The doorbell rang.

  Ben felt a spike of anxiety rush through him. Until recently, the sound of ringing doorbells had always been a prelude to disappointment, aggravation, and heartbreak. He would rush over to the door, praying for a miracle, hoping against hope to find the one person he desperately wished for–

  Only for it to all come crashing down when he saw who was waiting outside. Never who he wanted.

  Never his son.

  The heartbreak and disappointment would arrive first. Aggravation was what came after, when the surprise visitor inevitably started pissing Ben off. Either it'd be a reporter looking to exploit his grief for a quick story, a paparazzo with no concept of personal space, or some government stooge with even more questions to ask.

  Vultures, the lot of them. Relentless and uncaring. Always acting like they couldn't notice how he felt. Like he hadn't obviously been crumbling to pieces every fucking day. Like he wasn't this close to breaking someone's jaw so the rest would let him mourn in peace, consequences be damned–

  A gentle hand rested on his shoulder.

  Like snow blanketing flame, Lyn's touch calmed the rage boiling inside him. Exhaling, Ben gripped her hand tightly and turned to gaze upon his wife.

  The look on Lyn's face was knowing, but not judging. She knew what he was feeling – the same thing that she used to. While his rage could be explosive, hers was positively glacial, and she'd sent countless journalists running with a single cold stare.

  "It's okay," she stated with emphasis, peering into his eyes. "They can't bother us here."

  Slowly, Ben nodded. Despite putting their family through the wringer, the government had been good for one thing; covertly relocating them to a house out in the countryside. The two of them were essentially off the grid. It'd let them...if not enjoy themselves, then at least exist without being harassed so much.

  That was how life had been for over half a year. Drifting. Aimless. Each hour its own challenge as Ben and Lyn struggled to find the point in anything.

  Until one day, when the doorbell rang again – and their prayers were finally answered.

  "He's alive," Jason Miller had told them, with joy that matched their own. "Also, sorry for getting blood on the carpet, I came here right after fighting this evil version of me for info and – and he's fucking alive."

  Then later, "I have good news and better news. The good news is that I talked to him. He's…doing great. The better news is that you might have grandkids after he gets back – he found a girlfriend."

  Then later still, when Jason hugged them both and spoke the most magical words in the world:

  "ROB IS COMING HOME!"

  That had been weeks ago. Weeks since Ben and Lyn had seen their son for the first time in years. Since color and vibrancy had returned to them.

  It felt...odd, to enjoy life once more. Ben had assumed that the best he would ever achieve was a gray, empty listlessness – a measurable improvement from the sharp pain of stabbing grief.

  He'd never been happier to be proven wrong.

  Another ding-dong echoed throughout the house. This time Ben's apprehension felt lighter and tinged with excitement. It was closer to the anticipation of meeting someone new.

  Because while Rob had made sure to visit daily since setting a teleport marker at their house...today, he had company.

  "Let's not keep our guest waiting." Ben slapped his palms on his legs, psyching himself up. "First impressions are everything. Have to make it count."

  Lyn chuckled. "She's supposed to be the nervous one, not you."

  The tiny smirk on his wife's face erased any lingering worries in Ben's heart. Always my rock – my stability, my peace. What would he have done without her these past few years? He'd told Lyn that a hundred times, and she deserved to hear it a hundred times more.

  Ben was in high spirits as the two of them made their way to the front door. Not that Rob needed to use doors anymore, what with his strange teleportation magic, but it was the principle of the thing.

  Becoming a nigh-invincible godkiller didn't mean you ignored your manners. He'd been raised better than that. It was only polite to adhere to decorum when making introductions to people.

  Well, unless the people were assholes not worth being polite to. Then fuck 'em.

  He'd been raised that way too.

  Ben put on his best Gracious Host smile as he swung the door open to greet the four people outside. "Welcome to our humble abode," he said, immediately leaning forward with Lyn to hug their son. "Good to see you."

