CHAPTER 28
Cait was silenced by shock as Director Swan led her up to her penthouse in the Flatiron. She'd vaguely been aware of the Director chatting pleasantly about her parents' concern for her, and chiding her for not calling them back. It wasn't till they stepped off the express elevator into the Director's quarters that she came back to herself.
The tasteful opulence of the three story apartment demanded her attention. Faux gaslight lit the place, giving everything a distinctly antique quality. The large receiving room had a circle of red leather couches around a simulated- or was that real?- firepit, and the triangular tip of the Flatiron had been converted all to glass windows, giving guests a panoramic view of the AEGIS complex, all its wonders, and Des Moines beyond.
"Wow." Cait said. She felt the Director's hand stray to the small of her back.
"Mmm, perks of the job, I suppose." She replied, absently stroking a finger along Cait's spine.
How the fuck am I supposed to act here? Cait wondered. The part of her she usually gave the most attention to was sending her pretty clear marching orders, but she was not used to being in a situation this complicated. She could understand Lira and Kennedy, wouldn't be the first time she'd been with girls who were closer than friends, but why was Director Swan, her adoptive goddamn mother, making moves on her? Especially if she, as Lira implied, knew her daughter had designs on Cait. Whatever it was didn't seem to bother Kennedy either, or at least she hadn't been mad when the Director had basically fucked her on the dance floor earlier that week.
In the end, Cait did what she pretty much always did. She surrendered to the little head, and trusted everyone else was using their big ones.
Cait ran her own hand down to the small of the Director's back, and lower, letting it rest on the swell of her ass.
"Why don't you show me to the bathroom, boss?" She said, bringing her lips close to Director Swan's ear. "Like you said, I'm dirty."
The mature beauty chuckled, the sound tickling Cait's ears and testing the modesty countermeasures in her supersuit.
"Well, we can't have that," The Director said, spinning towards Cait and leading her up the stairs. The bathroom they entered was the Oligarch Special. Dark green tiles that could have been carved emerald covered the walls and floor, with a huge gold filigreed claw-foot bath and spacious steam shower.
Without saying a word, The Director started to work the straps of Cait's outfit off of her shoulders. She peeled the fabric off her body, fingers tracing past her breasts, feeling Cait's abs move with her breath, and finally pulling the outfit past her hips. Her cock sprang out, already at attention, as the outfit fell to the floor.
How the fuck is that not always visible in these things?
The Director bit her lower lip as the head of Cait's cock brushed against her leg. She ran her fingers up Cait's balls, and traced them along the underside of her shaft.
Then she looked up, winked, and started to leave the room.
"I'll go find you something to wear. Pease, use the shower!" She called back over her shoulder. "The steam is wonderful!"
Cait stood there for a full 30 seconds, cock deflating alongside her hopes for the next few minutes. Sighing, she hopped into the shower, fiddling with the controls until she realized she could just turn it all the way to blazing and it wouldn't feel like more than a pleasant warmth to her.
She let the water wash away the grime and gore from the fight. Exquisite body wash and shampoo dealt with any tough spots, and left her smelling like she'd stepped out of the Great Gatsby, all sweet smoke and bourbon. She stayed in the shower for a good 10 minutes, both because the steam did feel wonderful, and because she half expected the woman who had brought her here to join her.
Lira has spoiled me, she thought as she gave up and stepped out of the shower. She dried herself off with what might as well have been a cloud for how luxurious the towel was, and looked around to see if the Director had snuck back in to leave her clothes. Finding nothing, she cracked the door. She found the clothes, but more importantly, she heard her dad's voice echoing up from an intercom near the elevator.
"-orry we're so early, ya know we always overestimate the traffic on the 235, been that way ever since pre-wave, always gave myself extra ti-"
He was rambling, which was good, since Cait was still naked in her bosses bathroom. She yoinked the pile of clothes from the hallway. Unfolding them, she found they were a matched suit vest and pants, dark grey with pinstripes. Checking again, she found no shirt, jacket, or notably, underwear.
Christ, is her kink embarrassing me? It's the only thing that makes this make sense.
