(17 March, 2005)
The crisp morning air of mid-March carried the quiet promise of warmth, but inside the Long household, the atmosphere was already buzzing with a mix of domestic routine, quiet affection, and lingering tension.
Jake dragged himself out of bed just as the sun began to paint the horizon in soft, bleed-through hues of amber and rose. He moved through his morning routine with practiced, half-asleep ease—freshening up, scrubbing his face, and making sure to thoroughly wash his long tongue.
Being the American Dragon came with unique hygienic obligations, and a dragon with bad breath was a tragedy only his enemies deserved to endure.
Once he felt somewhat presentable, he crept down the carpeted hallway toward his sister's room. Knowing Haley's tooth had been giving her grief all night, Jake eased the door open and nudged her gently by the shoulder.
"Rise and shine, squirt," he murmured softly, keeping his voice low so as not to aggravate her aching jaw.
Haley groaned, burying her face deeper into her pillow before rolling over with a scowl that looked far too fierce for her small frame. Despite the attitude, she let Jake help her out of bed. With an extra level of patience, Jake helped her brush her teeth with extra care, carefully avoiding the tender, swollen gum line near her back molar.
"See? Master-level precision," Jake whispered, tapping his own chest. "You're lucky to have such an attentive big brother."
"You used the wrong toothpaste brand, dummy," Haley mumbled, her voice muffled by the water she was swishing, though the corner of her lips twitched upward.
**********
Jake led her downstairs into the comforting, heavenly aroma of the morning breakfast.
In the kitchen, Susan was already moving with sharp efficiency between the stove and the dining table, plating food while keeping a watchful eye on the clock.
Jonathan sat at the table nursing a mug of black coffee. He looked distinctly disheveled. Dark, shadowy circles rimmed his eyes—a clear sign he had spent the better part of the night tossing, turning, and obsessively overthinking every single logistical micro-detail of today's wedding anniversary trip with his wife.
Jake bid his mother a quick good morning before sidling over to his father. He leaned in close, nudging Jonathan's elbow with a knowing, sly grin. "So, Dad... where are you taking Mom for the big trip? I am all ears," he whispered, trying to coax out a hint. "Come on, spill it. Is it a cabin? A beach? A high-end bagel convention?"
Jonathan offered a weary but triumphant grin, giving Jake a conspiratorial, if slightly bloodshot, wink. "Not a chance, young man. It's a total surprise for your sweet mother. I've spent three months planning this, and she's going to be absolutely blown away. Ironclad secrecy, Jake. Not even a leak from the inner circle."
While the father-son duo ended their banter, Susan stepped up to the table, setting down a generous platter of fresh food.
"Morning, everyone," Susan said while kissing Jonathan's temple. After that her attention turned to her daughter while patting her husband's slumped shoulder affectionately. "How are you feeling this morning, Haley? I hope that that tooth isn't aching much?"
Haley winced slightly as she attempted to chew a soft piece of buttered toast, but her eyes instantly lit up with fiery determination. "It still hurts a little, Mom, but it's gonna be totally fine once we get to the concert! I'm gonna fix it in a jeepney as soon as I meet Shaniqua! Oh! And the Flash! I really hope we see the Flash, too. It would be super awesome if I could get his autograph!"
Jake couldn't help but chuckle at her boundless enthusiasm, his own minor annoyances melting away. He reached over and playfully ruffled her hair. "Don't worry, kiddo. I'll make sure you get that autograph, even if I have to chase him down myself."
Haley crossed her arms, letting out an exaggerated, theatrical scoff. "Oh, sure! Like I should trust you! You went all the way to Gotham City and did an entire mission with Batman, but you totally forgot to get his autograph for me!"
Jake's confident smile instantly withered into a grimace. The sharp sting of pure embarrassment and panic hit him like a bucket of ice water.
"Hey! Cut me some slack, alright?!" Jake hissed across the table, his eyes darting frantically toward their father. "That situation was so insanely messed up that anyone would've forgotten! It was life or death!"
At the sound of those words, the clatter of silverware abruptly stopped.
Jonathan's ears perked up sharply. His head snapped toward the table, his expression shifting from tired affection to utter, jaw-dropping bewilderment.
"Hang on a minute," Jonathan said slowly, setting his coffee mug down so fast it splashed slightly onto the tablecloth. He stared blankly between his two children. "You went to Gotham City? And met Batman? The Batman? W-when? How? What on earth just happened that I wasn't aware of? And what did Haley mean by a... a 'mission'?"
The poor, oblivious man sat there drowning in sheer confusion, his brain visibly struggling—and failing—to process the absurd, heroic claims echoing across his quiet breakfast table.