  It was the understatement of the century. The sight of Rob standing there, with a goofy grin, alive, would never cease to amaze him.

  "Humble abode?" Rob returned the embrace softly and carefully, as if their bodies were made of fine china. For someone of his strength, they may as well be. "You've been reading too many fantasy books."

  "Call it scientific curiosity. Until we can take a vacation to Elatra, books are the next-closest thing."

  They released the hug, Ben turning to greet their other visitors. "Jason. Jeanette." He nodded at each of them, conveying a wealth of gratitude in those two small motions. Without Jason, Rob might not have ever come back to them. As far as this household was concerned, they owed the young man a lifelong debt. "You keeping well?"

  "Better than ever," Jason replied. He rubbed the back of his head as he glanced at the carpet. "Uh, is that stain still – that's my bad."

  Jeanette flashed a grin. "We'll get that sorted out for you."

  Then, in the interest of not leaving the guest of honor hanging, Ben quickly faced the young woman at Rob's side. "And you must be Keira! It's wonderful to finally meet. I've heard lots about you – all of it good."

  Pictures and video footage hadn't done the elf justice. Rob had warned them of how unusual it felt to meet an Elatran for the first time, but Ben's mental preparation only somewhat diluted the effect. Keira's appearance looked...uncanny. Unrealistic. As if she belonged more on a magazine cover than in reality.

  Except for how she was clearly a bundle of nerves. None of the elf's supposed otherworldly grace was on display as she robotically lifted her hand, seeming caught between waving or just awkwardly holding it up.

  "Well met." Keira relaxed slightly when she managed to get the greeting out – then panicked again when she realized she should probably be saying more. "Thank you for accommodating me on this most auspicious day. Your house is...aesthetically pleasing."

  Rob observed her silently, love in his eyes and suppressed laughter on his lips. He nudged her with his shoulder, prompting the elf's posture to go ramrod straight. "May we come in?" she hurriedly blurted.

  "Of course," Lyn offered, taking mercy on her. "Right this way."

  Ben and Lyn stepped back to allow everyone inside. To be honest, both of them felt vaguely relieved by Keira's unease. Apparently, it didn't matter if you fought horrifying monsters on a regular basis, or could bend steel with your hands, or wielded an oversized sword like a paperweight.

  Nothing prepared someone for meeting the in-laws.

  --

  Ben didn't think that their house was very impressive. It was nice enough, he couldn't complain, but their family wasn't exactly living in the lap of luxury. They didn't own anything that would turn heads.

  Keira evidently disagreed. She appeared deeply interested in everything from the rug to the fridge, her gaze laser-focused as she quietly soaked in her surroundings.

  By the time their group of six entered the living room and sat down, her curiosity had completely overtaken her anxiety. She pressed her hand against the couch's soft plush surface, marveling at material that was available in every furniture store in the country.

  "Sorry we're late," Rob began, when everyone had settled in. "I'd say we ran into traffic on the way here, but that excuse stops working when you can teleport."

  "You just gotta sell it better," Jason advised. "Convince us that you stopped to kill another Blight along the way."

  "I wish. Chase held me up. You'd be shocked how much a President can whine behind closed doors."

  Rob altered his voice to a stuffy pantomime. "He's like, 'Rob, you can't just tell senators what to do, there are checks and balances blah blah.' Sure dude, I'll just sit back and watch as insulin prices quintuple."

  An evil grin spread across his face. "We'll see how they all feel when I crash the next big Congress meeting. God do I hope it's televised."

  For one fleeting moment – so fast that it could have been a trick of the mind – Ben felt his son's control slip. In that instant, he and Lyn experienced the weight of pure power crashing down upon them.

  Neither of them budged a millimeter. This wasn't the first time it had happened, and it wouldn't be the last. No sense in making the boy feel guilty again when it wasn't his fault.

  "Let us know if President Holder gives you any trouble," Ben assured. Lyn nodded alongside him. Rob wasn't someone that needed protecting anymore, but that wouldn't stop them from kicking a President's ass if he tried to harm a hair on their son's head. "What about you, Keira? Earth treating you alright?"

