sylph_fics (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sylph_fics) wrote2006-10-22 10:18 pm
sylph_fics) wrote2006-10-22 10:18 pm
New A Darker Path AU fic: Moving Forward
All previous parts of the "A Darker Path"-verse can be found here. It was getting to be kind of a long list.
Here's the newest part.
Title: Moving Forward
Characters: Wilson clan, and assorted
Rating:PG-13 Sorry anyone that read this that shouldn't have! very much NC-17
Warnings: Some profanity.
Disclaimer: I wish these guys were mine, they'd be treated better than DC does. But they're not, DC still owns them.
Summary: Things keep escalating, but they still manage to steal moments...
Notes:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
merfilly wrote some, I wrote some, the usual list applies.
Slade moved through the quiet house toward the armory to stow his kit bag, expecting the household to be asleep.
It was, mostly, barring the young man waiting--nervously, honestly--for him in his rooms. He'd set the security system to let him know when Slade returned, and had skittered for his lover's room.
After inspecting his gear and placing it precisely where it was meant to be, the man made his way up to his office, checking to make sure he had no further alerts demanding his attention. He saw nothing, save that Dinah had made extra notes on his files with post-its, adding what she knew of the various members of the Society. He nodded briefly to see she was maintaining her word with him, and moved on to his private quarters.
Dick dropped to the corner of the bed when he heard the door turn, and sat waiting until Slade came through, eyes snapping up to his face.
The man flicked his one eye over the kid, firmly clamping down on the less professional responses his tired mind and body offered up. "Kid."
"Slade..." said kid's voice was uncertain, and there was none of the anger that had colored their last exchange. "I..." //Come on, you have to say it, you know he won't...//
"Help me out of this suit, and into a shower, Kid." Slade walked fully into the room, ignoring what had happened, picking up where they had left off before Dick had pushed the wrong button with him, before he let his own temper escape his control.
Dick nodded and got to his feet, coming over to help deal with the suit, "Everything go all right?"
"Lawton received the message." Slade had not had to do much on his trip, but he had pushed his travel time, and was feeling the burn of that.
Dick tilted his head, "Deadshot? What were you up to with him?" as his hands slid strongly over Slade's bared back, then dealt with boots and pants, biting down on the urge to start his apology right then and there. Slade wanted a shower, after all.
"Taking care of a small piece of insurance." Slade let Dick handle the catches, moving his hand back to touch his boy on the hip.
"Mm. Think he'll listen?" He leaned into that touch as he finished stripping his lover. "Want company in that shower?"
"Lawton is not the fool so many people consider him to be." Slade headed for the shower, his fingers ghosting from hip to stomach before he moved away. "Come on, Kid."
"True, but he's also an arrogant son of a bitch," Dick said as he followed him in and slid out of the sweats he was wearing.
"And I'm not?" It was a well-known saying that Deadshot wanted to be Deathstroke. "He'll heed the warning, and Cheshire..." That savage, bitter hate boiled up again on her name; the man would never forgive her machinations. "She will be watched more carefully than she realizes."
Dick couldn't help a slight smile, "Never said that... but then, people say the same thing about me... and oh, good." He leaned around Slade to turn on the taps, testing the temp, then slid in, //Shower again? We're making a habit out of this...//
Slade ran a hand down Dick's neck, along his spine, loving the sight of that body curling around to tend to the small details. "It's going to be busy after today, Kid," he rumbled, a warning that the time they were taking now might be the last for a while.
"How could it not be?" He'd been keeping his eyes on Slade's systems, and the fractured patterns were starting to turn into terrifying wholes. But that was for later. "So, let's make it good..." Full-throated purr, leaning back into the touch, looking back at him with need and love hot in his eyes.
A smile curved the older man's lips faintly, before he swatted his lover's backside and slipped into the hot water. He drew Dick along his body, pressing him tight under the water.
Dick gasped at the swat, then pressed back against him, purring at the feel of that powerful body pressed against him, hands sliding back to hold on, "I'm sorry I flew off the handle at you," fast, soft words that had to be said before everything could be all right.
"It's done." Softer tone than normal, but it was the only acknowledgement Slade could give to the fact he had been just as wrong. He then leaned in, tasting the tempting skin of Dick's neck.
"...yeah," Dick agreed softly, then gasped at the feel of Slade's mouth against his neck, pressing back, pushing everything he'd wanted to say away--it was over, done with, and with the tone of Slade's voice they both knew there'd been mutual fault... It was over, and he wanted his lover back.
Slade's hands were possessive, moving over Dick's body with a blatant 'this-is-mine' quality, while he continued to taste the wet skin of his lover.
"Oooh..." low, soft breath as Dick's head tipped back, falling against his shoulder as he writhed back against him. //Yes, I'm yours.//
Slade's hands moved down both of Dick's arms, coming to his hands and gripping them. The larger man moved them forward, until the shower wall was just in front of Dick, and drew those hands up, over Dick's head as the water beat down on his back.
Dick bucked as Slade's hands gripped his, moaning softly--then Slade pinned him against the wall, pulling his hands up, and he cried out, shifting his weight to brace against the wall, head dropping forward. //Oh. oh, god, yes...//
The hands stayed pinned, as Slade pressed close to his perfect boy, fully hard and very hungry. He moved slowly, not yet taking what he wanted, just feeling the way Dick moved against him in anticipation.
Every move drew a low, soft cry and a pleading, hungry buck back... and Dick twisted his wrists slightly, rubbing back against his lover as he did. He wasn't trying to get away, was so glad to be right where he was, but...
Slade growled at him for the small defiance, pulling both of Dick's hands into one of his own and stretching them up higher on the wall. The hand he freed roamed down along the line of Dick's spine, over the swell of that firm ass and then away...only to come back in a resounding slap that left a hot red imprint. "Behave, kid," Slade whispered against Dick's ear in a soft, seductive growl.
The high, gasping cry and the rock back that slap brought almost undoubtedly told Slade he'd just given his boy exactly what he wanted, and Dick shuddered at his voice, moaning softly.
One eye narrowed with lust and purpose as he let the free hand roam around Dick's hip, brushing briefly over the kid's hard-on. His foot slipped between Dick's ankles, pushing his legs further apart, so that the kid was less comfortable, with his hands stretched so far above his head.
Dick shuddered and shifted, resettling into that splayed-out, more vulnerable position, spine twisting to resettle his shoulders. //Yours, Slade. I'm sorry, I'm still yours, let me know it...//
The older man viewed the image of his boy before him, feeling a tight surge at knowing that this was his, this perfect union of grace, strength, and beauty. He discarded all thoughts of drawing it out, wanting Dick to know that they were beyond the fight, that he still loved the kid, still possessed him fully. He gripped Dick's hip with almost bruising strength, pressing close once more, as he bit the nape of Dick's neck.
"Aah... oh, god, Slade, please..." shaking, high cry as he rocked back against Slade's body, nearly purring at the feel of broad, strong shoulders and hard muscle blanketing him--losing that was the one thing he'd regretted about provoking his lover.
Slade smiled, hearing that affirmation of their union, pushing into Dick as the 'please' was lingering on his lips. He went slow, easing into the tightness with a hiss of the effort it cost him to move so slowly.
Dick clawed at the wall, rocking back, making himself relax, thankful for the hot water that was hopefully going to be enough.
The older man moved his hand from Dick's hip, reaching forward to stroke Dick's cock. He rocked his hips carefully, letting the kid adapt.
"Oooh..." Dick mewled softly, rocking into that touch and back against his lover's body, //Oh. oh, god, feels so damned good...//
"Easy, Kid," Slade purred, sliding deeper into his lover on every push.
Dick whimpered softly, flash of //'easy', what?// going through his head as he moved with him, just as slowly, not trying to rush things... For one, rushing things would hurt, and for another, this was so, so good.
