Hello, everyone. Been a couple of months since I wrote one of these, longer than I would have liked. I'm back though with another DC heroine to write for, and this is another one I was introduced to through the DCAU, particularly Unlimited-Vixen! The idea popped into my head some time after my last one, which was Hawkgirl. Not too surprising all things considered, especially given what I wrote for her story. Since Vixen will be the leading lady, rejoice, Shayera/John shippers, they're a couple in this story and Mari…will be finding someone new.

As with my previous stories, the setting is the DCAU, especially since, again, that's where I was first introduced to Vixen. I'm going to try to do a few nods to the mythology Vixen draws her powers from since this'll be the first mystic superhero that I've done, and Alex's powers are mystical in nature as well. Here's hoping you all enjoy the story!

I do not own anything.


Meta Care-Beast Taming


Alex had to admit, he was impressed with the silence. Usually, when he did this, someone was needling him about if he was almost finished near immediately after he'd begun. Such was the nature of his abilities, both wonderous yet anxiety inducing. He supposed it was fitting though. Going to the hospital could be nerve-wrecking for some people. Getting some random individual like him to perform his healing mafic on them? Completely out of the blue? Honestly, he didn't blame people for being nervous. More than a couple of times he'd been accused of being nothing but a con artist in the past. His ancestors had been accused of the same, though he heard they remained dignified; they knew what their abilities were, and they knew how to use them. Alex liked to think they'd be proud of him for trying to do the same.

Would they be proud of him using his powers for this?

Well, people could be vain, that hadn't changed since the ancient world and it certainly wasn't about to change any time soon. Besides, it wasn't like back in the old days people didn't care about their appearances, definitely not. He was pretty sure that at least a few could have dreamed of making an entire career out of showing off their appearance. Appearances certainly counted for something back then, though a woman showing off her body the way a model does would have probably caused an uproar in those days.

They still did in some cases. Not all parents were fine with their children becoming models, especially ones who really liked showing off.

He remembered his sister once asking how their parents would react if she said she wanted to become a model. Realizing where she might have gotten the idea, their mom had marched a few blocks down to neighbors and made it clear there were certain things kids like them weren't to see or hear while they were around. While serious, it'd still gotten a laugh out of his dad and uncles. It got a laugh out of Alex himself.

When he got the chance to explain this, he was sure that Maddie would get a laugh out of this. Same thing with Trevor.

"Um…are you…almost finished?"

Finally, that line came. "Almost," he replied in a tender tone. Temporarily looking away from his patient, he turned his honey-brown gaze to the sole other occupant in the room. "Almost done."

Chad smiled, giving him a thumbs up as proof of his continued support. Though Alex knew he had it on lockdown, it was still nice to see it affirmed.

Confidence helped fuel his powers. His dad had explained to him that magic wasn't something that always required knowing something-it required feeling and desire. "You've got to want to heal, son. That's how it works." For a time, that's how he'd operated his powers, but when he turned twelve, he decided to actually make an effort to know what he was doing. He couldn't deny that a stray joke about him accidentally irradiating someone might have played some kind part in it.

His powers could give off low levels of solar radiation; no surprise there given what his powers were, though he could control how much. In all his life, he'd never emitted enough to actually hurt someone, and that wasn't about to change now.

In the back of his mind, he wondered how much radiation he was potentially releasing doing this. It was a question that might have required input from a professional biologist and a radiologist, neither of whom were on hand. While he was studying medicine, he was far from a professional. Chad was studying broadcasting. Some people might have wondered why he wasn't recording this, after all, it would have been a hell of a good way to make money. Alex had people make money off his abilities before.

This wasn't about money though. This was a personal favor to a friend.

The light faded from his hand as he drew it back, a relaxed yet proud smile on his face. "Done. You're now scar-free, Kathy."

Grinning, Chad picked up a mirror and held it up for his cousin to see. Of course, Kathy was already feeling across her back. She practically jumped to her feet in realizing it was gone. When Chad confirmed it, a scream of pure excitement exploded from her lips. Alex had been expecting it thus it was actually music to his ears. The same went for Chad's own jubilant laughter as he hugged his cousin.

As they hugged each other he stared at his right hand. The sunlike glow that once emitted from it had died down, but it could be called upon again in a moment's notice. Pride swelled within him as he closed his fist.

"Oh, Alex, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Looking up, he caught Kathy's tearful smile just in time to prepare himself for the hug she threw at him. It still wasn't enough to keep him from tumbling backward, much to Chad's amusement. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

He had a feeling he'd get a kiss at the end of this, and his hunch turned out to be exactly right. Alex felt proud to add "kissed by a supermodel" to his list of achievements. Sure they were all on the cheek-

"Heh, aren't you a lucky guy, Alex?"

Okay, on the cheek and one on the lips. Alex certainly didn't mind the latter. Kathy had always been a pretty girl, though now he also felt perfectly fine calling her beautiful. After all, she was a model. What made her special was that Alex would say Kathy was beautiful in both body and spirit, in his opinion a winning combination. He'd have done it anyway, but he would say that was another reason why he'd agreed to this. His little way of showing that a good deed could yield a reward.

As she pulled away Alex looked into her sky-blue eyes, overflowing with joy that spilled forth like a waterfall. He'd known those blue eyes since he was a kid. They were always filled with joy and support, something he found comforting. He was the oldest of his siblings, but sometimes even a big brother like him could use someone to back them up. Kathy was one of the people who reminded him he was still human, something he sometimes he needed to hear. Alex had learned that everyone needed someone to tell them that at least once in their lives. The gold-haired blonde had been one of the people to tell him that, amongst other useful bits of advice.

Moments later, he was back on his feet, well, temporarily. He took a seat on a nearby chair while Kathy continued to feel around her backside, basking in the glory of the absence of her scars. Out of respect, Alex kept his eyes closed, something that didn't go unnoticed by the two other blondes.

"Come on, man, really?" Chad chuckled.

"Hey, the fact that he's doing that just proves how much of a gentleman Alex is. Something you could definitely learn something from Chad. Not to mention you could learn a thing or two from him regarding mathematics." Kathy playfully swiped at him.

"Gah! Don't start! You chose to be a model, not a mathematician, remember!"

"Hey, I can always fall back on that in case modeling doesn't work out." She cracked with a wink.

Crossing his arms, Chad turned his own blue eyes Alex's way. "You know, if it wasn't for Alex, you could have gone that down that route. You still could, you know."

"Hmmm, tempting, but I still have too many adoring fans that I can't let down. Speaking of which, I sure probably get in contact with my manger and let him know." The overflow of relief and excitement dried up, though a sense of gratitude remained. It was tempered by the reservation she felt as the conversation moved to a more serious topic. "She's going to want to know how the scars healed up so fast. Alex, I can always just make up a story. In fact, I think it'd probably be preferably since you'd have dozens of women fighting over you for various reasons."

"What, you mean besides his ability to heal any wound or blemish? Yeah, our Alex would be getting torn apart limb from limb."

"Yeah, and I'm sure you and the others would be saying all sorts of nice things at my funeral." All three of them got a good laugh in. In its absence the serious mood returned, having been temporarily pushed back. Alex hunched forward, a thin smile on his face as he held Kathy's gaze. "It's okay if you tell her. I mean, if anything happens, I'll be there to help you, Kathy." After a pause he leaned back, his cheeks pink from a rising heat he was self-aware of. He knew the two blondes in front of him could see it as well. Chad was the one studying broadcasting and always had a knack for picking up subtly; maybe it was a family thing since Kathy wasn't too far behind him from time to time. "Really, I'll be happy to help anyone that needs it."

Kathy's smile for a moment before it fell. "Alex, there's plenty of people who could use it, but there's also plenty of people who'd take advantage of them. Trust me, I can already think of a few of my colleagues who'd love to have you at their beck and call." Despite her somewhat depressive expression, she managed to laugh. "I can also think of a few doctors who'd probably hate your guts because you're stealing their business."

"Well, he is studying to be a doctor."

"A public one, Chad." Alex reminded him. "Though I'm sure what you're suggesting would give me some damn good pay, it's not quite what I'm looking for. Not to mention I…kind of want to avoid the drama that'll come with that job."

"Oh, that's w wise move, trust me on that."

"Really, Kathy?"

The older blonde looked to her cousin with an acute stare. "I call you to complain from time to time for a reason, don't I? Not to mention a guy like Alex, there'll be fighting over him that could get messy."

"You know, every time you talk like that, it reminds me that there's more to the whole modeling life style than just looking sexy."

"That's always the glamorous part of the job. A lot goes into looking that way, and that can be a bumpy road in itself." There was a sad smile on Kathy's face, one that told Alex of the burdens that came with being a model. Like she said, the runways were the glamorous part of the job, but there was always more to it than that. Models were expected to keep their body in specific form. Naturally, that meant disfigurements of any kind were potential career killers. The scars he'd healed could have spelled the end for Kathy's career if it hadn't been for him.

Kathy hadn't just put her career on the line, her life as well when she chose to save those kids from that falling glass. In the last few years, it'd been estimated that thousands of people had been killed by falling debris of all sorts. Just as many had been injured and maimed; there was a debate amongst that group if they'd been lucky or if they would have preferred to have simply died. Again, Kathy had been lucky that though she ended up in the latter camp, she had him. The scars she'd suffered from the broken glass hadn't lasted long-only a week after they'd formed.

She'd acted without thinking about his powers, without even knowing if he had the ability to heal the scars left by the glass shards that had impaled her body. Sure, Kathy had seen him heal cuts and bruises, but she'd never known he could heal scars that had already formed. When Alex decided to heal her, he wondered if time would play a factor. Hers would be only a week old, not months or years; Alex couldn't help but wonder if he could heal scars that old. This hadn't been the time for him to find out.

Maybe that day would come in the future.

"You know…you're a lot more of a safer option than some of the other things people would turn to."

Alex leaned back into his chair, breathing out as he did so. "Well, thanks. Good to know you don't think my powers will cause some weirdo mutation."

"Hmm, let's see now…nope. I can't think of any one time you've healed someone and they've gained super powers." Chad chirped with a grin. He walked over and gently bumped Alex on the shoulder. "Seriously though, I can understand where Kathy's coming from. The last thing anyone would want is to become another Clay Face."

"Urgh, I'm pretty sure that's the last thing Metropolis would need. It's already got enough supervillains running around." Alex groaned. "That said, at least Superman would be able to beat him easily just by freezing him."

"You know, I wish he was able to end all his fights like that." Chad said.

"Personally, my favorite power of his is flight. Being able to fly through the air like a bird at supersonic-"

"He can reach hypersonic speed." Kathy rolled her eyes at her him, then snickered in a sibling-like way that brought a smile to Alex's face.

"Anyways," she picked up. "Flight's definitely my pick for favorite super powers, at least for him. As for my favorite super power of all time," rising from the bed, she strode toward Alex. With that smile that had bedazzled thousands and would continue to do so, Kathy took hold of his hands. "I think Alex's are the best. Maybe I'm a little selfish in saying that, but I think your powers are amongst the best, and they couldn't have gone to a greater guy."

"Geez, really laying it on thick, aren't you, Kathy?" Again, Chad gently patted him on the shoulder. "Still, she's got a point. Some guys would have charged money for what you do."

"Or some kind of favor. I can tell you right now that's what a few girls would have done."

His mind immediately filled with thoughts that made his cheeks flush red. It was a massive step up from the pink tint her kisses had invoked in him. "Well…a part of me can't say I'd be entirely against that. But…I…think I'd like something a little more meaningful."

"Which is one of the reasons why you're such a good guy."

"Exactly. Truth be told, that's another reason why I kind of feel like I'm selfishly keeping you to myself. You're an entirely safe option that'll likely never go bad on me. I know for a fact that some people would kill to have that."

How much of the "kill" part is actually right though? I'm better off not finding out, well, for as long as I can. It was a cynical thought, but Alex had come of age in a world of heroes and villains, the latter of which could come from shockingly minor places. Pettiness could easily become the doorway to something infinitely worse.

"All that said, I do owe you, Alex. Big time. Thanks to you, I'll be back in business. Speaking of which, how would you feel about getting to see me work? And maybe some of my coworkers?"

Despite immediately realizing what she was getting at, Alex still gapped at her like a fish. "H-H-Huh?"

Grinning, she leaned forward, pushing her blonde bags into his face as he backed up. While he'd always seen Kathy as an older sister, Alex couldn't deny she was still a very pretty woman. One whose face was extremely close to his. The fact that Chad was only a few feet away didn't seem to be a factor. Not surprising given the ear-to-ear grin he probably had on his face. He was quite used to his cousin's flirting, at times encouraging it. Plus, he let it slip if something ever did happen between him and Kathy he wouldn't mind, the perks of being friends for the better part of eleven years.

"I'm saying…despite our friendship, I feel like I owe you something for this. Something I'm sure you'll enjoy." She knew he was playing dumb, and she was enjoying playing this game with him. "You've never been to a runway show, Alex. How's about you change that?"

"Y-Y-Y-You mean-"

"One week from now, Athas Hall."

"Y-Y-You're inviting me to the Athas Hall Show?!"

"Hah! So you've been keeping up with me!" Kathy remarked as she leaned back. Admittedly, Alex felt a tad disappointed at the loss of close contact; he was actually enjoying it. "Yep. There's a runway show planned for it and I've got some spare tickets, one of which you've more than earned."

Eyes still wide, he turned to his right. Chad threw up his hands. "Hey, I didn't know she was going to do this, I only had a hunch."

"You never asked me for one before, though I knew you'd be interested if I offered it."

"I'm tempted to ask why didn't you?" Her smile was apologetic, like she'd considered the thought but never could find it in herself to go through with it. He could ask her about it one, one day, after he'd had a front row seat to one of the best fashion shows in Metropolis. "So, what time? Will there be a dress code?"

