Disclaimer : the show is not mine, the characters are not mine, nothing is mine.

Friday Night

It was Friday night and Mandrake was lying in bed next to his lover. He wished this moment never ended. Being together felt so good: everybody else was working or having fun so they had time for each other. Mandrake turned his head and looked at his partner tenderly. Lothar looked so cute after sex.

"The kids will be at the arcade tomorrow", the magician said. "What about a little trip, just the two of us?"

Lothar laughed.

"All right, all right! Whatever you want. As long as the kids don't suspect anything."

"You know, I wonder if they don't suspect something already", Mandrake said. "Maybe we should tell them."

"Tell them?" Lothar asked, frowning. "Why?"

"Well, they're smart enough to understand, aren't they? I can't see the point of lying to them any longer."

Lothar sighed and grabbed his lover's hand.

"I don't like lying to them either, you know", he said. "But we're in the 80', after all. Gay couples aren't that popular and your Kshin is only ten. I don't want other kids to make fun of him at school. Do you?"

"Of course not", Mandrake said, "but we won't be able to protect him forever. Our children already fight Ming the Merciless every other week. I think they can cope with some kid bullies."

Lothar shook his head.

"Yes, I know. But you know, my boy was just four when his mother died. He was very fond of her and, well, I don't know how to break the news to him. Telling him I love a man feels a bit weird. Can't we just wait another few months?"

Mandrake nodded.

"Whatever makes you feel comfortable, my love. Just tell me when you feel ready."

Meanwhile, the four young Defenders were watching TV in the living-room. They had just agreed on the channel and Kshin was coming back from the kitchen, saying:

"Enough popcorn for the four of us, I guess!"

"Four?" Jedda asked. "Are we only four tonight?"

"Well, your dad and Flash are still in Africa and Lothar and Mandrake are making out in their room so I guess we're only four!" the Indian boy said.

"Making… out?" the girl repeated.

"That's slang for kissing, that kind of stuff, you know?" LJ explained.

"Thanks. I'm still no good with slang", Jedda said.

"Wait", Rick said, "did they actually tell you they were going to kiss and stuff like that?"

Both Kshin and LJ burst into laughter.

"Well, they didn't", LJ said, "but they can't keep that secret! Isn't it obvious? Even their living-room is proof: look at all that pink! Pass the popcorn."

"Uh, my father wears purple and I'm practically sure he's straight", Jedda said.

"Ok, but there's some other stuff. I was four when my mother died in an accident, and my dad was heartbroken for some time. Then he met Mandrake, they started travelling together and, well, one thing leads to another. It felt so good to see my dad happy again!"

"Mandrake adopted me years later", Kshin added. "The way he introduced me to Lothar! This is my friend, my good friend and nothing more… It was hilarious!"

"Wait… did he believe you were a homophobe?" Rick asked.

"No, I guess he just believed I needed some time to adapt, that's all."

"I don't understand", Jedda said. "Why do they pretend? I mean, look at us, we all come from atypical families!"

"Yeah", LJ said. "I think one day I'm going to knock at their door and tell them to stop lying to us!"

"We'll both do that!" Kshin added.

All kids burst into laughter. Then they turned their attention back to the TV.

"Parents can be silly, sometimes", Rick said. "I guess they just need time. Pass the popcorn!"

The end...