His sonswere safe.LEx'sbrothers were safe.

Scared and scarred but safe. Lawrence knew that he and the anonympous senhi and Lex did the bext for them and...

That captainwoulkdn't hurt anyone anymore. But while they never saw what La Brea did it had frightened them. Lawrence walked the house because he was staying with Cherish thismonth, closer to work and be3cause hisboys needed him. Lawrence walked with a silent alertness, letting them hear him ashe checked. Eric slept in his room hugging a giant stuffed luion.Cyrus slept sprawled on hius back, but...

Eos sat with a glowunder blankets like he wasn't going to be seen and Lawrence stiffened.

"Eos, it's bed time.Put away your game." Lawrence saidfirmly. "Do I need to take away the Nintendo?" He knew calling the Switch a Nintendo wouldirk his son, buty Eospeered out slowly, scared. Thefirst warning bell went off in Lawrebnce's head. Then asniffle and Lawr4ence entered, walking over. Eos looked up, small, and scared.

"Dad? What happened to the bad lady?" Eos whispered., Lawrence tensed.

"I can't tell you." He said. Eos set his jaw. Small.Stubborn.

"Is it the other superhero?"

...Right. s**t. His son knewabout La Breabecause he'd powered to protect them both.SAhit.Lawrence sighed and scoioped him up, carrying him from the room so it was just them in case Cyrus woke up. Finally...

"Yes,Eos. Because I had to do something very, very wrong to protect you boys while Lex and the other man kept you safe." He said, voice trembling. Eos was thoughtful, then nodded.

"Like Mom. She was dressed like Mom when Mom wanted to do bad stuff. She said mean things that night and said she was going to make sure we knew that Earth was safe from Aliens but also maybe I'd learn. And you wouldn't mess up. Eric wasn't okay Dad, she insulted you. I don't want to be like that. Mean. Cyreus neither, he's been trying to cuddle Eric or cheer him up." REos was serious. Lawrence winced, and hiugged him.

"I am glad you boys are looking after your brother, but... This isn't yours to carry." Lawrence kissed the topof hishead and sighed befoire Eos stared.

"Dad I haven't even told Cherry you're a superhero. You gotta talk to someone, you aren't exactly ricj like Tony Starj who can pay people to make it look like it really is." Eos scoffed. Lawrence froze.

"Who let you watch Ironman 3?" Lawrence's brow raised. He fcroze. "And that's very good. But--" He coughed. How to--

He groaned as Limosawalked in the front door, Cherish powering down.

"Cherish, your timing is abysmal." Lawrence scolded. Cherish looked up questioning before visibly stiffening, eyes widening in silent horror. Eos blinkjed, peering, then whined.

"Why are all my adult family cool and I'm not!" Eos whined.

"He knows." Lawrence groaned. Cherish pointed.

"See. See that? that's why Soleiyu is hesitant with kids. Wait, does he tell--"

"Cy can't keep a secret to save his life sometimes. Unless he wants to mess with someone." Eos said in that calm way only children did. Both Lawrence and Cherish stared at Eos. Eos, who waskeeping this big of a secret knowingly. Willingly. and well. Then, as if he didn't just disrupt things... "Dad had to killanother bad persoin. What grouyp is that? Hydrea?"

"DAD!" Cherish scolded. Lawrence raised his hands.

"It was when the boys were attawcked! I put down an animal! that is all!" He ionsisted. Cherish groaned, sighing, as Eos looked up.

"So... Hydra? Gross. How do I warn everyone about that? Scream? I can scream." Eos remarked. Lawrence.. Was burying his face in his hands. Cherish walked over and knelt.

"Scream if they try hurting you. Don't let on they might use you to hurt us or for information... OIr take us away." Cherish soothed. "Some are nice. Ask Dad or I if we're thereokay? And run fron weird stuff." Practical. Gentlke. Eos stillstar4ed.

"Okay. But how do I tell Cyrus andEric I know what to-- oh right. Internet. Yourcomputer password is dumb." Eos said calmly. "123Lex'; is obvious.

Cherish joiuned her father in groaning as Eos watched both adults, and pulled his Switchout.

"Can Iplay more game now? I don't like thinking about what happened and I don't like she tried to toiuch us and I just want to feel dumb a while." Eos responded. Lawrence inhaled, sighing. Right.

"Would you prefer a bed time story?" He tried. Eos considered.

"Make this hero stuff a bed time story so Cyrus doesn't know and I'm iubn." Eos tried. Lawqrence sighed again.

"Deal. Only if you go to sleep." He pickjed his son up, and Cherish called.

"I'm not taking him to space Dad!" She called. Lawrence stiffened when he felt Eos stiffen.

"WHAT?!" Came the boy's 9inevitable cry as Lawrence rushed him to bed, Cherish walking to make some tea. They needed it.