Missiles & Magic

The memory came unbidden. First family dinner at his sister's he brought Maddie to, "making it official".
Deirdre was her suspicious but prim, proper and pleasant self.
Maddie could charm anybody (that thought sat particularly ill with him right now) but that evening she was trying to be 'normal'.
Philip kept the atmosphere light that night. And she played along.
To the point, that Deirdre - as the youngsters did the dishes - suggested Maddie might actually be more appropriate (Agewise. Of course.) for him than for Thorne.
"Treat her well for me, uncle," Philip winked at him as they were leaving.

"She swears the baby is yours. Are you going to do anything about it?" Philip asked his uncle gingerly.
There was no answer. The young agent didn't have to be an empath to feel the chill radiating from Thorne.
"Look, I get you don't want to talk... even think about it. And that's cool. Just... The worst thing that could happen, if you *do* care for them... is you look gullible, if she's lying."
The fists on the table have clenched.
"If she's telling the truth, you'd be abandoning your child. And that's not something you want held against you."

The most awkward thing on a gift like Lion's was it created a lot of false expectations.
Some were easy to remedy (or ignore), because he didn't *need* to see his mark again, and didn't give them a way to contact him in the first place (or not a real one).
But then there were the assets he was expected to cultivate and work with over a longer period of time.
Some stretches of silence (not ghosting! never ghosting!) spoke volumes by themselves.
And if they didn't - there was always loudest one after he asked "can we still be friends?"

"Do you do this often?" she asked, breathless, as they finally collapsed onto his bed.
He looked at her via the mirror on his ceiling.
"Not really."
Truth was, BDSM was not his usual kink. But having a magical whip was too tempting to resist.
And, he mused as he replayed the last hours in his mind, there was something to be said about the satisfying twang of it against exposed skin and the moans it elicited from his - thoroughly chastised - partner.
So much so, actually, that he might have to put it in his repertoire of amorous tactics permanently.

They caught up with the winner in the mingle after the competition.
"Congratulations on the ribbon!" Lion beamed at the slight brunette.
"Pity we can't let you keep it," Owl added quietly. "Given that you haven't played square."
She gave the old man a withering look.
"I have no idea what you mean."
"The magic in your whip, dear."
"It's not against the rules," she shrugged.
"Let's see if the judges think the same, shall we?"
"Unless you want to tell us where you got it... and then maybe we could figure out a better use for it," Lion winked.

Lion slid onto his seat in the section reserved for coaches and owners of the horses.
He compared his betting tickets with the list, looked up and frowned.
He couldn't see the starting paddock anywhere.
The PA system blared a jingle and the announcer called out horse number 1 - Spring Blossom.
The horse and rider approached the tribune, curtsied (he didn't know horses could do that) and began something that looked almost like a dance routine.
"I thought you said horse races, Owl?"
The older agent smiled: "I said competition, laddie. Dressage. It's a modern, very precise and cut-throat sport."

Osprey seemed spoiling for a rumble.
"We totally could take him, I tell you!"
Lion shook his head.
"Didn't both Tiger AND Raven tell you it's a bad idea?"
"But what do they know. We could just jump in and out..."
"As much as I appreciate your enthusiasm for revenge, Osprey, this is something I will have to handle by myself, and with a bit more grace than just 'hurr durr, go get 'em'! Believe me, I tried."
He shook his head, bracing, and then stepped into the restaurant where his father was waiting for him with his new family.

The fight was more or less equal, with none of the combatants having a clear advantage.
"Is that all you got?" Lion teased.
"Actually..." his opponent smirked and pulled out something, that was probably an artifact.
Lion jumped back and the spell almost missed him.
He remained standing as a statue.
His opponent came closer to him, but right then a portal opened under his feet.
A moment later Osprey appeared through another portal, Tiger on her heels, rubbing his back.
"Well, that worked pretty great," she smiled.
"Not sure I'd pick it again," Lion, melting from the paralysis replied.

I've known about my gift since... high school, senior year prom season.
Of course, that's when every guy thinks they have it...
*eyebrow wiggle*
[audience laughs]
Most guys in college would sell their abused kidney for it.
Luckily for my brother, my kidneys were safe - I never went to college.
[audience laughs]
Of course, if indeed you give up a body part, you don't need feromones to attract the women.
[exaggerating]
That scar? Oh, I had a near death experience a month ago. I'd tell you more, but being an agent, I'd then have to kill - um, sorry, kiss - you.

Philip knew most people found his uncle intimidating at the best of times, but he never felt that way. Until now.
The anger that lashed out when that mousy salesman came - that was bad. But the void staring out of his eyes afterwards was way worse.
Void that hid emotions Philip remebered only too well.
Betrayal and hurt, feeling helpless and useless in the face of the circumstances.
And being so utterly alone, isolated - partly by choice, mostly by the belief that no one could understand anyway.
"You know you still have us," he tried.
"I know," the void answered.