"no one messes with our family"
It was a typical chaotic morning in the Gallagher house. Lip was passed out drunk on the couch, while Ian and Mickey were lazily making out in the kitchen. Debbie was yelling at Carl for eating the last of the cereal, while Liam quietly ate toast at the table. And Fiona was rushing around, getting ready for work while trying to find her shoes.
"Has anyone seen my black heels?" she shouted up the stairs.
A thump and muffled cursing came from one of the bedrooms, before Natasha appeared at the top of the stairs. "Did you check under the coffee table?" she suggested as she smoothed down her perfectly styled red hair.
Fiona hurried over to the living room and found her shoes tucked under the couch exactly where Natasha said they'd be.
"Thanks, Nat!" Fiona said gratefully as she slipped them on. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Natasha smiled, descending the stairs with her usual grace. "You'd be late for work as usual. Now get going before you're really behind schedule."
Fiona grabbed her purse and keys and was nearly out the door when a sleepy voice stopped her.
"Fiona, wait!"
She turned to see a small figure bounding down the stairs, still dressed in pajamas with messy brown hair. "You almost forgot your lunch!" said Penny Gallagher as she handed Fiona a brown paper bag.
"Aw thanks, Pen," Fiona said, kissing the top of her head. "You're the best. I'll see you after school, okay?"
Penny beamed. "Have a good day at work! And good luck on your presentation."
Fiona waved and headed out the door, nearly tripping over Frank passed out on the front porch. She stepped over him deftly and made her way to the El station, mentally preparing for the busy day ahead.
Meanwhile, back in the Gallagher house, chaos still reigned. Mickey and Ian were still making out, pinned against the fridge, Debbie was now yelling about her missing biology homework, and Carl was blasting heavy metal music from the living room.
Penny winced, her enhanced senses overwhelmed by the noise and commotion. She was about to slip outside for some fresh air when Natasha approached her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Sorry about all this, сестренка," she said kindly, using the Russian term of endearment for 'little sister.' "Why don't you go get ready for school and I'll handle things down here?"
Penny nodded gratefully and hurried back upstairs, calming slightly once she shut her bedroom door behind her. She took a few deep breaths, focusing on the rhythmic thump of her heart. After years of practice, she had gotten better at controlling her powers and heightened senses, but some mornings were still a struggle.
She quickly got dressed in leggings, a cute black top, and her favorite flannel. She carefully adjusted her grey sports bra, taking a moment to look at herself in the mirror. With her long red hair and feminine features, she looked like any other teenage girl. But inside, she knew she wasn't born a girl.
It hadn't always been this way. She'd been born Peter Gallagher, the secret lovechild of Frank Gallagher and some woman he'd had a fling with years ago. When Penny was five, Frank had discovered he had another kid and reluctantly brought her home. The Gallaghers had welcomed her with open arms, especially Fiona and Natasha. They didn't care that Penny was different—she was their new sister and that's all that mattered.
Penny smiled at the memory. Coming out to her family had been one of the scariest moments of her life. She'd been terrified they would reject her or kick her out. But Fiona and Natasha had embraced her immediately.
"Hey, you're my sister no matter what," Fiona had said fiercely. "Anyone messes with you, they'll have to go through me."
Natasha had simply hugged Penny close and said, "I'll always be here for you, little spider."
Penny grinned at the old nickname as she shoved books into her backpack. Natasha had started calling her that years ago when she noticed how adept Penny was at climbing things as a kid. Little did Nat know how fitting that name would become...
A soft knock at her door drew Penny out of her reminiscing.
"Come in," she called.
The door opened to reveal Natasha holding a plate of toast and eggs. "Thought you could use a quick breakfast since things were chaotic downstairs, since, you know, sensory issues," she said, handing Penny the plate. "I convinced Carl to turn off the music and got Debbie her homework. Crisis averted for now."
"Thanks, Nat," Penny said through a mouthful of toast. "You're the best."
