Felt like doing a little writing, so it's a little long, but here you go.
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Sitting in the padded chair, Jenny went over what she wanted to say again and again. Her appointment with Mr. Gold was in ten minutes and she was more nervous than she had anticipated. Alien space nazis? No problem, but this was not her cup of tea. She'd arrived far too early and had been sitting here for almost twenty minutes already.
She barely noticed the woman who sat down beside, simply glancing over quickly to acknowledge her arrival before returning to her thoughts. Ever so slowly what she had seen in that glance began to register in her frustrated brain. Jenny turned toward the other woman to confirm her own suspicions.
Pink and black spandex, and a head of bright red hair marked her as Girl Crush. Jenny had heard of her before, and knew she was connected with Gold, but now she was sitting in the hall beside her and Jenny was a little awestruck. Not to mention a little surprised at how short the girl was.
They made eye contact and the costumed heroine smiled, while extending her hand, Hi, I'm Girl Crush.
Too slowly to not be awkward, Jenny reached out and shook the girl's hand. Jenny. She turned away, seeming to go back into her thoughts, leaving the young heroine with a bemused look on her face. A moment later she turned back, Dr. Jennifer Miller.
Pleasure to meet you. If you don't mind me saying, you seem kind of young to be a doctor.
Jenny's smile slipped a little as she fought down the usual bitter response to those who questioned her ability, You seem a little young to be a galaxy-travelling, world-saving superhero, and yet here we both are.
Touché.
Sarcastic bitchiness aside, I was wanting to ask you something?
Sure thing, lay it on me.
Jenny swivelled even more in her chair so she could talk to the woman, girl, face-to face. I'm actually a pediatric surgeon, and in my spare time I work with some of the kids who are stuck in the hospital. The really sick kids. She looks down at her hands, the hands that save some, and sit helplessly as others die. She clears her throat, I was wondering, if you're not too busy, if you might come by and meet the kids. They would love to meet a superhero, and someone like you, someone everybody knows, would just make their day.
Absolutely. When? No hesitation. The directness surprises Jenny a little.
Uh, I'm going over there this afternoon actually. I was going to finish off Treasure Island with them, but I'm sure that can wait. Three o'clock?
The girl thinks on it a moment. Yeah, I can do three. And Jenny?
Yes?
My friends call me Dee.
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Stepping off the elevator, Jenny made her way directly to the play room where the kids usually spent their afternoons when they weren't receiving treatment. Turning into the hallway she was surprised to see Girl Crush already waiting, pacing in the hallway. Seeing Jenny she smiled and met her at the door. Now that they were both standing, the height difference was quite noticeable, even with platforms, the girl still barely reached Jenny's chin.
As if sensing this, Girl Crush silently lifted off the ground until she was eye-to-eye with the doctor. A quiet chuckle escaped Jenny's lips before she caught herself. I'll go in first, and introduce you. Thanks so much for doing this, they're going to lose their little minds.
Dee smiled warmly, Glad to help.
Jenny slipped into the room quickly, making sure not to spoil the surprise. With the door closed behind her she spoke up, How are you all doing today?
The kids in the room perked up, gaining some energy. It was this moment that kept her coming back, the moment when the sickest of kids smiled for the first time all day. Jenny! The kids who could rushed to meet her, while the rest moved carefully to the good seats for listening to her stories.
She smiled down at the kids and nodded to the chairs. They took off in a scramble, leaving as fast as they'd come, seeking the best of the seats still left. Jenny moved towards her own chair, but didn't sit. Okay guys, settle down. The voices quieted immediately, leaving the room in silence. Jenny couldn't help but wish adults could follow instructions as well. Now, I know we were going to finish the book today, but I've got a special treat for you, so we'll have to finish next time. Okay?
There were a few disappointed looks, but most of the kids were looking at her, wondering what the surprise was. Now, you guys get to meet a lot of great people here. Doctors like me, she took a little bow, much to the delight of the kids, and nurses, and lots of other people who help to make you get better. But I thought to myself, 'You know who the kids don't get to meet at the hospital?'
One of the little kids was nearly falling out of his chair with anticipation, Who? Who?
Jenny smiled, Superheroes. The kids were deathly silent for a moment before bursting into an excited uproar, everyone talking, and yelling at once. Holding up her hand for them to quiet down, she waited patiently until they were all quiet once more, though she could tell they were excited near to bursting with no outlet. Now, I want you to all be really nice and polite to my new friend, Girl Crush.
The door opened and the young heroine floated in, on cue, to a group of kids who looked like they were statues, sitting as still as they were. Dee glanced to Jenny, and the two shared a smile before she looked back to the kids, Hello.
The dam burst, and the excited cries from the kids almost startled the two older women as the kids surged to get close to the hero in the room. She made sure to talk to each of them, their excitement not abated in the least. Swarming around her, Dee had to do her best to listen to them, so many voices all at once.
Jenny chuckled, completely forgotten where she stood. Even the sickest kids were next to the superhero. Okay kids, settle down. Jenny made her way to the costumed heroine and started directing the kids back to their seats. With great effort, she finally managed to get the last of the kids back to their seats. When they finally settled down a little bit, she spoke up, So, who has a question for Girl Crush? Every single hand shot into the air, some even raised both hands. Jenny pointed to Matthew, one of the older kids.
Can you really fly? He blurted it out, seeming to relieve some of the excitement that threatened to make all the kids burst.
Of course. Dee rose a little higher off the ground, and drifted around the room in a short display of aerial acrobatics.
Cool!! More than one kid chimed in at once.
Beth, you have a question?
The little girl seemed almost too shy to ask, now that all eyes were on her, but she finally found her voice. What kind of powers do you have? She looked to the floor, embarrassed that she didn't already know like so many of the other kids.
Dee smiled, I can control gravity. Do you know what that is? There were a few nods from the older kids, although most of them looked confused. Gravity is what keeps you from floating off into space. When you let go of something you're holding, and it falls to the ground, gravity is what makes it fall. I can control how, and what, gravity affects. That's how I fly. She pointed to another little girl in the back row, taking over from Jenny as she became more comfortable in front of the kids.
What else can you do?
Dee looked around the room, and spotted a bin for recycling cans. Well, I can do this. There were a few confused looks before the children spotted the cans floating towards Dee. They stopped in front of her and hovered for a moment, before being crushed down into a ball of aluminum little bigger than a full pop can. Dee smiled at the amazed expressions on the kids' faces. I do that to make the badguys' guns stop working.
She looked to Jenny, and winked mischievously, And, I can do this. Jenny wasn't sure what was going on for a moment until she heard the exuberant cries from one of the kids, floating out of his seat. Soon everyone was floating, Jenny included, as though they were in space.
The kids were having a blast as they pushed off each other, floating around the room like tiny bumper cars. Laughter filled the room, and Jenny spotted a few of the nurses watching from the door, smiles on their faces as they saw the children having fun. Jenny caught one of the kids headed for the door and pushed her back to the group, sending herself towards the far wall. Kicking off a bookshelf she drifted back towards Dee, simply floating and watching the kids have fun, and making sure they didn't get hurt smashing into a wall.
As Jenny reached her side, Dee turned and smiled at her. Jenny was fighting back tears as she spoke, Thank you.
Here's Samurhinoceros! I loved the bio, and the concept is very cool, and I don't recall ever drawing a Rhino in Samurai armor before. I do confess that I had to google Kanabo.
