Ending the call with Prime One Million, I returned to the table where everyone wore a nervous expression. The odds were far worse than with Nekron, we had no ace in the hole this time to even the odds. This would be a battle of wills, and neither side would go down easily. Making the suggestion that we could go out to eat tonight, my family said they wanted to eat in tonight. Nodding my head I said we could make something together as a family, which they immediately agreed too.
Opening a cookbook of various family recipes we had acquired, the women planned out a full five course meal for tonight. Wanting to give them my full attention for the night, I switched my phone to receive only emergency calls. Setting it on the table, I got to work helping them clean the vegetables. Deciding to have some with it, Mina and Starfire grabbed a carrot and started to eat it the way Rumi did.
"Who are we", they said clearing their throats.
"What's up Doc?", Mina laughed.
"What is up the Doctor!", Starfire giggled.
"No...Starfire the line...oh whatever.", Blackfire sighed with a smile, "I give up trying to fix your manner of speech."
"Who am I.", Wanda said mimicking them, "What are you looking at!? You wanna fight!?"
The room went silent as Rumi looked at her with a twitching expression. Grabbing a knife Rumi raised it, Wanda dropped the carrot, turned, and started running from Rumi in that order.
"We are trying to have family time, and you immediately start harassing me!!", Rumi howled running after her, "I am going to crave you up like a pumpkin!!"
"Says the lady as round as one.", Nemuri muttered with smile.
"What was that!?", Rumi spat.
"Damn your fucking rabbit hearing!", Nemuri laughed with a grin.
"I will remember that when you get this big!", Rumi huffed.
"Rumi, come over here and stop chasing her.", I sighed, "You know she won't stop if you keep reacting to her antics."
Grumbling as she came over, I pulled her in front of me and rested my head on her shoulder. Helping her with chopping up the salad toppings from this position, she slowly leaned back into me letting me take her weight. Using my telekinesis I supported her so she could relax herself further. Giving me a smile she leaned her head against mine.
"You know, I think you beautiful.", I told her telepathically.
"I am happy to hear that.", she replied, "I feel like a train wreck, the little brats are very lively. It feels like they are bouncing on my bladder or having a boxing match in my stomach."
"It wouldn't surprise me given their mother's personality.", I teased gingerly brushing my hand over her stomach, "Still though...I am happy we are having a family."
"I...I...am too.", she whispered in a sheepish voice, "You better come back for all of our sake."
"I will, I have to see that bright future with all of you.", I told her glancing at the girls I went to school with, "That's what my dream now, to make a world and an Omniverse where people can laugh and smile. The only way that happens if I have all of you in my lives, along with the children."
Huffing at me with tint of red in her cheeks, I kissed her neck softly before scratching her ears. Going straight for the weak points, she glared at me while trying to suppress a moan. Stopping after a few minutes, she took some carrots and walked away before I could do anything else. Taking her place, Kara slid in before anyone else with a smile on her face.
Finishing the salad with me, we moved on to make some soup which entailed keeping certain women away from the stovetop. Mixing one of Ochaco's family recipes up, Ochaco gave me a fond smile as we were making it. Asking her what was wrong, she told me it had been several years since her family had made the recipe. Since her grandmother died of old age a few years ago, her family Christmas' had changed. I had offered her treatment to extend her life, but she was ready to go be with her husband in Heaven. She had lived a long life, and had gotten to see Ochaco become a strong woman.
"I miss those times together.", she told me as I wrapped my arms around her, "Making cookies, watching Christmas movies, telling stories...and my grandmother making this soup. Christmas hasn't been the same since she passed."
"We can make it our tradition.", Momo said adding stock to the soup.
"That is true, we are going to need to come with them.", Selena agreed having some ginger ale, "The kids are going to have a lot of...variety in their holidays."
"What's that supposed to mean?", Jean asked.
"Well...we have extraterrestrials among us. Do you all celebrate Christmas?", Ivy answered for her.
"No, we didn't have Christmas on our world. Birthdays, anniversaries, and a few religious days were all we had.", Blackfire stated.
