Life with superheroes

After repeatedly warning Eric and Charles not to invite unfamiliar people to the birthday party, the two glanced at Clark and shrugged, signaling they had no control over the situation. Since their family lived outside of town and considering the convenience for the other children, Mike decided to hold the party at a restaurant in town.

Later that afternoon, after school, Clark and Eric brought their friends to the restaurant. They enjoyed a meal and celebrated the birthday.

"Well!" Charles sighed as they drove home, glancing at everyone in the car. Noticing no one was paying attention to him, he sighed again, looking empty and desolate.

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

"Well, I'm another year older. Will there be more parties like this in the future?"

"Why? Don't you like it?"

"It's not that I don't like it," Charles said, "but I suddenly feel like it's not as interesting anymore."

He leaned back in the car seat, his hands resting behind his head, feigning indifference with an exaggerated look of disdain.

Eric curled his lip. "He must have been reading people's minds again."

"Hmph!" Charles turned his head, looking slightly annoyed. "I can't help it if some people don't like our birthday party and even think we're just outdated folks living in the countryside."

Mike raised an eyebrow, parked the car under a streetlight, and turned to Charles in the back seat. "Charles, you have a special ability, but when you focus on people's negative thoughts, you'll end up disappointed with human nature. You can't let the bad overshadow the good. Do you understand?"

Charles nodded thoughtfully.

"Even among friends, there are times when you'll argue over something and feel like throttling each other, but you can't let those moments make you forget your friendship."

"If you focus on the bad thoughts someone has at a moment like that, you won't be able to stay friends anymore."

Charles chuckled. "For example, me and Eric?"

Eric looked at him, confused. "What?"

"I often read his thoughts, like when he wants to curse me out, or when he thinks about knocking me out when we argue. But I know he's just angry, and it'll pass, so I don't pay him much mind."

Charles puffed out his chest and gave Eric an unconcerned glance, acting as if he was above it all.

Eric grabbed Charles by the neck and shook him. "I really want to strangle you right now!"

Clark looked at the two of them and couldn't help but smile. "Cut it out!"

Eric huffed, still upset.

Charles grinned smugly and adjusted his collar, clearly proud of himself.

Mike reached back, lightly tapping Charles and laughing. "You two are more than just friends."

After a pause, Mike added, "From now on, try not to use your abilities carelessly. People's hearts are way too complicated."

Charles grinned. "I can still read them."

Mike raised an eyebrow. "Can you open your mouth for me?"

"Ah!" Charles complied, revealing a mouth with a missing front tooth.

"You haven't even finished growing your teeth, and you want to read people's hearts?" Mike chuckled, standing up and ruffling Charles' hair. "Finish college first."

"Hahahaha!" Eric burst out laughing, nearly rolling off the seat.

Charles gave him an icy stare, grabbed Eric's mouth, and smirked, "Ha! You're missing two teeth!"

"Enough with the nonsense. Let's go home!" Mike said with a smile, letting the kids play around before heading back.

…

Wednesday.

It was already December, and although the weather was fine, the cold winter wind made everyone curse inwardly as it hit their faces.

Mike had promised the children a trip to New York, so he dragged the boys out of their warm beds early that morning.

Clark got up obediently to wash up, but Charles and Eric could barely keep their eyes open and pulled the covers over themselves again.

Mike raised an eyebrow, walked out of their room, and knocked on the bathroom door.

"Dad, what's going on?" Clark poked his head out.

"I'll take care of them in a bit," Mike said. "I'm going to prepare breakfast and get the bags packed. You get ready too."

"Pack our bags?" Clark asked, a bit confused. "Aren't we just going for one day?"

Mike smiled. "I just remembered Hank gave us a villa, and we haven't visited it yet. Since it's your winter break, we'll spend Christmas there this year."

Clark's face lit up. "Great! Leave them to me!"

Mike nodded and went downstairs, confident that Clark would take care of the rest.

Clark quickly finished his morning routine and rushed into Eric and Charles' room.

Standing between their beds, Clark looked at them. Both had their heads buried in the blankets. He grinned, yanked Charles' covers off, and yelled, "Ah!"

Charles jumped, clutching his clothes and shivering from the cold. Clark smiled at him and grabbed Eric's blanket.

He pulled hard.

"Um?" Clark looked down, puzzled. The quilt remained motionless. Looking closer, he saw several shiny metal objects around it.

Sighing, Clark said, "Is your ability to just stay in bed, Eric?"

"I'm only going to sleep for five more minutes!" Eric muttered.

Clark crossed his arms. "Alright, time's up."

"Don't try to trick me! Dad's still making breakfast. It won't be that quick!" Eric grumbled.

"Get up now!" Clark insisted.

"I don't want to!" Eric complained.

"Then I'm going to have to force you," Clark said, grinning as he flipped Eric's bed upside down and shook it from side to side.

"Blat!" Eric slid out of bed and hit the floor with a thud.

"Ha ha!" Charles laughed so hard he rolled on the bed, holding his stomach.

Clark set the bed back in place with a calm smile. "You've got two minutes."

Charles and Eric groaned but got dressed quickly, knowing they couldn't win against Clark.

"Dad said we'll spend Christmas in Hank's villa, so you two need to hurry up and pack your bags," Clark said.

"What?" Both Eric and Charles stared at him.

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" they demanded.

Clark turned away, grinning mischievously. "If you'd said it earlier, I wouldn't have gotten to see you scream."

He left the room, ignoring their protests, as the two scrambled to get ready.

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