Natasha laughed. "Don't talk with your mouth full, маленький паук. Now eat up so I can drop you off at school on my way to work."
Penny quickly finished her breakfast then grabbed her backpack and followed Natasha out to her car. As they pulled away from the curb, Penny glanced back at the rundown Gallagher house. She never could have imagined she'd find not just a home there, but a family who loved and accepted her. She smiled, feeling grateful yet again for her sisters.
...
School dragged on as usual. Penny kept her head down and tried to ignore the whispered taunts and snickers that followed her through the halls. Ever since freshman year when she had come out as transgender, she'd been mercilessly bullied by some of her classmates. But she didn't dare fight back or stand up for herself. One wrong move could reveal her secret alter ego.
So she just endured it silently, counting down the minutes until she could escape back home. But today, her tormentors seemed bent on pushing her to her breaking point.
"Hey Penis Parker, where's your dress?" jeered Flash Thompson as he shoved her into a locker. His idiot friends all laughed uproariously.
Penny bit back a retort, turning away only to bump into another one of Flash's buddies.
"Going to the bathroom, freak?" he mocked. "Better check you get the right one."
Anger simmered in Penny's chest but she swallowed it down. "Just leave me alone," she muttered, trying to push past them.
Flash grabbed her roughly by the shoulder, slamming her back against the lockers so hard she saw stars for a second. "What's the matter, Penis? Not so tough without your stupid brothers to protect you, are you?"
Penny gasped as Flash's meaty hand closed around her throat. Rage burned through her veins and she could feel her fangs extending, her claws itching to slash through this idiot's face. It would be so easy to tear him apart. But she couldn't, not here, not like this...
"Get your hands off our sister!"
Penny's head jerked up to see Lip, Ian and Mickey barreling down the hall towards them. Before she could react, her brothers were on Flash, raining blows down on the bully.
"Keep your hands off her, you piece of shit!" Lip yelled, landing a nasty right hook. Ian and Mickey were cursing up a storm while kicking and punching any part of Flash they could reach.
Penny stood frozen, mouth agape. A crowd had gathered, shouting and filming the fight with their phones. This was quickly getting out of hand.
"Guys, stop!" Penny finally shouted, pushing through the crowd. She tugged on Ian's arm. "That's enough, let him go!"
Her brothers reluctantly backed off, leaving Flash groaning on the floor. Lip spat on him for good measure before turning to Penny. "You okay, Pen?"
She nodded shakily. "Yeah, thanks to you. But you shouldn't have done that."
Ian slung an arm around her shoulders. "No one messes with our sister," he said fiercely.
"I don't need a knight in shining armor to rescue me," Penny argued half-heartedly, knowing it was useless. Her siblings were hopelessly overprotective.
"Too bad, you're stuck with us," said Lip with a roguish grin.
Penny just stuck her tongue out at them. She appreciated them looking out for her, even if their methods were a bit extreme.
Just then, the principal came bustling down the hall, demanding to know what was going on. Penny tuned out the inevitable lecture and threats of suspension, simply feeling grateful for her brothers' (and Mickey's) unconditional love and support, as they all rushed to their next classes.
...
After school, Penny opted to walk home instead of catching a ride with Lip as usual. She needed time to clear her head after the day's events.
Why couldn't she have stood up for herself against Flash? She had the proportional strength of a spider, for fuck's sake! Yet she still let him shove her around, too afraid of exposing her powers. Was she destined to be weak, meek Penny Parker forever? The thought made her blood boil.
She was so lost in her angry musings that she didn't notice the van skidding around the corner at high speed straight toward her. But her enhanced senses kicked in at the last second. She leapt out of the way as the van plowed into a fire hydrant, sending water spewing everywhere.
Without thinking, she rushed over to check on the driver. "Are you okay?" she asked worriedly.
