Avenger Assembled
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Jack's responsibilities didn't go away on Christmas Eve, newly-married or not. Indeed, the world of vampires didn't change very much at all on that mortal holiday. Those vampires who did cling to their humanity tended to disappear from each other's company to celebrate the day, if the secular version of it counted. I guess the people on the news are right. Some people just don't keep Christmas holy these days. From his perch opposite one of the Fens' few surviving strip malls, Jack watched a small coterie of young vampires go into the community Christmas celebration, snow just beginning to fall. The gentle buzz of his alarm watch at the six o'clock hour told him that he had other matters to attend to, though, and with the happy thought that some of his people were truly celebrating Christmas this year, Jack stepped back into the darkness, moving swiftly through the city streets before he arrived at the apartment he shared with Taylor. It was time for the very first Christmas celebrated by Jack and Taylor Faretti as a pair.
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After the game, they settled in to watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, a show Mark obviously very much enjoyed. With Rick and Lucas sitting together on the couch and Mark stretched out on the floor, Erin had the comfort of the big overstuffed recliner to stretch out in. As she watched the movie, her attention wandered to a picture hanging on the wall near the television, one that was odd enough that she had to get up to look more closely in the commercial. The picture was of two men standing together in front of Freedom Stadium, from their clothes and hairstyles a good forty years earlier at least. The younger of the men, in a loud suit with slicked back hair, was recognizable as a much younger Rick Lucas. The other man, just as Erin had thought, was recognizable too: she'd never seen Duncan Summers smiling like that before. Mark caught her interest, and walked up behind her. "Wild, huh?" he murmured to her, the ghost of a smile on his own lips. "He still comes over for the big 4th of July barbecue sometimes. Came over more often when I was a little kid. Doesn't translate into much favoritism at school, though."
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Everyone ate until they were stuffed, Mark and Rick in particular eating Martha's rich food like trenchermen. It was a lucky thing Mark had a good metabolism, really. After the meal, Mark and his dad helped the ladies clean up before they adjourned to the living room for that promised game of Jenga. The football game ran in the background, but it was mostly just another holiday layer amid all the small talk and easy relaxation. The Lucas' were all very cheerful, much to Mark's relief; the better to help Erin be more relaxed! His mother steered them away from talking about super-topics, and instead they discussed the parts of school that weren't about wearing costumes and punching bad guys.
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"This? Why, I'm glad you noticed," said Rick cheerfully, carefully wiping the knife down. "It's the Hittite Knife of Separating, so sharp it can cut through anything, even the very fabric of reality itself." He slid the blade back in its case, then set it back on the tray. "I got it back when I helped Daedalus fight the Dolorite Man back in 1967. It's very good at cutting turkey." The turkey turned out to be just as good as everything else, rubbed in some delicious spice that Erin couldn't place. "Maybe before you leave, I'll take you upstairs and show you the family museum," offered Mark with a grin. "Granddad, Dad, and I've got a big collection up there. I kept one of the heads from the baseball robots, and that jacket I picked up back on Erde."
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"Oh, heavens, quite a while. I've been in the comics business since well before Mark was born. That's how I met his father. I've been the sole writer for Andi since 1996, and I've been doing the covers since Lee Kirby retired back in 2001." She cheerfully talked about her work with Erin, sharing a few of the more interesting things about writing one of the few non-superhero comics still being published. One thing she didn't do was ask after Erin's family, either through discretion or being warned by Mark. When the food was ready, Martha carefully gathered up the covered dishes and led the way into the dining room, were the boys had set the table and lit the big turkey-shaped novelty candle on the table. It was cheerful in a slightly tacky way, just like much else in the house. The boys got up to help bring in the food too, and soon the table was full of good-smelling food. They held hands and said a sincere, if oddly non-denominational prayer, before Rick got up to cut the turkey with an impressively-wicked, oddly-colored carving knife.
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She laughed. "Oh, here and there. The real excitement is coming up with new things for the book after sixty-five years of Andi. These days I model a lot of it on my family and friends. Some of Mark's friends have even appeared," she confided, "but none of his super-buddies. That wouldn't be right." Deftly, she scooped up a bit of stuffing from the rear of the turkey and sampled it. "So many children these days grow up with just super-stories, I think it's healthy for them to get a little slice of normality too. Here, have a bite," she offered, "the cook always gets first taste of the stuffing." She grinned.