"Same here, almost all of our holidays were to celebrate various rulers from our family lineage.", Maxima chuckled, "Having savored your holidays though, I think we need a few in ours now."
"Haha.", Fury laughed, "From how the other's told it, you would get hammered on holidays."
"Well of course, it is a celebration and it is either christened by drinks or sex.", Maxima giggled, "Don't worry husband, I only partook of the drinking."
"I figured.", I snickered, "I remember the first night."
"So do I...", she replied biting her lower lip, "Speaking of that, are we going to christen tonight?"
"What are we celebrating?", Toga and Mina asked eating anpan.
Motioning to the Marvel Heroines that had been working with us and helping us cook, Maxima said she assumed I was going to have them join tonight. Stating that this was a very dangerous fight, she said I needed many reasons to come home. Turning to me with eager expressions, it appeared they had been patiently waiting on me to ask them. Having helped around the Agency, and made their intentions very clear...it was time I gave them an honest answer.
"I would be-", I started to say.
"Yes!", they said before I could finish my sentence.
"It's honestly about time you asked.", Jennifer sighed, "You know how uncomfortable these pushup bra's are? My shoulders are sore, and so is my back from-"
"Poising while leaning over my desk?", I questioned, "Oh I noticed you lot were trying your damned best to get my attention. From where skimpy undergarments to wearing fancy perfume. Honestly though...where did you get the stuff? Also Kitty...splashing me with coffee isn't a sexy thing."
"That was an accident!!", Kitty shouted, "Well...the coffee anyway."
"Hehe.", they snickered with evil grins, "The other stuff...yeah it's true."
"I don't think I want to know.", I stated.
"Good idea.", Carol said with a lovely smile, "You really don't want to know. Let's just say we made it very clear to a few manwhores who tried pushing themselves on us that we didn't want them."
"Anyone I need to speak with?", I asked.
"Nope, all of it has been sorted.", Jennifer said with a playful smirk, "Having a good lawyer is always a good thing when making lawsuits."
"Glad you are on my side.", I laughed with a smile.
Focusing on cooking for the moment, I listened the others whittle them down till they talked about their legal battle. Telling them how it all happened, they said they had filed several claims on behalf of Tsunade's group and themselves against S.H.I.E.L.D and several wealthy Heroes. Stating that they had been getting too hands on with the groups, Tony Stark was particularly bad as he would flirt with Mei and Tsunade to the point that when they'd leave he'd follow them everywhere they went.
Knowing that Hinata, Sakura, Ino, Mei, and Tsunade would potentially marry me...I had mixed emotions about having people like Stark trying to get with them. The Stark on Earth-65 wasn't a faithful guy like many of the other Tony's I had met were. Whereas most became faithful when they started dating Pepper or whomever was the secretary, he didn't. He was a cheating bastard that liked to flirt with any female with a pretty face. Fortunately they were living on Mars now so people like him would be far away.
Taking turns from then on, the women helped finish making our meal in a hurry. Sitting around our table to eat, I looked at everyone as they talked with each other about their experiences. After eating our very large meal, we all sat down for a movie. Sitting on lap, both of the Eri's held a small bowl of pop corn to snack on. Mixing in M&M's they...stole...from my stash, the two of them gave me their big cow eyes when asking for forgiveness.
"So what are we going to watch?", Sonico asked snuggling up to my left side.
"We should watch one of those James Bond movies.", Mina suggested, "I am an explosion mood."
"When aren't you?", Nejire and Itsuka laughed.
"Hey!", Mina remarked with a smile, "Don't be so judgmental about my tastes."
Accepting the suggest I put one of the movies on for us to enjoy. When the more adult scenes came up, I would cover both of the children's eyes as they were too young to watch something like this. Reaching the climax of the film, all of the women got a little to into it and started shouting at the tv saying that James should kill the fucker. Apparently a little too much of Mina had rubbed off on them because when the villains boat exploded with them on it, everyone shot up...along with snacks and beverages.
