He thinks she always does this.
Every. Single. Time.
She gives him a haircut.
At first, like any normal kid, he went along with it. Played the part. Smiled at her little tricks. He didn't want to act too mature—too ML (Mentally Large?) for his age. It's not like he wanted her to find out the truth...
That he was, in fact, a full-grown man in a kid's body.
But over time, he got used to it. Even when he knew she was faking it—the over-the-top act—he still fell for it.
It had somehow become… tradition.
Weird.
Annoying.
Weirdly comforting.
But not today.
Today, he had decided:
He would not give in.
His mom slowly rose from her knees, hand clenched into a fist, eyes locked on him like a villain in the final act of a soap opera.
She narrowed her gaze.
Took a breath.
And with a voice soaked in theatrical heartbreak, she sighed:
"I guess… you're all grown up now. You're not my little baby anymore. You won't fall for my silly act anymore."
Draven, standing tall and proud like he'd just conquered puberty in a single afternoon, smirked.
"Yeah. It's good you know that now, Mom."
And just when he thought it was over…
Her eyes lit up.
She straightened to her full (and still unimpressive) height.
Then, with the force of a full-blown stage performance, she declared:
"AND THAT'S WHY…" (dramatic pause)
"…I'M CHALLENGING YOU TO A DUEL!!"
Draven's eyes widened.
What the hell?! I thought she already gave up!
She laughed. Loud. Ridiculous. Over-the-top.
"Ha! Ha ha ha! I can see you're surprised! You didn't expect it, did you?!"
He stared, frozen. I guess I have no other choice… He still had one card left to play.
Looking at his mom, smiling like she just won the world's weirdest trophy, he answered with a flat, emotionless voice:
"I decline."
Her smile cracked.
She blinked. Once. Twice.
Then shouted:
"You can't decline my challenge!"
"Why not?!" Draven snapped back.
"Because I say so!" she puffed out her cheeks like a furious pufferfish, arms crossed in triumph. "And I am The Mother here!