Sadness turned to excitement as she leaned in and planted another kiss on his cheek. "I figured you'd say yes. As it happens, I've got tickets for a few front row seats, one of which is definitely going to have your name on it."

Alex felt himself grinning before the first mental image took shape in his mind. "Since you said a few," his words trailed off as he looked back to his right, where Chad was nonchalantly whistling to himself. Alex humored him with a chuckle. "Any chance you were going to tell me this?"

"Hey, I was going to get around to it, but you know I don't like trying to leech off of Kathy." That was true. Just like how his siblings tried not to leech off his abilities, Chad tried to do the same when it came to his cousin. Like her parents and his, he was protective of her in his own way. "Anyways, I'll be there, though I'm afraid I'll have some academic baggage. Still, you know I'm going to be enjoying every second of being there."

"Just wanna make sure, Chad. So, either of you feel like staying for dinner? I mean…it'd be nice if we could all just celebrate like we used to."

Alex shared a look with his longtime friend. "Hmm, a nice horribly cooked stake with some super expensive wine. A hell of a step up from old times, so I'll take it!"

Grinning, Kathy tapped his chest. "Come on, I know a few places you two will like, and don't worry about the bill. It'll be on me tonight."

Alex had hoped for the best when he rode out with Chad this evening. It'd be another time to push the limits of his power. He'd hope for the best, and if he failed…well, he wanted to say that he'd tried. When it came to the people he carried about, he always tried his best, and he was glad this was one of those times it'd been enough. That made him happier than the three-figure dinner he ended up enjoying instead of another night of Chinese takeout or pizza. In the recesses of his mind, he wondered if he and the Conlees would be enjoying another night like this one.

He was willing to bet yes. Hell, maybe if he was really lucky, they'd have some company.


The only fashion shows Alex had ever seen had been on TV. His interests could have been described as fifteen-percent the clothes being shown off and the rest in the people-the women-showing them off. At least he paid some attention to the clothes being shown off, some. Like the other guys he fantasized about one day going to such a show themselves. Even better, having a supermodel girlfriend. It was a normal thing for young boys to daydream about.

What were the odds of him making it far enough to turn that dream into a reality? Granted, he hadn't stuck the supermodel girlfriend part. Even now as he sat in the front row seat, he knew that one was probably going to remain out of reach. He was fine with that though. Getting to see woman after woman strutting out in amazing outfits was more than enough to leave him satisfied.

From the minute he'd gotten that ticket from Kathy Alex could say he'd been excited. Even before he actually looked up the coming show, he knew Athas Hall was one of the best event forums in Metropolis, thus it was no wonder that a runway show was held there. Of course, the bigger the event, the less likely an average Joe like himself was likely to get in. People like him normally had to settle for watching them through a screen, as he'd done a dozen times in the past. From the moment he walked through the doors he knew there was nothing quite like being there in person. Especially as the show got started.

He had clothes to wear. Formal, but not too formal. There was a loose dress code that he had no intention of breaking. The sexy and ridiculous was for the models, and he was all too eager to see them. Him, Chad, and Julio, though he could see Lucy was enjoying the show as well. The redhead went wide-eyed and applauded at the outfits, and the woman sporting them. Being an art student, she certainly knew how to appreciate color, though Alex was certain that she was also receptive to the works of art that were the models' bodies. They had figures that he was sure any young woman would have been envious of. Hell, or anyone woman that simply wanted to be looked and gawked at.

Everyone was doing that, every man and woman, from all ages. Alex took a bit of joy in knowing that he and his friends were likely amongst the youngest people there. Granted, they'd gotten a couple of odd looks, but they'd been dropped fast. They had a right to be there and proof, not that they needed to show either once they were seated and the show started.

Mere seconds before it did, Julio leaned over and whispered, "Man, I am so happy to be your friend."

Through the hushed whispered, Alex chuckled. "Thanks, but I think you should also thank Chad. I mean, when I was ten, he was the one who introduced me to his cousin so I could pass math class." Sitting side by side, they shared a short fist bump before turning their attention back to the runaway. The lights deemed and the show began in full. It was just like being in a movie theater, except what he saw before his eyes was real, every woman that strutted out in a stylish outfit worth more than he could make in five part-time jobs put together.

Really, several of them looked exactly like they'd walked straight out of a fantasy. It wasn't just their outfits that were stunning, so were their bodies, a fact Alex felt utterly shameless in admitting. Flawless skin, beautiful skin of various colors: olive white, dark as chocolate, a sun-kissed tan, a lighter tan, and everything in-between. Faces adorned in makeup that enhanced beauty that was already jaw-dropping. Shades of hair that ranged from golden blonde to black as night, all done up in the most appealing ways imaginable. For the brunettes, Alex subconsciously felt himself feeling around his own brown hair. He'd been proud to inherit his hair from his mother's side of the family; he'd heard that her side of the family was well-known for their flowing hair of various shades of brown.

In the back of his mind, he began subconsciously waiting for Kathy to make her appearance. Seeing her had in person had been another reason for his coming. The woman that'd been like a big sister to him looking her absolute best on the runway-that was something Alex found he didn't want to pass up. As he was rapidly learning, shots from magazines and on TV couldn't measure up to the real thing.

With each minute his anticipation grew. Alex felt her turn coming up, causing his excitement to reach something its limit. The announcer called out her name, Kathelyn Conlee. He briefly thought back to all the times he'd known Kathy, how supportive she'd been of him, including when he decided he wanted to study in Metropolis.

"I know you, Alex. It'll be dangerous, but you'll be able to handle it. Besides, I've got a feeling the city could use someone like you."

The memory came with a sudden pinprick on his neck. Alex's eyes widen at the feeling.

A heartbeat later and the pieces clicked. Not all of his ancestors had been healers. Some had been fighters-warriors. It was a legacy he was also proud of even though he didn't consider himself much of a fighter. Sometimes those warrior instincts were passed on, and at times they were definitely appreciated.

When the explosions rocked his ears, he knew this was one of those times.

"Everyone, down!" He shouted, grabbing Julio and Lucy beside him, and hauling them to the floor. Alex could only hope Chad did the same. Peaking up from his huddled position, he saw that the blond had, and was cursing to the high heavens at how something had just gone wrong.

"Ah, come on! It's a fashion show!" he heard Julio groaning in naked dismay. "Why the hell would anyone want to ruin that!"

"YOU LYING BITCHES! GET YOUR ASSES OUT HERE BEFORE I COME IN AND DRAG YOU OUT!" Thundered a feminine voice. It was more booming than the explosion that had rocked the room seconds earlier. Alex knew both would more than likely be eclipsed within the next minute; assuming he lived that long.

No, don't think like that! While panic was racing through him, he put up obstruction after obstruction, slowing it down. In seconds, he brought it under control, mostly. He knew to keep his head down and told that to the others. His gut told him it wasn't safe for them to lift their heads yet; that feeling was bolstered by the sound of lasers flashing through the air. At one point, it might have seemed crazy that he, a regular person, knew what that sounded like. Then again, he was part of the generation that'd grown-up watching men and women in colorful outfits fighting monsters on the news.

Right about now, Alex knew they could have used one of the former.

He finally lifted his head, praying he didn't get it blown off. His noise wrinkled as he caught the smell of smoke, and blood. Fires had sprung up all over the place and they were spreading, fast. The first thing that he realized was that they had to get out of there, now.

Wincing as his ears rung with another thunderous boom, he turned around. A massive hole had been blown in the entry way where they'd came in-where everyone came in. The person who made it was still there.

She was beauty and terror incarnate, rather fitting for a villain crashing a fashion show. Red energy swirled from her hands akin to the barrels of smoking guns. There was a scarlet glow from them, and her neck, around which hung a necklace of some sort. His immediate thought was that's where the woman's power was coming from, so removing them probably would have been the way to stop her. Granted, Alex had no idea how anyone in the room was going to get near the woman with flamelike hair. The jet-black mane whipped about, not by any wind blowing in from the outside but by the sheer power the woman was generating. Her eyes were crimson lanterns that stared at everything with nothing but pure hate. They were just as terrifying as the energy circulating around her hands.

The energy within those hands flared up as her arms were raised, sparkling beams of energy flew from her palms. Alex ducked again, only hearing the impact instead of seeing it.

Christ, how in the hell are we going to get past her? Yet again, the universe answered him as he heard another booming voice.

"I told you I was going to make you all pay! Well, here's proof I wasn't fucking around!" More energy blasts followed, and more explosions. A bigger one ensued, rocking the floor even as they hugged it.

"Kathy! Kathy!" Chad screamed, panic strangling his voice.

As he started to move, so too did Alex. Flinging himself onto his friend, he pushed him down. "Chad! I'll go get her, you and the others get out of here!"

"What?! Dammit, Alex!" Julio groaned.

"You're not seriously going to try stopping her are you!" Lucy yelled. His brown eyes met her blue, telling her what his answer was. "Fuck! Why couldn't this have just been a normal night out!"

"I'd say this is Metropolis, somewhere in some part of town, there's always something happening." Julio remarked. He looked around, eyes widening in horror at the devastation around them; it was growing. "Alex," the Hispanic called looking at him with half-pleading eyes.

Before words could even take shape in his mind, he felt a familiar prickle along his backside. Quickly looking back, he saw the woman was accumulating red energy-a buildup that could only mean one thing.

Sweat racing down his brow, he stood up, calling forth the power that dwelled within him. "Guys, run to the left! Get as far away from the runway as possible, I'll cover you!" He immediately looked to Chad. "I'll get to Kathy, I swear." He didn't just want to argue, he wanted to stay and help. Alex knew risking his own life was insane, but he couldn't let Chad do the same; Kathy would have his head if he got her cousin killed doing something stupidly brave. His own life would be enough.

The second they were moving, Alex moved as well. By then, his hands were glowing with sunlike radiance. He knew it was as risky move, but it was the best he could think of. At least he managed to beat the woman's coming energy blast. His hands rose, the light flashing its brightest as he covered his eyes. The screams of confusion danced in his ears, then it was the continuous thumping of his heart as he ran. Smoke choked clawed at his lungs as he jumped atop the ruined runway and dashed into the backstage. Any second he was expecting another blast of energy to flying out, one of them possibly hitting him in the shoulder.

It was clear the blasts had gone backstage, even if it looked somewhat better than the front. "Kathy! Kathy, are you there!" he shouted. So far, he hadn't seen any bodies, but he had a hunch that would change in a little bit, though he hoped he was wrong.

"Alex! Alex, what the hell are you doing here!" Her voice came as sweet relief to him, though it was short-lived. "Oh God, Alex, behind you!"

Somehow, he managed to sidestep the first blast. He was certain that one was blind luck, but then came the second shot. It proved to be a case of three strikes and he was out.

She came at him like a scarlet bullet. Fear rose up and grabbed his heart in a vice grip. For a second, he feared it'd stopped beating as he felt something powerful slam into his cheek. His neck strained feeling like it would snap and his head would go rolling any second. That terror was ended thanks to the punch that slammed into his gut, knocking the air out of his lungs. Alex felt his legs buckle, yet he somehow managed to stay standing; that probably wasn't going to last for much longer.

"Alex, get the hell away from him, you bitch!"

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Kathy running toward him. Had things been different, he'd have been gawking at the dress she was wearing, but there wasn't any time for that. Alex saw an arm pulsating with energy being raised in her direction; he pushed past the pain and got his body to move.

"No!" Alex felt a hundred hot needles stabbing at his hand, but he refused to let go. "Kathy, take everyone and run! Go!" The heat intensified, but he refused to let go. "G-Ghark!" His throat was caught in a voice grip cutting off his breathing. S-S-Shit! Just had to go and play the hero!

Given his situation, he had no choice but to look into the eyes of the woman who'd crashed the runway show. Again, she'd have been beautiful if she wasn't also a living incarnation of fury; maybe some people would have found her beautiful because of that. Alex wasn't one of those people. He was definitely in the scared shitless camp.

Crimson energy leaked from her eye sockets obscuring the eyeballs within. Temporarily, the glow dimmed just enough for him to make them out. That didn't make the woman any less scary than she had been a second ago. "Another pathetic, slut-worshipper. You want to play hero for these bitches, here comes the price!"

Her grip tightened. Alex knew she was going to choke the life out of him, and every second of it was going to be painful. It wasn't like in the movies; it was so much worse.

"I'm afraid the only one who's going to be paying here will be you, Adley. I'd say you're looking at seven-million, and that's just for starters."

Of all the things he expected to hear, an elephant's roar wasn't it. For a second, Alex thought the lack of oxygen was causing him to hallucinate. He was so lost in it he didn't bother to look to the side where the voice, and the animalistic roar, came from. Suddenly, he could breathe again, and he had air whipping in his face. Shock fell over him like a dumbbell as his ass hit the ground. Several seconds of coughing went by during which he caught his breath. Oh, and tried to quell the burning feeling in his left hand. It was so much happening at once he wasn't able to focus on the metahuman brawl happening several feet to his right.

Luckily, he didn't take too long. He turned just in time to see a figure flying toward him. Impulse kicked in leading him to move despite the pain lingering across his body.

"Gaah!

"Aaargh!"

He fell backward, feeling his back hit the ground. First his ass, then his back-it was hard to tell which one was worse. "Man, this is night isn't going how I thought it would."

"That makes two of us." Spoke the feminine voice he'd heard before. A weight was lifted off him allowing him to sit up. As if the universe wasn't done messing with him, the first thing his eyes fell on was a rather shapely posterior covered in orange leather. As his eyes moved up the figure turned sideways. Brown met brown, and Alex saw not fear, hesitancy, or annoyance. Despite her outfit (or in tandem with it) she wore eyeshadow. Amusement flickered in her brown orbs as she smiled down at him. "Thanks for the save, kid."

Flawless brown skin, short ebony black hair that perfectly suited her. Fang-like earrings hung from her ears, somehow staying on despite the intense fighting she'd been in just a second ago. Red lips curved into a smile as he found himself staring at her; he felt his lower jaw slowly dropping.

