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*****
Night fell upon the dining room of the Kent residence.
A rich, heavy aroma washed through the air like waves against the shore. Clark and the other three "offenders" were currently positioned in the corner, each balanced on one leg in a grueling half-squat. Watching the gourmet feast being laid out on the table, their legs trembled uncontrollably, and they couldn't stop swallowing as their mouths watered.
"Smells good, doesn't it?" Mike flashed a bright smile at the four of them.
To ensure today's dinner was unforgettable, Mike had specifically used an Ability Card to elevate the meal to a level of flavor and fragrance that was borderline supernatural.
The four of them nodded frantically.
"If it smells good, then take a deep breath! Enjoy the scent," Mike said cheerfully.
"That's right! Take it all in! Because there's none for you tonight!" Little Lamb added, baring his teeth at them as he basked in his father's reflected authority.
"Good job, Lamb!" Mike praised. "Keep a close eye on them. Don't let their feet touch the ground!"
"Yes, sir!" Little Lamb gave a crisp salute. Once Mike disappeared back into the kitchen, the boy turned a fierce glare toward the group. "Stay steady, all of you!"
The four adults looked back at him with icy glints in their eyes, a dangerous aura beginning to radiate from them. Little Lamb's face went pale. He looked toward the kitchen with a pained expression and opened his mouth: "Dad! They're—"
"Shh! Shhh!" The four hissed, eyes darting frantically.
Little Lamb tilted his head, a cunning smirk playing on his lips. "If you try to bully me, I'm calling Dad!"
Their lips twitched as they let out muffled huffs of annoyance.
"What's with those faces?" Little Lamb pouted. "Maybe I should ask Dad to add another hour to your time!"
"Don't you dare!"
"You're ruthless, kid!"
"Do you ever want to eat snacks again?"
"Once this is over, you're dead meat, little guy!"
"Oh?" Little Lamb looked at Clark—the one who made the death threat—and reached down to pull the Kryptonite spear closer to him.
Clark's face turned green. Normally, this kind of physical punishment was child's play for him, until Mike placed a Kryptonite spear right in front of him to level the playing field. Out of everyone, he was suffering the most. Interestingly, Clark noticed that little Lamb didn't seem to have a strong reaction to the Kryptonite, which filled him with a spark of envy.
Oren sat at the dining table, watching the scene with a joyful heart. Seeing his father in such a predicament made him beam with a radiance he hadn't felt in years. He had never seen this side of the Man of Steel. Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone and snapped a few photos of the "statues" in the corner.
Just then, Raven emerged from the kitchen carrying a dish. She couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. When the four looked at her with pleading eyes, she simply shook her head with a smile and headed back for the next tray.
A few minutes later, after all the dishes were served, Mike invited little Lamb and Oren to sit. He warmly piled food onto their plates while shooting cold, sideways glances at Clark's group.
"Alright, that's enough," Raven said, rolling her eyes at Mike's theatrics. "They've been punished enough." She beckoned to the four in the corner. "Come on, sit down and eat!"
Joy flashed across their faces, but they still checked with Mike first. Mike let out a small huff and ignored them, which was all the permission they needed. They scrambled to the table with cheeky grins, using their first scoops of food to serve Mike in a blatant attempt at flattery.
Mike's lips curled upward despite himself, and with a wave of his hand, he vanished the Kryptonite spear. The group let out a collective sigh of relief. The storm had passed. However, as they felt their legs continuing to quiver under the table, they shared a wry, painful smile.
Suddenly, three pairs of sharp eyes locked onto Gwen. Gwen froze, offering her brothers a strained, awkward smile. I really didn't mean for it to happen like this! Who could have known Oren was Clark's son?
"Gwen," Clark said with a look of mock grief. "Could you try not to throw your brothers under the bus next time?"
Gwen nodded obediently, flashing a toothy grin. "Next time, I'll clarify the situation before I contact you guys."
Eric looked like he had a toothache. "It's better if you just don't contact us at all."
"Exactly," Charles agreed. "I feel like you'd sell us out for a laugh any day of the week."
Gwen: *-_-* "Oh, come on, you're exaggerating!"
Little Lamb giggled. "Sister, this is your second major 'Oolong' moment!" He began counting on his fingers. "First, there was the thing about Uncle Steve not being able to have kids, which nearly started an Avengers Civil War. Now it's the Oren thing, which almost started a Family War." The boy's eyes sparkled as he looked at Gwen. "When you think about it, you're actually amazing!"
Gwen: *(╯°Д°)╯* She shot him a side-eye, her chopsticks moving like a blur as she snatched his favorite piece of Sweet and Sour Pork right out of his bowl. She popped it into her mouth and gave him a triumphant grin as he wailed in despair. "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!"
"Give me back my meat!" Lamb cried out.
Clark and the others chuckled. Remembering how the little guy had acted earlier, they all extended their "wicked" chopsticks toward the serving platter of Sweet and Sour Pork.
Little Lamb's eyes widened. "Get away from my pork!"
The dinner table instantly descended into a lively, chaotic scramble. Watching this, Oren laughed until his sides ached. He couldn't remember the last time he had been this happy.
"That's enough! Eat up! We have important things to do tomorrow," Mike said firmly. The group immediately settled down, their expressions turning serious. It was only at home that Clark and the others allowed their childish sides to show; to the rest of the world, they were the pillars of strength and reliability.
They all nodded. They would all be there tomorrow, for it was a day of immense significance for every superhero.
Oren's expression shifted. As he began to wonder what the event was, Mike looked at him. "You're coming with us tomorrow too."
Oren blinked. "Is that... appropriate?"
"There's nothing inappropriate about it," Mike said calmly. "You're part of this family."
Oren's heart swelled with a sense of belonging. "I understand. But... what exactly is happening?"
