Discovery

The wind curled around Theresa Tapper like a velvet ribbon, tugging playfully at the hem of her cherry-red micro-skirt as she soared high above the city skyline. Lights sparkled beneath her like static caught in motion. Her heels seemed to shine in the ambient light as she shifted her posture, crossing over an empty stretch of rooftop and banking low to enjoy the sensation of the night rushing past her bare skin.

She felt invincible. The lace at her thighs whispered against the wind. Her tight black satin top hugged her like armor. The corset lacing made her breasts sit proud and high, cinching her waist in just enough to remind her that, despite her age, she could still turn heads when she wanted. The city was hers tonight.

And it had been a very good night.

Passing the upper window of an office tower, her reflection catching in the glass, she smiled. This version of her—stripper heels, lace, power humming in her veins—this was the version she couldn't share with anyone. A secret goddess in the night. Unique in her power, alone in the secret garden of the night.

Or so she thought.

A flicker. A figure. She slowed.

Far ahead, silhouetted against the crescent moon, someone else was flying. Slower than she was, unsure. Amateurish.

Another supe?

She narrowed her eyes and followed at a distance, adjusting her altitude with a subtle dip of her hips. The figure was slim. Lean. Dressed in...

Was that vinyl?

As they drifted beneath a security floodlight on a rooftop below, the light hit them square. Black vinyl pleated micro-skirt. A sheer lacy top. Bare midriff. Satin panties catching the glow like a glimmer of guilt.

Her heart slammed in her chest as their face became clear in the light.

Trevor?!

Without thinking, she surged forward.

"Trevor?!"

The figure stopped mid-flight. Wobbled. Turned.

"Mom?!"

They hovered in the air, facing each other. The wind was suddenly loud.

He was flushed, his cheeks bright red even in the dark, eyes wide, panic-stricken. He tried to cover himself with his hands, but the damage had been done. Theresa was staring at her son, wearing slutty women's clothing. Flying.

Theresa blinked, then blinked again.

"How long have you known?" she asked, heart still racing.

"Just this week," Trevor blurted. "It's brand new. I swear. I didn't know—I didn't know you could—I didn't think anyone else—"

She burst out laughing. It surprised even her. The tension cracked like glass.

Trevor hovered awkwardly, crossing his arms over his bare midriff, clearly not sure what to do.

Theresa shook her head, smiling now. "Okay. Okay. Let's land. I think we have a lot to talk about."

She led the way to a nearby building—a flat, quiet rooftop overlooking the river. The city hummed around them. They landed softly, heels and bare feet touching down in unison. Without speaking, they sat at the edge, legs swinging into the empty space below.

It took a moment before either of them had the courage to speak.

"You look good," she said finally, glancing sideways at him with a smirk.

Trevor groaned. "Please don't."

She laughed again. "I just mean—you're rocking the look. It suits you."

He said nothing, just kept his eyes on the skyline.

They sat in silence for a minute.

Then, she exhaled. "I discovered mine when I was younger than you. Just a girl, really. Tried on your Aunt Beth's lingerie. I floated right up to the ceiling. That's when I knew."

Trevor turned to her, stunned. "Wait, you've always had them?"

"All these years," she nodded. "But I kept them to myself. I never wanted it to get in the way of being your mom."

He nodded slowly.

"I was so glad that it didn't pass on to you," she said quietly, more to herself. "Or at least I thought it hadn't. And not the clothes thing. Honestly, even without powers, if that was what you were into, I could live with it. No, I was worried you'd hurt yourself, or try something stupid. I know how dangerous it can be to be a meta. I watch the news."

Trevor gave her a look. "Guess I messed that up."

"No," she said, placing a hand gently on his arm. "You haven't messed anything up. You're a little late to the game, but this is your heritage. I'm sorry that I kept it from you, but not that I know, I have so much to teach you."

"You don't think it's weird?" he asked. "Me... dressed like..."

"Look at me!" she laughed, "I'm an old lady, dressed like a total streetwalker! You can't control how to activate your powers any more than I can. So you have to play dress up a bit. Look at what you get out of it. It's a fair trade-off."

They sat like that, mother and son, dressed like two scandalous strangers from different fantasies, looking out over the city that neither of them had to face alone anymore.

Stars blinked into view above them.

"You ready for this?" she asked.

Trevor looked down at his lacy top, his mesh-paneled panties, the vinyl skirt barely covering his thighs.

He nodded. "Yeah. I think so."

"Good," she smiled, squeezing his arm. "Because the sky's big, and I've never flown with a partner. Let's find out what that's like."