The door was jammed shut so she grasped it and yanked hard, tearing it clean off. The driver sat stunned, staring at her with wide eyes.
"Uh, adrenaline rush!" Penny tried to explain, leaning casually against the door to hide her super strength. "Looks like you just got a few bumps and bruises. An ambulance is on its way."
Thankfully the driver seemed too dazed to question how she'd ripped off a car door with her bare hands. Penny used the opportunity to slip away before anyone else noticed.
So much for keeping a low profile, she thought miserably. She'd have to be more careful. But part of her thrilled at finally using her powers in public, even just a little. Maybe someday she could tell the world who she really was.
When Penny got home, she found the usual madness. Debbie and Carl were arguing over the remote while Liam ignored them, playing a video game. She could hear Natasha, Lip, and Ian's best friend, Mandy coaching Ian through another bout of bipolar mood swings in the kitchen. Heavy metal music blasted from the basement, signaling that Mickey was likely down there lifting weights or doing other workouts. The normalcy of it eased Penny’s leftover stress from the day.
She was halfway up the stairs when Fiona appeared, blocking her path. “Oh no you don’t,” her sister said. “I want to hear all about what happened at school today.”
Penny cringed. News of the fight had clearly spread. “It was nothing, just Flash being a jerk as usual.”
Fiona crossed her arms, unimpressed. “Uh huh. Then why did I get a call from the principal saying Lip, Ian and Mickey were involved in a brawl that sent some kid to the nurse?”
With a heavy sigh, Penny relented and told her the whole story.
Fiona shook her head in dismay. “That's it. I’m calling the school first thing tomorrow to report that punk.”
“Don’t, it’ll only make things worse,” Penny pleaded.
“We have to do something!” Fiona exclaimed. “I won’t let him or anyone else bully you and get away with it. What if you’d lost control of your powers?”
Penny's shoulders slumped. “I know, it's not safe. But it's also not safe for my brothers to constantly be fighting my battles for me. If I don't stand up for myself...” She trailed off with an anguished groan.
Fiona pulled her into a fierce hug. “We'll figure it out,” she murmured. “Together, like we always do. Us Gallaghers have to stick together, no matter what.”
Penny clung to her, desperately hoping she was right.
...
A week later, Penny trudged up the front steps after another grueling day of school. She tried turning the knob only to find the front door locked, which was odd. Shrugging it off, she fished her key out of her pocket and let herself in.
She was greeted by utter chaos. The living room looked like a war zone, with furniture overturned, picture frames shattered on the floor, and suspicious stains splattered on the walls that she hoped wasn’t blood. Ian and Lip were having a screaming match in the kitchen, Mickey egging them on. Mandy sitting silently on the couch, waving at Penny. Heavy metal music still blasted from the basement. Carl and Debbie peered curiously down from the staircase. And there in the center of it all stood Fiona and Natasha, facing down a wild-eyed, drunken Frank.
“There she is, my lovely daughter!” Frank exclaimed upon seeing Penny frozen in the doorway. “Wait, it's daughter, right? I can never keep up with all this gender bullshit.” He took a swig from the bottle in his hand, swaying unsteadily.
Penny shrank back against the door, heart racing. Frank had been gone on another bender for weeks and she’d hoped he would stay away even longer. But here he was, ruining everything like he always did.
Natasha stepped in front of Penny, shielding her from Frank’s vitriolic glare. “Get out,” she spat. “You’re not wanted here.”
Frank spread his arms wide. “Not wanted? This is my house!” His voice rose to a shout. “My kids, my rules. And I won't have that freak living under my roof, polluting the rest of you with its sickness!”
Penny clutched her chest, Frank's hateful words piercing her heart like daggers. Hot tears spilled down her cheeks. Without thinking, she turned and bolted back out the door. She had to get away, far away...
She blindly sprinted down the street, Frank’s cruel words echoing in her head. Monster. Abomination. Freak. She ran until her lungs burned, finally collapsing in an alley several blocks from the house. She ripped off her sports bra so she could breathe, gasping through harsh sobs.
