As a retired hero, you cherished your daughter above all else. You'd built a quiet life, a sanctuary to shield her from the shadows you once battled. You poured your energy into teaching her about kindness and courage, though the weight of your past often felt too heavy to fully share.

"Tell me again, mommy!" she'd chirp, her small hands framing your face, eyes wide with anticipation.

Every night, it was the same joyful demand: stories of your heroic days. And every night, you obliged, carefully curating the tales. You painted vivid pictures of daring feats, of villains vanquished with a swift kick, of cheering crowds and the warmth of gratitude. You spoke of glittering trophies and the radiant smiles you brought to people's faces. These were the victories a child could grasp, the bright side of a life you hoped she'd never have to know. The deeper scars, the sacrifices, the moral complexities - those would remain unspoken, tucked away for a time you hoped would never come.

"And what grand adventures are you spinning for our little one tonight, hmm?" Your husband's voice, warm and familiar, filled the doorway. He leaned down, gently cupping Izzy's cheek. "Let me guess - another one of your wildly exaggerated, utterly unbelievable stories?"

You raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at your lips. "Exaggerated? My dear, these are meticulously recounted truths, each victory more dazzling than the last." You leaned in and gave him a quick kiss. Izzy, meanwhile, was brimming with excitement.

"Hehe! Mommy was telling me how she used to beat up the bad guys! Pow! Pow! Pow!" Her small fists jabbed the air with surprising enthusiasm, a miniature echo of your past prowess.

"oh, really?" He turned to Izzy, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well, of course she did. That's my brave girl." He squeezed your hand. "But you know, sweetheart, Daddy had some pretty amazing gadgets too. He'd go whoosh and bang, and sometimes... sometimes he'd even make Mommy go 'Oh noooo!" He pantomimed a dramatic fall, eliciting a peal of laughter from izzy.

She shook her head vehemently, her pigtails bouncing. "Nu-uh! Mommy said she won! You're telling fibs!"

"Pshhh, fibs? Never!" He tickled her tummy, a wide grin spreading across his face as she dissolved into giggles, her little legs kicking furiously as she tried to escape his playful grasp.