187 Issue #28

After dinner, Jack helped heard the students back to the school before he changed into his older superhero uniform and flew out, into the sky. This was the first time he had worn his uniform since he had left the Avengers.

'Time to start the recruitment process.'

Jack's first stop was an apartment that Susan owned. Valeria had texted him that she, her brother, uncle, Crystal, and mother were staying there.

Jack landed on the roof of the building before phasing through several floors and ending up in front of the door. Jack knocked a couple of times before the door was swung open.

"Uncle Jack! You're here!" Valeria beamed, seeing her favorite uncle (soon-to-be-dad in her mind)

Jack smiled and rubbed the little girl's head.

"Is everyone else home? Mind if I come in?"

"Mom is home. She is fixing the shower in my bathroom since the water is acting up. The others are out getting dinner. Actually, do you mind helping her?" Valeria asked, devious thoughts running through her mind.

'She should be just about done by now.'

Jack nodded and didn't think anything of it. He walked into the loft and followed Valeria's directions toward the bathroom. Without thinking, he opened the door and saw that the room was filled with a small amount of steam. Through the steam, he saw the perfectly sculpted, naked body of his friend.

Susan looked up and thought that Valeria had rushed in because she needed something. But when she saw Jack, her entire body froze. Susan even forgot to reach for a towel.

Valeria stood by Jack's side and looked between her mother and Jack. She was hoping that this little incident would make their feelings for one another change.

'That's what all those romance books make it look like anyway.'

When Susan finally recovered, she turned invisible from the neck down. Her attention also shifted from Jack to Valeria.

"You! You are so grounded!"

Jack also realized that Valeria had tricked him but he had to save his niece from his friend. He closed the door before carrying Valeria back to the living room that they passed through earlier.

Jack sat the girl on the table and looked at her with a serious expression.

"What are you up to?"

"I want you and Mom to get married. I can tell you both like each other."

Jack sighed as he had to explain this concept to a 5/6-year-old.

"Look, Val. There are several different types of love. The type that me and your mother share is called Philia, love between friends and those people consider family. We flirt occasionally but that is just being playful."

This did not deter Valeria.

"So I just need to change that type of love then. That shouldn't be too hard."

Jack was about to try and explain why Valeria should just leave well enough alone, but before he could Susan stormed (hehe) into the room wearing a silk robe and glared at her daughter.

"Bedroom! Now!"

Valeria smiled at her mother before jumping down from the couch and marching off to her room.

'This incident should have created a few sparks between them. Or it might have just been me pouring lighter fluid on it. Maybe I need to ignite now.'

Even on her way to her room and still feeling the phantom pain of the spanking she received earlier, Valeria was still trying to think of how she could progress their relationship.

With Valeria gone, Susan turned her attention back to Jack, her face slightly blushing. The number of men that had seen her naked could be counted on a single hand.

"Sorry about that. Valeria has been having some weird ideas today," Susan said feeling embarrassed by her daughter

"No need to worry. She told me about her plan already," Jack replied without care

"Oh. She did. Well, wha..." before Susan could hear a song playing over the speakers

"I'll wake you up with some breakfast in bed

I'll bring you coffee with a kiss on your head

And I'll take the kids to school

Wave them goodbye"

Susan began thinking of if it was alright to have a favorite child because Valeria was really pushing her buttons today. Jack started laughing when he heard the song playing.

"She does not give up," Jack commented

"She's driven, alright. Just wish she would find another project. I'm not too sure about my feelings for you, yet," Sue admitted before her eyes turned to saucers. She had not been trying to admit this since she was still sorting out her feelings but she accidentally spilled it since they were talking about it.

Jack was also surprised to hear Susan admit this. But the person that was the most surprised was Valeria. She had been watching them from her room and heard every word.

'So it was the lighter fluid. And the song was the perfect spark. I might just be a romantic genius too.'

Valeria was no longer worried about their relationship. She knew Jack's personality. He was the type that would hold back his feelings for the sake of another. If her mother showed interest in him, there was a highs chance that Jack would return her feelings. And he met her expectations.

"Hmm. In that case, why don't we go out on a date to sort that out? Instead of a night out as friends, we go on an actual date," Jack suggested. This was the best way for them to sort out their feelings.

Sue was unsure of her feelings and Jack thought that he simply saw her as an attractive friend. Susan didn't mind and agreed to it. It was the perfect setup in her mind.

After setting the date for the upcoming Friday, Jack left the loft feeling like he had forgotten something. Halfway through his flight through the city, he finally remembered.

"Shit! I was supposed to be recruiting her and the others, not finding myself another woman!"