[Poem]

Honey darling what can I say?

You know I had to find out some day.

Why didn’t you tell him about your father’s profession?

WHY DIDN’T YOU CONSIDER GIVING A CONFESSION‽

I may be a villain and more than a heel,

But seriously kid you’d know how how I feel.

We could’ve been civil,

I would have been fair,

But your super boyfriend is destroying my lair!

"Honey, you're not... dating Freight Train, are you?"

Azadeh shook her head frantically, her braided hair whipping back and forth. A more cynical parent would've assumed she was lying to cover her ass, but I knew my daughter; she didn't play games when it came to my line of work. I sighed, traded my white chocolate latte for my sword, and got off the couch as I remarked, "So much for mother-daughter time."

Freight Train knocked down the door to the sunroom, prompting a pair of robotic ravens to shoot out from the ceiling and catch it before it could crush anything else. As the ravens started putting the door back in place, Freight Train pointed his finger at me and growled, "Let her go, Dr. Valkyrie. Now."

"No self-respecting parent would let their kid anywhere near someone who just broke into their house. Now back the fuck up."

Freight Train looked at Azadeh. "You're her daughter?! Why didn't you tell me?!"

Azadeh whimpered and hid behind me--something she hadn't done since she was five years old. My expression turned stone-cold as I asked her, "What did he do to you?"

Azadeh gulped before shakily replying, "W--We went on a date at the s--start of the month. We got d--dinner, and when he got up to use the b--bathroom, he got a text, and I saw the background on his phone. It...It was a picture of me. I panicked, and g--got into his phone like you taught me, and there were--" Azadeh let out a terrified sob and finished, "There were so many fucking pictures of me."

I turned back to Freight Train and yelled, "You've been stalking my fucking KID?!?!"

Freight Train growled. "Shut up! If she'd told me who her mother is, I never would've--"

"YOU'RE TRYING TO PIN THE BLAME ON HER?!! Oh, that is it, you sick fuck! I'm done putting up with you!!"

I snapped my fingers, prompting an automated turret to pop out of the wall and blast Freight Train with an almost blindingly white beam. Freight Train fell to his knees, struggling to articulate his words as I strolled over to him. After I had Azadeh close her eyes, I kneeled down next to him and hissed, "Hurts, doesn't it? That's the Pertho Gun, whittling away your life force into nothing. Clearing you out like the namesake rune."

Freight Train's breathing turned heavy as I poked my sword against his back. "I had this built a while ago, right around the time you got onto the scene. Never used it until now because I had hoped we could have some degree of professionalism between us. But then you did this. So you know what? No more."

I turned off the Pertho Gun and plunged my sword into Freight Train's back before he could recover. I dragged the blade along his spine to ensure he wouldn't survive and let out a whistle once I was done. My genetically-enhanced wolves trotted into the room and started ripping up Freight Train's body as I walked back over to Azadeh and softly said, "It's over, honey. You can open your eyes again if you want."

Azadeh opened her eyes slowly and collapsed into my chest. "Can I...can I stay here tonight? I don't feel good enough to go back to campus."

I tenderly held Azadeh's head and replied, "Of course, kiddo. You stay here as long as you need."

Part 1

She should be here any minute now. I sat, tapping my foot restlessly against the smooth, natural oak planks that covered the living room floor. Who would have thought that landing on your feet from a 73-story building could cause some long-term nerve damage? Or could it be something else? Nope, definitely the nerves—The door-bell chimed, echoing and bouncing against the white walls that formed the four-bed suburban house.

It felt like I had been swept by a tsunami of emotion. Standing there, in the open doorway, was my whole world. A world which I had left behind.

“Hello, Bubs”, I said, unable to contain my smile.

“Don’t call me that.”

Refusing to make eye-contact, Andrea strode inside and perched herself on the edge of the cream coloured couch, folding her arms tightly against her chest as if creating an invisible forcefield. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Understandable, considering how long it had been since we last saw each other. Her hazel-green eyes had become more weathered, icy even.

“How’s University?”

Painful silence. Nothing I don’t deserve and exactly what I should have expected.

“Fine”, muttered Andrea quietly, scowling at me.

At least she glanced in my general direction. I guess that could be considered progress.

“Look, Andrea, I understand how difficult this must be for you to—"

“Understand”, Andrea scoffed.

She’s right. I don’t understand, how could I – we haven’t spoken in so long. She’s come here for a reason, it’s important she says what’s on her mind. I slowly walked over and occupied a seat across from her, separated by the mahogany coffee table her mother had gifted me years ago. Each second felt like an hour, transporting me to a world I had long locked away. Andrea looked up as if to speak, then taped her mouth shut and turned her gaze to the floor. We continued to sit in silence.

“You left me. Mum died… and you left me”, she let out a sniffle as the sentence cut its way through the icy atmosphere. The truth I had turned my back to penetrated my heart like a dagger.

“I know. I’m sorry”, barely audible above my growing guilt. The guilt that had been sealed off in the deepest chasm of my soul.

“I was angry Andrea, I wanted revenge, it…”, my throat thickened.

“It consumed me and I didn’t care who or what got in my way… I would have burned the world… and I couldn’t let you near me – you’d only end up like your mother.”

“You left me all alone dad”, a single tear appeared, clouding the edge of her black eyeliner.

True, nothing will change that.

Part 2

Against the deafening silence, I heard it. A low whistling in the distance; probably a few miles away. I stood up.

“Andrea, stand behind me”, voice hoarse with sorrow as I ushered her up off the sofa.

“No. What are you talking about?” Andrea replied in a puzzled tone.

The whistling had grown louder, the noise definitely seemed to be travelling toward us. I thought I left this life behind. Tied up any loose ends. No-one knows I’m here. I thought it was safe to invite you over, to try and rebuild our broken bond, Andrea.

My blood began to boil, I tensed and flared each and every muscle fibre throughout my body.

“Andrea, get behind me now!”, I said in a breathy, panicked yell.

The whistling was almost deafening, as if it was hovering right above us. She darted a pair of sceptical eyes towards me, but followed.

“Where is she?!” Boomed an orotund voice from above.

My thoughts started to race. She? Andrea…? No, surely not. What could you possibly want from my daughter…?

Across the room collapsed a large part of ceiling. I pushed Andrea to the floor as she let out a yelp and shielded her against the ricocheting chunks of metal, wood and plasterboard. If only she’d inherited my crystalline skin.

“Are you hurt?” I whispered to her, scanning the room.

She shook her head from side-to-side, face pale with shock.

My attention switched to the young man slowly levitating down through the gaping hole in the ceiling. He had long blonde hair, with streaks of silver. His lean, oval face was lined with fury. A long, faded scar followed his hollow cheeks. I’d recognise that face anywhere. Roland ‘Valiant’ Ross, the nation’s crown jewel.

“I see that scar has healed up nice—” In a split second I was thrown and pinned against the wall, Valiant’s arm pressed tightly against my shoulder.