The grip on his cock grew more insistent as Slade finally eased fully in, holding that position for a long moment before drawing back and settling into a rhythm with his lover. His mouth played over the exposed neck, right up to the hairline, then over behind Dick's ear.
Dick moved with him, braced against the wall to let Slade have his way, whimpering softly as he rocked into Slade's hand, tilting his head slightly to give better access...
"That's it, Kid," Slade growled next to his ear. He pressed another kiss to the younger man's throat, hips flexing with careful strength, driving deep again.
"Mmm..." Dick let himself mewl and buck back again, pinned and owned and loving every second of it...
The hard body behind him was slowly becoming more forceful, the hand on him moving with knowing skill, calloused finger tips touching just right to provoke Dick.
"Slade!" high, gasping plea, body bucking with quick jerks between Slade's wicked, knowing hand and every strong thrust...
"Ask," Slade demanded, wanting to hear that full submission to him. He continued working Dick's body, feeling his own desires flaring even more sharply.
"Slade, Slade please, I need you so badly, you're making me crazy, please..."
"I know that, Kid. I can feel how strong your body craves mine, how you want me to make you lose your mind." Slade's voice flowed over Dick's nerves like a silken scarf. "I want to hear you say just what you want, nicely."
Dick cried out, high, harsh noise as he trembled at that voice, body spasming... "Harder, please, please, you're still holding back, don't... Let me really feel you, own me 'til you're the only thing holding me up, 'til I can't do anything but scream for you..." He wanted his pleasure... but he needed Slade's.
That statement, that complete, willing submission to him, garnered Dick a very gentle kiss on his shoulder...just before the older man drew his hand away from Dick's cock and let go of the hands above his head. Now both of Slade's hands took hold of Dick's hips, digging in to the flesh of the hollows there, fingers curving over the sharp planes of the bones. He rocked back, pulling almost fully out of his lover, just before pushing in with a hard, fast thrust, setting the tone of their new rhythm.
Dick pressed into the kiss, mewled unhappily as Slade released him... then cried out, high and loud and sharp at that grip… and that first hard thrust pulled a louder cry from his throat, one of pure pleasure and hungry need, arms flexing to brace himself...
That thrust was but the first of many, each one hard and long, as Slade used Dick mercilessly. His one eye half closed, but he was still watching the play of muscles in Dick's back, his shoulders, as he let himself take his own pleasure in that tight body.
Dick cried out at each one, mainly low, long cries of pleasure and need as he moved with his master's body, braced hard against the wall, his own pleasure a distant, secondary desire.
The hard spray of hot water added to the sensuous feel of Dick giving himself fully to Slade. He chose to go with the urge to give Dick just what was wanted, powerful hands bruising as he slid deep one last time and growled out his release, strong body quaking with the intensity of his pleasure.
Dick shrieked at that, hips writhing, fighting off his own release with everything he had, mewling as Slade shuddered against him, bucked so deep into him.
Slade found a shade of control, bringing himself back long enough to wrap a hand around Dick's shaft, working it with rough, hard pressure, not pulling out yet. "You...Come on, Kid, you know I want to feel you writhe," he rumbled.
That first touch was almost enough, and the second the permission hit his ears he was losing it, bucking into Slade's hand and further back onto him, hands flexing...
The feel of Dick moving between him and his hand was enough to make Slade shudder through an after shock of his own, bracing his hand on the wall near Dick's. He let a pleased rumble escape him as he again took to kissing the kid's neck, tongue flicking over the marks of earlier bites and hard sucking kisses.
Dick shuddered, legs weak, and arched his neck into the kisses and licks, hands flat on the wall to take his weight, making a soft, high noise at the touches.
As they both calmed, with Slade supporting both of them with his arm sliding around Dick's waist, the older man sighed softly. It said all the things he could not, that he knew he had been wrong too, and that he regretted the fight.
"Mmm..." Dick purred back, reading what that sigh meant more in how Slade's body felt, in the lack of tension and the gentle slide of his hand... it was more than enough, and he turned his head, seeking a kiss.
Slade gave it, drawing his lover back into the water, so they could actually get clean.
Dick went with that, finding a washcloth once Slade slipped out of him, and washing his lover's skin gently, hands sliding over old scars.
Slade gave a pleased rumble, letting Dick take over the duty of tending him, relaxed and setting the current affairs to the back of his mind so he could enjoy the peace, for just a little while.
Dick dropped to his knees, cheek sliding along his side as he washed down from lower abs to Slade's feet, curled against one leg, happily taking care of his lover, eyes closed against the spray
Slade shifted slightly, channeling the spray away from his boy, one hand tangling in the wet black hair.
Dick purred at the touch, looking up at him with big, dark blue eyes, tilting his head curiously. //Hm? Yes, what is it? What can I do?//
A subtle shake of the head told him that Slade would prefer to continue this out of the shower, but that he was content with Dick's care of him for now.
Dick nodded once, washcloth stroking up a thigh again, shift of his shoulders asking if he was permitted to stand again, to finish so that they could do just that...
Slade's hand slid over his, taking the washcloth and nodding permission. The white haired man drew Dick close, kissing him hard, as he ran the cloth over his lover's back with teasing friction.
Dick melted into the kiss and the touch, pressing close, hands sliding to cling to his lover.
Slade smiled into the kiss, scrubbing Dick with firm pressure. He finished, then made sure they were both fully rinsed off, before twisting the water off.
Dick shivered slightly as the water shut off, pressing closer. //Hate that...//
"Cold?" Slade breathed across his ear, drawing a large towel in to drape around his waist, before bringing another in to begin toweling off his boy.
Dick nodded, leaning into the rubbing, watching Slade's face.
The mercenary was completely relaxed for the moment, showing his affection openly for a change. If Slade saw this as capturing one last moment of perfection, against a very uncertain and shaky future, he did not let on outwardly to Dick. When he was satisfied that Dick was dry enough, he swatted the kid on his hip. "Go turn the bed down," he ordered softly.
Dick went, folding down the comforter and sheets, waiting for Slade to join him. Some things simply didn't need to be said, to be known.
The older man came in a few moments later, his towel discarded, radiating masculine power as he drew Dick into his arms on the bed, and Dick curled into his hold and his body.
*~*~*~*
Ollie's eyes were hooded, dark rings around them when Hal found him that night. The archer had left straight from the funerals, slipping out of everyone's surveillance to start his hunt.
"...Mind telling me why you decided you needed to give even me the slip?" Hal asked as he touched down beside him. It had taken him a while to finish coordinating things with the Corps, get a handle on how the hell to react to the Watchtower, and finally find Ollie.
"I have to find them! Dammit, Hal, they're out here somewhere!" Ollie had hit every source he could, even bruising us some lower Society members.
"I know, Ollie," Hal said, wrapping a hand hard around his shoulder. "I don't know how they're being hidden from me, either--it shouldn't be possible to block me from someone I know that well. Dinah, especially. Have you gotten anywhere? Anything?"
Ollie drew in a deep breath that was half sob. "Rumors. Rumors that she was taken down to put Oracle out of the way, rumors that he sold out his team...my boy wouldn't do that!" Ollie snapped the arrow he had just retrieved from his last run in with the local gangs.
"The first one, that I might buy. We lost her for hours, after all. But Roy... you're right, Ollie. That's not Roy." //I can see where the thought comes from, but no.// He laid his other hand over Ollie's--if he was stressed enough to be snapping his arrows, the last place he needed to be was the streets... and it was damned obvious he wasn't going to stop. "The Oracle angle. Who stood to profit most by that? Who's gone after Oracle before?" He'd done his best to keep an eye on things, but... he'd missed a lot, too.
"She's been hunted before, from what I hear. They pegged her as a threat back when she was running League sources, Roy once told me. Something about Dick having to drop everything to go rescue her..." Ollie's fist clenched. "That's when the world got the impression Pretty Bird was Oracle, they told me. Seems she went with a team of assassins, pretending to be..." His face paled and he swallowed convulsively.
"What, Ollie. What?" Hal snapped at him, watching his face change.
