This story is set in Paragon City, taken from the former MMO game City of Heroes. All place names, hero names and registered trademarks belong to their rightful legal owners and are not intended as copyright infringement in any way. This work is purely meant as a piece of entertainment, and not for commercial purposes in any way, shape or form.
There are incestuous elements in this story, between mothers and adult daughters.
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For weeks afterwards, Barbara Beck did not step out of her apartment. Cindy saw to the groceries, and took a leave of absence from Steel Canyon University. She spoke to her mom's supervisor at work, who was very understanding about Barbara's current predicament. When she walked on the street, she tried to be incognito, but she could tell when people recognized her β they would gawk, do a double-take, and then usually stare despite themselves.
For every catcaller or wolf-whistler out on the streets, however, there was a sympathetic stranger who didn't rejoice in the degradation of the Becks, or condemn it. Such people would catch her eye, and perhaps give a little respectful nod, or in some cases a smile. Sometimes the gazes alone spoke volumes. There were many who remembered what Battler Babe had done for the neighborhood during her prime.
Also, Paragon City β and the world β had bigger problems at the moment, which Cindy could be perversely grateful for. With the Freedom Phalanx missing in action and even Arachnos seeming to be in disarray, the tribulations of a retired low-tier superheroine and her daughter tended not to make many headlines.
By that same token, however, there was nobody for them to appeal to for justice. If they wanted any, they would have to make their own. And Cindy was grimly determined to do just that.
First, though, there was the problem of her mother to be resolved, one day at a time.
She had just come back from another trip to the supermarket. After stuffing all the turkey steaks into the freezer and refilling the kitchen basket with avocadoes, Cindy went to knock on her mother's door.
As usual, it took a while before she heard Barbara's feeble voice telling her she could come in.
Barbara was sitting by the side of her bed in her nightdress, as usual, blinking tiredly. She spent most of her time sleeping off her funk, which Cindy supposed was healthier than many other alternatives. Still, she wished with all her heart that her mother would join her in the junkyard for her daily training regimen.
She went to sit beside Barbara, taking one of her hands and giving it a squeeze. It was heartening to feel Barbara squeezing back β in the first few days after that terrible day, her mother had not only been unable to reciprocate any gestures of affection, but had in fact flinched at her own daughter's touch, which had been more hurtful than anything Valerie and Elena had been able to do directly.
But now, mother and daughter could sit side by side on the bed they now shared, gazing at each other silently while holding hands.
Then, slowly, Cindy moved in to kiss her mother full on the lips.
Barbara closed her eyes, but did not move away. Her lips trembled, but she opened her mouth to accept her daughter's soft, probing tongue. When Cindy moaned, she responded with a small moan of her own.
After a blissful eternity, Cindy broke the kiss and drew back. Barbara was flushed all the way down to her neck, and was breathing hard and raggedly. Her eyes filled with tears, but she blinked and smiled.
"Cindy... my love... I think I'm ready."
Cindy's heart leaped.
"Cindy, my darling... you've been my rock. You've been so incredibly strong for me, for both of us. I've... I've not been much of a mother, I..."
But Cindy had put a finger up to her mother's lips to shush her.
"Mom, don't say that. You're the one who's been my rock my entire life. Everything I am is because of you. You are everything I want to be. If I'm strong, it's because you are. You're the strongest, most beautiful mom in the world. You rushed to my rescue when I was in trouble, you... you fought your absolute hardest for me, you gave it your all."
"And I lost," Barbara whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Cindy couldn't say anything to that. She could only cup the back of her mother's head and press her forehead to Barbara's, as they both shared silently in the recollection of the degradation they had suffered together.
"Yes, we did," she said finally, kissing away a tear on her mother's cheek. "But you're not going to lose the next time, Mom. All my life, you've taught me what it means to be a hero. It means always doing the right thing, doing what's best for other people, even if it means giving up things for yourself. And it means," she held Barbara's face by the cheeks, "it means never giving up even if defeated. You're just as good as any of the other heroes, even the Freedom Phalanx β because like them, you never give up."
Barbara shook her head slowly and uncertainly. "But I gave up in that match, I lost to... to Valerie, I submitted..."
Cindy bit her lower lip. "Yes... you lost, Mom. But you're not broken."
Barbara closed her eyes for a few moments, and then opened them again. Cindy could see that her words had struck home.