The day shift hadn’t been taxing in the slightest. All the same, the shower left Ororo feeling refreshed.
Another slow day at the Hero Alliance HQ had come to a close. Now the question was: what was she to do with her spare time?
Thankfully, Power Girl was there to provide an answer.
“Now that saving the world is the next shift’s problem, what do you say we hit up a bar?” The tall, well-built blonde suggested as she pulled on a plain white shirt. That and her jeans were nothing like the form-fitting suit she wore as a superheroine. No bare legs, no cleavage window, no clinging fabric that molded to every firm muscle and smooth curve. It was as plain a look as you could get. Nothing could hide Karen’s stunning beauty.
Or that figure…
Ororo had been envious once, back when the X-Men had first put members of their own in the Hero Alliance. No longer, though. Now it had grown into a sort of… professional appreciation. How sorry a goddess she would have made, to feel so jealous. Especially when they were on the same side now.
Ororo slipped on her shoes then, quietly mulling over the offer. She glanced up, brushing some damp hair from her eyes.
“It’s a bit early in the afternoon…”
“What do you mean?” Karen pulled out her phone, checked the time. “Happy hour is only three hours away.”
“So we trade killing time on monitor duty for killing time at some bar?”
“Yep.” Karen grinned proudly. She pursed her lips next, her brow pinching. “Why? You got a hot date?”
Ororo tried not to frown. Tried to pretend she didn’t feel the sting that followed.
“No.” Her answer was flat. Enough there that Karen couldn’t miss it.
“Right.” The blonde winced. Ororo tried to ignore that apologetic look, too. “You and whatshisface called it quits?”
“Old news, Karen. I thought everyone knew.”
“Well, we’re in the same boat then. Me and Brainiac 5 are ancient history - technically far future, but whatever.” Karen leaned against her locker, letting out an impatient sigh. “So are we going or what? I need a drinking buddy.”
Ororo peered to the side, spotting Vixen and Black Widow chatting as they headed out to begin the afternoon shift. Then there was Hawkgirl, already dressed back in her civvies, going right behind them. No doubt hurrying off to be with her husband. Something told Ororo that Karen wanted this to be a single ladies deal.
“Well…”
“Come on.” Karen pressed, crossing her well-toned arms. “It’s not like we can get drunk.”
“Mutants can still get drunk. Most of us can, anyway.”
“Then order a soda or something. Don’t make me go alone, Ro. Guys will try to hit on me.” Karen was pouting now. All play, but damn if it wasn’t working.
Ororo sat up on the bench, fiddling with the strings of her dark sweatpants. Those plus her sneakers, her admittedly cute hoodie, and hair that was nowhere close to being presentable left her with a look that was best suitable for lazing around at home. And yet… she was a superheroine. A goddess. Women like her and Karen and Mari and all the others… they were stunning in anything. Even a potato sack, as people said.
“Instead, they’ll hit on both of us.” Ororo pointed out, grinning.
“Exactly. We can share the pain.” Karen was beaming now. The blonde knew she had won.
“Fine.” Ororo finally relented. “You know a place?”
- - -
Ostrander’s turned out to be a good choice on Karen’s part. A couple steps above the average dive bar. Mostly clean. Mostly sparse. They even had some TVs, showing gold, showing tennis. Boring stuff.
The bartender was a heavyset fellow, bald with a short, thick beard. He was decently talented - and quick. Though that came as no surprise to Ororo. When a man gets customers who look like her and Karen, they tend to make a good showing of themselves. He was professional about things, though. Didn’t try to hit on either of them.
Karen was already through her third margarita, while Ororo was still nursing her Cuba Libre. Rum with coke, a first for her.
A lull came to their chattering. Long enough that thoughts started to creep up on Ororo. Swimming through her head, seeking a way out.
“I didn’t know you and Brainiac were old news.” She found herself saying to Karen.
“Now you do.” Karen’s answer was curt. A quirk went through her lips, a tiny crack in the face of confidence she’d been wearing.
“What happened?”
“Nothing happened. That was the problem.” The crack had grown and spread. Karen sipped at her fourth margarita, though her eyes settled on nothing. Her focus was elsewhere, in the past, on what might have been. Ororo couldn’t tell.
“He was too boring?”
Karen let out a short, dry laugh. She set down her drink.
“Too celibate.” She sat up on her barstool, closing her eyes. She breathed in. Breathed out. “I don’t know, maybe attitudes are different in the future. Maybe in his time, he’s a total stud. But I’m sorry, Mr. ‘My-Intellect-Is-To-Big-To-Get-Laid’ just wasn’t cutting it for me.”
“Some women would kill for a boyfriend who doesn’t pressure them for sex.”