The archer looked at his best friend slowly. "Lady Vic was on that team...and so was Deathstroke. We know Lady Vic was involved in hitting my boy's team."
"...No reason to think Deathstroke might not have been, then--except that poison's not his style. Neither's kidnapping..." Ice cold fear slid down Hal's spine. He'd known of the man by reputation long before the Lantern ring had found its way into his life, mess-hall tales of the mercenary who'd been a soldier until the tests that changed him, stories of what he'd become--and he had the sure and certain knowledge that the tales he had only half-believed at the time were, if anything, understatements of the truth. He'd rarely run into the man, would be hard pressed to recognize him without the mask and blade... but he knew what he was capable of. "And unless he's changed beyond belief, that honor code wouldn't explain Lian. Or why Roy wasn't left with his team."
"We don't know if Roy and Dinah are the same thing or separate. Roy means... and because Lian was taken... means a chance of Cheshire being involved, and we all know it's a safe bet those two won't ally," Ollie said bitterly. "Dammit, someone has to know something!"
"Okay. You're right. Stupid to lump them together in the middle of all of this. You might know that, but I don't, fill me in if it's important. Otherwise... Ollie... could this be someone after you, not Oracle?"
The look on Ollie's face was priceless; the one time he had not been self-centered, and yet it made sense. "Shit, Mia and Connor!"
"Yeah. Come on, Ollie. Your kids need you," Hal offered him a hand, "and you're not making headway here."
Ollie took the hand, moving close for the bubble, and tried not to pace in its confines as Hal took him home. There was no way he was going to lose his other kids.
"Ollie, breathe." Hal growled at him. It would be nice if the man would quit fidgeting, too, but he knew that was too much to hope for.
"I am breathing. Not gonna stop that til I find the sonsuvbitches fucking with my family!" //and god let her be safe, and my boy, and the baby...oh god, please//
//That's my Ollie,// Hal couldn't help a smile at the thought. "Good. Keep it that way." They'd go out again later, once they were certain the kids were as safe as they could be... maybe they could park them with the Titans. That had promise.
*~*~*~
Dinah considered not answering the phone that sat directly by Slade's chair, but as she was in it, pouring over the diagrams of Luthor's, or the imposter's, main complex, she felt she had to be responsible. Slade had explained that phone number was known to a very few people, people he considered true allies, or at least people who he respected in some fashion.
"Yes?" she answered, keeping the shake out of her voice.
"Ahh, Miss Lance." The deep, resonating voice could only be Black Adam, and she shivered, but kept her voice mechanical, broken, to match his impression of her from their meeting in Kahndaq.
"Yes?" she repeated, hoping she sounded as dim as she should.
"You need not playact with me. Your benefactor saw fit to apprise me of a few things privately yesterday."
//So Chesh's group is hiding somewhere near Kahndaq right now. And benefactor my...// "Why are you calling?" It was barely polite, her temper frayed.
"I will be unable to keep my allegiance hidden. Let him know that." He paused to say something in his native language. He then continued in English to her, unaware she had understood him. "The wizard is imperiled and I go to help his other champions."
"Because the Rock of Eternity is threatened by the Spectre, I caught that." Dinah cleared her head. "I'll let him know... and Adam? Good luck." She sincerely meant that; the Spectre's massive campaign against Magic was sickening in its devastating path. She got a small sound of acknowledgement before he hung up, leaving her with the onerous task of rousing Slade from bed. She knew he had made it in; Rose had confirmed that at their morning workout, before she had let Roy borrow the girl for marksmanship training. She had not seen Dick today, and half suspected he was out on errands.
She checked in on Lian to find the girl still playing contentedly with the TV on in the background. That pleased Dinah, and she made her way upstairs, going slowly to the man's quarters as she weighed the new information in her own mind. Slade had counted on having Black Adam as a hidden ally, but Slade would understand the need to protect the Rock of Eternity, if the man knew anything at all about magic.
She tapped on the door as she reached it, then tested the knob. As it was unlocked, she opened it just enough to speak into the room.
"Slade, Black Adam... he just called. He's on his way to battle the Spectre, as the Spectre is attacking the Rock of Eternity."
"Oh damn, that could be bad," Dick said, his voice sleepy and trying to shake it off. Dinah's spine stiffened; that voice was far too innocent, too barely awake to mean that Dick had recently arrived in the room. She wanted to shove the door open, demand to know what the hell he was doing, when Roy had just risked his sanity and life for love of him.
"Yeah, Kid, seeing how I was counting on him in the next meeting with the Society," Slade rumbled, twisting his legs out of the bed. "No, you stay put, sleep some more; I'm probably sending you out later."
Dinah had to grit her teeth at the affection there, the casual intimacy on display, and she pulled away from the door. It tore her soul that the man her son/friend/brother had given his all for was not even faithful to him. The pain of that realization came hard and left her numb as she started back down to the office.
*~*~*~*
Roy noticed the tension in the air almost the moment he came back in with Rose. She'd done pretty damned well--especially once he'd figured out how to use this new trick of his to warn her how her shot was off. After the first couple of times, she'd even started to listen. //Aw, hell. What's happened now?// He nudged Rose off to find Lian, and went a-hunting for the rest of the household.
He got to the level with Slade's office and heard Dinah discussing the ramifications of something in Gotham, but her voice was very tense.
//...aw, man. What now? Do I go in, or not?// He bit at his lip, and leaned on the outer wall, considering.
"I'll try to remember what I can about the Spectre...be a whole lot easier if I could talk to his last host," Dinah grumbled.
"Not possible, find a way." //Should'a known better, Dinah,// he thought, hearing Slade's voice flatten out. //...Okay. So it's Spectre, but he's been on this tear for more than the last week, Slade's just now getting interested? Or has something worse happened? (Worse, Gotham, oh, fuck...)// His lips tightened to thin lines.
"We have to hope that Black Adam and Captain Marvel will find a way to repair the damage to the Rock, but I am almost certain this is very bad news for all the magic users, not just the Marvels." Dinah tapped on something with her nail. "How does this affect us?"
"We lost our ace in the hole with the magic tank that Adam is," Slade said. "Less for us to work with when the battle Rose foresees comes to pass." There was a pause. "All magic being affected by this may affect other things, concerning our plans. I don't need your friends dropping in."
"They'll be too busy; Gotham is pretty badly hit, and then there are the increasing OMAC strikes."
//Rock, Marvel, Rock of Eternity, aw, shit. Magic completely run amok, just what we absolutely don't need... and Slade, what changes for you about us if magic's been disturbed? I don't get it...//
"Let us hope you're right. That boyfriend of yours with his ringed friend is tearing apart various cities hunting for you and that boy."
"That boy and I are part of his world, but he's a responsible hero... he'll be focused on the relief efforts."
//Oh, Di, come on, you know I'm okay,// Roy thought at her, wondering what had triggered that kind of pissed-off, loaded tension from her... Her voice could have cut glass with those words.
"We'll rely on that, and maybe luck will cut us a small break, keep the spell intact." Dinah made a small noise. "Our next move needs to be confirming something as to who this Luthor person is, and what his other plans are. There's too much happening, too many events coming to a head to see where the real manipulations lie." Dinah took a deep breath. "I'm getting lost in all of it. Let me take a break."
A phone within the office rang, and Slade's voice went very, very calm. "Go, Dinah. I may be a while. Keep thinking."
"I will, Slade." Roy heard her feet hit the floor //sitting on his desk?// before the door opened fully and the woman stepped out into the hall.
He lifted a hand at her, casually, as Slade answered the call. "Calculator, w--" The heavy door shut under Dinah's hand, cutting off the rest of his words.
Dinah saw her son/friend/brother there with a frown, unable to keep the revelations of the morning out of her body language. She did raise a finger to his lips to hush him, not wanting to discuss this near Slade's door. She took his hand and dragged him down the hall and to her own room.
