Disclaimer: Yeah, yeah, yeah we've been through this before. I own nothing and make no money. We get it.
A/N: I'm going with Magneto's original name of Max Eisenhardt in this series
You see or hear of stories all the time where a child in the system or fresh out of it jumps through hoops trying to connect with the parent(s) that abandoned them, seeking answers and whatnot. Thomas "Shepherd" is no exception. He spent fourteen years in the system, jumping from potential foster family to potential foster family but no one seemed keen on keeping him. Why adoption agencies let people "rent" children was beyond him. Was it even legal? People weren't like boats or cars or clothes or something else you could try out and return if it doesn't suit your tastes. Between orphanages, he also spent hefty amounts of time in various juvenile detention centers.
Most people blamed his behavior on his lack of parents; Tommy blamed it on his lack of giving a shit. He dreamed of meeting his parents, what orphan doesn't, but he never acted out because he didn't have them. Or at least, he doesn't think he acts out because his parents left him. Can't blame people you don't know for something you have no control over.
He thought about his parents – tried to picture their personalities and how little or much of them he got, same with looks. Inherited looks can be tricky because the cardinal rule is when two hot people reproduce the universe deems it unfair, gets pissed, then gives them a subpar looking child as comeuppance. He's seen it happen before and if there's one thing the universe loves dishing out, it's payback.
In any event, despite dreaming about it, he never thought he'd meet his parents – or, in his case, meet him. His father, who solely goes by "Vision" for reasons he wasn't going to ask. Their meeting was Tommy literally bumping into him after school one day. The man gives him a creepy thousand yard stare before asking about some "Wanda" person. Then Vision continues staring at him. He ends up missing curfew that night, but it is worth it because Vision adopts him when he takes him back to the orphanage. And yes, apparently a father has to adopt his child through the system like every other schmuck. Apparently, when a father does not know a child—his child—exists, therefore not claiming them, after a certain time he forfeits the rights to said child.
Due to Vision's being one paranoid fucker (Tommy is sure isn't even human), there's a DNA test proving Maury-style that he is the father.
The only reason Vision even got to know, then subsequently adopt, him was because he said he looks just like this Wanda person who Tommy has to hazard a guess and say is the woman who gave birth to him. Considering the old man didn't know of his existence, this Wanda lady is the only one to blame in terms of abandonment.
Vision doesn't know where Wanda is and has been looking for her himself for – strangely enough – the past fourteen and a half years.
During the five months they were father and son, the two of them traveled across the globe searching for a Wanda Maximoff but came up short. They did, however, get some much-needed bonding in and scored some pretty sweet souvenirs along the way.
It is September, which means Tommy is fifteen (in give or take two weeks) and set to start high school. How he graduated middle school is anyone's guess. It might be one of the great mysteries of life. New York becomes their semi-permanent residence because Vision claims to be "born" here (again, not one-hundred percent sure the guy is human, but he has human DNA so...) but hasn't visited since birth.
When they visited Germany, Vision said it was where he and Wanda met. He didn't fully divulge the details of their encounter, and Tommy didn't ask. As far as Tommy is concerned there is no skin off his ass if Wanda didn't want him. His father did—does—and that's more than enough for him.
Vision doesn't have any old photos of Wanda on his person (which was a huge relief because that would be creepy as fuck) but Google finds a picture of her; Google finds various pictures of her. Vision's memory was spot on; making Tommy's hunch correct. Tommy looked—looks—just like her: except she has long brown hair where his is naturally white. Most importantly, in a purely aesthetic way, Wanda is smoking hot.
Thank fuck for genetics.
Even if it doesn't explain his hair color.
That isn't to say Vision isn't hot himself, again – purely aesthetic, but his hot is simmering compared to hers. Evidently, the universe okays this sort of match-up and doesn't vindictively shit all over your offspring. He's living proof of that.
"You sure you don't wanna continue this search for your first love?" He beams at Vision who shakes his head with a small, sad smile; a smile Tommy hates seeing on the old man's face.
"It is often said you find what or who you are looking for when you are not searching for them." Tommy nods because his dad is deep like that. A trait he did not inherit from the guy. He's not sure if he's thankful for that yet. "I believe there must have been a reason why she left, and our presence might cause her unnecessary suffering."