"You're wel-h-haaah!" One minute she was smiling at him and the next she was grabbing him by the scruff of his shirt and dashing to the side. It saved his life. The spot he'd been sitting on exploded in a burst of fire and smoke. More energy blasts followed as the woman began her attack anew. She seemed angry than before. "Don't suppose she's willing to talk this out!"

"Maybe after she's calmed down and wearing an orange jumpsuit!" The superheroine chattily responded. Alex knew he'd seen her somewhere, or heard of her. She wasn't wearing a mask so she was one of the few heroes whose identity was public knowledge.

Eh, maybe you shouldn't think too hard about that, Alex. Other things to worry about! Screamed a mini-him waving its arms about. In the real world, Alex looked back at the empowered woman, noting how she'd stopped blasting them with energy. Her hands curled as she kept her attention focused on them. Something was coming, something bad. "H-H-Hey!" he called out. "She's got something pla-"

"Hold onto me!" Anything involving pride was discarded as the woman threw him over her shoulder and jumped. Looking down, he saw the ground erupt in a sea of red-colored spikes.

"Down below!" His hand moved, light surging into his palm. He'd converted light into heat, and that heat into fire. Would it have any effect on the energy spikes below them? Alex didn't know, but he knew he had to try. Right before his eyes, light turned to fire-erupting from his hand and colliding with the spikes as they launched themselves upward. Alex kept the blaze going, knowing he couldn't allow a single one of them to hit them. Luckily, he seemed to have accomplished that.

Once she landed, the woman lowered him to the ground, looking to him with a mixture of surprise and admiration. "Metahuman?"

His hand was throbbing, though it wasn't entirely unpleasant. This hadn't been the first time he'd blasted fire from his palms, but it wasn't like he was used to the sensation. "Y-Yeah. I was hoping I wouldn't be needing my powers tonight."

"Me too, but hey, I'm finding ways to enjoy myself." Alex could see that. The woman was beautiful and athletic; the latter was a given in light of the acrobatic moves she'd pulled off before. He knew there would probably be more to come, provided she had the space to pull them off. "Thanks for the help, but I need you to stay back. I've got this."

He was just about to tell her he'd gladly do that when his ears picked up the sound of something slicing through the air. The woman heard it as well and reacted accordingly. Her right hand swept across her front, deflecting the energy spear that would have impaled her through the chest. She made several more swipes destroying several more spears, including one that would have ran him through the head.

"Adley, knock it off! If you're going to be pissed at someone, save it for me!" barked the black heroine.

"Shut up! They're all guilty, including you, Mari!" The woman, now identified as Adley, had an aura of swirling red energy around her. It wasn't just the gemstones on her wrists and around her neck, Alex felt like it was coming from her. Whatever power those gems had must have seeped into her very being. In the recesses of his mind, he wondered if this woman might have been like him-if she had some "old magic" in her. While he pondered that, her gaze turned to him; he couldn't help but jump as all the hate she had was aimed at him. "That little bastard wants to play hero? Think he can get some reward for his troubles? Well, fine! Let him!"

Alex felt a shift in the air beside him. Looking to the superhero, he saw she too wore a necklace, albeit rather than a gem it seemed more bonelike. In the center was a cat-like amulet which glowed with an ethereal white; the glow took on a shape above the woman-a roaring cheetah. As the dots began to connect, the woman took off, dashing forward just like the animal she was seemingly channeling.

By the time he looked back, he expected to see her pressing the out-of-control woman, but something had happened. The ground had exploded, though the heroine had simply jumped to avoid it, transitioning into a pounce. Alex could have sworn she actually looked like a pouncing cheetah.

Undeterred, the psychotic woman threw both her hands up, shaping the scarlet energy into a barrier that the animalistic woman fell upon. Growling, she began clawing at it, screaming a few profanities.

Now on his feet, Alex realized he had a decision to make. The sensible thing to do was run as he'd been told. This wasn't his fight, and he had nowhere near the amount of skill needed to throw himself into it. All he would do was get in the way, and possibly get himself killed. That's why he took a step back, away from the metahuman brawl.

Oh, dammit. Fucking dammit! His irritation fueled the fire within him. He felt the weight of the fireball in his hand almost immediately. Knowing he needed the element of surprise, he held out his hand and imagined it being launched-and that's exactly what happened.

Boom!

At the last second the woman saw his attack coming. Still, she had to focus her attention on blocking it, which left her open to the superheroine's assault. He saw her bring her claws down on her shoulder, drawing blood. More claw swipes followed; even from afar, Alex realized she was trying to get at the woman's necklace, seemingly a source of her power just as hers was.

Alright, you've got your stupid heroics in, now its time to get the hell out of here! This time, he did turn to run, but he felt that heart-stopping pinprick on the back of his neck. His ears rung with the sound of grunting and explosions. Looking back, he saw the woman had manifested a pair of swords, curved scimitar-like blades, and she'd used them to force the superheroine back. Ah, come on! What kind of powers does this woman have?!

Unfortunately, she wasn't done showing off. Her swords transformed, red energy morphing not into a spear but instead into a bow.

Thunk!

"Arrraggh!" he clenched at his right leg, feeling the pain shooting up through the limb. He'd never even see the arrow coming; if she fired another one, he knew it'd be a kill shot if aimed at a vital organ. "Gotta-"

WHAM!

The pain in his leg was forgotten, it was now the pain in his face that concerned him. It felt like getting hit in the face with a baseball bat.

Scratch that, the pain in his chest suddenly took center stage. It was constant, too. Through blurry vision, he opened his eyes, spotting a gold-colored stiletto heel resting on his chest. Past it, he saw a pair of burning red eyes.

"Like I said, you wanna play hero for these bimbos, pay the price!"

"Gaaargggh!" Everything was eclipsed by the agony of his right arm. Without looking (currently impossibly), he knew it'd been impaled. Or at least, he hoped it'd just been impaled instead of cut off. Through the agony he looked to his right. Yep, it was still there, but with a glowing red spear run through his forearm, also pinning it to the floor. Until he removed it, and healed his arm, he wasn't going anywhere. Not that the vengeful demon above him had any plans on letting him live past the next five seconds. Quick! I don't need fire, what I need is light! A really bright light! Panic and fear gave way to determination. He knew he could die here, but Alex sure as hell didn't want to.

A red spear came down, a feline growl thundered from behind. Alex didn't stop to make sense of any of it, he simply called forth his power in its brightest form, literally.

The weight was lifted from his chest. Adrenaline pumping through him, he reached over with his left hand, grabbing the spear and ripping it out. While it hurt, it was proof he was still alive, not to mention he still had his dominant hand. A serious of sounds drew his attention away from his injuries. Looking back, he saw the black woman laying into her adversary. Though her eyes were shut, she was still avoiding her attacks while connecting with her own.

"A bat." He murmured.

As the blindness faded, the jewel-empowered woman realized she needed to change up her tactics. That's exactly what she did.

Red energy surged around her body as the heroine's claws fell upon her. A scream was torn from the latter was her attack was impeded, and her stomach was slashed with a materialized dagger. More slashes followed forcing her to fall back. As it happened, she fell back right next to him.

"Shit, why didn't you run when I told you to!" She yelled.

"I'd love to know myself." Her wounds were numerous, but thankfully none of them looked worse than the laceration across her abdomen. For any other person, that'd have been life-threatening, but the woman was still on her feet. That said, Alex saw the grunts and the way she held a hand up to it. "Let me take care of that." He grunted.

"What? Hey, what the hell are you-" While she may have had powers of her own, so did he. Like so many before her, she was left speechless as he held his hand up to the wound and summoned forth his power. Healing light surged from his palm. Quickly realizing what he was doing, she removed her own hand, allowing the light to shine over the wound in full. Within seconds, the bleeding had stopped, the flesh had healed, and not even a scar remained. "Holy shit,"

He grinned as she looked back at him. Alex knew he wasn't exactly looking his best. He was pretty sure his nose might have been broken and his lips were bleeding, still, he grinned at her with pride. "Not as cool as channeling the animal kingdom, but I make do."

She grinned, a spark of excitement in her eyes.

"MARI!" Thundered a voice they were both familiar with.

Looking back, they saw the woman was back up, and charging another attack. One of her hands was reeled back, holding an arrow of blazing energy while the other held a bow, materialized out of the same power.

"Not happening!" The black heroine ran, calling forth another animal. This time, it was rhino, her footsteps shaking the floor as she charged forward. "Kid, get everyone out of there, and heal them while you're at it!"

This time, Alex knew he really should have listened. Still, he lingered, watching as the heroine closed the distance and crashed into the villainess. She managed to divert her arrow upward, toward the ceiling. It bore through it like a drill, likely continuing upward into the sky. The blast still brought debris crashing down on them.

A part of him actually wanted to run and help the woman, but he knew better than that. After pressing his luck so much, if he tried it again, he'd die for real. Now he had to do the thing he'd been studying for. The thing he'd chosen to do. Pressing a hand to his leg, he quickly surged energy into his leg, feeling the wound mending itself. Once he finished, he stood up and ran, his hand moving to his face and healing the damage done to it. He only did enough to mend his nose. Everything else he had left was going to have to wait for the people that needed it, and that list potentially included the superheroine still brawling it out with the party crasher.


The life of a superhero was a trying one. Mari had learned that lesson early on; the fact she'd chosen to press onward with it while maintaining her public life meant she was going to have to deal with a lot of overlap between the two. Still, there were times she was actually a little happy for the overlap.

On a night like tonight, if she hadn't chosen to use her powers, she'd have been one of the many helpless civilians caught in the attack. That would have been the absolute worst.

Mari always hated feeling helpless. If something happened, if something went wrong, she wanted to fix it. At times, she wanted to be the one to do so, but a lot of times that was easier said than done. More often than not, you needed power to fix things, power and the brain to use it. Mari had been given power, even if she'd been reluctant to accept it. Brains came latter as she learned how to use her power.

Nights like tonight, she was grateful for all she'd been given, and all that she'd learned.

The good news was the number of casualties had been kept low, though there was still plenty of damages. Both collateral and personable. Adley had come for revenge, and while Mari had stopped her from fully enacting it, she'd still caused a good deal of damage. She knew that wouldn't satisfy her-she wasn't going to be satisfied until she got her revenge on Amada for stealing not only her designs, but for making a fool of her. Really, Mari could understand the anger she felt, but a line had been crossed with what she'd done with that anger.

It still broke her heart. Having seen this story play out before didn't make it any easier this time around. Mari took slim solace in the fact that at least this new addition to her rogues gallery wasn't connected to her African heritage. Oh no, this one was "all American." It still carried the undercurrent of greed and deception that plagued her ancestral homeland.

"Uh, hey, you, um…you need some help? I mean, any healing? I mean-"

Hearing that young male voice was a sweet relief to Mari. Seeing his face more so. "Hey, you're looking much better than before."

Her teasing brought a blush to his face. Mari had to admit, he was on the handsome side. For as much as she called him a kid, he must have been in his early twenties at least. The last time she'd seen him he was sporting a bloody nose with ash and sweat turning his hair into a wild mess. He was still sweaty, but the ash and terror were gone. Warm brown hair that matched honey-brown eyes, the latter now free of panic and worry. Without them, she could see he was quite a good looker. Hell, not only in the face department but the rest as well, and boy did the guy have guts.

Like every other male in attendance, he'd been dressed for the show. Thanks to the sudden turn of events, his formal attire had been ruined. His jacket was likely amongst the rubble and the right sleeve of his undershirt was missing. She'd remembered seeing his arm getting impaled along with him taking an arrow to his right leg. Luckily, it seemed his healing powers worked on himself as well as others.

She knew he was a big reason why the fatalities were in the low tens instead of much higher. How crazy had it been that such a person had been at the show.

"Well," Mari began, realizing she'd left him hanging for an answer. "I've got a few bruises I wouldn't mind you taking a look at. I'd appreciate it, Mister…"

"Alex, Alex Farrelly. I'll…just show me where they are and I'll take care of them." He seemed a little hesitate now that they were out of harm's way. She imagined he'd simply acted during the chaos of ten minutes prior. Now that things were winding down, well, decorum set in. Mari was also willing to guess he was self-aware of putting his hands near the bodies of scantily-clad women. Women who could be quite handsy when they wanted to be.

Truth be told, Mari could have healed herself, but she wasn't one to turn down such a generous offer. And again, certainly not from a good-looker with a brave heart. On a more practical note, she recognized that this man-Alex-his healing abilities surpassed hers.

The light that radiated from his palms was dimmer than before, but the power was potent enough to heal the wounds across her body.

"Ahhh," she breathed out. "That feels good, you know. Like feeling the sun on you." As he healed left arm, she caught his gaze. "Does it feel that way for everyone?"

"Yeah, which I guess makes people more receptive to it. Everyone likes the sun, or at least most people I've found like it." Alex responded. She knew he was exhausted, but he was still doing what he could.

"Will you get any sort of recharge when the sun rises?"

"Yeah, I've found that I do feel reenergized when the sun rises. 'Course, that means cloudy and rainy mornings suck." They shared a short laugh at that. Mari could already picture Alex rising to the sun, stretching his arms out and absorbing the solar rays. That actually made him similar to Superman. "Still, the sun always comes out, even if you have to wait a while."

"True, but sometimes that wait can be a drag."

"Speaking of waiting, sorry about that, Vixen." Chuckling, she turned back to her left, finding another familiar face jogging up to her. "Seems like you had things handled though."

"G-G-Green Arrow." Alex gapped.

Ollie chuckled as he waved at the young man. "Good to know my name's known even in Metropolis." He took an examining look at Alex, noting the healing glow emanating from his hands. When he looked to Mari, she nodded in confirmation-there was nothing to worry about. He looked back around at the devastation, then back at Alex. "Good work, kid."

Slowly, he nodded, a rather sheepish smile on his face. "T-T-Thank you, sir."

