Chapter Text
Uncie Vickie looks not-normal. Doesn’t look like himself. And he looks uncomfortable in the makeup. Or maybe it is just Papa’s glaring at him like he already failed. Lian would be uncomfortable too.
“No.” Is all Papa says before he goes to sit on the couch. This will never work. Lian hears from Papa’s mind, No one will buy it with Vic’s anxieties about disguises on missions.
Lian is a telepath. She has been one for years. Ever since… well… never mind. Lian has been one for a while now. Not long before she met Papa. Lian isn’t sure whether Mama ever knew, but maybe that is why she left. Why Lian can’t have stayed with her.
Mama had rescued Lian from those scientists, so Lian had thought that it was the end of that. But no. Mama quickly oh-gun-ised an ooting with Papa.
And then as soon as Lian’s back was turned, Mama disappeared. Papa had seemed shocked too, at the time, but he hadn’t seemed to be as sad as Lian. Of course not, why would he? He didn’t know Mama like Lian did!
But Papa now needed Mama. He had a mission from the Joostus Leeg. Or maybe it was the Titans? Either way, Papa needed to get close to a bad guy who wanted to fight everyone else. And to do that, he needed Lian to go to a fancy school and be good there.
Lian is happy to do so, but the school bored needs to meet Lian’s Papa and Mama. Papa had already tried calling Mama, but she didn’t answer. Guess she really didn’t want to speak to Lian after she became a telepath.
So that’s why Uncie Vickie is here, dressed in makeup and pretty dresses. To help Papa.
“I don’t understand why the Titans can’t just send you a ‘wife’.” Vickie says as he plops -heh, plops is a funny word- himself on the couch. So it was the Titans who gave Papa the mission. But Papa just sighs at the mention of them.
“Donna is still under surveillance, so she can’t do anything, Kori is dealing with something in Florida Keys or somewhere. Raven is… well she has something going on. And the JL refuses to help with our cases. So I need to either get you to dress up as a woman or outsource a wife for myself.”
Uncie Vickie flinches at the first option as he wipes away the makeup from his face. God, why can’t this be easier? They both think at the same time. Though, while Papa still sits in his sadness, Vickie quickly goes to thinking.
“Maybe be more open to who you get hitched with.” He says with a rising eyebrow. Maybe you should be more open to- hey, that is actually not a bad idea. Papa thinks. Though Uncie Vickie quickly takes back the idea as he looks at the stack of paper on the coffee table.
“Yeah… forget I suggested that.”
Papa stands up, suddenly happy again.
“Thanks for the help, Vic, really appreciate it. Now, I need to get Lian some nice clothes for her interview. Hopefully, you can find someone who might be willing to be married quickly by the time I return.”
Vickie sighs sadly as me and Papa put on our shoes and leave the house.
“Is Palomares gonna be there?” Lian asks excitedly as she skips around Papa. He laughs quietly at her before answering.
“Maybe. But she might not be. So don’t get your hopes up.”
Lian becomes sad, before her mood rises at the sight of the Watch. She runs towards, only slightly hearing Papa’s sigh. She absolutely does not have a hard time opening the door. The bell rings above her ears as Lian whips her head from side to side, looking for Palomares.
Her smile only grows at the sight of the old woman.
“Palomares!” Lian yells happily as she runs around the Madame. Like every time Lian sees her, Palomares chuckles. As the old woman starts to walk over to the small wooden stool, Lian just continues what she is doing in that direction.
Papa tries to follow, but Palomares stops him.
“No need for you over here. Maybe go browse some suit styles over near the counter. I will come get you when we are done here.” She says with a smile. Papa shrugs -is that what people call it when someone gives up and lifts their shoulders for a second?- and goes over to the counter.
Mr David came to stand where Papa was a moment before. Except he is wearing a smile.
“Ok so we are just going to measure you. Do you what that means?” She seems so young. She probably doesn’t. Lian hears Mr David think. “It means that we are going to check how long and tall you are. We will then use those numbers to make you a nice, pretty dress. Okay?”
Lian’s nods as both Mr David and Palomares pull oot rolls of what seem to be yellow tape. Palomares stretches hers to the heigh of Lian, while Mr David stretches his from one side of Lian’s hips to the other. Hearing the chatter of Ms Charlotte and a stranger, Lian turns around quickly enough to see Papa looking at a man who must have been talking to Ms Charlotte.
“We’re done!” Call out Palomares and Mr David. Jumping up and down a bit, Lian rushes over to Papa, causing Mr David and Palomares to chuckle.
“Papa Papa Papa, I got meas-! Who is he?” Lian starts to say before being distracted again. The man Papa had been talking to Papa.
“Just another customer here.” Comes the answer.
Oh shit. I almost asked out a married man. Sounds the thoughts of the man. Heh. He thought a bad word. But the man isn’t worried about that. What he is worried about is… A married man with a daughter. If the man’s wife had heard my earlier question, I would not have judged the woman if she attempted to attack me.
An attack?! That’s what he is afraid of?! Wait… from Mama? Wait… was he gonna ask Papa oot?
God. I wouldn’t have forgiven myself either. In no way was it right for me to proposition a husband dutiful enough to take his daughter to the tailor shop. Even if I could defend himself. Being a spy and all.
Lian can feel her mouth open into a wide smile. So cool! If this super cool spy man marries Papa, then Papa can do his mission!
God, and I was going to ask the man to go to a party with me. So stupid!
Yeah! And Mr Cool Spy needs Papa as well! Lian already has a plan on how to make it work.
“WAAAHHHH! I miss Mama!” Lian starts to scream as she runs around the Watch. “I miss Mama so much!”
“…Is your wife away?” Mr Super Cool Spy quietly asks Papa.
“No…” Papa starts to reply. “My wife… she actually passed away two years ago. I’m just doing my best to raise Lian the best I can by myself.”
Heh. Papa is a big liar. But Papa’s lie helps Lian. She smirks. Both Papa and Mr Super Cool Spy are thinking about how to ask the other. But Mr Super Cool Spy says it first.
“If you wouldn’t mind…Would I be able to ask something of you?”