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There had been some contention about if Alex was even going to graduate. With the number of missed classes, lost assignments, and sick days. It wasn’t even expected that he was going to get out of the school with anything but a pat on the back. But when he got the news- that he had graduated and that he was in the ceremony... well Alex didn’t know what to do. The idea that it would never happen had just made the most sense in his head. Alex wasn’t often wrong.
“Who are you going to invite to your graduation?” Tom asked as he lay on Alex’s bed, reading the letter. “My mum’s not gonna be coming and- well dad’s off at work then. But my brother’s gonna show.” Alex knew Tom’s brother as- not the mos reliable person. But most of his family weren’t. “Please say you’re not inviting your creepy uncle?”
Alex chuckled as he snatched the letter from his best friend’s hands. “How do you think having all of my dad’s show would go? My dad- Ian, Yassen- the lot of them.”
“Alex- You’re asking for trouble.” Tom knew the moment that he saw the grin on Alex’s face that, it was exactly what he was asking for. “You get into graduation and now your plan is to just make it a bonfire? Good luck with that mate. But. They’d be proud of you.”
Alex scowled as Tom ruffled his hair before rolling off the bed. “You’ll see the mess, I’m sure that for one day they can suck it up. Its my graduation-”
“I fear for the mess you’ll make at your university graduation.”
Alex grinned “Oh don’t worry, you’ll be there. You driving home?”
“Yeah, gotta get back before dark, mum’s cooking. Just- don’t go lighting any actual fires at graduation. I’m lucky that my name’s called before yours.”
The smile Alex gave was conclusive to nothing. Tom, as he walked out, had no idea if that meant that Alex had any plans to not start fires. But at least he wouldn’t forget his graduation.
“Alex invited you?” John could hardly hold back his laughter as Yassen on the other side of the call seemed to not know what to do with the reaction. “Of course he invited me- and Ian. Don’t go starting fights with my brother. He didn’t mean to shoot you.” John sighed- of course his son was going to make his graduation a memorable one. Maybe the school would regret allowing him to graduate. Maybe they wanted him out of their hair as fast as possible. But John knew Alex had worked hard to actually graduate.
After the group of them had instructed blackmailed the bank to stop any missions where Alex was involved, he had the time to actually focus on his studies.
“Yassen, he just wants you to go. Just go Yassen. High school kids don't bite anymore.”
“John I never went to high school. What am I even meant to wear? John.”
“Yassen. Wear a suit.”
“What do you mean Alex invited me to his graduation.” Ash closed his eyes as he looked at his calendar. Maybe there would have been an excuse there. But he knew exactly what Alex was trying to do. He wouldn’t abide by Ash trying to skip it. “Yeah I’ll be there Ian.”
Alex had somewhat of a plan going into graduation. More so, he wanted to see his family try to interact with the *normal population*, he wondered how long it had been since any of them had been to a graduation.
But when Yassen showed up- he was wearing a suit that was probably way too fancy for a graduation. But he wouldn’t look entirely out of place. John stood next to him, slightly scowling. He knew what Alex was doing and Alex could see the grin on his dad’s face as he continued to sit in the row of students. His mum didn’t seem as amused but she sat down along with the other two.
Alex didn’t actually want a bonfire to go off. But he did want to see the awkwardness as his- maybe father figures, all sat together in a family setting. The graduation dinner was going to be even more interesting- parents asking his own parents how that they knew each other or how they were related to Alex.
Most people knew about John Rider as his dad- Ian occasionally picked him up as well. But the others- well. He wondered what cover story they were going to put up.
Ash and Ian walked in- and Alex hadn’t actually thought that Fox was going to show up- not behind both of them.
Though it was a sight to behold, all of them sitting there with awkward looks on their faces as parents all started to gather around.
His mum made conversation with the family next to them- most likely Patricia’s parents.
The amount of tension was already in the air as Alex turned around and looked at the stage. Tom sat next to him- even if they were meant to be in order “I think Yassen wants to kill me- my mum’s shown up and is trying to talk to him.”
Alex huffed a laugh as he looked back to see Yassen trying to commune like a normal person. “I thought she was going to busy?”
“Yeah. My brother basically forced her to come, saying it’s the last graduation she’ll get to go to. Are you and your- entourage going to dinner?”
“I mean. That’s the main event.”
Tom shook his head as the graduation ceremony started.
Alex went up, Tom already had his cap and he was already sat back down- Alex wondered how he had even managed to make it to graduation.
Even if he had invited his family specifically to force them out of their comfort zone and see them struggle not to pull attention to themselves. But- their faces of pride and whatever emotion Yassen was showing on his face, was enough for him to have been thankful for inviting them to the ceremony no matter what happened.
He shook hands with a principal who never thought he would be able to graduate. Standing next to Tom it was hard to contain a smile as he didn’t look back. But when the ceremony was over he was going to get swarmed.
Just, when it happened, he didn’t expect it to have been his classmates.
People swarmed him and Tom and he knew they were all congratulating everyone on graduating. Most people had thought he was away at hospital all those years. So maybe the congrats were not fully deserved.. but maybe what Alex had been though was worse.
Eventually he felt a hand on his shoulder, steering him away from the crowd of peers. “Well done, you rascal.” John smiled as he ruffled Alex’s hair.
Alex smiled as he was hugged- one by one by family. They were a weird and unusual family. Somewhat brought together by death and destruction- by disaster and saving the world. But they were a family- and Alex had every intention of making sure they all stayed one.
“I’m so proud of you Alex,” his mum smiled as she handed him a bouquet of flowers. “I’ve heard we’re at the table with Tom’s family. His brother is a sweet chap.”
Alex smiled as he took the bouquet. He didn’t know what to say. But he just hugged his mum, wondering what it would have been like if he had never gotten the chance to graduate.
In the past it seemed impossible but the present didn’t seem any more likely. But as he was dragged to take pictures with Tom- and handed flowers from more of his peers then he would have thought of. Alex just smiled and let them drag him around. It was all going to change, and maybe that wouldn’t be for the better. But Alex had now. So he wanted to stay there.