CH-31. Replying after many days

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Mike glanced at Aunt Diana's profile, and his heart began to race uncontrollably.

His aunt was already breathtakingly beautiful, but her gentle smile made her even more captivating.

The alluring curve of her lips brought an unbidden memory of the unspeakable moment from last night.

Last Night...

A warm, electric current surged through him, starting from the corners of his mouth and spreading bit by bit, quickly flooding every part of his body.

One kiss, and it felt as though he was on the path to transcendence.

Mike, now in a demigod-like state, opened his silver eyes wide and stared at Wonder Woman, who remained calm and composed, her expression as serene as ever.

"This, just consider it a reward for comforting you tonight." Diana raised her head slightly, her usually steady voice trembling faintly. It was as if she were convincing herself as much as she was explaining, "But also, this is to let you inherit my power. Yes, that's all."

Whether it was self-deception or not, it gave her a reasonable excuse to cross the line briefly and find solace in

"So, that's how it is..." Mike murmured, his silver eyes glimmering with suppressed emotions.

Suddenly, he said, "Not enough."

"What?" Diana froze, staring at Mike in confusion.

"There are not enough mediators." Mike said, unusually calm. He leaned closer, taking the initiative that caused her composure to crack further.

"Really? Not enough mediums... There's nothing we can do then." Diana sighed softly, a trace of helplessness flickering in her gaze. Yet, she lowered her head again, offering something softer and sweeter.

The silver moonlight illuminated the great hall, falling softly over the stone altar. The mother box that had rested there for a millennium remained silent, as if indifferent to the scene.

____

Back in Washington.

After a quick cleanup of the house, Diana left for work.

Diana had to change jobs every few years. Mike, who once found this odd, now understood why. Her ageless appearance and unparalleled grace meant she couldn't stay in one place for too long without raising questions, even with her magical concealments.

Thankfully, Diana's skills ensured she had no trouble finding employment. At the moment, she was a shareholder in a prestigious private law firm in Washington.

After taking a shower, Mike powered on his phone, which had been off for five days. The moment it booted up, countless notifications swarmed the screen, startling him into thinking it might have been hacked.

Before he could dive into the messages, the doorbell rang.

Mike opened the door to find a tall, pale young man standing there with a pet carrier in hand. The man looked exhausted, with noticeable dark circles under his eyes.

"Who are you?" Mike asked cautiously.

Before he could respond, the young man began gesticulating wildly, his words spilling out in a rush, "Hey! Is this the Prince residence? I mean, does Miss Diana Prince live here? I'm Barry Allen!"

"Barry Allen?" Mike tilted his head, recalling that Diana mentioned entrusting Kerry to a friend for a few days.

"This is yours." Barry unzipped the carrier. In a flash, an orange blur leaped out and into Mike's arms.

"Wait!" Barry reached out instinctively, but the creature—a small, orange feline—settled into Mike's embrace, purring and rubbing against him.

"Hahaha, Kerry! How have you been?" Mike laughed, scratching the little creature's soft fur.

Barry, still wary, observed the kitten closely, "You... know what this thing is, right?"

Mike nodded without hesitation.

"Good. As long as it's safe here." Barry exhaled in relief, turning to leave.

"Wait." Mike called after him, extending a hand, "My name is Mike Prince. Thanks for taking care of Kerry. It couldn't have been easy."

Barry shook his hand, "Not a problem. Miss Diana once helped my family, so I'm happy to return the favor. If you're ever in the neighborhood, drop by. I'm at No. 26 on Central Street."

"Got it." Mike said with a smile, "I'll visit sometime with Kerry to thank you properly."

"Sure, though I'd prefer you leave that little guy behind..." Barry muttered as he entered the elevator.

Mike closed the door, holding the now-content Kerry, "What a nice guy, huh?"

"Meow!" Kerry purred, though it's indignant tone suggested it had other opinions.

After settling Kerry on the sofa, Mike reclined and opened his phone to sort through the mountain of notifications.

Most messages were from Twitter or text. One particular flood came from his childhood friend, Gwen Stacy.

The earliest messages were cheerful Christmas greetings accompanied by photos of family and festivities. One picture of Gwen in pink bunny pajamas caught Mike's attention. He smirked and saved it without hesitation.

___

As the days passed and Mike hadn't replied, Gwen's tone grew increasingly worried. She even involved her father, Officer George Stacy, to ensure Mike hadn't gone missing.

Mike quickly replied: "Sorry for worrying you. My aunt and I went on an impromptu vacation. I forgot to tell you."

Gwen's reply came in seconds: "Humph! Apologies aren't enough. I need compensation!"

Mike chuckled. "Name your price. I'll make it up to you."

While responding to Gwen, Mike noticed a message from Kara sent on Christmas Eve. Since then, there had been no updates on her account. He frowned, wondering if she was okay.

He replied with an apology for his silence, a belated holiday greeting, and a question about her well-being.

Breaking News!

With time to spare, Mike browsed recent headlines. Two stories immediately caught his attention:

Captain America Resurfaces

After decades in the ice, Steve Rogers had reappeared to attend the funeral of Peggy Carter. The tragic loss of his former love juxtaposed against his youthful appearance sparked widespread conversation. Steve's struggle to adapt to the modern era raised poignant questions about his future.

Superman on Trial

Following the destruction caused during his battle with Kryptonians, Superman faced public backlash. Metropolis authorities had summoned him to court, with a trial set for January 2nd. The possibility of Superman being convicted had polarized opinions worldwide.

Mike frowned. With extraordinary beings emerging, fear and mistrust among ordinary people seemed inevitable.

"Should I prepare for what's coming?" Mike mused, glancing at Kerry snoozing nearby.

___

January 1, 2010

The new year dawned unseasonably warm. Students boarded a yellow school bus parked outside the middle school, chatting excitedly about the upcoming trip to New York.

"Mike, what are you doing? Get on the bus!" The instructor shouted.

"Coming!" Mike jogged over, his mind still preoccupied.

Kara hadn't shown up for school or responded to his messages. Her absence gnawed at him, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something bigger was on the horizon.

As Mike climbed aboard, he glanced at the instructor's thermos cup. Something about the man's casual demeanor put him on edge.

"Let's hope this trip really is just a vacation." Mike muttered, finding his seat.

Unbeknownst to him, the new year would bring challenges far beyond what he could imagine.

Mike sighed as he stepped onto the school bus. His gaze instantly landed on Gwen, who was sitting near the back, waving at him enthusiastically. Beside her, the seat most coveted by both boys and girls in their class was reserved by her small schoolbag.

Mike smiled and waved back before making his way to the seat beside Gwen.

"Everyone, settle in! We're about to head out!"

The deep and commanding voice of the male instructor rang out, signaling the start of their much-anticipated trip to New York.