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The breeze atop the Jennison Building blew Amber's hair out of her face while she leaned on the railing of the balcony. Recently, the wind had stopped feeling like something that came with bad weather and more like a hug from the sky since her father had started to hang out with her more.
Sure, both being the town's superheroes made very little time in their schedules, but Volt and Aero were unstoppable beings, and Axel and Amber? Not so much. Axel was overworking himself to the brim more often and Amber barely ever got a chance to see him. Nevertheless, Amber enjoyed spending time with him whenever she got the chance. She would be heading off to college in 2 years, and heaven knows Amber wouldn't be staying in the house when that happened.
The elevator leading up to the balcony dinged behind Amber softly as Axel stepped out in his full Aero suit, but promptly ripped the mask off his face and sighed as he stood next to Amber.
"Looks like someone had a long day, huh?" Amber commented, elbowing him softly.
"If Volt had been there, it might have been easier," he grumbled but still smiled back, "Yeah. It was long."
"I had math homework!" Amber raised her hands placatingly, "Blame Elle!"
"Sure..." Axel sighed, rolling his eyes jokingly and then looking out to the skyline, "You're getting better at them. Your powers."
"Yeah, I am..." Amber admitted, "I defeated 72% of the training holograms this time. It's weird, you know? Mom - I mean, Electriss - always told me that I was always this kid that had no capability for empathy. Or compassion. And I was the villain in her story. She always told me that I was doing everything wrong. But since she had found out I had powers, that day I tried to go home, she reminded me that whenever I use my powers, I'm just... looking in a mirror at her. And! Whenever someone tells me I look like Vanessa, I always smile and say thanks. But I wish I wasn't. I wish I looked more like you. I wish I could have your wind and air powers. Why am I a carbon copy of the person I don't want to be the most?"
Axel looked back at his daughter, wishing he could've been there, preventing all of the fear and sadness that she had to brave through. But the thing is- If she hadn't, would she still be the strong girl he knows? The best solution even through that, is to fix it here and now.
"You know," he whispered to the sky, "Electriss... Vanessa... she has a way of making everything feel like a closed circuit. She believes that because her lightning burns everything it touches, yours has to, too. She spent years trying to dim your spirit because she couldn't handle how bright you were becoming. She wanted you to be a copy because a copy is easy to predict. A copy is easy to control."
He reached out, ruffling Amber’s hair with the same gloved hand that had spent the day punching through sound barriers and putting villains in handcuffs.
"But you aren't a mirror, Amber. Never were. Lightning doesn't just come out of nowhere. It needs the atmosphere. It needs the air to move, to build friction, to build until it’s ready to strike. Your mother gave you the spark, sure. But your heart? That’s all the air I’ve tried to give you. You have compassion because you know what it feels like to be without it. You have empathy because you had to learn to survive her lack of it."
Amber turned towards her mentor, her father. The man who had taught her how to use her powers, AND how to play DND (Newsflash: You CAN feed that dragon a sandwich. Especially if your father manipulates air and give the die a little wind to roll a natural 20 so you can get that euphoria). She saw all the hard work he'd gone through, and the pain he'd seen in his work as a hero. And immediately knew this was the person she aspired to be.
"She always made me feel like I was a broken version of her," Amber whispered. "Like I was just a glitch in her system."
"Then it’s a good thing I have the best glitch fixing technology in the whole tri-state area," Axel joked, nudging her shoulder. "Look at me, kid. You aren't her. When you use your powers, I don’t see a villain. I see a hero who’s finally learning to breathe. You’re the only person I know who can make crimson lightning look like a sunrise instead of a warning."
Amber felt the lump in her throat push to the surface, her eyes glossing over and saltwater streaming down her face. Axel hugged her, and Amber wanted to stay in the moment forever, to never have to leave.
She took a breath, the air filling her lungs and settling her nerves. She looked at Axel, noticing the way the moonlight caught the new grey hairs at his temples and the tired lines around his eyes. The heroic Aero was immortal, but her dad? He was definitely feeling the years.
The emotional tension broke as a mischievous glint returned to her eyes.
"Wow," she said, wiping a stray tear and smirking. "That was actually... really deep. Almost poetic. Did Elle write that for you? Or are you just getting that 'wise old man' wisdom in your advanced age? Can you tell me what Christopher Columbus was like for my history homework?"
Axel sputtered, his sentimental expression vanishing as he let out a mock-offended gasp. "Christopher- Advanced age? I’m in my prime! I can still outfly any jet in this city!"
"Sure you can," Amber laughed, dodging his attempt to playfully shove her arm. "Just don't throw your already fragile back out when you’re doing those mid-air loops. I’d hate to have to carry you back to the elevator. It’s a long walk, and my math homework is calling."
"Oh, you are definitely grounded," Axel grumbled, though his grin was wider than it had been all day. "No training holograms for a week."
"Whatever you say, Aero," Amber said, leaning her head against his shoulder. "Just make sure you take your vitamins."
The elevator beeped once again, Elle stepping out with a precision that was usually saved for business, but it was just a brisk walk so she could find her boyfriend.
"Axe, you're okay after today's battle, right?" She questioned, inspecting his suit closely from a few feet away, giving the duo space while still being involved.
"Yes, I'm fine," he reassured, rubbing Amber's back while she leaned into him, "Just making sure that I get to make up for lost time."
"I know you have your doubts sometimes, but you are exactly what she needs right now, y'know?" Elle mentioned, "A parent who doesn't expect the world of her. That's what I needed back then too. And you're doing a great job of it."
"Thanks, love," Axel started but Elle quickly cut him off with a hand over his mouth and pointing to a now-asleep Amber.
"Guess she hasn't been sleeping as well as she's been telling me...It's 5 PM, Axe-"
"She can sleep whenever she wants Elle," Axel quickly whispered, "Everyone just needs some downtime sometimes. And I think this one was long overdue."