"Her presence might cause us unnecessary suffering too, you know?" Tommy says with a shrug, "what's causing me suffering now is this." With a sigh, he holds up the uniform. "I'm all for the fancy, overprice school. However, I'm not down with this at all."
"While I agree the uniform is..." Vision slowly and expressionlessly looks the offending articles of clothing up and down, "atrocious, we chose the school based on academics and location." He smirks slightly, "besides the uniforms looked better on the website."
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
✪ ✪ ✪ .
They managed to get the uniform before paying tuition, and had it not been for the disgusting amount of honesty Vision possesses (another trait Tommy didn't inherit. One he is thankful for not getting), they probably wouldn't have paid tuition at all. There was also the matter of the equipment down payment.
If Vision can afford to shell out a little under $10,000 for a school year, living in the Upper West Side of Manhattan is nothing. Which, according to Manhattanites, is the "richer" of the two between the Upper West Side and Upper East Side. Vision claims his "grandparents" left him a sizable inheritance, but he hasn't said much about who these alleged people truly are, nor has he said anything about his parents. But, who is Tommy to judge?
His new school, St. Margaret's, is every bit as fancy as the brochure and website entail. The school year doesn't begin for another two days, so either these uniform wearing people are getting an early jump on learning or even the teachers wear these hideous uniforms.
This school's assistant headmaster/principal/all around overseer is Margaret Carter – who the school ironically is not named after – an older woman who is severely bullshit intolerant. Tommy found that part out the hard way during their first encounter. "Thomas, Vision." She nods her greeting. "What can I do for you two this morning?"
Vision smoothly takes his seat while Tommy follows suit with far less grace. He hasn't been with the man long enough to mimic how smoothly he moves. It's almost as if he glides or something. "We are here to pay tuition, Mrs. Carter." The former replies folding his hands over his lap.
Margaret blinks at him and before now Tommy didn't think the woman was capable of expressing surprise. "Pay? Thomas' tuition has already been paid."
Tommy and Vision exchange glances, "by whom... if you do not mind our asking?" Of all the traits to inherit, Tommy's grateful he seemingly got the whole proper(ish) grammar part from his dad.
Margaret sifts through the folders on her desk opening one saying: "The person responsible for paying Thomas' full four-year tuition was Max Eisenhardt." Tommy and Vision continue to stare at one another with similarly confused expressions on their faces. Who the hell was Max Eisenhardt and why was he going around tossing 40Gs their way? Not that Tommy isn't grateful for the early Christmas—Hanukkah present. On their trip to Germany, Vision confessed to practicing Judaism way before he was born.
He may be Jewish genetically but Tommy isn't sure about converting in a religious aspect since his faith is pretty subpar and religious talks make him squeamish. Religiously speaking, he doesn't even celebrate Christmas.
Margaret frowns closing the folder. "Mr. Eisenhardt was adamant about paying, that isn't a problem... is it?" When is free money ever a problem? "He said he knows you. Normally, that is where I do background checks because anyone can say anything, but I did not deal with Mr. Eisenhardt's payment personally. When asked one of my staff members said he replied with a detailed explanation regarding the nature of your relationship." Vision glances at Tommy briefly and the teen shrugs in reply. "I apologize if this inconvenienced you in any way."
Vision frowns shaking his head. "Not an inconvenience, per se, more like confusion. I received a phone call yesterday morning about Tommy's tuition."
"Ah, well, the folders say Mr. Eisenhardt came in yesterday afternoon. I'm not sure why no one contacted you." The assistant headmaster sighs. "I suppose they thought Mr. Eisenhardt would—"
"There's school on Sunday?"
Margaret chuckles a bit. A truly terrifying sound. "No Thomas, there is no school on Sundays. We do have school every other Saturday." A fact Tommy both knew and hated. "We're only open now to prevent confusion when classes actually start. Evidently, it did not work."
"Oh..." Vision stands, "well if there are no other issues we must be going. I apologize for wasting your time, Mrs. Carter." Tommy stands as well warily eyeing his father.
"There's no trouble at all." Vision nods before leaving with Tommy trailing behind.
"You don't owe this Eisenhardt fella money, do you?" Tommy asks once they start walking down the hall. "I guess not because he wouldn't be paying if he was owed money. Does he owe you money?"
"I have never heard of anyone by that name, let alone allowed them to borrow money from me... especially that much money."
"Ooh! Google him."