“No thanks to you… Executioner”, Valiant spat out in guttural voice.

My stomach felt like it had caved in, the force of Valiant’s punch knocked all the air out of my lungs. Had he gotten stronger? Or have I become weak?

“What… do you… want with my daughter?”, I managed to cough out.

Valiant’s grip loosened slightly, his thin eyebrows raised as a look of confusion crept over his face. This was my chance.

I smashed my forehead against his nose, right in between his wide turquoise eyes. Valiant staggered back, letting go of my shoulder. My feet dropped to the floor, I pushed off and tackled him around the waist, slamming him down. I unleashed a barrage of roundhouse punches, swinging with both my right and left hook. Valiant was nimble, although my weight pinned him to the ground, he still managed to evade most of my hits. Just keep targeting the head, make sure he can’t focus on flying away. I grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and threw his head down hard against the oak. I heard a faint crack, hopefully a fractured skull, not that it would affect Valiant much. Wait. This seems too easy. Why isn’t he fighting back?

“Stop! Stop! Please dad! Stop!” Andrea cried out.

“No Andrea. You don’t understand how powerful this man is.”

I drew back my shoulder charging up another shower of hits. Just as I was about to release, I felt two arms wrap against my back – trying to pull me away.

“Please… I love him, stop.”

You love him? Those words washed through my entire body, extinguishing my frenzy of anger.

I slumped over, facing up toward the hole in the ceiling.

Quietly, I said, “He broke through your mother’s ceiling, the debris almost hurt you”

“He can be… a bit extra at times, but he cares about me, a lot. And I care about him. Ross has been there for me these last few years. He helped when I was at my lowest”, she said in a tight voice. "Though, you could have used the front door, Ross"

Silence ensued, only to be broken by Ross, who let out in a croaky voice, “Rea… Your father is The Executioner?”

"Papa, please, let's just go." Issy whispered to me, tugging at my arm like she'd done since she was just big enough to reach it.

"RAZOR! GIVE HER BACK!" Dancing Blades boomed from the broken door to my lair, her voice deep with rage. I'd rarely heard her like this - doing nothing to feminize her testosterone-induced voice. Usually I called it a win when I got her to lose control like this, but right now I was very, very confused.

"Hun, I have no clue what she's on about." I patted Issy's hand and watched the door to my inner sanctum as I heard Dancing Blades storming closer. My minions knew to clear out - I didn't want any of them getting hurt in these clashes. "I think this is a misunderstanding we can just clear up."

A light blipped over the door, and I telekenetically placed Issy in the safe bubble along the wall. All my people knew of these bubbles - they'd let anybody with one of my tags in and protect them from basically anything up to and including a bomb and the complete collapse of the building - we'd tried.

The doors blew off their hinges - really, they were designed to - made for the most satisfying entrances for the heroes, and saved a bundle on replacement costs when they could just be slotted back into their place.

"YOU! HOW DARE YOU!" Suddenly Dancing Blades looked over at Issy, and her voice changed to one of concern. "Lissandra, are you alright? Did he hurt you?"

My eyebrows flew up, and I turned to Issy as well. "Issy?" I asked.

Issy looked down at her feet, suddenly appearing very sheepish.

I turned back to Dancing Blades. "Truce?" I asked, keeping my body relaxed and my hands by my sides.

She pointed her main sword at me. "Release her."

I raised my hand slowly, and beckoned Issy out of the bubble. She stepped forwards, wringing her hands and not looking at either of us. "You should know that everyone in one of my bubbles is free to leave at any time." I could see hesitation flicker across Dancing Blade's face. I knew she assumed I kept my people here with force and threats, or that they were morally corrupt and just as evil as me. I wasn't sure she was ready for the truth, but Issy had somewhat forced my hand.

"Please, sit." I moved slowly, waving my hand between us and raising the table built into the floor. It was a low table, with cushions tucked into cubbies beneath it - I wanted any guests to know that their seat would not fall out from under them.

Issy moved to the table and pulled out a cushion first, dropping it to the floor and sitting cross-legged on it. I followed her example, continuing to move slowly, waving for Dancing Blades to take the seat across from me.

Dancing Blades looked between the two of us and sheathed her sword. Still cautious, she moved over to the table and pulled out one of the cushions, dropping it to the floor and settling on it with a bit of fumbling. Clearly Issy hadn't yet gotten her used to floor tables.

"So, is there something you'd like to tell us?" I asked Issy.

"Um, Papa, this is my girlfriend, Leanna. Leanna, this is my father, Wally, and yes, it is based on Wall-E." Issy kept her eyes on her clasped hands. "Please don't fight."

"A pleasure to meet you." I said, keeping my voice calm and light. I was rather proud of Issy - by giving us both the other's legal name, she kept the playing field even.

"You can't be serious." Leanna said, her gaze moving between us.

"Unfortunately, she's quite serious." I replied.

"But you said your father's dead!" Leanna started to rise in burgeoning anger.

"Her biological father is dead - and her mother." I gestured for Leanna to sit back down. "I adopted her and have raised her since she was 5."

"But -"

"This doesn't have to change anything." I offered.

"WHAT?" Leanna's voice shot into her highest register with the exclamation.

"You can still barge in here and we can fight whenever you're pressured to deal with me or whatever." I shrugged, then looked towards the entry where a few of my people were poking their heads in. I waved to them. "You might as well put the doors back up." I called over.

Leanna turned and watched as my people picked up the two halves of the doors and slotted them back into place.

"Ball and socket hinges." I commented absently. "They blow off quite nicely, but the weight of the door keeps them in place if you're using them in a polite manner."

"I am so confused." Leanna complained.

"Fair enough." I shrugged. "Really, I just have one question for both of you."

Issy looked up, suddenly very suspicious.

"Are you using protection?"

"Daaaaaaaad!" Issy buried her face in her hands.

"Yes." Leanna replied calmly. "We're using protection."

"Good." I smiled. "Everything else can be worked out over time."

I paused, looking between them, then thought of something. "Oh. Let me know if my taunting you until you drop your voice is causing you any distress. I can pull back on that."

"I -" Leanna looked at me with shock in her eyes. "I'll let you know. I'm not sure how I feel right now."

"That's fine. Tell me at any time." I reached across the table and held my hand out. "Welcome to the family, young lady."

"Audrey! Dinner!"

My daughter moans something through her door about not wanting to do family dinners anymore. Her door opens.

"Dad, how can we have family dinners if we aren't a family anymore? Besides I live on my own now. I'm an adult you know... I have my own life."

"Audrey, you know your mom and I discussed this. what you do on campus is fine by us, but when at either of our homes we sit down for a family dinner. Besides, a family is whatever you make of it. No need to get all 1950's on me."

My partner winks at me, cute as a button in an apron embroidered with the text I could tell you the secret, but I'd have to kill you.

"Ugh! Fine." A grunted sigh escapes her lips.

We take our places at the dinner table as sirens start blaring. I stand up.

"Please, continue. I'll go check. Must be some rodent skulking about."

