Elizabeth Richter hugged her son, Kyle, tight as she dropped him off at the Municiberg International Airport. “Fly safe, dear. Call me as soon as you land in Arkansas. I’ll miss you.”
“Aw, Mom, I’ll only be gone a week. And it’s not like I’ll be alone. I’ll be with Jane. You can trust her. You love her.” Kyle insisted as he grabbed his suitcase.
“That’s true. She’s a sweet girl,” Elizabeth sighed. “It’s just… this is the longest I’ve ever been away from you… my baby boy…”
Kyle leaned down and kissed his mother’s forehead. “It’ll fly by, Mom. I’ll call when I can.”
Elizabeth nodded. “You’ve got your… good suit?”
Kyle nodded. “Jane says the scene isn’t as happening in Arkansas as it is here, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared, right?”
With a final wave, Kyle walked into the airport and pulled out his ticket. “Gate A113… perfect. And with time to spare.”
As Kyle arrived at his gate, a high-pitched squeal suddenly tore through the air. Before Kyle could move a muscle, he was suddenly tackle-hugged by Jane Keen, who buried her face in his chest.
“You’re here! It’s happening! We’re going to Arkansas together!”
Kyle chuckled and hugged her back. “What, you thought it was a dream or something, Junebug?”
“It sure feels like one,” Jane lifted her head and smiled at Kyle. “I mean, I’m dating an absolute stud, I’m taking him to see my childhood home, and I get to snuggle him on a plane.”
“And you’re okay with that?” Kyle leaned in close. “We both know you can fly faster than any old plane.”
“True, but sometimes, it’s nice to take things slow. Especially when I’m taking things slow with you.” Jane replied.
Kyle kissed her forehead. “And here I thought you couldn’t get any more adorable,” he smiled. “Did you bring your… best suit? Just in case?”
Jane rolled her eyes. “Of course I did, you goober! I’m not the one who just graduated from probation, after all. I’d never make such a rookie mistake.”
“Fair enough.” Kyle relented as the two sat down at their gate.
Jane rested her head on Kyle’s shoulder. “I’m sorry that the football team didn’t make it to the championship this year.”
Kyle shrugged with his unoccupied shoulder. “We did our best. It looked good on my transcripts nonetheless. I got into NUAS on a full-ride.”
Jane pouted. “I still can’t believe you’re not going to Municiberg U with me… they have a Geology program too, you know.”
Kyle laughed. “Junebug, we discussed this. You can easily fly from New Urbem to Municiberg and back in almost no time at all.”
Jane beamed. “Are you asking me to live with you in New Urbem? For real this time?”
“Let’s consider this week a trial run and see if we can manage to live under the same roof for one week before we commit to a few years. If we manage not to get sick of each other by next week, we’ll discuss it.” Kyle challenged.
Jane giggled. “I can’t get sick of you, honey. After all, there’s a ton of couple stuff we haven’t gotten to try yet.”
Kyle looked at her with wide eyes. “Like what?”
Jane winked. “You’ll see, city boy.”
Kyle’s cheeks flushed red. “Sometimes, Jane, you’re too much.”
“But you love me anyway,” Jane smiled. “Come on, Kyle… just three little words… You can do it… I know you want to.”
Kyle rolled his eyes. “...I love you.”
Jane giggled. “I love you too.”
“Omigosh, look! Someone suddenly screamed. Jane and Kyle looked out the window and saw a plane barreling toward the ground, smoke billowing from its engines.
Kyle looked over at Jane. She had a steely look in her eye. He quickly took her hand and kissed it. “If you need backup, I’m here.”
Jane nodded before bolting off, grabbing her suitcase. Kyle watched her go.
In almost no time at all, Stratogale was airborne, flying at top speed. She quickly flew under the aircraft and tried to level it. For a brief moment, it fought with her.
“Oh, no you don’t…” Stratogale grit her teeth as she pushed with all her might, “I’m not losing anyone. Not with my Kyle down there…”
The ground was fast approaching. Stratogale put everything that she had into one final push. “Come on, come on…” she prayed.
Finally, the plane leveled out. Stratogale flew out from under the plane to check on the passengers. They seemed relieved to be out of harm’s way. One little girl even waved at her.
Just as Stratogale started to wave back, she felt her cape suddenly pull at her shoulders. As if..,
Stratogale looked behind her and realized with horror that she was right in front of the turbine.
She was going to die with Kyle below her.
She was going to die without showing him Arkansas.
Without marrying him in about 5 years.
“Sorry, Edna.” Stratogale quickly unclasped her cape. The sudden release made her drop. No big deal. She would just recalibrate and readjust her flight pattern. Hopefully, she could recover before–
Stratogale’s head hit the ground, and she knew no more.
“Jane? Jane? Can you hear me?”
Her mother’s voice seemed to echo from the void. But how could she know? She was knocked unconscious as Stratogale.
Groaning, Jane slowly opened her eyes. At first, all she could see was blinding white light. All she could feel was throbbing pain in her head. Then everything came into focus. Her parents stood over her, worry etched on their faces. She was lying in a hospital bed.