Roy followed her, confused, but not about to get into whatever the heck was going on right outside of Slade's door while he was dealing with the Society. He really wasn't that stupid. Or reckless with his own skin. Although, given the cameras in Dinah's room, was this really any better? "Dinah?"
"He knows every damn thing in the house anyway," she said, eyes snapping. "Roy... did you know? Before you chose to be like them, did you know what the deal was between Slade and your lover?"
//Awww, hell--wait a sec. Di, how'd you miss it?// "Good point," Roy shrugged, agreeing with that. "Did I know what? That Slade owns him just as much as Dick owns me? Yes, Dinah. It's a little hard to miss."
Dinah shook her head, grief tinging every move she made now. "Always knew from your talk about the Titans that Slade was fascinated with Dick...but thought it was the Batman/Robin kind of relationship, not..." She shivered violently, her own private thoughts playing over other events. "Roy, I so wanted you to find a one and only kind of love!"
Roy nearly bit through his lip at that first comment, the reaction obvious, and he went to wrap an arm around her gently, unsure how to make her understand. "It's..." he shook his head, flicking through memories and possible angles...
"Let it go...if it's what you want...you're my heart, Roy. I have to accept it." She leaned into him hard. "Maybe if I could have shared, I wouldn't be here now, hmm?"
He held her close, shaking his head. "That's not the kind of woman you are, Di... and there are times it makes me want to scream... but then, at least this time I'm not--" he cut himself off. After all, he'd done the same thing to Dick for years, it wasn't like he was the only one.
Dinah sighed softly. "God I hope Hal is with him," she whispered, before pulling away from Roy. "Boy-o, I'm putting it away. I promise. I'm not happy, for your sake, but I'll deal."
"Given what I heard, I think that's obvious, Dinah..." And oh, he had never wanted that confirmation... "Dick never tried to hide it from me, Di. And Slade made it very clear, just in case I was harboring any doubts. I may be massively screwing up by the numbers, here, but if I can work this right..." His eyes said what his voice couldn't, 'maybe i can save some of the people we love.'
Dinah nodded. "I'm only giving him my cooperation to save lives. Because I know Slade. The man can put things together faster than anyone, even the Bat. If I can..." She hugged herself tight. "I'm sorry I put my values on your relationship. You are very much a grown man, and able to choose for yourself, and I know you've probably had some damn hard ones to make. Just understand I worry because I do love you, Roy..."
"Would you quit this pulling away from me bullshit?" Roy asked her in annoyance and wrapped his arms around her again, kissing her hair. "I know, Di. Trust me, I know..." //I don't know, Di, choices get a hell of lot easier when you're looking down the barrel of a loaded gun in your lover's hand... it tends to crystallize the thoughts nicely, and I'm not ready to die--I can't do that to Dick. I can't.// That echoed back and forth through his mind,
"I need my anger, Roy....I need it to fight back everything else, and you...your arms promise shelter, a place to let the anger go, give way to grief," she said. "I can't do that. B... Oracle needs me to stay strong, Wildcat...they don't know it, but I have to."
"Oh. Okay, Di. When you can... I'm right here." That one he understood, could even agree with... as long as she wasn't just pulling away from him, he could handle it. //I've owed you that for a long time, Dinah. Any time you need it.//
Dinah drew in a very deep breath. "I need you to do one thing for me, Roy." Her eyes met his in all seriousness. "If I cross the line...you make it to where I don't escape custody." //Don't fight me on this, Boy-o, see that I would be insane if I ever killed a person...couldn't handle it when Ollie did...//
Roy stared at her in shock, shaking his head. //Di... damn it, don't ask me that...// "I... if it's in my hands, I'll do what I can." Really, that was all he could say--and if that ever happened, if something pushed his Dinah to that point... Honestly, he didn't think Slade would let her go.
"It's all I can ask." She placed a hand on her forehead, and her stomach. "God, I need food, a ton of aspirin, and to get back in that office. I have no idea how to predict a man I know is not the Luthor I have seen over the years, but we better figure him out soon."
"Think I can help? I know jack-all about Luthor anyway, but I do know lunatics, and anyone with those kind of balls is not sane. Let's go get lunch, find you those aspirin, and I'll see if I can help. ...Hey, do you have any idea where Dick is?"
"Slade sent him on a quick recon." She ducked into her bath, rummaged in the medicine cabinet there, then returned. "My question is, if that Luthor is not the real one, where is the despicable ex-president at?"
His heart slammed into double-time for a moment, reaction of pure adrenaline, //Damn it, you stubborn bastard, be careful! I'm supposed to be watching your back!// "Oh. Okay," he made himself sound calm, though his hand tightened uneasily against the seam of his slacks, //Dick, damn it...// "That... is a really, really damned good question."
Dinah's eyes flicked over his body, reading him like an open book. "Relax, Boy-o. Gotham only, and he knows that city more than well enough to evade everyone."
"Goth--jesus christ, Slade, looking to tip your hand? Please god let Batman be too damned busy..." That really, really didn't help, despite the logic of her words he couldn't help seeing that confrontation across a rooftop, the probable outcomes--(Bruce lying dead or near-death, soul broken if he lived, Dick taken down hard and caged, or worse...)--and that none of the results could leave his lover sane. //Let him be too busy, let him be too busy to notice, Dick, god, stick to the shadows...//
Dinah took his arm. "Br..Batman is still unknown," she whispered softly, and he felt the emotion there. "A few heroes dropped off Slade's radar, and he can't account for it through the Society."
The grip and the fear and grief in Di's voice pulled him back, made him calm for her sake, considering that the Gotham rogues had not seen their nemesis since... He calmed down. "And Robin will be with the Titans, or at most in-route. Huntress was running with you Birds. He can evade Batgirl, if she's out and spots him... Az might be in town, but it's Dick's city, not his. Okay. Okay."
Dinah ran her hand up his back to his neck, squeezing. "He better treat you damn good, Roy, or I'll find a way to kick him in his nuts."
He didn't even crack a smile. He knew when she was serious, and he didn't want to see Shiva's student and Deathstroke's heir in an all-out brawl. Sparring was one thing. "He is, Di... you don't see it, but he is. And god, was he pissed at Slade 'til I knocked sense into him... at me, too, but... we're good, Di. I promise."
She nodded. "Fine. He keeps his nuts for now." She ruffled his hair then. "Let's hurry. If Slade stays tied up on the phone, I can get some time in with Lian."
"Sound's good to me, Dinah," he smiled at her and headed out the door for the kitchen. If he was lucky, she might even let him handle cooking. A thought suggested itself to him--and he slammed it down with everything he had, refusing to even consider the thought, the burn at the back of his throat something he'd lost the first time he'd whispered 'yes' to his lover wrapped in black silk and danger. He couldn't. It wouldn't be... That was gone. He forced the stray thought away, swallowing, trying to think of something else to feed his friend, his child, and, if necessary, the man responsible for all of this.
As they passed the office, they realized it stood empty, papers still laid out... strange, and then Rose called out to them from the den. "Daddy's gone, the Society called. He thinks he'll be back tonight, though."
"All right, Rose, thanks..."
The small shape of Roy's daughter raced out of the den and held her arms up as she jumped off the ground--and Roy swept her up into his arms, holding her tight against him as she chattered at him about Rose and hide and seek and would he play with them, then reached for Dinah, somehow finding an entirely different set of things to chatter about with her. //Oh, my girl. I love you, etai yazi...// It was... much more difficult to hurt when there was a little girl chattering a mile a minute at him.
He caught Rose watching them, something unreadable in her eyes, and somehow managed to smile at her. "Hungry, Rose? You ought to be, after your morning. Come on, let's see if I can keep from setting dishtowels on fire."
"It's an electric range, Roy..." There. She sounded at least vaguely amused, that was better.
"You've never seen Dick in a kitchen," he replied, and her squeal and sudden closeness as she asked for more of that story helped to banish the rest of the mood. Choice made... and choice paid for.
