Super Volume 2

Marital Problems

Max's POV
Connor came back from the kitchen with two plates in his hand. I jumped up when I saw him and ran over to take my pizza rolls from him. "Thanks, Connor!" I smiled and threw one into my mouth. "Let's hope Riley gets some more at the store. This is the last of them." He replied. "In that case, give me yours too!" I tried to snatch his plate, but he held it above me. "No! Get back, fat ass!" He snapped. The plates suddenly levitated out of our hands and Retro walked over. "Stop playing with your food, but you do make a good point. Riley left hours ago. She should be back by now." She said. Just then, Bailey hauled in the mail in a milk crate. "Why's there so much! What did you guys order?!" She groaned. "Hey! Our game is here!" I cheered and Connor high-fived me. Retro set the plates down on the coffee table by the couch, and walked over to Bailey. "Also, I didn't think they delivered mail this late, but this letter just came in for you, Retro." Bailey handed her a black envelope. Ella came over as she opened it and Sky came to help Bailey look through the rest of the mail. As Retro read it over, her brow only furrowed more and more with confusion. "What's it say?" Ella asked. "Dear friends, I'm most grateful for the companionship you've given me these past few months, but after this recent battle, I feel that I cannot perform the duties that you all ask of me. It's just too hard. So I'm taking a sabbatical. A vacation, if you will. I hope to see you again in years to come." Retro read it. We all went silent for a moment. "That... didn't sound like Riley." Ella said. "Yeah no shit. I'm testing this letter. I'm gonna do anything I can to find out where it came from. In the meantime, we need to track down Riley. Bailey, Sky, go tell the adults. We'll need everyone's help to search for her." Retro ordered. "Ah man. Does this mean we can't eat first?" I whined. Retro punched my shoulder and walked away. "Ah! Ok- got it." I groaned.

After searching all night, we came to the conclusion that she was kidnapped. The next morning, Retro started tests on the envelope and the letter, hoping to find something. "We need to start preparing for the worst. Boys, go inform Sonar and Talon's teams about this. We'll need all eyes on the lookout. Something tells me, Retro isn't going to like what she finds." Ella instructed us. "We're on it. Good luck." Connor replied, and we left.

Paws answered the door when we knocked. "Hi! Uh... I don't know your actual name." I admitted. "Apollo. What are you Arrows doing here?" She asked. "We have something urgent to tell Santana and Kara." Connor responded. "Oh! Their rooms are all the way back, at the end of the hall." Apollo pointed the way. "Thank you!" We ran inside and to the hallway.

Kara's door was wide open, but no one was inside. So we knocked on Santana's door. "Not now mom!" She yelled. "It's Max and Connor! We have bad news!" I said. There was a short silence, and then Lizz opened the door. "So do we." She replied. When she let us in, we saw Blaire crying her eyes out against Santana. "Blaire!" I shrieked and ran over to her. She stood up to hug me and leaned her head against my shoulder. "What's going on?" I asked, rubbing her back. "Her mom moved out today." Santana explained. My eyes widened in shock. Blaire sniffled and backed up a little. "She left this morning. Lea packed her suitcase and left for her new job, and Lydia didn't even stop her! They wouldn't even look at each other!" Blaire cried. My eyes softened. "I'm so sorry." I whispered, and she hugged me again. Everyone stood in silence as she cried against me. The silence didn't last long though, because the door was still open. "She. Did. What." Apollo growled. "Mom! We told you to stay in the living room!" Kara ran over to her. "Yeah, well when two boys that we hardly know come in, I get concerned. What the hell is going on with your moms?" Apollo asked. "They've been fighting for months now. Something about Lea's job offer. It's really been hurting Blaire." Santana explained. Apollo furrowed her brow and her eyes started glowing red. "And why didn't you say anything to an adult?" She asked. "Aurelia said she talked to Lydia, but she couldn't change anything." Blaire whimpered. "Change anything?! Oh- I'll give her a change." Apollo stormed out and we all just stood there for a second. "Santana?" Kara looked over at her. "Yep! Coming!" Santana and Kara both followed their mom. "Where are you guys going?" I asked. "To make sure Blaire doesn't lose her second mom too." Santana replied.

