Onthe_couch prompt 17.1

[sylph_fics]

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."

Not in my life, it's damned well not.

Especially not right now.

There's nothing resembling flattery in the shambles my name is in because of the godforsaken piece of filth that ran around as me for going on two years now. I swear, I take some time off because I'm getting stupidly sloppy and something from god-knows-when in my past apparently decides that it would be fun to screw with my life and the friendships I'd built by making it look like I'd gone insane.

If Rose didn't swear Wade was dead (and I hadn't dug up the body and had it tested just in case) I'd swear this was his damned work. My current hunch is it's something from in the multiverse, as the HIVE's remnants couldn't be tied tightly enough to my most current problem. Seems to be borne out by the Logans (and one ought to be enough, but why the hell can't any of them be the one from here?) that I keep meeting.

Then there was Bill Walsh in Grant's armor trying to convince me that he was my dead son, come back to haunt and torment me. Or should I mention-- no, I won't. It's not her fault, and it hardly meets the criteria besides.

Or Mirage's little trick of trying to copy me and make me think I'd lost my mind? As though I don't know her?

Or the half-dozen times I'd been framed and set up for a fall for things I didn't actually do?

No, whoever came up with that witty little half-assed stupid platitude had never seen what a little "imitation" can do to fuck up someone's life.


Word count: 300

Comments

[tm-wintergreen.livejournal.com]

We'll get to the bottom of this, old friend. I swear it.

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

I know, Wintergreen.

We will.

*makes a note to lock these so that Wintergreen doesn't have to deal with his temper*

[tm-wintergreen.livejournal.com]

I'm here to lean on, old friend.

I need to know, because you shut me out in the past, and it never ended well

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

*moves over to wrap an arm around him for a moment* I know.

Um.

[tm-wintergreen.livejournal.com]

*squeezes his arm* Good. Don't forget it.

One of the ways you have managed to hurt me in the past, Slade, was by refusing to let me in. Don't do it to me now, not with this second chance.

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

I won't.

*flinch* I... alright.

[lady-kane.livejournal.com]

It would be entirely within your rights to mention the incident I believe you are referencing.

I am *sorry*.

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

No it wouldn't. We've had that talk.

I know. It's forgiven and more than. I love you, my wife.

[lady-kane.livejournal.com]

Hn.

I will grant something of a trend in the attempts to harass you. Sooner or later, every impostor is unmasked.

I know.Do you have any idea how many times I wished you didn't?I love you, too.

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

I would really prefer sooner in this case... but if the universe cared what I preferred-- *snort*

Good. Yes, I know. Did I care?

[lady-kane.livejournal.com]

If the universe cared what you preferred, a great deal of your life would be very different.

Yes. Did it change your behavior? No. When has anything ever?

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

Pretty much.

Addie... alright, no. That's fair enough. (though, you changed more than a few things about me, if we wanted to get right down to it...

[lady-kane.livejournal.com]

Did I?

Fair enough. You sure as hell changed me./u>

[lost-robin.livejournal.com]

It's just as hard to be the imitation, sometimes, though. I was the hongkong Robin, after all.

Sucks. And it ain't sincere at fucking all.

(And I hear ya. Suuuuure I'll take the fall for killin' a Titan. Right. Because I'd do that. There was a time when Titans, y'know, meant something... And sorry to bitch to you, just it makes me mad.)

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

You did fine with the suit, Todd. Though it was hardly your fault you got shoved into it.

(...Which Titan did what?)

[lost-robin.livejournal.com]

*surprised* Thanks, Wilson.

(I... probably should not tell you.)

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

*shrugs* It's true.

(...and you and "shouldn't" get along how well?)

[lost-robin.livejournal.com]

Well... thank you, anyway.

(You have a point. I was suspected of killing the Joker's girl, Duela. I didn't, I swear to God I didn't, she was a titan, Slade! And I was, once, too, and.. I didn't. But everyone thought I did, and Nightwing and Robin... *shrugs uneasily*)

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

*shrug of a shoulder*

(Todd, even I've heard what you've been up to. I can understand the suspicion. But no, you wouldn't have, from what I remember of you.

...Of course, expecting the Titans to remember people's behavior seems to be too much to ask.)

[lost-robin.livejournal.com]

(I know I was a good candidate, but she hadn't done nothing worth bein' killed for! I don't just off people! And they didn't have to do what they did to me, either. It was uncalled for, and even the bad Robin can tell you that.

And yeah, it seems to. They don't even realize when their leaders so crippled he can hardly interact, when he was captain touchyfeely when I knew him. Couldn't get by him without a hand in your hair.)

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

(Settle down, Todd. I had heard you were sticking to people 'better off dead', and Dent didn't fit that bill. And you know the clown doesn't care about her, so that wouldn't fit as a motivation, either. --I think I'm not going to ask. I'm angry enough with the Titans over my daughter, without finding out about other stupidities.

Believe me, I'm noticing the Kid's problems.)

[lost-robin.livejournal.com]

(Sorry. I am... I was... I don't know.*hand through hair* And yeah... you don't want to know.

Good. Hopefully you can help him, though I think Speedy's going to start trying to pick up the pieces, too.)

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

(It's all right, Todd.)

Slade spared a moment to wonder what the fuck he thought he was doing, reaching out to this boy... this was the wrong ex-Robin for him to be worrying about--but Todd's pain was too obvious, and too much like his, for him not to.

(Harper's normally been good for him,) Slade agreed. (At least most of the time. We'll see.)

