Triumvirate
Sam frowned and lounged back into her green, flowery plant-chair in the near jungle third of the basement. In the more ghostly third Danny was tinkering away at his gadgets with Danielle. Valerie was curled up into Sam’s side, eyes shut as her chest rose and fell in the peaceful pattern of sleep. Tucker was over in his pure technological third of the basement. Sasha was curled up in his lap, blushing, as the African American technical genius’ fingers danced across the keyboard.
Amanda and Michelle were thankfully keeping an eye on the upstairs while the trio of visionaries worked.
It had been ten years since that accident with the Fenton Ghost Portal. So much had changed since then, Sam mused. No one could have predicted the outcome, nor affect, that being subjected to so much concentrated ectoplasm would have on them, the sidekicks, as well as Danny. It wasn’t like Sam minded, really. She much preferred her new look, her aspirations and her unique abilities.
She just wished that Tucker could feel as comfortable as her in his new skin.
Lazily Sam’s gaze drifted across Tucker’s face. The genius’ lips were pulled into alight frown, his green eye narrowed in concentration as his fingers darted across the keyboard. Occasionally he raised a hand to stroke down Sasha’s back soothingly. The left half of his face was covered with a dark, metallic mask that curved off just past the corner of his lip. Painted onto the mask was an eye and eyebrow.
A thick, ropey wire was currently connected to the painted pupil of the eye, and the whole mask lit up with a slightly ethereal glow. A monocle sat over his right eye, giving him a sophisticated and aristocratic look. This look was furthered by the obvious “steampunk” style of clothing. The genius’ hair was curled back in thick ropes of dreadlocks which somehow tiered into pointed spikes gathered together at the top of his head. Curling down from his ears were twin strands of hair, twisted into bead-like shapes, and weighted by golden pikes.
All in all, Sam thought, Tucker was rather hot and dangerous looking—and she would have probably attempted to date him if she hadn’t lost interest in men. The image of danger was enhanced by the almost continual presence of Amanda, Michelle, and Sasha. All three women were dressed within the same steampunk style, only somehow more skimpy and revealing and yet still showing a hint of danger. Except Sasha, Sam mused. That girl hardly ever exuded danger. She was more innocent of the three wives.
It still boggled Sam’s mind that Tucker had been able to give life to his technological creations, which in turn gave him the ability to have his wives. They existed as hardlight holograms when interacting in the physical world. At least he had someone to love and was no longer the third wheel, especially since he crafted the Relhancer.
Sam’s gaze drifted over to Danny who was tinkering away in his ghostly form, alongside Dani his clone. Her eyes lingered slightly on Dani’s frame, taking in the young twenty-two year old’s curves and round backside for a moment before shifting back to Danny. The half-ghost had grown in the years she had known him. His entire outlook had changed, slowly but surely. He wasn’t the pure-hearted beam of innocence, like back then.
Phantom had a deeper understanding of life, all thanks to Vlad’s continuous actions. Almost none of Phantom’s skin could be seen on his person, except for the top of his neck, just below his chin, and his face. The twenty-four year old hero kept himself covered to hide the few scars that littered his body, scars that Sam knew had once bothered him.
They’d begun appearing when he was eighteen, after all. After a vicious dream involving Plasmius Danny would wake up, disoriented, and then his own flesh would tear and render. There would be gore and a lot of blood on the floor. It was painful, Sam knew. The first time Danny had screamed himself hoarse. Granted he had nearly been eviscerated.
The wound had healed up almost instantly after the incident, leaving behind a neat and clean “x” shaped scar on the teens abdomen. Since then Danny has had his heart figuratively ripped out, and his head figuratively severed from his shoulders. Both times healed up almost instantly with no signs of ever happening beside the scars.
It wasn’t any surprise that Phantom kept covered.
Sam could also appreciate the costume change, a strange amalgam of Dani and some possible future of Phantom’s that never happened. According to Danny he went insane and began lusting after Clockwork of all ghosts in that. It was amusing as Clockwork was apparently already taken and spoken for. Plus there was that badly kept secret that Tucker and Sam had unearthed, but neither Phantom nor Plasmius knew of.
Sam’s lips curled slightly at the thought of Plasmius, now. She and Tucker had never been happier to discovery that the suffocating air of desire and sexual tension between the two had almost cleared. Who cared if it was thanks to a drunken night of debauchery? At least Phantom and Plasmius were no longer at each other’s throats, which was a very good plus. It also meant that Danny wasn’t spitting out pheromones like two rabbits going at it.
It had been giving the young women a headache for years. Of course the entire situation was rather amusing since Phantom and Plasmius had gotten that tension out of the way. After all Plasmius was pregnant. Sam’s lips curled down again at that. Thoughts of Plasmius pregnant brought back thoughts of the newest half-ghost. Dan.
The brat tended to annoy her sometimes, and cause her to want to spoil him rotten others. Sam wasn’t exactly sure what Clockwork was hoping to achieve with sending the brat back eighteen years into his own past, before he was born. She was pretty sure it wasn’t to give her a migraine. However one never knew with that ghost.
Oh well, she didn’t need to ponder the whimsies of an ancient and powerful being. With a slightly quirky grin the goth allowed her gaze to drift over to the slumbering Valerie.
If anyone had told her at the tender age of fourteen that the real reason for her getting all jealous and angry over Danny and Valerie dating was because she was crushing on the former A-List teen Sam would’ve decked them. Back then Sam had been thoroughly sure she was in complete love with Danny. Of course by the time they both started dating both teens had realized that no, they didn’t feel that way for each other. Danny was of course gay, and she herself was more attracted to the fairer sex.
It just took attempting to be together, like everyone expected, to realize that.
Sam gave a fanged grin down at Valerie, stroking her fingers through the beautiful women’s shoulder length hair. With but a thought a simple a yellow tulip bloomed between her fingers. Deftly Sam weaved the flower into Valerie’s hair, surrounding her head like a beautifully wreathed crown. Like Tucker Sam herself had undergone some changes.
Tucker’s changes had been granted to him by the numerous possessions and one dangerous brush with Technus that had almost killed the young man. Sam’s changes came from her various possessions and almost marriage to the dragon prince Aragon.
