Back stories
I stared at them, stupefied. 'I didn't know that the supervillains had kids," I said when my mouth started to work again.
"It's not heavily advertised, for obvious reasons," Imogen said. "But I'm the only one who isn't with family. My mom died when I was still a baby, and I don't know who my father is. I'm kind of scared to find out, to be honest, even if it's possible. I could register through the DNA data base, if he's in there too, but what if he's some really scary psycho?"
"Like the Joker?" Jinx asked calmly, then waved off her apologetic look.
"She left a letter with a lawyer," Imogen said. "I was supposed to get it when I was sixteen, but the lawyer wanted to close his practice and gave it to me when I was ten. So that's how I know she was Tarantula."
"Nix has the most contact with his dad," Justine said. "He lives with his mom but sees his dad once a month or so. The Penguin isn't crazy, he's just not law-abiding. He's pretty proud of Nix, tries to be supportive, keep him out of his criminal endeavors. Professor Pyg, on the other hand, is certifiably loony toons. He and my mom split up before she knew she was pregnant, fortunately. I don't know if he'd really care if he knew about me, though, but he'd want to make me 'perfect' by turning me into one of his faceless servants, and nobody wants that. It's a bit risky to have his last name, but mom insisted." She shrugged.
"Mark's another who's been hidden from his dad," Jinx said. "And if Professor Pyg is loony toons, then I don't know what Scarecrow is, he's off the charts psycho. He was a really gifted psychologist once, taught at the university, but he's got an obsession with fear and a gift for chemistry, as it turns out. Mark has the most to fear from his father of all of us, so if word gets out, we know who did it." He stared at me. I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah, I don't have the faintest idea where anybody's parents are or how to get in touch with them, and why would I? I'm not going into the superhero business. I don't have access to Batman's information, if that's what you're after." It was my turn to stare at them hard.
"Nobody's turning anybody over to anybody else, so let's all calm down," Justine said, making palms-down soothing motions.
"Ari's dad is missing, although he can't be presumed dead," Jinx said. "He went missing after an encounter with Nightwing. Tommy Elliot used to be friends with Bruce Wayne," he said, nodding at me. "But his parents were abusive, and he resented that Bruce got his family fortune after his parents were killed. Tommy killed his parents eventually and got the Elliot fortune, but by that time he also was one of the scary criminal dads nobody wants to meet. But Ari and his mom and stepfather aren't wealthy, just comfortable, so there's no reason for Hush to come after them, and there's not really a way to use Ari for gain. Then there's me." He looked up at the sky. "So Harley got pregnant just before Typhon exposed itself in Egypt and it was well-reported to her by several people who'd been there that Valkyrie cut down the Joker, so she moved on with her life with Poison Ivy, she hasn't abandoned a life of crime entirely, still works with the Suicide Squad on occasion, but she didn't feel that that kind of life was right for a child and put me up for adoption. The Johnsons said they would keep the name she'd given me--Jinx Quinn--and so she chose them. She doesn't ever come to the house, but we meet every few months. She likes to know how I'm getting along." They all stared at me.
"So...." I said, looking back at them. "Is there some response you're waiting for? A pithy comment about the triumph of nurture over nature? Because honestly, I'm not in the mood for games. I'm tired, my ankle is killing me, and while I know it's a big deal to clue other people into family secrets, you guys are the same people I thought you were last week, just sneakier."
"We have reason to be sneaky, as you put it," Imogen said, stung.
"And you could have just asked me. I would have told you. I was trying to find a time and place to tell you. But as you're obviously aware, I have secrets to keep too, and I'm not going to discuss them with you. They're not mine to reveal and people could get hurt if I do."
"So are you going to out us to the Batmen?" Jinx asked after a moment of silence.
"No, why would I? You're not doing anything wrong. And Grandpa Bruce can be quite a dick, but he's not going to use kids." And if I even thought that he would, I'd sic Grandpa Thomas and Grandma Martha on him.
"So where does that leave us?" Justine asked. I got to my feet.
