video;

[asoothingvoice]

[This was, unfortunately, something she had experienced before, and even with that, it still took her a couple days before she was able to make this announcement. Even with knowing that it meant that he was hopefully home. She wasn't willing to break down where everyone could see it.]

Jaime, my son, is no longer here.

Tony, Miles, if you could come over to the clinic at some point, I'd be grateful. He left some instructions for where a few things should go, in case... this happened.

[Still hard to say.]

That's all. Thank you.

Comments

[shorttempered]

I think that's par for the course. My mom used to tell me about the first time my dad got stuck in a parallel dimension. He'd been gone for like 6 months, but it was only about 2 days for him. When he came home like nothing happened, she lost it.

[asoothingvoice]

[She knew about Mark, but-]

Was your father a superhero too? [The question's on the cautious side; he hadn't brought it up before, so she's wondering if there's a reason.]

[shorttempered]

[Whoops, he knew he forgot something.]

Yeah. His name was Omni-Man. My mom met him after he saved her, so on the one hand she was sort of used to the whole superhero thing, but not all of it, you know?

[asoothingvoice]

I think I have an idea. At least now I do.

[She looks thoughtful for a moment. ] Omni-Man. That makes him sound like Superman.

[If he's anything like Superman, it must have been some kind of whirlwind romance. At least, that was the impression she had of whatever was going on with Superman and Lois Lane when Superman first showed up and all those news articles.

Having met Ms. Lane's husband here, though, when she ended up in the clinic, Bianca thinks the woman picked the better choice. The romantic idea of superheroes aside, she can just only handle Jaime being one; she couldn't imagine being married to one.]

[shorttempered]

They're... actually kind of similar, yeah. [Except Clark didn't kill a whole bunch of people for his alien race.]

But I kind of have an idea of how superhero families work, so... yeah, you're reaction is totally normal, Mrs. Reyes.

[asoothingvoice]

[That'd be a big difference.]

I'm not sure if I feel relieved or not, hearing that it is.

That must have been confusing. [She does manage a small smile for him though.]

[shorttempered]

[Shhh]

We worked it out. I mean, you and Jaime seemed to have come to an agreement.

[asoothingvoice]

Alberto and I decided to treat it like any other extracurricular.

[Not that they can really stop him if the world needs saving, or people need help, but it doesn't mean his grades should suffer. Time management is important.]

[shorttempered]

I think my mom did too.

[asoothingvoice]

[There's an almost wry smile as she speaks.]

Hopefully that didn't get you into too much trouble.

[shorttempered]

I told my mom before I left for space, so she never got too mad over it... As for the rest... Well she was used to it with my dad.

[asoothingvoice]

Your mother sounds like a strong woman.

[No wonder Mark came out like he did.]

Thank you for coming over, Mark. It really does mean a lot.

[shorttempered]

No stronger than you, Mrs. Reyes. [He gives her a small smile.] I think the two of you would get along well.

And it's the least I could do. You did so much for me when I was a mess.