"That is your solution to everything." Tommy shrugs in reply, nevertheless Vision takes out his cellphone pressing the mic button on his Google app. "Max Eisenhardt..." He says into the phone. The screen lights up going all white before pictures of a pretty grumpy looking, yet aesthetically appealing old man pop up. Max Eisenhardt was born in Germany. They didn't see the guy (or even hear of him) when they were there so that couldn't be the reason for this money drop-off. Max Eisenhardt has also recently reunited with his daughter: Wanda Maximoff.
"Shit." The two of them reply simultaneously.
✪ ✪ ✪ .
When Max Eisenhardt found out he had a daughter, he did everything in his power to make sure his daughter had everything she needed – not everything she wanted, a common mistake most parents make. Considering he was dirt poor, and not legally married, he struggled on the "everything" part. Still, Anya never had any complaints about his and Magda's combined parenting. It's a miracle she still does not have any complaints.
He and Magda were crazily, irritatingly in love with one another... for a while. People always say love doesn't fade, but they don't know how terrifyingly wrong they truly are. It was just a good thing they got out before a legal marriage could happen. After Magda left him (taking Anya with her), the two of them only made contact through their daughter. Once Anya moved out from her mother's Max kept in touch with her more frequently.
Despite having his daughter with him digitally she was not around physically. After the whole separation and traveling to America thing, there was Lorna. Lorna... born of one (or a few?) passionless night(s?) in Eastern Europe (he's honestly not sure where but that's beside the point). He found Lorna, approximately twenty-four years ago, among the wreckage of a "mysterious" plane crash. The plane's only passengers were the three-year-old and her parents. The case was deemed "unsolvable" but Max figured it was Lorna's powers that aided her survival; the powers she inherited from him.
Ever since then (after the irritating adoption part), he was able to live with the three-year-old. Lorna immediately had her surname changed from Dane to Eisenhardt (only one letter down in the alphabet so if she were attending school it wouldn't be too far of a jump). Then, upon hearing Lorna's former surname, he remembers the married woman he impregnated named Suzanna.
Suzanna's parents (whom he met one time while their daughter was still alive), weren't pleased to admit she confided in them about him, and her husband at the time not being her daughter's father. They were even less pleased about the fact that a mutant impregnated their daughter, giving them a mutant granddaughter. In spite of Suzanna's claim, her parents still insisted on a DNA test. Max didn't know if they were speciesists or simply pissed their daughter cheated on her husband with him. Either way, he was able to take Lorna when the DNA tests proved he is her father.
For over twenty years he's just had Lorna (with Anya digitally conversing with them).
Then he finds out he has yet another daughter.
This other, older, daughter is fully grown and – as expected – wants nothing to do with him, also expected; not that he can blame her. Three is by no means a large number, but when it is just one more than the number of children you fathered yet do not know exists, that's pretty large.
Ironically, he met Wanda several times within the span of twenty-four years. Though he found something strangely familiar about her, being related to him – being his daughter – never crossed his mind. He already has two kids with an eighteen year age gap.
As it turns out, Magda gave Wanda up for adoption because – case and point – the woman went absolutely nuts... which was the nicest way to put it. Wanda somehow got in contact with her mother (fresh out of the nut-house) who redirected Wanda's rage toward him; as he somehow figured Magda would. It was bad enough Magda took Anya from him, but not only does she do the same for Wanda she gives her away as well.
He's only known Wanda is his daughter for less than a month, and she's been pissed at him for just as long (maybe even longer). She is the child of Magda and himself, getting in her good graces will not be an easy task. He, Lorna, and Anya perform a background check discovering Wanda's adoption, bouts with depression, and yearly visits to mental health centers from ages seven to nineteen. Nineteen is when she gave birth/gave her child up for adoption. A vicious cycle Max was set on stopping.
The boy was removed from the system by a man solely known as Vision.
Considering Wanda is unaware of their objective asking her about this "Vision" guy would be pointless. Fortunately, the people working in the Jersey City orphanage have been working there for hundreds of years, so they keep a list of every child ever brought in. Information on the children isn't supposed to be given out to just anyone, but Max can be very persuasive. Wanda didn't even drop him off – the hospital did, but they didn't need any prompting to tattle on his daughter.