“Not me. I have needs. I prefer a man who meets them.” Karen propped her elbow on the bar, letting her chin rest in her hand, looking Ororo over. “What about you? Don’t tell me you’re the chaste type.”
Ororo had to scoff.
“Please.”
“Right, right. Black Panther, Wolverine, Forge, Doctor Fucking Doom… And who was that last guy?”
“No one important.”
That got Karen to cock a brow. The blonde smirked and lifted her glass.
“I’ll drink to that. He’s not worth toasting, obviously, but we’re drinking anyway.”
“Of course.” Ororo brought up her Cuba Libre. Clicked her glass against Karen’s.
To the women who deserve more.
They both took a drink. Then came the chime of the shopkeeper’s bell. Ororo felt the breeze at her back, saw the rays of the afternoon sun cast straight across the inside of the bar, all the way to the dartboards hanging on the back wall. She heard footsteps coming up from behind… and noticed the look of recognition on Karen’s face.
Ororo swiveled on her barstool… and was greeted by Jessica Drew’s smiling face.
She wasn’t in her Spider-Woman outfit, of course. Dressed in civvies like Karen and herself. A sundress, lily white with a deep red floral pattern splashed over the loose, billowing skirt. Simple yet stunning, if only because of the woman wearing it. She looked good, Ororo decided. More than good. In fact… Jess was downright glowing.
It was even more apparent the closer she got, making a beeline straight for the heroines at the bar. Her smile was big and beaming, made all the more richer by those rosy cheeks and the brightness of her eyes. And the rich red of that lipstick… Jess had the look of a woman in bliss. Ororo could only wonder…
“Ororo, Karen. Glad I caught you.” Jess greeted them warmly. She eyed their drinks - Karen’s empty margaritas, specifically. “Drowning your sorrows?”
“Celebrating the single life.” Karen corrected with good humor.
Jessica’s laughter came rich and sweet. She put a hand over her heart. All girly-like, Ororo couldn’t help but note.
“Oh, good. Makes this so much easier.”
As Jessica moved to take the stool beside them, Ororo and Karen shared a look. They were of a similar mind, Ororo could see. Jess looked happier than she’d ever been - and she was clearly excited about something. Who wouldn’t be curious about that?
“I don’t believe in wasting time, so I’ll just come right out with it.” Jess’ voice caught their attention again. “You two haven’t gotten laid in a while, am I right?”
Ororo nearly spat out the sip she just took. Karen handled the question far more gracefully.
“Through no fault of my own, yeah.” The blonde plainly admitted. She tapped her finger against the rim of her glass, the sharpness of frustration starting to slip into her expression.
Ororo didn’t answer immediately, even as Jess’ eyes fell to her next. She glanced around the bar, suddenly very glad the place was nearly empty. The bartender was busying himself at the far end - or at least he was pretending to be. Ororo met Jess’ expectant look. She gave a small nod.
Jess tsked. She shook her head.
“That’s a bloody shame. Two incredible, gorgeous ladies like yourselves should never want for company.”
That got another sigh out of Karen. The blonde leaned against the bar, pouting.
“Wish Brainy felt the same.” She said wistfully.
“His loss if he doesn’t.” Jess added without missing a step.
“Do you have a point here, Jess?” Ororo pressed her fellow heroine a bit too hotly.
Jess took no offense, however. The woman simply smiled, bright and giddy like a schoolgirl. She was practically squirming in her seat, looking so eager. Ororo half-wanted to rub her eyes, clear her vision, almost certain she was seeing things.
“I’ve met someone.” Jess confessed, playing with the hem of her skirt.
Ororo and Karen shared another look. Mostly in confusion, though amidst it all was a sliver of interest. A very thin sliver.
“...Congratulations.” Karen said.
“We’re happy for you.” Ororo added flatly - but not dishonestly.
Jess let out a bubbly giggle - giving Ororo another bit of shock. She’d never seen Spider-Woman behaving quite like this before. Smitten and sugary sweet.
“You should be happy for yourselves!” Jess reached over and touched Ororo’s arm… and Ororo tried not to think about how nice and warm Jess’ hand felt against her skin. Jess didn’t help with the way she leaned in, speaking in a lower, smokier voice. “Because my man is the real bloody deal. Whatever studs you’ve dated before, he has them all beat. I promise you that, love.”
Ororo stared, her lips parting slowly. She tried to find the words to respond, but her mind could form nothing, leaving her mouth agape. She could only imagine Karen looking much the same behind her.
Jess was smiling all the while, gleaming with delight at the gears she sent turning in their heads. The first thought Ororo managed to form was that this was just some lewd prank. Yet as she took in Jess’ face, she found no trace of deceit. As shocking as this turn was, it was genuine from Jess’ own lips. And that left Ororo wondering…
Just who is this mystery man?
