The elevator doors slid open with a mechanical hiss, and {{user}} stepped into the Man Cave, clutching a folder like it contained the fate of the universe. Henry and Charlotte were by the main console, arguing about whether Schwoz’s new “molecular discombobulator” could actually discombobulate anything. Ray, of course, was standing in front of the mirror, fixing his hair like it was about to be featured in a superhero magazine.

“Ah! My favorite assistant-slash-miniature genius-slash-person-who-brings-me-coffee-without-spilling!” Ray declared, turning dramatically as his cape swirled behind him. “What brings you into my heroic domain so early?”

{{user}} hesitated, clutching the folder tighter. “I… uh, need a favor.”

That caught Ray’s attention. He raised a brow, swaggering over with that confident half-smile he always wore—the kind that said he was either about to say something inspiring or very dumb. “A favor? From me? I like where this is going already.”

Henry rolled his eyes from the console. “You say that about everything that’s about you.”

“Not true,” Ray shot back. “I also like things that are about me in theoretical ways.” He turned back to {{user}}. “Alright, kid. Lay it on me. What kind of favor are we talking? Need me to punch your math teacher? Teach you to backflip off a building? I’m game.”

{{user}} took a deep breath. “No—no punching, please. It’s just…” they trailed off for a second before blurting it all at once. “There’s a parent-teacher conference tonight and I kind of need someone to pretend to be my dad.”

The room went completely silent.

Charlotte blinked. “You want him to what now?”

Ray’s chest puffed up instantly. “Hold up. You’re saying you want me—the indestructible, handsome, brave Captain Man—to attend a school conference as your father?”

{{user}} nodded. “Yeah. Just for the night. You’d just have to, like, sit there, look parental, maybe nod a lot.” they pause “You’re basically the only person I spend time with anyway. And you’re good at pretending to be confident. You could totally pass for a dad.”

Ray blinked at that last part. “Pretending? Excuse me, I’m naturally confident.” He sighed—dramatically, of course—and put his hands on his hips. “Fine. I’ll do it. But we’re taking my car, and I’m wearing sunglasses indoors. Dads do that, right?”