(Words: 485)
(Second in the series!)
“Dad, please -- “
Her father clasped a hand over her mouth, shaking his head and effectively cutting her pleas at the source. “I am not -- “ Pete realized he was speaking too loudly; he drew a deep breath and willed himself into silence. “I am not about to sit by and let my daughter, my own daughter, fell prey to some sick terrorist group, “ he hissed.
Even if Natalie knew he wouldn’t do anything to her -- no matter how mad he was, he was still her father -- it was the first time he had really scared her. “Natalie, do you even know how many of my friends have…?”
He trailed off, but Natalie could guess what he wanted to say. She longed to tell him he was wrong. The senshi weren’t what they said they were on TV or anything else. They were, herself included, just trying to keep the forces of chaos at bay. Hearing something like that, how could the word ‘terrorist’ honestly be used?!
She pushed his hand away from her mouth, instead clasping it between her own as she whispered back, “Please, dad, just try to understand, it’s not what you think it is, it’s -- the bad guys, the negaverse, they’re trying to -- “
“Enough, “ he snapped, pushing her hand away. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“You don’t want to hear the truth?” She almost regretted saying anything when she saw the flash of rage dance across his face.
“What they’ve fed you, Natalie, what they’ve told you -- “ He was trying hard, biting back his volume. “That’s their truth. Not the truth. That’s how terrorists work. I raised you better than this, your mother and I did… if she knew -- “
“I wasn’t planning on telling her, “ Natalie said, dropping her hands and looking down. Frustration weighed down heavy in the pit of her stomach. “And you raised a superhero, whether you want to believe it or not.” Her gaze fell on her henshin pen, where her father had thrown it into the far corner.
“There are no superheroes, “ Pete countered, grasping her chin between his fingers. He was visibly upset, and even if she knew she shouldn’t, Natalie felt guilty. She found herself wishing, in that moment, that she had talked to Ash. A small lump formed in her throat at the thought, but she swallowed it as quickly as it formed. “And I did not raise a terrorist. This discussion is over Natalie.”
Had it ever even started? The frustration flared up in her for all of a few seconds, threatening to pour out of her. But ultimately, what was she supposed to do? “I don’t want to hear anything else about this…” he continued in a harsh whisper. “And I don’t want you sneaking out anymore. Do I make myself clear?”
(Second in the series!)
“Dad, please -- “
Her father clasped a hand over her mouth, shaking his head and effectively cutting her pleas at the source. “I am not -- “ Pete realized he was speaking too loudly; he drew a deep breath and willed himself into silence. “I am not about to sit by and let my daughter, my own daughter, fell prey to some sick terrorist group, “ he hissed.
Even if Natalie knew he wouldn’t do anything to her -- no matter how mad he was, he was still her father -- it was the first time he had really scared her. “Natalie, do you even know how many of my friends have…?”
He trailed off, but Natalie could guess what he wanted to say. She longed to tell him he was wrong. The senshi weren’t what they said they were on TV or anything else. They were, herself included, just trying to keep the forces of chaos at bay. Hearing something like that, how could the word ‘terrorist’ honestly be used?!
She pushed his hand away from her mouth, instead clasping it between her own as she whispered back, “Please, dad, just try to understand, it’s not what you think it is, it’s -- the bad guys, the negaverse, they’re trying to -- “
“Enough, “ he snapped, pushing her hand away. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“You don’t want to hear the truth?” She almost regretted saying anything when she saw the flash of rage dance across his face.
“What they’ve fed you, Natalie, what they’ve told you -- “ He was trying hard, biting back his volume. “That’s their truth. Not the truth. That’s how terrorists work. I raised you better than this, your mother and I did… if she knew -- “
“I wasn’t planning on telling her, “ Natalie said, dropping her hands and looking down. Frustration weighed down heavy in the pit of her stomach. “And you raised a superhero, whether you want to believe it or not.” Her gaze fell on her henshin pen, where her father had thrown it into the far corner.
“There are no superheroes, “ Pete countered, grasping her chin between his fingers. He was visibly upset, and even if she knew she shouldn’t, Natalie felt guilty. She found herself wishing, in that moment, that she had talked to Ash. A small lump formed in her throat at the thought, but she swallowed it as quickly as it formed. “And I did not raise a terrorist. This discussion is over Natalie.”
Had it ever even started? The frustration flared up in her for all of a few seconds, threatening to pour out of her. But ultimately, what was she supposed to do? “I don’t want to hear anything else about this…” he continued in a harsh whisper. “And I don’t want you sneaking out anymore. Do I make myself clear?”
