Odette had seen everything so, like the occasionally great boss that she was, she gave me the rest of the night off to wait for Derek's return. She obviously had no idea what was actually wrong but I suppose I'd seemed distressed enough to warrant the break.
Unfortunately, as I sat in the apartment waiting for Dark to return, if he ever would, there was nothing to do but think. Eventually, after growing tired of watching the hands on the clock move and trying to remember if Odette's backstory had ever been given in the show, I decided that practicing using my powers would be the most efficient use of my time.
Now, if I remembered correctly, Valdis were only given one of the four powers available to them, two at most. I already had the telekinesis, obviously, but I wanted to make sure I didn't have anything else.
Slowly rising from the kitchen table, I decided to try the most difficult one first to get it out of the way. Teleportation.
Taking a deep breath and focusing all my attention on the floor a few feet away from me, I slowly edged my foot into the air and closed my eyes, praying that if I did teleport, I wouldn't end up inside a wall.
As soon as my foot hit the ground I whipped my eyes open. It didn't feel like I'd moved at all but, instead of moving one mere foot across the carpet, I had moved to the exact spot I'd been focusing on seconds before.
Teleportation. Check.
Next came creating weapons of light out of thin air. This one had always fascinated me since it was the one power Polly apparently had but never utilized so I really wanted to know what it did.
I used the same level of concentration but this time focused on my hands, envisioning a purple sword materializing in my hands. I tried with all my might and...nothing happened.
Okay. X off weapons of light.
Now, for the final power: flight. I'd saved this one for last since it was the one I was most excited about. Ever since I was a child I'd wanted to be a fairy. All of my imaginary friends had been fairies and we'd played in my parent's backyard for hours without letting up.
Same deal. Concentrate. Visualize.
And....Nothing.
"Seriously?" I yelled as I stared at my feet, which were still firmly planted on the floor. Squeezing my eyes shut, I ran a hand through my long hair and sat on the edge of the bed with a huff. "Look, I appreciate that I can teleport and use the force but...my one dream, just gone?"
Well, to be fair, meeting Derek had been another one of my fulfilled dreams but...why not flying?
As I sat there, my arms crossed and mouth contorted into a childish pout I started to giggle at how silly I was being. I had superpowers and was acting like a baby. How hilarious was that?
"If I want to start controlling my powers I'll have to practice every day," I muttered to myself, planning ahead. "I should definitely make Di find out the whereabouts of Ebony for me." Since she was the only other Valdis I knew and would likely have more experience, I could use my salary to have her teach me. Plus, if and when Polly was born, she could teach her how to control her powers too.
If I ever got to see Polly. At the rate I was going, Derek would probably kick me out.
I was in the midst of lifting a plate in the air with my powers, a task so physically exhausting that I was sweating, when the front door opened.
I had it hanging a couple inches off the table when Derek walked in, his face not nearly as pale as it had been earlier and his hair no longer looking like bedhead. As soon as I spotted him out of the corner of my eye I dropped the plate and it cracked on impact, making me scream a little out of surprise.
The plate didn't matter, though. As soon as it fell I ran toward Derek, nervous and apprehensive about what he'd say.
"Hey, Mary." He slowly shut the door, shooting the broken plate a funny look before gesturing for me to sit down. "Why don't we sit down?"
I immediately slipped into the closest chair and placed both hands on top of the plate as though to hide it. Derek did the same but was a lot slower. It was as though he'd become a computer and was malfunctioning.
It was a relief to see some of the color return to his cheeks. He'd looked like death in the bar earlier and the alcohol hadn't helped. Now he seemed like himself again, which made sitting across from him a tad easier.
"Listen." The future villain gradually reached out to touch my hand and gently wrapped my fingers in between his as though I was the plate, on the verge of breaking. "I've been giving it a lot of thought and I've decided to believe you."
Thank goodness for that.
"And, since I'm going to believe that you really have seen my future and know the best way to prevent my death and my future daughter's..." He paused, likely trying to find the best way to put this. "I've decided that you are the only woman I can ever trust with my life."
I sighed, my tension released. "Thank goodness for that. I was afraid you were going to kick me out."
"What? Why would I kick you out?" He leaned back in the chair, hurt that I'd even consider such a thing.
"Sorry." I shrugged, wishing he could understand that I'd known him as a bloodthirsty villain years before I got to see him act like the caring but sensitive man sitting before me. "I was just scared, that's all."
His dark eyes roamed my face, trying to read me, then he shrugged too. "It's okay. You didn't let me finish what I was going to say, though. I think that we should get married for real."
"What?" How did he come to that conclusion?
"It'll be much easier for you to defend yourself and..." He paused to remember his future daughter's name. "And Polly since you're a Valdis and you know the future. Plus," he scratched the back of his head nervously, "I kind of l...like you so it'd be fine."
Aha! I heard that! He was going to say "love" but chickened out at the last second. Lucky for me because there was no way I was saying it back!
I liked him as a character, yes, and ... as a man, I suppose. But I couldn't become...
As I tried to make excuses against marrying the guy that I was comfortable with and attracted to, my mind started picturing what it would be like to actually marry him and become Polly's mother. The images it conjured up made his preposition sound really, really tempting.
Ugh! Why was my face heating up?
Derek started chuckling when he saw me start to blush. "Don't worry. I won't rush it. I'm just letting you know ahead of time so it doesn't come as a shock later."
As I sat there, listening to the angel and devil argue in my brain, he leaned forward and clasped my hands in both of his. "You're the only person I want by my side," he whispered, his eyes reflecting mine. "I know you're the only one who won't betray me."
"Is that the only reason you're proposing?" I asked. I said it in a joking tone but was completely serious.
My heart started beating wildly when he laughed again, leaning away to give my face a chance to cool down. "No. I would never propose just because I knew you wouldn't try to hurt me. I'd never ask a girl to spend the rest of her life with me unless I was absolutely, without a doubt, sure about it."
"We've only known each other for two months," I whispered.
"Well, technically you've know me for...how many years have you been watching that show?"
The blush that had started its retreat returned in full force. "Well...I've been reading the comic books for four years and the show came out a year ago so..."
"See? Nothing to worry about."
"But you're forgetting that the you I saw was a raging psychopath, right?"
"If you managed to love me when I was acting like that then the me now should be a breeze, right?"
He had a point.
"Fine. I'll...consider it." It would take a lot of begging to convince me to marry him but, as much as I hated to admit it, he already had his foot in the door. "But don't get your hopes up."
The villain's face lit up and I got to watch as his slouched back and frozen arms loosened, making him morph into a monster of confidence and sass. "So, I've been thinking about baby names and was wondering, what do you think of the name Polly?" he asked, a smirk starting to emerge.
"Hideous. I'd never use it in a million years."
"I was thinking the exact same thing."