In Marvel with the Force?

Over the weeks that followed, Tyr found himself settling into a strange but comforting rhythm. Finn's shop became more than just a place to work or sleep—it started to feel like home.

Finn's gruff but kind demeanor grew on Tyr, and the older man seemed to take genuine pleasure in teaching him the ropes of running the store. They spent hours stocking shelves, taking inventory, and bantering back and forth about everything from sports to politics.

One evening, as they were closing up, Finn leaned against the counter, a nostalgic smile on his face. "You remind me of my grandson," he said suddenly.

Tyr glanced up from the till, surprised. "You have a grandson?"

"Had," Finn replied, his voice softening. "He passed away a few years ago. Cancer. He was a good kid, bright as a damn sunrise. You've got the same spark he had."

Tyr didn't know what to say. Finn had never mentioned his family before, and the sudden vulnerability caught him off guard. "I'm sorry," Tyr said quietly.

Finn waved him off, though his smile remained. "Don't be. You didn't know. Besides, I've got you now, don't I? It's nice having someone around the place again. Keeps me young."

Tyr chuckled, though a faint warmth spread through his chest. Finn wasn't just a mentor or a boss anymore—he was becoming something closer to family.

---

A few days later, Finn dropped a bombshell.

"You're going to school," he announced one morning over breakfast.

Tyr nearly choked on his coffee. "What?"

"You heard me," Finn said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You're a smart kid, smarter than half the people in this city put together. But smarts mean nothing without a piece of paper to prove it. A diploma, a degree—something that'll open doors for you later."

Tyr frowned, his mind racing. The idea of going to school felt strange, almost alien. He'd spent his whole life in the orphanage, and his education had been limited at best. The thought of sitting in a classroom surrounded by people his age was... unsettling.

"I don't need a diploma to get by," Tyr said carefully.

Finn raised an eyebrow. "You think you're gonna stay here forever, running a corner store with an old man? No offense, kid, but you've got too much potential for that. I want to see you go places. Meet people. Make something of yourself."

Tyr opened his mouth to protest, but Finn cut him off.

"And don't think I don't know what you've been up to at night," Finn said, his voice quiet but firm.

Tyr froze, his heart skipping a beat. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Finn smirked. "Sure you don't. Look, I'm not gonna lecture you. If you want to run around breaking the bones of every criminal in the city, that's your business. But I want you to have a backup plan—something solid to fall back on if this... phase doesn't pan out."

Tyr hesitated, the words catching in his throat. He wasn't used to someone caring about his future so deeply, and it left him feeling unsteady.

"I'll think about it," he said finally.

"No thinking," Finn replied, sliding a stack of papers across the counter. "I already enrolled you. School starts Monday."

Tyr stared at the papers, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "You've got to be kidding me."

Finn grinned, patting him on the back. "You'll thank me later. Now finish your coffee and get to work."

---

When Monday arrived, Tyr found himself standing outside a sprawling brick building with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder. The sight of students streaming through the gates made him feel out of place, like an intruder in a world he didn't belong to.

He adjusted the straps on his bag, took a deep breath, and walked inside.

The day was a blur of introductions, paperwork, and awkward conversations. The teachers seemed kind enough, though Tyr could tell they weren't used to dealing with students who had transferred in mid-year.

His classmates were another matter. Most of them seemed more interested in their phones or their friends than the new kid in the corner. Tyr kept his head down, focusing on the lessons and trying to avoid attention.

By the time lunch rolled around, he was exhausted. He found a quiet spot in the corner of the cafeteria and pulled out a book on electrical engineering, hoping to pass the time in peace.

But peace was short-lived.

"Hey, new kid!" a voice called, breaking through the din of the cafeteria.

Tyr looked up to see a boy with messy blond hair and a confident grin walking toward him. He was flanked by a shorter boy with glasses and a girl with bright red hair, both of whom looked equally curious.

"Uh... yeah?" Tyr said cautiously.

The blond boy plopped down across from him, folding his arms on the table. "I'm Jake. That's Oliver," he gestured to the boy with glasses, "and that's Melany."

The red-haired girl gave him a small wave.

"We've been watching you," Jake continued, his grin widening.

Tyr's shoulders tensed. "Why?"

"Because you're weird," Jake said bluntly. "You don't talk to anyone, and you're reading that during lunch." He pointed at the textbook in Tyr's hands.

Tyr glanced at the book, then back at Jake. "It's called studying. You should try it sometime."

Jake laughed, slapping the table. "I like you already. What's your name?"

"Tyr," he replied reluctantly.

"Well, Tyr, you're sitting with us from now on," Jake declared, standing up and clapping him on the shoulder. "Consider yourself adopted."

Before Tyr could protest, the trio walked off, leaving him sitting there with a mix of confusion and amusement.

---

Over the next few weeks, Tyr adjusted to his new routine. School was... tolerable, if not exactly enjoyable. He still spent most of his free time studying and working on his projects, but Jake, Oliver, and Melany made the days a little less lonely.

Finn, for his part, seemed pleased with Tyr's progress. "Told you it'd be good for you," he said one evening as they closed up the shop.

"Yeah, yeah," Tyr muttered, though he couldn't help but smile.