The orphanage named the boy Thomas and gave him the last name of the man who ran the place, which was Shepherd. With this information in mind, the three of them searched the globe for a Thomas Shepherd. Thomas spent the last few months traveling the globe taking a three week long trip to Germany (Max's place of birth), his "father" with him the entire time. The two of them finally settled on New York after almost six months of globe-trotting. Vision found/adopted Thomas in Mississippi – quite the distance from Jersey City. The employees at the orphanage(s), who've been there for more than ten years, claimed Thomas was a troublemaker so they'd schlep him around to find a place he'd stick. Not that they ever found one.
Thomas Shepherd is to attend St. Margaret's Academy in Manhattan, New York in a few days. Miraculously, the school lets him skate by without paying tuition so close to the first day. What better way to get to know his grandson by making such a bold, random gesture that Thomas and Vision would have no choice but to try and find the man who paid all that money?
If they hadn't figured out who he was already they'd just want to get to understand why he did what he did – then they'd know. Either way, he was going to meet his grandson, whether Wanda knew he was around or not.
Wanda may not want anything to do with him now, but Wanda's son was not her. As neither Anya nor Lorna have children of their own (yet, or that anyone know of) this would be his first grandchild. It will also, surprisingly, be his only male relative – unless he had some other child set to come out of the woodwork.
✪ ✪ ✪ .
"You want to meet Max?!" Tommy screeches. "Do you not know a trap when you see it?"
"I am aware of Eisenhardt's intentions and the reasoning behind them."
"No, nuh-uh, not gonna happen. If he knows it's only a matter of time before he tells Wanda." Vision tilts his head to the right. "What? She forfeited the right to be called anything maternal years ago." Tommy sighs, "did you ever met him? Wanda's father?" Vision pauses then shakes his head.
"Assuming we met in the past, now a likely scenario. I would not have realized who he is; he and Wanda have different surnames." Tommy nods knowingly. "However, as likely as it could be, I have no memory of him, so I am certain we never met before." It's times like this that make Tommy wonder why Vision sometimes spoke all proper and robotic like, always going on about memories and data and stuff. No matter. It was one of Vision's adorable little quirks.
"How certain would you say you are?"
"About eighty percent?" Vision frowns. "Maybe seventy-five. In any event, I take it you do not have an interest in meeting him then?"
"Hell no, dad, why would I? Because he's my apparent maternal grandfather? No, thank you. I'm not all that interested in meeting anyone on that side of my 'family.' Let's just send him one of those customary 'thank you' notes and move on with our lives."
"And if he demands restitution?"
"Resti—you mean if he wants the money back?" Vision nods. "Then we pay him. Not much else we can do. Sure, it'll take a while but—"
"It would be easier to see him than to pay him back."
Fuck, that was true. Even if Vision was okay with paying $10,000 for the year while paying for the apartment they live in, that probably did not equate to $40,000 right now. It was less than $10,000 a year for tuition, which meant it would be four years – minimum – they'd spend paying him back. Tommy would be nineteen and already done with high school (hopefully) and still be paying back the man they're trying hard to ignore. Dealing with him was clearly both the lesser of two evils and, by far, the less expensive option. Damn Gossip Girl for making him—them—want the whole private school feel! Binge watching high school series and movies on Netflix... why did he come up with that idea? Damn unrealistic preparation! "What if he isn't satisfied seeing me just once and demands the money back all the same? What if he sees me once then wants to keep seeing me? Would we still have to pay him? Would he drop it? Every question points to whatever we do, we're screwed. Like, mafia style screwed."
"Not quite, he merely believes he is forcing our hand. This grand gesture was just to gain our attention."
"Yeah, and he got it. He knows he got it. It's kinda hard to ignore that big of a grand gesture."
"True, and he thinks we'll be interested in meeting him."
"You are."
"Yes, I am." Tommy eyes him dubiously. "But you are not." Vision shakes his head. "That's not important. What I'm suggesting is we do nothing at all."
"Now you lost me."
"All I'm saying is we need him to think we would not 'look a gift horse in the mouth' and not bother questioning his generosity. Then, as you put it, we'll move on with our lives."
"Ooh!" Tommy grins, "how dishonest of you."
"You are a wonderfully terrible influence." Tommy's grin broadens. "However, if that only serves to piss him off further then we are screwed... mafia style."
Tommy's grin slips off his face then he gulps. "Got it." He sighs, "out of curiosity, how much is in your bank account? Like what's your net worth and all that?"