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"Glad you asked!" said Rick jovially. "Hey Martha, Mark's friend is here!" A friendly-looking woman leaned out of the kitchen at that, waving cheerfully with a familiar smile on her face. In a flower-print dress with her hair up, she wore the style of a 50s housewife with style and grace. "She wants to know if you need any help in the kitchen!" "Sure!" said Martha cheerfully. "C'mon in! The boys can finish setting the table," she added in a hint that had Rick and Mark both looking a bit guilty. Inside, the kitchen was nigh-spotless despite the meal being cooked, several covered dishes already sitting on heat racks on the tile-counters. Black and white linoleum was polished bright under the feet of the two women. "I just need someone to keep watching the stove while I take the bird out of the oven."
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The Lucas house was nestled in a cheerful suburb, snow dusted on the ground and the houses already decorated for Christmas. This was one region of the city Erin hadn't visited during her time on the other world, possibly because it hadn't held anything important. The Lucas yard held a boisterous Santa being held by an inflatable Captain Thunder; the sort of Christmas decoration that most people would have found just a little too tasteless. The Lucas family, though, didn't worry about that sort of thing. Mark was waiting for Erin just inside the door, wearing an orange sweater and brown slacks to fit the Thanksgiving decor. "Hey, Erin!" he said cheerfully, sensitive enough not to clap her on the back the way he was obviously thinking. "Come inside and meet my folks." Mark's dad was older than Erin had expected, though she remembered he was a contemporary of Mr. Summers. In his early sixties, he looked a lot like an older Mark, his grey hair cut short and a ready smile on his face. "Hey there!" Rick Lucas didn't hesitate to stick out a big hand in Erin's direction. "You must be Erin. I'm Rick Lucas. Nice to meetcha!"
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"No, but that's not a bad idea," said Mark, scratching his chin. "I mean, I'd have put catnip in if I knew you had a cat, but I bet Oliver would like catnip." He shrugged. "I never had a cat. My folks just had dogs." They talked a little bit about pets, but now that he'd successfully made his arrangements Mark was ready to head off. "Six o'clock! I'll be waiting. Happy holidays, Erin," he said with a smile.
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"If you want to," said Mark with an easy shrug, relaxing now that Erin was interested. "My mom really likes to cook, but I'm sure she'd be happy to eat anything you'd want to make." He smiled. "My advice, though, is don't bring anything. My mom...really likes to cook. Like, a lot. I'm going to be eating Thanksgiving leftovers for the next couple of weeks, and so will you if she gives you any. We'll have plenty of food. You'll have a great time," he promised her. "My parents really love superheroing, but they're normal people too. We'll probably play some board games and watch old movies."
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"All right," Mark agreed, trying to be understanding. He knew Erin had some issues being around people, and while he was confident that his family wouldn't cause her any problems, he didn't want to upset her or make her not want to come. That would defeat the entire purpose of everything! "Sounds good," he said. "If you come over around six, there should be time to socialize before Mom takes the turkey out of the oven. It'll probably be just the four of us, but that'll be...more family-like, I guess."
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Jack was alternatively amused and appalled at the mess the kidlings were making in his pool room, which he supposed was as healthy a reaction as anything else to the little monsters. "I'll clean up," he offered, watching the mess with a cocked head. "You guys have done all the heavy lifting." Cleaning up food waste wouldn't do much for him either way, but it beat the alternative. "So, uh, what do you think happens when these guys go to the bathroom?" he brought up.
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Jack greeted everybody, shaking hands and giving friendly hellos, before deciding it was high time for the festivities to begin. At a nod from him, the DJ cleared the dance floor for the bride and groom, letting him sweep her off her feet to dance. They hadn't been dating long enough to have a song, really, so instead they'd gone with the DJ's suggestion of Leonard Cohen's "Dance Me To The End of Love." The music was pretty and Taylor liked it, and that was all Jack worried about. Truthfully, Jack wasn't listening to the music, not when he was looking down at Taylor with adoration in his eyes, the grim truth of his nature swept away by the sheer romance of the moment. "You are so beautiful," he murmured to her with a smile as he looked down at her. "And I love you so much. I'm so proud to be with you."
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"Well, it's corny as hell, but how about I've Got Rhythm?" Jack suggested to Taylor. "Looks like they've got a version here suitable for mixed company." He grinned. "We can jump off the cliff of making fools of ourselves in public together, the way we're supposed to."