When Undergrowth had come to town the first of the major changes began to develop, slowly but surely. Sam had already felt closely connected to the earth, even back then at the age of fourteen. Undergrowth had given her the means of truly connecting to nature. Now she could bloom flowers, create weapons out of plants…even communicate with the wildlife.
Aragon’s attempt to force her into marriage had given her a kinship with the Dragons. Dora was almost like a distant cousin to her, now, and through that Sam had gained a set of instincts and a whole slew of problems. Her eyes had changed, contaminated by the ectoplasm that had built up and begun to run rampant in her system. They were now a mix of purple and green. Her clothes were entirely organic materials, befitting her goth persona.
They were also just a tad lighter compared to her teenage years, but still dark enough to fit her dark outlook on the world.
“Mm…Sam,” Valerie murmured, shifting and blinking open her eyes to smile at the women. Sam chuckled lightly as well, the bell at her wrist ringing just slightly as she moved. It was a gift from her beautiful Valerie, and so she always wore it.
“My darling Amazonian princess,” Sam murmured lightly, stroking a finger down Valerie’s cheek. “How you grace me with your waking presence once more…”
Valerie leaned up and kissed Sam lightly, murmuring, “Love you, my nature goddess.”
The door to the basement slid open with a faint whoosh, part of Tucker’s technological additions to the apartment turned mansion. Michelle carefully stepped into the room, making her way carefully and almost sensually over to Tucker. The technological genius had turned the minute Michelle entered, his gaze following the sway of her hips.
Danny, Dani, Sam, and Valerie watched with interest.
Michelle leaned down lightly and placed a deep kiss to Tucker’s lips the minute she had reached his third of the basement.
“To what do I owe this interruption, Michelle?” Tucker murmured, stroking at Sasha’s hair gently.
“Phone call,” Michelle replied, a light smile on her lips. Tucker arched his eyebrow lightly and carefully tapped his right ear.
“Tucker Foley—Uncle Robert? Man I haven’t heard from you in years!” Tucker stated, chipper. “What can I do for you? Huh? You need me to housesit…? Oh, no, you need me to babysit? Sheesh, aren’t Sharon and Virgil old enough to take care of themselves? They’re what, sixteen and fourteen now?” Tucker swiveled his chair around lightly and narrowed his eyes. “I suppose I see where you are coming from. Yeah, sure, I’ll watch ‘em. You still live in Dakota, right? Good, good…mind if I bring some friends along? Mm, yeah, Sam and Danny…of course! Well we never are far without the other, I’m sure you’ve heard. Alright, Uncle Robert. Yes, that’s fine. We’ll be there then. Mhmm…right, bye!”
“What was that about?” Phantom questioned, arching an eyebrow. “What have you made me agree to this time, Tuck?”
Tucker chuckled lightly, “We’re heading on a little vacation to Dakota, Phantom. To keep an eye on my fourteen and sixteen year old cousins for a week or so.”
Phantom’s brow furrowed.
“Dakota is where they’ve had these ‘meta humans’ correct?” Sam queried. “The children who were affected by some sort of chemical leak?”
Tucker nodded his head in agreement.
“Yes, and they even have their own teenage superhero,” the genius chuckled. “Two, actually. I figured we could drop by and give them pointers if they need it.”
Phantom frowned and pointed out, “You are forgetting about Vlad. I can’t just leave him here, alone. And don’t even let me think about leaving him here alone with Dan! Who knows what trouble those two will make! And I have a child to think about, Tucker.”
Danielle touched a glove hand to Phantom’s shoulder. The older halfa glanced down at his female clone.
“I’ll remain behind and keep an eye on Vlad, Phantom,” Danielle murmured. “I’ll keep him safe. In a way, after all…I’m you. I have a vested interest in that kid as much as you do. He could just as easily have been my flesh and blood, and in a way he is.”
Phantom’s lips curled just slightly, but he knew Danielle was trustworthy. And she was right, in a way. They were the same person, in some fashion. Danielle could protect Vlad.
“Fine, but Dan is coming with us.”
“And so am I!” Valerie interjected. “Like hell am I letting you guys have all the fun!”
Tucker rolled his eyes lightly with a slight grin, stating, “I wouldn’t have it any other way. We leave Friday…you best break the news to Vlad and Dan, Phantom. Soon.”
Phantom snorted, “Whatever.”
Phantom frowned lightly as he hovered above Vlad’s slumbering form. The glowing, green ectoplasmic sac floated gently next to the expecting halfa, cuddled protectively in curled fingers. Almost hesitantly Phantom drifted forward and placed a glove hand over the sac, feeling the gently beat of his unborn child.
“It’s funny how alcohol affects a person, isn’t it Little Badger,” Vlad murmured softly and Phantom jerked back. The young man looked away, green eyes narrowing.
“You confuse me, sometimes, Fruitloop,” he muttered, clenching his fists. “What you’ve done….”
“—was all ironically because I couldn’t stomach the thought of you with anyone but me,” Vlad snorted bitterly. “Trust me, I’ve gone through every tiny memory I’ve got of…however fucking long you and I have existed. All the way back to our first meeting in which you said, and I quote ‘You look like a drowned smurf’ to my face.”
Phantom snickered and stated, “Well I was ten, Plasmius. What did you expect me to say when this older spook suddenly came onto me? You were what, sixteen? Besides, you got me back for that. Head trauma, I think I was told.”
“And that’s where it all began, wasn’t it,” Vlad sighed. “All our fights, our differences…the blood and ectoplasm shed in fury and hate. All that death.”
Phantom looked down at his fists, gaze contemplative, before he uttered softly, “I guess it was. Funny how things work out, isn’t it? We do so much, ruin so much and yet…somehow we’re creating something together. Sometimes I…feel like this is a dream, and I’ll wake up and realize you still absolutely hate my guts.”
“The same for me, Little Badger,” Vlad groaned, pulling himself up to a sitting position. “So…to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit now?”
Phantom frowned again and crossed his legs, looking down at Vlad. His instincts told him that under no circumstances should he leave, but instincts also recognized that Danielle could take care of Vlad as needed. Now just to get the moron to agree.
