The golden glow of dawn spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the sprawling condo on the outskirts of Metropolis, bathing the oversized bed in a warm, honeyed light. Ben Brown stirred, his limbs tangled in a chaotic sprawl of powerful, sculpted bodies. At eighteen, newly enhanced with superhuman abilities he barely understood, he was still adjusting to the surreal reality of waking up surrounded by his family—his fierce, larger-than-life moms, Wonder Woman (Diana) and Nubia, along with the rest of their unorthodox clan. His face was pressed into Diana’s shoulder, her arm draped protectively over him, while Nubia’s leg pinned his own in a casual, possessive lock.
“Morning, clingy koala,” Nubia’s rich, teasing voice rumbled as she propped herself on an elbow, her dark eyes glinting with mischief. Her toned frame gleamed in the sunlight, every muscle a testament to her Amazonian heritage. “You planning to latch onto Diana all day, or are you gonna give the rest of us a turn?”
Ben’s cheeks flushed as he scrambled to untangle himself, his voice a mumbled mess. “S-sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
“Oh, look at this,” Artemis chimed in, her sharp smirk cutting through the air as she leaned against the headboard, her fiery red hair a wild cascade. “Our little nerd’s gone and turned into a buff teddy bear overnight. When did you get all these muscles, Benny-boy? I’m almost tempted to cuddle you myself.”
“Artemis, behave,” Diana said with a low chuckle, her voice a soothing command as she ruffled Ben’s messy brown hair. Her piercing blue eyes softened, though her presence remained regal, unyielding. “He’s still getting used to his new strength. And his new... everything.”
Ben ducked his head, mortified, his newly enhanced physique feeling like a costume he hadn’t yet learned to wear. “I just... I missed you guys. Five months in that facility, I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”
Power Girl, lounging at the foot of the bed with her arms crossed under her iconic chest, rolled her eyes with a dramatic flair. “Oh, come off it, kid. It’s been, what, three days since we busted you out? You’re acting like we left you in a dungeon for a decade.” Her tone was sharp, but the quirk of her lips betrayed her affection. “We missed you too, y’know. Even if you’re a total sap about it.”
“Leave him be, Kara,” Nubia said, her grin widening as she poked Ben’s arm. “He’s allowed to be a little mushy after all that. But seriously, kid, you’re gonna have to peel yourself off Diana eventually. We’ve got training today, and I’m not carrying your sorry butt to the field.”
Ben managed a sheepish smile, but his mind was still foggy with the lingering paranoia of his captivity. His hand instinctively slipped under the bed, fingers brushing the worn leather cover of his journal. He tugged it free, clutching it to his chest like a lifeline. The sudden movement didn’t go unnoticed.
Artemis arched a brow, her curiosity piqued. “What’s that, Benny? Got some secret love letters in there? Or is it a diary full of naughty thoughts?”
Ben snapped the journal shut, his voice sharper than he intended. “Don’t. Don’t ever read it. I’m serious.”
“Ooh, Mr. Mysterious over here,” Nubia purred, leaning closer with a predatory glint in her eye. “Now you’ve got me curious. What’s so hush-hush you’ve gotta guard it with your life? I might just sneak a peek when you’re not looking.”
“Nubia,” Diana warned, though her lips twitched with amusement. “Let the boy have his secrets. For now.”
Ben exhaled, his shoulders tense. “I just... I need a minute to clear my head. I’m gonna step out to the forest before breakfast. Don’t let the food get cold, okay?”
“Better hurry, then,” Power Girl called after him as he shuffled out of the room, journal still tucked under his arm. “I’m not saving you any bacon if you dawdle!”
---
The forest behind the condo was a quiet sanctuary, the air crisp with the scent of pine. Ben leaned against a gnarled oak, his journal open on his lap, pen hovering over the page. His thoughts tumbled out in a messy scrawl, a mix of awe and guilt.
*Training with Power Girl and Supergirl yesterday was... intense. Their strength, their speed—it’s unreal. And okay, fine, their... everything else. Supergirl’s distracting curves when she’s zipping around at mach speed. Power Girl’s impossible assets when she’s barking orders. What am I even writing?!* He scratched out the last lines with a frantic scribble, his face burning. *No. Stop. They’re family. Respect them. Focus on controlling the super speed. And the other stuff. The... side effects.* He refused to elaborate, even in private, on the humiliating spontaneous releases that came with his unchecked powers. *Just focus on training. Be better.*
He snapped the journal shut, taking a deep breath to steady himself before heading back to the condo.
---
The kitchen was a lively chaos of clinking plates and overlapping voices as Ben slid into his seat at the breakfast table. The spread was a feast—pancakes, bacon, fruit, and enough coffee to fuel an army. Diana sat at the head, her posture perfect even in a casual robe, while Nubia and Artemis bantered over who’d cooked the best eggs. Power Girl and Supergirl were mid-argument about some aerial maneuver, and Cassie Sandsmark—bold, brash, and unapologetically herself—watched Ben with a glint in her eye that made his stomach flip.
“You okay, Ben?” Cassie asked, her voice cutting through the noise as she leaned in close, her blonde hair brushing his shoulder. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Or maybe you’re just hiding something from us. What happened in that facility, anyway?”
Ben swallowed, his fork pausing mid-air. “I’ll... I’ll talk about it after we eat. Promise.”
Cassie’s lips curled into a smirk, and before he could react, she gripped his chin with a firm hand and planted a sudden, searing kiss on his lips. The table erupted into chaos as she pulled back, her eyes gleaming with triumph. “About damn time I did that,” she declared, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Ben froze, his face a blazing shade of crimson as his brain short-circuited. “That... that was my first kiss,” he stammered, barely audible over the hoots and hollers from the others.
Harley Quinn, perched on the counter with a piece of bacon dangling from her fingers, cackled wildly. “Oh, sugar, you’ve got virgin vibes for days! Look at him blushin’—it’s adorable!”
Starfire, her orange skin glowing with amusement, clapped her hands. “This is most joyous! The first kiss is a rite of passage on Tamaran! But Cassie, you must teach him the ways of passion now. It is your duty!”
“Back off, Star, I’ve got this,” Cassie shot back with a wink, her hand still lingering near Ben’s jaw. “Stick with me, Ben. I’ll show you how to keep up with the big leagues.”
Diana raised a brow, her tone dry but amused. “Cassie, don’t break him on his first day back. He’s still adjusting.”
“Oh, I’ll be gentle,” Cassie replied, her grin anything but. “For now.”
Ben sank lower in his chair, torn between mortification and a strange, electric thrill. Breakfast had just gotten a whole lot more complicated.
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