New Christmasfic: Joyful and Triumphant
Nov. 10th, 2006 02:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sylph_ficsTitle: Joyful and Triumphant
Cowriter: [info]merfilly
Characters: Bats, Arrows, the Bird, and a very special guest or two
Rating: PG
Word Count: 4,682
Continuity:Thanksgiving fluff, Gathered Here, HappyVerse
Disclaimer: DC Comics makes the money, people
Notes: It's official... HappyVerse is our refuge from the meaner things in comics.
Summary: Delivery of the best present ever.
Early afternoon, Dec 24th
Dinah escorted Kon up to the waiting jet, her bags and his obeying his efforts so far to manipulate them into obedience. "Getting very good at that," she said.
"Finally getting my strength back," he replied. She might think he was doing okay... in his opinion, this sucked. Baggage shouldn't have been a problem. He was glad to stuff them into the storage spaces and let go, relieved to have his aura back up around him--the first couple of days had been.. uncomfortable. He dropped into a seat, looking around. "I still can't believe I get to meet Oracle--I mean, it took forever before Tim slipped and I found out she was female..."
"That's exactly how I prefer it, Superboy," her low voice said as Kon picked up the soft sound of wheels from farther up, and she came into view.
//Wow, hot...// Kon noted, watching the redheaded woman--who was really, really pretty, in kind of a quiet way... Not in-your-face like Kory, but she was really, really pretty... "Wow, and your avatar looks so mean..."
Dinah laughed, sticking her tongue out at her partner on that one. "Kon, this is Oracle...but you better get used to calling her Barbara." The blonde curled up on a seat as well, her legs tucked under her.
"My avatar looks mean for a reason, Kon," Babs replied, sending her chair rolling towards him. "Hi."
Kon walked over to meet her, taking her hand--and calluses on her hands, as much as the strength in her shake, told him this woman wasn't just the computer jockey extraordinaire. Her hand felt like Tim's, or Cissie's... She could fight, and the curves of her arms backed that thought. He shook himself out of the thought and smiled at her, "Hi, Barbara. So why's that?"
She started to answer, then turned her chair to a specific spot and locked the wheels into the frame of the plane, "Go ahead, Zinda," she said to the air, and the plane started to move again. Then she looked at him. "It makes people pay attention, more than my own face."
"I dunno, you'd sure have my attention..." She reminded him of Knockout, too, just a little bit, and half the world knew how that had ended...
"Babs had to be sure no one mistook her for a lightweight, and that mask is pretty damn scary," Dinah said, lounging casually. She was doing a very good job of keeping her excitement confined to anticipating Tim's reaction, she thought, because she wanted to be up and moving and figeting with anticipation of seeing all her family...both her Arrows and her Bats. "Of course if they ever saw her first thing in the day, no coffee..." she teased.
"Dinah!" Babs protested, glaring over at her, then looked back at the kid grinning at her. "Thank you for the vote of confidence," she replied neutrally, trying to figure out how to shut the flirtation off without hurting his feelings--Dinah would be angry with her and so would Tim. "It's good to have you back, Superboy. I heard you say you're getting stronger..." a redirect towards business ought to work.
"Yeah, but I'm so not ready to get back on the field, Oracle, sorry... I mean, if there's something big I'll try, but right now I'd probably be more harm than help.."
She nodded once, glad to see he'd apparently gained some sense somewhere along the way. "There's nothing at the moment. I was asking how you felt."
"Better," he replied with a smile. "Much better. Thanks for the rescue, by the way..."
"Not a problem." //Anytime, kid.//
"Oh sure...I'm the one facing a hike over an active volcanic area and she gets all the thanks," Dinah said, buffing at her nails. "Just doesn't pay to have the fishnets these days," she sighed melodramatically.
"I already told you thank you, Di, about half a dozen times," Kon retorted. "I hadn't talked to her yet." He'd started calling her the nickname just so he could get a word or two in edgewise.
"He's got you there, Dinah," Babs said, chuckling softly.
Dinah grinned, throwing a small pillow at her...which was effectively caught and tossed right back. Dinah curled it under her head against the back of the couch. "True...and it's been fun sharing all my favorite takeouts with you."
"Even I didn't know some of those places existed, and they're great... Thanks," and he grinned, "for pointing me at them." Not watching a woman that gorgeous lounging like that was about impossible, and his eyes tracked between them both. He really wanted to know why the chair, if it was temporary or if she was permanently... down... but that wasn't the kind of thing you asked about. He might not get social stuff right sometimes, but he knew better than that....
"Jim's picking us up at the strip?" Dinah asked lazily, looking like a very content cat more than a bird right now.
