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*****
"Giggle!"
Peggy Carter couldn't help but laugh. "That guy is still as amusing as ever."
Thanks to that little moment, her mood had brightened considerably.
"Aunt Peggy, let's go,"
Clark called as he came down the stairs with Captain America.
Peggy Carter nodded in response. Her eyes swept over the vibranium shield in Clark's other hand. "This is the one Howard made for him… But Howard…"
A flash of nostalgia crossed her eyes. She adjusted her hat, said goodbye to Mike, and quickly left.
As the car drove away, Clark murmured, "It's nice… She finally got to see the one she's been waiting for."
"That's thanks to you, Clark," Mike said, giving him a pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry, you'll find what you've been looking for too."
Clark nodded.
"Go clean yourself up. I'm going to pick up your sister."
"My sister?"
Clark suddenly tensed up. He rushed into the house, then poked his head back out the door. "Dad, do we have a toothbrush and towel?"
"There are clean ones in the bathroom cabinet."
Clark nodded again and darted into the bathroom.
He'd been out in the wild for so long, even he couldn't stand his own smell. There was no way he was going to meet his little sister for the first time like that and leave a bad impression.
Mike picked up Gwen, thanked John, and brought the little girl home.
"Gwen, remember the big brother Clark I told you about?"
"I remember!" Gwen's eyes lit up. Then she squealed, "He's back? Where is he?"
Mike pointed toward the bathroom. "He's taking a shower."
"Ah!" she shrieked, dashing upstairs as she shouted, "Bad Dad! Why didn't you tell me sooner!"
She'd been playing like a maniac all afternoon—what if Clark saw her looking like a wild child? Would he think she was crazy and get a bad impression?
The thought made her scream in embarrassment. She slammed her door shut and immediately started tidying herself up.
Mike glanced from the bathroom to Gwen's room and spread his hands in amusement.
Look at them now—both trying to make good impressions. But give it a little time, and they'll be seeing each other at their messiest, no doubt about it.
He stepped into the kitchen to continue making dinner. To speed things up, he even used a character card.
By the time dinner was ready, Mike stepped out with the food and paused at the sight of Clark sitting at the table. He blinked, speechless. "Seriously?"
Clark's crisp white shirt stretched across his broad muscles, paired with perfectly tailored trousers and shoes polished to a mirror shine.
Putting the dish down, Mike couldn't help but quip, "Son, are you going to a job interview?"
Clark blushed slightly but replied seriously, "This is more important than a job interview."
Shaking his head, Mike returned to the kitchen and called up the stairs, "Gwen! Dinner!"
"Coming!" Gwen answered, emerging from her room.
As Mike stepped out with two more dishes, he caught sight of Gwen standing at the top of the stairs and sucked in a sharp breath. "Do you know what month it is, young lady?"
She was wearing a white dress.
Sure, the house wasn't cold, but just looking at her made him feel chilly.
"But this is my prettiest outfit!" Gwen pouted.
She followed Mike cautiously to the dining room.
Mike set the dishes down and gently tugged Gwen from behind him. "Clark, meet your sister—Gwen."
Gwen peeked out from behind Mike, her eyes wide as she greeted shyly, "Hi, big brother."
Clark gave her a warm smile and pulled out a small wooden figurine. "This is for you. I brought it back from Africa."
Gwen looked up at Mike for confirmation.
Mike nudged her out from behind him again. "Where's that wild energy of yours now? Acting all polite now, huh?"
Gwen: (Д)ノ
Don't say it out loud, bad Dad!
Seeing Gwen's adorable reaction, Clark chuckled. He stepped forward, knelt in front of her, and gently placed the wooden figure into her hands. Stroking her hair, he said softly, "You're adorable no matter what."
Gwen happily threw her arms around Clark's neck, flashing a playful grin at Mike.
Mike:
(Feeling like his little princess might be stolen away.)
He stretched out his hands, pressing gently on their heads. "Both of you, go upstairs and change clothes. You're not going to a ball."
Clark: "Dad, didn't you just say I look like I'm going to a job interview?"
"..."
Mike stared at him, speechless.
Clark and Gwen exchanged a glance and smiled as they headed upstairs.
"Ha ha."
Mike couldn't help but laugh as he watched their retreating figures.
The dinner perfectly showcased the harmonious relationship between siblings.
Clark and Gwen talked about his adventures while wandering the world. Gwen kept gasping in awe, and if Mike hadn't insisted that the little rascal go to bed, she might have clung to Clark all night.
After Gwen had gone to bed, father and son sat down for a while, chatting casually.
When Mike noticed Clark's distracted demeanor, he handed him a cup of tea. "Finish this, then we'll head out."
"Dad!" Clark was a little touched.
Mike sipped the tea leisurely. "It's not like we're going to sleep anytime soon. Let's go check it out. It won't take much time."
Clark nodded, finished the tea in one gulp, and looked at Mike with anticipation.
Mike smiled, then flicked his fingers, summoning a card.
Light scattered, and the card disappeared, leaving a swirling golden portal in its place.
Clark stepped through first, and Mike followed, pulling another card to set up a protective barrier around the house. He then stepped through the portal, arriving in the snow-covered landscape.
It was the midst of the polar night in the Arctic, but the sky was painted with vibrant auroras, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.
Mike looked up, a smile playing on his lips. "This is a good omen."
With that, Mike slowly began to rise, floating in the air, and turned to Clark with a grin. "Want to race?"
Clark smiled widely, bent his knees slightly, and took off with Mike, soaring toward their destination.
Whoosh!
The two shot into the air, carving a beautiful arc through the sky, breaking the sound barrier and picking up speed.
In the original storyline, Clark hadn't learned to fly yet, but in this world, Mike had already trained him, giving him the ability to fly. This training had helped Clark master flight during his time wandering outside.
They soon arrived above their destination. Though it felt like they could keep going, they quickly descended.
"There's something inside. I can't see through it."
Clark murmured, excitement flashing across his face.
Only certain special materials could block his super vision.
Mike nodded. "Let's get started."
Clark's eyes lit up, and his heat vision fired out, melting the thick ice.
A tunnel, tall enough for a person to walk through, appeared, and father and son walked in.
The ice was thick—over a hundred meters deep—but nothing could stand up to Clark's heat vision.
As the tunnel opened up, Clark's heat vision flickered out.
(End of Chapter)