Chapter Text
“JEN, WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING HURRY THE FUCK UP”
Time, all they needed was time. Jennifer rushed upstairs, throwing clothes into the duffle bag AGAIN . She listened to Cindy as she was yelling and stabbing whatever was outside the house. It was the fourth hideout they had stayed in, and each time they moved, somehow evil followed. She didn’t know how they found their new hideout, but time was of the essence in trying to get her and her family out of here. Wiping the sweat off her forehead, she had no time to lose; she zipped up her suit, trying to harness as much energy as she could. Placing her hand on her lower abdomen, she wasn’t at full power, as she growing a new life. Her body used her power to protect the baby at all costs.
“JENNIFER, THE KIDS!”
She heard a scream from the other bedroom, she dropped everything and ran to the noise. Seeing an entity running toward her children, she used her power to create an electric ball, aiming at them. She raced over to her twin, who was bawling her eyes out, It was now or never. She wipes their tears and races over to the drawers, grabbing any clothes she can get her hands on into the duffle bag.
“Mama? What’s happening?” Jennifer turned around to her oldest, her baby girl, Jayla, walking up to her. Not too far behind is the youngest twin, her brother Jayden.
Jennifer took a deep breath, crouched down to help her daughter relax. She could feel fear inside of them. Who could blame them? What they were fighting against was stronger than her; it was a war they had been fighting for years. “We have to move, baby, your auntie is fighting them right now, if we hurry, we can move onto the next safe house.”
“But I want to go home,” Jayden starts tearing up as Jennifer hugs them both.
“I know, I want to go home too. For right now, just safe houses, okay?” Jen kisses their forehead, she senses someone is coming in her direction. Her electric sense went off, she grabbed her kids, put them into the closet, and gave them a blanket to help calm them down. “DO NOT open this door for anyone else except JSA, okay?” They nodded, tears fell down their cheek, and Jen quickly kissed them on the forehead before closing the closet.
Jen took a deep breath, closed her eyes, faced the bedroom door, and hid behind the bed, catching them off guard. One. Two. Three. She heard the door open, getting ready to electrical them but stopped seeing them. The door then swung open, and instantly a wave of relief washed over Jennifer. Her stance faltered as she took sight of her husband, Brandon. Visibly relaxed, Jennifer calmed down and ran over to him. “Brandon!”
“Jen!” Brandon rushed over to Jennifer, hugging her. “Where are the twins?”
Jen pulled away, going to the drawers, and she grabbed their clothes, stuffing them into a duffle bag. She hadn’t finished packing since they were in a rush after all. “They’re in the closet, they’re scared one of the entities was in here earlier.”
“Yeah, I heard. Cindy was yelling.” Brandon replied, and he rushed over to the closest, knocking it slowly, not to startle them. “Hey, I’m here.”
“Daddy?” Jayden asked softly, Brandon opened the door, and insanely, they jumped into his arms. “What’s going on?”
“The big monster is attacking us right now, but don’t worry, Auntie Cindy, YoYo, and Nissa are helping to protect us,” Brandon said. Jennifer smiled, seeing how great he was at calming them down. The twins were a carbon copy of him, his hair, his eyes, his smile, and his nose, but they did have Jennifer's personality and attitude. That is where she took pride in the most. “Is TC at the next safe house?”
“I don’t know yet, he hasn’t responded since I told him we were getting attacked,” Jennifer replied. She went to the bag to pack stuff, noise, and anything they needed on the road. Her mind traveled to the last conversation, the JSA and the Outsiders were spread out all over America, they were trying to figure out ways to stop the world from ending. Literally.
“We’re running out of time,” Anissa said through the coms, they heard loud clapping outside while Cindy was too busy yelling.
Brandon got up and opened the window using his power to build a slide for an escape route. He turned to Jennifer, who finished packing, and she threw the duffle bag outside. She faced the twins, she could see the anxiety in their eyes, and her heart broke seeing them like this. She felt shadows on the floor, the wind at their feet. Brandon ran out of the room to help out with the fight downstairs.
“Mama, I don’t like this,” Jayla whimpered, clinging to her brother.
“It’s too loud,” Jayden cried. He held his hand to his head, trying to block out the noise.
Jennifer went to the closet, grabbed their jackets, she helped them put them on their jackets zipping them up. She wanted to keep them as warm as possible. “Hey. I need you to be the strongest person ever right now, just let your daddy and me handle it. Just stay close to each other, okay?”
