Prom
"What did my teachers have to say?" I asked Mom at the library. She turned and her voice was warm.
"They are very pleased with your work, and your math teacher is proud of your work and that you're tutoring in the math lab this semester," she said. "Your photography teacher thinks you have real talent and hopes that you will continue the class next year. English, history, networking, chemistry, all very good." It wasn't anything I hadn't expected, except for maybe the comments from my photography teacher, but a relief to hear anyway, and as a treat, I asked Alan for a Shirley Temple. Deri snickered at me, but I didn't care. I loved them, but they were packed with sugar and had no nutritional value so had to be saved for a special occasion. Dad came in and listened to a slightly more extended recap of parent-teacher conference. Deri's were right after midterms, and her teachers had gushed as always, but that was the way of it. I was happy enough not to hear any unexpected surprises.
Then Mom asked how my shopping had gone, and I was pleased to report that I'd found a dress. I was looking forward to the prom; Rob said we were going in a group with Rain and his date and Arch and his date. I like group things like that; if conversation hits a rough patch (which happened with Rob and me sometimes) there were other people to talk to, and fun is contagious. But not in a bad, hospital way.
We got more details about our houseguests; the Hawkpeople were coming (but I felt better about Hawkman since the whole thing with the pharaoh), Superman, of course, Flash, Black Canary and Green Arrow, and Aquaman. Aquaman made me nervous, he was just so gorgeous. Grandma and Grandpa were hosting Supergirl and Green Lantern. The Avengers and their associates were all local, so no hosting was required aside from cocktails and dinner. And the current crop of active Avengers sort of foisted these meetings off on the Avengers Emeritus, preferring action to dinner and meetings.
Dad had mailed my passport in for renewal, and I got excited just thinking about my London adventure. Deri was envious, but she wasn't begging to go or making a fuss about it, somewhat to my surprise, which helped keep me excited. Mom and Dad were kind of nervous, but I would be living in a residence hall with adult supervision like the rest of the under 18s, and I reminded them that Grandma Alex's grandma and grandpa lived in Oxford, if there should be an emergency. They came over for Christmas every other year, so I did in fact know them. That soothed them too.
A couple of days later, Deri and I came down early, helping to greet our guests, who included some Avengers associates I didn't know well, such as Wolverine, Luke Cage, and Doctor Strange. Wolverine was kind of broody, but Grandma Alex said that was his default mode, so I was polite but didn't linger. I went on to say hi to Flash, who was cheerfully irritating the stoic Batman, got a hug from Grandpa Bruce (hugs from Batman are historically not awesome because the suit is rigid and not cuddly, but almost nobody was in costume tonight) and was introduced to Doctor Strange, who was floating a couple inches off the carpet. Weird, but not to brag, I've seen a lot of weird. He politely made chit-chat, where I went to high school, what I was studying, but we were both taken aback when the corner of his red cloak reached out and wrapped itself around my hand. It felt for all the world like a friend holding my hand. "Um.. your cape is..."
"It is the Cloak of Levitation," he said crisply, and I could hear the capitals. "It has a mind of its own," he muttered, tugging on the cape.
"Steven," Uncle Tony said, coming over and nodding. He swirled the bourbon in his glass and looked at my hand. I looked at him helplessly. "You want to release my niece?"
"I'm trying, Tony," Doctor Strange said crossly.
"Is there a problem, gentlemen?" my mom said, nicely, but with a tone that suggested that there better not be, as she joined us too. The cape released me, then sort of petted my mom too. Weird.
"It's interested in mystic energies..." Doctor Strange said, retreating enough so that we were out of range of the cape. I swear it pouted but I couldn't tell you how.
"Lys?" Mom asked, and I shook my head.
"It's got a presence to it, but it's not god touched," I said, catching the odd doctor's interest. I wondered if the title was an affectation or if he had a doctorate in woo-woo stuff. Fortunately, Alan called us for dinner, and Uncle Tony offered me his arm. We chatted going into the dining room. I'd been placed between Uncle Bucky, who always had awesome zoo stories, and Superman, who was interested in what I was doing in school. I knew he had a son, but of course didn't know names or the stories. After dinner, Deri and I went upstairs. Alan had left decaf for me, black tea for my sister, and brownies for both of us. I drank my coffee but saved the brownie until I'd finished my homework, proofreading my history paper. I put it on a drive for my teacher, then put on some flexible shoes with a grippy sole, and went out the window for the first time since the accident. I'd been practicing on the climbing wall at school, making sure that I could climb still, and made it easily up to the roof. I had my communicator with me, though, in case I got stuck. I could call Grandma Alex for help. I didn't stay long; I could smell approaching rain, so I swung down and made it safely back to my room. My arms were a little sore from using them more than my legs, but otherwise I felt good, and relieved to be able to go back on the roof.
The next week was lifeguard training, and I helped handle the dry land stuff for the club. I wasn't using my crutch or a cane or any sort of walking aid anymore, but when I got tired I was limping, and my physical therapist had put her foot down about my activities and flatly forbade me to try lifeguarding. It must be the nighttime family tradition, but I liked learning skills that could be useful in an emergency. Maybe next year, though.