"Yes." Babs just knew her partner was hiding something, more than the presents she'd so-carefully purchased with cash, but for the life of her she couldn't figure out what it was, what was keeping her in such a great mood, why she couldn't wait to get to the Manor... //It's almost like she... no. There's no way...//
"Jim?"
"My father, Kon."
"My dad's old partner on the force," Dinah cooed. She had been very proud to have that connection to Barbara, once everyone's identity was out in the open. "He also happens to be a friend to the Wayne household," the blonde continued. "But then he's got mor e charm than the broody one there." She flicked her eyes at Babs playfully.
"Your dad was a cop?" Kon hadn't known that.
Dinah nodded. "Cop turned private eye...seems to be a popular trend for ex-cops." Her mind brushed over three in quick succession; her father, Martian Manhunter civilian identity, and Babs' own ex-fiance.
"Guess that'd make sense," Kon nodded. "Lets them stay kind of in the biz..." He blinked as the plane started to descend again, "That was quick.."
"Zinda is a mover," Dinah said, proud of her other teammate as well.
"Guess so," he agreed as the plane dipped, shaking his head as his ears popped...
In short order they were on the ground, and leaving the plane. Kon caught a glimpse of a buxom blonde leaving the jet behind them, crossing the strip in the other direction toward a big bear of a man and a smaller, yet more arrogant looking man. Dinah shook her head at that.
"Creote seems to be keeping Savant out of trouble....and she's more or less adopted them since her crush did not pan out," Babs told her.
Kon could also see their waiting ride, and his eyes were sharp enough to see 'Jim' quite clearly.
//...why does he look so familia--police, Jim, James--// "Commissioner Gordon?!" he squawked, recognizing the man from dozens of news broadcasts--he'd watched a few with Tim, when they were too far away for Robin to get back to Gotham, and well, the Joker always made the national news... The names Barbara mentioned didn't ring any bells, neither did the faces, so he didn't bother to pay attention to them.
Dinah turned an amused look his way. "Former Commissioner Gordon, now, but yes. Best cop in all the Atlantic Seaboard, after my dad left," she teased.
"Ever," Babs retorted. "Yours chose the private sector...lack of public mindedness," she added, her voice as playful as Dinah's as they picked up what was obviously an old exchange.
Jim inspected his daughter first, noting how well she seemed to be doing, then glanced at the kid with the women as they approached.
Kon filed that away, //Barbara Gordon is the Oracle...// and walked along with the two women, pulling the luggage along behind him again, a couple of pieces floating against his hands as he dragged the others along by their wheels. He was letting Dinah worry about identity messes. She was the adult, anyway.
"Dad!" she called gladly, and abandoned the exchange to wheel up to him, reaching up for a hug.
Jim leaned down and returned her hug as fiercely as she gave. "Barbara, Metropolis seems to suit you," he said. "Bullock figured you'd be home back in Gotham by now."
"Not much difference in how she lives, cooped up inside all day and night," Dinah teased.
"Hello, Dinah. And this is..." He recognized the boy, did not understand how, but accepted it and gave him a chance to choose his own name.
"Kon-El," the teen replied, shifting control of the bags to reach out. "Superboy, sir."
Jim shook his hand firmly, nodding in approval at that bold declaration. "An honor," the older man said, and he meant it. He opened the door for Barbara, and then opened the trunk.
"Leave room for her chair," Dinah told Kon when he got ready to put the bags in.
Kon dipped his head, "Sir, I've had to deal with some of your crazies, the honor's mine..." He loaded bags, then looked at Barbara through the glass. When she nodded, he loaded the chair in, too, then found a seat of his own. //Still the same ugly city...//
"God, I've missed Gotham," Dinah said just as he thought that. "Don't get me wrong, Metropolis is nice, but a girl like me...Gotham suits me better."
Jim shook his head at her. "You sound like your father. He would never move, not even when it started getting dirtier."
Kon just gave her a large-eyed, startled look, and shook his head.
As they entered the car, Dinah leaned forward. "Jim...can you drop Kon and I off at my place here? Mom's old shop? I've got some business to tend before dinner."
"Of course, Dinah," Jim nodded, and took the route towards the shop. "Do you have a car here still, or will you need me to come back?"
"I'll be able to get there on time, Jim. Thank you." She smiled prettily for him, then took Kon's hand and squeezed. He relaxed, settling back against the seats. She obviously had some kind of plan, and he could go with that. Dinah and Babs made eye contact in the mirror, communicating silently. Barbara would do whatever it took to back Dinah's plan, whatever it turned out to be.
When Jim had driven off with Barbara, Dinah looked at Kon a moment, then pulled out her cell phone. "Come on, Roy...answer your phone."