Here's the newest part.
Title: Moving Forward
Characters: Wilson clan, and assorted
Rating:
Warnings: Some profanity.
Disclaimer: I wish these guys were mine, they'd be treated better than DC does. But they're not, DC still owns them.
Summary: Things keep escalating, but they still manage to steal moments...
Notes:
merfilly wrote some, I wrote some, the usual list applies. Slade moved through the quiet house toward the armory to stow his kit bag, expecting the household to be asleep.
It was, mostly, barring the young man waiting--nervously, honestly--for him in his rooms. He'd set the security system to let him know when Slade returned, and had skittered for his lover's room.
After inspecting his gear and placing it precisely where it was meant to be, the man made his way up to his office, checking to make sure he had no further alerts demanding his attention. He saw nothing, save that Dinah had made extra notes on his files with post-its, adding what she knew of the various members of the Society. He nodded briefly to see she was maintaining her word with him, and moved on to his private quarters.
Dick dropped to the corner of the bed when he heard the door turn, and sat waiting until Slade came through, eyes snapping up to his face.
The man flicked his one eye over the kid, firmly clamping down on the less professional responses his tired mind and body offered up. "Kid."
"Slade..." said kid's voice was uncertain, and there was none of the anger that had colored their last exchange. "I..." //Come on, you have to say it, you know he won't...//
"Help me out of this suit, and into a shower, Kid." Slade walked fully into the room, ignoring what had happened, picking up where they had left off before Dick had pushed the wrong button with him, before he let his own temper escape his control.
Dick nodded and got to his feet, coming over to help deal with the suit, "Everything go all right?"
"Lawton received the message." Slade had not had to do much on his trip, but he had pushed his travel time, and was feeling the burn of that.
Dick tilted his head, "Deadshot? What were you up to with him?" as his hands slid strongly over Slade's bared back, then dealt with boots and pants, biting down on the urge to start his apology right then and there. Slade wanted a shower, after all.
"Taking care of a small piece of insurance." Slade let Dick handle the catches, moving his hand back to touch his boy on the hip.
"Mm. Think he'll listen?" He leaned into that touch as he finished stripping his lover. "Want company in that shower?"
"Lawton is not the fool so many people consider him to be." Slade headed for the shower, his fingers ghosting from hip to stomach before he moved away. "Come on, Kid."
"True, but he's also an arrogant son of a bitch," Dick said as he followed him in and slid out of the sweats he was wearing.
"And I'm not?" It was a well-known saying that Deadshot wanted to be Deathstroke. "He'll heed the warning, and Cheshire..." That savage, bitter hate boiled up again on her name; the man would never forgive her machinations. "She will be watched more carefully than she realizes."
Dick couldn't help a slight smile, "Never said that... but then, people say the same thing about me... and oh, good." He leaned around Slade to turn on the taps, testing the temp, then slid in, //Shower again? We're making a habit out of this...//
Slade ran a hand down Dick's neck, along his spine, loving the sight of that body curling around to tend to the small details. "It's going to be busy after today, Kid," he rumbled, a warning that the time they were taking now might be the last for a while.
"How could it not be?" He'd been keeping his eyes on Slade's systems, and the fractured patterns were starting to turn into terrifying wholes. But that was for later. "So, let's make it good..." Full-throated purr, leaning back into the touch, looking back at him with need and love hot in his eyes.
A smile curved the older man's lips faintly, before he swatted his lover's backside and slipped into the hot water. He drew Dick along his body, pressing him tight under the water.
Dick gasped at the swat, then pressed back against him, purring at the feel of that powerful body pressed against him, hands sliding back to hold on, "I'm sorry I flew off the handle at you," fast, soft words that had to be said before everything could be all right.
"It's done." Softer tone than normal, but it was the only acknowledgement Slade could give to the fact he had been just as wrong. He then leaned in, tasting the tempting skin of Dick's neck.
"...yeah," Dick agreed softly, then gasped at the feel of Slade's mouth against his neck, pressing back, pushing everything he'd wanted to say away--it was over, done with, and with the tone of Slade's voice they both knew there'd been mutual fault... It was over, and he wanted his lover back.
Slade's hands were possessive, moving over Dick's body with a blatant 'this-is-mine' quality, while he continued to taste the wet skin of his lover.
"Oooh..." low, soft breath as Dick's head tipped back, falling against his shoulder as he writhed back against him. //Yes, I'm yours.//
Slade's hands moved down both of Dick's arms, coming to his hands and gripping them. The larger man moved them forward, until the shower wall was just in front of Dick, and drew those hands up, over Dick's head as the water beat down on his back.
Dick bucked as Slade's hands gripped his, moaning softly--then Slade pinned him against the wall, pulling his hands up, and he cried out, shifting his weight to brace against the wall, head dropping forward. //Oh. oh, god, yes...//
The hands stayed pinned, as Slade pressed close to his perfect boy, fully hard and very hungry. He moved slowly, not yet taking what he wanted, just feeling the way Dick moved against him in anticipation.
Every move drew a low, soft cry and a pleading, hungry buck back... and Dick twisted his wrists slightly, rubbing back against his lover as he did. He wasn't trying to get away, was so glad to be right where he was, but...
Slade growled at him for the small defiance, pulling both of Dick's hands into one of his own and stretching them up higher on the wall. The hand he freed roamed down along the line of Dick's spine, over the swell of that firm ass and then away...only to come back in a resounding slap that left a hot red imprint. "Behave, kid," Slade whispered against Dick's ear in a soft, seductive growl.
The high, gasping cry and the rock back that slap brought almost undoubtedly told Slade he'd just given his boy exactly what he wanted, and Dick shuddered at his voice, moaning softly.
One eye narrowed with lust and purpose as he let the free hand roam around Dick's hip, brushing briefly over the kid's hard-on. His foot slipped between Dick's ankles, pushing his legs further apart, so that the kid was less comfortable, with his hands stretched so far above his head.
Dick shuddered and shifted, resettling into that splayed-out, more vulnerable position, spine twisting to resettle his shoulders. //Yours, Slade. I'm sorry, I'm still yours, let me know it...//
The older man viewed the image of his boy before him, feeling a tight surge at knowing that this was his, this perfect union of grace, strength, and beauty. He discarded all thoughts of drawing it out, wanting Dick to know that they were beyond the fight, that he still loved the kid, still possessed him fully. He gripped Dick's hip with almost bruising strength, pressing close once more, as he bit the nape of Dick's neck.
"Aah... oh, god, Slade, please..." shaking, high cry as he rocked back against Slade's body, nearly purring at the feel of broad, strong shoulders and hard muscle blanketing him--losing that was the one thing he'd regretted about provoking his lover.
Slade smiled, hearing that affirmation of their union, pushing into Dick as the 'please' was lingering on his lips. He went slow, easing into the tightness with a hiss of the effort it cost him to move so slowly.
Dick clawed at the wall, rocking back, making himself relax, thankful for the hot water that was hopefully going to be enough.
The older man moved his hand from Dick's hip, reaching forward to stroke Dick's cock. He rocked his hips carefully, letting the kid adapt.
"Oooh..." Dick mewled softly, rocking into that touch and back against his lover's body, //Oh. oh, god, feels so damned good...//
"Easy, Kid," Slade purred, sliding deeper into his lover on every push.
Dick whimpered softly, flash of //'easy', what?// going through his head as he moved with him, just as slowly, not trying to rush things... For one, rushing things would hurt, and for another, this was so, so good.
The grip on his cock grew more insistent as Slade finally eased fully in, holding that position for a long moment before drawing back and settling into a rhythm with his lover. His mouth played over the exposed neck, right up to the hairline, then over behind Dick's ear.
Dick moved with him, braced against the wall to let Slade have his way, whimpering softly as he rocked into Slade's hand, tilting his head slightly to give better access...
"That's it, Kid," Slade growled next to his ear. He pressed another kiss to the younger man's throat, hips flexing with careful strength, driving deep again.
