"You go fishing often?" Jeff tossed his card down.
"A little more than I used to these days," he took the card before tossing his own, "My son made us all move out to the suburbs with him, so it's been a new hobby of mine."
"He gave you no choice, huh?"
"'Choice' was the last thing on his mind," Rob scoffed, giving a shrug, "It's not too bad. Really quiet compared to where we lived. I'm sure he enjoys the quiet a bit more than the rest of us."
"I can see it," he nodded. Nothing like feeling safe after a long time of watching over your shoulder.
"I can't deny my appreciation," Rob sighed, glancing out the window, "I don't think he'll stay away from the fray, honestly. But he's trying real hard."
Jefferson paused, staring at his card, "It's nerve racking. Never knowing if my son will come home in a box. I know I raised him right, even though I'm not done.
"He talks about how he has a gift where he can help people. And the way your son talks, I guess they had the same idea. Do what I can't."
The older man rubbed his beard, listening closely.
The officer chuckled to himself, "He's much better off than I was at his age."
"Virgil once felt bad because he said he wasn't enough like me," he shook his head, "My son, who built a radio at 7 and wrote a paper on teleportation at 12. With diagrams.
"That incredibly smart kid was embarrassed that he didn't know how to do plumbing or the like. My kid, doing good for people with a power he didn't ask for but learned to use. Not to benefit himself, but for others."
Jeff nodded.
"I think we may have hit the jackpot," he chuckled, taking a card, "Sometimes you gotta sit back and just hope for the best, knowing you did all you could."
"Yeah," the officer smiled a bit, "Well, Miles seems to be having a blast. I'm certainly having fun."
"Good to hear," the older man paused, hearing commotion from the kids' room, "Let me check that."
X
"What'd you hit me for?!" Jay threw a pillow into Miguel's face.
"Keep your feet up there," Mig took the pillow, putting it under his side.
"Give it back!" He leaned down, getting his hand swatted away.
"Nope, you threw it at me, it's mine."
"Give it!" He hissed.
"We have different ideas of what quiet time means," Robert commented from the doorway.
"He has my pillow," Jay pointed down, pouting.
"Give him his pillow back. You're disturbing Miles," he pointed to the other bunk.
"Nu uh. He had headphones on," Jason remarked.
"I didn't ask all that, did I? He and Virgil are trying to sleep and you two are being loud. I'm going to separate the both of you," he looked at Jason.
"He started it," Miguel tossed the pillow back up to Hood.
"What are you supposed to be doing?"
"Nap," Jason grumbled, turning away, laying his head down.
"Don't start that again."
"Sorry," they both mumbled.
"Sleep, now. Or you two are going to be eating raw carrots and celery for dinner."
"Bet Migs would love that rabbit food," Jason reached into the blanket, pulling his bear into a hug.
"At least I'm not constipated," Mig retorted, slipping his pacifier in his mouth.
X
"I want to help," Miguel leaned over Jefferson's shoulder, watching him wash the rice, "I want to help."
"You are heavy," the cop grunted, feeling the weight of the giant's head on his own, "I'm just making rice. There's nothing to help with."
Mig quickly turned to his grandfather.
"I'm fine, why don't you go play?"
"He won't play, he's busy being a clingy baby," Jason blew raspberries at his friend while he and Miles played with his wrestling action figures.
Mig craned his neck to look at his friend, "Excuse me?"
"You're excused."
"Who are you talking to?"
"I'm talking to and about the tall, red eyed dude. Y'know, the clingy one who claims to be this tough hero. You, if it wasn't evident."
"I'm not clingy, you're clingy!" he challenged.
"Nope, you! You!"
"You wanna come say it to my face?"
Jason stood, putting his nose to Miguel's, "Clingy."
2099 retaliated by smacking him on the head, which Hood responded by punching him in the chin.
"This is a rental," V called out just as his boy gripped J's shirt and raised his fist, "You two go outside and play. Away from the house and car."
"Ok," they both nodded, skittering out in excitement.
"Oh, I'm coming too!" No way was Miles missing someone else get beat up by Miguel.
"Bubba."
"Yes?"
"He's fully human, remember that."
"Got it."
Within a few minutes of the door closing the sounds of shouting and thuds had the floors shaking lightly. The kids sure liked to play rough. But hey, they were durable and getting their energy off.
x
Jason grinned, slamming Miguel into a tree, "This trip is super fun!"
"Isn't it?" Miguel easily lifted him, throwing him across the ground.
He grunted, sliding on his back, "Do you want to come down and help me!?"
Tim mostly ignored him, continuing to enjoy his sky hammock while he typed away on his laptop, "Working."
"Useless," Jay stood, fist up, "I can take you both on anyway."
"So ambitious," the giant smirked.
"Don't worry," Miles squatted behind Miguel in hero stance, "I'll help even the playing field."
Miguel's smile grew wider. He cracked his knuckles, looking between the two, "Now it's really a good time."
X
"Good first day?" Jeff helped his son into his pull up and jammie pants.
Miles felt like a king after that feast. He rubbed his full stomach with a content sigh, "Yeah. Are we fishing and hiking tomorrow too?
"I'm sure we are," he led him off to the room with the other kids, "Time for bed, up you go."
"What story do we get tonight?" Miguel watched Jefferson lift his son to the top bunk.
"The story of how you guys need to go to sleep so you can wake up bright and early to have even more fun tomorrow."
"Sounds like a short, boring story," 2099 muttered.
"Why don't you tell us a story?" Jason tossed his pillow down on Tim.
Tim merely pushed the pillow aside, still typing, "I'm busy right now. Virgil said I have until he's done in his shower, then he's taking my computer. Why don't you read your friends a story?"
J scoffed, "Can you not be a nerd for like five minutes?"
"Can you not be annoying for the rest of your life?"
"Only if I die again within the next 10 seconds."
"I can help with that," he stared at the screen.
"You two are so loving," Virgil slipped in the room when Jeff slipped away, "We're going to do a story playlist tonight."
Miles perked up, "Bluey?"
"Yep, she's on here too," V confirmed, "Alright, everyone under blankets. Tim, save your progress."
"You haven't even taken a shower yet," the man whined.
"I'm literally the last person to wash. I'm about to enjoy my two hour cold shower. And I'm not coming back in here after. Now hit save on your dissertation and hand it over."
Tim groaned, folding the laptop and handing it to him, "How did you know I was writing a dissertation?"
"You said so earlier," he walked to Miguel, who was holding his arms out, "Good night," he gave him a bedtime hug and kiss.
"Clingy baby," Jason rolled his eyes.
"Present me that dome and you can get a good night kiss too," Virgil levitated up, kissing Miles and Bodega's heads.
"I don't need a good night kiss. I'm a big boy," he shook his head, hiding under the blanket.
"Ok, well, I guess I'll give Tim yours."
"No! He doesn't need two," Jason hurried over to V, getting his forehead smooched.
"Good night, little wing," he smoothed his hair back.
J blushed, hiding under his blanket again, "Good night. Thank you again for inviting me."
"You're welcome," he floated back to the ground, "Do you want a good night kiss?" He teased the last member of the bedroom.
"Well, I guess," Tim imitated Jason, giving a dramatic huff before receiving a forehead kiss.
V gave everyone a wave, leaving a door open as 'How do dinosaurs say good night?' began playing. Hopefully they would sleep and not play all night. Either way, he was going to bed.