She did find a thin gold chain with two loops, one small and one large, which after trying a few orientations unsuccessfully she realized was meant to go around her neck, between her breasts, and have the larger loop rest on her hips.
Not sure I love the symbolism of the harness, she thought, but as she slipped it on and looked at herself in the mirror, she had to admit it looked good as it laid against her tanned skin. Shrugging, she pulled on the suit vest and pants. The pants were loose and high, coming up to just below the line of gold. The vest however, was tight, but not too short. All in all, Cait technically looked more professional than she had for most of her job interviews.
Nothing to worry about. I don't look like anybody's pet.
She walked out of the bathroom, hearing Swan imploring her father to just head up the elevator. Her mom's voice added to the pressure, and a buzz sounded as the bickering couple boarded the elevator below. Director Swan turned to regard Cait, slowly looking her up and down as her lips turned up. She-
She didn't get a chance to do anything. Cait didn't stop at the bottom of the stairs, or the doorway, or any place to model herself for the Director. Instead, she strode forward, and Swan's eyes went wide as Cait took her by the waist, pulled her close, and kissed her. The Director's upper lip slid between Cait's, plump and full. She slid her tongue along the mature woman's lip, tasting the dark red lipstick she wore. Cait moved a hand to trace up the Director's neck, weaving her fingers into the silky black hair behind her neck.
All at once, the tension the Director had acquired when Cait took control left her. Her hands mirrored Cait's, holding her waist tightly with one as the other pulled Cait's head to her own. Her mouth opened, and Cait tasted her. The ghost of an excellent red wine flavored her tongue as it met Cait's, playing against her with masterful skill.
The elevator dinged, and Cait pulled hard on the Director's hair, unlatching their mouths as the beauty gasped. She stepped back, running a thumb along her mouth that came back smeared dark red with lipstick.
"You might want to clean yourself up a bit," she whispered into the dazed Director's ear. "Don't worry, I'll stall."
Director Swan's eyes sharpened, and she caught sight of herself in the mirror. Rarely throughout all of human history had a woman looked as cartoonishly kissed as she did in that moment. Cheeks flushed, hair mussed, and lipstick smeared, there would be no mistaking it. Glaring at Cait, she stalked off as the elevator's doors opened.
Two can play at the humiliation game, Cait thought, self-satisfied.
Cait's parents stepped out of the elevator, looking like tourists at the Eiffel tower.
"Wow!" Her dad exclaimed. "Do you think those are real gas lamps?"
Cait's mom rolled her eyes and smiled wide as she strode forward to hug Cait, who happily returned it.
As they parted, Cait grimaced, "I'm sorry, guys. I know I should've called more."
"More?" Her mom asked, motherly disappointment etched on her face. "Besides that first night we haven't heard from you once!"
Cait grimaced again, starting to explain, before her dad came up to the duo. His phone was already out and in selfie mode as he tried to get the family in frame.
"Smile bubby!" He ordered, and Cait rolled her eyes, but for once, complied. The resulting selfie got her and her dad pretty well, but only enough of her mom to tell the woman was glaring at her dad. Cait immediately felt a sense of home she hadn't even realized she'd been missing.
"Elliot!" Cait's mom snapped, slapping at the phone. "You haven't even greeted your daughter."
Her dad gave an easy smile and slapped Cait's back in a fatherly hug.
"Sorry, Cait, and wow, you really dressed up for this!" he said cursorily, "but have you seen this woodwork? I think it's all real mahogany!"
Cait chuckled and shook her head, "Wouldn't know, Dad. Director Swan had to check on dinner, she'd be able to tell you."
Speak of the devil, Director Swan swept back into the room, once again the picture of composure. Cait hadn't taken the time to really look at her, focusing on shock and awe to keep her off guard earlier. Now though, she was a vision. The midnight blue evening dress she wore almost, but not quite, blended with her raven hair, and it's off-the-shoulder cut left enough of her creamy chest exposed Cait wasn't sure how it stayed up. Once she realized the effect it was having on her, she grinned and looked to her Dad.
The graying man's eyes boggled nearly out of his head at the director, and Cait was certain if he was a cartoon rabbit she'd literally have to pick his jaw up off the floor. Her mom pinched him, but the effect was minimal.
