SSV3 Chapter 4 (Patreon)

After we finished our first stop on patrol, it had been reasonably smooth sailing. I’d paired Amelia with Stella or Emma, and I’d paired Ivanna with Mona for the next several crimes we’d intercepted.

It helped for the trainees to work with seasoned professionals, even if some hadn’t been superheroes for long.

Stella and Mona had enough experience that they could coach and fight.

And after each situation, Emma sat her ‘kittens’ aside and coached them on what they could do better. She seemed reluctant to participate in any of the action.

Emma was a creature of stealth and sudden attacks. Taking somebody on head on wasn’t her idea of fun. And she wasn’t about to do something she didn’t want to do. But she stayed by my side, finding ways to help the team until an opportunity that interested her arose.

I stretched as I came out of the shower at our home. Flying around tended to lead to a lot of grime. It felt good to clean up.

“Miles.” Melody’s voice floated into the bathroom. “I want to show you my new suit!”

I was more than happy to have her model for me. “Come on in. I’m just drying off.”

Melody immediately strutted in on her long purple legs, with her silver hair trailing behind her. She did a wonderful runway walk through our master bath.

Her new super suit was dark with gold swirls and star detailing, letting her skin do most of the color, contrasting with the gold. She had cuffs that wound around her wrist and some sheer material connecting the fabric around her torso.

But what drew my attention the most was the giant smile that she wore with the outfit. She felt good, and that made me genuinely happy.

“You like?” She asked, hope in her eyes as she twisted a little, letting me see all the angles.

“Amazing. But you’ll need a new name that fits your new look, and you’ll need one anyway as you play a villain for the government’s newest scheme.” I wrinkled my nose at Pratt’s plan.

Melody gave a little shrug. “You seem to have a thing for villains. I don’t mind a little role play.” Her nose crinkled slightly as she giggled at her own joke.

“Oh is that what we are calling it now?” I pulled her towards me, wrapping my arms around her as I leaned down and kissed her forehead.

“I don’t love putting you in danger like this. After your mutations, it doesn’t sit right with me to push you down this path.” I was honestly worried it would compound with her recent loss of self-esteem and send her into a dangerous spiral.

Melody leaned into me, looking up into my eyes. “It’s fine Miles. I read the file. Tomorrow, I’ll put in my formal acceptance of the plan.”

“Maybe Void should team up with you.” I tried to think of a way not to alienate her.

“That could be fun.” Melody tapped at her lips. “We do share a theme now, power wise. Though I’m still not your match.”

She paused, adding in. “Well, we match the theme of Void’s darkness wrapped outfit being the night sky versus your black hole theme.”

Watching her think it through, I realized Melody might enjoy getting to be a fake villain. She’d always had such clear-cut views; this let her test out being bad while doing it for a good reason.

The same mind set she’d need to adopt as a villain would help her restore her confidence.

And I would keep her safe. With my powers, I could protect her well enough.

But I was seriously considering joining her as Void. It could increase her value to Pratt, which might also keep her safer. He was less likely to throw her into an awful situation if she was his best tie to Void.

I wouldn’t put it past Pratt.

“Cheer up. You are getting all broody on me.” Melody poked my face.

“Fine. Let me get dressed. I’m going out to dinner with Stella. Promise to still be the voice of reason around here, even if you do go on a villain bender?”

Melody stood back and whistled innocently while she swayed on her feet. “Maybe? I’m kind of looking forward to being a villain. It’s an opportunity to understand you a little better.”

I gave her another kiss before turning to go.

“Fine. Now go make sure Stella picks out an outfit, so I’m not waiting forever once I’m dressed.” I knew the girls almost too well at this point. We’d been living together for a few weeks, and we’d settled into a sort of rhythm.

Melody was at least mastering the mischievous smile she’d needed as a villain as she wandered away to check on Stella for me.

Moving towards my closet, I worked to pick out an outfit.

We were going out somewhere nice, but not super fancy. I put on a pair of dress pants and a button-down shirt, avoiding my work slacks because even if they were a little more comfortable, they just reminded me too much of work.

Angelina glided into the bedroom with a fluid grace. She might have gained it over time, but I had a feeling some of it came from her fluid body. “Coming to check on you. Stella has been dressed for a few minutes now.”

“She beat me?” I straightened out my cuffs and grabbed a brighter tie than normal.

“Let me.” Angelina took the tie and got close enough that I could smell her sweet breath. “Dates are good. It’s healthy for you two to rebuild a connection even after the rest of us have joined your household.”

