[Nexus 100] 094. Independence & 096. Waiting (Writer's Choice)
094. Independence
Word Count: 531
One clear, sunny summer afternoon Alison and her tiny family packed some blankets and picnic lunches, and set off in a knot of excited chatter. A quick few Nexus hops later, the group found themselves in an open field of grass with gently rolling hills stretching on as far as could be seen. Families of all sizes and make-ups were setting up picnic sites all around them.
A squirmy, blond four year old wriggled in Alison's arms as she swished through the ankle length grass to an open spot. Sharpe, blue eyes swiveled in all directions as her daughter struggled to take in absolutely everything there was to see. When they reached their destination, a second bundle of wiggles was handed off to her and Longshot smiled at them before turning to the task of spreading their picnic blanket out. Beside them, John Preston performed a similar task as his oldest daughter stood by and bounced excitedly on her feet. She had seen the event before. But, she was looking forward to seeing her tiny niece and nephew see it for the first time.
Alison took a seat at one corner of the blanket and arranged her children in her lap. Longshot set the picnic basket at their feet and flopped down beside her. He slung one arm around her shoulders and hugged her to his side. After a moment, their son wriggled out of her grasp and migrated over to his father's lap.
"Stuff really gets blowed up, Daddy?" A tiny, earnest face peered up at Longshot curiously. Alison smiled to herself as she listened to her husband explaining the bursts of sound and color they would soon be seeing.
"Like Mommy can make?" Not to be left out, their daughter stood up in Alison's lap and looked over at her father and brother.
"Kind of," Alison smiled and kissed the tousled blond head. "But, much bigger and louder."
She ignored the knowing look Longshot gave her over the heads of the twins and reached out to pull the basket close. They had their lunch and the adults chatted peacefully afterwards as Lisa and Robbie introduced the twins to the swing set nearby. As darkness fell, the children returned to the blankets. Robbie and Lisa flopped down on either side of John to wait as the little ones curled up in Alison and Longshot's laps. When the first bursts of fireworks went off, the crowd cheered and clapped. And, two small blond children huddled back against their parents nervously.
Alison gently nudged her daughter back around to look up at the sky. Before the next burst of fireworks went off, Alison covered the girl's ears with her hands. With the sound muffled, the girl only jumped a little at the bursts. Then, she was laughing and clapping in delight right along with the rest of the observers. On her right, Longshot was similarly softening the sounds for their son. Less overwhelmed, the boy was enjoying the show just as much as his sister now.
Perhaps, one day, they would inherit Alison's immunity to light and sound. In the meantime, she would gladly protect them from any real or perceived danger.
096. (Writer's Choice) Waiting
Word Count: 361
Stairs were no longer her friends. Alison considered herself to be in rather good shape for her age. Hell, pretty good shape for someone a decade younger. But, pregnancy was putting her through her paces. She wasn't far enough along for the backaches, sore joints, and real exhaustion yet. But, climbing stairs already warned her of the coming discomfort.
She didn't mind. She'd put up with a great deal more discomfort than that to have these babies.
There was another child she had in mind as she climbed, though. Not her child; not her stairs. Not even a child in any conventional sense. Except in her heart and her husband's two. Shatterstar didn't think of either of them as parents as far as she could tell. Although, she had hoped he was warming to Longshot in that respect.
She finally reached the floor that Star and his lover lived on. They had been gone for months, now. The last she had heard from them, they had taken off to India with the woman Star actually thought of as a mother. That was a genuinely painful truth for Alison, so she tried not to dwell on it too much.
There was no point in knocking. The front door to their apartment was exactly as it had been the last time she came. She knelt by the door and slipped an envelope under the door. The previous letters she'd left blocked the newcomer slightly and she had to give it a slight 'push' with her powers to get it fully inside.
She'd climbed those steps to this door once a week since Star had left. His prolonged absence didn't worry her. There was nothing in India that could pose a threat to the redheaded Mojoworlder. He would return when he saw fit. Until then, she left letters filled with the type of news that families shared: occasional pictures of events and in one a copy of the CD single she had released.
There was a fair pile of letters stacking up on the other side of the door. If the boys stayed away much longer, she might have to resort to actual postage.