"Mmm..." Dick let himself mewl and buck back again, pinned and owned and loving every second of it...
The hard body behind him was slowly becoming more forceful, the hand on him moving with knowing skill, calloused finger tips touching just right to provoke Dick.
"Slade!" high, gasping plea, body bucking with quick jerks between Slade's wicked, knowing hand and every strong thrust...
"Ask," Slade demanded, wanting to hear that full submission to him. He continued working Dick's body, feeling his own desires flaring even more sharply.
"Slade, Slade please, I need you so badly, you're making me crazy, please..."
"I know that, Kid. I can feel how strong your body craves mine, how you want me to make you lose your mind." Slade's voice flowed over Dick's nerves like a silken scarf. "I want to hear you say just what you want, nicely."
Dick cried out, high, harsh noise as he trembled at that voice, body spasming... "Harder, please, please, you're still holding back, don't... Let me really feel you, own me 'til you're the only thing holding me up, 'til I can't do anything but scream for you..." He wanted his pleasure... but he needed Slade's.
That statement, that complete, willing submission to him, garnered Dick a very gentle kiss on his shoulder...just before the older man drew his hand away from Dick's cock and let go of the hands above his head. Now both of Slade's hands took hold of Dick's hips, digging in to the flesh of the hollows there, fingers curving over the sharp planes of the bones. He rocked back, pulling almost fully out of his lover, just before pushing in with a hard, fast thrust, setting the tone of their new rhythm.
Dick pressed into the kiss, mewled unhappily as Slade released him... then cried out, high and loud and sharp at that grip… and that first hard thrust pulled a louder cry from his throat, one of pure pleasure and hungry need, arms flexing to brace himself...
That thrust was but the first of many, each one hard and long, as Slade used Dick mercilessly. His one eye half closed, but he was still watching the play of muscles in Dick's back, his shoulders, as he let himself take his own pleasure in that tight body.
Dick cried out at each one, mainly low, long cries of pleasure and need as he moved with his master's body, braced hard against the wall, his own pleasure a distant, secondary desire.
The hard spray of hot water added to the sensuous feel of Dick giving himself fully to Slade. He chose to go with the urge to give Dick just what was wanted, powerful hands bruising as he slid deep one last time and growled out his release, strong body quaking with the intensity of his pleasure.
Dick shrieked at that, hips writhing, fighting off his own release with everything he had, mewling as Slade shuddered against him, bucked so deep into him.
Slade found a shade of control, bringing himself back long enough to wrap a hand around Dick's shaft, working it with rough, hard pressure, not pulling out yet. "You...Come on, Kid, you know I want to feel you writhe," he rumbled.
That first touch was almost enough, and the second the permission hit his ears he was losing it, bucking into Slade's hand and further back onto him, hands flexing...
The feel of Dick moving between him and his hand was enough to make Slade shudder through an after shock of his own, bracing his hand on the wall near Dick's. He let a pleased rumble escape him as he again took to kissing the kid's neck, tongue flicking over the marks of earlier bites and hard sucking kisses.
Dick shuddered, legs weak, and arched his neck into the kisses and licks, hands flat on the wall to take his weight, making a soft, high noise at the touches.
As they both calmed, with Slade supporting both of them with his arm sliding around Dick's waist, the older man sighed softly. It said all the things he could not, that he knew he had been wrong too, and that he regretted the fight.
"Mmm..." Dick purred back, reading what that sigh meant more in how Slade's body felt, in the lack of tension and the gentle slide of his hand... it was more than enough, and he turned his head, seeking a kiss.
Slade gave it, drawing his lover back into the water, so they could actually get clean.
Dick went with that, finding a washcloth once Slade slipped out of him, and washing his lover's skin gently, hands sliding over old scars.
Slade gave a pleased rumble, letting Dick take over the duty of tending him, relaxed and setting the current affairs to the back of his mind so he could enjoy the peace, for just a little while.
Dick dropped to his knees, cheek sliding along his side as he washed down from lower abs to Slade's feet, curled against one leg, happily taking care of his lover, eyes closed against the spray
Slade shifted slightly, channeling the spray away from his boy, one hand tangling in the wet black hair.
Dick purred at the touch, looking up at him with big, dark blue eyes, tilting his head curiously. //Hm? Yes, what is it? What can I do?//
A subtle shake of the head told him that Slade would prefer to continue this out of the shower, but that he was content with Dick's care of him for now.
Dick nodded once, washcloth stroking up a thigh again, shift of his shoulders asking if he was permitted to stand again, to finish so that they could do just that...
Slade's hand slid over his, taking the washcloth and nodding permission. The white haired man drew Dick close, kissing him hard, as he ran the cloth over his lover's back with teasing friction.
Dick melted into the kiss and the touch, pressing close, hands sliding to cling to his lover.
Slade smiled into the kiss, scrubbing Dick with firm pressure. He finished, then made sure they were both fully rinsed off, before twisting the water off.
Dick shivered slightly as the water shut off, pressing closer. //Hate that...//
"Cold?" Slade breathed across his ear, drawing a large towel in to drape around his waist, before bringing another in to begin toweling off his boy.
Dick nodded, leaning into the rubbing, watching Slade's face.
The mercenary was completely relaxed for the moment, showing his affection openly for a change. If Slade saw this as capturing one last moment of perfection, against a very uncertain and shaky future, he did not let on outwardly to Dick. When he was satisfied that Dick was dry enough, he swatted the kid on his hip. "Go turn the bed down," he ordered softly.
Dick went, folding down the comforter and sheets, waiting for Slade to join him. Some things simply didn't need to be said, to be known.
The older man came in a few moments later, his towel discarded, radiating masculine power as he drew Dick into his arms on the bed, and Dick curled into his hold and his body.
*~*~*~*
Ollie's eyes were hooded, dark rings around them when Hal found him that night. The archer had left straight from the funerals, slipping out of everyone's surveillance to start his hunt.
"...Mind telling me why you decided you needed to give even me the slip?" Hal asked as he touched down beside him. It had taken him a while to finish coordinating things with the Corps, get a handle on how the hell to react to the Watchtower, and finally find Ollie.
"I have to find them! Dammit, Hal, they're out here somewhere!" Ollie had hit every source he could, even bruising us some lower Society members.
"I know, Ollie," Hal said, wrapping a hand hard around his shoulder. "I don't know how they're being hidden from me, either--it shouldn't be possible to block me from someone I know that well. Dinah, especially. Have you gotten anywhere? Anything?"
Ollie drew in a deep breath that was half sob. "Rumors. Rumors that she was taken down to put Oracle out of the way, rumors that he sold out his team...my boy wouldn't do that!" Ollie snapped the arrow he had just retrieved from his last run in with the local gangs.
"The first one, that I might buy. We lost her for hours, after all. But Roy... you're right, Ollie. That's not Roy." //I can see where the thought comes from, but no.// He laid his other hand over Ollie's--if he was stressed enough to be snapping his arrows, the last place he needed to be was the streets... and it was damned obvious he wasn't going to stop. "The Oracle angle. Who stood to profit most by that? Who's gone after Oracle before?" He'd done his best to keep an eye on things, but... he'd missed a lot, too.
"She's been hunted before, from what I hear. They pegged her as a threat back when she was running League sources, Roy once told me. Something about Dick having to drop everything to go rescue her..." Ollie's fist clenched. "That's when the world got the impression Pretty Bird was Oracle, they told me. Seems she went with a team of assassins, pretending to be..." His face paled and he swallowed convulsively.
"What, Ollie. What?" Hal snapped at him, watching his face change.
The archer looked at his best friend slowly. "Lady Vic was on that team...and so was Deathstroke. We know Lady Vic was involved in hitting my boy's team."