"I have about $85,000 saved up – for both high school and college if you should choose to go." Cool, he gets a choice in the matter? Best. Dad. Ever! "If we need to pay him back I'm prepared to do so."
"Right, let's keep that in mind. In the far back of our minds."
"There is also the matter of my inheritance, which is worth about three million."
"D-Dollars!?" Vision nods. Well, that explains the fancy apartment and school. Wait a minute, no it doesn't! It just brings about more questions! "B-But if you have money saved up you don't intend on using your inheritance?"
"That is correct but as much as it pains me to say if we need to pay Eisenhardt off to give us peace of mind I am prepared to deal with my grandmother." Tommy whistles. He makes a mental note to ask about his paternal grandma in the future if it elicits the response of Vision shuddering briefly. "But that is our last resort."
"Agreed. No sense in dragging more family in this..." Even though this is Vision's family and not Wanda's. Surprisingly, he doesn't mind the thought of dealing with the paternal side of his family – at least not yet. "You must be terrified of your grandma then, huh?"
"You have no idea. The time I spent with her was brief but scarring all the same." Ouch. Seems like this whole "family" ordeal is not worth the drama. And yet, the thought of seeing his dad terrified has a certain appeal. Mostly due to Vision always being so composed. "Although..." He eyes Tommy, "she might be able to help us, without the money."
"Oh?" Vision nods, "guess there's no harm in asking." Tommy claps his hands together. "If she can help, let's do it."
✪ ✪ ✪ .
"Ms. van Dyne..." The brunette glances up from her tablet at the security guard standing in the doorway. "A man on the line for you. He claims to be a vision?"
The brunette raises a skeptical eyebrow, "a vision... on my phone?" The guard nods. Frowning slightly, she stares at the man who squirms a bit. "Wait... did the man say he is a vision, or his name is vision?"
"Um... I believe the former?"
She rolls her eyes extending one of her hands, "give me the phone." Nodding, the man walks over to her placing the cordless phone in her hand. Contemplating the life choices regarding having an old-fashioned office phone as a good idea, she places the tablet on the couch then presses the phone to her ear. "Hello?"
There's a bit of static before someone clears their throat. "H-Hello Janet."
The brunette's eyes widen considerably, "hold on." She looks up at the guard smiling sweetly. "You can go now. Thanks." Nodding furiously, the man retreats. Sighing, she puts the phone to her ear again. "Motherfucker, nice to hear from you, V!"
"And you as well, Jan. I must apologize for not keeping contact with you. Given the nature of your relationship with Henry I figured you'd want as little to do with him as possible." Janet snorts, that wasn't even the half of it. "I am aware this is out of the blue, and you are free to decline. I would not be surprised if you did, but—" A pause, "I—we—require your assistance."
Janet sits up, "we? Who is we?"
"We is myself and my son Thomas."
"S-Son?" Janet squeals. Her baby has a baby!
The brunette hears shuffling in the background before: "Yup, son. That's what I am. I'm guessing that makes you my great-grandma?" Janet pulls the phone away from her ear to stare at it in disbelief before slowly pressing it back. "—ame's Tommy. Nice to, uh, hear you."
"Likewise. Can Vision hear me?"
"Yeah... hold on, I'll put it on speaker."
"Where are you?"
The two of them are muttering to one another, and Janet taps the edge of her tablet with a staccato rhythm. Her rhythm doesn't falter once during the solid minute of murmuring between the two and just before Janet snaps at them "Manhattan" is what Vision blurts out. Janet's head snaps up toward the window, eyes narrowing at the Empire State Building. She hears more murmuring before everything goes silent for a few seconds then someone (probably Vision) lets out a weary sigh. "I'm assuming your silence indicates your interest in meeting?"
The brunette lets out a disapproving groan of Marge Simpson quality. "You're damn right I have an interest in meeting. What do you need help with anyway? You know what, never mind. It's probably something you can't or shouldn't discuss over the phone. And I'm not even gonna ask how long you've been here. We're going to meet on neutral ground. I have a hotel room in the Langham Place I intend on putting to good use – we'll meet there, fifteen minutes, Vision. I will time you."
"Of course, we'll be there."
"Good. Looking forward to seeing you there." Then she hangs up. She glances at the door then puts the phone down on the couch, the opposite side of where she put the tablet. The last time she heard from Vision, she and Henry were still on speaking terms, hard to believe that was nearly two decades ago. It's 2016 now and though Janet doesn't look a day over thirty having a grandson in his thirties doesn't seem believable.