It was never really a question where I got it from.
Director Swan smiled warmly at Cait's parents, and strode over to shake each of their hands in turn, her dad finally managing to make eye contact as she approached.
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. And Mrs. Smith," The Director began. "Welcome to my home! Given how quickly Cait has ingratiated herself to the organization, and her irresponsible lack of contact with you, I felt it only appropriate to update you in person."
Both of Cait's parents stumbled over each other to humbly insist the courtesy was unnecessary, but Cait herself cut in.
"No, she's right," Cait admitted. "I fucked up! And with how much has happened the past week, things don't seem to have much chance of letting up. I appreciate Director Swan helping me to arrange this."
The eyebrow Director Swan quirked in Cait's direction at the implication she'd had any part in planning this went unnoticed by all but Cait.
"Well," Elliot started, "I gotta say we did miss you at trivia Monday Bubby. Tough to keep the streak going with just the two of us!"
The fact that Cait's father was concerned about their bar trivia record in these circumstances would have seemed insane to an outside observer, but he'd had the same reaction when Cait had broken her leg three years ago. The man loved his routine.
Director Swan certainly seemed taken aback by it, and Cait had to shake her head.
Why did I even make the effort to put her off kilter? I should've known Dad would do it without even trying.
"Sorry, Dad," Cait said, finding she meant it. Her achievements might be more public and impactful now, but shouting a celebratory 'Get Fucked!' at the rest of the bar after a win had been the customary high point of her week up until all this.
"I… apologize for taking her away from that." The Director said, her smile taking on a bit of that customer service air as she tried to figure out if Cait's dad was joking. "But where are my manners? Elliot, Antonia, please, follow me to the dining room. Dinner should be brought up promptly."
Cait expected her to lead them through the sitting room, where her dad questioned whether the fireplace would work for s'mores, to a spacious dining room a la royalty. Instead, a side door led to a small and dimly, but warmly, lit room. One wall was entirely glass, and looked out over the
Pantheon, the stem of the Tortoiseshell pulsing out of it bathing the room in Kaleidoscopic light.
None of them spoke as they gazed down on it, even Director Swan, for whom this must be a common sight. Sometimes majesty simply demanded to be observed. That lasted less than a minute before Cait's dad commented that he'd heard 6G signal looked just like this if you wore night vision goggles.
Director Swan laughed, assuming he wasn't serious, and ushered them to the single rectangular table in the middle of the room. It was just large enough to sit two to a side. To his credit, Cait's dad did pull out the chair for his wife, and Cait followed his lead with Director Swan. Mostly just because Cait was sure it would piss the hyper-competent woman off, and they had found themselves in an odd kind of prank war this evening.
"So, Cait," Her mother said as they sat down. "Are you not living at your building anymore? When you weren't responding we stopped by to check on you and Salad, but it was cleaned out!"
Cait grinned, "Actually, you can see my house from here." She pointed at the Palace of Versailles replica peeking out from behind a copse of trees, and her parents eyes went wide.
"Still just an apartment though, and Director Swan even makes us have roommates!"
"Cait, you know that's to encourage teambuilding and to support those who have more trouble adjusting to this life than you do." The Director chided, not taking Cait's bait. "What would your friend Breastman do without you, after all?"
The relationship was more two-way than that implied. Cait's transition had been easy, but the constant, quiet companionship of Breastman had been as big a comfort to her as she liked to think she had been to him. They'd known each other a week, and already she knew he'd have her back against literal monsters, and he'd demonstrated as much. That kind of friendship only came from transitions like this, and it couldn't be bought or manufactured. The Director was surprised when Cait took her hand on the table, looking into her eyes earnestly as she squeezed it.
"You're right, and thank you." No jibes this time. Cait was immensely grateful for the situation she found herself in, confusing sexual dynamics aside, and it was no mystery who had pulled the strings to make it happen.
Cait's Dad was still gazing out the window, barely paying attention, but her Mom's eyes flicked between the two women, clearly reassessing the dynamic at work here. The Director removed her hand from beneath Cait's, patting it before reaching for the wine bottle in an ice bucket at the center of the table.