“…Tucker’s Uncle has asked him to head down to watch his kids. Sam and I have been volunteered to help out. Valerie will be going and I’m going to take Dan with me.”
“No.”
Green eyes narrowed and froze to a dark, dangerous blue. Phantom’s entire body began to permeate cold, his fingers encasing in frost.
“As much as I wish to deny my friend, a part of my triumvirate, I cannot, Plasmius.”
“So you would leave me alone?!” Vlad’s eyes glowed an angry pink.
“Of course not!” Vlad jerked back at the shriek. “Despite everything I know about you Plasmius, there is one thing I’ve begun to accept is that you are mine. My mate, my soul, my other fucking half, and even though we used to never get along with one another I’m not about to be remiss in my care for you!”
“Then why are you—”
Phantom sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Because I know you, Fruitloop. Too well.”
“Very well,” Vlad murmured. “Have you told him?”
“I figured I would mention it to you first.”
There was silence between the two and then, “Am I to assume young miss Danielle is to remain behind?”
“She volunteered.”
That surprised Vlad. His mouth actually fell open and he started to ask away with Phantom shot him an irritated look.
“Someone did attempt to clone me, and therefore she is a facet of me. In a way Dan is as much hers as he is mine. She has every right to stay behind for you two.”
Vlad looked away, abashed, and murmured, “I apologize…”
“Tell her that.”
Vlad nodded once and then motioned toward the bed.
“Will you…join me, Daniel? You’ve been away all day….”
Phantom’s lips quirked slightly as he touched down on the ground. Blue rings twisted up and around, leaving behind the human persona, who still was smirking.
“Of course, Vlad,” he stated. “I could go for a good cuddle with Mr. Shortstack anyway.”
Vlad scowled and muttered, “Fucking giant,” to the dig toward his height.
“Love you too.”
Gear glanced over at his partner in heroism, Static. He allowed his gaze to wander, just for a brief minute, down Static’s frame, taking in the obvious muscles and new outfit. Gear was proud to say he designed the costume, and definitely appreciated the darker look. It gave Static a more…grown up feel.
Considering that he created the outfit after he, Hotstreak, and Static first slept together he felt it was fitting; a shedding of innocence after the start into their career in heroism. The fact that they finally all hooked up, after months of each party posturing and facing their own set of confusing issues, was almost a miracle.
Gear would’ve gladly taken that bullet sooner if it got them to get over their differences and realize that they all liked one another. For that reason he was rather thankful to Jimmy, and thankful to guns.
Not that Gear would ever say such a thing within Static’s presence. The electromagnetic hero had an almost crippling fear of the weapon, and within good reason. Gear just hoped no one else, especially an enemy, learned of this particular weakness. It was bad enough that the enemies knew he was a weakness for Static.
As evidenced by Ebon kidnapping him so many times before he became Gear.
Hotstreak had come as a surprise to Gear, to be honest. Apparently the pyromaniac teen had been struggling for some time with the fact that he was gay, unlike Gear and Static’s bisexuality. Hotstreak had taken to taking out his urges and sexual frustration with beating upon those weaker than himself, primarily Gear and Static’s alter egos. It probably helped that Hotstreak had been crushing on them even then.
When Gear had gotten shot in the leg, then still an almost normal human teen with just a slightly above average intelligence (compared to Static’s almost genius intelligence at the time), Hotstreak had been impressed. Apparently Gear handled the pain rather well, and the fact that he kept his relative cool in front of the weapon helped.
Gear gained street cred in Hotstreak’s eyes. It was rather shocking for the teen, then. Especially since Hotstreak was so much…older than them. He and Static were only fourteen, Hotstreak was seventeen and would’ve been finishing up his senior year. It was kind of saddening that ever since the Big Bang Hotstreak wouldn’t finish up his schooling.
Granted Gear was pretty sure Hotstreak would’ve dropped out or died before he finished if the Big Bang hadn’t ever happened in the first place anyway.
The hero shook his head shortly and focused on patrol. It wouldn’t do to linger on ‘what if’s. Instead he thought about the here and now. Apparently after sleeping with both Gear and Static, Hotstreak had come to the realization on who Static was behind the mask. Gear’s lips quirked lightly at the memory. Static had lost momentary control in the throes of pleasure and shocked him and Hotstreak. It was a light, pleasurable shock but a shock nonetheless.
Hotstreak easily put two and two together after he had time to think beyond ‘oh god more, more, more! Fuck yes please yes more please!’
“What you thinkin’ ‘bout, Gear?” Static questioned, lazily sitting down on the Saucer. Gear’s lips quirked.
“Hotstreak and begging. Who knew he was a screamer?”
“Who knew he was so willing to be submissive?”
Both hero’s smirked at that. Hotstreak was theirs and they recognized this fact. Years down the road things might change, but for now they owned the pryo.
Gear ground to a halt quite suddenly, Static pulling to a stop just ahead of him. Quiet beeps and whirls of backpack alerted both teens to the possibility of a nearby meta-human. Static raised a cackling and glowing hand to his ear. He smirked.
“What do you know…” the hero murmured to his partner. A jet of flame shot up into the air. Gear grinned as well.
“…looks like Hotstreak wants to play some more,” the technopath finished and fingered his new and improved Zap Caps in excitement.
With identical grins both teens shot off in the direction of the flame.
Francis “F-Stop, Hotstreak” Stone did not quite understand his younger lovers, although that wasn’t too bad a thing he supposed. They allowed him to do his own thing, and he got great sex and liberal usage of his own kinks out of it. Granted they were virgins until recently, and while he knew this it was still a surprising thought.
They didn’t act like virgins.
Still Hotstreak just didn’t get the boys sometimes. For example they were heroes and he was, well, a criminal. He didn’t like being a criminal, but it was the only life he knew for now. Hotstreak had amended, to himself, that someday he was going to give up the life of petty crime and get a hold of his temper and maybe try a stint at being a hero. For the time being, however, he was content…ish.
Plus his lovers were heroes. They lived to catch him and hey! It played on his kinks. Bondage. Yum.
