Waiting...

It had been a month now since the Created had shown up to Earth and put it under Cortana's control, and a month since anyone had any power anywhere. The once bright lights that lit Berlin up across Germany's night sky was nothing but an empty void of its former self in the distance of Ebenen, even under the full moon and bright star filled sky. The small community had been lucky to not be part of the chaos in the cities, but they were given extra attention due to their remote locations, it was almost impossible to hide anything under the watchful eye of their new "leader". It wasn't too long ago a few houses were raided in belief they were hiding illegal weapons and housing rebels to fight against Cortana while propaganda was being played day in and day out. Something that was becoming common if word of mouth was to be trusted. A patrol of newly appointed pro-created police walked down the streets looking for any sign of trouble that would be caused by unruly citizens. One of the houses in the small town had a young boy hiding behind the curtain of his living room window, watching with more anxiety than fear, he was glancing around at both sides looking for something to come. He didn't hear the footsteps coming towards him from behind as he felt the grip around his arm.
"Fynn. Get away from the window." An elderly man sternly whispered to him as he took his arm and pulled him away from the window, closing the curtains after he pulled the boy aside. Fynn's grandfather, Matthijs, lit the half-used candle on the entertainment stand illuminating the room as he looked back to his grandson, curled up in a wool blanket and hugging his Spartan toy tight. He had known the rules of not going anywhere at night outside his room and he felt a scolding was coming for disobeying the rules.
He looked at Fynn for a good second, seeing so much of his grandson in him, his blue eyes and black hair, that face of a young Wanna-Be tough guy. Just like his dad at times, even, he could almost mistake the young boy for his grandson at that age. "You're supposed to be in bed."
"I know-" Fynn quietly muttered as he looked down, avoiding his grandfather's gaze. "-but daddy said he'd be home for my birthday. He promised." It didn't take a genius to know he felt upset over an unintentional broken promise and Matthijs then saw why the boy had broken the rules, he was waiting for Johan to come home. That promise meant the world to the young boy, even if he didn't understand what was happening, he always understood his father wouldn't break promises made to him, but current events had changed that for the worse. There was a moment of silence to realize the situation as Fynn looked back down at his hasty painted red colored Spartan, built just like his dad's own armor set from the different figures and sets he got for his birthday last year. To anyone, Johan was just a spartan, but to his own son he was a legend just like those from stories of old and legends of greatness.  Beowulf, King Arthur, Hercules, Sigurd. Fynn always said his dad could beat any of them, he could beat anyone. He looked up to his father more than anyone else, and all he wanted this year was to see his dad and show off his custom-made Spartan action figure in person for the first time. 
Matthijs sat on the couch next to his grandson and pulled Fynn into a hug to comfort him. This wasn't how anyone imagined or wanted to spend his sixth birthday, but all they could do was wait patiently for Johan to come home. Even in his elderly age, Matthijs also wished his grandson would come through the front door or show up to fight off the invaders in their streets, but unlike Fynn, he knew it wouldn't happen anytime soon.
"He's just running late. He'll be home soon." He whispered gently as they both sat on the couch looking out into the barely illuminated room of their home. All Fynn could do now was wait for him. He thought about how high his dad would put him on his shoulder, higher than anyone else could, His dad always wrestling with him just so Fynn could be worn out for a nap, how his dad would tell him stories of his deployment and he fought off aliens and monsters alike as his bedtime stories when he was home, or even just showing off his spartan abilities all because he would ask him too. If there was anything Fynn wanted more in the world now more than ever...
He just wanted to watch his dad walk through that front door.