The twins nodded, listening to their mom. They could hear loud noises downstairs, the floor started shaking, and they were in the house. Jen placed her hands on the floor using her powers to help out as much as she could. Her mind was racing, she saw tears falling down their face, and a tear fell from hers.
They heard an explosion, and in an instant, Jennifer made a force field around them as they ran to her. A piece of the roof broke off and crumbled on top of them. Jen used her power to deflect any other pieces falling off. Brandon was using his powers like crazy. Holding onto their mom, Jennifer felt her senses go off and turn around, zapping whoever was at the window.
“Guys, we have to hurry. I don’t know how long we could hold them.” Yolanda said,
In a split second, a huge explosion sounded from their front door entrance. “Cindy, stand back!” Anissa yelled thunder stomp, stopping more from entering the house. Her power let a wave of air push them far away, She was determined to protect her friends and family.
Jennifer could hear them yelling downstairs, trying to focus on what they were saying. Jayla and Jayden were holding onto each other, not letting go. Jennifer could see their soft eyes, afraid of what was ahead.
“I don’t like this anymore,” Jayden cried into his sister's shoulders. Jayla started crying, holding onto him.
“Hey, hey,” Jen got down on one knee to wipe their tears. She tried to think of anything to help ease their anxiety. She thought of one thing, one thing her dad always said to bring her peace. “Where is the future?”
Jayla and Jayden hesitated; they took a deep breath before looking at their mom. It was a common phrase their grandfather would say to help them whenever times were rough. “Right here,” they cried. Jen could see their hands trembling.
“And whose life is this?” She said,
“Mine!” Jayla points in the air, Jennifer looks at Jayden, who is shy, but he lets out a small sigh.
Jen smiled at her son, “And what are you gonna do with it?” She held onto both of their hands as they started feeling better. She could see the hope in their eyes repeating after her.
“Live it by any means necessary.” They said in unison, Jen sniffled, playing with both of their hair. They saw shadows crawling onto the floor space. Jen latched onto her kids, carefully watching the shadow to see if it was a friend or a foe.
“Kids, hold onto Mama,” Jennifer commanded. Jayla and Jayden held onto her as she used her electrokinesis to aim at the shadow before it quickly faded away, and a human jumped in front of her.
“No, no. No need to use your powers on me, ma’am,” The shade appeared in front of her, and Jennifer glared at Richard Swift, known as the “ Shade ”. Dressed in his casual black suit with a Monopoly top on his head.
“Mama, who is this?” Jayla said, popping her head behind Jennifer.
“It’s a friend of some sort,” Jennifer rolled her eyes as Shade smiled and waved at the twins. “Call me Ma’am again, I will electrocute your ass.” She punches his shoulders, the Shade rubbing his shoulder.
“Aye-up lads, I was here to help but I'm debating that right now,” The Shade eyed Jennifer, Jennifer held her guard up but ignored it. Shade smiled standing in front of them, he looked and he could tell the place was shit. There were ceiling pieces all over the floor, cracks on the wall, glass was everywhere, and everyone could tell the house wasn’t going to last long. “Miss Withmore asked me to assist the JSA and give you some time.”
“How much time do we have?”Jen asks,
“Not much,” The Shade replied,
Another piece of the ceiling falls, and Jen uses her powers to break it into fine dust over Shade's head. Shade slowly grabbed his top hat off his head, shaking the debris off. His face displays disgust, seeing his all-black attire turn white within seconds, shaking the dust off his suit, he used his powers to form a portal on the ground at the end of Brandon's slide.
“GUYS WE HAVE TO GO!” Cindy Burnman yelled, running into the room and shooting her wrist blades at the entity. The entity consists of shadow demons, easy to defeat, but they are constantly spawning all over. It was becoming too massive as more and more kept popping up. “You got the portal running, old man?”
Shade scoffs, pointing to the window, and Cindy rolls her eyes, seeing the portal down by the slide. She gestured for the kids to come with her, but they were reluctant and stood by their mom. Cindy sighed, trying to grab their hand, but they ran behind Jennifer; they didn’t want to leave without their mom and dad.
“Mama, I want Daddy.” Jayla pouted, Cindy looked at the door, and right on cue, everyone started entering the room. They close the door, grab the dresser, and block it. Brandon's eyes turn white as he uses his powers, trying to block them off to kill some time.
“Well, if this is everyone, we must get going, shall we?” Shade starts walking off and uses his shadow to exit, leaving all of them behind. They knew they had a few minutes before the portal got sealed off. Yolanda was the first to use the slide Brandon made and enter the portal to the next location.