Still, he didn’t understand them. Their idea of him letting them know he wants to ‘play’ is for him to burn something and make a ruckus. Hotstreak was all for that as usually when he lost his cool and threw a ‘Hotstreak Temper Tantrum’ he was horny anyway and needed a damn good fuck.
It was partially why he hadn’t plagued the city at all recently. He was feeling sated.
Plus Hotstreak could easily corner Gear or Static out of costume and get a good lay anyway. Usually that’s what he did. Sometimes though the kinks just wanted to be played with…and it usually helped if the boys were in costume. Hotstreak was also pretty sure that the ‘heroes’ were secret pyromaniacs.
Why else would they request he make a nuisance of himself first?
“Hotstreak!”
‘And speak of the devil,’ the pyromaniac thought.
“About damn time you fuckers got here!” he snorted lightly under his breath. “Let’s heat things up!”
Hotstreak took to the air. He loved a good chase. Carefully he maneuvered the two heroes out of the city and into the suburbs. Since this particular battle would end in a good lay the pyro wanted to be somewhere comfortable. Plus he was tired of burning shit for the evening.
Without any real thought he gave a pretty good chase, losing all of the cops and none of the heroes, and sneakily snuck in through the back door of the Hawkins’s little four bedroom house. Sharon was in the kitchen, slaving over the oven when he entered. She raised a slight eyebrow but shrugged.
“Interesting seeing you here this early, Francis,” she greeted.
Hotstreak winced. Any second now the two heroes would come barreling through that door and although Sharon knew of each of their identities (Hotstreaks was a given, he practically SHOUTED it after all, but all three were confused as to how Sharon figured out Static and Gear) Mr. Hawkins didn’t. And if Sharon was home cooking…Mr. Hawkins was bound to be home as well.
After that entire babysitter cousin guy was supposed to be coming over today, Hotstreak realized. It was a second too late.
Gear burst through the back door, tossing a modified Zap Cap at Hotstreak who winced as the little bulb burst into a giant mass of tentacles (kinky, and great on bondage, although Hotstreak had to wonder how Richie fit them all in such a tiny package) which forced him against the wall. Normally Hotstreak would flame up in a situation such as this but…the walls were wooden, and this was a house. In a development. Where people lived.
He had some morals, after all.
And even if he weren’t feeling the game anymore, especially since Mr. Hawkins was home and didn’t know about his son’s extracurricular activities (both the sex and the heroism) killed any wish Hotstreak had for sex. Then the reminder of what was to come this evening (which Hotstreak had been invited to; Mr. Hawkins was rather nice in giving him a place to lay-low, leaving Hotstreak to wonder just what the man suspected) pretty much snuffed any want to have a good lay for the whole week.
Granted even if he weren’t trying to give a good show for the game (which he would, normally, by breaking at least two Zap Cap bonds before giving in on the third) Hotstreak wouldn’t have flamed up anyway. It was a residential neighborhood. With homes. He didn’t want to put anyone out of house and home. It was why he only burned public buildings, really. Those could be fixed easily.
A home could not, and there was one thing Hotstreak never wanted to be, and that was a home wrecker. In any sense of the word.
Gear sidled up to his bound and feebly struggling form as Static burst through the door. Sharon apparently recognized the play for what it was and began tearing into her brother about breaking into people’s homes. She didn’t mention names, thankfully. Instead he played the moral citizen (which gave credence to Mr. Hawkins being home) but Gear and Static apparently didn’t quite get the memo.
This was evidenced by Gear stuffing his hand down Hotstreak’s pants with a slightly naughty grin, causing Hotstreak to yelp.
“Hey! Don’t touch me, freak!” ‘Note to self: buy smaller pants…or steal, steal always works.’
“Now, Hotstreak,” Gear said, all sultry and sexy like that tended to make Hotstreak melt, “I thought you wanted to play with me and Static?”
Static piped up from the wall he was backed into, “Yeah, baby, we had so much fun last time! What’s a bit of bondage teasing, huh? Gets your blood pumping!”
Hotstreak winced slightly at the blatant and obvious hint towards their previous activities. Sharon wasn’t exactly happy, he noticed.
“VIRGIL ORVID HAWKINS!” Sharon shrieked and Static meeped and shrank down. “YOU KEEP YOUR SEX LIFE BEHIND CLOSE DOORS DO YOU HEAR ME?!”
‘Oh gods I hope Mr. Hawkins didn’t hear that…please let him not of heard that!’ Hotstreak panicked lightly.
“Sorry sis!” Static winced, trying to inch past her. “This was all Richie’s idea!”
“Nuh uh! Don’t you go blaming me, V!” Gear stated, shaking his head. “Francis is the one with the bondage fetish!”
Hotstreak growled, “You guys are both assholes, you know that?”
“THAT IS IT! GET OUT! OUT! OUT! OUT! OUT! OUT!” Sharon almost roared.
‘I REALLY hope Mr. Hawkins didn’t hear that!’
“But Sharon--!” Static whined.
“I’VE HAD ENOUGH VIRGIL! GET OUT!”
Hotstreak groaned lightly and stated, “I can’t move exactly, unless you want your house burned down,” whilst attempting to ignore Gear’s hands still in his pants, only now fondling his balls so blatantly and obviously. Did the kid have a death wish?
Sharon just roared and Static leaped into action, creating a stream of electricity that connected to the metal straps wound around Hostreaks form. He hopped up onto his Saucer and started to fly out with Gear gripping Hotstreak tight and nibbling at his neck now.
“See you later, Sharon! We’ll be back in time for dinner to meet the babysitters!” Gear called and the turned to Static, “I still can’t believe your getting babysitters, V.”
Sharon could faintly hear Hotstreak cursing up a storm, yelling, “WOULD SOMEONE FUCKING UNTIE ME ALREADY!”
And Static replying, “But baby you like it!”
And Hotstreak shrieking, “HEY! HANDS OUTTA THE PANTS, GEAR!”
She sighed and leaned against the wall with a muttered, “Thank god Daddy doesn’t know yet.”
“I don’t know what?” Robert Hawkins asked, stepping into the kitchen with a raised brow. Sharon laughed nervously.
“Nothing Daddy! Nothing at all! It’s just, you see, Virgil’s gone out with Richie for the evening so he won’t be back until its dinner time! I promise he’ll be home though!”