Why did Frank hate her so much? Why did he see her as some unnatural thing instead of his child? Curled up on the grimy concrete, Penny had never felt more lost and alone.
She didn’t know how long she sat there crying, but gradually she became aware of soft footsteps approaching. She looked up to see Ian, Mickey, Debbie, Mandy, and Carl standing over her, faces creased with worry.
“There you are,” Debbie said gently. “We’ve been looking all over for you.”
“Go away,” Penny mumbled, hiding her face in her arms. The last thing she wanted was her siblings seeing her like this.
But Ian & Mandy sat down on one side of her while Debbie & Carl took the other, with Mickey watching over protectively. “No way,” said Carl. “We stick together, remember?”
Mickey rubbed her back soothingly. “Don’t listen to Frank. He’s a miserable drunk who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
“But...but he’s right. I’m a freak,” Penny whispered brokenly.
“No freaking way.” Carl insisted.
Ian nodded. “You’re our sister. And anyone who thinks otherwise can go to hell.”
Penny gave a watery chuckle. Trust Carl & Ian to put things so bluntly.
“You’ll always be a Gallagher sister, no matter what,” added Mandy. “Don’t ever forget that.”
Penny finally lifted her head to look at them, heart swelling with love for her younger siblings and Ian's boyfriend & his best friend. “Thanks guys,” she said hoarsely. “I’m really glad you found me.”
The five of them tackled her in a fierce hug. Penny closed her eyes, letting their support wash away some of the hurt. Frank could say all the hateful things he wanted. Nothing would ever break the bonds between the Gallagher siblings, and their friends.
After a few moments, she heard lighter footsteps approach. She looked over to see Liam standing shyly behind them, holding something out to her.
“Here Penny, I brought you this,” he said, handing her the worn, patched up teddy bear he’s had since childhood. “His hugs always make me feel better.”
Penny took the bear, tears filling her eyes again but for a happier reason this time. “You’re so sweet, Liam. Thank you.” She drew him into the hug with the others.
Eventually they headed back home, her younger siblings sticking close to her side. When they got there, Frank was gone and the house was calm once more. Fiona immediately rushed over, fussing worriedly over Penny until she assured her sister that she was okay.
“I’m so sorry about Frank,” Fiona said regretfully. “We kicked him out but I guess the damage was already done.”
Penny gave a tired smile. “It’s not your fault. I’ll be alright.” Glancing around, she noticed one sibling was still missing. “Where’s Nat?”
“Still yelling at Frank last I saw. Threatening to castrate him and stuff him in the river,” said Lip with a snort.
Penny laughed. That sounded like Natasha. Speaking of, the front door banged open and the redhead stormed in, expression thunderous. But her face softened when she saw Penny, as Mickey ran back inside.
“You’re back. Are you okay, маленький паук?” she asked worriedly, hurrying over.
Penny nodded, leaning into Natasha’s embrace. “I am now. I’m sorry I ran off.”
“Shh, you have nothing to apologize for,” Natasha soothed, holding her close. They stayed like that for a long moment until Penny finally drew back, wiping her eyes.
“Thank you, all of you, for being the best family ever,” she said, glancing around at her siblings. “I don’t know what I’d do without you guys.”
"Right back at you,” Fiona said with a smile. “We’re all misfits and weirdos here, but we stick together.”
The others nodded in agreement. Penny felt overwhelmingly grateful in that moment to have found not just a home here, but a family who loved her unconditionally.
Of course, the tender moment was ruined when the front door banged open and Mickey sauntered in clutching a case of beer.
“Hey, who wants to get shit-faced?” he called out.
The Gallagher siblings just laughed. Penny shook her head fondly. A quiet night at home with this rowdy bunch was exactly what she needed.
