The Cadmus Web

Chapter 8: Date in Metropolis

Peter was dressed in nice jeans, a red shirt with a black jacket. He and Kara were going out tonight and she told him that she knew of this great club only she wanted to keep it a surprise. Currently he was looking at the picture he had taken for the paper. In it was the picture of him sitting on a ledge, she was sitting on his lap her arms around his neck with him holding her waist. And of course the bottom of his mask was pulled up for the kiss that they were shown. He had to admit it looked good, although Kara for some reason wanted them to try something else.

She had this strange idea of him upside down kissing her while she was hovering and it possible to be in the rain. Now he wasn't sure but you can't really kiss that well when upside down, it's awkward plus they hadn't rain in nearly a week anyway. Besides he had seen that done in that movie they made of him and he didn't want to copy it anyway.

Besides he never liked that part of the movie anyway, he was kissing some strange girl in that movie instead of MJ which of course he knew she was a little uncomfortable with.

He threw the paper down and waited for Kara to get ready. 'How is it that even though she can move faster than a speeding bullet and yet still takes forever to get ready?' He wondered. He heard the door open and finally thought she was good to go. He turned around and he had to admit even though she took her time she looked great.

There she was walking down the stairs in low cut jeans that looked a bit tight, black styled boots with heels, a t-shirt that showed off her stomach, a slim jacket and a purse. Her hair wasn't tied up and was all free and he saw some lipstick and new eye shadow. In short she was a knock out and Peter had to admit he was glad to have her in his life. He still battled with depression but thanks to people like Kara he could at least manage now.

"So how do I look?" She asked giving a fashion twirl.

"In short...hot." He smiled as she grinned. She took him by the hand and lead him to the patio they had and he knew what this meant. It was time to fly air-Supergirl, he didn't really mind it but it was kind of...Unmanly. He knew it was silly after all she could fly and he couldn't, but there was just something about your blond girlfriend doing kind of a reserve caveman on you. "So where are we headed?"

"Metropolis." She smiled and before Peter could get out a surprised reaction they took off at super speed. Peter lost sight of the ground it was all a blur anyway and by the time they got to the ground in an alleyway he needed to steady himself. "Kara...Next time a bit more warning I'm still not used to going that fast..."

"Oh sorry I was just excited, you okay?" She asked and he nodded. She knew that sometimes she got carried away with the speed and had gone a bit too fast. After Peter got steady they walked to an area that looked like the more dangerous part of town, but given who they were they just kept a small eye out for anyone stupid or unlucky enough to try and mug them. Then she smiled seeing the two others she invited.

"Hey Donna! Over here!" She yelled out and Peter saw Donna in her own normal wear only she was in black leather pants and a tank top, her hair in a long ponytail. With her he saw Long Shadow, the large teen was in jeans, a white shirt and a jacket that looked kind of Native American in a way, it looked to be made from hide and had those little tassels like things on the sides. It fit him actually pretty well and did nothing to hide that he was a large guy not to mess with even with that boyish smile of his.

"Great Hera you could have told me where this place was, we've been looking for fifteen minute to this place you told me about." Donna said although smiling as the two girls hugged for a second. They went on complimenting each other on their outfits, hair and the usual.

Peter went up to Long Shadow, at first he had been a little weary of telling him who he was but after getting to know him and when he started to hang out with Donna he decided it would just be easier. Hell he could barely keep his secret identity in his own world, at least this time he could make sure the right people knew. So after he revealed who he was he got to know him, he had to feel a little sorry for the guy, finding out he's an experiment and all the fake memories and all.

Peter could tell that hurt him but he was a strong guy in not just the physical sense.

"So she dragged you to this huh?" Peter grinned.

The taller boy blushed and scratched the back of his head. "Well...I don't really get out much and Donna said that she wanted to spend time with her friends so, I figured what the hell and go out."

Peter nodded, "Yeah it seems a social life for people like us is either too busy to have one or just plain hard to get one. So anything new up lately?"

He nodded with a smile. "I had to fill out a lot of new identity papers and I had to pick a name. So I picked David Longshadow. Not very original I know but...Well I like it." He smiled with a shrug.