Robert frowned and stated, “Well that’s okay honey. Your cousin should be here any minute, so be sure to let your brother know…”
“Of course Daddy!”
Robert left the kitchen and Sharon actually collapsed this time.
Mentally she added, ‘And thank god Daddy didn’t hear us shouting!’
Static, Gear, and Hotstreak were just flying by on their way to the Abandoned Gas Station of Solitude (which Hotstreak was trying, and failing, to convince the teens to rename) when a sharp dome of electricity sprang up, crackling and sparking in a controlled manner. Gear and Static ground to a halt, Hotstreak forced to stop as well due to still being all bound up.
Only now he was extremely horny and kind of missing Gear’s hands from his pants. He shuddered when the teen happily reapplied them without any coercing.
The electricity dome fizzled away, leaving behind five people kneeling on the ground. One of them was a tall African American with a half-face-metallic-mask thing and holding what looked like an overly long oar with a bunch of gadgets hooked into the paddle. Sparks of electricity jumped from two antenna on the oar.
Kneeling next to him was a tan man with shocking white hair and a strange black and white spandex costume. His eyes were a glowing, florescent green. In fact his entire body seemed to just glow with some sort of inner light. Next to him was a similarly dressed teen, only his skin was light bluish color, his eyes a blood red, and his white hair rose up in flames. He also had a white cape on.
On the other side of the African American knelt a skimpily dressed women who had on some sort of facemask and clutched a very large scythe in her hands. Her outfit was mostly black, green, and purple and held an organic look. Next to her was a woman in a full red body suit including facemask/helmet with a sort of visor. From what little the three super powered teens could see of her face she looked to possibly be African American as well.
The tall, most probably six feet or more, African American man straightened up, following by his four companions, and asked, “Everyone arrived in one piece?”
“If we hadn’t you’d have Relhancer lodged somewhere painful, with Overgrowth poised to make you less of a man,” the organic woman stated bluntly.
“I also wouldn’t be able to guarantee that certain parts of your own anatomy would be working further,” the white haired man uttered.
The African American just grinned and replied, “I can just feel the love!”
Red snorted, “Techno if you want love go sleep with your computers again.”
Techno jerked back and pulled out a cellphone, iPod, and PDA. He cuddled them in his arms and began murmuring soft condolences and apologies, saying that there was no way he had been cheating on them with that scamp of a computer!
The one teen of the group sniggered lightly.
Gear, Static, and Hotstreak were all slightly disturbed but too horny to care. If these newcomers caused problems…then they’d deal with it. With that thought firmly in place Static flew off, dragging Hotstreak and Gear with him.
‘Techno’ watched them leave with a slight smirk.
“Looks like Virgil will be late to dinner,” he murmured, his entire form shimmering slightly until it was replaced with a shorter, and more normal looking man. He had on an orange shirt that said ‘Wanna see my Gadgets?’ a pair of simple glasses, and his hair, split into dreadlocks, was pulled back into a ponytail. He settled the iPod, PDA, and Cellphone into pockets of his cargo pants.
To his left the ‘organic’ women carefully removed the facemask and slipped her scythe ‘Overgrowth’ into what looked like a small bag. She slipped off other small accessories and slipped them into the bag as well before placing the bag in between her breasts.
Red touched a button on her suit which retracted back into the nanites in her bloodstream. She calmly pulled her hair out of the bun it was wound into, letting it rest at her shoulders freely. She had on a simple set of jeans and an orange long bell-sleeved shirt. Her aquamarine eyes looked amused.
The two white haired beings just smirked identically as twin white rings appeared at their middle and split, racing up their top and lower half of their bodies, replacing all black and white and spandex with simple jeans and shirts and human skin with no glow.
The man’s hair turned pitch black, his green eyes became an icy blue. He had a black goatee that replaced the white one, and a blue jean jacket on over a plain white and red tee-shirt. A pair of baggy blue jeans hung around his hips, snug at the waist. A simple, what looked like glass but was actually ice, charm hunt from his neck. It was in the same symbol that had been on his chest of the spandex outfit. A black cloth was wound around his throat.
The teen’s hair settled down into a similar fashion as the man’s, also pitch black. His eyes darkened just a tad to a more bloody mud color with a light green ring around his pupil. His ears shrank down from their long and pointed appearance to a smaller, but still pointed look. He had on earrings and a spiked collar. His spandex tunic turned into a red and black sweater that almost appeared too big. He had on a pair of low-riding loose black cargo jeans with combat boots and chains.
Red glanced over at Techno and asked, bluntly, “You gonna tell ‘em, Tucker?”
Techno-Tucker chuckled and replied, “Perhaps. Fourteen and a superhero, huh, Danny? Seems familiar.”
Sam snorted and replied, “But the red head that Gear was feeling up wasn’t a superhero.”
“So they’re banging a villain, not like our Phantom does that,” Valerie replied with a slight laugh. “Oh, wait…he does!”
“Ha, ha, Valerie,” Danny muttered. “I’m so amused I could die.”
“But dad…you already are half-dead,” Dan frowned.
Danny sighed and palmed his forehead, “It’s a joke, Dan.”
“Oh.”
“Can we just head to my cousins?” Tucker interrupted everyone. “We’ll discuss the possible revelation factors later. I need to recharge after that, thank you.”
Francis strained against the handcuffs, groaning and panting and mewling. Richie had his beautiful lips wrapped tightly around his erection, giving him so much pleasure. A little suction here, a little swirl of his tongue there, just the lightest application of teeth to the skin…Francis was in heaven. He just wished Virgil hadn’t applied bonds there too.
“F-Fuck!” the pyromaniac almost shrieked. Virgil leaned down and pulled the older teen into a kiss.
“That’s the idea,” he murmured.
Francis gave off a whine of loss when Richie pulled his head up and stated, “But no penetration, V? You’re sure about that one?”
“I have family coming over, Rich,” Virgil shook his head, tweaking a nipple on Francis’ chest. “I really don’t wanna be limping in front of Tucker.”
“Well who said it had to be you?”
“You wanna be limping in front of Tucker?”
“Good point.”
