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The humble Midwestern house on 142 Margaret Way was full of unexpected surprises.
Surprise number one, the people inside had extraordinary abilities that you may call superpowers. Henry was a stocky young doctor of chemistry with naturally green hair (ask anyone, he's had it since he was born), and was brilliant and devoted enough to had what had been called 'tactile telekinesis'. or the power to control the forces of whatever he touched. Very useful for handling dangerous substances.
Gia, his girlfriend, was an engineering graduate who could be described as springy, bouncing in every step and rebounding from any trouble she faced. She had the power to generate an aquamarine energy from her body, be it a sharp laser shot or a dull heat wave from her hand. She was the proudest of her power and its practicality, and she had as much energy in her demeanor as could shoot out of her hand.
Esteban, their shared boyfriend (surprise number two, keep in mind), was unique. He was a simple fellow with simple interests. He had a love for the culinary and language arts, and genuinely adored helping others. His ability was what he liked to call 'Observation', which was really a form of extra-sensory perception. Clairvoyance, remote-viewing, and knowledge of the past and future all fell under this umbrella, although not even he always understood their full potential.
Surprise number two, they were all in a polyamorous relationship together. Not only did they live together, they also had plenty of love of all kinds to share with one another. Romantic, platonic, and all the other sorts that came with their relationship.
They first met back in high school. Despite their disparate personalities, they were all fast friends. Even as they grew up and their other friends came and went, the three of them stuck together. Whether as friends or something more, somehow all three of them were able to stick together through their best and worst moments.
Eventually, they had to admit something. They all loved each other as more than just friends. It would've been silly for them to think otherwise. They adored each other romantically, and they were the only ones who they imagined spending the future with together as they went through their relationships. So, after they finished college and found a community that accepted them, they moved in together to the old house on 142 Margaret Way. It was there they eagerly charged head-first into the next phase of their lives.
Now, as the curtain rises on a fine morning, our story begins with our trio and an unexpected encounter.
"Byou beber bought obf btarting a bfambilby?" Gia asked Henry as she brushed her teeth.
"What? I can't understand you." He was just finished with a shower, and grabbed a towel to wrap around the green mop on his head.
"Sborrby" She gargled and spat it out. "You ever think about starting a family?"
"We ARE a family. The three of us. You, me, and the lovely, lovely man making breakfast."
"'Lovely, lovely?"' Her eyebrow was cocked. "How come Esteban gets two 'lovelies?'"
"It's not a contest, Gia."
"But let's say it is. Y'know, devil's advocate." She considered. "How many lovelies do I get when I'm outta the room?"
"Just as much as he gets." Henry showed with no hesitation, bringing his towel down to his shoulders and letting his hair free. The little water droplets in his hair evaporated almost by his command.
"Really, now? So if I was making breakfast, and Esteban was in my spot, then you'd be just as affectionate about me?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"You swear on it."
"On my life."
She thought as she plucked at one of the straps of her overalls. Her mouth curled into a pleasant smile. "You're good. And to be fair…" She wrapped an arm around him, gently feeling his clean, nude skin. "I have a tendency to know lovely, lovely people. Present company included"
Henry recognized the look in her eyes, and could feel his heartbeat pick up..
"By the way," She pointed a finger gun at the mirror. A tiny blue 'pew' came out of her finger, reflected off the glass and hit Henry on the chin. "You missed a spot while shaving."
"My hero…" They both went into a passionate kiss for a moment, which was soon interrupted by a call of their names
"Gia? Henry?" A lightly accented voice came from their downstairs kitchen. "Time for breakfast!"
"To be continued." Henry said, leaving first. Gia followed not too far behind.
As he said before, Henry kissed Esteban with the exact intensity as he did with Gia.
"Huh. Good thing I don't make bets." Gia nodded, still playing with the straps of her overalls.
"Bets?" Esteban pondered, but seemed to understand within seconds. "Oh, I get it."
"So, what's for breakfast?"
"Avocado toast egg-in-a-hole." He gasped as he looked up. "Would you take a look at that!"
On the ceiling, just chilling out, there was a little brown spider. Henry noted that it was "one classic parasteatoda tepidariorum. Otherwise known as…"
"Its… a spider." Gia was much less enthused than either of her boyfriends, one who was fawning and one who was apathetic.
"I know, isn't it cute?"
"Kill it. Kill it. Kill it with fire." Gia, in a frenzied panic, tried to focus on the spider while making a pair of gun gestures with her fingers, which began to glow with hot blue energy.
"Gia, DON'T!"
The room was filled with the lights and sounds of energy blasts that seemed to hit everywhere except that one spot on the ceiling with the spider dancing across it.
"Honey, now we're going to have to call someone to repair it…" Esteban punctuated with a 'tsk-tsk'.
"Gia, this is the one time I'm thankful your aim is terrible." Gia's fist met Henry's shoulder. "Ow!"
"Bad move, greenie." Gia's fist barely even hurt. "Apparently since that… thing is laser-proof, can one of you please please please get rid of it?"
"Here, allow me." Henry grabbed a broom and dustpan leaning on a nearby wall. He strode up the side of the wall, walked across the ceiling upside down, and swept up the spider like it was a normal, everyday occurrence.
Defiantly, the spider crawled out of the dustpan right after it went in.
Hm. This would prove to be a challenge. Henry swept around some more, but it was fruitless. All he did was just kick up a little layer of dust.
Henry growled, beginning to chase the spider. But as any bugs often were, the spider was faster. Much faster. Even if he tried techniques with his unique ability to try and freeze the spider in place, he was unsuccessful.
He began to get frustrated. And like anybody in a precarious situation, he lost his balance when he got frustrated.
"I've got you!" Esteban felt a flash of boldness, and positioned himself right under where Henry was on the ceiling.
"Huh?" Henry looked down, and almost did a ten-foot faceplant into the floor.
Esteban caught him before he could get hurt, fortunately.
"You know, I wouldn't have fallen if you wouldn't have said anything." Henry gave him a smug look. He was thankful he could've been caught, but he had to save face.
Esteban shrugged. "Observation is self-fulfilling."
"There we go…" He set Henry down, but as he did so, he felt a little crawling feeling going up his arm and onto his shoulder. The little fuzzy arachnid was perched on his hand. "Well, hello, little friend! How are you?"
Somehow Esteban could see the spider's affirmation. It gave thanks for 'saving it from the mean laser lady'.
He laughed. "What's your name? I'm Esteban."
Esteban could hear a noise the spider made. "I'll call you Squeaky."
Gia shook her head. "Fine, but get Squeaky anywhere near me and you'll have a laser burn on your behind…"
Laughs were heard all around. Henry, with a smile on his face, said, "Esteban, I think you still owe us some avocado toast. Right?"
He replied, "You know, I think that would be just lovely."