I pull up a camera feed on my phone and notice my nemesis. Angrily shaking her fist and mouthing words. I engage the audio feed.

"...-ING ASSHOLE! GET OUT HERE AND RETURN MY GIRLFRIEND! YOU HAVE GONE TOO FAR NOW AND WILL ANSWER FOR YOUR CRIMES! IF YOU DON'T RELEASE AUDREY RIGHT THIS MOMENT I WILL TEAR EVERYTHING YOU HOLD DEAR APART!"

As the audio spreads through the room I notice my daughter freeze.

"So Audrey, sweety. Anything I should know about you having your own life?"

I mute the audio and engage defences. Not noticeable, but doors get reinforced, walls get covered by a subtle forcefield, weapons start coming online.

Audrey looks like she's seen a ghost. My partner looks at me and motions for me to leave the room. He was always great at these things. I meanwhile leave the room and move towards my lair. I engage the microphones in the dining room.

"...and then she..." sob

I get dressed for battle as I hear how my daughter, my all, my everything tells my partner what happened. My boots click in place while I hear about the humiliation. My gloves slide on as I hear about the abuse of trust. My helmet seats firmly and connects to the torso part as I hear about the use of mind magic, coercion and ensuing blackmail.

As I leave my lair's postern I have heard enough, yet still my daughter continues telling about how my nemesis made her miserable. How she tried to end things, only to be coerced back into it.

I come into my nemesis' view. I make sure that the sound from outside carries through to the livingroom.

"Finall-" I cut her off. "You come to my house, to demand I hand over MY DAUGHTER so you can abuse her some more? I have heard all I need to. You have 3 seconds to remove yourself from my sight. If I ever see you again, you shall wish you were never born."

"What do you mean your daughter?"

"ONE"

"She is mine. I have claimed her. and I shall take her after I reduce your body to smouldering ashes"

"TWO"

My nemesis moves towards me to attack. Confident. Thinking she has had the upper hand. Fact of the matter is, I have been holding back.

When I started out, and was still married to my daughter's mother, I made a mistake. it made all the difference. Where before I was just a crazy scientist, but considered benign. After the mistake I was labeled a villain. I caused someone to die. And I swore not to do so again. But my ex-wife couldn't live with me anymore. So we separated. I promised not to tell Audrey about me, who was still an infant at the time. She would later discover my lair and I would come clean. We made it work. I promised not to meddle in her affairs she promised to keep everything under wraps. it was she who inspired me to branch out into acts of eco terrorism. Wrecking some pipelines was all for her and even though I couldn't make sure they weren't replaced, it was a bit of a bonding experience.

"Three" I say softly.

My nemesis hits me with a punch. It connects. But instead of me getting a transfer of kinetic energy and moving I stay put and absorb the impact. Other times I would only absorb part to keep up appearances.

Not this time.

As my nemesis starts throwing hit after hit, punches and kicks flying I stand there and see in my HUD various dials moving. The kinetic energy she puts out would be immense for a human. But she is not human. She is more than that. My suit takes some damage, minor stuff really. My energy reserves are near capacity.

I catch her foot.

"My turn"

I pull on her foot to get her torso closer to me as I bring my other fist forward. I engage the energy stored in my suit. An explosion of blood and viscera. When the red mist drops all I am holding is a leg. Her head has dropped and her eyes and mouth twitch.

I reach into a pocket and open a container with spores. I dump the contents on the bloody patch of ground and see fungi devour the blood and gore until nothing remains. I get back inside. I store my suit away for cleaning and trudge back inside.

I see my partner consoling my daughter. Red-eyed and bleary. She looks at me. A mix of relief and worry.

"I thought you swore you would never kill again."

"I did. But when it comes to you, I will do anything for you. If the world burns because of that then so be it. We will roast some marshmallows. "

Audrey hugs me.

"What in the blazes? Hey! That's a new carpet, Magika! Enough!" Circe yelled as Magika turned to her, a hateful glare in her eyes.

"YOU KIDNAPPED RHYS! YOU KIDNAPPED MY GIRLFRIEND!" Hang on, what? She didn't have time to think, only time to dodge as Magika aimed a spell towards her. "GIVE HER BACK!"

"Bloody hell woman, would you calm down! Rhys is fine for crying out loud, you're scaring her!" Circe yelled at the superhero as she dodged another spell. When the hero didn't stop, Circe waved a hand and froze the hero. "I told you to stop. You didn't listen. Now you're going to listen to me regardless of if you want to or not." Circe snarled, and looked towards Rhys. "You need to tell her. Now."

Rhys was terrified. How was she going to explain that the Supervillain Circe was her mother? That she used to be the former hero Phoenix? She glanced at Circe who only smiled gently and nodded towards Magika.

"Hey.... Alice... I've been meaning to tell you. Circe's my mother. Has been for 10 years. I used to be the hero Phoenix, but... something bad happened. My, er, bio family kicked me out for being gay and did some worse things, and Circe saved me. Please don't be mad at her. Be mad at me for hiding it, but I hid it for what I thought was a good reason. I'm sorry." Rhys nervously laughed as Magika slowly began to unfreeze. The look of anger on Magika's face shifted to one of concern as she regarded the both of them.

"Shit, I'm sorry. I didn't..."

"You didn't know. I understand, Magika. We kept it that way for a reason." Circe spoke up, a sigh on her lips as she dissipated the spell she put on the superhero. "Her family was, to put it bluntly, quite horrendous. My wife and I have done so much to help our children grow to be the way they are today, but they still suffer sometimes. You're good for my daughter, but you need to hold a reign on your anger. Especially since we're going to become closely acquainted." Circe smirked, and Magika glared without heat.

"Oh bugger off you." Magika grumbled, but softened when Rhys giggled. She figured she could handle dating the daughter of a Supervillain.

​

(Hope y'all like this continuation of a previous story I made about 2 months ago. got to flesh out my characters here a bit!)

I wanted my life to be simple. Well, as simple as someone wanting world domination could be, honestly.

Since I got my superpowers, I spent my life trying to make things right. And by right, I meant, fix the problems humans created from themselves. I knew I would be hated, but I tried to understand their fears. The hero itself, well, he was just a nemesis, someone that I would drag a fight, make him believe he won, while I made my schemes behind the scenes.

And how, he's saying I kidnapped his girfriend? And.... at my side... the look of distress, the panic...

Finally, he enters my chambers. Demanding to see his girlfriend. He doesn't know - of course he doesn't know.

Listen, everybody, I am not a bad guy. I really am not. I never hurt too much the hero, and I don't want to. I meant, I had to hurt him a little otherwise he would think the fight was too easy, and probably would know I let him win. But now... how do I not hurt him?

- "Give up, fiend, I know you're evil, but I never though you would be capable of... this... dragging innocents into this? What happened to you? I demand to see her! Otherwise, I'll f... kill you!" - Great, now he's cursing. Good for him the media is not here... and what now?

- "Your girfriend.... well, let me just say that you're wrong. For a great... many... things..."