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Jack prioritized at this new chain of events, dealing with things in the proper way. "Glad you could make it," he said to Lynn with a smile, hugging her back and shaking her boyfriend's hand with an ebullient expression on his face. He knew coming had been something of a challenge for Grimalkin, and meant every word. "And with a friend no less." He didn't know Colt, but Lynn seemed happy; honestly maybe a little happier than he'd ever seen her with Wesley. At least he's not likely to cut her head off. "Nice to meet you. The barbecue may not be up to cowboy standards, but I hope you'll enjoy the party too." With that said, he moved on to Ace, or rather, back to Ace after neglecting him in favor of someone else. "Ace Danger, how you doin'?" He shook the man's hand with the energy of a dead fish; just another politician greeting yet another constituent on the campaign trail. "Good to see so many of Taylor's friends could come out for our special day."
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Fixed, generally. I think it's a little late to decide what to call me. ;)
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Freedom Angel
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Jack shook John's hand with a firm grip, a slightly stunned smile seemingly stuck to his face. It wasn't a look Arrowhawk much associated with Avenger. "I'm glad you could make it," he said automatically, glad for the distraction that kept him from having to deal with Stesha. "Try the beef when you get the chance, it's supposed to the best." He grinned. "It's really nice to see you, John."
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When a small number of guests had filtered in to join the family members already present for the reception, the deep-voiced DJ leaned into his microphone to announce, "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please? The arrival of the WEDDING PARTY is about to begin!" As this was no normal wedding, the process was a short one. He started off with the best man Jackson Chun, escorting the witness and putative maid of honor, Elena Guerrero, and then the mother and father of the bride. And then, as a grand finale, now that champagne or sparkling grape juice was in everyone's glass... "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME THE NEW MR. AND MRS. JACK AND TAYLOR FARETTI!" As he walked into the room, dashing in an expensive tux, Jack thought this day was absolutely insane. What right did _he_ have to get married? But Elena had intervened on his behalf, exerting pressure behind the scenes even as they began organizing what promised to be a very exciting court case, giving Jack the ammunition he needed to be legally married in Freedom City. And if their honeymoon plans went well, he wouldn't even have to explain this day to his people for a while. He waved as the room applauded.
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"I don't know about the rest of you," said Jack as he pulled himself back up to sit on the tiled edge of the pool, "but I'm a little out of my depth with aliens." Gargoyle clambered up to join him, dangling his claws in the pool idly as he lay on his round little belly, wings flapping occasionally. "It's a good thing we've got Derrick around," he said, reaching down to skritch his little buddy behind the ears. "I still remember the last Grue invasion. Good thing we took care of that little problem." It had been several years earlier, before he'd even been a vampire, but he had been in Freedom City for that.
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James and Dark Star, eh? Excellent. Heheheheheh. (Just make sure you're clear which is which, Cy.)
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"We are," replied Jack, feeling an odd rush of pleasure at the words. And why wouldn't he? He was a man in love, after all, or so he reminded himself nearly every night. "I also work out of our place, so if it's not an emergency, I'd appreciate it if you call ahead before you visit. It's difficult to find without directions anyway."
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Avenger vanished in an instant, simply disappearing from sight as he moved faster and quicker than the human eye could see. He didn't conceal himself as he best could, instead turning to mist as he drifted through the open door in front of him, high and fast so that he'd pass over any traps left in the doorplate. He kept his ears open, straining them for any sound of Phantom, Hellion, or anyone else in this place. This is not good. How did they manage to separate us?
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"Sorry," Jack murmured with a smile as he moved in close to kiss her. "I had to see the second most important thing here." He kissed her in darkness, his knowing hands and keen nocturnal vision not hampered at all by the lack of light. It was easy to find each other here, with the barriers of the world left behind them, and so they did. When even the planetoid beneath them faded out, they paid attention only to each other in the drifting darkness. And when finally the great burst of Creation's light erupted all around them, it was a celestial counterpoint to their moment of togetherness at the birth of the new universe.
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"I think I'll somehow survive that," said Jack with a smile, bending down to kiss her soundly. He appreciated the cloak; it blocked the sharp lunar regolith from his skin, and let him think about more pleasant matters. Was it self-indulgent, after the horrors of the day, to think about what he was considering? Just before he could do more, he heard a small noise from the sky, an impossibility in vacumn, and looked up just as true darkness began to fall across the sky. The sun was going out.