Chapter Text
“I had to do what was best for me and my daughter!” Kris screamed.
Ray yelled back, “But, not Henry! You left him!”
Kris hung her head before asking, “What do you want me to do?”
“Give me custody… I want Henry.”
Story contains neglect and abuse of a 13 year old boy but has a happy ending.
Lost and Insecure, You Found Me
Chapter 1: Where Were You
“All I’m saying is that you’ve never seen me and Kid Danger in the same room,” Jasper quipped.
Charolette and Henry rolled their eyes. Henry had only had the gig for six months. A tiny part of him wanted to go ahead and tell Jasper but he decided to wait a little longer. Besides, Ray had already gotten mad enough when Charlotte had figured it out.
With a wave, he bid his friends goodbye before heading into his house. Piper was shouting about something naturally while Kris was busy in the kitchen. Jake on the other hand was silently fuming at the kitchen table.
He took one look at Henry and hissed, “Where the hell have you been!”
Eyes widening, Henry took a step back before muttering, “School… work… Hanging with Charolette and Jasper.”
“It was your night to make dinner. Your mother had to step in.”
“Sorry, Dad. I can do it another night,” Henry muttered just as his watch began to vibrate. “Er, I forgot something at work. I’ll be right back and-”
“Sit down! You’re not going anywhere!” Jake snapped.
Kris looked over with a frown as she muttered, “Honey-”
Henry gripped his backpack as he stared at them. Something was wrong.
Something was very wrong as Jake marched across the house to snag Henry by the wrist and drag him into the kitchen. Henry could only stare. Even Piper had grown completely silent. The only sound was Kris scraping a bit of hamburger helper into bowls.
Four steaming bowls were set on the table. Henry grabbed his fork to dig in but stopped the moment his watch started beeping. He flinched as Jake slammed his hand down on the table and barked, “Go to your room!”
Kris said absolutely nothing as she stared down at her food. Piper was too shocked to even eat. Henry was too stunned to even move.
Jake wasted no time in leaping to his feet to snag Henry up by his shirt. They were already halfway up the stairs before Henry could even register what was happening. Jake shoved the boy into his room before locking the door behind him.
Henry could only stare at the locked door in horror before his watch vibrated. He allowed the hologram of Captain Man to come through. Fixing a smile on his face, Henry greeted his boss.
“Kid, come on. The Toddle’s escaped again. What are you doing?”
“I… I don’t know… I have a lot of homework and-”
“You swore an oath. I’ll see you in a minute,” Ray replied before ending the conversation.
Henry swallowed heavily before looking between the door and the window. The window won.
.
Captain Man and Kid Danger stood side by side as the watched the police escort the Toddler back to where he belonged. Ray glanced over at the teenager beside him. The kid was so freaking quiet tonight. It’d really put a damper on things. Clearing his throat, he asked, “Kid, you okay?”
“Y-yeah… Just thinking about something.”
“Then stop thinking about whatever it is you’re thinking about. It’s killing the mood.”
“Sorry,” Henry nodded before asking, “Can we get something to eat?”
Ray glanced down at the boy before asking, “You didn’t eat dinner? Why? Your mom burn it or something?”
Looking away, Henry muttered, “Or something.”
“Fine. I get it. Teenagers are always hungry. We can get a burger and then I’ll drop you off at your house.”
“Thanks.”
.
Henry had barely crawled through his window to find his father leaning against the door with his arms crossed. Swallowing, Henry padded over to the man beckoning him forward. “Where were you?”
“I’m sorry… I don’t know… I was just hungry and-”
“So, the food your mother made isn’t good enough for you? So, you just decided to go out on your own? So, you just decided to turn your back on your family and do whatever you want?”
“Dad, no. I just had work and my friends-”
“They are not your family! They don’t care about you! You think my work cared about me when they fired me today after all these years!”
“I… I’m sorry,” Henry stuttered before Jake shook hi head.
“No. No you’re not but you will be.”
Henry gasped as his father caught his rm before shoving him in the direction of his closet. Trying to pull away, Henry pleaded, “Dad, I’m sorry.”
“Then next time you’ll do as you’re told!” Jake snapped before pushing the boy inside.
Henry could hear his heart pounding as he slid down the wall. The bolt turning on the door was all he needed to realize he wasn’t having a nightmare. His father had actually locked him a closet.
He thought about getting out or calling Ray. Had his father been drunk? Maybe losing his job was just really taking a toll on everything. Nonetheless, Henry felt helpless and he was Kid Danger… Mybe everything would be fine in the morning. Maybe he was dreaming after all.
.
The next morning Jake pulled Henry out of the cramped closet with an “I’m sorry, son. I didn’t know what I was doing.”