"Anyways, me and some of the others are going to try to track that woman down. Any ideas on where she could be?"

"Honestly, I can think of a few here in Metropolis, granted I have no idea if she's still in the city. She bounced through some magic portal she opened up. She could be anywhere."

"Eh, probably get one of the magic users see if they can track it."

"You could got to Constantine if Zatanna's not available."

"Trying to jinx me?"

"What about Dr. Fate? Isn't he a magic user too?"

Both of them looked to Alex, surprise evident in their eyes. Alex looked away, an embarrassed look on his face. "Uh, sorry about that. I…uh, didn't meant to butt in."

"No, kid. It's fine. Frankly, Fate's the kind of guy we'd love to have on this case, but he's off on his own adventure. Luckily, he's got a few contacts we can go to before we have to get desperate. Worse comes to worse."

Mari laughed in amusement. While undoubtedly one of the League's greatest magical assets, John Constantine's personality still left much to be desired. Truthfully, Mari wanted to believe she could handle this one on her own, or at least without having to get desperate, as her colleague put it. Then again, Mari could simply wait; she knew exactly what Adley wanted. Scratch that, she knew who she wanted. Amada may have gotten her fame, but it came at a hell of a cost.

She was sure there was a philosophical quote to be had there, but Mari wasn't in the mood to find it, or come up with it.

"So, I take this Constantine guy isn't exactly well-liked amongst the League?" Alex chirped. His tone was surprisingly respectful.

"Well, it takes a certain personality to deal with him. Zatanna does it, and how she does I'll never know." Zatanna had tried to explain it to her once. In the end, she still didn't get it, but she wished the sorceress all the best. "You seemed pretty giddy to meet Green Arrow, a fan of his?"

He chuckled, showing a boyish charm that Mari found adorable. "You could say that. I mean, as far as street heroes go, he's one of my favorites. Guy's got style, and I do love the use of a bow and arrow in this day and age. Points for being nonlethal."

Kid's lucky he's never met Merlyn. Mari mused remembering her encounters with Oliver's archrival. He proved not only could bow and arrows match guns in killing potential, they could surpass them. "With the right amount of skill, you can make anything your craft." They locked eyes. "What about you? Have you got any interests?"

Finished with her arm, Alex pulled his hands back, briefly turning his attention to them. "Well…I can do this, but I'd also like to know how to do actual medical procedure. That's what I'm studying at Metropolis University."

Hearing that gave her an idea of how old he was; she'd been right in her initial assessment. "Well, no offense, but that ability of yours comes in handy quite a bit, especially out in the field."

"So I've discovered. Still, it'd be nice to actually know what I'm fixing."

Mari mused on his words, and his abilities. A thought popped into her head, or rather, a memory. Blinking, she looked down; Alex had moved to her leg and begun healing the cracked bones in her ankle. "Hey, by any chance, you wouldn't happen to know a woman named Kathelyn Conlee?"

He flashed her a smile. "Cousin of a friend of mine. Actually, I knew her growing up."

She immediately remembered Kathy had talked fondly about the people she knew growing up in New York City. She guessed that's where Alex had been from. She also guessed that he must have known about his powers considering the scars she'd gotten from her accident couldn't have completely healed up in such a record time. Not unless she used some very strong stuff. "So, you're how she did it."

Her words caused his face to fall, immediately making Mari wonder if there was more to the story than met the eye. Or if she'd brought up a topic she shouldn't have. Alex looked back up at her, a small smile on his face. "Yeah. Her cousin, Chad, is the one that brough it up to me. Kathy's always been an honest and straight forward person, but she's always been more of a big sister to us. For Chad, he knew how much she dreamed of becoming a model and how hard she worked to get where she was. Sure, he's happy she did the noble thing in saving people during another metahuman brawl, but…she paid for it. She was going to pay for it with her career."

An ugly knot formed in Mari's stomach. That was another story she was all too familiar with. Normally, most heroes tried to keep fights contained, but it was an uphill battle, especially against villains whose purpose was causing collateral damage and civilian deaths. Inevitably, people always got caught in the crossfire; in Kathy's case, she'd been caught trying to save others. It was nothing short of heroic, just as heroic as what she and her colleagues did. Still, it'd came with her getting covered in glass. Sure, most of her face had been spared, but her body…for a model, any blemish on one's body was a metaphorical death sentence.

Mari remembered hearing the news. Kathy was well beloved in the modeling world, in part thanks to her personality. It was rare to meet someone who was as kind as she was beautiful. She didn't deserve such an end to her career, even if she saved lives. Luckily, it hadn't been an end for her, and it was all thanks to this young man. In fact, thanks to him, countless lives had been saved. Oh, and thanks to him, a good number of models would survive with their bodies free of scarring from this disaster of a night.

Thanks to Alex, it wasn't a complete disaster.

"Everyone wondered how Kathy had done it. People wouldn't stop pestering her for how she did it. I can see why she chose to keep you for herself." His cheeks flashed pink, probably due to her word choice. It was definitely intentional on her part. "Unfortunately, after tonight, I think your secret's going to be out."

He hung his head, a comedic sigh slipping from his lips. It was enough to actually get a laugh out of Mari.

"What? You don't see something nice in a bunch of hot models ogling you to erase any scars or blemishes they might have?"

"Honestly, no. Frankly, I have no idea how far my powers can go. Erasing Kathy's scars was the first time I ever tried something like that."

"What about shooting fire out of your hands?"

"Okay, that one I've tried a few times. Still, it's not like it's something I practiced as much as…the other side of my powers."

"…You make a good healer, and I've got a feeling you'll make a good doctor one day." His smile, sweat-covered as it was, had an unmistakable charm to it. Mari stopped short of saying the kid would make for a good model. No doubt once the other girls started coming after him, they'd think the same; a few of them might try to pull him onto that career path.

"Thanks. Coming from a superhero, that means a lot." He had that type of honest smile Mari knew women would fall for. Hell, maybe a couple of men too.

"Say, you didn't get the chance to see me show off on the runway, did you?"

He froze thus confirming what she already knew. Mari stood up straight, cocking her hips to the side while fixing him with a leering gaze. Alex's cheeks went from pink to red as he drunk in the sight of her. Over the course of her fight her outfit had gotten torn in several places, but it was still holding together. It wasn't like anything important was revealed; she'd designed her costume with sensuality and practicality in mind. The former was on full display, and for Alex only. She focused only on him he struggled to formulate an answer. It was a simple yes-or-no question, but she knew how to make those particularly difficult to answer.

Eventually, he settled on one, though not before Mari had gotten a laugh or two in. "…No, I…I didn't. I…uh, I…heard you were going to be part of the lineup, but…"

"Were you looking forward to seeing me?" She asked.

"…Kind of."

Mari burst into laughter. "Only kind of?"

"Hey, I was still in shock I was able to go to something like this! Besides, I…uh, well…I was still looking forward to seeing you. And I did get to see you, just doing what you're really good at." His eyes widened in realization. He'd been talking not out of his ass but his heart. Embarrassing, but rather cute.

Oh, why not. Might as well give the kid a reward for helping me out when he could have just cut and ran. Not to mention thanks to him, this wasn't a total bloodbath. He definitely deserves something for that. "Say, how'd you feel about coming to another one of these? Hopefully without a psychotic ex-model crashing the whole thing?"

His eyes widened even more at her proposal. He had said that coming to this show had been a shock for him; fortune really was smiling upon the kid. Especially since she was the one making the offer.

Then again, he could always turn you down. Snickered a dark voice she immediately silenced. Mari didn't let its influence show on her face; she was far too experienced for that.

"I…um, I'd…I'd honestly love that. It's just, well…I've got school and…I can go to a weekend show."

For some reason, that made her smile more than she should have. "I can arrange that. Weekend shows tend to get pull."

"So, um, you sure you'll be able to get me a spot?"

Crossing her arms, specifically below her bust, she took a single step toward him. That blush never left his face, only growing with her move. "For a guy like you, Alex, yeah. Consider it a favor from the one and only Vixen."

He took a breath, though the air didn't go into words. She was more than happy to settle for the smile he had on his face and the flame of excitement in his eyes. Mari honestly hoped she'd see more of that at the next show, not to mention she'd be able to see him when he wasn't coated in sweat and grime.

There was something in the way he smiled when he was called back by Kathy and the rest of his friends. She was glad that they were all safe and sound. And she was glad how before departing with them, Alex looked back at her with that smile.


The second the show began, Mari was bracing for something to go wrong, for Adley to strike. Even though Amada wasn't present, she wouldn't have put it past her to strike. She was running on pure hate, and that meant everyone who'd ever slighted her was fair game. For most of the women that'd done that, they chose to lay low. Others had decided to continue to live their lives undeterred by fear. It certainly helped when they were scheduled to be at the same show as Mari herself. She didn't mind it, but she did hope that Adley would keep her fury contained.

There was someone she wanted to impress, and luckily, that someone was in the front row seat when she stepped out on stage.

Her eyes immediately went searching for Alex Farrelly, and to her joy, she found him. Right there in the front row in the same seat she'd secured for him. He was there, and the minute Mari saw him, she felt her heart thundering in her chest with a joy she hadn't felt in months. More so since he smiled back at her; she could tell he was looking solely at her.

Yes, that's it. Keep your eyes on me, Alex. Only on me. She chanted in the safety of her mind. Mari didn't dwell on the source of those thoughts, only on the rush of joy that came with seeing the young Caucasian male in the stands-gawking at her.

Somewhat consciously, she endeavored to put on a good show for him. She was wearing her own up incoming brand, and looking damn good in it. The fact that she was wearing her own brand was a point of pride for her. Breaking into the fashion world wasn't easy; it was a competitive industry rather one was into modeling or designing. Doing both like her could be even harder, but as she stood there, lights above her, cameras flashing in front of her with a full audience, Mari felt like she'd truly succeeded.

All that's missing is…no. Don't think about that. It's been two months, it's time to move on.

Mari focused on everything else but that line of that, and that included the special guest she had invited to the show. She may not have been using her powers, but she was still able to make out several details regarding Alex.

First off, he looked much better than when they'd first met. He was wearing a formal dress suit similar to the one he'd had on when they first met, albeit this one was torn and singed. Still, he looked rather good in it. Likewise, his brown hair wasn't wild and sticking to his face thanks to blood and sweat. Mari couldn't focus entirely on it, but in his clapping, she saw him wearing a few bracelets and a necklace around his neck. Either because of them, or something else, she wanted to get a closer look at him.

Luckily, she just had to be a little patient for that.

-O-

Even with spring on the horizon, Chicago could be quite chilly at night. People had numerous ways of keeping warm though, and that included Mari. She could have just used her powers to magically generate the thick hides of animals suited for the cold, but there were other, more mundane ways of dealing with it. Mundane and downright more enjoyable.

"Um, thanks again for inviting me…and helping me sneak out."

"Of school or the show hall?" Mari playfully asked.

Alex flashed her a cheeky grin. "Both. It's not often I'm able to fly out to Chicago to attend a fashion show. Or I have to be snuck out to keep the models of said show from flash mobbing me."

"That happen to you at school?"

He looked ahead with a slight downtrodden expression. It answered Mari's question, and the one she'd yet to ask. "Yeah, but it's nothing I can't deal with."

"Been through this before?"

"Kind of. Still, it helps that I'm not the only guy with superpowers, or abilities. I know this one kid who's a genius scientist in the making. Guy's probably going to be building bigger and preferable safer nuclear reactors when we graduate."

Mari laughed. "Any chance he'll be using his knowledge for good and I won't be running into him in the worst way possible?"

He laughed back, a sound she enjoyed hearing. "I'm willing to bet money he won't be. In fact, he's a little ticked that nowadays the first thing people think of when they hear scientific genius is some blooming supervillain. He's a big fan of the Atom." His smile broadened as he turned to her. "Any chance you can arrange a meeting?"

"I'll see what I can do since you've been such a good guy." She really meant it. From the minute he'd touched down in Chicago, Alex had been nothing short of polite and respectful, even now as they were out on the town. Admittedly, a part of her did wish he'd make a move on her. That yearning was countered by the reminder she was still at least ten years his senior, not to mention a professional model and superhero.

And yet, here she was, walking beside him through the streets of Chicago, laughing and talking together. He'd accepted her invite to fly out to Chicago for the weekend. Alex knew how lucky a guy he was, but he wasn't abusing her generosity. That honestly just made her more smitten with this young man.

"Say, do your powers generate radiation, or can they heal them?"

"You know, I've never really thought about it, nor have I ever really wanted to test it out." Raising his right hand, he stared at it in solemn contemplation. "Arthur once asked me if I wanted to test it out, but…I just haven't been able to work up the courage."

"Hmm, well, you've got a long list of patients who'd say radioactive or not, your powers are incredible. Oh, did I mention that list includes yours truly?" They shared a hearty mutual laugh. He was courtesy, but he wasn't uptight. Mari appreciated that. "Alex, your powers…are they mystic-based like mine?"

His brown eyes went to her necklace, undoubtedly her most iconic trait. "Yeah. I'm…I'm Irish. My ancestors were druids, particularly worshippers of the sun god Belenus. The Romans conflated him with Apollo, though not without good reason."

"Hey, the sun's the strongest nurturing force in the cosmos."

"Yeah, when I learned that, it explained why I guess I always felt like I had some sort of connection to the sun." His hand moved to his necklace. Mari recognized that he'd worn it for this special occasion-for her. Sensing her gaze, he went as far as to remove it and offer it to her. "Family heirloom. When I told my family where I would be over the weekend, they wouldn't stop pestering me to wear it. Said I had to look my best…which I probably did considering how I looked the first time we met."