Brandon pulled Jennifer aside, as Cindy and Anissa made sure they got everything. “I used my powers to block off the entrance to the room and used TC security to aim at them to kill some time. Jen, I need you to take the kids to safety now!”
“What are you planning?” Jen said, her brown eyes looked at Brandon. She listened to everything he said, she couldn’t leave him.
“I’m giving you guys time to escape…”
With just one look into his eyes, Jennifer was already expecting what he was planning, “Are you serious about sacrificing yourself right now? You crazy? I am not leaving you! My mom and dad are dead, I’m not losing you too.”
Brandon shook her head, “You have to!” Tears started filling his eyes. “You are faster and stronger than I, which means you can use your powers and protect our kids.” Brandon walked over, putting his hand on her shoulders. “Look, Jen, I know you want to disagree about this plan, but how long do you think it would take till they find us again?”
“I’m not fucking leaving you!” Jen yelled, which brought the attention of Cindy and Anissa, who reluctantly looked at each other. Jennifer turned around, seeing Cindy and Anissa looking down. This was their plan all along. “You two knew about this? You didn’t even tell me?”
“Look, Jen, I agree this plan is crazy, but we need as much distance and fewer shadow demons following us as possible.” Anissa reasoned that they had discussed the plan last minute when they were fighting downstairs. Cindy had a guilty look on her face, even though she didn’t agree with the plan, but their main priority is safety for the kids and themselves.
“Why?” Jennifer whispered, grabbing his trembling hands.
Brandon's heart just broke into a million pieces, he didn’t want to stay behind. Brandon gave her a sad smile and looked at their kids made his heart break even more. What he was doing was a sacrifice that could end his life.
“How can I do this without you?…” He placed his hand on her lower belly, he wished there was a time when superheroes and supervillains didn’t exist, and they could live in peace. Brandon cupped Jen's face for one last kiss; her kiss let out a small electric spark, and he smiled once he pulled away.
The kiss was the last reminder of everything they had been through, from his first day at Garfield High to witnessing her breaking into his apartment to getting married and having twins. Her laugh, her smile, her light saved him from a dark place, and he would do anything for her. For Jennifer, it reminded her of all the times he was there for her. Brandon was the first person she wanted to know more about, and she felt more curious, wondering how their power worked. He can absorb her powers and doesn’t feel a thing, loves her the way she is, flaws and all. Heavily flawed. He was her rock, just as she was his light.
“I love you,” He said, Jen nodded slowly, breaking down and turning away as he went on with his kids. Brandon gave a quick kiss on the forehead to both of them. He would remember them being so clingy when they were just born.
Cindy said, ruining a family moment, “We have to go.”
The house starts shaking a little more, and the twins start crying, running towards their dad, but Anissa and Cindy grab one twin and jump out the window. They slide down right into the portal, unsure where it would go. They had a duty, and it was to protect their godchildren. Jen stood by the window as Brandon used his power to fight the shadow demons. Jen ran to him, giving him one last hug. Brandon laid his forehead on hers, and they spent their final moments together.
“Bianca,” Brandon said as he looked at Jennifer's lower abdomen. Jen was barely showing at 4 months. Jennifer's tears swell her eyes as Brandon places his hand on top of the baby. “That’s the name I had for our baby girl.”
Jen sniffles, “Bianca… It is.” They felt another loud bang trying to break through the door. “I love you,”
“I love you, too,” He replied as he watched her jump out the window and enter the portal. He stood there waiting until the portal disappeared. Wiping the tears from his face, he’s alone against the shadow demons, he feels so much rage. Never felt angrier in his entire life, and he grew up with no family. His eyes turn white as the ground starts shaking. “Welcome to Hell Bitch!” He said as he went first against every shadow demon.
Jennifer starts crying as she exits the portal and into the new safe house. She was there on the ground bawling her eyes out, knowing she just left her husband there to die, and she couldn’t do much about it. She slams her fist onto the ground as her twins start running into her arms. They all cried together, it was just the three of them against the world.
For now.
Jefferson Pierce, renowned father, husband, principal, and superhero, sat in his living room reading the newspaper that had been dropped off this morning. He had one leg over his other leg while sipping on a cup of coffee he had made that morning. It was a peaceful morning to noon, he had just finished his meetings about what they could do to improve testing scores at Garfield. His oldest daughter works as a scientist with her mom, his wife, and his youngest daughter is at college studying to get her teaching degree.