Later, as Penny lay in bed listening to the familiar raucous sounds of her family downstairs, she thought over the day’s events. She still felt raw and aching from Frank’s cruelty. But she also felt stronger knowing she had her siblings’ unwavering support. Maybe one day she’d find the courage to stand up to bullies like Flash. And even if the world saw her as a freak, she knew she would always have a home here.
Penny snuggled under the covers with her teddy bear, feeling truly content. The future seemed brighter knowing she didn’t have to face it alone. She had her family by her side. And for now, that was enough.
Exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster of a day, Penny soon drifted off to sleep, dreaming of web slinging freely through the city without fear or judgment. Someday, she hoped to make that a reality. But for now, she was simply Penny Gallagher, just another misfit Gallagher kid finding her place in the world. And that was more than good enough for her.
Penny collapsed onto her bed after another long day of school. She winced as she moved, her body aching and bruised after stopping a mugging on her walk home. Being Spider-Girl was rewarding but man, was it exhausting having to keep those extracurriculars a secret all the time.
A soft knock interrupted her sulking. “It’s open,” she called.
The door opened to reveal Natasha balancing a first aid kit in one hand and a plate of cookies in the other. “Rough patrol?” she asked sympathetically as she set the items on Penny’s desk.
Penny just nodded & groaned in response.
Natasha smiled knowingly and sat down beside her. As Penny slowly sat up, her sister began gently dabbing antiseptic on her cuts and scrapes. They’d done this song and dance many times before. Natasha knew all of Penny’s secrets - she was one of the few who did.
“Thanks, Nat,” Penny said once she’d been patched up.
“Anytime, сестренка.” Natasha handed her the plate of cookies with a wink. “Chocolate chip, your favorite. Don’t tell the others.”
Penny happily munched on the treat, savoring the sweetness. But even cookies couldn’t distract her from the worries swirling in her mind.
Natasha studied her closely. “I know that look. What’s bothering you?”
Penny sighed, picking at a loose thread on her comforter. “I was just thinking...maybe it’s time I told the others. About Spider-Girl, I mean.”
Natasha’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Are you sure? That’s a big step.”
“I know, but I’m so tired of lying all the time,” Penny admitted. “They’re going to find out eventually anyway. And it would be nice to not have to hide such a huge part of my life from them.”
Natasha nodded thoughtfully. “I understand. But it is risky. Are you prepared for how they might react?”
Penny bit her lip. “No, not really. But I have to hope they’ll understand and accept it, like you and Fiona did.” A sudden thought struck her. “Oh man, I should ask Fi what she thinks too before I decide anything.”
“That’s probably wise,” Natasha agreed. “Why don’t you sleep on it? We can discuss it more tomorrow, the three of us.”
Penny smiled gratefully. Her older sisters always knew how to help her work through problems, superhero-related or otherwise. “Thanks, Nat. You’re the best.”
Natasha squeezed her hand before standing up to leave. At the door, she paused, looking back with a sly grin. “For the record, I think you should tell them. The look on their faces will be priceless.”
Penny laughed and lobbed a pillow at her sister, who dodged it easily. After Natasha left, Penny snuggled under her blankets, feeling lighter now that she’d shared her dilemma. Maybe letting the rest of her family in on her biggest secret was the right choice after all.
...
The next evening, Penny sat sandwiched between Fiona and Natasha at the dinner table, nervously picking at her food. She’d talked more with her sisters and they’d convinced her it was time to reveal her superhero identity to the rest of the family. But now, looking around at all her siblings laughing and chatting like normal, Penny felt anxious second thoughts creeping in.
Fiona seemed to sense her hesitation and gave her an encouraging smile. “It’s gonna be okay. We’re right here with you,” she said softly.
Penny took a deep breath and nodded. No more secrets after tonight.
She cleared her throat loudly to get everyone’s attention. Conversation died down as all eyes turned to her curiously.