Lydia's POV
Aurelia came over after Lea left. "So she just left without a word?" She asked. "Yeah. Two hours ago... what am I supposed to tell Blaire? She ran out not long after. I don't want her to be upset, but Lea won't listen to me!" I exclaimed. "I know. It's ok." Aura hugged me. "I love her so much, Aura. I don't want her to go." I whined. "Lea or Blaire?" She asked, confused. "You think Blaire will leave too?!" I shrieked. "No! No that's not what I meant! I just- ok stop. Are you sure there's no way you can talk to Lea?" Aura asked. "I've tried! Several times! But she's dead set on taking this promotion, of a job she doesn't even like, just to provide for us. It's like she thinks we're gonna die if I'm the soul provider for the family." I rolled my eyes. "You didn't say it like that, did you?" Aura asked. I froze and glanced over at her. "Lydia! Oh come on. That's your own fault." She huffed. "Aura!" I groaned. "I get why you don't want her to do this, but you have to be nice about it. She's doing this for you! And you can't be mad that she's scared of quitting, because you're an event planner. You don't make a lot of money, Lydia, but she does! Surely you can understand why she's afraid." Aura explained. I sighed heavily. "Yeah, I guess." I shrugged. "Good. Now come sit down. We're gonna figure this out, but I promise you don't have to worry about Blaire. She's not going anywhere." Aura patted my back. "Thank god. I'm lucky that there's no super hero that deals in family problems." I laughed, and she chuckled with me.

Right on que, Apollo smashed through the front door and flew into the living room with her eyes glowing red. "Lydia!" She shouted. Santana and Kara ran in behind her, panting for breath. "Oh- spoke too soon." Aura mumbled. "Do you have any idea what you've done?!" Apollo shouted. "Babe, get down! Let's talk about this normally." Aura snapped. "You knew about this?! Why didn't you tell me?!" Apollo landed, but her eyes continued to glow with rage. "Because I knew you'd make a big thing out of it. This is a fragile situation, Heather." Aura told her. "Fragile? Fragile?! Fragile is your daughter! The poor girl that's been crying at my house for two hours!" Apollo screamed in my face. My eyes widened in horror. "Mom, calm down! We were handling it!" Santana said. "No! No child deserves to feel that pain, ever! Losing a parent is the worst pain that a person can suffer. To think that it came from one of my best friends... it kills me." Apollo's eyes watered. "I'm sorry, Apollo. It's more complicated than you think!" I exclaimed. "Complicated?! No shit! You're married! Things are going to get complicated! What matters is that you work through it! So get off your ass, stop crying over yourself, and go get her!" Apollo snapped. Aura walked over to her and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Oh honey. Will you ever run out of ways to turn me on?" She smirked. "Ew. Mom, we're right here." Kara groaned. "I don't even know where she is! Even if I did, I don't know what I'd even say!" I said. "Does she drive a blue sedan?" Santana asked. I looked over at her, confused. "She's in the driveway." She pointed at the door.

When Lea walked in, everyone went silent, and I froze. She stopped, seeing everyone. "I'm not gonna ask. I just left my tablet." She said, and headed towards the stairs. Apollo slapped me when she turned away and I yelped in pain. Then I ran over to the stairs and stood at the bottom. "There's no way you came back just for that." I said. Lea stopped and slowly turned back to me. "Please, Lea. Can we talk about this?" I asked. "We have talked about this, and I have nothing more to say." She replied. I walked up to the step she was on and stood beside her. "I understand why you're worried." I started, and she raised an eyebrow. "And it's a valid concern, but we can move to a smaller house if needed. An apartment, even. I don't need this big house, or any of our benefits. I just need you, and seeing you so unhappy in your job hurts me. I don't want you to suffer for Blaire and I." I explained. Lea took a deep breath. "And I don't want you to overwork yourself while I struggle to find another job." She replied. I smiled slightly. "Who says you don't have one? You can come work with me! I've been meaning to tell you, but I never got the chance. I'm organizing the best event of the whole season. I was assigned to run Super-Con this year, and I still need an assistant." I smiled, hopefully. Lea huffed a laugh. "You want to save our relationship by having me help you build the place where we met?" She raised an eyebrow. I blinked a few times. "Yes?" I said, nervously. Lea giggled and hugged me tightly. "I love you so much." She mumbled. I exhaled in relief and hugged her back. "I love you too." I replied.