“He sounds like a catch.” Karen again broke the silence. Always the bold one. “What does he have to do with us?”
“Yes. You said you weren’t going to waste our time, didn’t you? Out with it.” Ororo pressed - though she tried not to sound too interested.
The smile Jess wore then was an entirely different sort from the one just a moment before. She was pleased in a new way. A triumphant way.
“He’ll have as much to do with you as you want.” She told them smoothly. And proudly. Hell, it looked to Ororo that the woman was glowing even more radiantly. “I’ve come to extend an invitation. To both of you.”
“An invitation to…”
“Oh my God.” The sound Karen let out next was some cross between a laugh and a gasp. Scandalized and overjoyed about it. “Are you pimping out your new boyfriend to us? For real?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. She isn’t.” Ororo jumped her attention back over to Jess. “You’re not, right?”
Jess remained immaculate, perched upon the bar stool, legs crossed, pretty face bright with pride and unbridled glee.
“I am.”
Suddenly, Ororo found the need for another long sip of her rum and coke. Even as it went down nice and smooth and settled her thrumming nerves, the Goddess of Storms was rendered speechless.
Though that only pleased Jess that much more.
“I didn’t hear any no’s, so I can only assume you two are at least a little bit interested.”
“Blindsided, more like.” Karen leaned in, brushing against Ororo’s shoulder. She spoke in a lower voice next. “You’re really not kidding.”
“Nope.” Jess let the word pop. With those full, red-painted lips, it looked and sounded all the more lewd.
“So, what inspired this… bold offer.” Ororo found her voice again. Her nerves, as well. “Did he put you up to this?”
“No, again. This was my idea.”
It was an afternoon for stunning reveals, it seemed. Behind her, Ororo heard Karen snort in disbelief.
“He must have quite the dick if he’s got you singing his praises. And shopping him around.”
“He absolutely does.” It was impossible to miss the way Jess’ smile turned from prideful to utterly devious. “I meant what I said. He’s a stud. A god in bed - literally.”
“I’ve heard that before.” Ororo told her. Too many times to count with men who boasted of what they had in their pants. More times than she could remember of blowhards who claimed they could make her see god.
“Well, this time it’s true.” Jess didn’t falter for even a moment. Still she sat there, back straight, chin held high. Immaculate and unyielding in her satisfaction. “He gave me the fuck of my life. And Wonder Woman’s. And Starfire’s, too.”
This time it was Ororo’s turn to laugh. It came bubbling up in her throat, so quick and sudden she couldn’t stop it. She covered her mouth, eyes darting over to the bartender. He was washing glasses still, paying no mind to them. Good.
“Bullshit.” Karen whispered. The blonde didn’t push back any more than that.
“You’re both thinking it.” Jess observed, clasping her hands together over her knee. Her now cunning gaze cut right through the both of them. “I can see it in your eyes. Wondering how one man can handle three superheroines and still have the stones for more. That’s why I came to invite you. So you can find out for yourselves.”
Only then did Ororo realize how fast her heart was beating. Of course she was thinking about it - Jess had put the idea in her head in the first place. But despite her better judgement, the thoughts racing through her head, newly born scenes of carnal curiosity… They were more than just fleeting fantasies.
“I… We can’t just-”
But Jess was already rising from the barstool. She straightened out her dress, brushing imaginary dust from her skirt. She really did look stunning, all bright eyes, wavy hair, and full, perky cleavage.
“Think it over if you have to.” She told them warmly. Like she was inviting them over for brunch. “It’s an open invitation. The four of us just got a new place here in the city. Drop by anytime you like. He’ll make time for you. Though… don’t be surprised if you have to share.”
As she turned to leave, Karen reached out, catching her by the wrist.
“Wait. You’re not even gonna tell us his name?”
“You know him already.” Jess replied, amused. “He’s that rookie hero you and She-Hulk were bickering about before. The Titan. What was that you called him? A flying brick?”
“Oh. Him.”
For Ororo, the name was only vaguely familiar. She didn’t really keep up with all the new capes coming onto the scene. But if Karen remembered him…
“The real brick is in his pants.” Jess added with a whisper, wickedly delighted from her own bawdy tongue. She turned and headed for the door, heels clicking as she went. The light from the afternoon sun cast her figure in silhouette. Ororo watched those sensual hips working with every step. Then Jess turned to face them one last time. “I hope to see you both soon.”
Her purring voice nearly had Ororo stirring in her seat.
The dark-haired beauty blew them a kiss next. Then she was out the door, leaving Ororo and Karen with all manner of thoughts. From the spicy… to the outright obscene.
If a man could handle Wonder Woman… then a woman couldn’t help but wonder herself.