From the doorway, a blonde woman stepped out, arms crossed, her expression a complex mix of irritation and disbelief.
"You finally showed up," she said, her tone sharp. "Cassie, sweetheart, go back inside. Mommy needs a word with your dad."
Cassie clung tighter to Scott's neck. "No! I want Dad to come in with me."
Scott smiled awkwardly. "Hey… long time no see, Maggie."
Maggie Lang—his ex-wife—sighed through her nose and pulled a folded paper from behind her back. "What's this supposed to mean? I just got a visitation approval notice signed by the state court. I didn't agree to anything. How the hell did it go through? Did you bribe a judge, Scott?"
Scott blinked, still a little dazed from how fast everything had happened. The whole situation only made him realize how far Lock's (Apocalypse's) influence really reached. Ten minutes ago, he didn't even have visitation rights. Now he was standing on his ex-wife's porch, holding a legally stamped document and hugging his daughter.
He couldn't bring himself to care about Maggie's anger. Nothing mattered more than Cassie's smile.
"Cassie," he said softly, "I'll get you a photo of King Apocalypse himself. Signed and everything."
Cassie's eyes went wide, lighting up. "Really?!"
Lock and Luis stepped out of the van. Lock handed over a glossy photo of himself, the "King of Apocalypse," looking faintly amused at the whole charade.
Scott crouched down to read the signature to Cassie. The little girl, however, noticed something odd. Her bright eyes flicked between the picture and Lock standing in front of her.
"Dad…" she whispered. "Is he really King Apocalypse?"
Scott's heart skipped. "He really is. He's a friend of mine, actually. He wanted to meet you because I told him how smart and amazing you are."
Maggie nearly rolled her eyes into another dimension. Seriously? Her ex-husband had gotten some random Asian guy with no costume, no props, and no resemblance to the superhero to pose for a photo? Probably couldn't even afford a real actor. But Cassie's face was glowing, so she bit her tongue and said nothing.
Cassie stepped closer, her small face tilted up in wonder. "Are you really the King of Apocalypse?"
Lock smiled and knelt to her level. "Yes. Your dad invited me here. You can call me Uncle Lock."
As he spoke, he gently placed his hand on her forehead. A faint shimmer of blue light rippled beneath his palm—imperceptible to everyone except Cassie, who felt a warm current spread through her body.
It was not enough to awaken any powers, but it strengthened her constitution, weaving potential into her cells. She would grow up stronger, healthier—and, if fate allowed, capable of greatness.
In the East, they had a saying: An immortal touches my crown, and my spirit endures forever. Lock wasn't quite an immortal—but he was close enough.
Cassie gasped softly, her eyes wide. "Ah! You really are the King of Apocalypse! Dad, he's real!"
Scott chuckled awkwardly. Kids are easy to impress, he thought. But deep down, gratitude welled up in his chest.
Cassie looked up at him again. "If you're friends with King Apocalypse, that means you're a superhero too, right, Dad?"
Scott hesitated—then smiled. "Something like that."
Lock added warmly, "Your father is indeed a hero, Cassie. He's important. One day, he might even help save the world."
Cassie's entire face lit up, eyes sparkling like tiny stars. "Wow… Dad, you're amazing!"
Scott's throat tightened. Being seen like that—through his daughter's eyes—was everything he'd ever wanted.
"Thanks," he murmured to Lock, voice trembling.
Maggie, meanwhile, looked between them all, half-amused and half-annoyed. Her daughter was happy, but she couldn't shake the suspicion that she was being pranked.
"Well then, King Apocalypse," she said, folding her arms. "Do you have… a performance planned? You know, since you're clearly in character."
"Performance?" Lock raised an eyebrow.
Cassie frowned. "Mom! Don't be rude. He's a real hero! He saves the world!"
Maggie forced a smile, though her jaw was tight. "Of course, sweetheart. I just meant… every hero has a show, right? What's yours?"
Lock tilted his head thoughtfully. "Cassie, what would you like to see?"
"I want to see you fight alien spaceships!" she said instantly. "And punch the sky with your infinite fist!"
Lock's mouth twitched. "That's… a bit complicated. There are no alien ships around right now."
Maggie crossed her arms tighter. "Then what can you do?"
Lock smiled faintly. "Well… demolition's easy."
He lifted one hand and lightly pressed his palm toward the house.
"Boom."
The ground rumbled. Dust exploded outward. In the blink of an eye, Maggie's entire two-story home disintegrated—splintered beams, shattered glass, and flying debris scattering across the lawn.
Everyone froze.
Maggie stood motionless, her face blank with shock. Luis made a strangled noise somewhere between a scream and a hiccup.
Then Maggie shrieked, "THAT'S MY HOUSE!!!"
Cassie, meanwhile, jumped up and down, clapping in delight. "Wow! You're amazing!"
Lock simply snapped his fingers. The world shimmered, like a curtain being pulled back—then the house stood whole again, spotless and unharmed. The dust still lingered in the air, proof that the destruction had been real.
Scott blinked rapidly. "Was… was that magic?"
Maggie, still trembling, ran inside. Everything—every photo, every cup, every chair—was exactly where it had been.
Lock turned back to Cassie with a small, almost fatherly smile.
"Dinner invitation still stands?" he asked gently.
Cassie grinned, hugging his arm. "Of course! King Apocalypse, please stay and have dinner with us!"
Lock chuckled softly. "Then it would be my honor."
And for the first time that day, even Maggie found herself at a loss for words.
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A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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