August 8, 2010 - Happy Harbor, RI
Mt. Justice
09:51:26
The morning summer sun was a warming kiss as Connor stepped onto the sandy beach, M’gann, Kaldura and Rikki in front of him. It was another beautiful summer’s day along the Rhode Island coast, and they had the isolated cove beneath the shelter of Mt. Justice to themselves. A few sailboats drifted back and forth in the bay but the team was otherwise alone. Connor found himself carrying the majority of their beach gear, steadfastly refusing any of the girl’s attempts to gallantly carry it themselves. He had to pick Rikki up like a suitcase in order to get her to acknowledge that in the field of carrying large weights, he needed no chivalrous female assistance. It had required putting everything on a spare pallet and hefting that over his head but it was way less awkward than trying to carry it all by arm load.
Gizmo, too, gamely tried to emulate his ‘big brother’ and was currently dragging his sand pail and shovel behind him, filled to the brim with snack packs. The little G-Gnome was heaving, huffing and puffing, but refused to give up. Connor shot him an encouraging smile as he found them a good spot and laid out the beach chairs, coolers, umbrella and portable grill. Rikki and Kaldura were busy setting up a volleyball net, while M’Gann busied herself laying down their towels and laying out the victuals for lunch.
Connor found himself distracted from erecting their umbrella, unable to tear his gaze away from her. M’gann wasn’t in her human guise today, since there were no civilians to spot them, barring the distant boaters. She was green as ripe lime, with her red hair and freckles, and wearing a conservative yellow two piece bathing suit.
She looks… good. Really good.
In either of her forms, M’gann projected a wholesome, girl next door vibe that he found charming. Wearing her bathing suit showed her figure off to its best effect; she was slim and hourglass shaped, with a modest bust. Her green skin made her exotic, rather than alien, since her hair and freckles humanized her so fully. Connor had to try to remember she was an alien from another planet, instead of an all American cheerleader.
I’m technically from another planet, too. Just one superficially more like this one.
That was a strange thought; not troubling anymore, but weird. He was adjusting after a month here, with a new life, new powers, new friends to keep him busy. It was good, all things considered, that he had arrived in a universe he recognized elements of. Having a frame of reference and some idea of the history made it more palatable. It was easy to accept M’gann was a Martian because he knew who her aunt was, though their Mars was different than the canon he knew. Kaldura being an Atlantean was the same; even though she, he had been surprised to learn, was only half Atlantean. That did not really explain her choice of beach swimwear; a high necked one piece in seafoam green that covered more than her costume did.
It was harder to accept that he wasn’t human anymore.
He locked the umbrella into position and rose, smiling at Gizmo as he triumphantly drew his little plastic shovel and began excavating a new sand burrow, as was his wont.
Much easier to accept when you have ‘brothers’ who share that status with you, now.
“Hello, Megan! We should hit the beach every day.” M’gann shouted as she sprang up and grabbed her bougie board, her enthusiasm widening his smile, watching her jog towards the others.
“First,” Rikki began. “A moment of silence for our absent comrade.”
Connor crossed himself, eyes down, while Rikki posed as if she was delivering a eulogy. Kaldura inclined her head and M’gann sighed.
“Poor Walli…” She declared, looking downcast.
Then they all cracked up.
Walli had been invited, but their Sunday beach trip had conflicted with her having to pack up for her move into the dorm rooms at Stanford on Monday. Connor had asked why she hadn’t already packed up instead of waiting till the last minute, and her hurried excuses hadn’t been particularly compelling. It was her own fault for leaving things to the last minute and having to rush. Walli had assured them she would be done by the afternoon and join them by Zeta-Tube, but there had been little faith in that proclamation.
It was another perfect day.
They swam in the water, Kaldura challenging them to an underwater race, which she easily won. M’gann gave her much more of a challenge by shapeshifting into a mermaid form that surprised them all. Rikki grumbled about not being allowed to bring her rebreather and swim fins, which caused Connor to mock her need for a utility belt at the beach. In the wake of his own loss, he had asked Kaldura to teach him how to better apply his super strength while swimming. It mostly involved seizing handfuls of the water and hurling them behind himself, which felt silly but proved its worth with massive acceleration.
Lunch was grilled hot dogs, prepared by himself, which M’gann carefully sat back from. It was paired with chips and homemade lemonade, prepared by M’gann. Though they did have to fight Gizmo for the chips. The G-Gnome was only distracted by M’gann offering him an all beef hot dog that was half the length of his body.
After lunch they played a game of doubles beach volleyball, with a strict no powers rule. Said rule was progressively violated more and more, from Connor’s superhuman leaps to spike the ball, to M’gann lengthening her arms in increasingly unsubtle ways. It eventually ended with Kaldura summoning an octopodal construct of seawater with her hydrokinesis and covering her entire half of the court with it, watery tentacles providing an impenetrable defense.
All the while, Rikki grumbled about the rules and her lack of her utility belt to really cheat. It was all in good fun though, and left them all in stitches.