Before I knew it, practically, it was time for prom. Gina touched up my color and did a beautiful hairstyle for me, and I splurged on a mani/pedi, with bright pink nail polish that I knew Deri would love. I bought her a bottle of the polish as a treat. She was out riding with Dad, Iris, and Grandpa Damian when I got home, so I left it on her desk and got ready. By the time I was dressed, accessorized (I wore the little diamond solitaire earrings and pendant for a little sparkle with the dress), made up, and perfumed, Dad was back and he and Mom took pictures. I felt self-conscious. Dad frowned at the display of the images.
"You're obviously the photographer of the family, Lys," he said, and Mom took the camera, managing some better images. Still, I was relieved when the gate signaled. The boys had rented a limo for the group. Rain and Rob came in to pick me up and see the mansion, I think, and Rob had to meet my parents anyway. They got a few more pictures of me with my date and got Rain in for a couple, then we were allowed to depart. On the way out, Eira came bounding up, interested in the new arrivals. They boys were a little nervous about the huge dog, but she is always so friendly and cheerful that she had new converts to her following quickly.
"Eira!" I turned to see Grandma Alex chugging up in exasperation. Eira gave her best friendly 'what?' face. "I'm sorry, Lys, honey," she said. "But on the bright side, at least she hasn't been swimming or rolling in something nasty." I smiled at her, not believing for an instant that this was anything but a setup, and introduced my friends. Rob and Rain were surprised and a little nervous to be meeting Alex Barnes, but all she said was that we looked great and told us to have a wonderful time. We got into the limo and it rolled down the drive.
"I didn't know you were one of those Waynes," Rain said. "Why did Ms Barnes call you Lys?"
"It's a short form of my first name," I said, my pleasure a little squelched by the need for explanations. "When I switched schools, I decided to try a different nickname and went with one based on my middle name. It's Alexandra, and there's already an Alex in the family."
"Oh," Rob said, and then the conversation switched to other topics, and the awkwardness was over by the time we pulled up to Arch's house. He popped out and waved at us, and Rain looked at his communicator. "His parents want us all to come in. Huh. I've never actually met his dad, apparently he travels a lot."
So we all trooped in and Arch introduced me to his mom, Dr Christine Palmer. She was pleased to meet me, she said, and complimented all of us on our appearance. "I've known these boys forever, it seems," she said to me, laughing. "I remember them coming home from adventures sopping wet, dirty, with scraped knees or a broken nose from an unfortunate hop of a baseball. All of us parents took to having first aid kits in our pods when we picked them up as a preventative measure." Rob rolled his eyes. "And now they're all very spiffy young men." Her voice turned wistful.
"Uh, yeah, Mom--" Arch said. Then, to my great surprise, the Sorcerer Supreme came into the living room, frowning at the camera in his hands.
"Christine, you'll have to do this," he said. "It doesn't seem to like me."
I was even more surprised when the Cloak of Levitation zipped past him and mummified me neatly. So were the boys. And Dr Palmer.
Doctor Strange just shook his head as the collar of the cloak patted my cheek.
"Your mom explained. Gifts from Athena, correct? And that other goddess," he said.
"Hestia," I said crossly, wiggling futilely. "Dude," I said to the cloak, which ignored me. "Little help here?" I asked the room, and Arch tried to peel it off.
"Dad, come on. You're embarrassing me in front of my friends," he said accusingly. Doctor Strange came over and helped.
"It's not your ability to see mystic energies that attracts it," he said abstractly. "What's the other ability you have?"
"Related to maintenance of the house and home," I said, stepping back once the cloak was removed.
"Ah," Doctor Strange said, retreating across the room with the cloak firmly in his grip. "The cloak enjoys a good adventure, but is a homebody of sorts." I looked down in dismay at my dress; the cloak had wrinkled the skirt and sleeves.
"Steven," Dr Palmer said in exasperation. "Oh, dear." She came over and helped me fluff out my skirt, arranging the hair that the cloak had disarranged. She sighed. "Right. Let's get pictures before anything else happens." She took a couple of the group, frowning at the images in what I was starting to think was a universal parent behavior.
"Um, Anna is a really good photographer," Rob said. She brightened up and I took the camera, looking around and putting the boys by the stairs and the newel post. I got a few good pictures of the friends, then two of just Arch, and handed the camera back.
"These are lovely," Dr Palmer said, beaming.
"Don't worry, the boys won't say anything about those abilities of yours," Doctor Strange said to me. "Diana explained to me how you'd gotten them, and of course, you're not the only one from a hero family. Rob's father is Daredevil, and of course there's me. They all can keep secrets."
"Who's your hero?" Rain asked me in puzzlement.
"Mom's Wonder Woman," I said, wanting to rub my face but refraining due to makeup. Doctor Strange had no sense of appropriateness. "Batman also runs in the family."
"Holy cow," Rob said.
"Jesus, Dad, you can't just out my friends like that," Arch said irritably. "It's hard enough to act normal as it is."