"You know, I wouldn't say you looked so bad." Restraint snapped like a twig. Her right hand rose and caressed his cheek, turning his cheeks flame-red. She was both disappointed and amused he didn't try to speak; actually, she found she enjoyed the way he quietly stared at her with those warm honey-brown eyes as she stroked his cheek. "When we first met, I saw you using the power your ancestors gave you to do the right thing. I saw you being a hero. From what I heard from Kathy, you did what you've been doing all your life."

Inevitably, they had a sit down after Adley's attack. While Mari didn't exactly grill her for details, she wanted to learn more about the man known as Alex Farrelly.

"He's a nice guy with the perfect gift. Really, that hasn't changed despite everything he's been through, and I'm glad. I'm glad he hasn't changed moving to Metropolis. Sure, there's Superman, but living in one of the top ten most dangerous cities in America can do things to a person."

"Hey, at least he didn't study in Gotham."

"Believe me, I'm grateful for that, although…"

"You wonder if he could have survived in that doom and gloom place. For my part, I think he might have."

"You know, Mari, you're sounding awfully interested in him."

"I…I guess I am, aren't I?"

She remembered the comforting hand the younger woman had placed on her shoulder. It made sense that she'd met someone as upstanding as Alex through someone as equally compassionate as Kathy Conlee.

Looking back at the necklace, Mari immediately acknowledged the craftsmanship of it. It was clearly ancient, though pristine like her own necklace. Still, she sensed no overwhelming magical power from it as she did with her totemic charm. Or, if there was, it was hidden. Ironic considering the sun-like design. The orange glow reflected the sun as well, though it wasn't able to reach its peak under the light of the moon.

"I'm glad you wore it, looks damn good on you." She declared sliding it back over him. He was a handsome man, from face to physique. Mari was no slouch in height, even without her heels, but Alex still had about an inch on her, not that she minded that. She in fact liked it.

"If you…don't mind me asking, what about yours?"

She'd been expecting the question, and was somewhat giddy when she got the chance to answer it. "My family comes from Ghana, and this little thing here is a gift from Anansi the Spider, a trickster god."

"Have gave your ancestors a hell of an awesome trick." Came his immediate but well-meaning remark.

"Yeah, he did. Granted, it came with its share of backage as well." Memories, painful memories flashed through her mind. She actually welcomed them over another set of painful memories she'd preferred to forget.

"I'm…sorry about that, Mari."

She found her hand returning to his cheek. Somehow, she had a feeling that his own powers had came with their share of drawbacks. Her European magical knowledge wasn't exactly wide-encompassing, but she knew wherever ancient magic was involved, there was always danger. As colonization had swept her ancestors aside, the druids of ancient Ireland had endured the same at the hand of Christianity. That made her feel an odd kinship with this young man. The feeling was bolstered by the fact that they'd both "embraced" the very forces that had threatened their ancestors, not that either of them cared about that. Mari had too much experience in fighting people who did care.

"Hey," she called. "As far as I'm concerned, the benefits outweigh the downsides. It's the same for you too, right?"

"Yeah, they do." He affirmed with a charming grin.

"Your powers did ultimately end up leading you to me, so that's a plus, right?"

"Absolutely." The single statement was confident and free of a nervous stutter, but his cheeks were still beat red. Mari was glad for it. "So, what are you in the mood for?"

"I'm pretty sure I should be asking that, and I'll be the one footing the bill." Grabbing his hand, she took off, already having an idea of where she was going. It was nothing but a hope that her culinary interests would intersect with his. Then again, maybe she was also banking on Alex's gentlemanly curtesy holding up. That was selfish of her, but she couldn't help it.

"I'll…I'll pay for the meal." He called out.

Mari looked back at him, noting the continuation of the blush on his face. She just couldn't help it. Something about him led her to lean forward and kiss him. Not on the lips but the cheek. It was certainly the least he deserved for everything he'd done.

As she pulled away, she recognized the slight disappointment she felt in herself. You wanna know what those lips taste like, don't you.

She did, but she didn't want to rush things. Not yet. "My treat, Alex." Mari reaffirmed with a wink.

"You know, you can backout if you want to."

"Honestly, a small part of me wants to…but the rest of me is saying hell no. That's the part I'm going with."

Grinning, Mari turned the knob and welcomed a man into her Chicago apartment for the first time in months. It was definitely one of her favorite residences, though she had to admit it'd been a while since she'd been back. Luckily, her housekeeper had maintained the place in her long absence.

It wasn't the biggest of her homes, but it was still enough to blow Alex away. "I…I can't believe I'm really in a place like this." While she didn't want to demean him, his face clearly showed he'd never been inside of a five-figure apartment like hers. The whim that had led her to renting it those three years ago was working out better than she could have imagined. He turned to her as she joined him by the window.

"Sorry it doesn't have a view of the lakeside." She offered.

"That's fine, a view like this is still worthwhile. You've still got a great view of downtown Chicago." Alex let out a humorous chuckle. "Kind of reminds me of New York City."

"I think that's a reason why I chose a place myself. Reminds me a bit of the Big Apple, though not quite as noisy." They shared short laugh. If there was one thing that was undeniable about New York City, it was the noise. If one expected to live there, it was something they had to learn to live with as the two of them had done. "How's it compare to Metropolis?"

"It's great…but there's just something about the city that I can't quite explain that gives it that special charm. And now," he chuckled. "I don't mean looking out the window expecting to see a blue-and-red blur flying past the window."

His response told her he'd gotten attached to the city, not that she could blame him. The city did have that sort of aura that could pull people in and convince them to stay there, and it wasn't just because of the Man of Steel. It was a pull that some cities, and heroes, envied.

"All that said, it's nice to get out of the city and some place new every once in a while. I'll admit, I have always been a little interested to see Chicago, but this isn't how I planned on it." He nervously scratched the back of his head as he turned to face her. "Honestly, this is better than I could have ever imagined. Not to mention this has been a hell of an awesome weekend, and I…owe it to you, Mari."

He meant every word, and the bright look in his eyes was undeniable. While she'd only known him for a little bit, not even a full week, Mari could tell this young man was a genuinely honest soul. It made her feel all the happier that she'd snatched him up before any of the other models could get their hands on him.

Sure, but what about next time? I mean, you know you're going to want him at your next show. Speaking of shows…"

For the first time all evening, nervousness creeped into Mari's being. It was a near totally foreign feeling, one she immediately tried to repulse. An inner voice snapped at her that it was natural, especially given what she'd been through. This wasn't something she asked of most men, but Alex had…sparked something in her. That spark had grown throughout the night as he continued to be nothing short of king to her.

"Hey, Alex," she called. Curiosity laced his eyes as he fully faced her. "I…I actually brought you here because there was something I wanted to ask you." His eyes widened as she reached out and traced a lazy circle across his chest. "As you've probably heard, I don't just model. I design. With that in mind, I could still use someone to model for me…and give me some feedback."

"I-I don't know anything about fashion." He blurted out.

"That's fine. Besides, part of modeling is simply standing in one spot and looking good, something I'm sure you can do." Mari replied in a sultry voice. His face reddened even more, no doubt thanks to all the scenarios running through his head. As enjoyable as it was, some conscious part of her hit the brakes. "You can just say no. I mean I'm not going to force you to do it."

He looked truly awe-struck, and for good reason. Not only was she offering him what was probably (another) once in a life time opportunity, she was giving him the choice to turn it down. The latter was a far-cry from the women that practically threw themselves at him in the fashion show's aftermath. Some of the ladies seemed like they were ten seconds away from dragging him away to seduce him. The idea of having their own personal doctor and potential blemish remover was just too tempting.

But Mari didn't see such a thing when she looked to Alex. Especially not when he smiled at her in that innocent, yet charming way.

"When do we start?"

That response brought a rush of relief to her, one she'd only admit to in the privacy of her bedroom later tonight. Likewise, she'd only admit to how much she desired to kiss him on the lips instead of the cheek as she did in that moment.

Next time. She mentally declared. Next time.


Amongst the many famed abilities of druids were future seeing. Not surprising, practically every type of magician or sorcerer in every culture of the world claimed to have the power to see the future. Rather or not they really could was an entirely different matter.

Alex never had that supposed gift, and he was grateful for it. Cursed with knowledge of what the future would bring? Forced to decide rather or not to let things run their course or try some brave (or desperate) attempt to change things. No thanks, he was perfectly happy with what he could do-generate healing light and occasionally blast fire from the palms of his hands. They'd helped him do some good in his life, and brought him a hell of an unexpected boon-an ongoing friendship with one Mari McCabe, also known as the superheroine Vixen.

He had an ongoing, and flirtatious friendship with one of the sexiest heroines in the Justice League. Just the very thought seemed insane, but that'd been a part of his life for the last three weeks-the last month really. A happy part of his life.

Weekends either flying out to see her or her coming to see him, or talking to him. A superheroine. A model. An absolute knockout of a woman that was way out of the league of a guy like him.

"You know…I wouldn't mind something happening between you two. I think you'd make a great couple. Truth be told, you're Mari's type."

He'd nearly dropped his phone, and his morning muffin, when Kathy said that to him. Of course, he denied her words, but he knew she wasn't convinced. Alex himself knew he wasn't convincing. Over the past month as he'd gotten to know Mari, he couldn't help but ponder if he could be more than friends with her. Was all that flirting actually going to lead to something more? On her part? On his?

Alex wasn't thinking about any of that though as he exited the taxi and paid the driver. Before him loomed the massive twelve-story apartment complex before him. Like the rest of the complexes on St. Martin's Island, Emerald Lounging stood tall and proud, a glistening tower of steel and glass that perfectly reflected the setting sun. He could already see the unique green coloration of sides that earned the building its name. It was indeed a beautiful building, and he'd say one worthy of hosting a home to a heroine able to use all the powers of the animal kingdom.

But Alex wasn't there to admire the building's beauty. Said heroine was his concern.

Anxiety gripping his heart, he ran past the doors, not caring for the reception. He was in such a hurry he didn't even see if there was anyone there, he just beelined for the elevator, hit the buttons and began the impatient wait. Amidst that wait, he pulled out his phone and tried Mari's number; just like the previous time, there was no answer. It only made him more nervous.

He almost wished someone else would enter the elevator with him so he could try to focus on something else. Emphasis on try.

When the door opened, he burst out, running down the hallway. The eerie silence struck him, but it didn't slow him down in the slightest.

By the time he came to the door, he was huffing, sweat pouring down his brow as he reached toward the door. His knuckles curled as they met the pristine wooden frame. "Mari? Mari? It's me, Alex. I…I came to check on you." He wasn't surprised by the lack of a response. The walls were soundproof so if something did happen, no one would know about it, at least not until it was too late. Such was the nature of privacy, especially privacy for the upper class. "Mari," he called again. "Listen, I…Kathy called me last night. Told me that Adley showed up at the party last night and talked with you. I don't know what it was about, but…it left you pretty shaken."

The truth was he could actually very well picture what the rogue model turned criminal had said to Mari to shake her up. All one had to do was look to any social media site over the last sixth months and realize that.

At the end of the day, superheroes were still people, and they weren't immune to all the drama that came with interpersonal relationships. In fact, given their duties, people tended to pay more attention to that drama; it could actually make one question if a hero could still do their job properly. He imagined that Hawkgirl must have asked herself if she was pro-Earth or pro-Thanagarian before she decided rather or not to rejoin the League. Ultimately, she chose the former…and that decision had somehow led to this.

"Listen, I…I don't know how bad the breakup was, I don't know if I've been through anything similar. Odds are I probably haven't, but…it's…it's not the end of the world. It's not the end of you, even if it feels like it can be." He took a deep breath, recalling memories he'd rather not have unearthed, but in this moment, he needed them. "When my dad died, it…it really broke my mom. He was the love of her life, and he was…he was a big part of our whole world. As painful as it was, we…still learned how to move forward. I know it's what he would have wanted. I sure as hell don't know much about Green Lantern, but…I…I think he wants you to move on too. It's something I know a woman as strong as you can do."

Was she even awake? Had she heard anything he'd said?

Even if she hadn't, he'd proudly repeat his entire speech. Alex knew he'd do it as many times as he needed to in order to help the animalistic woman pick herself up. He'd healed her physical wounds, and he was willing to put in the much harder work to heal her heart.

The doorknob turned and swung up, much to his sudden surprise. His mind spun with things to say, but it all vanished as he took in the sight of Mari McCabe.

She wasn't the utterly broken down mess that he feared she would be, but he could spot traces of distress on her. The smell of alcohol hit his nose with the subtle of a passing breeze. Though thankfully not overpowering, its presence was still worth noticing. Also worth noticing were the shadows underneath her eyes, signs of a rough sleep, or perhaps little sleep gained. Not to mention the still visible tear stains. A silky black nightgown he would have gawked at any other time adorned her body. Its presence this late in the evening gave him more of an idea how much distress she'd been in. Of course, her Tantu Totem still hung around her neck.

His eyes rose back up to meet hers, sympathy willing up inside of him. "Mari," he called.

"Sorry, I…I'm not looking my best, am I?" She opened with a half-hearted laugh.

Alex met it with one of his own, albeit a little more upbeat. "Hey, I'd still give you a seven out of ten."

Thanks to his words, her next laugh was heartier. He knew it'd probably take a while longer for her to get back to her usual confident self, but they were on the clock. She had a show in little over an hour, at a show hall on the mainland.

"Don't suppose your powers could work on hangovers?"

"I've tried, but either I'm not there yet or that kind of healing is out of my reach. Sorry." Maybe I should give it a try though. The thought struck him with incredible force as he was welcomed into her loft. His surveying of the place was short-lived as his focus was entirely on Mari. "I won't ask you what happened, all I'll just say is you've still got plenty of things in your life to be proud of, and…one day you'll meet that special someone. Someone that'll-a-a-ah!"

He'd gotten used to kisses to the cheek. Little flirty kisses that he took great joy in. Those were nothing compared to how it felt having Mari hug him. The second he registered her body was pressing against his, he wrapped his arms around her. While he could still smell the faint scent of alcohol, it was outweighed by the lingering aroma of her perfume.

