Father's Day (Statesman and Miss Liberty)

The Three Sisters restaurant—like King’s Row—had seen better days, but it was a longstanding family tradition that important Cole family events be celebrated there.

Marcus Cole tugged resentfully at his shirt collar as he waited for the waitress to come to take his order. A very long lifetime spent wearing colorful costumes had not inured him to the rigors of wearing a suit and tie. “This thing is too tight. I feel like I’m choking.”

“Dad, you’ve survived a point blank nuclear explosion. I don’t think wearing a tie for two hours is going to kill you.” Alexis Duncan smiled at her father as she spoke. “It’s Father’s Day. Enjoy your dinner.”

Marcus felt his throat tighten even more as he looked at his daughter’s smile. She’s more like her mother every day. “Whatever you say, sweetie.” He glanced over at his son in law. “So what did Megan do for you today, Pat?”

Patrick Duncan smiled at his father-in-law. He was a balding, ordinary looking man of late middle age. A good man, though; Marcus was glad to have him as part of his family. “The usual: lunch and a Longbow tie.”

Marcus laughed. In spite of the monkey suit he was forced to wear, he treasured this time with his family. His own duties often had him traveling all over the world—and sometimes beyond—while Alexis’ job as the head of Freedom Corps meant that on those rare occasions when he was home she often wasn’t. He reached over and carefully squeezed his daughter’s hand. “Love you.”

“Love you too, Daddy.” She squeezed his fingers back.

Like so many moments in the life of Marcus Cole, it was bittersweet. Alexis was over 70 years old, now—nearly as old as her mother had been when she died—but the casual observer would have guessed she was no more than 50. Along with her power, Alexis had inherited a degree of Marcus’ own longevity.

But although Alexis’ vitality was superhuman, it was not apparently as limitless as her father’s. Marcus himself looked no older than he had been when he first encountered the Well of Furies, but Alexis was no longer in the prime of her youth and power.

Alexis’ grip was still strong—her mind was still sharp—but every year she seemed to be a little weaker, a little slower …

I am going to lose her someday¸ Marcus thought sadly to himself. Someday she will be gone …

Pat rose to his feet. “I’m going to see what’s taking our order so long.” He kissed his wife’s cheek. “I’ll be right back.”

Alexis watched him leave. “It’s hard to believe that it’s been so long. I can remember the first time we came here for Father’s day. Do you remember, Daddy?”

Marcus nodded. “You couldn’t have been more than five. You were so happy to be wearing a big girl dress and wanted to stay here all night.”

Alexis laughed. “And I was out like a light before desert. It’s a good thing we had our dance before I fell asleep.”

Marcus nodded, suddenly not trusting himself to speak.

People knew of his strength, his durability, his ability to fly … what so few of them knew was that ALL of his abilities were heightened to super human levels, and that included his memory.

He remembered that night with inhuman clarity. He could recall the taste of the steak he had had that night. Monica’s perfume. The sound of Alexis’ girlish laughter as a counterpart to his own and his wife’s …

And suddenly, the music began to play: the same song that had played that night he had first danced with Alexis on Father’s Day.

Alexis rose from her chair. “Dance with me, Daddy.”

Marcus nodded and climbed to his feet. Over Alexis’ shoulder he could Pat standing with a self satisfied look on his face by the bandstand.

“How does he do that?” Marcus asked her, gesturing in Pat’s direction.

Alexis smiled. “You don’t have to be super human to be special, Daddy. Patrick is an amazing man.”

“He is,” Marcus agreed. “I’ve always thought so. I let him marry my little girl, didn’t I?”

“Oh, Daddy!”

They stepped out onto the dance floor.

As they danced, Marcus’s memory took him back through all the other times they had danced on this floor. The tightness in his throat relaxed a little as he looked into the smiling face of his only child.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the Three Sisters themselves watching him. They stood beside Pat, and Marcus found himself mildly surprised that his mortal son in law seemed oddly at home in their presence.

And that is why you are a hero, Marcus Cole.

The three spoke as one, right into his mind.

I don’t understand.

You have met your other selves. You have seen what you could have become.

It was because of Monica—

No.

His surprise was so great he actually stopped dancing. What?

“Daddy?” Alexis’ eyes were wide with concern and worry.

“It’s nothing, sweetie.” He began dancing again. Without Monica I would have been another Tyrant, another Reichsman---

No, you would not. Monica was an extraordinary woman—we would not have given her the Girdle of Hera if she had been otherwise—but she is not the reason you became Statesman, Marcus. You became Statesman because you never lost the one thing that your other selves gave up so long ago—

I don’t understand—

You love, Marcus. Not just Monica, not just your family. You love your friends, your city, and your world. In spite of the fact that you know that you will someday lose them, you still open your heart to those who need you.

It’s hard.

Yes, it is hard, but you are Statesman, and you can bear any burden that you are required to bear. It is not enough to protect the world—you must also live in it.

I know.

Do not forget that, Marcus. Your city and world are facing very dark days. They need Statesman, but they need Marcus Cole even more …

The Sisters nodded once more in his direction, and then faded away.

The music ended.

Marcus kissed his daughter on her cheek and gestured at her husband. “I think Pat deserves a dance, don’t you?”

“Well, I think you might step on his toes, Daddy …” Alexis laughed and hugged him. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine, Alexis.” And for a change, he was.

Marcus walked back to his table and sat down. He raised his glass in a silent toast to his family as he watched them dance.

Alexis and Pat would be gone someday. Like Monica. Like his brother. Like the countless friends and allies he had lost in his eternal battle against crime and chaos. He would lose them …

But not tonight.

Tonight he had his family, and that was enough.

“It’s a good day,” he told himself.

And for once, he believed it.

Bravo!
That tugged at the heartstrings.
This is a rare glimpse into the burden of immortality: You lose all those close to you.
As always, excellent writing, keep it up.

Latecomer, but I have to say, this is fantastic. I totally almost just cried.
An amazing "other look" at Statesman. Sometimes (and by that I mean all the time up until now), we forget that our strongest heroes don't necessarily have better emotional faculties. Especially the "invincible" ones.
Love Marcus and his baby girl!
Thanks for this.