Haley instantly slammed both hands over her mouth, her eyes widening to the size of saucers as she completely forgot about her throbbing toothache. She looked at Jake with a look of pure terror.
Before Jonathan's spiraling thoughts could form a full sentence, Susan immediately stepped in with smooth, terrifyingly efficient maternal composure.
"Oh, Jonathan, sweetie, don't mind them," Susan said, chuckling with practiced lightness as she poured him more coffee. "Haley's talking about that online fan club game from last month. Remember? The big Batman Fanfare event?"
Jonathan blinked, his brows furrowing. "The... fan club?"
"Yes! The official Gotham Fan Club website," Susan lied without missing a single beat, her voice dropping into a comforting, informative rhythm. "They ran a virtual promotional campaign where kids could win a signed autograph from an actor dressed as Batman, but they had to complete interactive 'missions'—you know, rapid-fire trivia questions, online puzzle games, that sort of thing. Jake entered the competition for Haley, but he lost in the final round."
Jake immediately caught the lifeline. "Yeah! Exactly! Total ripped-off trivia, Dad! Who knows what night Batman's cape was retrofitted with Nomex armor? It was a total scam!"
Haley nodded frantically, smiling so hard her cheeks bulged. "Yeah, Dad! He lost! Total failure!"
Jonathan sat back in his chair, the tension slowly draining from his face as a look of sympathetic understanding washed over him. He looked at his children, utterly convinced by the elaborate theatrical performance.
"Wow... I had no idea fan clubs were taking things so seriously these days," Jonathan murmured, shaking his head with a small smile. "Well, Haley, as much as you have the right to get angry at Jake, you need to understand that your brother tried his best for you. It's the thought that counts. So you should appreciate it, okay?"
"Okay, Dad," Haley said meekly, letting her hands fall from her mouth. "I appreciate it, Jake."
"Thanks, squirt," Jake muttered, exhaling a breath he felt like he'd been holding for three full minutes.
Jonathan chuckled and resumed his breakfast, completely content with the explanation.
To an outsider, the interaction was straight-up psychological manipulation. And the Long family wouldn't even argue the point; it felt dirty, and it cut deep. But in their world, maintaining the masquerade was a rule written in fire and blood.
It simply had to be done. The magical underbelly of the universe was dangerous, unpredictable, and certainly not built for gentle, ordinary folks like Jonathan Long.
Yet, looking at Jonathan's innocent, utterly clueless face—the way he happily buttered his toast without a single care in the world—something cracked in the hearts of the three people sitting around the table.
************
When breakfast finally concluded, Jonathan stood up to head to the hallway to head to his room. Susan stepped up behind him, pulling him into a tight, protective hug, resting her chin softly on his shoulder. She held him a second longer than usual.
"Is something wrong, honey?" Jonathan inquired, turning his head slightly to meet her gaze.
"Nothing's wrong, sweetheart," Susan murmured softly, her voice laced with gentle, overflowing warmth. "Just... thinking about the wonderful time we will be having."
Jonathan's momentary dazed look instantly melted into a bright, enthusiastic smile. He turned in her arms and beamed down at her. "Oh! Right! Honey, I'm telling you. The surprise? It's going to blow your mind. You are going to love every single second of it! Just wait until we hit the road!"
He gave Susan a sweet, lingering kiss on the cheek before eagerly bustling upstairs to get dressed and finalize his secret itinerary.
As soon as the sound of his footsteps faded down the second-floor hallway, Haley shuffled over to Susan, her lower lip trembling slightly.
"Mom... I'm so sorry," she whispered in a small, crestfallen voice, clutching the edge of her shirt. "I didn't mean to slip up. I just... I got excited about the Flash and Shaniqua, and my mouth moved faster than my brain."
Susan gently knelt down to Haley's eye level, stroking her daughter's hair and pulling her close for a comforting pat on the back. "It's alright, sweetie. I know you didn't mean any harm. Secrets are hard to carry, especially when we love the person we're keeping them from. Just please, be a little extra careful next time, okay?"
Haley nodded earnestly, a visible weight lifting off her small shoulders as she felt her mother's immediate forgiveness.
Jake stepped up beside them, leaning his back against the edge of the kitchen counter with his arms crossed over his chest. His usual relaxed demeanor had vanished, replaced by a dark, contemplative look in his eyes.
"Mom, I know we have to keep the secret to protect him," Jake said, his voice dropping into a serious register. "I get it. The Magical Council, the Huntsclan, all of it. But... we've gotta tell Dad the truth one day. About us, about Grandpa, about the whole dragon heritage. We can't keep living this double life in front of him forever. It's not fair to him, and honestly, it sucks lying to his face."