"Adley knew how to bring me down using words. I'll give her that. Sometimes it sucks having a public romance life." She muttered.

In the weeks they'd gotten to know each other, Alex had quietly researched the news surrounding her, Green Lantern, and Hawkgirl. There was so much gossip he had to sort through that he almost got tired. To get the real story he'd have to go to one of the sources. The one he had on hand was the woman in his arms, but he'd sooner bite his tongue than aggressively press her on the issue. He'd came across some attempts where people had done that; Alex's blood had boiled seeing how some people were obviously trying to force a reaction out of Mari. In a superpowered love triangle, she'd came out the loser, and some people were eager to jump on that. Some people more than others for reasons that made his stomach churn.

But Mari had taken it all in strides. She was a tough woman, but from time to time someone came along and was able to bring her low with that one sucker punch. Apparently, that's what Adley had done; Alex was sure she hadn't used her new jewel-borne powers to do it. That undoubtedly probably had something to do with why she managed to sneak away from a party with dozens of guests despite now being a wanted criminal.

Alex pushed all that aside to focus on the woman still hugging him, the woman he was holding onto. This was the best medicine he could give her, and he genuinely hoped it'd be enough.

Mari pulled her head away, her eyes appearing calmer and more focused than they'd been moments ago. They shimmered as they gazed at him. "I heard every word you said through the door. It's good thing it was you because if it were anyone else, I'd have told them to get the hell out. Heh, I almost told you to leave, but then I remembered how well you listened the first time we met."

He gave a short laugh before fully answering. "You're never going to let that go, are you?"

"Considering how much you helped me out, and impressed me, nope. Never going to happen. Still, if we were ever in a situation like that…I'd…I'd need you to listen. Alex, if something were to happen to you…" That'd been a quiet fear of hers throughout their month-long correspondence. She knew Adley could come after him for getting in the way of her revenge. Or she'd just come after him to get back at Mari for getting in the way of her revenge. He wondered if his name came up the night before.

"I'm no trained superhero, or trained anything. I guess if she did come after me, I'd be pretty screwed, though maybe living in a city like Metropolis would grant me some luck. Supergirl, Steel, and the Man of Steel himself, what are my odds they'd be there to bail me out?" He half-joked and half proposed.

Mari humored him, though he could still see the concern in her eyes.

"I don't regret what I did. Not because…not because I've gotten a couple of free fashion shows and modeling gigs, but because I was able to help you, Mari. I'd give an arm, a leg, and even my life if it meant helping you."

Her right hand caressed his cheek, with a slight tremble. Given her line of work, mentioning death probably wasn't a good idea, but he wanted to get his point across. He'd only known this woman for a month at best, but he was ready to go any lengths to help her. And he didn't mean just mean it as a friend.

Something told him that Mari recognized that as well. There was a glint in her eyes that sent a jolt through him. "I appreciate that, Alex, but…if you really want to help me, you'll have to stay alive."

"I can do that." He declared with a smile.

The sweet, hearty laughter he'd heard dozens of times before, and he'd become enamored with, rung in his ears. "There's one other thing, and it's pretty important."

"What is it?"

It was sudden despite her being right in front of him. One minute she was looking at her, waiting, and the next he felt her lips against his. Alex felt his eyes nearly popping out of his head as he registered the fact that he was kissing Mari McCabe, Vixen. No, she was the one kissing him.

He could have sworn his legs wobbled beneath him, but it was momentary. His min refocused, especially on the kiss; Alex quietly returned it while maintaining his firm yet tender hold of the superheroine in his arms. Excitement and ecstasy swirled within him as the unpainted lips that'd pressed against his cheeks for weeks finally connected with his lips. As he enjoyed it, he felt Mari's arms begin to wrap around his neck, pulling him deeper into the kiss. He went in willing, though also hoping that this was what Mari wanted.

Idiot, she's kissing you like this. Hell, she initiated the kiss in the first place. She wants this as much as you do.

The kiss grew aggressive as it reached its end. They were still humans with a basic need for air. Upon breaking they took in as much of it as they could. For Alex, the wobbly feeling in his legs returned. It wasn't like it was his first kiss, but…it was his first true spectacular kiss.

"That was…I…" he stammered staring at Mari's sparkling chocolate-colored eyes.

"Have you been thinking of kissing me like that for a while?" She teasingly asked.

"…Yes, but I…never thought that, I…I wanted to earn it. And I don't want you to think that I've hung out with you just so I could get a kiss from you. Overall, I just…like spending time with you, Mari. That includes modeling, which I've…kind of come to like."

"Oh, that's good because staying with me means continuing to help me with my design."

"Staying…with you," he repeated with a touch of awe in his voice. "So…you won't mind a downgrade like me?"

"Alex," she called with a stern voice. It was matched by the tightened hold she had on his cheeks; he wouldn't have looked away from her with its absence. "You may not be rushing off to save the world or the galaxy, but you'll dive headlong to save anyone in front of you, regardless of who they are. You're studying so that you'll be able to help anyone that lands in front of you. Alex Farrelly, that…spark that I found so attractive in John, it's certainly there in you." Her thumb leisurely rubbed over his scarlet-colored cheeks. "As far as I'm concerned, you're in no way a downgrade, and I don't ever want to hear you refer to yourself that way, got it?"

He subconsciously tightened his hold on her hearing that. Mari caught it and responded by initiating another kiss, this one just as passionate as the first. The meaning behind her kiss was clear-You are not a downgrade, and I won't ever let you think of yourself that way. I won't let anyone else call you that either.

As they separated, he noted the hungry look in her eyes, a look that he knew meant only one thing. A heavy panting echoed the sentiment in them. "You've…got a show in about an hour." It wasn't entirely what he wanted to say, but he'd came here with a purpose. "Honestly though, I'd…I'd rather we just stay here and…" A sultry laugh reached his ears as he felt Mari sensually grind her hips against his. Alex sucked in a breath feeling the erotic rush shoot through his body. Though not the first time he ever felt this feeling, it was the most intense-a natural given the woman in his arms.

"You know, I honestly just want to say screw the show." A thick sigh came from her parted lips before she flashed him an apologetic smile. "You know, showing up at the show might cause you to get mobbed."

"I don't think that'll be a problem. Especially since a certain someone once taught me how to run like a cheetah. Who always catch their prey."

Her hand leisurely moved up his cheek, nails leaving a tantalizing trail against his skin until reaching the top of his head. She pushed him down so she could steal a quick kiss from his lips. "Damn right they do. Now, help me get ready. The sooner we can get this over with, the more time we'll have alone to ourselves."

Hearing that definitely lit a fire in him. Alex was pretty sure that same fire was burning in Mari, and especially her Mercedes-Benz CLS63 as it roared down the road.


"So…out of curiosity, how many articles are we looking at?"

"Oh, I'd say about twenty to thirty." A slight pause came from her end. "…Does that scare you?"

A calm shake of his head invoked a humorous laugh out of the black heroine.

"How long before the tabloids move onto someone or something else?"

"Hmm, hard to say. I'd say about a month or so. That should free us up for the summer, if we're lucky."

The way Alex's cheeks flushed red told Mari exactly what he was thinking when she mentioned the coming season. Admittedly, she was pretty excited herself. She had a long list of swimsuits she was eager to get Alex's opinion on, not to mention a decent number of swim trunks she wanted to see him. She was willing to bet she'd be able to keep most of them intact. Most of them.

Mari knew that a good chunk of her fellow models would be drooling at the potential to see the same sight, and ravage every portion of Alex's body to their heart's content. As of four hours ago, that privilege became hers alone.

It'd been a miracle that they'd made it in time, a miracle that Mari fully attributed to Alex. The college student would have said she was the one who pulled off the miracle though. She'd managed to clean herself up in less than twenty minutes and get them down to the show hall immediately after. Granted, the second one involved them breaking the speed limit several times over. Getting off with it involved a shameless abuse of her superhero reputation that Alex couldn't help but laugh at.

The drive back to Emerald Lounging was more relaxing than the drive from it. As they crossed the bridge they looked up to the stars, noting how they had a special shine to them neither had noticed before.

They took a second to admire them as they parked not in the garage but in one of the outside parking lots.

"Just out of curiosity, what are the stars like in Africa?"

"Bright, I'd say brighter than here. No city lights, just them." Lacing her fingers through his, she leaned on his shoulder. "I'll take you there one day, to my village."

"…Then would it be alright if I took you to Ireland one day?" He responded with a similar airy smile.

For an answer, she looped her arms around his neck and kissed him. She'd been dying to do it since they left the show hall, leaving behind quite an uproar. Alex's name and appearance were still fresh in the minds of several minds, especially Metropolis natives. Mari could still hear the whines made as she took the younger man by the lips and planted a sweeping kiss on his lips. She knew the avalanche of a response that would ensue, but she didn't care. In fact, she wanted her fellow models to know that Alex was officially off the market, and she wanted everyone to know she'd moved on as well.

Alex eagerly returned the kiss, letting her know he was just as eager as she was. His honey-colored eyes burned with the same lust hers did.

It almost felt like she was invoking the power of her totem as she dragged him back up to her loft. The instinct to mark, to mate, was overriding every part of her being. She knew what she'd wanted, what she'd been wanting to do with Alex for some time.

As the door closed behind him, she slammed her lips against his, pushing him against it. Bags dropped to the floor, where they were likely going to remain for the rest of the night. Mari grinded her waist against his, feeling his erection poking at her through his pants. How many times had she intentionally gotten him hard? She didn't know, but she knew now was the time when she was going to go the full mile; Alex knew it too, and it was something he couldn't be happier about.

His arms hooked themselves beneath her legs. He started to move while still maintaining the frantic exchange of kisses between him and the black beauty. Her hips weren't ideal as they were in motion-they continued to grind against his, almost like she was trying to break his stride. Alex never broke though, not until he reached the bed where he dropped her down. They broke their kiss as well, brown eyes staring into one another as they temporarily gathered their wits.

"Don't you fucking dare hold back." Mari whispered with a near feral look in her eyes. Her nails gently dug into the back of his head as she leaned forward. "You're mine, Alex, and I'm yours, so don't-"

"I won't." He answered, then swiftly cut her off with a new kiss. So far, she'd been the one who initiated all their kisses so far. As great as that was, Alex didn't want that to be the case all the time. As Mari had just told him, she was his, and he knew he wanted there to be times where he acted like it. He was going to act like it-he had a claim to this beautiful woman and he wasn't going to be shy about it.

In pressing his entire body against her, Mari wrapped her arms and legs around him, feeling up his backside with her fingers. The temptation to simply tear his clothes apart struck her like a lightning bolt. As she kissed him the ecstasy-laced thought danced about in her mind. A snarling voice in her head urged her to do it, to simply get it over with.

She'd seen Alex's naked upper body dozens of times already. At first, she'd minded his privacy, but it hadn't taken too long for her to sit there and watch him change clothes. He could never stop blushing knowing she was watching him. That'd been part of the fun, and the buildup to where they currently were.

Though he didn't have a dedicated workout schedule, nor was he excessively into exercising, Alex had a very well-developed body. He was in no way too sneaky, having a decent amount of muscle on him that Mari had a hunch might grow in the future. His body was also free of any sort of scars or tattoos, things she found rather enticing. In a sense, he was pure; that just made her want to ravage him all the more.

Somehow, they ended up flipped over. Pausing, she leaned over him, her hands spread out against his chest as she stared down at him with hungry eyes-the eyes of a predator.

Alex wasn't scared though, not of the vixen, not of the she-lion, that loomed above him. His hands reached up, caressing her cheeks before he brought her lips down atop his. Mari immediately leaned into the kiss, aggressively rubbing her hips against his. The young man thrusted his upward, pushing his clothed erection against his lover's loins.

That shattered the restraints Mari had imposed on herself. Fangs and claws elongated, a bestial growl slipped from her lips, and her eyes changed into feline silts. For some it would have been a terrifying sight, but Alex found it strangely charming. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that he'd set this beast loose, and he would be the one to ultimately tame it.

"W-W-Woooah!"

Mari was speechless as she suddenly found herself looking up instead of down. It took her a second to realize the reversal had taken place-Alex had flipped them over putting himself back on top. He'd done it so fast she'd barely noticed; admittedly, she was impressed and incredibly turned on.

"Please, let me." Any protest she might have had was silenced by the tender kiss he placed upon her lips. Mari immediately gave into it, and by extension Alex.

God, I…I REALLY hit the jackpot with him. A tiny almost cartoonish version of herself danced in glee as Alex sensually kissed her cheeks then her neck. She knew exactly what he was going to do and her body couldn't stop trembling in anticipation of it.

Luckily, before she knew it, she felt the cool air of the loft gracing her bare skin. It was counteracted by the warm touch of his fingers, gently tracing lines across her body.

"You're…more beautiful than I ever thought."

Hearing that made her giggle. It wasn't uncommon for men who saw more of her, but that never stopped Mari from enjoying hearing it. Especially from men she was interested in.

"When we first met, did you picture me wearing less than my costume? Perhaps it in more tatters?"

Alex swallowed a massive lump in his throat as he pulled back to fully admire her. The flowery design of her ebony bra went perfectly with her chocolate-colored skin. Skin that was near flawless of any kind of blemish, a true wonder despite the dangerous life style she lived. The fact that she'd managed to pull them off was another testament to her greatness. Looking at her, Alex simply couldn't believe that a woman like her had ended up choosing a guy like him.

Her ancestral necklace further complimented her enchanting appearance. The totem rose and fell with every breath she took, resting above her breasts.

After several minutes of staring, he moved his eyes back to her face, knowing his cheeks were once again red as cherries. "I…I'll admit, the thought of you wearing…even less than normal has crossed my mind."