- "I would tell you..." - great, now any hope of not destroying the hero's spirit is gone - "but I was afraid you would not understand.... please, forgive me..."

- "Amanda? Is that.... you? What did he do to you? Did he...."

- "It's not Amanda, dear. It's Andrew. That's how.... I actually want to live, that's who I am. But I was afraid that telling you the truth, you would..."

- "That's not true*!"* - his voice dances in the air, papers and chairs and furniture flying, a sonic boom destroying the ears of my comrades, and following all that, a huge blast of energy - that, if it was not for my power, he would.... my son...

- "Listen..." - I try to keep my calm - "you almost killed my son. Let's make a deal - you exit my house, think if you can love somebody regardless of gender, and if not, forget all this, ok? Now be a good boy, go back, because I want to believe you just lost control of your powers for a minute and..."

- "He did this with you, didn't he? He... turned you... into this... aberration?" - sigh, great. The hero is a transphobic. I look at my son... and it breaks me. I see the distress, I see all the trauma from his childhood, all.... I can't.... I can't loose my calm now.... I need to know I may be able to kill him.... - "I'll fix this, you'll see! The media is outside, waiting for me! You'll see that I'll fix you, and everybody will know that my power can even..."

- "STOP TALKING" - it was not an order for my powers, but they manifested anyway, in the most interesting possible way - without air, there is no sound, right? I can see the hero suffocating. For a microsecond, I think - maybe, maybe I can still avoid the worst... but I hear it.

I hear my son sob.

This night, the world will cry. They won't understand how the hero died. They won't understand why the villain is coldly executing the most vile and abhorrent criminals and politicians.

This world will not see the sunset. But hopefully, a new world will see the sun rise.

Jessica and I had just sat down to our cups of tea. It was a lovely Assam, mine black, and hers with a touch of milk. As I sat down, a faint chime sounded.

Really? An intrusion event? In the middle of Saturday morning family time? I put my cup down and pulled out my phone. Perimeter cameras showed my front door in a smoking ruin. Motion sensors flipped camera views to me until Paragon came into view. The smug, smarmy, infuriating lantern-jawed man was methodically working through my defensive lines, which were currently at minimum staffing. We hadn't launched any particular projects lately. I'd assumed he'd be busy with... any one of a dozen small-time operators in the city.

I looked at Jessica, and motioned her to the safe room door. This was familiar. We'd done this hundred of times. You don't grow up in the shadow of The Corporation without retreating to a plush bunker at least 3 or 4 times a year. But, her face told me something was different about this time.

"What is it, baby?"

"Mom, remember that time I came home with Dr. Deadringer?" Jessica asked.

"Yes dear, now let's head for the safe room," I answered.

"OK and remember when I met him, he was just Todd, yeah?"

"...yes..."

"Well, that's Jay," she finished, pointing at my phone.

"I see," I said, as a headache flared up at my left temple. "And... do you know why Jay is currently... kicking the absolute piss out of Mr. Jensen on level 4?" I asked. We'd made it to the safe room.

"Well..." she hesitated. I gave her my patented Look. "Well, I think he probably thinks you've kidnapped me," she finally answered.

"And, why would he think that?" I asked mildly as my other temple joined into the headache party.

"OK, so, we've been dating for a while and-"

"DATING?! Are you serious right now?"

"Well, yes but but butbut I broke up with him a couple of nights ago and I didn't want to hurt him but he has been-"

"Broke up? And he's still-OH I DO NOT THINK SO! Get in the room I'll be back to see you in a minute, baby!" And I closed the safety door.

I snapped about and marched through the door to our industrial complex. As I headed toward the action I picked up my favourite equipment from caches spread strategically through the compound. Fury rode behind my eyes until the world looked like a target, as the noises of a rampage got louder and clearer around me. Finally, I burst through a door, face to face with Jay the Paragon, who had just finished smashing one of my access control stations to a smoking pile with what looked to be a metal baseball bat.

"GET OUT."

"LET JESSICA GO."

"GET OUT."

"I KNOW YOU HYPNOTIZED HER TO GET TO ME."

"GET OUT."

"YOU KIDNAPPED MY GIRLFRIEND!"

"YOU HAVE BEATEN 4 OF MY EMPLOYEES, COST ME MILLIONS IN PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND ENDANGERED MY FAMILY. GET OUT OR I WILL PUT YOU IN THE DIRT."

"I'M NOT SCARED OF YOU, YOU OLD BITCH!"

"WRONG ANSWER." And I tripped the electric trap he was standing on. Several dozen thousands of volts did their work pretty quickly, and that lantern jaw glowed for the first time. The smell was awful. I wondered briefly if he'd figured out who I was, since I'd showed up out of uniform. I wondered even more briefly if he'd figured out at any point who Jessica was to me. But then I called a cleanup crew and went back to the offices to let my daughter out of her safe room.

We still had Saturday morning tea and catching up to do. I needed some ideas for her 22nd birthday party after all.

The outer perimeter alert gave a soft buzz. I tapped my ear-piece and the control room reported that a known hostile, tentatively identified as Galax, had triggered the system. I relaxed: Galax was probably just passing by, and my lair was well-concealed. I picked up the thread of conversation with Duella.

"Sorry for the interruption. Just a random hero. If you think this internship is not working out, do you have any ideas about what else you might do?"

She was uncharacteristically nervous. "I do, but I'm not sure if I should tell you now. Umm, I haven't seen the Command Room in a while, and I'm sure you've made some changes. Could we take a quick tour?"

"Sure. Just let me finish my tea. I have done a few things to the place. It's not finished yet, but .." I was about to tel her of the latest improvements when an alarm went off and the control room reported again. It definitely was Galax, and he was coming directly for the main door.

"Uh, honey, we have a situation. That hero has somehow located this place. He'll be at the door in minutes. I'll have to deal with this."

Duella nodded vigorously. "If you like I can leave and come back later."

I considered. "No, the Control Room is the safest place, and you wanted to see it anyway. Come on."

On a Control Room screen I watched Galax march directly up to my hidden front door and start smashing it in. It was designed to yield fairly quickly - just tough enough to let the hero work up a sweat, just weak enough that they got over-confident. The small maze beyond would baffle him while I considered my choice of weapons. There it went, and the crimson-clad oaf was through. He hesitated, mumbled, counted on his fingers, and took the correct passage, and then again, and again. I frowned. Duella drew a breath, and I glanced sideways to see her leaning forward, lips parted. She picked up my glance and smoothed her face over. What was my daughter playing at?

Galax by-passed the honey-badger pit and somehow figured out how to disable the air-shark trap. He was calling something out. I activated the mikes.

"Suella, I'm coming for you! I'll save you! Never fear! Galax is here to rescue you, Suella dearest!"

"Suella?" I queried. Duella blushed. "He thinks he's rescuing you? From me? Why?"

"I , er, I may have given him the idea that I'm attracted to him."

"To Galax? I had thought better of you."