“M-Mom? Dad?” she asked weakly.
“Oh, Janey!” Carrie Keen hugged her daughter tightly. “We thought we were going to lose you!”
Cody Keen nodded. “You’ve been in a coma for two weeks, dear. You’ve… missed a lot.”
Jane groaned as she put a hand to her face.
She didn’t have her mask.
Panic suddenly enveloped her. “My mask… where’s my mask?”
Carrie kissed her brow. “Easy, baby. Your mask is safe. So is your identity. Monolith… well, Kyle, brought you into the hospital in full costume. We’re the only ones who’ve seen you without it besides the doctor. We… wanted to make sure it was really you…”
“So… you know?” Jane closed her eyes and groaned. “I’m grounded, aren't I?”
“There’s no need,” Cody showed her a newspaper dated just a day after her accident. The headline read “Mr. Incredible Sued”
“After that, a whole bunch of anti-Super cases popped up. The government eventually passed the Super Relocation Act. In exchange for amnesty, Supers are more or less illegal now.”
Jane felt as though she’d been dowsed in ice water. “I…I can’t be a Super anymore?”
Carrie kissed her forehead. “Look on the bright side, dear. Once you’re discharged, you can go to school and focus on Ornithology or Zoology.”
Jane sighed. “So… why aren’t you mad? I lied to you for years.”
“We were at first,” Cody admitted. “But then Kyle, bless him, reminded us of all the good Stratogale had done. So, yes, you lied to us,” he kissed his daughter’s brow. “But we’re proud of you anyway. You and Kyle both.”
“Is… is he okay?” Jane asked.
Her parents frowned. “We… we don't know. As part of the Relocation Act, Kyle moved away.”
“A-are you sure? Maybe he was just moving to New Urbem for college,” Jane blushed. “He said…If we managed to not get sick of each other after a week in Arkansas, we could discuss… moving in together.”
Her mother raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you get accepted to Municiberg University?”
“Well, yes… but I can fly between Municiberg and New Urbem in under ten minutes, so…”
Cody crossed his arms. “And how long has that been a plan? You’ve barely known Kyle for a year. And, yes, he’s a likable fella, brave and all, but… don’t you think you’re rushing things?”
Jane shrugged. “Maybe… but I really like him. I see a future with him. I want a future with him.”
“Even without being Supers?” her mother asked.
Jane sighed. “That… will be an adjustment… but I had a crush on him even before all that.”
“Well, then, I hope you find him, Junebug.” her mother said.
“You have our blessing,” her father added.
A few weeks later, Jane flew far above the clouds, speeding towards New Urbem. Once there, she quickly made her way to the New Urbem Academy of Science. Among all the young adults leaving the building, she spotted the familiar golden curls and rugged figure of Kyle Richter.
He was dressed in a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up past his elbows, black slacks, and brown loafers.
Before Jane could walk up to him, a tall, curvaceous blonde bombshell wrapped her arms around him and whispered in his ear.
For a moment, Jane’s heart froze. Did Kyle move on? Did he believe that he’d never see her again?
But then, Kyle gently pried the bombshell’s hands off of him and stepped back. Jane exhaled. Maybe there was hope. She discreetly followed Kyle off campus and across the street to the student dorms. Just before Kyle could walk into the building, Jane cleared her throat. “Hey, sidekick.”
Kyle froze. Slowly, he turned around. “J-Jane?” tears prickled in his eyes. “Y-you’re… you’re alive…”
Jane’s smile quickly faded. Kyle hadn’t even been sure she had survived. He’d taken the two weeks a lot harder than she had thought. She quickly rushed up to him and hugged him tightly. “Oh, baby...”
Kyle hugged back, crumbling to pieces. “I…I was so scared… You hit your head so hard… the medics told me… You probably wouldn’t make it… and then… the Relocation Act passed… and I had to relocate without knowing if you were okay…”
Jane hugged him closer. “I’m right here, Kyle. I’m okay… just a little… shellshocked. I missed a lot while in that coma. Apparently, Supers are illegal now.”
Kyle sniffled and wiped his eyes. “Y-yeah… people starting suing Supers for a whole mess of stuff. Thankfully, Monolith and Stratogale were spared that media circus, but we still have to abide by the Relocation Act.”
Jane gently wiped the remaining tears from Kyle’s face. “You know… there’s a benefit to it… more time going to school, getting our educations…” she began to trail her fingers through Kyle’s curls. “More time to be with each other.”
Kyle smiled. “Still want to get somewhere to live here? With me in New Urbem? Even though you go to Muni U?”
Jane giggled. “Is that an offer? For really real this time?”
“Honey, I just spent two agonizing weeks without you,” Kyle caressed Jane’s cheek. “I’m never doing that again.”
Jane pulled Kyle close and kissed him long and good. Kyle kissed back, drinking in every moment. Jane was alive. She was okay. She was here.
When the kiss parted, Jane smiled. “Care to give me a tour of your dorm? Preferably, the bedroom I'm going to spend the next week cuddling you in?”
“Our dorm.” Kyle corrected.
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