“GODDAMMIT RICHIE SUCK MY FUCKING DICK!” Francis roared, glaring down at the blond. Richie shot him a saucy grin and wave and went right back down.
“Frankie you continue shouting like that and I’ll get out the ballgag,” Virgil muttered, nipping at Francis neck. Francis strained against his bonds again.
“Da-dammit, Virgil,” he moaned.
“Mm…I thought so.”
All three didn’t really last that long.
The doorbell rang, drawing Robert Hawkins’ mind from packing. He blinked for a second until it rang a second time.
“Don’t worry about the door Sharon, it’s probably just your cousin!” Robert called, exiting his bedroom and thumping down the stairs. He pulled open the door and smiled.
“Tucker!” he greeted, pulling the boy into a hug. “Ah it’s good to see you, son! How have you been?”
Tucker laughed lightly and squeezed Robert back, “I’ve been good Uncle Robert. Finished up my first four years of college, heading back for more in three weeks.” They parted. “These are my friends. Sam Manson, whom I’ve mentioned.”
“Hello Mr. Hawkins,” Sam nodded. “I’m sorry for being unable to come seven years ago, but my parents weren’t…as accommodating of my leaving back then.”
“It’s quite alright,” Robert nodded. “I do thank you for the flowers you send every year though, and for the memorial. It’s rather nice of you.”
“Well…Tuck spoke of Jena a lot when we were younger…I kind of felt like I knew her,” Sam muttered, blushing.
“Valerie Grey,” Tucker motioned toward Valerie who waved. “And you know Danny of course.”
“Of course,” Robert nodded. “Come here son!” He pulled the no longer scrawny boy into a hug as well. “My you’ve put on some muscle!”
Danny laughed lightly, hugging the man back, “I wish to apologize for being unable to attend the memorial, Uncle Robert,” the young man uttered. “Unfortunately I had some personal problems. Tucker said Virgil made a beautiful speech?”
Robert nodded, “Yes, he did…he’s still hurting, though, after all these years. And after Richie got shot just a few weeks ago…well I’m pretty sure Virgil’s more shaken up than he lets on.”
Tucker’s eyes widened in realization, and in an understanding tone he murmured, “So that’s why you wanted me to babysit….”
“I’m sorry for not mentioning it, Tucker,” Robert sighed, “but…I didn’t want to force you to stay, you understand?” Tucker murmured his own ascent, sharing a quick glance with Danny, Sam, and Valerie. “Now…who is this young man?”
“Oh! That’s Dan Fester,” Tucker stated. “Danny’s kind of in charge of him for the time being. Dan got into some trouble a few weeks back and has been put in Danny’s care. They’re cousins, although with how attached Dan is you might not realize it.” Tucker laughed shortly and added in a whisper. “He sometimes slips and calls Danny ‘Dad’ see?”
“Poor boy…” Robert muttered, taking in the pointed ears and odd gaze. He could guess what type of ‘trouble’ young Dan had gotten into. “Is this part of the personal problems you mentioned, Danny?”
The ebony haired man nodded shortly, a slight quirk falling across his lips. He didn’t say anything, though, and Dan was too engrossed in whatever game he was playing to notice what was going on.
“Well why don’t you all come in? I’m afraid Virgil went out with some friends earlier but he should be home later. Sharon’s cooking in the kitchen right now and before you say anything, Tucker, she has improved. I saw that look young man.”
Tucker chuckled.
“I’m sorry to leave you all unattended but I need to finish some last minute packing. I have a plane to catch in an hour,” Robert stated with a nod. “It was good to see you again, though, Danny, Tucker, Sam. Nice to meet you Valerie, Dan.”
With that Robert went up the stairs and Dan finally spoke up.
“Cousins? Really Uncle Tucker?”
Tucker raised an eyebrow at the teenager and stated, “You want me to tell my potentially homophobic, Christian Uncle that you are the future butt-baby of my best friend and a man in his fifties?”
Dan opened his mouth, a refute already on his tongue, and then paused. He closed his mouth and muttered, “Good point,” instead.
Virgil, Richie and Francis stumbled into the door much later than any of the three boys had anticipated. Neither of the teens had expected a Bang Baby to show up when they planned on returning home, nor did they expect the sudden rush of petty crimes and villains running amok. Needless to say Static and Gear were bone dead tired and Francis ended up getting roped into the heroics as well, much to the police’s surprise.
So sleepy, and hungry, all three boys piled into the Hawkins residence to be greeted by an irate Sharon. The eldest of the Hawkins children hand her hands on her hips, her lips pulled into a scowl, and her foot tapping in that extremely annoyed way.
“Where the hell have you been, Virgil?” she demanded the instant the boys got through the door. “Daddy left over three hours ago and Tucker and his friends have been here for almost four hours!”
Virgil winced and muttered something about it being an accident and not happening again and could they please have something to eat because they were starving? Sharon didn’t look ready to give an inch and opened her mouth to rip into them some more when a large hand was placed gently on her shoulder.
The teens all stared up at the smiling face of Danny Fenton, Tucker’s best friend.
“It’s alright, Sharon,” Danny chuckled. “Tuck, Sam, and I aren’t at all upset and Valerie’s appreciated the bonding time you two have shared.”
“What about—”
“Dan has ways to entertain himself, he’s not hopeless,” Danny pointed out. “After all he’s been playing away on his PSP, which he usually does back in Amity anyway. He is grounded, sort of.”
“You’re a dick, dad!” Dan shouted from the couch.
“And you’re the foolish cousin of mine that got himself in a lot of trouble, leaving me to clean up the mess and get you out of it,” Danny pointed out bluntly.
“Still a dick.”
Danny shook his head, although he was grinning as he said, “You’d never think he’s eighteen, would you?” Calmly he let go of Sharon’s shoulder and turned around, walking into the living room. “Oi! Tuck! Your cousin’s back!”
“About damn time,” Tucker muttered, stepping out of the kitchen. “I was afraid I’d keep having to field Sharon!”
“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?” Sharon whined as Tucker walked up to slightly gaping trio of boys and one big sister. Tucker just laughed and placed a kiss to her cheek.
“Nothing ‘cuz,” he said. “Just you being a big sister. Danny, Sam and I dealt with Jazz enough to understand.”