Peter thought it over and nodded it wasn't too bad actually, plus it wasn't like he had a secret identity, hell he had his own toy line for crying out loud back with the Ultimen. He frowned slightly at that, he had given those Cadmus people the damn cure and they might have never used it. The Ultimen were never seen again and Peter had this cold feeling in his gut that they might never again see them. He remembered the horror stories Kitty had told him about those Weapon X people and he really didn't like how Cadmus was sounding the more he heard about them.

After the girls were done Kara led them to this club, they had to go into an alleyway to get to the door, apparently the place didn't really advertise. Kara said it was to prevent certain people from getting in, they saw a neon sign that read Chaney's. There was a door there and what Peter could see was a bouncer although he thought it was a guy at first, but when they got close enough for the features to be clearer it wasn't a guy. When the person turned around Peter's jaw nearly dropped, there was a seven foot tall Amazon of a woman there, only in a red sleeveless shirt, black leather jeans. She had short but large red hair, looked to be of Asian bloodline of some kind maybe only with one parent being Asian. She was also heavily tattooed, especially along her arms.

"Donna I thought only you and your sister were the only Amazons out here." Peter asked her.

Donna was just as surprised, this woman was larger than anyone save maybe Giganta. "We are she's not one of us trust me I'd remember someone like her."

Kara walked up smiling, "Hey there Grace."

Grace smiled at the blonde, "Hey Kara haven't seen you in a long time, being part of that new team keeping you busy?"

"Oh that and other things," Kara pulled Peter to her. "This is Peter, my new boyfriend."

Grace looked him up and down, "Not bad kind of scrawny isn't he?"

"Hey!" Peter protested out of reflex.

Kara only giggled, "Trust me he's a LOT stronger then he looks."

Grace Choi shrugged and then looked to the other two, "Damn boy what did your parents feed you?" She grinned at a slightly blushing Longshadow. "Too bad I prefer my men slightly older you'd be the right size to break in my new bed. Hmmm...On second though as long as your over eighteen..." She eyed him like a predator.

Donna suddenly didn't like this woman eyeing her friend like that and quickly looped her arm around his. "Come on David let's get inside." She quickly led him into the door and he was thankful for it. Peter tried not to laugh at the sight of the smaller dark haired girl dragging him in like that. He shared an amused look to Kara who was giggling herself.

They walked in last and Peter could hear the beat of the rave music, there were lights everywhere and the place had a lot of people. He also noticed that some of them had to be metahumans either that or were wearing costumes. "Kara where did you find this place?"

Kara told him how on a trip to Metropolis she had heard rumours that there was a club that was for metahumans only. It took her over a week but she finally managed to find it, there were just two main rules for the place she explained as they walked down to the dance area. First was that the costumes stay home, and second there was to be no fighting especially no power use. Kara also got to be friends with the bouncer Grace Choi, who she told Peter was a good person and liked to kick in heads.

"Remind me not to get her angry." Peter said.

"Oh yeah trust me she might be around your strength level." Kara told him.

They headed for the dance floor, now Peter hadn't been much for dancing but with someone like MJ in his life she eventually made him loosen up enough to try it out. With her help and thanks to his natural balance and abilities he turned out to be a good dancer. He and Kara danced up on the dance floor both of them having fun.

Donna went to get a drink she was looking around waiting for it and was amazed at how different man's world was. They had nothing like this the closest that came to it was a few of the traditional dance celebrations by a giant bonfire. This was so much like that, sure it had more effects and stuff but the primal essence was still there she could feel it in the air, in the music and in everyone. She was excited by it all and was looking forward to this it was too bad that her older sister didn't cut loose more. Maybe she could convince her to go out at least once.

-John Stewart's Apartment-

John Stewart's home was a fairly nice place he kept it neat and was organized. At least he tried to keep it that way, looking around you'd never know that an evil version of his girlfriend had knocked him around the place not too long ago. He was currently in the living room flipping through channels he was in a pair of cotton pants he used to sleep in and a t-shirt. He had just stepped out of the shower although not the only one. He was looking through the news channels for something that didn't involve his work with the League or something he had enough of that for the day.