I held my chin up as she tied my tie. “Is that a subtle pass at wanting a date for yourself?”

“I wouldn’t say no.” She smirked and did a little twirl, reshaping her sweater and short skirt outfit into a slinky black dress that left little to the imagination. “But I shouldn’t tease you.” She reverted back. “I don’t want to see what Stella would do to me if I were to delay you too long.”

Chuckling, I checked the tie in the mirror before giving her a kiss on the check. “Then let’s not keep her waiting.”

Downstairs, the girls were huddled around Stella. Obsidian and her clones were diligently working on her hair and makeup.

But as soon as I stepped around the corner, Stella burst through the clones. “Miles, let's go!” She grabbed my arm and started hauling me away.

“You don’t want them to finish?” I took a good look at Stella.

She had her hair curled into loose ringlets that framed her face, with a bit of makeup accentuating her features. But she had chosen a ruby red lipstick that matched her current dress.

Every few steps, she was tugging the dress down. It barely covered all of her bits. Though several Obsidian hung back with brushes and combs. Clearly, this was how Stella had gotten ready so quickly.

“Do they have anything to finish?” She asked, sounding a little dangerous.

I laughed. “Nope, not at all. You look lovely.” Taking her arm, I walked us out.

“Bye! You two have fun.” Emma waved with the others behind her. “I’ll make sure they don’t burn the house down while you are gone.”

I really hoped that she could keep everybody under control.

Stell and I stopped, and I held my arms out for her to pick me up and fly.

“Nope. You have to fly us. If I flew, it would mess up my hair.” Stella lightly stomped on the porch.

“Fine. But I don’t know where I’m going.” I teased her.

“I’ll give you directions.” Stella nodded happily.

I paused, not sure that I should trust Stella’s ability to direct us.

“Okay.” I wasn’t about to cause a fuss just as we were starting our date.

Wrapping the light around us, I made us invisible. But instead of a simple bubble, I made a small love seat for us to sit on.

“So, which way?” I asked as I lifted us into the sky.

She sat down next to me and leaned on my shoulder. “That way.” She pointed off in a direction. “This is nice. You should make seats when you fly more often.”

Rather than trying to figure out where we were going, I just shot off in the direction she’d indicated.

Stella sighed blissfully and kissed my neck. “I love you, Miles.”

“What brought that on?” I wrapped an arm around her waist and held her closer.

“We are always so busy. Keeping your secret, chasing down the next disaster for the city because you want to have control of the situation.” She picked up my hand and kissed it, leaving a faint lipstick stain on it.

Stella giggled at the mark. “I’ve claimed you as mine.”

“Of course I am yours. But I don’t have to have control.” I went back to what she’d said.

Now she let out a full bellied laugh. “Uh, sorry to break it to you, but you do. When things are going badly, you work yourself to be front and center. Not that it’s a bad thing, but you clearly want to protect this city. Even if you claim to be a bad person.”

“I’m not a bad person, but I’m certainly not good.” I argued. “Besides, Point City had become my quiet place, free from the problems. Then I added you girls.”

“Softie.” Stella giggled. “We are making you soft. But only at home. You’re still the big stern Deputy Director at work.” She gave me a mock scowl to make her point.

I hummed in agreement. At work I had to stay stern, both to get the respect of my position and to keep all the interested women away.

But I realized she was right. I was becoming just a little soft.

“Shoot. That’s the mall, we want to go…” Stella hesitated, looking around for landmarks that she knew. “That way.”

I pivoted our invisible carriage in the direction she’d indicated, although I suspected it still wasn’t quite right.

The Italian restaurant would be another thirty degrees to the right.

Maybe if I subtly shifted us as we flew…

“I know where it is, I swear.” Stella stated. It was almost like she knew what I was thinking.

I kept us on course. I wasn’t starving yet, and it didn’t matter if we took a less direct route to get there.

“What kind of place is it?” I probed, trying to narrow down the options.

“I found it online. It’s Italian, but it has a dance floor.” Stella’s eyes shone bright.

“Can you dance?” I asked.

“Nope, not beyond grinding. But I like to watch the fancy dances.” She smiled up at me with one of her classic too big grins.

Holding her close, I asked. “Why not dance?”

“Because I’d break things.” She sighed. “I never really could tell my left foot from my right. Flying is a lot easier, and punching. Punching solves most things.”

I told myself that I’d trick her into dancing at least once. She couldn’t be as bad as she said.

“That’s it!” Stella pointed at a building as we passed it. “I’m sure it is. It had that outdoor area with the grapevines.”