"...No reason to think Deathstroke might not have been, then--except that poison's not his style. Neither's kidnapping..." Ice cold fear slid down Hal's spine. He'd known of the man by reputation long before the Lantern ring had found its way into his life, mess-hall tales of the mercenary who'd been a soldier until the tests that changed him, stories of what he'd become--and he had the sure and certain knowledge that the tales he had only half-believed at the time were, if anything, understatements of the truth. He'd rarely run into the man, would be hard pressed to recognize him without the mask and blade... but he knew what he was capable of. "And unless he's changed beyond belief, that honor code wouldn't explain Lian. Or why Roy wasn't left with his team."
"We don't know if Roy and Dinah are the same thing or separate. Roy means... and because Lian was taken... means a chance of Cheshire being involved, and we all know it's a safe bet those two won't ally," Ollie said bitterly. "Dammit, someone has to know something!"
"Okay. You're right. Stupid to lump them together in the middle of all of this. You might know that, but I don't, fill me in if it's important. Otherwise... Ollie... could this be someone after you, not Oracle?"
The look on Ollie's face was priceless; the one time he had not been self-centered, and yet it made sense. "Shit, Mia and Connor!"
"Yeah. Come on, Ollie. Your kids need you," Hal offered him a hand, "and you're not making headway here."
Ollie took the hand, moving close for the bubble, and tried not to pace in its confines as Hal took him home. There was no way he was going to lose his other kids.
"Ollie, breathe." Hal growled at him. It would be nice if the man would quit fidgeting, too, but he knew that was too much to hope for.
"I am breathing. Not gonna stop that til I find the sonsuvbitches fucking with my family!" //and god let her be safe, and my boy, and the baby...oh god, please//
//That's my Ollie,// Hal couldn't help a smile at the thought. "Good. Keep it that way." They'd go out again later, once they were certain the kids were as safe as they could be... maybe they could park them with the Titans. That had promise.
*~*~*~
Dinah considered not answering the phone that sat directly by Slade's chair, but as she was in it, pouring over the diagrams of Luthor's, or the imposter's, main complex, she felt she had to be responsible. Slade had explained that phone number was known to a very few people, people he considered true allies, or at least people who he respected in some fashion.
"Yes?" she answered, keeping the shake out of her voice.
"Ahh, Miss Lance." The deep, resonating voice could only be Black Adam, and she shivered, but kept her voice mechanical, broken, to match his impression of her from their meeting in Kahndaq.
"Yes?" she repeated, hoping she sounded as dim as she should.
"You need not playact with me. Your benefactor saw fit to apprise me of a few things privately yesterday."
//So Chesh's group is hiding somewhere near Kahndaq right now. And benefactor my...// "Why are you calling?" It was barely polite, her temper frayed.
"I will be unable to keep my allegiance hidden. Let him know that." He paused to say something in his native language. He then continued in English to her, unaware she had understood him. "The wizard is imperiled and I go to help his other champions."
"Because the Rock of Eternity is threatened by the Spectre, I caught that." Dinah cleared her head. "I'll let him know... and Adam? Good luck." She sincerely meant that; the Spectre's massive campaign against Magic was sickening in its devastating path. She got a small sound of acknowledgement before he hung up, leaving her with the onerous task of rousing Slade from bed. She knew he had made it in; Rose had confirmed that at their morning workout, before she had let Roy borrow the girl for marksmanship training. She had not seen Dick today, and half suspected he was out on errands.
She checked in on Lian to find the girl still playing contentedly with the TV on in the background. That pleased Dinah, and she made her way upstairs, going slowly to the man's quarters as she weighed the new information in her own mind. Slade had counted on having Black Adam as a hidden ally, but Slade would understand the need to protect the Rock of Eternity, if the man knew anything at all about magic.
She tapped on the door as she reached it, then tested the knob. As it was unlocked, she opened it just enough to speak into the room.
"Slade, Black Adam... he just called. He's on his way to battle the Spectre, as the Spectre is attacking the Rock of Eternity."
"Oh damn, that could be bad," Dick said, his voice sleepy and trying to shake it off. Dinah's spine stiffened; that voice was far too innocent, too barely awake to mean that Dick had recently arrived in the room. She wanted to shove the door open, demand to know what the hell he was doing, when Roy had just risked his sanity and life for love of him.
"Yeah, Kid, seeing how I was counting on him in the next meeting with the Society," Slade rumbled, twisting his legs out of the bed. "No, you stay put, sleep some more; I'm probably sending you out later."
Dinah had to grit her teeth at the affection there, the casual intimacy on display, and she pulled away from the door. It tore her soul that the man her son/friend/brother had given his all for was not even faithful to him. The pain of that realization came hard and left her numb as she started back down to the office.
*~*~*~*
Roy noticed the tension in the air almost the moment he came back in with Rose. She'd done pretty damned well--especially once he'd figured out how to use this new trick of his to warn her how her shot was off. After the first couple of times, she'd even started to listen. //Aw, hell. What's happened now?// He nudged Rose off to find Lian, and went a-hunting for the rest of the household.
He got to the level with Slade's office and heard Dinah discussing the ramifications of something in Gotham, but her voice was very tense.
//...aw, man. What now? Do I go in, or not?// He bit at his lip, and leaned on the outer wall, considering.
"I'll try to remember what I can about the Spectre...be a whole lot easier if I could talk to his last host," Dinah grumbled.
"Not possible, find a way." //Should'a known better, Dinah,// he thought, hearing Slade's voice flatten out. //...Okay. So it's Spectre, but he's been on this tear for more than the last week, Slade's just now getting interested? Or has something worse happened? (Worse, Gotham, oh, fuck...)// His lips tightened to thin lines.
"We have to hope that Black Adam and Captain Marvel will find a way to repair the damage to the Rock, but I am almost certain this is very bad news for all the magic users, not just the Marvels." Dinah tapped on something with her nail. "How does this affect us?"
"We lost our ace in the hole with the magic tank that Adam is," Slade said. "Less for us to work with when the battle Rose foresees comes to pass." There was a pause. "All magic being affected by this may affect other things, concerning our plans. I don't need your friends dropping in."
"They'll be too busy; Gotham is pretty badly hit, and then there are the increasing OMAC strikes."
//Rock, Marvel, Rock of Eternity, aw, shit. Magic completely run amok, just what we absolutely don't need... and Slade, what changes for you about us if magic's been disturbed? I don't get it...//
"Let us hope you're right. That boyfriend of yours with his ringed friend is tearing apart various cities hunting for you and that boy."
"That boy and I are part of his world, but he's a responsible hero... he'll be focused on the relief efforts."
//Oh, Di, come on, you know I'm okay,// Roy thought at her, wondering what had triggered that kind of pissed-off, loaded tension from her... Her voice could have cut glass with those words.
"We'll rely on that, and maybe luck will cut us a small break, keep the spell intact." Dinah made a small noise. "Our next move needs to be confirming something as to who this Luthor person is, and what his other plans are. There's too much happening, too many events coming to a head to see where the real manipulations lie." Dinah took a deep breath. "I'm getting lost in all of it. Let me take a break."
A phone within the office rang, and Slade's voice went very, very calm. "Go, Dinah. I may be a while. Keep thinking."
"I will, Slade." Roy heard her feet hit the floor //sitting on his desk?// before the door opened fully and the woman stepped out into the hall.
He lifted a hand at her, casually, as Slade answered the call. "Calculator, w--" The heavy door shut under Dinah's hand, cutting off the rest of his words.
Dinah saw her son/friend/brother there with a frown, unable to keep the revelations of the morning out of her body language. She did raise a finger to his lips to hush him, not wanting to discuss this near Slade's door. She took his hand and dragged him down the hall and to her own room.
Roy followed her, confused, but not about to get into whatever the heck was going on right outside of Slade's door while he was dealing with the Society. He really wasn't that stupid. Or reckless with his own skin. Although, given the cameras in Dinah's room, was this really any better? "Dinah?"
"He knows every damn thing in the house anyway," she said, eyes snapping. "Roy... did you know? Before you chose to be like them, did you know what the deal was between Slade and your lover?"