"Cait has settled into life here remarkably well, and has already shown a penchant for ending emergencies before they can impact the public safety. I'd like to propose a toast, to her selflessness, and your own for allowing us to have her." She poured herself, Antonia, and Cait a glass of rich red liquid, the complex scent wafting up from the glass before Cait even took the stem.
Dad stopped drinking, what, a month ago? Director Swan does her homework. Cait had to admire the woman, she crossed t's and dotted i's before other people would even have noticed it needed doing. A cup of ice water sat in front of Elliot, and he raised it to clink with the womens'.
"To Cait!" He said, apparently having missed Director Swan's denouement. "It's been a dream to have a Guardian in the family since AEGIS started!"
The tight look in Cait's mother's eyes above a wavering smile suggested she didn't feel quite the same way. Cait's sister had been part of an ARMOR Mobile Task Force in the early days of the Divine Coalition's aggression, and while she'd survived, it had been by no means a given. Cait smiled comfortingly at her, taking her mom's hand in both of her own.
"Did they tell you what I can do, mom?" she asked.
Her mother shook her head before responding. "No, only the speculation from the news about you, we know you're real tough, Cait, but that's about it."
Cait's smile grew wide. "Tough ain't the half of it, mom. You shoulda seen what Lira hit me with, day one. Not even a scratch. Far as we can tell I'm 100% invincible. You don't have to worry about me. I'd probably survive being thrown into the sun!"
Antonia relaxed a bit at that, but the tension didn't completely leave her. It can't have been easy to hear that a second child was going into a profession where conflict was the norm, not a rarity, even if they were the toughest thing known to mankind. Especially since as a Guardian, Cait's offhand comment about being thrown into the sun was less of a joke than it would be for most people.
"Cait isn't exaggerating, Antonia." Director Swan said, her lips forming a silent O of pleasure as she sipped her wine. "I've been active in this world for nearly as long as Cait has been alive, and I've never seen anything like her. What's more, her aptitude for team-building is impressive, and any one of the people she's surrounded herself with would be a threat against many of our entire teams."
"She always did make friends easily." Cait's mom smiled, more of the tension leaving her eyes. She squeezed Cait's hands, and took a sip of wine herself.
"Who's Lira?" Elliot asked, his eyebrows wiggling like a jazzercise class as he picked up on the conversation a few sentences late. "One of those roommates?"
Director Swan surprised Cait by laughing and answering for her.
"From what my own daughter tells me, she may as well be!" she jibed, one hand squeezing Cait's thigh under the table.
She wasn't wrong. Lira had stayed over every night since Cait got here save one, when she'd had an extra early personal training appointment at the Coliseum. Salad had been happy to have Cait all to his rumbly self that evening.
"Lira is…." Cait said, unable to keep a shit-eating grin from spreading across her face. "I think you'll know what I mean when I say she's a 'close friend'. She's great though, and so is everyone else. Kennedy, Director Swan's daughter, is amazing, and I doubt any of us really even know how amazing yet. She seems to get better every day. Dawn is an actual witch, and also an Altered deer. Probably best Grandpa isn't around to meet her, he'd definitely have to answer for war crimes against her people. She's got this whole peaceful aura going on, and has sort of become the dorm mother for the rest of us idiots. Breastman… did either of you know Nick Fein?"
Cait's dad had a reputation for knowing someone in any room he walked into, so the question was more of a reasonable one than you'd expect. No luck though, as they both shook their heads.
Cait nodded sadly, "Yeah, I get the feeling not a lot of people did. He's the guy that hit me with the truck, no, mom, he wasn't drunk, and no, dad, he wasn't texting. The Wave turned him into a tentacle monster while he was driving, near as we can tell at the same time it Altered me. The dude, no shit, seconds after being turned into a horror blob, started tearing into the engine block of his truck to save me. You find a guy who has that kind of reaction in an emergency, you make him your friend for life, and that's exactly what I'm trying to do."
Cait's dad nodded like that was obvious, her mom looked proud, and so did Director Swan. Though whether she was proud of Cait, or herself for nailing the team comp, was up for debate.
The elevator dinged again, and a young man in an AEGIS polo pushed in a cart laden with covered dishes. He named them as he laid them out, and Cait and her parents found themselves staring at a surf and turf spread to humble an oil baron. Director Swan winked at Cait as she cut into a Wagyu filet.