"He's very stubborn."

"I can see that," I said, gesturing to where he was working doggedly on the adamantium door puzzle-trap. He had lost six fingers already, which must be painful even if they did grow back.

"Oh, well. I did say that I had made a few changes. Watch." I tapped in Program Number 42, the door sprang open, Galax sprang forward, to see myself holding a pistol to Duella's head. He shot a ray which would certainly have held me, and probably snap-frozen Duella, the hologram vanished as did the floor, and acid-squids did the rest.

"Now, daughter, just why did you give him the location of my hide-out, and a guide to the traps?"

Duella looked down, then spoke rapidly. "He is very stubborn, wouldn't take no for an answer, and you have always said he was a major pain in the arse. Then, it's your birthday coming up, and I knew you wanted to test the new gear. So I gave him a few clues. Well, actually, I practically coached him. He isn't - wasn't - very bright.

Which brings me to what I want to do instead of the internship. Dad, I want to join you and rid the world of obnoxious entitled super-heroes."

"That's my girl."

You find yourself focusing intently on your daughter’s nervous disposition. A foolhardy endeavor, perhaps, in light of the superhero blasting through your base—in record time, you note with a hefty dose of respect.

“Gigi,” you say sternly. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

“…No,” she lies. Badly. So badly you could feel your very soul cringe. Had she forgotten everything you taught her?!

“Georgia,” you say sternly. She twiddles her thumbs, and opens her mout to speak. Only for an explosion to rock the very ground they stood on.

Second later, Ultima bursts out from the ground, eye burning white and clad in a brilliant crimson aura. You take a step back at the sheer power coming off him in waves. You almost want to bow your head in respect. He’d certainly taken his talents further than his father and mother—and perhaps even yourself, if you were being honest—ever could.

His features soften when he notices your daughter. Relief and…love? Yes, love, coming into being. Of course, when he shifted focus to you, that love vanishes, burning hatred taking its place. The kind of hatred you’d never seen on him before, even when you slayed his father all those years ago.

“You!” he hisses with all the venom in the world. You barely had time to call upon your own powers—golden energy covering your form—before he’d slams you into a wall.

“Daddy!” Georgia cries out in fear.

“I can forgive my father’s death by your hand,” Ultima spat. “And to be honest I was relieved when my mother finally died after she was dumb enough to challenge you. The lives they lived—the paths we three walk—are dangerous ones. But for you to take the woman I lo—“ he stops himself. His aura fades, the white in his eyes disappearing. He lets you go, and turns to Georgia with an utterly flummoxed expression. “…Did you just say ‘Daddy’?”

“I did,” your daughter replies, staring down at your feet.

Ulti—Roy whirls back towards you. “You’re her father?”

“I am,” you say.

Slowly, he turns back to your daughter. The anger he directs at her makes your blood boil on an instinctual level, but you decide to the let the cards fall where they may.

“You lied to me,” Roy says, voice barely more than a whisper.

“Roy,” Georgia steps forward, hands clasped together pleadingly. “I swear I didn’t mean to! I didn’t even know who you were on our first few dates, but then I saw you stop that bank robbery and I didn’t want to ruin what we were building by telling you…who my dad is.” She reached out to touch him, but he recoiled as if she were a rabid animal.

“You deliberately hid the truth from me!” he spat, aura coming back full force. Your daughter activated her own blue aura to keep her feet, and, if at all possible, Roy fell further into despairs. “You lied your own selfish desires!”

“Roy, no, I—!” Whatever more she had to say, Roy refused to hear. He flew into the air, crashing through the ceiling and disappearing into the evening sky.

You stare after your young foe. Frankly, you can sympathize with him. After all this shit his mother pulled before and after he was born, you’d do the same thing. Well, you probably would have just blown everything up, but that was classic Roy. All that power, and not the will to—!

You cut yourself off as your daughter’s sons filter into your ears. Quick as a flash, you gather her into your arms and slowly sink to the floor together.

“There, there,” you soothe your child. “It’s alright, Gigi.”

“He hates me!” your daughter sobs. As was his right, you think, but hold back from saying. Withholding the such a truth from your lover would strain any relationship. But then, you’re honestly not sure if your daughter knows of Roy’s sordid history. You have to assume she doesn’t, otherwise she would never have lied to him like that. Or she did, and was more selfish than you though. Neither option was terribly appealing.

But those were all future problems. Right now, you just needed to focus on keeping her in your gentle embrace.

I wasn’t a dumb man being a super villain you gotta be smart or you don’t last long in the business that’s just a fact of life, and I was a very smart villain. Sure I hadn’t achieved world domination but at this point it was a little pointless, my nemesis was just too enjoyable to defeat I could’ve destroyed her years ago I had the plan in place and all the materials for it ready. But I had other things to worry about, like my family or the fact my daughter had a new girlfriend one which my minions employees couldn’t find any information on (I’m a bit of a helicopter dad I’m entitled to this after the werewolf boyfriend incident). My beloved daughter had been gushing about her girlfriend when she came by for lunch. So when Olympia kicked open my very unlocked door and demanded their girl friend back I quickly put two and two together. Which is why with an evil grin and said. “Hi I’m her father let’s have a talk and get to know each other.” I knew this was gonna be a good day as they both cringed and took a seat knowing I was gonna milk this for hours.

The thug pulled the black hood off of Jenny's head, revealing her face to the air. I frowned at the sight of a small bruise high on her cheek, the tear-streaked cheeks, and the duct-tape gag over her mouth. "I thought I told you she was not to be harmed," I growled.

"Forgive me, Doctor Oblivion. The girl struggled, and I had to keep her quiet," Jonas said nervously.

I scrolled through the PainApp on my phone and tapped Jonas's icon. The big lunk screamed as he fell to his knees, every nerve in his body activating at once. "Your orders were to go to her house, knock on her door, and ASK her to come with you to the Lair of Fate!" I bellowed. "NOT to grab her from behind, put a HOOD over her head, and smack her around!"

Jonas fell to the ground screaming and twitching. It was tempting to hold down the icon until he shit himself to death, but I relented. "Take him away. Put him on stable duty for two weeks. Maybe some time mucking out the doombeast stalls will teach him the meaning of following orders to the LETTER. Now leave us."

My squad of mirror-masked death goons bowed respectfully and exited the room. I waited until they were gone to lock the doors and turn off the internal cameras. "Godddamn it. I'm sorry about this, Jennifer," I said, giving my daughter a tender pat on the head. "This wasn't supposed to happen this way. This is going to hurt like hell, by the way."

I ripped the duct tape off her face in one swift movement. "FUCKING HELL!" Jenny screamed. "Goddamn it, Dad, I thought I told you! No more sending death goons to my apartment!"

"It's been a long time since I last saw you! I thought you might like to have lunch! Guido makes a delectable spaghetti with Sunday gravy. Hang on a minute, I'll untie the ropes." Jonas had used a granny knot to tie her hands behind her back. I made a mental note to hold a hogtying seminar with my death goons at a later time: this sort of sloppy behavior did not bode well for them.

