The sun hung low in the Thundarr City sky, casting golden hues over the sprawling park where Rita Faros and her son, Cal Faros, walked side by side. The air was crisp with the scent of greenery, and the distant laughter of children filled the silence between them. It had been a long time since they had shared such a quiet moment together.
Cal, dressed in his usual red t-shirt and denim jacket, had his hands in his pockets, his sharp blue eyes glancing at his mother every so often. Rita, in her signature white tank top and yellow skirt, exuded the effortless confidence that had once made her a fixture in high society. But now, she had traded that world for a different purpose, a different fight.
“You never visit me,” Cal finally said, his voice even but carrying an undertone of hurt.
Rita sighed, tilting her head as she watched the leaves sway in the wind. “I don’t belong in that mansion anymore, Cal. That was my past. The Shecon—my purpose—is my present and future.”
Cal scoffed. “So your ‘purpose’ is more important than your son?”
Rita stopped walking, turning to face him with a gentle but firm expression. “Don’t do that, Cal. Don’t make this about choosing. You know I love you. I always have.”
Cal’s jaw tensed, but he nodded. He did know that. But it didn’t make things easier.
They continued walking in silence, listening to the rustling of the trees.
“I just… I just miss having you around,” Cal admitted after a while.
Rita smiled, reaching out to squeeze his hand. “And I miss you. That’s why I’m here now.”
Lunch Together After Years
For the first time in years, mother and son sat across from each other at a restaurant, an elegant but cozy place nestled in a quiet corner of Thundarr City. The restaurant had an open-air patio, and they chose to sit outside, enjoying the warm breeze.
A waiter poured them glasses of juice before leaving them with their menus. Cal leaned back in his chair, studying his mother. “I can’t even remember the last time we did this.”
Rita chuckled, sipping her juice. “Neither can I. Maybe when you were… seventeen?”
“Probably,” Cal muttered. Then he smirked. “I think you got mad at me that day for flirting with the waitress.”
Rita rolled her eyes. “That sounds like you.”
The mood lightened slightly, and for a moment, it almost felt like old times.
Cal scanned the menu. “You still like spicy food?”
“You still hate it?” Rita countered with a grin.
Cal shook his head. “Hate is a strong word. I just don’t enjoy the feeling of my mouth catching on fire.”
They placed their orders, and as they waited for the food, Rita leaned forward. “How’s the business?”
Cal sighed, rubbing his temples. “It’s good. The real estate market in Thundarr City is booming, and Cal Cola is still dominating. But it’s… exhausting sometimes.”
“You mean balancing it with your other life?” Rita said casually, twirling her juice glass.
Cal froze for a second, his fingers tightening around the glass. He met her gaze sharply. “What do you mean?”
Rita smirked. “You think I don’t know? You’re my son. I see the signs. The bruises you try to hide. The late-night disappearances. The way your body language has changed.” She took a slow sip of her juice. “You fight, don’t you?”
Cal exhaled slowly. “You always did have a way of seeing through me.”
Rita smiled softly. “You have your father’s fire, Cal. He never wanted to sit back and watch the world burn either.”
Cal leaned in, his voice lowering. “If you know… then why haven’t you stopped me?”
“Because I’m proud of you,” Rita admitted, her voice full of warmth. “And because you’re not a child anymore. You’ve made your choice, just like I made mine. I won’t stand in your way.”
Cal was silent for a moment, absorbing her words. “You really mean that?”
Rita nodded. “I do. But Cal…” She reached across the table and took his hand. “Just promise me one thing.”
“What?”
“Don’t lose yourself in the fight. Don’t become someone you’re not.”
Cal looked at her, and for the first time in a long while, he felt something soften inside him. “I promise.”
The waiter arrived with their food, and Rita enjoyed her spicy meal while Cal played it safe with a steak. The conversation drifted to childhood memories, a few embarrassing stories that made them both laugh, and then…
Rita’s Unexpected Advice
As Cal finished his drink, Rita leaned back in her chair, watching him with a knowing look.
“You know, Cal,” she said, crossing her arms, “it wouldn’t hurt for you to settle down.”
Cal, mid-sip of his cola, nearly choked. He coughed into his fist before setting the glass down. “Excuse me?”
Rita smirked. “You heard me. You’ve been playing around with too many women for too long. It’s not safe for you—or for them.”
Cal groaned, leaning back. “Oh no, not this talk. I get enough of this from Albort.”
“Well, Albort is a smart man,” Rita quipped. “You have too many girlfriends, Cal. You need to think about the risks.”
Cal scoffed, running a hand through his hair. “What risks? I’ve got everything under control.”
Rita raised an eyebrow. “Do you? Because I hear things, Cal. Jealousy, fights, scandal—some of these women don’t know about each other, do they?”
Cal smirked. “And you expect me to just… pick one woman and settle down?”
“Yes,” Rita said simply. “You can’t keep this up forever. What happens when one of them turns on you? Or worse, when someone uses them against you?”
Cal’s smirk faded slightly. He knew what she was getting at. In his double life as Kestrel, his enemies could easily target his lovers if they ever found out.
Rita watched him closely. “You need to start thinking about your future, Cal. A real future. Not just business and fighting crime, but love, family… stability.”
Cal exhaled, shaking his head with a grin. “You sound like you’re trying to marry me off.”
Rita chuckled. “I’m just saying, you’re not invincible, Cal. And neither are the people you care about.”
Cal rubbed his temples. “Alright, alright. I’ll… think about it.”
Rita smirked. “Good. Now, eat your steak before it gets cold.”
Cal rolled his eyes but couldn’t help but smile. “You really know how to ruin a meal, Mom.”
Rita laughed. “That’s my job.”
For the first time in years, despite all their differences, they felt like a mother and son again.
A Conversation in Ronda’s Living Room
Later that evening, Rita and Cal sat in Ronda Riy’s living room. Ronda had allowed them to have the space to themselves, sensing that this was an overdue conversation between mother and son. The room was modest, a stark contrast to the luxury Cal was used to, but it felt real, lived in.
Cal leaned forward, elbows on his knees, staring at the floor. “Dad would have wanted us to stay close.”
Rita sighed. “Your father’s death changed everything. For both of us.”
Cal’s voice was quieter now. “I know.”
Rita studied her son for a moment. “You’ve done well for yourself, Cal. But the mansion, the business empire—it’s not everything. Don’t lose yourself in it.”
Cal smirked. “Says the woman who abandoned all of it for the jungle.”
Rita chuckled. “Touché.” Then her expression softened. “But seriously, Cal. You are more than just Cal Faros, the billionaire. I see something else in you. Something that reminds me of your father.”
Cal glanced at her, eyes sharp but filled with emotion. He thought of his secret life as Kestrel, the crime-fighter who prowled the streets of Thundarr City at night. Did she know?
Rita’s lips curved into a knowing smile, but she said nothing more.
For now, mother and son simply sat together, letting the moment settle. Maybe they had drifted apart. Maybe things would never be as they once were. But at least, for tonight, they weren’t so distant after all.
Meanwhile, in Thundarr Forest…
In the depths of Thundarr Forest, Faro Faros and Ronda Riy sat in the Cave of Falcon, unaware of the mother-son reconciliation happening miles away.
Faro sharpened his dagger, his mind distant.
“You okay?” Ronda asked, adjusting her glasses.
Faro exhaled. “I don’t know… I just have this feeling.”
“About what?”
“That something big is coming.”
Ronda watched him carefully. “Then we’ll be ready.”
Faro gave a small smirk. “Yeah. We will.”
As the winds howled outside the cave, the gears of fate continued to turn.