“So, uh, I have something important to tell you guys,” Penny began, voice wobbling slightly. “Just...please keep an open mind.”
The others exchanged confused glances. Mickey leaned back in his chair, cracking open another beer. “This oughta be good, Pen.”
Penny shot him a quelling look before continuing. “So you all know how Spider-Girl has been popping up around the city lately? Well...” She paused, fiddling with her web shooters under the table. “That’s me. I’m Spider-Girl.”
Stunned silence met her announcement. Her siblings, plus Mickey and Mandy stared at her, mouths agape.
Carl was the first to break it. “No way, that’s fucking awesome!” he exclaimed.
“Language, Carl!” Fiona admonished, though she was fighting back a grin.
“You gotta be shitting us,” said Lip, shaking his head in disbelief. “My little sister, Penny is the Spider-Girl?”
“Prove it then,” challenged Debbie, arms crossed skeptically.
Happy to oblige, Penny aimed her wrist at the ceiling and shot a web, latching onto the overhead light. She gave it a sharp tug, ripping the fixture from the ceiling. It dangled above them, bulb still feebly glowing amidst the broken plaster.
“Holy shit!” yelped Ian, nearly falling off his chair. The rest of her siblings' jaws had hit the floor again.
Penny set the light fixture on the table with a sheepish smile. “Um, surprise?”
Chaos erupted around her. All her siblings started talking over each other, demanding explanations and shooting questions faster than she could answer. It was sensory overload again but this time, Penny didn’t feel the urge to run and hide.
“Settle down, guys. Let her talk,” Fiona intervened, quieting the cacophony. She nodded for Penny to continue.
Haltingly, Penny launched into the story of how she’d gotten bitten by a radioactive spider on a middle school field trip and gained powers overnight. She explained about creating her web fluid and special suit. Her siblings listened with rapt attention, oohing and ahhing when she demonstrated her abilities. By the end, Carl and Liam were begging her to show them more tricks.
“This is seriously the coolest thing ever,” said Mandy in awe.
Ian shook his head, still stunned. “I can’t believe our baby sister is a real life superhero.”
“Why didn’t you tell us sooner, Penny?” Lip asked. “You know you don’t have to deal with this stuff alone.”
Penny ducked her head. “I know. I was just scared you guys would think I'm some kind of freak.”
“Are you kidding? You’re fucking amazing!” exclaimed Carl. More admonishing from Fiona about his language followed.
“We’re so proud of you,” Debbie added earnestly. “You’re out there risking your life to help people. That’s pretty badass.”
Even Liam nodded along solemnly. “Spider-Girl is the best. Way cooler than Iron Man.”
Penny felt herself getting choked up. She’d expected confusion or disbelief, but this immediate acceptance was more than she ever hoped for.
“There’s one more thing,” she added, glancing at her sisters. “I’m not the only superhero in this family.”
All eyes now turned to Natasha and Fiona.
Natasha smirked. “Готовьтесь к шоку, little spiders.”
In a flash, she had a pistol in each hand from holsters under the table, pointing them dangerously. Debbie yelped, nearly falling off her chair.
“Relax, they’re not loaded,” Natasha assured them as she spun the guns and slid them back into concealment. “I’m the Black Widow.”
“No shit, really?” Lip looked impressed. Ian, Mandy, and Mickey just eyed her warily.
“Oh, and that’s not all!” Said Fiona. She waved her hand and red wisps of magic curled around her fingers. “Name’s Scarlet Witch.”
Now Carl looked ready to fall off his chair too. “No way! This is epic, we have three secret superheroes in our family!”
Liam’s eyes were wide with wonder. “Can you teach me magic?” he asked Fiona eagerly. She laughed and ruffled his hair.
“Maybe one day, little man.”
The rest of dinner passed in a blur of excited chatter about powers and secret identities. Penny basked in her siblings’ acceptance and support, so glad she had taken the leap. For the first time, she felt like all the different parts of herself - Penny, Spider-Girl, sister, daughter - weren’t at war anymore. Her family knew every side of her now. And they loved her unconditionally regardless.