"Then send me an email! Or a TEXT! Or CALL! Don't just send a death squad over to my place with orders to bring me to your lair!"

"Emails and texts can be traced. Calls can be tapped. Our connection cannot be made public. For your sake." I gave up on untying the knots and just used my vibro-scalpel to cut the rope in half.

Jenny sat up, rubbing her wrists and giving me an incredulous look. "Calls and emails and texts are no go, but kidnapping me in broad daylight. . . never mind." She sighed and rubbed her forehead. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

"I mean. . . the usual. How's college? How's your mother? Are you seeing anyone yet?"

"College is fine. Mom's all right. And yes."

"Oh? What's his name?"

"Tracy."

"Is this one of those gender-neutral names? Like Pat or Lee?"

"No. Tracy's a 'she.' A Black 'she.' "

"Oh." I heard the screaming of my grandfather's ghost in my ear, howling about miscegenation and unnatural relations. I quieted the inner voice with a stern reminder: This is my daughter, whom I love very much. "Does she treat you well?" was what I said.

Jenny breathed a sigh of relief at that, and I saw the tension release from her shoulders. "I mean. . . she's great," she said, curling up on the couch. "She's sweet, she makes me laugh. . ."

"But?"

"But she keeps disappearing for days on end. . . cancels dates on me at the last minute. I'm worried she's keeping secrets from me. Worried she might be. . . you know. Cheating."

"I could have my death goons trace her movements. Find out what she's up to."

"God, Dad, not all problems in the world can be solved with death goons! I'll just talk to her about it the next time I see her!"

"That would work too. But I want you to know, if she does hurt you, that death goons are on the table."

"Like with Jeremy Clark?"

"Jeremy was a little thug who bullied and tormented you, and he deserved what happened to him."

"It was THIRD GRADE!"

"And the lesson he learned served him well to this very day. Model citizen, I understand."

Whatever Jenny was about to say next was drowned out by the sound of the Red Alert alarm. "Fuck," I muttered, tapping my earpiece. "Delilah, what's going on?"

"The Lair is under attack by a superhero," Delilah Doom said. "Patching the feed through now."

I threw the image onto the big screen. A dark-skinned young woman with black dreads, dressed in a skin-tight red outfit, was speeding around the outer perimeter of the Lair, punching death goons in the face. "DOCTOR OBLIVION!" she screamed. "I KNOW YOU'VE KIDNAPPED JEN! DOES YOUR TREACHEROUSNESS KNOW NO LIMIT!?"

I slowly turned my head, one degree at a time, to look at Jenny. My daughter's face was a mask of horrified realization. "So. . ." I said. "'Tracy'. I don't suppose that would be a nickname for Trace Margrave? As in. . . the secret identity of the superhero Tracer Fire?"

". . . she told me she had a part-time job," Jen whimpered. "Dad. . ."

I sighed. I'd kept my relationship to Jennifer as secret as I could. Kids of supervillains often end up as targets for the types of antihero vigilantes who think that killing bad guys is the same thing as helping the good. And Tracer Fire was exactly the kind of hero who might blab Jen's real identity out of impulse or some misguided sense of honor. . . or even worse, break up with her. "Don't worry about it," I said. "Dad will take care of it."

I fired a dart from my wrist-launcher. Jen whirled around, clapping a hand to her neck. "Dad, you fucking asshole! I meant you should talk to heeerrrrrrr. . ."

She was passed out before she could finish the sentence. I caught her and lowered her gently to the couch. "Sorry, honey. Not my style."

I took a moment to address my goons over the private channel. "Death Goons. Engage Rapunzel Protocol." Nonlethal weapons only. Don't escalate against the attacker. Secure essential areas, but leave the path to my private chambers open. Try to funnel the attacker into my private chambers for a 1 on 1 confrontation. Do not interfere with their escape. Full medical care for anyone who is wounded, full retirement benefits for anyone who suffers a career-ending injury.

I took a wad of bills from my wallet and tucked them into her jacket pocket. "A little spending money, hon," I said. "And apology money for the kidnapping." I took a moment to arrange her theatrically on the couch, then took up my position standing at the window, looking out over the bubbling magma pools.

Tracer Fire kicked down the door with a mighty CRACK! Then she gave a mighty gasp. "DOCTOR OBLIVION!" she bellowed. "WHAT FOUL DEEDS HAVE YOU VISITED UPON MY BELOVED JEN!"

"WHAT!?" I screamed back. "How DARE you imply that I could. . . I could HARM AN INNOCENT!?"

"Then why did you kidnap my GIRLFRIEND!?" Tracer Fire shouted.

"To lure you out of course!" I cackled. "Too long have we danced around each other in this little game of ours. . . today, it ENDS!" I tapped the badge on my chest, and my powered armor deployed around me with a thousand little clicks and whirrs.

'Tracy' let out a gasp. "Then this. . . was a TRAP!"

Sure, let's go with that. I tapped a control on my wrist and closed the blast shutters: I'd had them installed for those times when the magma pools got a little extra-bubbly. "NOW YOU ARE TRAPPED IN HERE WITH ME!" I bellowed. "AND NOW YOU MEET YOUR DOOM!"

I deployed my defensive turrets, surreptitiously turning down their accuracy so that every shot would barely miss. Knowing Tracer Fire, she'd take out the turrets before going after me, which would give me enough time to deploy the catwalk over the magma pools. A quick fistfight over the magma, a dramatic plunge for me into the molten rock. . . it would test my powered armor's mega-shields, but they should hold long enough for Tracy and Jen to make their daring escape.

The things I do for my daughter. I sighed. "I hope you appreciate this, young lady," I muttered, activating my electro-fists.

The superhero, Barracuda Steel, hiked up to a mountain, facing a large cliff. Inside, Titan was having some tea with his daughter, Rebecca, while they talked about some crime dramas. Barracuda Steel then shot right through the cliff & into Titan’s lair.

“What the fuck was that?!” “Bring her back Titan!” Titan looked at his surveillance to find Barracuda ripping & tearing through his stuff with lighting speed. “Who’s her? I haven’t even kidnapped someone yet!” Rebecca scrunches up in her chair. “Oh you gotta be kidding me, your dating him?!” “Ok, I didn’t know he’d know I’d be here!” “Well you certainly did something wrong.” “Is it my fault that you drove to my place with your suit on?” “Touché.” The lair begins to rumble. “Alright, I’m tired of your boyfriend & his tantrum, I’m gonna kill his ass.” “Wait! I have a plan to get him out of here with less damage!” “Go on.”