Susan stood up slowly, dusting off her apron before letting out a long, melancholic sigh that seemed to carry the weight of decades.
"You're right, Jake. You're completely right," she admitted softly, looking toward the staircase where her husband was loudly humming a catchy tune. "But considering your father's nature... the poor man would have a heart attack on the spot if he found out the reality of our world."
As much as Jake wanted to argue the point and demand absolute honesty, he swallowed his words. Deep down, he knew his mother was right.
Jonathan Long was a man who literally shrieked, scrambled backward, and jumped onto dining chairs at the mere sight of a harmless house spider or a stray cockroach. He was a gentle, sensitive soul who considered a mild rainstorm an intense event.
If he suddenly discovered that his father-in-law and both of his young children could transform into giant, scales-and-fangs, fire-breathing mythical reptiles... God help his poor, gentle heart. The shock alone might send him straight to the emergency room.
************
By mid-morning, the domestic emotional drama was temporarily put on hold as Susan and Jonathan prepared for their departure.
Jonathan had managed to hail a yellow cab outside, standing by the open rear door with their luggage while Susan fussed over the kids on the front porch one last time. She clutched Jake's shoulders, staring directly into his eyes with intense, unyielding maternal authority.
"Jake, I need you to be extremely vigilant at this concert," Susan instructed, her tone leaving zero room for interpretation. "Central City is massive, and crowds can get unpredictable. You keep your eyes on Haley every single second. No wandering off, no dragon shenanigans, and no flying unless it is an absolute emergency. Do you hear me?"
"I promise, Mom," Jake assured her smoothly, holding up a hand in a mock scout honor pledge. "Nothing is gonna happen to her. I've got her back. She's literally safe with me."
Susan's sharp expression softened into a warm smile. She bent down, wrapping both Jake and Haley in a tight, fragrant hug, kissing each of them firmly on their foreheads. "Have fun, be safe, and stick together."
"Have a great time, kids!" Jonathan called out from the street, waving enthusiastically over the top of the taxi cab. "Don't throw any wild parties while we're gone!"
"Worry about yourself surviving the night, old man!" Jake yelled back, making Jonathan go red while getting a glare from Susan.
With final waves and cheerful farewells, their parents stepped into the taxi, and the vehicle merged into the New York traffic, speeding off toward their secret anniversary getaway.
Jake and Haley turned back inside the quiet house, the sudden silence feeling strangely heavy.
"Alright, small fry," Jake grunted, tossing a thumb toward the stairs. "Time to gear up. Central City isn't gonna rock itself."
Once the two of them were dressed in their best streetwear—Jake in his red hoody and Haley rocking her stylish, mini-star jacket—Jake fired off a quick group text to Spud and Trixie.
Within twenty minutes, the doorbell rang violently, announcing the arrival of the duo, who practically burst through the entrance brimming with hyperactive energy.
"Haley-com-com!" Trixie squealed the second she crossed the threshold.
Before the younger girl could dodge, Trixie swooped in like a bird of prey, ensnaring Haley in a crushing, bone-deep bear hug. She immediately began relentlessly pinching and playing with Haley's cheeks. "Look at you! Ready for the big leagues! Shaniqua ain't ready for this level of cuteness!"
"Trixie! Stop it! Let go!" Haley protested through gritted teeth, squirming furiously and swatting at Trixie's hands like annoyed wasps. "My tooth is still aching, you know! You're crushing my face!"
Trixie froze, instantly releasing her grip and jumping back with her hands up. "Oh, crap! Sorry, girl! I totally forgot! Hahaha, my bad, my bad!"
Spud stepped forward, shaking his head with an air of profound, philosophical disapproval. "Trixie, Trixie, Trixie. How many times must we review the golden rule of dental trauma? Sensitivity requires spatial awareness. You cannot apply hurricane-force love to a compromised jawline. It's basic science."
"Oh, like you have room to talk, Spud," Trixie snapped back, rolling her eyes with a smirk. "Who was the one who tried to heal a cavity last week by sticking a peppermint down his throat?"
"It was an experimental homeopathic sugar remedy, and it almost worked!" Spud defended himself proudly.
"Alright, break it up, crew," Jake chuckled, stepping between them and waving them toward the door before an hour-long debate could unfold. "Save the energy for the train. We've got a schedule to keep."
The four of them left the house and hailed a local taxi, which shuttled them through the bustling, horn-honking streets of New York directly to the massive terminal of Penn Station.
They navigated the crowded, bustling concourse, purchased their tickets at the kiosk, and boarded the sleek, high-speed regional transit line bound directly for Central City.