Uncooperatively, it went to his voice mail after a few rings... and a minute later, hers rang, displaying his number. She answered it, smiling to herself. "Boy-o, I need a huge favor. Got a present I'm bringing in the back way...Need you Titans to be there."
"...Di?" his voice was breathless, and confused. "What would you need to... nevermind. Okay. I'll get them downstairs... Connor, too? Or no?"
Dinah hesitated, and he could hear her weighing matters. "I think this needs to be handled within the Titans, for now," she said.
"Okay, Dinah. You've got it." //What the hell...// "Anything else? And when?"
"Leaving the shop now, Boy-o." She led Kon around to a delivery door, deactivated an alarm and opened it to show a vintage motorcycle. She looked it over real quick, nodding to herself.
"At least this time I have pants," Kon said, while staring at the bike. "Oh, maaan... talk about hot..."
Roy stared at his phone. "What the..."
Dick, from the mats--he hadn't seen the use in leaving them--tilted his head. "What's up, Roy?"
"Dinah wants us to get the Titans downstairs... not even Connor, just us..."
Dick tensed, then nodded. "Okay. How much time do we have?"
Roy shook her head. "I think she just broke out her mom's bike," Roy said. "So not long."
Dinah did briefly consider what Babs had tried to warn her of, that Bruce was going to be furious; she had no choice but betray the secret of Batman if she wanted Kon to be reunited with Tim, tonight. But, she was almost positive that Bruce would want Tim's happiness at this point more than holding a secret from another Titan.
"Okay. Get Tim and Mia, I'll meet you." Dick was cat-curious, at this point.
Roy nodded, moving quickly. He ran into Connor first, and smiled. "Bro? Can you hang on to Lian for me? Make sure she stays out of trouble? I need the juniors' help for a minute on a project."
"Of course, Roy. I believe she is once again with Alfred, but I shall locate her."
Kon waited for her, wondering what made that uncertainty cross her face, then straddled the bike behind her.
Roy moved on with a warm slap on Connor's shoulder, finding Mia in the middle of keeping a controller out of Tim's hands laughing. "You two...gimme a hand downstairs?"
Tim stopped fighting her over the controller and whipped around, falling into an alert posture. "Problem?"
Roy shook his head. "Another bird whispered in my ear," he said.
"Hey cool...I get to see your secret Lair this time," Mia joked.
Tim couldn't help but grin at that. "Hey, if you want, I'll give you the tour... Probably after dinner, though..."
Dick had thrown himself through a quick scrub and pulled on the clean clothing he'd left laying there. After a full workout, sparring with Roy, and the makeout session that had followed, he desperately needed one. Alfred would kill him if he went through the house like that again.
Roy listened to the two with fond memories of the teasing on his original team. They all four made it down into the Cave as the roar of a motorcycle could be heard in the tunnel entrance.
"Y'know, I didn't know she knew how to get down here," Dick muttered.
Roy chuckled. "She had to have Bats' help a few years back...personal case that overlapped his."
"Aah. That makes sen--who the Hell has she got with her? Bruce is gonna kill her..." He could see arms wrapped around her waist, and they sent alarm bells ringing loudly in his mind.
Mia and Roy both stared, for seperate reasons. Roy couldn't believe Dinah would do something so stupid, and Mia out of undying curiosity. The bike came to a stop, and Dinah slid off the bike, her helmeted rider a little slower to get free.
Tim tensed, seeing something gut-wrenchingly familiar in the way her passenger moved... //I have to be seeing things, what the Hell Dinah, what's going on?//
As soon as Tim tensed, Mia moved into his space, ready to take his side againt the world if necessary. The passenger flinched, reaching up slowly to remove the helmet she had insisted he wear. Dinah kept her eyes on Tim as she spoke. "I brought home another family member, everyone."
The stranger reached up and pulled the helmet off--and Dick froze, his jaw dropping. //Holy shit...// That face was damn familiar, but he was dead... Hell, he'd watched him die, listened to those last words, seen his brother fall apart at the loss...
Tim fought to keep still, watching as the helmet came down--the face was one he only saw in his dreams, one that couldn't be here, now, not while he was awake... His hands locked into hard fists at his sides, nails biting deep, and the teen with his best friend's face and body spoke. "Wonderboy, knock that off... don't I even get a hello?" That voice, god, that voice... everything was right, but it wasn't possible...
Roy's eyes went as big as they possibly could, and it clicked why she had insisted on Titans only for this...only Titans should see this kind of emotion on a Robin. Mia could feel tears waiting to be shed, a lump in her throat as she saw Superboy standing there.