As I stopped, the building below us had a lovely pergola covered outdoor area with vines stretched across the boards. “Either way, it looks wonderful.”

I brought us down and landed, dissolving the invisible carriage and letting light return to its normal flow.

“Your hair managed the ride just fine.” I commented as she fluffed her curls with a smile.

A few people were startled by our sudden appearance, but Stella just held her chin out and took my arm as she marched into the restaurant.

“I have a reservation for Mathers.” Stella told the hostess. Who gathered up several menus and led us through the restaurant.

“My name?” I asked her.

She shrugged. “Maybe one of these days I’ll share it with you.” She turned back to lead the way while I moved behind her like a zombie. I felt like I’d just been hit with a two ton hammer.

Obviously, I was in a romantic relationship with her and the others, but none of them had gone as far as to mention… marriage.

I felt bars slamming down around me, locking me in.

My throat closed up, and I wasn’t sure what to say that wouldn’t ruin the moment. I was freaking out a little. Fighting titans was less intense.

Stella checked on me, and I realized her arm was shaking after the comment. “You aren’t about to disappear on me are you?” She peered up at me.

“No.” I squeezed out and took the seat across from her.

We had a table in the corner with a wonderful view of the dance floor, which was only sparsely populated. It was still early, but a pair of older couples danced expertly on the floor. They were almost fluid as the went back and forth on the dance floor like a pair of experts.

The whole restaurant had a soft ambiance of dim lighting and piano music, while the stage that might have a live singer sat empty.

“This is lovely.” I tried to pull my focus away from the marriage topic she’d dropped on me while I picked up the menu.

“Sorry. Did I freak you? I didn’t mean to push. Can we forget that I said that?” Stella looked at me over my menu.

“No. But I can move past it.” I replied.

Stella often pushed me forward. If she didn’t, I would have never ended up with her in the first place.

She’d pushed us into a relationship and into living together. I should have expected she’d be pushing for marriage at some point.

Swallowing a lump in my throat, I continued. “It’s just a little quick for me. It’s barely been a month.”

“Right. It just feels like a lot longer. We’ve been through so much together.” She gazed out the window longingly.

The waitress came by, introducing herself and dropping off some steaming bread and olive oil to dip it in.

“Yeah. We’ve been through a lot. Which is why I’m not running for the hills at the mere mention of marriage.” I reached across the table and snagged Stella’s hand before she could dig into the bread.

I could see her debating between continuing to hold my hand and grabbing the amazing smelling bread. She really was having trouble deciding, but she let her hand stay.

“Yeah, it was too early. Far too early. But I want to plant my flag and be the first one to marry you. If that’s okay?” Stella asked.

“You were first. I think that’s fair.” I gave her hand a squeeze before letting go.

She snatched up bread a moment later after picking the ‘perfect’ piece and started dipping it in the herb and olive oil on the saucer.

A different waitress came by. “Excuse me. I hope this isn’t rude, but are you Demoness?” The lady was like a bomb of excitement, ready to go off as she stared at Stella.

“I am.” Stella patted the air. “But I’m on a date. Can we keep it quiet?”

“Of course.” The waitress kept her arms tight to her body, despite her excitement. “Could I get an autograph? My daughter is your biggest fan.”

Stella nodded, and the waitress fished out a little hero booklet that I’d seen more than a few kids walking around carrying. “Just right here.”

The book had a drawing of Stella on it and a few statistics. The booklet must have been a newer one to have Stella featured. But they likely refreshed them frequently. They were popular with kids and teens.

Stella took the offered marker and scribbled on the booklet. She stuck her tongue out to the side as she worked to make it nice. “There. Hope that works.”

“Thank you. I’ll tell the manager you are here, and then we’ll make sure no one disturbs you.” The waitress reassured us.

The waitress was gone for maybe a minute before an older woman came by with three bottles of wine to choose from.

“It’s on the house. Thanks for visiting us.” The manager beamed at the two of us and hurried off.

Stella went back to picking at the bread. “I’m surprised no one recognizes you.”

“I don’t make headlines.” I reminded her. “Besides, it's easier this way.”

She sniffed at her wine and took a sip. “It’s good. You should try it.”

I took a sip, knowing that the two of us would probably kill the bottle of wine. It was good, and I took a deeper sip, moving into a comfortable conversation with Stella.

The waitress and manager did their part to let us have time to ourselves. The one time someone tried to approach us, they were swiftly cut off by a member of the staff and we were undisturbed for our date.

Stella watched the dancers as the dance floor grew more crowded throughout our dinner. Smiling as we finished up, it was my time to make my move and dance with Stella.