Virgil blinked, slowly, and the uttered almost disbelieving, “Cousin? Tucker? Man that you?”
Tucker laughed lightly and yanked Virgil into a hug, “Why Virgil, my man, you act like you haven’t seen me in years! I was at the memorial, you know. Saw your speech, ‘cuz.”
Virgil flushed red.
“I…didn’t see you,” he muttered.
“Must’ve missed me,” Tucker said lightly. “Now I recognize Richie, how you doin’ bro?”
“Good, good!” Richie greeted with slightly more enthusiasm than Virgil. “It’s great to see you again bro, don’t mind V. He’s just a little shell shocked and tired.”
Tucker nodded sagely, “Mhmm, I hear you. And who’s this young man?”
Francis smiled hesitantly and mumbled, “F-Francis Stone. Mr. Hawkins’ uh…let’s me stay the night sometimes, sir.”
Tucker raised an eyebrow but shrugged, “S’cool, man. Just don’t call me ‘sir’ makes me feel old, and I’m only twenty-four! Now why don’t we get you boys something to eat? Sam’s in the kitchen right now with Valerie making herself some veggie stuff, if you’re interested. If not we have some good ol’ meat in the fridge just waiting to be warmed up.”
Almost like a pro Tucker herded the boys into the kitchen, pausing to holler to Danny, “Can you shut the door, Danny? Thanks!”
Danny rolled his eyes and flicked his fingers. A simple, green and weak ghostly ray knocked the door shut. Sharon’s mouth fell open in shock. From the couch Dan frowned.
“Dad, why is Sharon-lady staring at you in horror?”
Danny blinked, turned, and paled slightly.
“Well…fuck.”
“Not interested, dad. You’re not my type. Plus mom would kill me.”
“It’s afigure of speech Dan!”
Sharon paled and wobbled slightly. With a sharp glance to Dan Danny leaped up and moved quickly to catch her before she fell. Dan smirked and stood slowly; he lazily wandered off into the kitchen. Danny frowned lightly and muttered, “brat,” under his breath.
“Come on…let’s get you upstairs,” the young man sighed, helping Sharon stand. “I’ll answer any questions, I promise. And Tuck will explain the details, okay?” Sharon opened her mouth and Danny added, softly, “I’m not gonna hurt you, Sharon…I don’t hurt humans.”
Sharon swallowed but didn’t stop Danny from helping her up the stairs. While she could have walked on her own, Danny’s own words of ‘I don’t hurt humans’ freaked her out just a bit; enough that her legs felt like jelly and her throat tight. She hardly noticed him leading her right to her room and gently guiding her to sit at the edge of the bed.
Danny frowned lightly and asked softly, “Sharon?”
Sharon swallowed heavily, “…Yes?”
Danny flinched at the fear tinting her voice. This…wasn’t good. Where was Tucker?
Sam raised her brows when Dan sidled into the kitchen, shoulders hunched but a wide grin on his face. From beside her Valerie sighed and spoke up, taking a sip of the herbal tea Sam made her, “What did you do, Dan.”
Dan scowled and almost growled back, “Who said I did anything, Aunt Val?”
“Your wide grin and hunched shoulders tell a thousand tales, boy,” Valerie replied, almost calmly, her aquamarine eyes half-lidded and focused solely on the teen. “Now spill.”
Dan’s shoulders hunched even more as he slid into a seat beside Francis, glaring down at the table. Francis could hardly hear whatever was being mumbled under the pointy eared kids breath, but apparently the adults could hear him just fine as Valerie smirked lightly, Tucker rolled his eyes, and Sam whacked the back of his dark haired head.
“Haven’t your parents instilled manners into you?” the short haired women snapped. “You do not call a lady such names! And don’t give me the ‘but I’m as bent as a turnpike’ excuse either, Daniel Vladimir Fester! That does not give you the right to be rude to a lady!”
Dan frowned and said, “But she’s not a lady! She’s a vicious dragon she-beast! Just like you and Nate and Tosh and Aunt Dani! You’re all vicious dragon she-beasts!”
Tucker burst out laughing and was rewarded by Sam whacking him one too.
“Oww! Sam what was that for?” Tucker whined, rubbing his head. Valerie snickered into her tea.
“That was for being insensitive!” Sam snapped.
“It’s that time of the month, isn’t it,” Tucker remarked dryly and was slapped again. “Ow!”
Valerie collapsed into full blown giggles as Virgil shifted over and stage-whispered to Tucker, “Man, cuz, you do not tell that to a lady! Are you looking to get viciously eaten by the dragon she-beast?”
“See, Uncle Sam! Even Virgil agrees with me!” Dan spoke up, a wide grin crossing his face. Sam actually growled, low. Dan shrank back. “Never mind! You’re a lovely, lovely um…person? Please don’t hurt me!”
Still giggling Valerie placed a hand on Sam’s shoulder and pulled her back down into her seat.
“Calm down, Sam,” she soothed. “Ignore them. They’re just boys…and besides, you can get back at them later, remember?”
A slow, scary grin crossed Sam’s face. Dan and Tucker instantly paled.
“Dan…we’re dead,” Tucker whimpered lightly. “We’re so dead.”
“Then I guess now isn’t a good time to mention dad wants to talk to you and needs help explaining stuff to Sharon-lady?” Dan meeped. Sam’s grin widened.
“Um…yeah, that would be a bad thing to mention now,” Tucker squeaked. Sam showed slightly pointed teeth. “But on the other hand we should probably deal with it right away! Come on Dan! RUN!”
They bolted. Sam just smirked lightly and relaxed back. Francis, Richie, and Virgil were wide eyed and open mouthed. Each boy was wondering if they should run too as Sam trailed her gaze over them. At least until Valerie calmly pecked Sam on the cheek and told her that she’d frightened the boys enough. Anymore and they might have heart attacks!
Virgil just wondered why his cousin was friends with a she-beast, because that was all Sam could be. She certainly wasn’t human. Not with that scary look! Granted neither was Sharon, either. She was some sort of nagging she-beast.
