"Alright, I'm off to train," Nina said, standing up from the table and brushing off her hands. She turned toward Thena and Terra with a small smirk. "Good luck on your first day at school. And remember—don't let anyone push you around. Punch first, ask questions later. We'll deal with the damages afterward."
"Nina!" Max barked from across the table.
"What?" she asked innocently, eyes wide. "I'm just offering some advice to my nieces."
"Don't worry, Aunt Nina. No one's gonna mess with us after what I'm going to do today," Thena said with a mischievous grin.
"That's the spirit!" Nina said proudly, flashing a thumbs-up. "Anyway, ciao!"
She vanished with a woosh, leaving nothing but a faint swirl of wind behind.
Max stared at the empty spot she'd just been standing in, glaring. "Don't listen to your aunt," he said firmly. "I don't have time to be called to the principal's office because of you two. So no pranks, understood?"
"Fine," Thena muttered, crossing her arms. "I won't prank anyone… but we're not letting anyone push us around either, right, Terra?"
"You really are intent on getting us into trouble on the first day," Terra said dryly.
Max sighed but couldn't help a small grin. "She's not wrong about standing up for yourselves. Just—save it till after school, when no one's watching, if you have to get your get-back."
Thena blinked, then grinned slyly. "I guess that's fine too."
"Don't worry, Dad," Terra said quickly. "I'll do my best to keep Thena out of trouble as much as possible."
Max's expression turned serious. "And remember—never, ever use your powers. Understand?"
"Yes, we know," Thena said impatiently. "Now can we go?"
"Alright, alright. Go grab your backpacks first."
The girls took off down the hallway, their footsteps echoing. Max leaned back in his chair, sighing as the house grew momentarily quiet. He reached into his system space and pulled out a small box, flipping it open. Inside were sleek, black-tinted glasses.
He slid them on, catching his reflection in the window white hair,Yeah,he had died his hair white to blend in since he didn't like using the transformation jutsu everytime he goes to a public space.
"Not bad," he murmured. "All I need now is the uniform, and I'd be rocking the full Gojo look."
He smirked to himself, adjusting the glasses just as the sound of Thena and Terra's voices came rushing back toward the kitchen.
"Alright," Max said, standing up from his seat. "You both ready?"
"Yup!" Thena grinned brightly.
"I bet you won't be smiling like that after the first week," Terra said dryly. She'd gone to school before the incident—before Max had pulled her out of Zetsu's grasp—so she already knew what to expect.
"Hold on to my arms, then," Max said. Both girls reached out, gripping his hands.
With a low whoosh, the air rippled,and they vanished.
They reappeared on a quiet street near Jump City junior high. The morning sun hung high, the air buzzing with chatter and laughter as families crowded around the gates. Colorful banners fluttered overhead, reading "Welcome Back, Students!"
As Max scanned the crowd, his eyes stopped on one particular figure making her way through the street. Parents and children instinctively moved aside as she passed her presence commanding yet graceful.
She wore a simple blue dress and glasses, blending in with the crowd… but even dressed like a civilian, Diana still radiated that unmistakable aura of power.
"Mom!" Thena shouted, her eyes lighting up as she sprinted forward.
Diana smiled warmly, kneeling to hug her. "Hello, my little princess."
Terra lingered a few steps behind until Diana looked up at her and said softly, "Hello, Terra."
"Hello, Aunt Diana," Terra replied politely.
Thena released her mother, smiling wide. "I didn't think you'd come, y'know,with all the hero stuff."
"Anything can wait when it comes to you," Diana said, brushing a stray lock of hair from Thena's face before glancing up at Max. "Hello, Max."
"Hello, Diana," he greeted back casually, hands in his pockets.
The girls exchanged glances, sensing the silent tension between the two adults.
Diana straightened, her expression soft but firm as she looked at Thena. "Alright, Thena. You'll behave yourself, won't you? Unruly behavior is unbecoming of an Amazon."
"Alright, Mom," Thena muttered, only half hiding her grin.
"The same goes for you, Terra," Diana added.
"Don't worry, Aunt Diana—we'll behave," Terra replied quickly.
Before Max could say anything, a man with a camera approached them, grinning. "What a lovely family! Care for a nice photo? Only ten dollars."
Max opened his mouth to decline, but Thena jumped in. "Yes, we would!"
The photographer looked between her and the adults. Max sighed, giving a resigned shrug. "What she said."
"Alright, everyone gather up and smile!" the man said cheerfully, raising his camera.
They lined up—Diana and Max standing side by side, Thena and Terra in front.
"Okay, say cheese!"
"Cheese!" the three girls chorused brightly as the flash went off.
For a fleeting second, frozen in the bright flash of light, they looked every bit the part like a perfectly normal family.
The camera flashed once more before the man smiled, shaking the instant print to dry it.
"Here you go, one perfect photo," he said, handing it to Max.