He signed and then turned to the sports channel he had been so busy lately that he had missed out how the local team was doing. He was surprised to see that they had been doing pretty well, they lost a game but won the last two in a row, and one to the teams they had been up against weren't pushovers. He sat back watching the highlights when he heard the shower stop. A few moments later Shayera Hol stepped out in one of his bathrobes and drying off her red hair, he took a moment to appreciate the view of her coming out.

"Damn it, why is this crap so hard to get out? We deal with some two bit mad scientist making his own monsters and what happens when we smash them? They blow up in yellow goo...I still think I can feel it in my wings." She had her wings folded up behind her to make the robe fit and she wasn't too happy. "Did I at least get it all out of my hair?"

John took a moment to look, "I think so at least the smell is gone."

She made a face at that, "Yes that is something at least you don't have to worry about hair since you went bald."

"I shaved my head, I didn't go bald there's a difference." He said sternly, she always made that crack about it although he knew she was just trying to push his buttons a little. It was kind of what started them falling in love with each other, they were both tough and stubborn and had been pushing each other's buttons for years. It was kind of funny at first they couldn't stand one another and now...Now they respected each other and cared for one another deeply.

She smiled and sat down next to him, he put an arm around her and she leaned into it. She needed John's comfort more than ever now a days, ever since she had been exiled from her people she had nowhere else to go but Earth. And after what she had done not many still trusted her, but John would even after that version of her had put him into a coma. She wanted to smash that other her's face in every time she thought about it, she had hurt the one man that treated her with nothing but kindness and love in a way she had never known.

She closed her eyes feeling the warmth of his chest and she felt like she could sleep right here. "John...thank you."

"For what?"

"For...For everything..." She told him gently. "For being there for me, for trusting me after everything and...God I just love you for being you."

He smiled as she stroked her red hair he loved her hair and those green eyes of hers. When she had first taken off her mask and shown him what she looked like, he had lost his breath for a second. He never imagined that she was so beautiful under it she truly looked like an angel to him that moment before their first kiss. Ever since then he felt like a missing part of his life was fitting into place, it had hurt when she had betrayed them but he had forgiven her.

"I love you too," He kissed her head and she snuggled up to him as he wrapped his arms around his angel. She felt her eye lids get heavier and she just didn't want to get up, getting dressed and going all the way back to her place just felt like climbing a mountain. Besides her place was empty and her bed cold. She liked having his warmth next to her when sleeping, his hand on her or her sleeping on him. It just felt...right in some way.

"You want to stay here for the night?" He asked her and she just nodded her head. He smiled as he turned off the TV. "Come on let's at least get more comfortable." He got up and offered her his hand, he could have picked her up and carried her but she'd punch him for that one. She only wanted that when she asked it or allowed it, she was a proud woman and being carried off to bed was something she wouldn't do unless she couldn't walk.

She walked the small hallway to his bed, she rolled a shoulder knowing she was going to feel a few aches and pains the next day but she had fun too. Plus John gave incredible muscles massages, she thought about calling in a sick day for the two of them they hadn't been given as much free time off to be with each other lately. Plus on the up side he made a great breakfast she never was much of a cook, hell a lot of her home meals were instant meals, cooking wasn't one of her strong suits.

She undid the robe and let it fall, John grinned getting a good look at her backside with only a pair of panties on. If they weren't so tired the sight would have given him ideas to make the night a little longer, well there was always the morning he thought. He slipped in with her, she adjusted for her wings and laid down with him using his shoulder as a pillow. She signed feeling the warm skin against her cheek, her life was still troubled with fitting in, trying to undo the damage she had done, not to mention everything else in her life. But just being here with John made everything falling away.

John watched as she fell asleep and he couldn't help but smile at the image, never had he felt more connected to someone more in love with someone. He knew that things were pretty tough in her life at the moment but he would be there for her. He also had been thinking of asking her to move in with him, they had known each other for a long time and they lived in two different cities but he wanted to ask. He liked having her around his apartment just seemed empty when she wasn't around and he liked her here.

Although she did keep messing things around, moving things around and stuff, if he didn't know any better he swore she did it on purpose just because if irritated him. He actually wouldn't put it past her, and it was one of the little things about her that made her so special to him.