//Awww, hell--wait a sec. Di, how'd you miss it?// "Good point," Roy shrugged, agreeing with that. "Did I know what? That Slade owns him just as much as Dick owns me? Yes, Dinah. It's a little hard to miss."
Dinah shook her head, grief tinging every move she made now. "Always knew from your talk about the Titans that Slade was fascinated with Dick...but thought it was the Batman/Robin kind of relationship, not..." She shivered violently, her own private thoughts playing over other events. "Roy, I so wanted you to find a one and only kind of love!"
Roy nearly bit through his lip at that first comment, the reaction obvious, and he went to wrap an arm around her gently, unsure how to make her understand. "It's..." he shook his head, flicking through memories and possible angles...
"Let it go...if it's what you want...you're my heart, Roy. I have to accept it." She leaned into him hard. "Maybe if I could have shared, I wouldn't be here now, hmm?"
He held her close, shaking his head. "That's not the kind of woman you are, Di... and there are times it makes me want to scream... but then, at least this time I'm not--" he cut himself off. After all, he'd done the same thing to Dick for years, it wasn't like he was the only one.
Dinah sighed softly. "God I hope Hal is with him," she whispered, before pulling away from Roy. "Boy-o, I'm putting it away. I promise. I'm not happy, for your sake, but I'll deal."
"Given what I heard, I think that's obvious, Dinah..." And oh, he had never wanted that confirmation... "Dick never tried to hide it from me, Di. And Slade made it very clear, just in case I was harboring any doubts. I may be massively screwing up by the numbers, here, but if I can work this right..." His eyes said what his voice couldn't, 'maybe i can save some of the people we love.'
Dinah nodded. "I'm only giving him my cooperation to save lives. Because I know Slade. The man can put things together faster than anyone, even the Bat. If I can..." She hugged herself tight. "I'm sorry I put my values on your relationship. You are very much a grown man, and able to choose for yourself, and I know you've probably had some damn hard ones to make. Just understand I worry because I do love you, Roy..."
"Would you quit this pulling away from me bullshit?" Roy asked her in annoyance and wrapped his arms around her again, kissing her hair. "I know, Di. Trust me, I know..." //I don't know, Di, choices get a hell of lot easier when you're looking down the barrel of a loaded gun in your lover's hand... it tends to crystallize the thoughts nicely, and I'm not ready to die--I can't do that to Dick. I can't.// That echoed back and forth through his mind,
"I need my anger, Roy....I need it to fight back everything else, and you...your arms promise shelter, a place to let the anger go, give way to grief," she said. "I can't do that. B... Oracle needs me to stay strong, Wildcat...they don't know it, but I have to."
"Oh. Okay, Di. When you can... I'm right here." That one he understood, could even agree with... as long as she wasn't just pulling away from him, he could handle it. //I've owed you that for a long time, Dinah. Any time you need it.//
Dinah drew in a very deep breath. "I need you to do one thing for me, Roy." Her eyes met his in all seriousness. "If I cross the line...you make it to where I don't escape custody." //Don't fight me on this, Boy-o, see that I would be insane if I ever killed a person...couldn't handle it when Ollie did...//
Roy stared at her in shock, shaking his head. //Di... damn it, don't ask me that...// "I... if it's in my hands, I'll do what I can." Really, that was all he could say--and if that ever happened, if something pushed his Dinah to that point... Honestly, he didn't think Slade would let her go.
"It's all I can ask." She placed a hand on her forehead, and her stomach. "God, I need food, a ton of aspirin, and to get back in that office. I have no idea how to predict a man I know is not the Luthor I have seen over the years, but we better figure him out soon."
"Think I can help? I know jack-all about Luthor anyway, but I do know lunatics, and anyone with those kind of balls is not sane. Let's go get lunch, find you those aspirin, and I'll see if I can help. ...Hey, do you have any idea where Dick is?"
"Slade sent him on a quick recon." She ducked into her bath, rummaged in the medicine cabinet there, then returned. "My question is, if that Luthor is not the real one, where is the despicable ex-president at?"
His heart slammed into double-time for a moment, reaction of pure adrenaline, //Damn it, you stubborn bastard, be careful! I'm supposed to be watching your back!// "Oh. Okay," he made himself sound calm, though his hand tightened uneasily against the seam of his slacks, //Dick, damn it...// "That... is a really, really damned good question."
Dinah's eyes flicked over his body, reading him like an open book. "Relax, Boy-o. Gotham only, and he knows that city more than well enough to evade everyone."
"Goth--jesus christ, Slade, looking to tip your hand? Please god let Batman be too damned busy..." That really, really didn't help, despite the logic of her words he couldn't help seeing that confrontation across a rooftop, the probable outcomes--(Bruce lying dead or near-death, soul broken if he lived, Dick taken down hard and caged, or worse...)--and that none of the results could leave his lover sane. //Let him be too busy, let him be too busy to notice, Dick, god, stick to the shadows...//
Dinah took his arm. "Br..Batman is still unknown," she whispered softly, and he felt the emotion there. "A few heroes dropped off Slade's radar, and he can't account for it through the Society."
The grip and the fear and grief in Di's voice pulled him back, made him calm for her sake, considering that the Gotham rogues had not seen their nemesis since... He calmed down. "And Robin will be with the Titans, or at most in-route. Huntress was running with you Birds. He can evade Batgirl, if she's out and spots him... Az might be in town, but it's Dick's city, not his. Okay. Okay."
Dinah ran her hand up his back to his neck, squeezing. "He better treat you damn good, Roy, or I'll find a way to kick him in his nuts."
He didn't even crack a smile. He knew when she was serious, and he didn't want to see Shiva's student and Deathstroke's heir in an all-out brawl. Sparring was one thing. "He is, Di... you don't see it, but he is. And god, was he pissed at Slade 'til I knocked sense into him... at me, too, but... we're good, Di. I promise."
She nodded. "Fine. He keeps his nuts for now." She ruffled his hair then. "Let's hurry. If Slade stays tied up on the phone, I can get some time in with Lian."
"Sound's good to me, Dinah," he smiled at her and headed out the door for the kitchen. If he was lucky, she might even let him handle cooking. A thought suggested itself to him--and he slammed it down with everything he had, refusing to even consider the thought, the burn at the back of his throat something he'd lost the first time he'd whispered 'yes' to his lover wrapped in black silk and danger. He couldn't. It wouldn't be... That was gone. He forced the stray thought away, swallowing, trying to think of something else to feed his friend, his child, and, if necessary, the man responsible for all of this.
As they passed the office, they realized it stood empty, papers still laid out... strange, and then Rose called out to them from the den. "Daddy's gone, the Society called. He thinks he'll be back tonight, though."
"All right, Rose, thanks..."
The small shape of Roy's daughter raced out of the den and held her arms up as she jumped off the ground--and Roy swept her up into his arms, holding her tight against him as she chattered at him about Rose and hide and seek and would he play with them, then reached for Dinah, somehow finding an entirely different set of things to chatter about with her. //Oh, my girl. I love you, etai yazi...// It was... much more difficult to hurt when there was a little girl chattering a mile a minute at him.
He caught Rose watching them, something unreadable in her eyes, and somehow managed to smile at her. "Hungry, Rose? You ought to be, after your morning. Come on, let's see if I can keep from setting dishtowels on fire."
"It's an electric range, Roy..." There. She sounded at least vaguely amused, that was better.
"You've never seen Dick in a kitchen," he replied, and her squeal and sudden closeness as she asked for more of that story helped to banish the rest of the mood. Choice made... and choice paid for.
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I'm re-reading this, and I *just* realized that the thing Roy couldn't bring himself to cook was *Ollie's chilli*. I just--*whimper*. So true and making me weep, just a little.
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That is exactly what went through Roy's head, and I closed my eyes, wrapped my arms around my chest, and started to sob (because Roy can't). It took quite a while to get that scene finished, after that.