A moment later, Titan stands before Barracuda Steel with his arms cross. “What the hell is all of this? I try to take a day off & you wreck my place?” “Ha! Nice try! But I know what you did!” “Do what? Steal your girlfriend?” “RAAAAAH!” He lunges for Titan, Titan doesn’t budge. But just as he is about to pierce Titan chest, his ear piece suddenly goes off & Rebecca begins to talk to Barracuda. “Honey? Where are you?” Barracuda stops. “Apple pie?!” “Apple pie?” “Where are you? Are you ok? I’ll save you!” “What the hell are you talking about? I went to a dress up party & come back to our place to find the door broken! And don’t try to lie to me! Your suits gone.” “…Oh.” “Do you mind explaining yourself?” “Um… yeah, that’s… long story really!” “What ever, explain yourself when you get back.” “Right! Be there Apple Pie!” Rebecca hangs up & Barracuda looks at Titan. “Sorry for the misunderstanding.” “Whatever, remember the fact that I don’t do crime on weekends.” “Right… bye!” Barracuda dashes off blushing. Titan than pulls out his phone. “Nice idea for me teleporting you back to your place to make it seem like you never came here.” “Aw thanks! Your dress up party was a good idea too!” “Thanks, maybe we should plan together more often. Would really help me against Cosmic Mind!” “Sorry, college has got me all tied up.” “Ah, that’s fine, it’s important to focus on school!” “Thanks Dad! But, I would still love to do some villain planning with you after I graduate college & become a teacher!” “That’s my girl! Love you!” “Love you too!”

In the end, everything works out. Rebecca becomes a great 2nd grade teacher & helps her dad with planning anti-hero schemes. Rebecca also dumps Barracuda for being too possessive, all while Titan enjoys learning pottery.

I dust off an old VHS tape as I hear the doorbell ring. "Hey, dad. It's me, Bella." I put the tape into the player and take off my oven mitts I forgot to take off. I open the door, and the icy cold breeze hits me. "I brought gifts! I know how much you love sweets." It's the apple of my eye, my everything standing before me. "Bella, it's so good to see you! It's been so long since you've visited, I prepared some hot cocoa and gingerbread cookies!"

As we settle in, drinking hot cocoa watching our usual Christmas movie marathon, I get a ping on my watch. It's a notification about my ring doorbell picking up some movement. "Hmm, did I invite anyone else?" I think as I go to check the recording. On my screen, I see Arturo the Honorable, my nemesis, standing in front of the door, waiting impatiently. While most people would miss this detail, I notice a tiny crew of nervous looking small-time heroes hiding behind my rose bushes. I open the door and say: "Um, hello? Do you need anything, Arturo? I served my time." "Yeah, I need something. I need my girlfriend back!" He yells as he unexpectedly elbows my jaw. I hear the tense and perhaps annoyed voices of the heroes in the distance "he's done it again." "I told you we should have just went by ourselves" "What is he doing!?" Arturo tries to jab at me with his left hand, but I'm quickedr than him and I dodge it by an inch. I grab his hand, pulling his arm behind his back as he winces in pain. I know well of his powers, so before he can do anything I activate my forcefield, and he, also knowing that I can't come close enough to hurt someone while using the forcefield,stands up as I let go of his hand and he dusts himself off. He looks at me with a very angry expression, huffing and puffing like a kettle. He tries to regain his sense of reason, and with a forced but calm expression, and maybe a hint of a scowl, says: "I know u have my girlfriend. Give her back and I won't report a kidnapping to the police." "I don't remember taking your girlfriend. I'm not lying." "Like hell you aren't!" He yells again, and as he is about to shatter his fingers on my forcefield, someone puts his hand on his shoulder in a calm and very collected manner. "I am very sorry for the inconvenience Arturo has caused you, can we please discuss this inside?" Recognizing the man's face immediately, I, out of respect open the door for this uninvited bunch of buffoons. The man, was the only hero I ever saw eye to eye with, Marco the Brave. Marco was the one who convinced me to let go of my anger, and to stop the bloodshed of an endless revenge cycle. He was the one who took care of my daughter while I was incarcerated, the one who made sure my daughter knew why I was who I was. "Daad, you're gonna miss the most important part! Who's at the door?" I could hear from inside as the multitude of heroes stepped into my home. "Please take off your shoes when you come in." I urged them, as I went to pour some water for the kettle. "I'm going to brew some tea, is Earl gray okay?" "Yeah it's no problem. Thanks." Bella steps into the kitchen, saying: "Dad, are you not gonna introduce me? I thought u said you didn't invite anyone els-" she stops as she notices Arturo, and is almost taken aback about why he is here. The other heroes also notice Bella, and look confused, wondering about why she wasn't locked up somewhere. Arturo is too angry to notice, and looks like a little kid pouting because he didn't get an Xbox for Christmas. "Yes, so we are here about the supposed kidnapping of Bella Carlson. But It appears she is.. unharmed? Are you tricking us? Is this some kind of deception?" One hero says as Marco looks unbothered, sipping his tea with the extra sugar he always liked. Arturo looks up at me, with fury in his eyes. But as soon as he looks up, he also notices Bella, and is about to shout something, when another hero puts her hand on his mouth, stopping him from shouting. He looks even more frustrated, and as soon as the hero takes her hand off his mouth, he is about to say something again, but shuts up when he sees the angry stare from Marco. He looks apologetically at me, almost embarrassed and continues about what he was saying before they came in. "So yes, Im very sorry about Arturos behavior, those are not actions befitting a hero. We came because of a report of a kidnapping. I told them this was bogus but they didn't listen." They was almost definitely meaning Arturo, with Marco scowling at him as he emphasized They.

"What do you want with my daughter?" I chime in, being sick of just listening to them talking."YOUR DAUGHTER!?" Arturo yells, and again another hero from the group places her hand on his mouth, but it's much harder now, as he is rabid, furiously trying to take the hand off while even more people pile on top of him. "Who are you to my daughter?" I ask, trying to stay calm. The heroes stop restraining him, letting him answer. "You kidnapped my girlfriend you motherfuc-" he says as the heroes again restrain him. At this point, it's becoming tedious to watch. "I think we should all stay calm, and talk this out like civlized people. Arturo is your daughters boyfriend. I'm sorry of not informing you earlier, and Arturo himself didn't know Bella was your daughter. I only recently became aware of this, after Arturo ran off yelling about kidnapping or something. I followed him, and contacted HQ like protocol. By the way, Bella, it's good to see you again, you've grown so much from the last time I saw you!" Marco says as he greedily sneaks a gingerbread off a tray on the table, dipping it into his tea, and nonchalantly taking a bite out of it. I'm shocked. My nemesis and my daughter, boyfriend and girlfriend? To me, this is surprising to say the least. Part 2 maybe later? Who knows

In Two’s This water drama continues…wo he tips, wo he toes, wo he gets Holy water in his nose but why, nobody knows or where he goes, and yet he looks for someone no one knows, who wears flowers everywhere she goes, yet how tonight our feast glows in chainsweat moon light prepared down to pin and stripe of that raging moon, drugfull night she calls us all, who hears my starlit kite, howling the forest so bright, our fangs a gleaming fright, her fathers eyes her fathers might, for a few hours we have to get this right, Rage, Rage, Rage, my night shades plight. ©

A man in a white lab coat tossed another henchman across the concrete floor. Seven in total were rolling around in agony, staring up at the high cavern walls of their bosses' lair. The man responsible for their pain was none other than Dr. Phillian. He was a young practicing doctor at St. Vinci's Hospital and moonlighted as a hero. His rage was more consuming than the acne on his face, but he had mercy on the henchmen. They were not the reason for his anger nor were they worth his energy. There was only one he wished to release his full wrath upon.