And then came a rather horrible, scary thought to Virgil. What if…all women were she-beasts? He paled lightly and told himself resolutely that if that were the case then he was happily going to forever remain gay. Of course the teen ignored the fact that his mom was a woman too, and as such would also be a ‘she-beast’, but such thoughts were counterintuitive so he locked them far away.
It was too horrifying to contemplate anyway.
It took about a second to pull the story from Dan, and by then Tucker was dragging Dan unwillingly up the stairs and to Sharon’s room where Danny had positioned himself as far away from the young girl as he could get. It had taken less than a second for Tucker to process how the room looked, the emotions displayed across Sharon and Danny’s faces, to figure out what had happened.
Almost immediately Tucker rounded to Danny and tugged his best friend’s face up from the floor.
“What. Did. You. Say,” Tucker said slowly, his gaze searching. Sharon’s mouth almost fell open at the concern Tucker was showing for the thing that was not a person, really, and probably not a bang baby.
“I told her I wasn’t gonna hurt her, Tuck…” Danny muttered. “I don’t hurt humans, you know that….”
Tucker sighed and replied, “Did you tell her that?”
“Yes…”
“And she responded with fear?”
“Yeah…”
“Of course she would, you moron! You classed yourself as ‘not human’ with that sentence!”
Danny and Dan frowned, one in a corner and one in the doorway. The teen spoke up, almost hesitantly, “But…Uncle Tucker we’re not. Not exactly…right?”
Tucker sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“Dan…do not interrupt. I can’t deal with your questionable morals and upbringing right now,” Tucker said slowly. “And Danny…you’re forgetting. Danny is human, a very special human, remember? Jazz, Sam, and I have been over this with you and Danielle before….”
Danny sighed and muttered, “I know, Tuck. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that though when I can remember freezing the entire planet, causing the first ice age….”
Tucker snorted and stated, “Yeah well…you never did like dinosaurs, Danny. Besides, that’s the special part of you: being able to remember and connect. It doesn’t make you subhuman. Nor does it make you Dan,” Tucker added.
“Tell that to all the jerks at high school when they mention my eyes and ears and maybe I’ll agree,” Dan muttered darkly.
“Sure. That’ll be…eighteen years, yeah?”Tucker smirked. Dan scowled. “Now…Sharon, cousin, we need to talk about what you saw.”
“Tucker…” Sharon sighed, “do we have to? I mean I know he said you could explain the details but…he’s a freak.”
Tucker scowled and moved to sit down next to his cousin, pulling her into a one armed hug. “Sharon…Danny is not a freak. He got into a lab accident some years ago and it ended up almost killing him. The end result was the ability to connect with the base part of himself. His soul. Danny is able to utilize his soul’s natural abilities, abilities every human can use once they’ve passed on. See?” Sharon nodded slowly.
Tucker continued, “Now each soul has a name, a true name. Danny’s is Phantom. He can connect and become his soul form, and as Phantom Danny protects our home and our planet. He’s a hero, Sharon. Like Static and Gear…like Virgil and Richie, do you understand me?”
“Yeah…” Sharon sighed. “I guess I overreacted? Sorry, Danny. I should’ve known better. I tend to do that….”
“No big,” Danny shrugged. “Sometimes I need a reminder that I’m not inhuman. Just…don’t tell your brother and his friends, please? Tuck, Sam, Val and I want to share some things with them later…maybe.”
Tucker smirked, “Hey man, it’s your decision. You are the leader of the Triumvirate after all.”
“Ha, ha, Tuck. Come on Dan, let’s go see what’s on the TV,” Danny tugged Dan out of the room and down the stairs.
Sharon stared after them and then turned to Tucker, “Dan is…really Danny’s son, isn’t he.”
Tucker chuckled, “As I put it to Dan earlier…Dan is the future butt baby of Danny and a man in his fifties. Granted technically Vlad’s already pregnant…a sad part of Danny’s condition…a biological part. And before you ask, yes Vlad shares the same condition. Only until recently he was more the ‘villain’ archetype. Well…technically he still is…it’s why we claim Dan has ‘questionable morals’ after all.”
It wasn’t much later that Virgil, Richie and Francis begged off for bed, bleary eyed and pretty much ready to crash. All three stumbled up the stairs under the steady, calculative and watchful gaze of Tucker.
Sharon sat on the couch, eyeing her cousin curiously between watching the news. Dan was curled up into Danny’s side, snoring. Danny was on the phone talking to Vlad , Valerie nestled in Sam’s lap, lightly dozing. Sam was staring at Tucker with a raised eyebrow.
“You gonna drop it now, Tucker?” she uttered calmly and Tucker turned his gaze to her.
He said, “Fourteen and a hero…brings back memories, doesn’t it?” instead, deftly avoiding Sam’s question. The goth women scowled.
“You honestly think you won’t be accepted,” she muttered, almost disgustedly. “What does it matter? You should feel comfortable with yourself.”
Danny snapped his phone shut, leaned back, and closed his eyes. He interrupted Sam before she started on her rant, stating, “Tucker’s choice is his own. Besides…he keeps it up little Virgil will find out sooner or later anyway. There won’t be a chance to hide soon….”
“What are you guys talking about?” Sharon asked, turning fully away from the television.
Danny sighed and opened his eyes. What were once blue were now a glowing green as he stated, “You’ll find out soon enough, everyone will.” He closed his eyes again.
The living room fell into awkward silence. Tucker staring at Danny with a frown, almost concerned. Sam glanced between both Tucker and Danny, a slightly worried twitch beginning to form at the corner of her lips. Valerie cracked one eye open and surveyed the room, sighing softly. Sharon looked as if she wanted to say something, anything, but was unsure of how to word it.
Danny stood up, tugging Dan into his arms. The teen had himself wrapped around Danny’s neck, almost like a small child. His face was buried into his father’s hair. Danny wrapped one arm around Dan’s middle, the other underneath the boy’s knees. He didn’t struggle or buckle under the weight. In fact he showed no strain of holding a near fully grown man, almost his own height.
Instead Danny just uttered, “I’m taking this princess to bed. Goodnight Tucker, Sam, Valerie, Sharon. See you in the morning.”
Danny walked off, leaving behind the tense and awkward atmosphere.