Later that night, they all crowded in the living room eating popcorn and watching movies. Natasha was teaching Lip some martial arts moves while Fiona & Mickey helped Ian control his latest manic episode. Penny and her other siblings played with her web shooters, laughing as they covered the room in sticky webbing. For once, the Gallagher house was filled with joy instead of the usual chaos.
Penny sighed contentedly, grateful for this amazing family of hers. She fell asleep on the couch surrounded by her siblings, feeling safer and more loved than she ever had before.
...
The next day at school, Penny floated through classes with an extra spring in her step. She no longer had to hide half of her life from her family. It felt freeing beyond measure.
She was at her locker grabbing books when a large hand roughly slammed the door shut. Penny sighed, shoulders slumping. She didn’t even have to turn around to know who it was.
“Thought you could sic your freak family on me and get away with it, huh Penis Parker?” snarled Flash.
Penny grimaced. Of course Flash was back to torment her again, even after her brothers had beaten him to a pulp. When would he learn?
She took a calming breath and turned to face him head on for once. “Just leave me alone, Flash.”
He grabbed a fistful of her shirt, shoving her back against the lockers. “How about you make me, Penis?”
Penny saw red. Without thinking, she grabbed Flash’s wrist and twisted hard until he yelped in pain, releasing her.
“I said, leave me ALONE,” she shouted, punctuating it with a palm strike to the chest that sent him stumbling back. Years of pent up rage fueled her actions. She was done being meek little Penny.
But her brief bravado quickly faded as Flash recovered from the hit and stalked toward her menacingly. Penny’s heart dropped. What was she thinking picking a fight without her suit? She braced herself for the inevitable beating.
Only it never came. A fierce battle cry rang out as Mickey came charging down the hall, slamming into Flash from behind. The bully tumbled to the floor and instantly found himself set upon by the rest of Penny’s brothers and their partners in crime.
Ian and Mandy alternated blows while Lip and Carl held Flash down. Within seconds, the bully was a whimpering, bloody mess. Penny stood back, hands over her mouth in shock.
"Had enough yet, bastard?" Carl growled down at Flash. "Or do you need more convincing to stay the hell away from our sister?"
Flash just moaned pitifully in response. Satisfied he had learned his lesson, the group of vigilantes stepped back from his crumpled form. Teachers would be arriving any second to break things up.
Penny turned to her rescuers, shaking her head in awe. “That was...insane. Thank you, all of you. But you really shouldn’t have.”
“Of course we should have,” argued Ian. “No one messes with our family.”
Mickey slung an arm around Penny’s shoulders, grinning cockily with bloodied knuckles. “Don’t worry about it, Pen. Beating up assholes like that is what we do best.”
Mandy tossed her hair, smiling sweetly. “Anything for my favorite Gallagher.”
“Yeah, we got your back no matter what,” Carl added.
Lip frowned. "I thought I was your favorite Gallagher, Mandy."
Mandy looks at Lip. "You're my third. Ian's my second favorite.
Ian playfully punches Lip in the shoulder. "Aw, hell yeah! Better luck next time bro!"
Penny had to quickly blink back tears. Not only did she have her siblings’ support, but their partners’ too. They really were a family, in every way.
She pulled them all in for a quick hug before the approaching voices of staff could be heard. “Let’s get out of here,” she said. Together, they hurried off, leaving Flash behind to finally face some consequences.
As they walked home, Penny listened to her brothers recount the fight with pride, occasionally interjecting worried reprimands that went ignored. She just shook her head in amusement. She may be the superhero of the family, but clearly she wasn’t the only one ready to fight to protect their own.
Penny smiled to herself, feeling truly blessed. Her life was never going to be simple with her double identity and rowdy family. But she wouldn't have it any other way.