Before he could even take a proper look, Thena snatched it right out of his hand and tucked it into her backpack like some divine artifact.
Max raised an eyebrow.
"I'll keep it safe," Thena said quickly.
"Okay, fine then," Max replied with a small sigh, pulling out his wallet and paying the man.
"Alright, girls, time to head inside," Diana said, smoothing down Thena's collar. "Behave yourselves and listen to your teachers."
"We will!" they both chorused as they started walking away.
"Goodbye, Mom and Dad!" Thena shouted, waving enthusiastically.
"Goodbye, Aunt Diana! Goodbye, Dad!" Terra added, smiling before following her.
Max waved in acknowledgement as they turned and disappeared through the school gates.
"I never thought this day would come," Diana murmured softly, her eyes lingering on the two girls. "Life really is unpredictable."
"It is," Max said, folding his arms. "That's why there's a saying—you should expect the unexpected."
Diana turned toward him, her brow creasing. "You couldn't have just arrived here normally? What if someone saw you—or a camera caught you teleporting?"
"I don't like public transport," Max said flatly. "And I have no need for a car, so this was the only method."
Diana frowned. "Then why did you choose a school in another city?"
"It was their choice," Max replied simply, already turning to leave.
He paused after a few steps and glanced back over his shoulder. "We should try to get along if we want this joint parenting thing for Thena to work. It's toxic for her to see her parents always at odds."
Then, after a short pause, he added with a small smirk, "Also, nice dress."
And just like that, he vanished in a blink, leaving Diana standing there in silence, her thoughts swirling as the morning breeze tugged gently at her hair.
Diana sighed.
She knew Max was right—constant hostility between them would only hurt Thena. But working with him was easier said than done. He had this way of annoying her without even speaking, that smug expression of his always made his face look punchable.
What surprised her most, though, was the compliment. It had been completely unexpected, coming from him. She didn't know if it was genuine or mocking—but still… it felt… nice.
Shaking her head, she motioned for a taxi passing by to pull over. Time to move on, and to put all thoughts of Max aside for the time being.
---------
Pain descended the steps slowly, the dim lighting casting his shadow long across the walls of one of the League's underground hideouts. He placed his hand on the biometric scanner; the device beeped once before the reinforced door slid open with a hiss.
Inside, Dr. Kirk Langstrom sat hunched over a cluttered desk, surrounded by vials, data sheets, and monitors flashing with complex readouts. His eyes were bloodshot, exhaustion written all over his face as he rubbed his forehead in frustration. Another failed test.
"How long, Doctor?" Pain's calm yet commanding voice filled the room as he stopped behind him.
Langstrom turned, startled for only a moment before straightening his posture. "I've finally managed to create a super serum from the genetic samples you gave me," he said, voice hoarse. "But the chances of it being successful are below twelve percent. I can't push them any higher."
Pain hummed quietly, almost to himself. "And what would the gains be for those who successfully integrate it?"
Langstrom gestured toward his data sheets. "Increased cellular activity — accelerated healing, enhanced strength, speed, durability, and stamina. Essentially, a perfected human."
Pain's eyes narrowed slightly. "And those that fail?"
"This is their fate." Langstrom turned to a containment unit, revealing a small, grotesque sight — a dead rat with twisted roots and a tree-like growth sprouting from its body.
Pain stared at it for a long moment before giving a single nod. "It'll have to do. Make the necessary arrangements. I cannot afford to wait any longer."
"It shall be done," Langstrom replied, weary but obedient.
Pain turned and started toward the exit. As he reached the stairs, a figure began to emerge silently from the floor white, its body melting seamlessly into the shadows.
"What is it, Zetsu?" Pain asked without turning.
"I don't think Lady Shiva has any intention of betraying you," Zetsu replied, his voice split in tone — one half calm, the other mischievous.
"And why is that?" Pain asked.
"After tailing her for a whole month, I've learned she's completely loyal to her own code — and for now, that aligns with yours," Zetsu said. "But the one you should really keep an eye on… is Talia."
Pain's head tilted slightly. "Talia?"
Zetsu nodded, grinning. "She's been having meetings with Batman lately. Private ones."
Pain's voice grew colder. "And what were those meetings about?"
"She's been relaying bits of information about what happens here," Zetsu said, shrugging. "But it's not much — the seal you placed on her tongue limits what she can say."
"I see," Pain murmured. "Keep watching her."
"Oh, come on, boss," Zetsu groaned. "You know how boring surveillance duty is!"
Pain stopped at the doorway. "Then how about a different task?"
Zetsu perked up. "I'm listening."
"Find a man named John Constantine," Pain said. "You'll likely find him in bars."
Zetsu stared. "That's insane. Do you know how many bars there are? It'll be like looking for a needle in a haystack!"
Pain gave the faintest smirk. "I believe in you. Now go."
Zetsu sighed dramatically. "Me and my big mouth…" he muttered as his form sank back into the ground, leaving Pain alone in the hallway.
End of chapter
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