Issue 1 Downtime

There was a knock at Christie and Tommy's door. Unexpected, but not insistent.

It was obviously dad.

"Hey, Dad, come on in." Christie said "How's it going?'

"Pretty good, pretty good.. Just seeing how you two are settling in." He replied, smiling and stepping in.

"Ok, I think." Christie said "Going down the stairs every time I need to shower kinda sucks, but it is what it is."

"Just like my first apartment." Stan said, smiling.

"Speaking of that, I brought two pairs of flip flops for you and Tommy for the trip downstairs to the showers. Safety's sake."

"Ok, ok. No ooky germs on bare feet." Christie said, trying to hide the fact that she secretly enjoyed his meddling.

Stan put down the paper bag containing the footwear by the door, which also contained a few other small items of fatherly doting.

"Are you ok with sharing a room with your little brother? The students aren't giving you a hard time, are they?" He asked, hesitantly.

"Nah, some of the guys gave me shit about being on the boy's floor, but they weren't mean about it. And they know I can kick their asses."

Stan's eyes went wide at that, but he grinned after a moment.

"Try not to hurt them too much, I'll need to teach them, eventually."

"Ok, ok, no permanent damage." Christie said, holding out her hand "Unbreakable pinky promise."

chuckling, he held up his own pinky in response. An ionic spark flashed as they they gripped their pinkys together.

"You two are growing up so fast.." He added, quietly.

"Yeah, Tommy seems too young to be in high school."

"he'd fit in better, if he'd just stop wearing the hat so much.. I think the actual magicians are starting to take offense..."

"You mean Raven?" Christie asked, rolling her eyes a bit.

"Raven? I'm not familiar with Raven. I'm thinking more of Dr. weaver, the Braddock estate, miss valentine.. People like that... I get uneasy about it sometimes."

"She's the other person who runs around in a pointy hat." Christie said "It isn't like the hat is hurting anyone. And he can turn lead into gold. Or he will, pretty soon."

Stan nodded, and smiled.

"He's scared he'll destroy the economy of the world. Keep looking out for him, Christy. Lets all look out for each other."

"I always look out for Tommy." Christie said "And you look out for me. I just wish...." she sighed.

Stan nodded, sadly.

He got up and hugged his daughter, a tear moistening his eye.

Christie hugged him tight "You need someone to look out for you."