Oh well, she has a great-grandson now. She stands to smooth out the wrinkles in her skirt. Time to meet the fam.
✪ ✪ ✪ .
Like many things in life being wealthy has its pros and cons. Pro: being able to buy whatever you want (depending on the amount of wealth you possess). Con: (also depending on your wealth) the so-called "status" of you – or in most instances – your family. For Janet van Dyne: genius, scientist, fashion designer, philanthropist, socialite, and entrepreneur (among other things), as well as the daughter of Vernon van Dyne. Her father being a world renowned scientist was a pretty f-ing big con.
Usually, the scientist types solely recognized her as Vernon's only offspring. An apparent big deal. A bigger deal than any and everything she's ever done in life! Rude! Janet van Dyne accomplished a lot of shit in her life too! She doesn't play second fiddle to anyone, not even her father.
In any event... here she is, in her hotel room, sitting across from her grandson and great-grandson. "So..." Janet begins, eyeing the two of them, "how did this happen?" Vision tilts his head and Janet sighs. "The son? Not in the actual sense either. I know the mechanics."
"Oh!" Vision blushes. "A few months ago I met Thomas near a Mississippi orphanage." The white-haired teen nods in agreement. "DNA has proven he is my son." Janet blinks at him. "We found out earlier today his maternal grandfather paid for his tuition at St. Margaret's yesterday afternoon. Tuition for all four years and the two of us have not discussed whether or not he would continue to attend the school when the first year was over."
"Guess you don't have to discuss it anymore. Who's the baby granddaddy?" Janet asks waggling her eyebrows.
"Mrs. Carter says his name is Max Eisenhardt."
"The mutant rights activist?" Vision and Tommy share a look. "What? He's a famous guy and all that. I may not be a mutant but I keep up with that stuff. Uh, I know of him, but I don't know him or anything." She tilts her head. "You knocked up his daughter? Which one?"
"Wanda Maximoff."
"I wasn't aware she was his daughter." The brunette hums. Not that she knows who Wanda Maximoff is. Janet only knows of Anya Eisenhardt and Lorna Eisenhardt. "Eisenhardt came to you trying to connect with his grandson? What do you need me to do? Pay him off. That'll be easy. Extort him? Also easy. Get him to back off? Well, that goes hand in hand with extortion."
"All we need is your advice."
"That's what we came here for!?" Tommy asks then groans. "I was all for a shakedown." Janet chuckles. "Ms. van Dyne, great-grams if I may, if you know of this guy do you know what he'll do if we ignore his charity?"
The brunette grimaces, "like I said I don't know him personally, but if someone ignored my charity I'd be pretty miffed. Just thank him then, I don't know, move on with your lives. If that doesn't work we always have extortion; trust me, it'll be a breeze. My minions are always so eager to please. Oh, what do you know, that rhymed."
"Minions?" Tommy grins at Vision, "I like her."
"Yes, I had a feeling you would. So your advice is to thank him? Then what? He did this for Tommy, to get to know him." Janet glances at Tommy. "Tommy said he has no interest in meeting because it might lead to a meeting with his mother, which is also unwanted."
"I don't blame you. Doesn't really seem worth it. Unfortunately, I cannot fathom how you feel. My mother died when I was four, and I'd do almost anything for one chance to talk to or even see her." She shrugs, "but I my dad was with me the whole time. Had he abandoned me we'd be having a different conversation."
"Dad didn't know about me, so he didn't wittingly abandon me. Wanda willingly left me, I get that she might have done it because she couldn't care for me, but that doesn't mean I have to up and forgive her. It's selfish, I know, but I'm not ready to meet her and I don't know when or if I'll ever be ready."
Vision puts an arm around Tommy drawing him near. "It's okay for you to be a little selfish, I imagine you want to get closer to your dad first." Janet nods to herself, "and it's really her loss because you seem like a cool kid." Tommy grins at her. "Hey! The three of us should have brunch or something together weekly since we're all in New York!"
"I would like that."
Tommy grins, "sure. Why not? If you're alright with my old man, you're alright with me. Not to mention you're Janet van Dyne: international model, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and fashion designer." He forgot a few things, but Janet wasn't about to point that out. "How cool is it I'm related to an actual celebrity?! Wait! You're like forty-something..." He glances at Vision, "and he's—"
Vision clamps a hand over his mouth, "let us focus on more pressing matters shall we?"