Doctor Strange looked irritated too. Now that I was looking, I could see a definite resemblance. "Kids these days. You should be glad that you know other kids who also bear your burdens," he said, a trace of sarcasm tinging his voice.
"Dammit, Steven," Dr Palmer said, raising her voice.
"We're going now," Arch said hastily, and urged us toward the door.
"Have fun, honey!" Dr Palmer called after her son.
We retreated to the limo in some disarray, and I was grateful that it was driverless. We pulled away to pick up Rain's date, a dainty girl from the debate team that he and Rob were on. Cari wore a filmy buttercup-yellow long dress that looked beautiful on her.
"I always wanted to ask you who does your hair, Anna," she said as we drove on to pick up Arch.
"I got wise the last time I went and picked up a bunch of Gina's cards," I said, and gave her one that I'd stashed in my evening bag. "People always ask. She's phenomenal."
Conversation was a lot more lively once Cari joined us, then it was off to pick up Arch's date, Brenda. She wore a tight red sheath and had her blond hair in a flamboyant bouffant. We had photos at both residences, no more embarrassing reveals, and then it was off to dinner. The dinner was fun, then we went to the dance in the ballroom of one of the Manhattan hotels. Not one of the five star hotels that hosted the proms for the private schools, but it was nice, the decorations were pretty, the tickets were affordable, and nobody cared anyway once the prom activities were in gear--photos, punch, socializing, and dancing. We took a break at nine for a few announcements from administration, then it was back to dancing. We didn't have prom royalty at this high school; the courts were just an exercise in popularity and it was kind of pointless to most of us aside from the ones who'd like the acclaim. Most of the class stayed until the dance ended at eleven, and we were still in a party mode, so we went to an ice cream parlor for a treat before the limo dropped us off in reverse order. There wasn't much distance between Arch and Cara, so we didn't get to discuss the bombshell that Doctor Strange had dropped until we were on the way out to my house.
"So how did you get abilities from your mom, and are you going to be a hero too?" Rain asked.
"No, I'm not a hero," I said, sighing. "Mom was blessed at her birth by five goddesses, and some of them took a special interest in her offspring. They're not actually very useful."
"Still, that's pretty cool," Rob said. "My dad's just got super keen senses, offsets his blindness. And he's been practicing martial arts forever."
"What's interesting about Mr Murdock is that he wasn't born blind," Rain said thoughtfully. "He lost his sight in an accident, a chemical spill, but it persisted past death and into the Return. My dad thinks it's because it's become such an integral part of his identity."
"It's also a pain in your dad's butt," Rob said, leaning back. "Mr Nelson sometimes has to cover for my dad when he's too banged up to function. He doesn't have a healing factor, unfortunately. But if he just used some common sense, he wouldn't be nearly as bad off."
"What does your mom think of that?" I asked.
"Well, my mom's an assassin, known as Elektra," he said. "Dad sued for custody and cut my birth mother out entirely. He married Claire Temple, who is an ER nurse, she patched up heroes on the side in her first life, she's been my mom for most of my life. Elektra did make contact a few years ago, but I don't have any special training and it's really too late for me to train up to her standards, fortunately. Dad blew a gasket when he learned that she'd seen me. But since then, she's sent email, just checking in to see how I am. I feel like a specimen sometimes."
"So is that why you're so active in the Red Cross club?" I asked. He and Rain both nodded.
"Claire sometimes benefits by having a trained helper around when Dad drags in," Rob explained.
"Rob's not uncoordinated, but he does get in fixes," Foggy said. "That broken nose that Dr Palmer referenced? That was Rob. If somebody trips, it's likely to be Rob. Or sprains an ankle. Or needs stitches. Or--"
"She gets the idea, Rain," Rob said tetchily. "It's also lucky that Arch's mom is really good at patching us up."
"So I'm really confused about his dad," Rain said. Rob nodded, both of them leaning forward. "Who is he?"
"The Sorcerer Supreme for the planet," I said. "He works with the Avengers sometimes; I just met him at a get together they had. I asked, he can really do magic. Uncle Tony said he was a world-class surgeon until he got himself in a car wreck with his distracted driving, then went to Tibet or Nepal or someplace to study mystic arts. And he can bend time with his necklace."
"I think it's an amulet or something," Rain said.
We pulled up to the house and Rob walked me to the door, kissing me lightly before I went in. Mom and Dad were still up even though it was midnight. Geeze.
"How was the dance, honey?" Dad asked, then scowled as he saw the state of my dress, much more wrinkly than when I left the house. "Did that little pissant--"
"Relax, Dad, it was Doctor Strange's inappropriately affectionate cloak," I said with a sigh. "Turns out he's Arch's dad."
"Really?" Mom asked, leaning forward. "I had no idea he had a child. Arch is your math tutor friend?" I nodded.
"He came over to do the dad thing and the cloak came at me like a huge flying squirrel and sort of... hugged me. Doctor Strange took it away, but my dress was already crushed."
"It doesn't look damaged, though."
"No, just creased." We talked a little about how fun the dance had been, where we'd gone for dinner, how my ankle was feeling (tired) and then I went to bed.