  The elf was still fixated on their couch. "What is this made of?" she asked, having forgotten that she was supposed to be nervous. "It feels similar to some textiles I've felt back home, yet different all the same."

  Before anyone could answer, Keira frowned, tilting her head. "That describes much of your world, actually. Similar yet different. What I've seen of Earth is like...a warped mirror of the abandoned Human territories in Elatra. The design sensibilities are comparable, but you've traded magic and Enchanted Items for electrical technology, and that divergence has seeped into every aspect of your lives."

  Ben wasn't sure how to respond to that. Lyn stepped in, giving Keira a friendly smile. "I'd love to hear more about your home," she said. "From what Rob has told us, Elatra has separate 'territories', yes? You lived with the Elves, and then moved over to the Fiends."

  "That's right. I believe you would have found yourselves reasonably comfortable in Elven territory. Fiend territory...less so. Fiendish architecture is bizarre."

  She paused. "I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you may have, but first, please answer one of mine." Her eyes sparkled with poorly-disguised excitement. "What shall we be having for supper? I heard you're cooking a favored family recipe – made with meat hunted from the local fauna."

  That's the fanciest way anyone's ever described a prepackaged turkey dinner, Ben mused.

  Jeanette's mouth twitched with mirth. "Huh. Guess that video of the Grab-And-Gulp incident wasn't exaggerated."

  "Everything we consumed there was purchased fairly," Keira professed, without a hint of remorse. "The owners of that establishment should've been thanking us for our patronage."

  "If I had any faith in the court system, I'd tell you to sue them for emotional damages," Jason added. "No one should be subjected to that crap."

  "They liked it!" Rob protested.

  "Man, if that's the standard of food in Elatra, then I don't think I would've survived over there. Like, goddamn."

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  Ben and Lyn ate quietly and enjoyed the show as their guests started to bicker. This house still had too many bad memories attached to it, but at times like these...it almost began to feel like a real home.

  --

  Dinner was a smash hit. Elatra didn't have much in the way of spices or seasoning, so the basic act of sprinkling pepper was like a grand revelation to Keira. Her enthusiasm was endearing – it was hard for Ben not to smile when she seemed so eager to learn more of Earth.

  "It's because of Rob," Lyn explained, when the two of them stepped aside for a quick side-discussion. "She's interested in our world, but she wouldn't be half as interested if it wasn't where he came from."

  "Huh, really? How do you know?"

  "Been in her shoes before." Lyn's voice took on a note of long-suffering amusement. "Our first date. Sat and listened to you ramble about your favorite football team. For hours. You're lucky I thought you were cute."

  Ben didn't have a comeback to that – although Keira did seem interested in Earth beyond how it related to Rob. After dinner was over, she asked to be shown around their house, requesting in-depth explanations for every mundane item that caught her eye. Books, light switches, the microwave; none were safe from the one-woman inquisition.

  Their impromptu tour was derailed when they found Rob's old game system. It had collected dust while he was gone, and gotten limited use since he'd returned. These days, he was too busy politicking and putting out fires on Elatra and Earth to justify spending much time holed up in a room.

  Keira took an immediate shine to the 'fascinating piece of Earth engineering', brightly asking if they could play a game or two. Now, Ben didn't think that sitting around playing video games was proper manners when visiting people – despite Rob routinely doing that in his youth – but this was a special occasion. Keira was learning more about a foreign world. It could be educational.

  Rob, Jason, Jeanette descended into an argument about which game would serve as a good introduction. Ben and Lyn sat out of the conversation, content to watch them have their fun.

  They eventually decided on a game called Mario Party. Something about how random chance would make it fair? Ben didn't quite get the context...though he did grow a little concerned over Jeanette's reaction.

  "No," she stated, in a tone that brooked no argument. "Not again. I'm sitting this one out."

