Celebrate

"I want you to stay here, understood?" You stand in the doorway to the penthouse, looking at the naked brunette kneeling on the floor in front of you.

"But, Alpha Man, I want to go with you!" Her form wavers, and now there are two of them looking up at you like lost kittens.

"We both do!" says the other.

"We want to feel like that again..." the first kneads her own breasts, eyelids flickering as she recalls the experience.

"You'd be a liability, every police **** in the country is looking for your face," you try to explain. They don't react. They diverge again, and now there are four naked girls gazing at you. "Okay, fine then. If you leave this apartment I won't fuck you again."

That gives them pause. "For how long?" one of them asks.

You sigh, making something up. "For six months."

They gasp, and turn to one another, probably conversing telepathically. "Okay, Alpha Man, we'll stay," they chorus.

"Good," you say, relieved. "There's food in the fridge, water in the taps, and clothes in the closet. Although I suggest you go back to an individual or the food will run out quickly. I'll be back to check up on you."

"When?" Gemini converges back to a single woman.

"Soon," you promise. "I'll figure this all out. Just stay here, and you'll feel that good again."

With that, you leave her to wistfully reminisce about the afternoon she's just had, as you set off back for base.

As you pull into the garage, Rachel doesn't even wait for you to even turn the bike off as she greets you with a passionate kiss.

"That was brilliant, Michael. You saved eighty hostages without hurting anyone."

You dismount from the bike and put a hand around her waist, pulling her body into yours. Rachel gasps and sinks happily into your kiss, wrapping her arms around the back of your neck. You don't think you'll ever get used to the feeling of her soft, sweet lips against yours - they feel perfect, with just the right amount of moistness to them. Kissing Rachel, feeling her nubile body pressed into yours - this is what coming home should feel like, you reflect. This is what being a hero should earn you.

Once you've had a good snog, you walk down the corridor towards the main house, Rachel attaching herself to your arm as she accompanies you. You find Foxgloves, Woodpecker and Artemis waiting for you in the 'hero room'.

"Nice job today, stud," says Carly, trailing a green hand over your chest and shoulder as she saunters past.

"Man, I bet Ultragirl is fuming right about now," grins Ben. "What did you do with Gemini?"

"She's somewhere safe," you reply. "I convinced her to behave better. She's gone down the wrong path, but I don't think she's even close to irredeemable. At any rate, she needs rehabilitation, not a prison cell."

"She needs the Mutant Act abolished, as does everyone with a powerful mutation," says Rachel seriously.

You kiss her on the forehead. "We'll figure it out - eventually. Don't worry."

"Yeah," comments Carly. "But we can worry about that later. For now -" she effortlessly uncorks a wine bottle with her hands. "- we celebrate!"

You change into civilian clothes, and join the other four in taking some much-needed time off at your first true victory. Mary obediently waits on you with food and drinks, dressed in a too-tight waitress outfit. You recline on the couch, with Carly draping herself against you to the left, and Rachel snuggling close on your right. Ben sits on the sofa opposite, but Holly stands off to the side, rarely engaging in the conversation.

"You know, it's been ages since I've been to a theme park," muses Ben, putting his feet up. "I used to love roller coasters so much the staff knew me by name."

"What, you don't think being a superhero and spending most of your time fighting isn't exciting enough?" you ask.

"Well, yeah," argues Ben, changing position again, as he was prone to do. "Fighting bad guys is nowhere near the same as that feeling of speed and exhilaration you get from a rollercoaster."

"Speak for yourself," says Carly, wrinkling her nose. "Those things make me vomit. I'll stay grounded, thanks!"

"A-ha, we've found Foxgloves' weakness - motion sickness," you joke. Rachel snuggles a little closer, and you stroke her soft hair.

"When she goes rogue, we'll know what to do," Ben joins in, holding a straight face. "We tie her to a roller coaster, one of those ones that spins you round and round, and let it do the work for us."

"Oh, shut up, you dorks," sighs Carly, though she smiles as she throws a canape at the ADHD boy, who bursts into a fit of laughter.

"How do you suggest we beat you then?" you challenge the other man, grinning.

"Oh, easy," he chuckles. "Lock me in a bare room for more than five minutes, and I'll do anything to escape."

"Wouldn't you just punch your way out?" suggests Rachel, not lifting her head from your shoulder.

"A room with walls made of solid titanium, then," Ben amends. "Or a Bond villain monologue. A **** of boredom isn't the way I want to go out!"

As the conversation continues, you notice Artemis quietly slipping out of the room, and you stand up after she doesn't return.

"Where are you going?" asks Rachel petulantly.

"To check on Holly," you reply. The three heroes nod and turn back to the party, though you see the hint of a knowing smirk on Rachel's face.