"It's about the Superhero Registration Act," Clark explained, giving Oren a quick rundown of the situation.
"Thank you, Dad," Oren said naturally. Clark let out a small cough, nearly choking on his food. 'Dad'... I'm still not used to that.
"Hey! Since you're Big Brother Clark's son, doesn't that make me your Aunt?" Gwen asked, her eyes sparkling. A nephew this big? How fun!
Little Lamb pointed to himself excitedly. "And that makes me your Uncle!"
Oren rubbed the back of his head with a wry smile and nodded to both of them. Logically, he couldn't argue.
Gwen gave him a cheeky grin. "Don't worry, we'll look out for you from now on!"
"Yeah! We've got your back!" Little Lamb chimed in. "I'm actually very powerful, you know!" As he spoke, a flicker of flame suddenly ignited in his eyes.
It was a real, living flame. Mike paused, noticing the shift. "Did you just awaken a new ability?"
"Ah! You saw it!" Little Lamb stuck out his tongue. "I got a little upset when they were teasing me earlier, so... but don't worry! I've already got it under control!"
Unless a new power was so immense it overwhelmed him, little Lamb usually mastered his gifts instantly. It was a testament to his incredible talent and years of practice.
Oren was stunned. He can just awaken powers like that?
"Don't be surprised," Gwen said with a hint of envy. "You'll get used to it once you've been here long enough."
Charles shook his head with a smile. "That's nothing. I remember when he was little, he once awakened an ability just from sneezing."
Oren: *( Д ) ノ*
"Honestly, we've lost track of how many powers he has now," Eric added, feeling a similar pang of envy.
Little Lamb chuckled and, mimicking Gwen's earlier gesture, patted Oren on the shoulder. "So, trust me, I can protect you! No matter how scary your world is, I've got you covered!"
Oren froze for a moment, then a warmth spread through his chest. He nodded. This is home. A place of warmth and security.
"Hey! It's all gone!" Little Lamb's proud expression collapsed as he realized Gwen and the others had finished off the last of his favorite dish while he was talking. He looked at them with tragic indignation. "You guys are the worst!"
The room erupted in laughter. The petty revenge for the "statue" incident was complete. Mike looked at his large, chaotic family and a smile spread across his face. This was what he fought to protect.
---
Only a day had passed since the battle at the UN and the Terrigen Mist incident, but for many, it felt like a century. Governments, superheroes, and ordinary citizens alike were all waiting for today.
*The Official Signing Day of the Superhero Registration Act.*
The eyes of the world were fixed on this ceremony. Whether the act was signed or not, today would go down in history. Due to the destruction of the UN headquarters during the battle, the ceremony was moved to the "New White House."
The New White House was a landmark structure built after the original was destroyed by the Kent family. Situated directly across from the ruins of the old White House, the two buildings served as a permanent reminder of the day Planet Kent arrived.
Currently, the plaza in front of the New White House was packed. Reporters with their "long-range lenses and short-range flashes" had arrived early, aiming their equipment at the center of the stage in excited anticipation. Nothing gets a reporter's blood pumping like a world-changing scoop.
"I wish this were an exclusive," one reporter muttered, earning a round of scornful looks from his peers. An exclusive? On an event affecting the whole world? Keep dreaming.
"We're going to see so many heroes today! It's thrilling!"
"Yeah! Iron Man is my favorite."
"Because he always creates a massive headline?"
"Haha! Exactly! Reporters love heroes like him!"
A few reporters chatted excitedly. "By the way, do you think the heroes will actually sign?" one asked.
Immediately, the crowd split into opposing views. As they began trying to convince each other, a journalist whispered, "Shh! The international delegates are arriving!"
The press corps snapped to attention. One by one, delegates from various nations, dressed in sharp suits, filed into the venue and took their seats. The atmosphere grew heavy with tension.
Next was the arrival of the heroes.
They hadn't confirmed whether they would sign, but they were definitely attending. Everyone watched with bated breath.
The ceremony was presided over by General Ross. Having participated in the battle two days prior—and being one of the few government officials to survive—Ross had been propped up as a hero who "courageously fought the Inhuman conspiracy." The superheroes hadn't bothered to debunk this; after all, Ross was the last shred of dignity the government had left.
"Today is a momentous day!" Ross began, his voice solemn. "The question of superheroes has long troubled us all. They are the heroes who protect us, but the lack of control during their battles brings threats and complications. The Superhero Registration Act is the perfect solution. It provides oversight, ensuring they can protect us more effectively while minimizing the risks they pose."
Around the world, people watched with mixed emotions—some in agreement, some in protest. But their opinions didn't matter. Only the choice of the heroes mattered.
Finally, the superheroes entered the venue.
Captain America, Iron Man, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Hulk, Wanda, Pietro, Falcon, Winter Soldier, Vision, War Machine... minus Thor, who was currently off-world, the Avengers were all present. They were joined by the Fantastic Four and several newly emerged heroes.
The heroes took their seats, their expressions grave. The atmosphere in the hall became almost suffocating. Then came the most critical moment: the signing.
Staff members approached, placing copies of the Act in front of each hero. The Avengers and the Fantastic Four looked at the documents with calm indifference. In contrast, the newer heroes looked restless, their eyes constantly darting toward the Avengers, clearly waiting for their lead.
The world watched, nerves on edge.
"They'll sign, right? If they don't, they'll be treated like criminals!"
"No, they won't. They won't let themselves become 'government weapons'!"
Everyone held their breath. Most assumed at least some would sign. It seemed impossible for everyone to refuse.
But to the shock of the entire world, the Avengers and the Fantastic Four reached out and calmly, simultaneously, pushed the documents away.
The crowd gasped.
(End of Chapter)