Sighing as they ended up covering themselves with drinks, I started to laugh at them as they blamed one another for the mess. Stopping them from breaking out into a brawl, I said we needed to get cleaned up. Hopping into the bath, and into bed things took an unexpected turn as the rescued children decided to climb into bed with us. Having heard from Eri what was going to happen, all of them were understandably worried and wanted to stay here in our room. They had already witnessed one world turn to a wasteland, and now there was a chance that it would happen here too.
Seeing them come in with their blankets and stuffed animals, the women put off romantic activities in place of comforting them. Getting them situated among us, the children were quick to fall asleep. Laying there in the bed as the women fell asleep with the children hugging them tightly I listened to their calm, steady breathing I began to think about the fight tomorrow.
---Next Day---
Getting up the next morning, breakfast was quite tense. Dropping the children off at school I returned home to say goodbye to my family. I didn't know how long the fight would take, and I honestly didn't know if I would come back to a world that I would remember. Making sure the children had wristbands made of the same temporal resistant material that my lovers had, I made sure everyone was wearing one today and would continue to wear them till I returned.
"You have everything you need right?", Sonico and Momo asked.
"Yes.", I said.
"Your equipment is fully charged, and you have your communicator on your right?", Selena and Natasha inquired.
"Of course.", I told them.
"Do you have your charms!?", Aurora and Zatana demanded, "You have to keep them on you at all times for them to work."
"There are right here.", I replied showing them under my armor, "I am wearing them close to myself."
"Nick said he is going to have a live feed of the fight.", Carol stated, "All of us will be watching to make sure you don't do something stupid. I swear...if you made us go through all that embarrassing shit, and get killed before we get a proper proposal..."
"I will come back.", I stated with confidence, "Between the three of us, we can bring them down...I just don't know how long it will take."
"You think you may be gone for a few days?", Ochaco and Asui said handing me good luck charms they made for me.
"I don't know, he has been fighting for weeks. It may be weeks or months, but I will come back too you.", I said with resolve, "Especially because I have to be a father...isn't that right ladies."
Looking at the high schoolers all of them panicked.
"Huh!?", they gasped.
"You didn't think I would notice, did you?", I said, "I have been waiting for you all to tell me. Most of you have been pregnant for two months now, Asui and Jiro are the only ones a month into theirs."
"What!?", everyone else shouted, "You didn't even tell us!!"
"Well...we wanted to wait till graduation.", they told us, "It's only a month away, and...we wanted to tell everyone."
"So they even beat us...", Blackfire sighed.
Hugging the sisters, I told them that it didn't matter to me who was first or second...all I cared about was that they were having our children. Looking at the high schoolers I gave them a playful smile.
"I started to think something was up when you all started bickering more, and your appetites grew too.", I teased, "It was also weird that I hadn't somehow managed to hit the mark with all of you even though we have been making love regularly. I figured Asui and Jiro might have because they just found out, but I would have thought the rest of you would have told me sooner."
"You knew that!?", Asui and Jiro shouted.
"Next time don't leave your positive tests in the bathroom.", I said kissing them.
"You got us, Hehe.", Melissa stated admitting to my statement, "That said...three of us decided to let it slip early though..."
"I said I was sorry!", Nejire said, "I didn't think Maxima would just blurt it out."
"Sorry for hiding it from you.", Momo apologized, "We haven't told anyone yet, not even our parents."
"Ugh...now you are really going to have to come back.", Rumi snickered, "All of their dad's are going to kick your ass for knocking up their precious daughters."
"I am well aware.", I said hugging everyone, "We will have to make a proper announcement when I return. I will call you so you can schedule a dinner with them so I can break the news."
Giving me kisses as I started walking towards the door, Wanda ran over to me with a picture in her hand. Handing me a picture of my future family, she looked at me with an actual serious face.
"Are you okay?", I asked.
"I...I want you to know...I am sorry.", she told me with a worried look.
"What do you mean?", I questioned.