  "Why?" Keira asked.

  "Because I love Jason, and I'd like to keep it that way. He introduced Baker to Mario Party, the two of them got competitive...look, it made me miss the times they'd just swordfight."

  Ignoring that ominous portend of the future, the remaining three contenders got started. They swiftly familiarized Keira with the nuances of using a game controller – she was a fast learner. Characters were chosen and a stage was selected. Before long, half an hour had already gone by.

  Ben could barely understand what he was looking at. Outside of 'get more stars and coins', the game didn't seem to have much rhyme or reason to it. Stuff just kept happening. He couldn't tell if he was out of touch, or if Mario Party was specifically designed to infuriate people.

  Judging by the pained grimace on Rob's face, the answer was probably somewhere in the middle.

  "I must admit to some confusion," Keira said after they were roughly halfway finished. "This video game is intended to be a recreational activity, correct?"

  "Yup," Rob grumbled.

  "I see." The elf observed the TV screen for a few seconds, watching as Jason rolled lucky again, discovering another free star hidden on the map. "Tell me – are all Earth games so masochistic at their core? Because this is more akin to a torture device than something I would seek out in my spare time."

  "Nah, you're looking at it wrong. It's more like a competition to see who gets to be more sadistic. Make sense?"

  Keira narrowed her eyes. "...Somehow, yes."

  "Exactly! Besides, nothing else would've worked. Rob's superhuman reflexes let him cheat at skill-based games."

  "Cheating?" Rob hissed. "Like when we played fighting games, and you used Dimension Strike to push the buttons on my controller?"

  "All's fair in Marvel vs Capcom. And speaking of fair..."

  Jason's character reached a left-right crossroads on the map. Ben noted the amount of spaces he had yet to move, then counted to see where he'd end up. On the left path, there was a seemingly innocuous space with two horizontal lines on it.

  Rob cursed under his breath. He turned to face Jason, who was staring directly at him. "Don't you fucking dare–"

  With a press of the button, Jason's character charged left. The TV happily announced 'Chance Time!' as another game of luck ensued. From what Ben could surmise, the outcome appeared random in the extreme. Literally anything was possible.

  Seconds later, Jason smiled as all of Rob's stars were transferred to him. "What can I say?" he said, with a shrug. "I earned them."

  Rob gingerly placed his controller on the floor, massaging his temples. "I hate you so goddamn much."

  "Come on, cheer up! There's still fifteen turns to go. You can always make a comeback."

  Keira stood up, brushing her hands on her pants as if washing herself of the situation. "I think I'll be taking my leave of Mario Party. It's been...enlightening, but I fear that continuing would be a mistake in several ways."

  "Oh thank Christ." Rob beamed at her. "Let's get back to the tour. What else do you want to–"

  "Actually, I'd like to speak with your parents in private for a moment." She offered him an apologetic grin. "Nothing bad, I assure you."

  Rob's face fell as Jason's smile widened further. Abandoning them to their fate, Keira led Ben and Lyn to a room on the opposite side of the house.

  "Heightened Senses," she explained. "If you want privacy around a high-Level Combat Class user, this much distance is necessary."

  Ben nodded. "We'll keep that in mind. So – what can we do for you?" She didn't seem upset, but it was possible that they'd broken some Elatran cultural taboo without knowing.

  "To start, I wish to thank you for your hospitality. You've made me feel completely welcome in your home. Few other people have been so kind when first meeting them. And..."

  The elf hesitated. "I also wish to thank you for not being afraid of Rob."

  Ben and Lyn froze. They exchanged a brief glance, confirming that they both knew what Keira was referring to.

  "Not sure I get your meaning," Ben said, with a stilted laugh. "Why would–"

  "There is no judgement on my part if you've struggled with this. It is...unavoidable."

  Keira winced, her eyes swimming with bitter memories. "In Elatra, there was a woman once called the Dragon Queen. The less remembered about her, the better – but I can think of no other person to compare Rob to in this regard. Unfortunately, the Dragon Queen was the second-most powerful Combat Class user to ever exist."