Who would have thought a few months after meeting his father he'd meet his great-grandma Find out he even has a great-grandma. A great-grandma! Some people don't have a grandparent let alone a great-grandparent.
Unfortunately, gushing over his familial relationship with Janet van Dyne has to take a backseat to "urgent matters."
Tommy grimaces at his reflection in the full-length mirror. No amount of marathoning or binge watching in the world would be enough to prepare him for high school, no amount of anything in the world can prepare him for this fucking uniform. As hot as he is, even he can't pull off this atrocity. And if he can't, he's pretty sure no one can. "It is not as bad as you make it seem." Vision says putting his hands on Tommy's shoulders, "it is very patriotic."
"I've seen American Flags less patriotic than this uniform. The New England Patriots are not as patriotic as this uniform." Vision hums in agreement. The pants are striped blue and white (not plaid like most upper-crust uniforms), there's a hideous bright red sweater vest, a plain blue button-down shirt, and a striped red and white tie he won't wear – ever. The only source of individuality on his person are his socks (Yoda since he found a Star Wars three pack at some store he forgot the name of). Case in point, socks aside, he looks like a Neo Maxi Zoom Dweebie if he ever saw one.
Surprisingly, with all the rules in place, the school has no rules regarding piercings. While some schools don't allow male students with piercings, others don't allow any piercings of any kind.
Tommy doesn't have any piercings, yet. Moreover, if his dad is letting him decide whether he wants to go to college or not, can't rule out the possibility of a piercing or two. Perhaps even a tattoo (or several) is also possible in the future.
"You have the alternate uniforms." Tommy shudders. He's pretty sure an American Flag is on one of his alternate uniform somewhere. They need to find whoever designed these things and beat them over the head, repeatedly, with several fashion magazines or a DVD box set of Project Runway; various DVD box sets.
"I think you look adorable." Janet replies texting away on her phone.
"Grams, you're not even looking."
"We talked about that, Thomas." The white-haired teen sighs. He received a painstakingly thorough run-down as to why he should never refer to Janet as "great-grandma" or any variant. Admittedly, he forgot the majority of the reasons, but he remembers one of them being Janet not looking old enough to be a great-grandma. Given Janet's youthful appearance she barely looks old enough to be a parent. That is not an exaggeration either. She got carded at the grocery store! Tommy hopes their shared genetics lets him look half his age in his forties/fifties as well.
That and the whole Vision not being human debate go hand-in-hand. Unless Janet gave birth at like twelve or something, her familial relationship with Vision is a mathematical impossibility.
Neither one discusses Janet's "son" (Vision's "father"), but they – scathingly one might add – mention a bug-obsessed dude who may or may not be Janet's ex-husband Harry or Henley or another H name. Assuming H is the correct letter. Janet finally looks up then gasps loudly. "Oh! Yeah, you're right. So right. I wasn't looking, I wasn't looking at all." She shakes her head sadly. "Oh my, I...I—" She takes a deep breath, "yeah, no. Under no circumstance is a relative of mine is wearing that."
"It's the St. Margaret's uniform." Vision says with a shrug that earns him a glare.
"I'm a fashion designer, Vision, and a generous one at that. You don't think I can design the most kick-ass, smart, breathable, classiest looking uniform ever? Like in the history of ever?"
"I didn't say—"
"You're damn right you didn't say, V." The brunette slumps back in the chair furiously typing away on her phone mumbling under her breath.
Tommy frowns at Vision. "Why didn't you try contacting her before we got this thing? I can already be in my smart, classy, kick-ass, breathable uniform."
"As I recall, we only contacted her because of your grandfather."
Tommy sucks in a breath, "right." They glance at Janet take a sketchpad out of nowhere and start drawing on it. "She works fast." Vision nods in agreement. "Did she always have that notebook with her?"
Vision tilts his head to the left, "I do not know."
Janet's sketching with one hand and has her phone against her ear. "Let me call you back." She stops sketching, hangs up then dials someone else. "Dad? Hey! Boy, do I have news for you..."
Vision's phone starts vibrating so he takes it out of his pocket and stares at it for a good thirty seconds before re-pocking it. Twenty minutes before they're supposed to leave.
