Amusement
Amusement parks were interesting places. Morbidly unhealthy food, money snatching rigged games, life threateningly rickety rides and huge and plentiful cracks in the asphalt ground that Flash kept catching his cane on. Meanwhile Felicia jumped every time and (unnecessarily) slapped her hand on his chest to stop him from possibly tripping. Despite the slight bruise that was probably starting develop on Flash’s sternum the kids were having a blast.
Flash had won an almost impossible ring toss game to win Scream a tiger plush practically twice her size, Phage and Lasher were devouring their third funnel cake drowned in whipped cream, Agony had about six balloon animals in her arms not including the ones Felicia was holding for her and Carnage was jumping in line for their hundredth round on the biggest rollercoaster in the park. Dragging Flash along with them, Flash stumbling over his own prosthetics to keep up with the hyperactive second grader.
Felicia sighed and sat down on a nearby bench to watch Flash and Carnage become a little red blur and a blonde blur once the ride started up. Agony suddenly ran up and Felicia assumed she wanted her balloon animals but then she started talking.
“Aunt Felicia! Where do babies come from?” The girl demanded to know.
Felicia choked and spit on the soda she was sipping and coughed.
“Why would you ask me that?”
“My teacher said grown up women know where they come from. You’re a grown up woman.”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Is it a secret?” Agony pressed.
“Uhh, maybe?”
“Do you not know?” She inquired further.
“Eggs. They come from eggs.” Is what Felicia landed on.
“No they don’t! We have eggs in the fridge all the time and nothing ever comes out of the fridge.”
“How would you know?”
“I know! Daddy would tell me, he tells me everything!”
“Then why don’t you ask him about this?”
“I don’t think he knows.” She stated.
Apparently Eddie being a Grade A Certified Dumbass was really just the vibe he gave off to everybody. Even his own offspring. Agony took Sleeper’s hand when he held it up to her from his seat on Felicia’s lap, lacing her little clawed fingers with his even littler clawed ones and pressing their palms together.
“Sleeper didn’t come from an egg. I remember.” She added.
“You’re right, he came from a vending machine.” Felicia replied.
“No he didn’t!” Agony was indignant at the idea that her precious baby brother could have come from the same place as stale candy bars for the miniscule price of one dollar.
“He probably did.” Carnage said as he all but snuck up behind her.
“Okay, I think I’m definitely going to be sick this time.” Flash groaned putting all his weight on his cane for support if he actually hurled.
“Maybe you should lay off the doing whatever Carnage wants for a while.” Felicia hummed back.
“Then what kind of uncle would I be?” He smiled his Hollywood smile.
Felicia’s face flushed and she distracted herself by gently pinching Sleeper’s cheek- something she’s grown fond of doing. As much as she hated to admit any kid anywhere was adorable, this one was much more adorable than the human crop.
Thankfully Agony let her interrogation go and joined her other siblings in their goal to run all over the park in record breaking time. Dragging Flash and Felicia with them. The two of them were both very accomplished superheroes (or accomplished anti-hero) but this afternoon was exhausting them both beyond their expectations and it was time once again for even more fatty, fried, sugar coated snacks.
As they waited for their snacks to be made Sleeper wriggled in Flash’s grasp and reached excitedly at the bundles of colorful cotton candy.
“Muyee!”
“What are you lookin’ at avocado?” Flash asked trying to see what he was so excited about.
“Muuuuyee!” He elongated the strange word like he was trying to make it clearer to them.
“I think he’s trying to say Mommy. I think.” Felicia guessed.
“Do you mean Mommy, Sleeps?” Flash tilted his head.
Sleeper squealed hearing the word, apparently that was what he meant.
“What the hell about cotton candy could be reminding him of Eddie?” Felicia pondered aloud.
“Uhm, Eddie’s soft?” Flash rose an eyebrow as he tried to deduce.
“He can’t feel the cotton candy from here , Flash.” Felicia deadpanned back.
“Well I’m not an expert on the enigmas of the infant mind am I?” He shrugged.
After many more rides including the tilt-a-whirl, bumper cars, merry-go-round and the roller coaster yet again the sun was dipping below the horizon and the colorful neon lights started flickering on. Finally, the kids wanted to go on the ferris wheel to “see their house”.
They all climbed into their designated seats- Carnage, Agony and Phage in one, Lasher and Scream in another and Flash, Sleeper, Felicia in the last. Well really just Flash and Felicia, Sleeper was passed out from the fun and was more like an accessory now.
They sat paused at the top of the wheel, looking out at all the sparkling colored lights, keeping an eye on Carnage who was rocking their bench back and forth wildly making Agony and Phage laugh and scream below them. Felicia was absentmindedly wiggling her index finger as Sleeper held it in his sleep but momentarily stopped when she glanced over and saw Flash staring at her unabashedly.
“What?” She asked sharply as if she expected him to start teasing her or something.
“Nothing, you just look…” He trailed off at the end, suddenly shy which was unusual for him.
“Thanks.” She replied with the feeling that she knew what he was getting at.
Then Flash pulled the most cliche move ever created when he fake stretched and left his arm around her shoulders. Dork.
“What are you doing?” Amusement filled her voice.
“I, uh, is this bad? Should I not be doing this?” He asked more insecurely than before.
“No,” She chuckled “No not at all. It’s nice.”
“Cool!” He was giddy and it was as cute as he ever was.
They both gazed at each other, things were a lot different from how they used to be. Maybe this thing could work this time. Felicia decided it was worth a shot.