"Just know that I really do love you, and I want you to come back in one piece...physically and mentally.", she answered, "All of those women in that picture are relying on you coming home. They...they are the only family I have really had. My father was a drunk bastard...he killed my mother one night when she forgot to buy him beer. When they arrested him all he could say was that he wanted a beer while my mother bled out in the living room. After that I was put in foster care, and sent from home to home because everyone didn't want the crazy girl...I never had a mentor or anyone to lean on. Everything I am right now is from my own work...meeting you, it's the first time I felt like I had a home. Even though I am an ass and a bitch...you still treat me like I am family...and worth something. All of them treat me like a sister...it's nice to feel like I belong somewhere."
"Wanda, where is all of this coming from?", I asked with concern.
"Just remember, we love you fucking idiot.", she told me with a smile, "We want you to come back to keep this rag tag group together. It's not a home if you aren't here..."
Leaving it there I felt all sorts of confusion from her words. A sudden explanation like that out of the blue was out of character for her. I had no idea why she was telling me this, or what would happen to drive me insane. It was clear that all of them survived this, but as too why I went insane...I hadn't the slightest clue. Unable to probe her mind, since it was a madhouse, I decided to heed her warning and focus on the task at hand.
---One Million Universe---
Meeting up with Prime One Million on his world, I found him preparing for combat. He had a very good idea of what Mandrakk was capable of, and knew this wasn't going to be a cakewalk. Considering adding other Supermen into the mix, we agreed that the two of us had to be all we could take. In the event that something happened, we didn't want them to fall with us.
"Be careful dear.", Lois said to her husband, "Make sure you come back to me in one piece. If you don't I will give you a lecture about worrying your wife, you should learn that lesson too while you are young as well Clark. Women don't like stressing out about their husband, and you have many wives to worry over you."
"I know.", I chuckled with a smile, "I have a lot of kids to be around for, I can't afford to die."
"Well that is good to hear.", she laughed, "I remember when Clark and I had our first child. It was the happiest day of our lives, wasn't it?"
"Of course, I remember the doctor panicking as our child flew around the room for a few minutes before falling asleep.", he remarked with a smile.
"Yeah don't tell me that...", I groaned, "I have a lot of munchkins on the way, I really hope they aren't too much of a handful."
"Haha!", he teased, "Kid you will learn really quick that you don't get to make those kinds of choices. You'll get children that will keep you up late, barf on you, have night terrors, wet the bed, and leave you presents in their diapers."
"I am fully aware of that.", I sighed, "It comes with being a parent so I am more than ready for it, I installed a high powered incinerator just for diapers so there is no smell."
"You say you are ready, but no one is ever one hundred percent ready.", he stated, "You may have a baby that comes out talking for all you know."
Thinking of several anime protagonists that started that way...I really hoped I didn't have anyone like that. Out of everyone...Wanda's kids were the most likely to come out like that which was a scary thought. Parting ways with his wife, I led the way out into the expanse of the Omniverse.
---The Void Between The Worlds---
Flying past many worlds I knew I looked down at the destruction Joker had caused, and the lives he ruined with his actions. Once this was over I had thousands of years of work to go fix things. Noticing my concerned look Prime One Million told me to cheer up.
"No one blames you kid, you are only one man.", he told me.
"I know...it's just a daunting task.", I replied.
"So how many people are left?", he asked.
"A Venom Doomsday hybrid I call Vemonsday and Batman Who Laughs, everyone else was killed during skirmishes between the groups or by me.", I answered.
"So one each?", he stated, "Those odds aren't bad."
"My issue is Mandrakk has extensive knowledge of the different Multiverses...they could be kitted out in some very deadly equipment so be ready.", I instructed.
"You don't have to tell me twice.", he said.
Flying toward where I a massive battle taking place it wasn't long before we arrived.
---Origin of the Omniverse---
Finding ourselves at the base of the Omniverse, we were literally at the place where all began to our right was the first universe with life and the one on the left never had life. In front of us was where the action had yet to occur...the birthplace of the Omniverse. Any damage to this universe would have severe repurcussions on the whole of everything. Finding Cosmic Armor Superman engaged with the three men, One Million and I shot towards them. Spotting us just before we reached them, the three of them backed away and too no surprise I could see my guess wasn't far off.