When Janet hangs up she puts the pad on her lap and starts sketching again. The brunette prefers physical drawings with her designs compared to using a tablet or some other impersonal electronic item. Call her old school, but feeling the strokes of the pencil, smelling the paper, watching everything unfold before her very eyes? There is no better feeling.
"You can't go wrong with flowers." Tommy and Vision exchange glances. "Nah." Janet shakes her head tearing the page from her notebook, crumpling it up, and tossing it on the floor next to the other crumpled sheets of paper. Tommy blinks because two minutes ago the floor didn't have pieces of crumpled paper on it. "That won't work." She mumbles, chewing on her pen. "I want something flashy."
Tommy glances at Vision as his phone starts vibrating again.
"What are your school colors?"
Tommy turns to Janet. "Red, white, and blue."
Janet stops sketching to look at him, "are you kidding?" Tommy gestures to his uniform. "Ooh. Ouch." She grimaces. "Now that I think about it you did make a patriotic comment." The brunette hums. "How to make the American Flag look flashier? Is that a thing I can do? Is that a thing anyone can do? I'm truly flabbergasted. I don't suppose I could change the school colors?" Tommy shrugs. "Maybe I can change how much of the color—" Vision's phone starts vibrating. "For the love of—answer the damn thing, V!"
Vision stares blankly at her then takes his phone out of his pocket and stares. Tommy and Janet stare back at him. He looks up at them, back at the phone, then at them once more. "It appears I am required elsewhere."
"How would you know? You didn't answer the phone." Janet narrows her eyes at him.
Vision looks at his phone again. "It's..."
"Private?"
He looks at Tommy then nods. "Yes. I'm sorry for leaving suddenly. Will you be alright taking Tommy to school, Janet?"
She sneaks a peek at Tommy who gives a one-shoulder shrug. "Sure. You can count on me, chief."
Vision nods. "Thank you. I will see you when you get home, Tommy. And Janet, thanks so much."
"Yeah, yea, you're welcome. Now go already." Vision nods once more, Tommy and Janet both wave to him as he walks out the apartment.
Janet continues to stare at the closed door for approximately five seconds before blurting out: "What the hell was that all about?"
Tommy shrugs. "He's been doing that a lot lately."
"Doing what?"
He picks up the second alternate uniform, holding it against his body. No American Flag on this one but somehow this uniform is even more horrendous than the original. Not that the original looks better by comparison. Either way, he puts the uniform down and takes a step away from it for good measure. "Acting cagey, checking his phone every two seconds, making secret phone calls, not answering secret phone calls, pulling disappearing acts, sending shifty glances all around. Things like that. Maybe the reason he doesn't wanna find Wanda is because he's seeing someone else?"
"Plausible, but I doubt it." Janet taps her pen against her notebook. "Vision waxed poetic about your mom. Only woman he ever loved. Blah, blah, blah. Disappearing. Blah, blah, blah. Sadness. Blah, blah—It was super irritating. Going on and on and on and on."
"Yeah?"
"Oh yeah. Thank goodness you didn't inherit his flair for the dramatic." Janet shakes her head. "Definitely got it from..." She sighs, "whatever. I need to know where he's going. Just what the hell is so important he'd miss your high school sendoff?"
"High school really isn't that big a deal." She glares at him. "Or it is? I wouldn't know."
Janet hums, clicking her tongue. "You know what? We should follow him."
"We should?"
"No one's ever on-time for the first day. Besides..." She points her pen at the closed door, "I'm intrigued."
"So am I but dad's entitled to a little secrecy." Janet raises an eyebrow then points at him, "what?"
"Secrecy. That's you."
"No. I was kept secret from him."
Janet rolls her eyes, "regardless. I say we're going. I'm your ride, your great-grandmother, and I'm going to draw up some paperwork making me a guardian."
"Did you talk to dad about this?"
"No. I literally just thought of it." She waves him off, "I'll talk to him about it later. Point is, I'm already here and not that I have any experience in this field but raising a kid is hard work. I didn't need to raise one to know that."
"You never raised a kid before?"
"Hank and I split before the kid was in the picture." Hank. That's what the H-guy's name was! Tommy would've never guessed that. "Then when it happened, I..." She shudders. "That's why I treat V like my baby." She grins at him, "and my baby's baby." Tommy grins back. "Now let's get going."
Tommy gasps, "wait! That means people are gonna see me in this uniform!"