Everything was going well, Freeland is well… Freeland but the citizens felt safer as Black Lightning, Thunder, and Lightning were there to protect them. With the help of Gambi and TC, they were able to stop crime and lend a hand to superheroes across the state if needed. Taking another sip, he here’s footsteps coming down the hall. He turned his head and saw his ex-wife, now remarried, Lynn Stewart. She was dressed in a simple business casual outfit. A blue dress with black heels, her lab coat on her arm with her new Prada purse Anissa bought for her on her birthday slung on her left shoulder.
“Ahh, I see you brewed coffee.” Lynn smiles, she grabs a cup from the cabinet, pouring the remaining coffee into her thermos. She smells the coffee as it has a rich, dark roast aroma of the hazelnut flavor Jen bought. “I love the new coffee Jen bought, it smells amazing.”
“I agree, I thought I wouldn’t like it at first, but it definitely does its job,” Jeff said, he placed his mug on the coaster and folded his newspaper, placing it gently nearby. He stood up, making his way towards Lynn.
Jeff went to greet her, kissing her cheek before sitting on the stool by the island. Lynn opens the fridge, getting the container of food she packed last night. It was vegetarian fried rice and grilled pork belly that Grace and Anissa cooked for dinner last night. Jeff made himself a reminder to eat some for lunch later.
“What are your plans for the day?” It was a simple Thursday in the middle of July. He pulled out his phone as Lynn finished packing her lunch. Jeff checked his schedule, wondering what else he had for the day.
“Not much, just a few more meetings before I stop by the sanctum to check on Gambi. He’s been working on upgrades for our suits.”
boop
The couple jumped in, surprised at the random noise upstairs. As they heard many things crashing down. Jefferson and Lynn heard a loud crash, wondering where it could come from. Both raising concerns, Jefferson went up the stairs slowly with Lynn following behind. He carefully walked up the stairs, ready to blast any intruder.
“Is Jennifer home?” Jeff whispered to Lynn, and she shook her head no. Jeff's eyes light up blue as he walks closer to the common area upstairs. They saw no one in the lounge but heard a noise coming from Jennifer's bedroom. “If she isn’t here, then who is it?”
“I don’t know,” Lynn took a steady breath, grabbing the baseball bat nearby. They heard a low whisper coming from the room. Jeff raised his eyebrow, hearing little kids?
“Are we here?” Jayden asked, looking around and seeing the bedroom in pink.
“I don’t know, Mama said she’ll be here.” Jayla pouted; they both were terrified.
“I miss Daddy,” Jayden starts tearing up. They both sat there in the middle of the bed, looking around. It was different, Jayden clutching onto Jayla as Jayla slowly moved off the bed. Jayden slowly followed behind her.
In a second, Jefferson opens the door to see a set of twins no more than five years old in the middle of the room. The twins had a small backpack each on them, they were covered in blood with tears in their eyes. They were startled by the sudden noises, and they hugged each other before squinting their eyes, wondering who their attacker could be. Lynn stood there flabbergasted. How did the kids end up in their house?
“Kids?”
Jefferson looked at each other, he noticed there were dried blood stains on both of them. “Lynn, they’re hurt.”
The twins saw Jeff and Lynn walk closer, into their field of vision, and they studied them. Eyes widened, and they realized it was their grandparents who wasted no time running towards them.
“GRANDMA!” “GRANDPA!” The twins frown and turn to relief, seeing their grandparents. Jayden went to Lynn, and Jayla hugged Jefferson's leg.
“Grandpa?” Jefferson stared at his wife with confusion. He stood there, lost; he didn't even know these kids. “Um, I don’t think you’re going to work today.”
Lynn chuckled, holding a five-year-old toddler in her arms. “Neither do I,
extra scene
Jen sat at a coffee shop scrolling through the internet. She woke up early to take an exam and left feeling fulfilled knowing she aced it. Scrolling through Pinterest, Jen tried to figure out how she wanted to decorate her room this year. Since she is going to start teaching she might as well make it fun.
“Coffee for Jennifer?” Jen looked up as she heard her name. Walking up to the counter she grabbed her iced coffee before walking to her seat.
“Mommy, I don't want to leave you,”
“Mommy, please don’t make us go,”
“Ahh,” Jen stopped feeling a strong migraine on her right side. She heard distorted voices around her almost dropping her coffee and shaking her head trying to recover from what just happened.
Sitting down, she decided to make a mental note to ask her mom for a check-up. Looking at the sky, she saw the cloud near the sun. Huh, it looks like there's going to be a storm today .