Vemonsday and Batman Who Laughs were both kitted out with very high grade equipment. Venomsday's skin was made of nearly indestructible, and he appeared to have his intelligence intact making him a very deadly enemy. Add that to the magic infused bone spikes protruding from his body...he was built to kill Supermen. Batman Who Laughs had syphoned off Bathattan's power, and managed to steal some of Perpetua's power giving him some of her sixth dimensional power. For armor he wore was the Infinity Armor from the original Marvel Universe, on his left hand he wore the Infinity Stones, and on the right I could hear the tormented screams of billions trapped in Philosopher Stones.
"You bastard...", I growled oozing out my rage, "How many people did you kill get those stones!!"
"Hahaha!!! I had those idiots killing with raw abandonment never once asking a question. They wanted to take their anger out on everyone, and I wanted power...it was an...Equivalent Exchange you could say!!", he mocked, "You should have heard them!! They saw your broadcast, and cried out hoping you would show up!! When you never did their expressions were so delightful!! All their hope faded as they died. The minor setback with my bombs was more than made up for by the last few worlds I wiped out personally."
Gritting my teeth I wanted to crush him now, but I couldn't make the first move.
"Would you like to see one of my trophies?", he said pulling a picture a child had drawn I saw a picture of a Superman coming to save a group of people.
Noticing the similarities to my armor my fist clenched tightly.
"The poor little girl thought you'd show up to save her.", he laughed, "Just before she ran out of air, she held this picture up into the sky!! Like you would have actually seen her!! Such wasted effort for a failure of a Hero!! We only got to torment reality because you let your anger go killing the former Entity of Death. All of us had free reign to do as we pleased, how many lives were taken because of you!! HAHA!!!"
I knew he was right, it was squarely on my shoulders that things got this bad. If I hadn't killed Nekron the way I did, it was likely it would have never gone this way. That child, and many others, wouldn't have dead needlessly.
"Don't listen to him.", Cosmic Armor Superman stated.
"I know, you are right, it is my fault that scum like you got to torment the innocent, the weak, and the defenseless people of the Omniverse. I own that blame, I did it because if I didn't Nekron would have continued killing trillions upon trillions of people. The decision to kill him and collapse his dimension was mine alone...but", I said with resolve, "My actions saved even more lives, and brought back countless more when time readjusted itself. Unfortunately killing the three of you won't bring them back...but I will make your last moments of existence a living nightmare."
Activating the Blue Solar Energy Emitters in my suit, I started to speed up my absorption of the energy.
"Kid, what are you doing!?", Spectre asked in a panic, "If you absorb too much, you will-"
"I am willing to make that sacrifice.", I told him, "If I am going to give my all, I have to lay it all on the line."
"You won't be able to restore your physical body once you breakthrough...", Ghost Rider stated, "Magic won't fix you nor will turning back time."
"I know, once I cross that line I will become a mass of Living Energy.", I said.
Accepting that I had decided to take this step, the two of them placed their hands on my shoulders.
"If you are going to go to that extent kid.", they told me placing their hands on my shoulders, "Then it's time we give you complete access to our power as well."
Feeling overwhelming amount of power came flooding into me. Giving me uninhibited access to their power, I felt their fury and wrath towards these three men. Seeing their sins chained around them I could hear the voices of the deceased screaming out for vengeance. Closing my eyes to collect my thoughts my cape burned with deep green eldritch flames as the space around me started to heat up.
"HAHA!!", Batman Who Laughs mocked, "Trying to use the same trick against me again."
"Oh this isn't a trick...", I said my skin started crack with black and white flames coming out from them.
Cracking my neck I opened my eyes revealing two small Suns burning brightly in place of my eyes.
"This is judgment, and my mask is coming off.", I growled, "Vengeance is mine, and today you is the last sunset you will ever see in any life."
"We will see about that.", Mandrakk howled as he lead his group against us.
"Yes we will!", I retorted charging forward with Cosmic Armor Superman and Prime One Million.