Well But With a Hint of a Storm Brewing

Walking into the family reunion as Amber, I can feel every eye in the room on us. The family's gathered in Mark's parents' living room, a place that screams middle-class with its plaid couches and family photos. Mark's a total nerd, right down to the glasses and awkward shuffle, and here I am, the redheaded bombshell on his arm, looking like I just stepped out of a fantasy.

His mom is the first to recover, bustling over with wide eyes. "Mark, honey, who is this?" she gushes, her eyes flicking between us.

I slip my arm through Mark's, leaning into him like I'm the luckiest girl in the world. "I'm Amber," I say with a smile that feels surprisingly genuine. "Mark's girlfriend."

The conversation that follows is surreal. His uncles are cracking jokes, asking Mark what level of sorcery he used to land a girl like me. His cousins are giving me the third degree, like they can't believe I'm real. And I'm playing my part to perfection, defending Mark with a quick wit and a loving gaze that says he's my hero, not just some dork with a lucky break.

It's fucking weird, acting like I'm madly in love with a guy. Me, a lesbian, now owned by this… well, let's be honest, less-than-handsome dude. But as I stand there, laughing at his dad's corny jokes and squeezing Mark's hand, I realize I'm actually enjoying making him look good.

Mark's sister, a sharp-tongued woman with a skeptical look, leans in close. "So, Amber, what's a gorgeous thing like you doing with a guy like Mark?"

I don't miss a beat. "He's kind, smart, and he treats me like a queen," I say, pouring every ounce of sincerity I can muster into my voice. "What more could a girl want?"

And just like that, I've got them eating out of the palm of my hand. I'm telling stories, laughing, and feeling Mark's pride swell with every compliment thrown his way. It's a bizarre twist of fate, but here I am, Volt Vixen, a shapeshifting superhero, playing the role of the perfect girlfriend to a nerd who just happened to become my master. And against all odds, I'm fucking happy to do it.

Glancing out the window, I spot something off in the garden. There's a figure skulking behind the bushes, not quite hidden from my view. Excusing myself with a quick peck on Mark's cheek, I slip outside, my heart pounding but not from fear. I know how to handle trouble.

I find Sienna, my fiery assistant, arms crossed and looking like she's ready to spit nails. "What the hell are you doing here, Kat?" she hisses, her gaze cutting.

I keep my voice low, trying to sound casual. "Just helping out a friend," I lie through my teeth. "Mark needed a fake girlfriend to get his family off his back. It's nothing, just for today."

Sienna's not buying it, her eyes narrowing. "Bullshit. You've been off ever since that run-in with Dr. Mind. I've been following you, Kat. This isn't you."

I take a step back, my gut twisting. "Sienna, I—"

She steps forward, her anger giving way to concern. "Let me scan you, back at the lair. We need to know if that ray fucked with your brain."

I shake my head, even though a part of me screams that she's right. "I can't, Sienna. I have to stay," I say, and it's the truth, but not for the reason I'm pretending. "Maybe later…"

We stare each other down, two sides of a coin that's been tossed in the air. She finally turns away, her voice heavy. "I'm not letting this go, Kat."

I head back to the reunion, slipping my hand into Mark's as if nothing had happened. But I lean in close, my voice barely above a whisper, "We might have a situation with my assistant, Sienna. She's been tailing me and she's convinced I'm brainwashed or some shit."

Mark's eyes meet mine, and there's a flicker of guilt, or maybe it's concern. "But… you are," he points out, his voice just as low.

We're standing there, surrounded by his family's buzz of conversation, locked in this heavy silence. I can feel the weight of his words, and it's like a punch to the gut. 'Cause he's right. Dr. Mind's ray did a number on me, and here I am, playing house.

I push past the weirdness, the reality of the situation, and focus on the problem at hand. "Listen, I've got the ray stashed at the lair. What if we use it on Sienna? Could solve our little problem."

He's clearly uncomfortable with the idea, shifting from foot to foot. "I don't know, Kat… One mind-controlled superhero is a lot; two might be a bit much."

"Don't sweat it," I reassure him, throwing in a little tease, "Sienna's no superhero. But she is a hot redhead, just the way you like 'em."

He cracks a smile, and I know I've got him on board, at least with the idea of Sienna. We're playing a dangerous game here, but fuck it, I'm already deep in this twisted fantasy, might as well see how far the rabbit hole goes.

We wrap up the day with Mark's family, and I'm still playing the role of the devoted Amber. I give Mark a lingering, tender kiss, making sure to keep up appearances until we're well out of sight. As soon as we're alone, and I'm certain no prying eyes are on us, I let the façade drop, shifting back into Volt Vixen. My body hums with energy as I zap the transponder Sienna uses to track me, frying it with a satisfying sizzle.