-Metropolis-

The four young adults had been having a nice time, they were currently at a table resting up and with drinks. Peter sat back as Donna explained how Dianna at a diplomatic party had pretty much ripped this diplomat to pieces, at least verbally. The man had been just some asshole from Donna's view point, he also was treating his wife kind of badly, Diana had seen this and in front of everyone made a fool out of the man. After that Diana spent the night with the woman getting to know her and Donna had been there as usual smiling away.

"I swear I'm never going into politics," Peter said shaking his head. "Besides I don't think I could do those parties, I hate those fancy suits you got to wear anyway."

"Oh I think you'd look cute in one of those," Kara giggled.

"And you'll never see me in one anyway." He said back.

Kara shook her head and looked back to Donna," So please tell me at this party there was at least one cute guy?" She noticed Donna fidget a little and knew there was something. "Oh there was, come on spill girlfriend."

Donna sighed knowing how Kara got, "There was a nice boy who was the son of one of the ambassadors. He was actually very nice and we danced a few times."

"Oh nice going, you going to see him again?" Kara asked.

Donna actually wasn't sure she had to admit the boy had been very nice, and he was good looking too. She cast a look to David though, and for a moment she didn't want to answer but she didn't know why exactly. He looked kind of uncomfortable with this conversation as well.

"I...I think I'm going to get another drink, please excuse me." David said and got up.

Donna felt like he sounded a bit hurt for some reason, Kara was too interested to know more about this mysterious boy to notice and kept on asking Donna more and more. Peter however did notice and made an excuse to leave, Kara waved him off eager for some gossip and Peter made his way through the crowd. He found David by the bar ordering another drink, Peter sat down next to him.

"So...What's up?" He asked him.

"Nothing." David said with a shrug.

"Come on man something is bothering you." Peter took a look at him, he looked a little uncertain about something and for a long time he didn't say anything. It looked like he was trying to word whatever it was bothering him into words.

"It's just...Have you ever been close to someone before? I mean...I mean you like being around this person and it feels...Right I guess. I don't got many friends, Diana was the first to really reach out to me and with her help I made the right choice. Donna has been helping me get my life back in order and..." He shrugged again.

Honestly David Longshadow just didn't know how to word things, he liked Donna. She was kind, beautiful, strong, she was like the perfect woman. So why was it that lately he felt something other than friendship? That whenever she touched his hand he felt better, that he liked to see her smile or to hear her laugh? None of his false memories ever dealt with any relationships so he knew he was kind of shy because of it.

Peter however knew exactly what he was going though, he had been there himself a couple of times. Peter sat with him for a moment before speaking, "To me...It sounds like you got a thing for Donna, does she know?"

"I don't think she feels the same honestly." He sighed.

Peter winced he knew what that felt like too, and it royally sucked. "Well...You could ask her out and I won't say that stupid cliché about the worst being that she says is no cause even if that's all she says is bad enough. But honestly I think you got a shot."

David looked at him, "Really?"

"Look I normally don't like to get involved with relationships but honestly look at me," Peter gestured to himself. "In high school I was a scrawny geek that got picked on all the time and was pretty low on the totem pole-uh...sorry no offence." He mentally smacked himself for the Native American reverence.

He just waved it off, "I don't care just don't make any Indian giver jokes of things like that."

"Duly noted," Peter tried to get back on track. "Anyways...In short I wasn't Mr. Campus but I had a hot redheaded girlfriend, another brunette mutant girl, I had this older sexy as hell woman after me...that is until she found out my real age talk about ego blow. Anyway take a look at you, I mean you're freaking Mr. Universe. Hell there are girls checking you out all night like those at that table over there."

Peter pointed and they looked to a table with two girls who looked away giggling about something, and David was surprised by that, he knew he got fan mail back in the day with girls asking all about him, but he figured it was just the celebrity status.

"Now then you got all that going for you and she already likes you, trust me dude you got a better shot just got to take it."

Longshadow thought about it and he looked to the table with Kara and Donna and focused on Donna. Maybe some things were worth the risk. "Peter...Thanks."

Peter smiled taking his new drink, "No problem I'll send you the bill later."

Next Up Chapter 9: Troubled Members