town, for the convenience of the other kids, Mike had arranged the birthday party at a restaurant in town.

That afternoon, after school, Clark and Erik brought their school friends to the restaurant. After a round of eating, drinking, and playing, the birthday celebration came to an end.

---

Sigh! 

On the way home, Charles heaved a long sigh. He glanced at the others, but seeing no one paid him any attention, he sighed even more dramatically, wearing a face of exaggerated loneliness and emptiness.

Seeing such an expression on Charles' young face, Mike couldn't help but chuckle. "What's going on with you?"

Sigh! "Another year older. Are there going to be even more of these parties in the future?"

"What? You don't like them?"

"It's not that I don't like them... It's just that they're starting to feel a bit meaningless."

Charles leaned back on the car's rear seat, hands resting behind his head, wearing an exaggerated look of indifference.

Erik rolled his eyes. "He must've used his powers to peek into everyone's heads again."

"Hmph!" Turning his head away in annoyance, Charles replied, "How else would I know there were people who didn't even like our birthday party? Some even thought we were just country bumpkins living outside of town."

Mike raised an eyebrow, pulling the car to a stop under a streetlamp. Turning to face Charles in the back seat, he said, "Charles, your ability is unique. But when you focus only on the bad thoughts in people's minds, it's easy to become disillusioned with humanity. You mustn't let the bad overshadow the good. Do you understand?"

Charles nodded thoughtfully.

"And remember, even between friends, there will be moments of disagreement or even fleeting thoughts of anger. But you can't let those brief moments of frustration make you forget the friendship you share."

"If you fixate on those fleeting thoughts, you won't be able to stay friends."

Charles grinned cheekily. "Like me and Erik, for example?"

"?" Erik looked at Charles. "What?"

"I often read his thoughts cursing me or wanting to knock my head in during arguments. But I know he's just mad and will calm down quickly, so I usually don't take it to heart!"

Charles puffed out his chest and shot a glance at Erik, wearing an air of magnanimity as though he were generously forgiving Erik.

Erik grabbed Charles by the neck and shook him back and forth. "I could strangle you right now!"

Watching the two, Clark couldn't help but laugh. "Come on, stop messing around!"

Erik huffed angrily.

Charles, on the other hand, smirked triumphantly and adjusted his collar.

Mike wagged a finger at Charles, laughing as he teased, "Erik isn't just your friend."

Pausing for a moment, he added, "Starting today, don't casually use your powers. People's minds are far too complex."

Charles pouted. "But I can see through people!"

Mike raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Open your mouth and let me see."

"Ah!"

Charles obediently opened his mouth, revealing the gap where one of his front teeth was missing.

"Your teeth haven't even grown in yet, and you think you can see through people's hearts?"

Mike leaned over, ruffling Charles' hair with a laugh. "Graduate from college first, then we'll talk!"

"Hahaha!" Erik laughed so hard he rolled around in the back seat.

Charles glared, reached over to tug at Erik's mouth, and retorted smugly, "Ha! You're missing two teeth!"

Erik: (ー`ー)

Now that's just infuriating.

"Alright, enough. Let's go home!"

Mike said with a smile, letting the kids bicker as he drove them back home.

It was already December. Even though the weather was sunny, the biting chill of winter winds was enough to make anyone curse under their breath.

Because Mike had promised the kids a trip to New York, he woke them up early, pulling them out of their warm, cozy beds.

Clark obediently got up to wash up, but Charles and Erik yawned, rolled over, and burrowed back into their blankets.

Mike raised an eyebrow, left their room, and knocked on the bathroom door.

"Dad, what is it?" Clark poked his head out.

"Once you're ready, help me deal with them. I'm going to make breakfast and pack for the trip."

"Pack? Aren't we just going for a day?" Clark asked, puzzled.

"Ha!" Mike chuckled. "I suddenly remembered your Uncle Hank gifted us a villa, and we haven't even been there yet. Since you're on winter break, I figured we could spend Christmas there this year."

Clark's eyes lit up. "Great! Leave those two to me!"

Mike nodded in satisfaction and headed downstairs.

Clark finished his morning routine at super speed and dashed into Charles and Erik's room.

Standing between the two single beds, he glanced at the pair who had buried their heads under their blankets. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he yanked Charles's blanket off in one swift motion.

"Ahhh!"

Amid Charles's melodious scream, he curled up in his clothes, shivering. Clark gave him a smile and then reached for Erik's blanket.

He tugged hard.

"Huh?"

Clark stared in confusion as the blanket didn't budge. Looking closer, his expression turned exasperated.

Several shiny metal blocks were holding the edges of the blanket in place.

Clark sighed. "Erik, is your power really just for staying in bed?"

"Just five more minutes!" Erik muttered, his voice muffled by the blankets.

"Fine. Then we'll leave without you."

"Nice try. Dad's still making breakfast. No way you're leaving yet!"

"Are you getting up or not?"

"Nope!"

Clark smirked. "Alright, then I won't hold back."

With that, he grabbed Erik's bed with one hand and began flipping it up and down, shaking it left and right, until he finally set it upright.

Thud! 

Erik tumbled out of the blanket, landing face-first on the floor.

"Hahaha!" Charles laughed so hard he clutched his stomach and rolled around on the bed.

Clark calmly set the bed back in place and smiled warmly. "You have two minutes."

Charles and Erik sighed in defeat and obediently started getting dressed.

With Clark around, they knew there was no room for negotiation.

"Dad said we're spending Christmas at the villa Uncle Hank gave us, so hurry up and get ready. After breakfast, come pack your stuff."

"What?"

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

The two glared at Clark.

Clark turned his back to them, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "If I'd told you earlier, I wouldn't have gotten to see you scream."

And with that, he happily walked out of the room, leaving the sound of their frustrated groans behind him.

(End of Chapter)