Smiling, Mari reached behind her back, unclipped her bra, and allowing her breasts to pop out. With that same smile, she dropped it on the floor, reached forward, and placed her new lover's hands atop her chest. His breath caught in his throat as he felt the warm chocolate-colored orbs beneath his fingers. Mari let out a tantalizing sigh as she felt him groping her twin mounds; a surge of pride raced through her as their eyes locked. "I'll show it to you, and let you experience it, but only as long as you keep your promise, Alex."

Something in his eyes changed. A sudden hardening that made Mari catch her breath. Still, they retained their apologetic loving glow, and it was still directed toward her. She was sure he could feel her rapidly increasing heartbeat as he leaned in close. "I will, but you have to promise to come back, Mari. I don't care how injured you are, I'll do my best. I'll support you any way I can."

Her right hand fell on the back of his head, pushing him into the next kiss. It was a fierce promise, a promise she knew would be hard to keep. Alex probably knew it as well. Still, the way in which their lips melded against one another, how their tongues slapped together, it was all proof they were willing to take that risk.

Their kiss was broken by Mari, letting out a deeply feminine moan as the tender massage of her breasts reached a fever pitch.

"A-Alex," she tenderly whispered.

With leering eyes that could match her own, he briefly descended upon her chest. Mari fell back against the bed, moaning in erotic delight as her nipples felt the touch of a tongue for the first time in months. She called for more, and she got it. Even without looking, she felt Alex's tongue running over her twin peaks, sending untold ecstasy through her. Mari rapidly felt herself becoming lost in the sea of lustful fulfillment. While she had hope she'd return to it eventually, she never realized it could feel this good.

"Aleeex~" The superheroine purred as she wrapped her arms around her lover's head. "Aaaaah~!" She cried feeling his teeth tenderly biting down on one of her nipples. Which one it is was, she didn't know. Mari felt her head spinning from the rapid intoxication. "Aaaah~! Aaaah~!" More cries came as the nibbling continued. "Yesssss~ Yes~!"

The college student was internally glad that he wasn't too far out of practice. It'd been almost a year since he was last this intimate with someone. Given the…greater experience Mari likely had, he worried he wasn't going to be up to snuff. Her every moan alleviated his worries, and strengthened his pride. It also heightened his hunger.

Pulling away from her left nipple, he ended up giving her a few seconds to catch her breath. It looked like she wanted to say something as her eyes met his, but nothing came out except lust-borne pants. He quickly moved to ensure she couldn't say anything, or didn't need to. Their lips connected in a slow yet sensual kiss. They took the time to savor it, lightly flicking their lips against each other. That's how the kiss started, it didn't remain that way for long, not thanks to Alex's hands.

His left continued to toy with Mari's nipple to his heart's content. His right hand briefly played with the adjacent one, but it began a silent march south. Mari was just barely aware of the loss of attention, barely. The deem curiosity regarding where his other hand was going was answered when she felt the sudden touch of his soft fingers against her cunt. That soft touch grew as his fingers began a concentrated assault against her core.

"Oooohhhh~! Aaaaahh~! Aaaaaah~!" The professional model and superheroine yelled, her voice louder than it had ever been. "A-A-Alex," With their kiss broken, that was what she whispered with what little awareness she could muster. H-H-H-He's…h-he's…good at this.

He shot her a sly smile that preceded him thrusting his fingers into her cunt. Mari shut her eyes and howled, feeling the sensual intrusion. Her walls immediately clapped on his fingers, seemingly preventing them from going anywhere.

Then they thrusted deeper into her cunt.

"AAAAHH~!"

"S-Shit, you're tight, Mari."

Her eyes fully feral, she grabbed his head and kissed him. The sudden, fiery kiss was immediately recuperated. Alex did so while maintaining his pleasuring of the rest of her body. Mari moaned into the kiss, her whole body shuddering the euphoric tidal wave crashing into her, submerging her. It was better than she could have hoped for.

She wanted more. She'd have called out for more if her mouth wasn't busy with Alex's; so, she simply used her body. It wasn't like this was her first time, far from it. As he thrusted his fingers into her vagina, Mari thrusted back, quickly matching his rhythm, from that synchronization came greater bliss. She was confident that Alex was enjoying it as well.

The erection she felt constantly poking at her loins certainly pointed in that direction. The more she felt it poking at her, the more Mari thought of how good it'd feel to have it inside of her. Still, Alex's fingering of her pussy was still quite enough to satisfy her.

"F-F-Fuck, I…never would have imagined you'd be…this good." She panted in-between the breaks of one of their kisses.

He grinned, "Well, I've got some experience. I'm just glad it's enough for a woman like you."

Purring, she lightly dragged her nails down his cheeks. "So confident."

"I feel like it comes with the territory. After all, you've got to have guts if you want to tangle with a vixen." He half-lied. Luckily, Mari didn't seem to pick up on it. Maybe one day he'd find it in himself to tell her how nervous he truly was. That wasn't going to be tonight though. "You're getting tighter, Mari."

"Of…course I am! You're…fingering me…ahhh~ Aaaah~! A-Alex…" She felt the vaginal muscles in her pussy tightening by the second. As her boyfriend had said, she was going to cum any second now. Honestly, she couldn't wait for it. "More," came her plea. "More, more!"

He silenced her pleading with a sudden kiss. His thrusts grew stronger, pushing deeper. His hand squeezed even tighter on her breast. A three-pronged assault that even a woman like her couldn't hold up against.

Mouth muffled, Mari could only moan as she felt her vaginal walls erupt in feminine nectar. Alex's fingers continued to move like a piston within her, furthering her climax. All she could do was keep a hold around his neck as she felt the entire lower half of her body going limp. In exchange, sweet euphoria shot hot and fast through her body, sending her heart into overdrive. Mari kept the kiss going as long as she could, but air eventually forced her and Alex to separate.

His honey-brown eyes were focused, yet they had the light of love in them. They drew her into another kiss, short but sweet. Amidst it, she felt the removal of his fingers from her pussy, a loss that she mourned, then came the loss of his lips against hers. She settled for watching her young lover taste her off his fingers. The way his eyes lit up with wonder told her he liked how she tasted. It was enough for her to flash him a flirty but proud smirk.

She continued to admire her handiwork in silence until he was finished. He finally turned to face her, a sly smile of his own on his face.

"Enjoyed it?" Mari coyly questioned.

"So much that I think I want a second serving."

Giggling, Mari grinded her right leg against his side. "Then what are you waiting for? Oh, but just so you know, you're going to pay me for those undies you just ruined."

All he did was laugh at her words. She had a few creativity ways in which he could pay her back, and that included giving her a second serving of his tongue.

Lifting her legs, she watched him remove the last shred of clothing she had on. "Alex," she called.

Looking up, she saw just how flustered he was behind his confident demeanor. Despite the intense redness coating his face, he remained resolute. He also remained in awe of her. Even as his hands gently gripped her legs, his eyes remained focused on her, his deep breaths unending.

"…Thank you, Mari." He whispered.

Serene joy overwhelmed her face. "You're welcome…thank you for being the one to remind me that there's still plenty of good men left in the world. And being one of them yourself."

For several seconds, they merely smiled back at one another. Alex eventually moved his head in-between her legs. At the first flick of his tongue against her cunt, Mari threw her head back and moaned, feeling the return of that ecstasy-laced lightning racing through her body.

"Aleeeex~" Moaned the older woman as she locked her legs around her boyfriend's head. She found out how good he'd been with his fingers, but Mari was utterly blown away by his tongue. One moan multiplied into a dozen, or one was stretched out into infinity. Either way, she let it be known that she was loving this.

Alex's dark brown hair stood out between her legs, somewhat ironic given its similar color to her own body. Far in the back of her mind she mused on how unexpected it was that she was finding this level of intimacy with a white man. A young white man. Mari looked past skin color and nationality, basing her like or dislike based on what someone had on the inside. Granted, being a good looker certainly helped.

When it came to Alex, he had an undeniable young, gentle charm about him. It was different from the assertiveness of John that belayed the righteousness and deep care he possessed. Alex wore such traits on the outside, even if he downplayed them. Mari knew she probably still had a lot to learn about her new lover, but she was sure of one thing-he had a heart as radiant as the power he wielded.

An affectionate purr left her lips as she reached down and rustled his hair. His oral massaging of her pussy continued, much to her joy.

"Aaaah~! AAAH~!" her soft rustling turned into a fierce grip as she felt his tongue push deeper. "A-A-Alex," I-I-I'm…already so close to an…another…orgasm! God, I can't believe he's this good! I…I feel like I'm going to…any second… The tension was building up like a geyser. Fighting it was futile, even for a few more seconds.

Feeling that split second of intensified pressure was his only warning. Alex stuck his tongue as deep as he could into Mari's snatch, feeling the moisture-soaked walls make their final squeeze.

"ALEX~!"

With that scream, her juices flowed out for the second time, though this time they blasted him right in the face. Tasting them on his fingers had been a delicious experience, but it was quickly eclipsed by feeling that sweet nectar blasting him right in the face. He was overwhelmed, but it was undoubtedly the best feeling he'd ever had. Her love nectar was the best thing he'd ever had.

As he gulped down the tidal wave, his mind had only one thought. Just like a bee's honey. Pure and sweet. That lone thought continuously rung in his mind as he drunk down the superheroine's essence. Of course, a great deal of it still doused his face. He could feel it dripping down his cheeks and hair when he finally pulled away.

The first thing he laid eyes on was Mari McCabe, Vixen, strown out atop her bed, naked save for her totemic necklace. Cum leaked from between her legs, the same spot he'd been only a moment ago. Teeth marks lined her bare breasts, more proof of his ravaging of her body. Her athletic yet sensual body, the body of a woman who could fight crime as well as show off.

Upon staring at her face, he found himself lost in a trance. Contrast to the seductive allure of her body, her smile was genuine, warm, and inviting. He couldn't help but take the invite.

Mari welcomed him with open arms, literally. There was an air of neediness from her end just as much as his. Their arms mutually wrapped around each other, holding each other. It was like they became wrapped up in an intimate, sensual cocoon. When they emerged from it, neither of them would know, but they knew they'd emerge from it happier than before.

They rolled across the bed, the animalistic heroine ended up on top with her college-age lover lying beneath her. Breaking their current kiss, she sat up, her eyes wild yet focused. Alex's hands remained on her bare waist, his touch continuing to electrify her. Any second she expected that jolt to be what propelled her to ripping off Alex's clothes. Her nails leisurely dragged across his clothes-covered chest.

She really, really wanted to see him shirtless. No, not just shirtless, but barefoot of all his clothes, just like her.

Alex gently grabbed her hands, startling her. He held them as he sat up, his gaze unwavering. It spoke to her a message. With a huff, she nodded, understanding his desire.

The first time she'd seen him shirtless, it'd been his second time modeling for her. She'd done him the courtesy of looking away the first time, but her curiosity had gotten the better of her. Given the small but noteworthy attraction he possessed for her back then, she had a feeling he wanted to show off for her. He had a body that was worth showing off, not overly muscular but also nowhere near too skinny to be appealing.

As she had before, Mari openly gawked at Alex's upper body as he removed his shirt. Though she wanted more, she was momentarily content to bask in the glow of his unclothed chest, now closer than ever.

One quick pant and she was kissing him, and he was kissing her back. Their now naked chests squished against each other, white and black, male and female. She purred into the kiss, and continued to purr as it ended and she dragged her nails across his back. The young man shuddered in repressed ecstasy at the slight touch. That repression broke as he felt a pair of sharp fangs gently biting into his skin.

"M-M-Mari," Alex murmured. He knew this was coming, but it still struck him as unexpected.

"For the past couple weeks, all the girls have kept their eyes open for you." She whispered.

"I-I-I've noticed." He answered. "W-W-Word…spread fast."

"Yeah, it did. It always does." Her nails and fangs, all left light marks on his skin as she worked her way across his body. He'd gone from sitting up to lying on his backside; he was utterly helpless before her. "Like I said, it's hard to blame them. You're such a good man, Alex. It honestly surprises me you didn't have a girlfriend when we first met."

He looked away, a slight blush on his cheeks. "Well…I…never really approached anyone, or responded to anyone approaching meeeee—aaah!" Alex realized he shouldn't have looked away too late. Quickly looking back, he saw Mari had already undone his pants and slipped a hand beneath his boxers. Her manicured nails were dragging across his skin, and his erect cock. "Y-Y-You're…not going to rip them apart, are you?"

"Hmm, I'd like to. You robbed me the chance to do that with your sword, so I could just do it with your boxers and pants."

She tried to gauge his reaction to her implied threat. The clothes he had on were the only ones he had. If they went, he was going to be walking around her loft naked, a scenario that Mari was quite turned on by. What she wanted to know was rather or not Alex would go for it.

"Just promise me you'll pay me back for them."

Sharing in his laughter, she finally did away with the last of his clothes. The still whole pants, boxers, and socks were all dropped onto the floor; she sank down to his waist, gazing at his erect member. Mari licked her lips.

"You…like it?" The young man questioned with the roar of his heartbeat in his ears.

"Fuck, yes. And I'm keeping it for myself, Alex." With her eyes on him, he got the real meaning of her words-she was keeping him for herself. As she filled up his cock with her hands, the realization struck him like a falling star. Never again would he know another woman's touch, and he'd never need to know another woman's touch. Mari would be enough for him-she was all he was ever going to need; she was all he would ever yearn for.

"Mariiiii~"

The more she stroked his cock, the more excited Mari felt herself becoming. If the other women got a look at Alex's member, she knew they would really be trying to sink their hooks into him. A solid seven inches, seven thick, hard inches that felt nothing short of awesome in her hands, and would feel absolutely incredible inside of her.

"A-AAAH~! MARI!"

"Mmmmm~!" The top three inches of his member disappeared into her mouth, her tongue flicking across the tip and down the side. Thanks to Alex's impulsive thrusting, she ended up taking in more than that. Mari was more than happy to take it, sucking even more of his cock.