"Like I said, perks of being the boss."
Cait felt bad for her mom, as she'd had weight loss surgery years prior that prevented her from diving into the meal with the gusto Cait and her father did. Still, a single bite of this meal would probably have cost Cait a month's pay a week earlier, so she didn't have to feel too bad for her. Conversation ebbed as they ate, but Director Swan and Antonia managed to keep up a friendly chatter as their dates made pigs of themselves. It turned out the women were fans of the same old-world true crime podcasts, and while nothing had ever been less surprising, it gave them something to talk about.
After those who were going to be were absolutely stuffed, Director Swan steered her conversation with Cait's mother to a close and assumed a more serious air. The wine had colored her cheeks, but her eyes remained sharp as her demeanor commanded the table's attention.
"Elliot, Antonia," she began. "I've had a wonderful evening with you and your daughter, but I'm sure you must be wondering if this is all normal for a new Guardian."
She sighed, not happy about what she had to say next.
"It is not. While I have relished the chance to meet the parents of such an impressive young woman, I took it upon myself to set up this evening because Cait will be undertaking a very dangerous mission for us, very soon," she explained. "Her team will be going outside the Tortoiseshell to hunt a beast responsible for the death of many Guardians."
Cait watched her parents' faces fall with every word, and jumped in to reassure them.
"Director Swan isn't exaggerating, but remember!" She interjected, grabbing a hefty steak knife and stabbing it with force into her bicep. The knife bent, then snapped, shards pinging off the glass of the window. "100% invulnerable! The thing we're after can't throw shit at me that'll leave so much as a scratch."
Cait felt Director Swan's nails dig into her thigh, as the woman hissed, "That knife was Michelin quality."
"I don't know what that means," Cait whispered back.
Her dad had seemed to take Cait's reassurance at face value, and was picking knife shards out of the excellent roasted Brussel sprouts catering had provided. Cait's mom wasn't so easy to placate however. Director Swan took the lead on that, taking Antonia's hand in hers.
"Antonia. My own daughter will be with Cait on this mission, and she doesn't have the same invulnerability your daughter does. I share your worry, and it's that same fear as a parent that led me to want to have this little dinner. I want you to know that I have faith in Kennedy to bring your daughter home, and I have faith in Cait to protect mine." A tear welled up in Cait's mother's eye, and damn if it wasn't mirrored in Director Swan's. Cait was touched herself by the vote of confidence, but had to admit it was earned. Whatever they faced would have to kill Cait before she let them get to Kennedy, and it didn't look like Cait was apt to die. Director Swan schooled her expression, squeezing Antonia's hand with a tight smile. "I wouldn't have felt right sending someone else's daughter out on this without them knowing, and so few of us Guardians have parents to tell."
Cait's mom sniffed, wiped her eyes and sat back, nodding as she returned Director Swan's tight smile. "Thank you," was all she said.
"Does this mean you'll miss trivia again Monday?" Her dad asked, and the three women shared a look before bursting into laughter. The group finished off a second bottle of wine before things wound down, and the Director led them to the door.
"Thank you all so much for coming," she said, calling the elevator. "I know how often people say this without meaning it, but we should do this again sometime. It's rare that I get a chance to enjoy an evening that is purely social, even if heavy topics had to be addressed."
Cait's mother surprised the Director with a hug, and agreed. Her dad, still quite aware of the woman's beauty, opted for a firm handshake instead.
"You coming down with us Bubby?" He asked as the elevator doors opened. Cait crooked an eyebrow at the Director.
"Actually, our conversation reminded me of something I need to discuss with Cait. Perhaps we can arrange a campus tour when she returns?"
Cait's parents voiced their assent, and said their goodbye to Cait in turn. Her mother hugged her tight, reminding her how proud she was of her, and to make sure she made it home safe. Her dad clapped her on her shoulder, but Cait pulled him in for a hug. He liked to play the fool and break the tension, a trait she'd inherited. But she knew the events of the last week and the news tonight would have shaken him as well.
"Love you guys," she said, which was returned, and the elevator doors slid closed.