"I don't know. What I do know is that I need some more pain medication, another dose of regular medicine, and I left all that at home. Your family background is enlightening, but unless you're planning on being the next generation of Batman villains, it doesn't much matter. If you are, though, we can't be friends. What bothers me is that you hacked into my school records, stalked me online, and that's perfectly ok with you." I got up and crutched over to the stairs on the bleachers. "And frankly, your choice of location for your reveal sucks." I went down the stairs awkwardly to the front aisle, then down the stairs to the ground. Going down was more difficult than going up, and I was cursing by the time I got down. Fortunately, the garage wasn't far, and my pod was waiting for me.
"How was school today?" AI Tony asked as the pod moved into the street.
"I'm going to get a first aid certification next week," I said briefly. "The Red Cross club is offering a class."
"That's always helpful," the image agreed. "So how were things with your friends today?"
"Don't wanna talk about it," I muttered, and looked out the window.
"Um, ok. How are classes going?" The little AI was making a valiant effort at communicating.
"They're fine, but I'm looking forward to the end of the semester."
"Ok," the AI said again, nodding. "Oh, Tony wants you to bring the pod by sometime this week for a maintenance check. The cooling might be a little iffy. It's still within tolerance, but he wants to run some diagnostics." I sighed, feeling put upon.
"Can't you just take yourself there while I'm at school?" I asked, a little peevish and whiny.
"Yeah, but Tony and Ann would like to say hi. Your parents have been limiting family visits so that you can rest and get better and whatnot." Great. I'd be an asshole if I said no now.
"Fine," I grouched. "Can we go tomorrow?"
"How about Wednesday?" the AI countered, and I agreed. Having won, the AI faded away and I was silent until we got to Aunt Emma's place and I went upstairs. I should have asked her to mail the earrings for Deri; I'd forgotten that there wasn't an elevator in the building and I had to crutch up two flights of stairs.
"Oh, honey, I forgot," Aunt Emma said, abashed, as I slogged into her store.
"I did too," I admitted, letting her give me a hug.
"How are you doing?" she asked, leading me over to a stool, which I sat on gratefully.
"I'm tired, I want this stupid thing off my ankle, and I found out that my new friends investigated me over the weekend," I said grouchily as she brought me a box. "Oh, so pretty!" I said, my mood improving. Aunt Emma had made rectangles with slightly rounded corners, filled with thin silver dividers that formed a pattern like a shattered crystal. Pink shading from light to dark and flashes of turquoise filled the pattern. "She's going to love them."
"I hope so," Aunt Emma said tranquilly. "If she doesn't, though, she can work with me. But I'm a little concerned here, Lys. What do you mean that they investigated you?"
"They hacked my school record to find out my name, snooped around to find out why I transferred," I said moodily.
"Why didn't they just ask?" she asked, baffled.
"Because they're high school kids and we don't always make the best choices," I said, snapping slightly.
"But.... I don't know. That's quite intrusive."
"As I said, too much ability, not enough respect for personal space."
"Are you still going to be friends with them?"
"Probably," I said, feeling fatigued as she wrapped the earrings up. "I don't want to have to find new ones. It was hard enough to get them to be friends."
"Don't let them walk all over you, though, Lys," she warned, ringing up the sale. "You need to make sure that they don't take advantage of you like the ones at your old school did before it became disadvantageous to be your friend. You're a wonderful girl, and there are people who would love to be Anna's friend." She brightened up. "I made a note because I was sure I wouldn't remember to tell you, but Steve would like you to stop in downstairs if you have the time." I thanked her, tucked the present in my backpack, and started down the stairs. Aunt Emma came with me in case she could help.
"Thanks, sweetheart," Uncle Steve said as she held the door for me. "Lys, honey, how are you? You're looking tired."
"It's been a long day," I said, forcing a smile. He studied me and I prayed that he'd just drop it.
"Well, ok," he said. "Iris said that you were interested in learning more about sewing, sort of a scout badge, but more, so I thought you could come here after school for awhile and learn how things get done here, learn about making some basic clothes yourself. You can stay off your ankle for most of it." He had some plans, and it did sound interesting, but it also sounded like a lot of work.
"I've got a first aid class next week," I said, hoping to put it off.
"That's a great idea," he said approvingly. "Everybody should know what to do, how to help in an emergency. Let's plan on starting the week after, then." And I couldn't get away until he watched me put it in my planner.
I definitely should have had Aunt Emma just mail the earrings.