Seemingly hours later, red lipstick stained the top side of Alex's member. Even if the lipstick faded, she'd undoubtedly left her mark on the college student's manhood, her permanent mark.

She gave him a minute to catch his breath, leisurely licking her lips as he panted in front of her. His pants increased thanks to her moving her hands back to his cock, gently stroking it while still maintaining eye contact with him.

"Keep…going."

Grinning, she asked, "Did you think I was going to stop for some reason?" When she got a stammering response, she fell back onto his dick, tenderly sucking, biting, and licking it. The young man groaned and grunted as he came under her seductive spell. Mari moved her right hand to his balls, massaging them causing his voice to grow louder. By the time she took the whole of his member into her mouth, Alex's grunts were filling the entire bedroom.

Mari always knew she was a bit of a vain woman. Given her professional job, it came with the territory. Being showered with affection was something she liked in a lover; Alex didn't disappoint her in that regard. He never disappointed in giving her his undivided attention. He chanted her name again and again as his hips began to consciously thrust upward. His cock pulsated as she continued to suck it. She felt like she'd just gotten started, yet her boyfriend was already on the verge of cumming.

Come on, it's me, of course he's going to cum.

Recalling an idea, she knew would please him, Mari pulled away. Her sudden departure left a brief saliva bridge. Alex was startled by it to say the least, but his confusion transferred into something else as he witnessed her grab her breasts. While his jaw dropped Mari's lips curled into a foxy grin. Wearing that expression with pride, she sandwiched the college student's member between her breasts, immediately squeezing it.

"OOOOOHHH~! M-MARI~!"

"Hahaha! I knew you'd love this; every man does!" She howled as she picked up where she left off.

"W-W-WITH….G-G-GOOD….REASON!" Alex yelled back. He tightened his hold on the sheets to the point his knuckles began turning white. "M-MARI~! MARIIII~!"

She loved it when she titfucked a cock big enough the tip was able to stick out as Alex's did. Mari stuck her tongue and repeat her earlier treatment of his tip, sending him into a greater frenzy. Between her breasts and her mouth, she had him completely locked down.

"AAAAHH~! AAAA~! HAAAAAAH~!" Alex felt his whole world spinning to the point he couldn't tell up from down or left from right. The already loud thundering of his heart intensified. He knew it'd reach its pinnacle when his member erupted. In his life, he'd experienced two titfucks, neither of which he'd ever forget. So…this is…third time's the real charm, huh?

His vision temporarily focused enough for him to drink in the sight of Mari between his legs, his cock between her big, round, chocolate-colored breasts. His tip was buried in her mouth. She winked at him while giving his cock the tightest squeeze yet, and that was what did him in.

"HAAAAAAAHHH~!"

Mari pulled back just in time to catch the eruption of masculine juices that sprung from Alex's tip. It blasted her face and chest, but a good amount still landed in her mouth. She happily swallowed it down. What she tasted was sweet, warm satisfaction, albeit she found herself quickly wanting more. Angling her mouth over Alex's cock, she gave it a tender massage with her breasts, and her wish for more was granted. Her mouth inevitably just came down the upper portion of his cock, her lips suckling his tip as he continued to blast his essence into her mouth.

Alex's cock was the miraculous watering hole she'd longed for. With nothing to stop her, Mari made sure to drink her fill before finally pulling away. She knew she must have looked a mess, but it was a look she was proud of-her face and chest dripping with Alex's cum. He stared at it, at her, once he found the strength to lift himself up.

"Thanks for the new necklace, baby. I appreciate it." She giggled as his eyes moved lower, undoubtedly catching sight of the cum, his cum, splattered across her neckline and chest. Even her beloved necklace had been soaked in his juices.

"Um, that's not…I didn't dishonor your ancestors or anything, did I?"

Laughing at his well-meaning question, she wiped some of the cum off the Tantu Totem. It was going to need a full washing, along with the rest of her, but that would come later. "Oh, don't worry about that. This is hardly the first time this thing's got a little dirty. And it's definitely not going to be the last."

She crawled toward him with leering eyes. He didn't need them to recognize the double-meaning of her words. They played a part in restoring the rigidness of his cock; the passionate kisses the two of them engaged in did the same. Alex held her against him as their naked bodies fully pressed against each other.

At times their kisses moved beyond each other's mouths. With her fangs, Mari couldn't help but tenderly bite down upon her boyfriend's neck. Sometimes she bit in the same place she had before, reinforcing the markings she'd lift. Alex didn't seem to mind, she even heard him laugh at the press of her fangs and nails. Already, he'd gotten used to it, and even welcomed it.

Sitting up, she once again found herself drinking in the sight of him: young, handsome, blessed with a unique power, and still having his whole life ahead of him. He was willing to put that on the line to be with her, something she knew couldn't be asked of a lot of men. Especially handsome men.

"Alex," she called. Moving to his right side, she prompted herself up on her hands and knees. "Let's do it like this."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his cock stand straight up. It was a dight that made her burst into laughter, she laughed harder as the male brunette sat up and half-heartedly tried to hide his erection.

"Are you…sure about that?" He asked.

"Come on, I know you've thought of this at least once." Was her response.

Excitement passed through her as soft breeze brought by the brief touch of his tip against her pussy. "How do you know that, Mari?" His voice had an undeniable husky tone to it that wasn't there before.

Unable to help herself, she looked back. His hands fastened themselves to her waist, steadying her as he lined up his member with her vagina. That kind face was overshadowed by growing desire, yet he hadn't given into it, not completely. It seemed he honestly wanted to hear an answer.

"A feeling…and prior experience. A lot of guys tend to like this position. Honestly, I…didn't quite know how to feel about it at first." She honestly answered.

"Did it have something to do with your totem?" His hands suddenly slid from her hips; his arms wrapped around her as he pulled her up until she was resting against his chest. "Mari, we don't have to do this unless you really want to."

Rather than immediately answer, she merely looped her arms around his neck and basked in the comfort of his physical presence. "I don't just spread my legs out for anyone, Alex. If I didn't think you were special, I'd have ended this weeks ago. I'm…I don't like to think of myself as a loose woman, or a prude. Over time, I…I found what I liked and disliked in sex, and doggy style turned out to be one of my likes. Maybe some of it is an effect of my powers. Maybe I'm just one of those types of women." Looking into his brown eyes, she let out a long, shuddering breath as she rocked her hips against his. She felt the stir of his cock against her ass cheeks. "But I'll only do this for a man that I know is worth it."

The kiss started off soft, but all too quickly it grew heated. Alex's hands rose, finding the melon-sized orbs that the superheroine was proud of. His hands eventually moved down, roaming the rest of the body that she was proud to show off.

Their kiss ended, "You're…mine then." Alex stated.

Smiling, Mari leaned down, resuming her previous position while pushing her ass out. "Damn right, I am, Alex. Now then, come here and tame me. If you can."

Smirking, he repositioned his hands on her hips, and without another word, thrusted his forward.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHH~!" The civilian and superheroine cried out in unison, their shared voices filling the apartment. Their voices reverberated in their ears.

Alex didn't wait long to start thrusting. Mari's pussy was nothing short of inviting, and he wasn't one to turn down the invitation. Especially after everything that'd been said between them. He kept his grip on her waist as he worked his hips, turning his cock into a piston. Each thrust made the superheroine cry out in pure ecstasy.

He'd seen Mari's backside several times, on the runway and in videos. She had no problem showing it off as she did with the rest of her body, but this was different. He couldn't look at it the same way, he wouldn't look at it the same way. "Now then, come here and tame me. If you can." His mind repeated those words, and his body acted on the challenge she made to him. She wanted him to tame her, that's exactly what he was doing. One, two, three thrusts per second.

"OOOOOHHHH~! YES, YESSSS~! THAT'S IT, ALEX~! COME ON, KEEP GOING~!"

Even with exhaustion nipping at him, Alex still felt like he was full of near boundless energy. He didn't know if it was his powers acting up or just the sheer exhilaration of fucking a supermodel and a superheroine. "YOU WANTED TO BE TAMED, MARI! HERE IT IS!" Alex pulled back, then delivered the strongest thrust thus far.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHH~! MORE~!"

"COMING! RIGHT! UP!"

Her walls nearly pulverized his cock with the way they squeezed on it at his third thrust. That still didn't stop him, or even slow him down. His hips continued to smack against Mari's, the resulting thunderous slaps filling the room alongside their voices. Alex's ears rung with the sound of the erotic heroine screaming his name over and over again. It was truly intoxicating, and empowering. His mind continuously repeated the simple fact that such a powerful, such a strong, such a beautiful woman had given herself to him. Such a woman was his.

Something primal had undoubtedly awakened in Alex, he knew that. Watching Mari's sweat-glistened backside shake in front of him had stirred some primal part of him. No doubt a mating instinct deeply ingrained into him as it'd been in every living creature-like any beast. His olive-colored hips smacked against Mari's chocolate-colored ass, each point of contact a proclamation that she was his mate, and he was hers. It was made numerous times, too many to count, and yet he didn't stop thrusting. He knew his claiming of the exotic beauty wasn't going to be complete until he came in her pussy. At the rate he was going he knew that wasn't going to be long.

Yes…Fuck! God! Yes! This is what I was hoping for! "OH, GOOOOOOD~!" The last part of her statement was spoken in her mind and aloud. She simply couldn't keep the words contained; their coherency was also up for debate as Alex's thrusts were smashing every rational part of her brain to pieces. This was what she wanted-her college boytoy's complete domination of her. The fact that he'd asked such a heartfelt question of if she really wanted to be fucked doggy-style had only made it all the better. Maybe she was being overly optimistic. Maybe a part of her was just high on this potential rebound. Or maybe, against all eyes, the right guy for her had well and truly entered her life.

After another ecstasy-laced scream, Mari looked back. Beyond her ass being fucked senseless, she saw Alex's face. The passion in his eyes was undeniable, like the flames of the sun burning bright. Suddenly, those flames were closer, and Mari felt them literally kissing her lips. She returned the kiss; her arms rose to wrap up in a familiar loop around Alex's neck. Mari knew it was a perfect recreation of their earlier positions, when Mari realized just how truly special the young man was, and how much she was going to cherish him.

He cherished her, groping her breasts with gusto as he continued to fuck and kiss her. Moaning in delight, she encouraged him with her constant thrusts, keeping pace with him.

"You're mine, Mari." Alex whispered into her ear once the kiss was broken.

"And you're mine, Alex. All mine." She repeated.

She knew he was thinking about the models that had thrown themselves at him, as well as any other woman that'd taken a shine to him. They were all going to have to live with disappointment because she wasn't going to give him up. Not for anyone.

Not again. Not again. No one's taking you from me. Mari proclaimed with silent determination as the two of them began a new kiss. With it came a familiar throbbing within her. She also felt the pulsations from the olive-white cock pounding her cunt. "Ready, Alex?"

"Yes," he answered giving her a tender smile despite the increased tempo of his thrusting.

They felt the feeling within them growing, intensifying. It almost felt like they were running together. In seconds they reached the edge of the cliff, the edge of the world. Hand-in-hand, they leaped off it, feeling the rush of adrenaline that came with their jump, and comforted in their union as they plummeted into the depths of carnal release.

"ALEX~!"

"MARI~!"

Masculine essence shot into Vixen as she expunged her own feminine juices over her young lover's manhood. Their shared juices ran down the latter's pole with the runoff staining the sheets. The resulting stain grew as the pair rocked their bodies against one another, continuing their orgasm until they had nothing left. Still, they remained upright, their sweat-coated bodies connected.

Mari's hands remained looped around her boyfriend's neck. His slid from her breasts to wrap around her waist, where he held her against him. Their mutually colored eyes shined with tender affection as they stared at each other. In minutes, they were laughing, sharing short but sweet kisses. Somewhere amidst them, their bodies laid on the bed; the two remained entangled in one another's loving embrace.

"So…you got any strength for one more round?" Mari asked.

"I think I do, just give me a second." The healer replied. "I've…that was the best sex I've ever had. Ever."

"Naturally, given you just fucked the sexiest heroine in the Justice League." Alex had a feeling that several other women in the League would try to contest that, but as far he was concerned, it was true. Overjoyed at that fact, he pulled Mari close. Giggling, she launched into a round of kisses and snuggles with him.

"Oh, one little thing, you aren't going to mind the little…marks I leave on you, will you?"

"You know, I have this strange feeling you're not asking because you're worried they'll hurt." Turning over, he loomed over her like a predator, a complete reversal of their initial dynamic. "As far as I'm concerned, they're something to be proud of, and I won't mind letting people know where they came from…or asking for more."

Grinning like the wild vixen she was, Mari pulled her lover in for another kiss, prelude to the next round. How many they'd get in for the night was a mystery, but they were all too eager to find out.


That was one of the longest stories/chapters I've done in a while. It also wasn't my intent for this story to take this long, but a mixture of writer's block and real-world work kept on pulling me away.

Obviously, one of the biggest things I had to work with regarding this story was Vixen and John's breakup. I alluded to it but never outright mentioned it partially because I had too many ideas bouncing around regarding it. At best, I made it that elephant in the room that was public knowledge, but it wasn't extensively discussed. One idea I had did involve it being brought up resulting in setting Mari off, only for her to be calmed by Alex. In a sense, I still ended up using that scenario, but not quite with as much detail as I would have liked. That'll have to wait for another story, a sequel where I'll no doubt dive more into Mari and John's breakup.

Belenus was/is a real Celtic god with dominion over the sun and healing. Naturally, the Romans conflated him with Apollo, something they tended to do with a lot of sun/healing deities. This was the first story I got to give some backstory for Alex's powers, a backstory that will more or less be consistent through the rest of my Meta Care stories.

Like I said, this one was pretty long, both in length and in terms of how long it took me to finish. Still, I hope you all enjoyed it! I'm going to try to pump out another Meta Care story for March. As for who I'll be focusing on, well, that'll be a surprise. Until next time, take care, readers!