  She clenched her fists. "Her strength was overwhelming. It was such that the mere aura of her power brought veteran warriors to their knees. Even when she wasn't purposefully bludgeoning people with it, its weight could still be felt. And Rob..."

  The elf locked eyes with them. "Rob is far stronger than she ever was."

  "So I've heard," Ben muttered. That was one thing that hadn't fully clicked in his mind yet. Their son, the hero? Saving worlds and toppling gods? They were proud of him, immensely so, but the scope of everything was difficult to comprehend.

  Although...it got a bit easier every time they felt a trace of that aura.

  "He does well at keeping his power restrained," Keira continued. "It rarely ever slips through. For many, however, just one instance would be enough to frighten them – to make them never want to face him again."

  She held up a hand to forestall their response. "I know what retort simmers on your tongue. You're his parents, you wish to say. It would be unconscionable for you not to accept him. Perhaps you feel damned by faint praise."

  "Little bit," Ben admitted.

  Keira let out a hollow laugh. "Even in Elatra, where the strength of Combat Class users is expected, I've seen friends and family be wary of those with a much higher Level. Not everyone is capable of accepting that their loved ones could kill them with ease. And those Combat Class users are a fraction of a fraction of Rob's strength. This issue would only be exacerbated for him."

  Lyn leaned forward, her gaze suddenly intense. "Was Rob worried we would reject him?"

  The silence that followed spoke volumes.

  Eventually, Keira sighed. "He knew his fears were irrational. But...yes. For a long time, he was worried over how he'd changed. That you would be the same people, the same parents, yet spurn him regardless – and that you'd be right to do so."

  "Because of his power?"

  "And his willingness to use it. We fought many battles on our journey. Few were pleasant."

  Out of respect for her homeland, Ben pushed down the hatred he often felt for Elatra. That fucking world had subjected Rob to so much violence and bloodshed. Their son preferred to blame Elatra's gods for the shitshow it had become, but Ben wasn't so forgiving.

  "That is why I must express my gratitude." Keira smiled warmly at them. "You treat him as he was before. The love in your hearts has held strong. With you, in this house, he can be himself."

  She inclined her head. "From the bottom of my heart, I thank you."

  Lyn instantly stepped forward and grabbed the elf's hands. "That should be our line." Her eyes were watery. "We couldn't be there for Rob when he was in Elatra. You and your friends were. You kept him safe. Kept him sane. That...we can't put into words how much that means to us."

  Keira shuffled with embarrassment. "He did more for us than we for him," she mumbled.

  "Not how he'd tell it," Ben remarked. "Look, Keira, we know Rob's changed some. Anyone would after what he's been through. Doesn't mean he's lost himself. If anything, he's changed less than we'd imagined."

  They would have loved him no matter what – but Ben was well-aware of what an active warzone did to people. Rob had already admitted that he'd been physically ripped apart on multiple occasions, and that was with him downplaying things for their sake. He'd also been forced to kill far too many times, a fact that pained Ben just to think about. That much hardship could have transformed him into someone borderline unrecognizable.

  Instead, he was just their son. More experienced, more worldly, with scars on his heart and horrifying stories that chilled them to the bone...

  Yet still Rob.

  "Without you and your friends – without Riardin's Rangers – he wouldn't have come back to us," Ben told her. "I know you're probably worried about making a good first impression today, but trust me, you could've punched me in the face and I'd have welcomed you into our house with open arms."

  He scratched his chin. "Well, maybe I would've had some words to say if you two were a bad match, but you make him happy, clear as day. While neither of you needed our blessing, you've got it anyway."

  Lyn nodded in assent. When Keira smiled at them afterwards, it was the most genuine expression they'd seen on her yet. "It is plain to see why he was always so determined to find his way home."

  Ben laughed, returning her smile with one just as lively. Yeah. Rob's in good hands.