As the afternoon wore on, Gizmo retreated into his sand burrow to sleep off his multiple meals, and the others decided the best activity was trying to bury Connor up to his neck in the sand and see if he could still escape. He did so, easily, but instantly regretted his participation as sand had infiltrated everywhere. It couldn’t chafe or abrade his skin (Thank you invulnerability!) but it did feel awful. He leapt into the water in a cannonball, raising a huge geyser of water that soaked the others.
When the sun began to sink behind Mt. Justice and painted the sky with vivid pinks and purples, they finally packed everything up and headed back to the Cave. Everyone went to hit the showers, but Rikki hung back from the others as they split off for the men and women’s facilities. Connor looked at her inquiringly and she simply waggled her eyebrows suggestively while glancing towards the men’s shower, and he turned beat red.
His mind shorted out as he tried to abruptly change gears and he tried to sputter out a reply, though his brain hadn’t really caught up to his mouth yet, so he wasn’t sure what it was supposed to be. Seeing his flustered state, Rikki laughed and waved him off, as she followed after the other girls. Connor gaped as he realized she had been messing with him, which gave him confusing feelings. He watched her hips sway as she sashayed away, wrapped in a pair of light green hip hugging bottoms that contrasted with her red top with yellow strings.
Thinking of Rikki, M’gann and Kaldura all in the women’s shower together gave him new and much less confusing feelings. He hurried into the showers before anyone noted his reaction to that idea.
It was a long, cold shower. Refreshing and calming, especially after a long day under the sun. The frigid water also helped him compose his thoughts on the events of the past few days.
I’m not sure how I’m supposed to react in these situations. On the one hand, yes please! On the other hand, the rest of the team is around? It feels disrespectful to be having a quickie in the shower. And I haven’t gotten a chance to talk to Walli about me and Rikki. Do I need to talk to Walli about that?
She had apparently been bragging to Rikki, even after he thought they had an understanding about keeping their friends with benefits-ship on the down low. They definitely weren’t exclusive, that was clearly stated on both ends. But it didn’t feel right to NOT tell her, either.
This has already gotten complicated. Its only been a month! I was going to take things slow, not go crazy with the whole gender role reversal thing. Girls are practically throwing themselves at me, including my superhero friends! I can’t help but worry this is going to go pear shaped somehow.
Connor sighed and let his forehead thunk against the tile wall, letting the cold water flow over him.
It will probably be fine. They both just want to have fun. They said so. So do I! It’ll be fine.
He reluctantly turned the shower off and left to dry off, hoping that it was true.
********
Connor was still dressing when a page came through, summoning the team to the Hall for a briefing.
In costume.
That wasn’t on the schedule… he mused, before getting into his costume. It was much easier for him than the others; he just changed t-shirts and threw the Jacket on over it. Heading toward the main Hall, he saw the others, minus Kid Quick, already there. With them were Batwoman, Black Canary and Wonder Woman.
Smiling, he headed over to the latter.
“Hey Diana, what’s up? What’s going on?”
“Connor!” She said brightly, and brought him into a surprise hug. He stiffened a bit, and carefully put his arms around her waist to return it. Her eyes twinkled at his reluctance, or perhaps his warming face.
“It is good to see you. I’m sorry I have not been around sooner to begin your mentoring, but duty ever calls. Thankfully, my schedule should be clear going forward so we may begin your instruction.”
He straightened at the mention of her teaching him, excited for the prospect. She could teach him so much!
“That’s awesome! Thank you again. But what’s tonight for?” He asked, waving at the others.
“Ah, we are to introduce you to a new team mate. I won’t spoil the surprise. First impressions are very important.” She declared, before taking him by the shoulders and looking him over. Connor stood ramrod straight at attention, suddenly feeling terribly underdressed in his casual street clothes costume. Diana plucked at a few points and zipped his jacket up, which felt strangely intimate, before giving him a curt nod that he returned. She led him over to the others, who were chatting, and he nodded to Batwoman and Black Canary.
The Zeta-Tube spun up and flashed, the computer announcing two new entrants.
‘Recognized. Green Arrow, Z-02.’
The Emerald Archer was obviously the taller silhouette resolving out of light through a tunnel in space-time.
‘Recognized. Apollo, B-07.’
Walking beside Green Arrow was a young man in a dark red bodysuit, with golden yellow bracers and boots, subtly armored. He had a hooded cloak on, in the same golden color, and the tail of the cloak came to a triangular point. The hood was up, and he wore a red domino mask. Across his chest was emblazoned an emblem like a dawning sun, but the rays of light were arrows. In keeping with the theme, he had a gold compound bow in hand and a large quiver of arrows on his back, beneath the cloak. Strapped to his right thigh was a complex hand crossbow.
His features were hidden by the mask and the shadows of his hood, but he was blonde and tan, with a tight ponytail. He was lean and wiry, and he stood a few inches shorter than Green Arrow, who was shorter than Connor himself. The newcomer and Green Arrow exited the Zeta-Tube and GA stood aside to introduce his companion.
“Team, I’d like you to meet my protege, Apollo. He’s going to be working with you all from here on out.” Green Arrow said.
“He’s my nephew.” He explained, and Apollo gave them all a winning smile, displaying perfect teeth.
Green Arrow doesn’t have a nephew…
Connor looked to the team, and they looked to him, all in shared confusion.
What the fuck is going on here?