[lost-robin.livejournal.com]

Jason sat back, taking a deep breath, running shaky hands through his hair. It probably wasn't wise to talk to Slade Wilson the way he was, but... way he figured, Wilson got his shit, and in ways he could never explain, he reminded him of Bruce, the parts of Bruce Jason loved.

(Thanks. And yeah, we will, I guess.)

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

(Yeah. Drink, Todd?) Slade made a quick flicker of his hand at the kitchen, cocking his head to the side.

[lost-robin.livejournal.com]

(Sure.) Jason nodded. "Please."

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

"Preference? I have just about everything in the house, between the six of us that are in and out all of the time."

Slade headed that way, listening for the answer.

[lost-robin.livejournal.com]

"Actually..." Jason said, "Juice, if you have it."

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

Slade snorted quietly, "Apple, orange, or..." he pulled a bottle out of the fridge, studying it. "Boysenberry, apparently. Looks more like Rose's fault than Joe's, this time." He shook his head, and put the odd bottle back.

Worry about his daughter flashed through his mind, but he kept it off his face as he poured a glass of tea for himself and waited for his current guest to answer.

[lost-robin.livejournal.com]

"Orange, please?" Jason requested, smiling a little, "What's a boysenberry, anyhow?"

He could drink beer, but it was probably a bad idea, since he wouldn't want to stop when he started, and he would have to drive home.

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

"Mmmm... Cross between a blackberry and a raspberry, if I remember right," Slade answered as he pulled out the orange juice and poured the boy a glass, then walked back over with both of them.

[lost-robin.livejournal.com]

Jason took the glass and sipped at the tangy-sweet juice gratefully. "Oh." he said, "Like a kiwi?" he tilted his head, "None of my business, but... six?"

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

Slade wasn't even going to ask what he meant about the kiwi, and shrugged a shoulder.

"Not particularly worried about you knowing it, either. Me, Wintergreen, Adeline, Rose, Joe, and Raven when she's with Joe."

[lost-robin.livejournal.com]

Jason nodded, he'd almost forgotten the blonde Titan was back, and hadn't known that he was with Raven. But they were a good match, "Got a good family." he said, trying not to let himself sound envious that one.

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Slade agreed quietly, working on his tea and leaned back along the couch, "I do."

//I don't know how I got so lucky, but I do.// The thought was quietly fervent, but he wasn't so lost in his own relief as to miss the boy's attempt at hiding pain. //Wayne is a god damned idiot, not to have grabbed onto the son he got back with everything he had.//

[lost-robin.livejournal.com]

"How's Joey doing?" Jason asked. He'd liked him, the big, blonde, NOT-quiet Titan. Joe was a chatterbox, often.

Something in him whispered that this wasn't fair, that Joe'd been accepted back... sure, Joe'd been possessed, but he'd been crazy, too, and... no, just no.

At least Joe had a family that didn't suck, and Jason was glad for his ... friend? no, teammate.

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

"Pretty well." There was a flash of a quick, pleased smile. "I think he's still furious with the younger Titans for how they treated his sister, and he and the Kid--all of the older crowd but Raven, actually--are still figuring out how to be friends again, but he's not doing too badly." Slade shrugged a little at that.

"He picked an apartment over in Chelsea and is working on painting again. He probably wouldn't mind seeing you."

[lost-robin.livejournal.com]

Jason raised a shoulder, "Don't go about much, but maybe I will. Stop in, that is. And yeah, I heard they didn't play so nicely." he shook his head, "How the girl is a Wonder..." he looked up at Slade, "Diana's a really classy lady, y'know, and so's Donna, mostly, but that little one needs to grow up and earn her lasso. But that's just me." he realized he might be a bit out of line with that, but ah well. Since when did he toe the lines?

"But yeah. That'd be nice." he didn't say that Joe could stop and see him, because frankly he didn't want the young man in or near Gotham. Especially not where he lived.

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

Slade laughed over the lip of his drink, and shook his head. "I'm not all that fond of the Princess--of course, she doesn't like me either. Didn't seem to care for a man who knew precisely who and what he was the way I do," he flashed the boy a wry smile.

"Trioa, I'd agree with you on, though she and Rose had... difficulties. Troy was doing her best, but the war-god's sister you're right on. Rose doesn't want me to interfere, or I'd have stepped in already." He didn't look best pleased at his daughter's insistence that he stay out of what being his child had brought down on her.

[lost-robin.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, but she's still classy." Jason's voice had perhaps a little adoration in it. "Mm. Rose's her fathers' daughter? I liked her." he smiled a little. "She can hold her own, betcha, and wants to, prolly. If she's needs you, she knows she can come to you, don't she?"

Of course she did. Slade cared about his children.

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

"So she is," Slade agreed, then his mouth quirked. He'd meant Diana, but Jason was right on the other, too. "On both counts."

"And yes, of course she does."

[lost-robin.livejournal.com]

"That's good." Jason nodded. He finished his juice. "Thank you, Wilson." he said, quietly. "I should be getting going." It was heading towards dusk.

He'd come to New York for work, after all.

[masked-merc.livejournal.com]

"No problem, Todd. Take care of yourself."

[lost-robin.livejournal.com]

"You too, Wilson. Maybe see you around." he flashed a quick bit of his old Robin smile, feeling more like himself than he had in a while.

It was amazing what human contact could do, he reflected as he headed out of the penthouse, to the subway, to work.