"Stenson! Come out and face me like a man!"

Stenson watched from his surveillance room as the hero trashed his lair and more henchmen came rushing to receive their own beating. He pushed his thin frame glasses up his nose and turned to the henchman on his right.

"Why would my nemesis come to my lair? Did we do something to him?"

"I don't think so, sir."

"This is between you and me! Let my girlfriend go!" Dr. Phillian shouted and kicked the last charging henchman in the groin.

Stenson and the henchman by his side winced at the last blow they watched from the monitors. Dr. Phillian meant business and stormed off to a blindspot.

"Girlfriend? I never captured anyone. Did you, Jeffrey?"

"No sir…"

At the same moment, they came to the same realization and slowly turned around to a young blonde teenager who gave them a nervous smile. She sat in her chair, trying not to fidget too much.

"Ellen, do you know Dr. Phillian?"

"Doctor who? Phillipian? Nope. Can't say I have. Why would you think that?" Ellen tried her best to not let her voice get all high pitched and guilty.

"Ellen," Stenson said sternly.

She began to sweat and looked over to Jeffrey who crossed his arms in disapproval. Ellen knew she was busted.

"You know, I'm thirsty. Jeffrey, can you get us something to drink?"

"Not until you tell us why that lunatic is wrecking your father's lair."

She gasped. "Daddy, you're going to let your henchman talk to me like that?"

Stenson stepped forward. "Jeffrey is family and his question is valid. What did you do?"

Shoot, that didn't work. Better drag this out. "Soooo…I maybe…kinda–"

"Damn it, Ellen. You're not pregnant, are you?"

"What? No! Jeez Dad. He's just a guy I flirt with sometimes."

"He seems to think it is more than that."

That was when Ellen was hit with a stroke of genius. She got up, strutted over to the monitor, and pointed to Dr. Phillian on the screen. "Do I look like the kind of girl who would be with that? His whole face is covered in acne."

She shivered to sell it better, but if she was being honest, his acne was the best part. It gave his face texture and character. A man with flaws who was bold enough to not hide behind makeup. She was not that strong, but he never made her feel that way. Ellen removed her finger from the screen, realizing she was trying to feel those beautiful bumps through the glass.

"And besides, he never said my name. It could be anybody."

"Ellen, hold on! I'm coming for you!" Dr. Phillian declared, going up a flight of stairs.

Stenson and Jeffrey glared at her. Her ruse was up and they demanded the truth. Ellen hung her head down in defeat. There was no more delaying the inevitable.

"Okay, fine. You caught me. I was dating him."

Jeffrey quirked his eyebrow. "Was?"

Ellen realized there was a lot they didn't know, but she wasn't so keen on letting them in on her love life. She decided the less they knew, the better.

"I've never broken up with a hero before, so I thought the best way to do it was to leave a ransom letter."

The smack from Stenson facepalming himself echoed in the room. He couldn't believe his own daughter would do something so boneheaded. Ransom letters were for high value people, not for superhero girlfriends. It gave the wrong kind of attention and left few possible culprits, especially since it was his nemesis.

"Why can't you break up with someone like a normal person?" Stenson strained to ask.

She crossed her arms and stuck out her hip. "Why can't you just follow the law?"

"He's at the door." Jeffrey marched toward the solid metal door and grabbed Ellen's purse on the ground.

"Hey!" Ellen said.

"Ellen! I'm coming!"

Jeffrey ignored both of them and pulled out the pepper spray. He pressed the big blue button to open the door. The door swished open and Dr. Phillian only got one step in before getting a face full of eye burning spray. He flopped around on the floor while Ellen rushed to his side.

"Chuck, are you okay?" Ellen asked, laying her hands on him.

"My eyes. It hurts so bad," he said.

Ellen ran her fingers along his bumpy face and touched his eyes. The pain went away like a toilet being flushed. He gazed up at her, glad to see her alive and well.

Jeffrey saw Dr. Phillian's eyes cleared up and got ready to spray him again. He did not anticipate the doctor's speed, who kicked the can out of his hands from the ground. Dr. Phillian got up and twirled Ellen behind him.

"Run. I'll take care of these two."

"Ellen," Stenson said. "Are you going to explain this or will I have to?"

Dr. Phillian didn't take his eyes off Stenson. "What's he talking about, Ellen?"

"I don't know. Let's just go." Ellen tried pulling on him, but he stayed put. It was the wrong move.

"I never sent you a ransom note." Stenson pointed to Ellen. "My daughter still has a lot to learn about breaking up with someone."

Dr. Phillian froze. "Your daughter?"

"Yeah. I'm not surprised you don't see the resemblance. She got everything from her mother, including her dumb ideas."

Dr. Phillian slowly turned around to face her. She wore a wounded smile, but the betrayal cut deeper. All the lies had piled up and struck him where he was most vulnerable. His heart.

"You–you lied to me..."

"I didn't mean to."

"How can I believe that? You have lied to me constantly."

Jeffrey walked over to Stenson and whispered in his ear. "Should we give them some space?"

"Nope. She made this mess. I want to see how she cleans it up."

Ellen leaned in and placed her hand on Dr. Phillian's cheek. "I promise. No more lies from here on in."

Dr. Phillian moved her hand away. "Is your father telling the truth? About you wanting to break up with me?"

"I did, but I don't want to anymore. You're a good man. Better than anyone else in my life. I couldn't do better than you and I see that now."

"What other lies have you told me that I should know?"

"I don't know. If you have something in mind, just ask. Let me prove I'm serious."

"Did you tell him you're only seventeen?" Stenson asked.

Dr. Phillian looked over his shoulder and then back at her. "You said you were in college."

"I'm taking college classes. It's basically the same thing."

Dr. Phillian grunted and stormed off.

"Wait! I can explain." Ellen chased after him, leaving her heels clicking against the stone floor. Stenson's smile slowly grew until he bursted out laughing. Jeffrey was far less amused.

"Aren't you worried about your teenage daughter dating an older man?"

Stenson slapped his knee and tried to stop his laughter to answer. "She's not dating him any more."

"What if he took advantage of her?"

"I know my daughter. If anything, she took advantage of him. Heck, if she did sleep with him, I could get him thrown in prison for a few years. Could you imagine the kind of damage I could accomplish without him interfering?"

"You are a terrible dad."

"Well, she is a terrible daughter. Maybe one day we'll figure it out. Until then, go send someone to check out his place. If we can find any evidence, we will want to use it," Stenson said and whirled around to watch his daughter frantically chase after her former lover like a deer on ice. "She runs just like her mother."

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