Tim shuddered, trying to catch his breath, hand coming up against his throat, his head spinning, black dancing around the edges of his vision... he started to take a step forward, even though he didn't believe it he had to try--and his knees buckled under him as the black took over. He could feel himself dropping but he couldn't stop it, sick nausea in his throat....
Mia was there, arms sliding under and around to take his weight ...and then she was knocked off her feet, falling back with the heavier weight of Tim coming down on her as well. "What the f...?" she growled, taking the landing hard on one cheek and hip.
"Mia?!" Roy's protectiveness reared up instantly for his 'kid sister', knowing Dick would see to Tim.
"Damn...not what I intended at all," Dinah said mournfully, watching Tim collapse.
"Tim?!" Kon was suddenly there, kneeling at their sides, reaching out for him, "Sorry, Speedy, my control's still kind of screwed up..." He went to lift Tim off her.
Dick was there, kneeling at Tim's other side, eyes flashing dark at the boy across from him as he tried to take Tim out of Mia's arms. "Superboy..." //You'd better be who we think you are, or I swear to God I'll put you in a grave.//
The growl and the body were familiar, the unmasked face wasn't but there was no doubt who this was. "Hey, Nightwing," Kon said with a shrug, all of his attention focused on the Robin he'd pulled out of Mia's arms to let her get up. "Tim. Tim, c'mon, Wonderboy, open those baby blues for me..." //Come on, lemme see that you're okay...//
Mia made a small attempt to hold on to Tim, caught herself, and pushed back...right into Roy's waiting arms. He hugged her tight, his own eyes stormy as he checked her over, kneeling at her side.
"S'okay, Superboy." Mia had no right to be protective over Tim to the boy who had been...at the very least...his best friend, and she patted at Roy's hand, trying to calm him down.
Dinah stayed back, worried that this had all undone whatever peace Tim had finally found.
Tim's eyes came open slowly, feeling the hard strength of an inhuman body under his, familiar arms around him, scent of ozone and male and his best friend in his nose, and the voice he'd missed so desperately in his ears, trying to call him back... "K-kon?" he couldn't believe he was stuttering, and he opened his eyes, looking up at--//god, that's right, everything's right, it looks like him, sounds like...//
Kon nodded, "Hey, Wonderboy..."
"H-how?" that damned stutter was still there. //I... We closed the doorway, this shouldn't be... Hell with it, I don't care how...//
"We're not sure on the how," Dinah said as Kon looked back to her. "But 3 nights ago Oracle picked him up on her scans because of a natural disaster alert in Hawai'i. I was over the Pacific, so she diverted me."
"You've had him with you since... " Roy actually looked vaguely surprised at her ability to keep that monumental a secret from the family.
"The ultimate Christmas present...someone you love, back from the dead," Mia whispered, folding her arms around herself.
"What she said. I don't know how, but--" //but I'm back, you're glad I'm back, right?//
Tim moved, wrapped up around him, arms going around his shoulders hard, "Three days? You've been back for three days?" //What the fuck why didn't you come to me?//
"I didn't know how to find you, Tim, Di promised she'd get me to you..." Kon held him just as tight, "What else was I supposed to do? I'm sorry..."
Dick watched his little brother cling to Kon, holding on tight, and got back up to go over
and talk to Dinah. "She's sure?" He sounded right, was acting right... but he wanted the confirmation.
"Absolutely positive," Dinah said. "Another reason for the delay...one was my selfish timing, and two was taking steps to be sure." Dinah watched the boys together. "Tim, I did it. I held him hostage, getting him fed up and letting his powers get back to a more normal recovery before he saw you. And I tried to brief him, so he would not be so lost." If anyone deserved blame, she would make damn sure it was on her own shoulders.
Mia nodded, seeing the logic, but not saying a word.
Tim twitched slightly, then slowly nodded. "Okay... Okay. God... you're... you're really back..."
"Yeah, Wonderboy. I'm back, Tim... I'm here..."
One of the hands around his shoulders let go--and slammed into his shoulder hard. "Don't you ever do that to me again!"
"Yep, he's a Robin alright," Roy commented wryly.
Mia smacked at Roy's arm where it looped around her. "Don't go picking on him! That's pretty damn..." She stopped, realizing that Roy and Dinah had done this...both of them, and they knew. "Me shutting up now."
Dick couldn't help a soft chuckle at Mia's attempt not to shove her foot in her mouth, and nodded.
Tim finally realized that Kon's arms weren't the only thing holding him, and that familiar solid-nothing grip was almost enough to send him into the shakes, "God, Kon, I missed you..." low, soft almost-moan, because he couldn't keep his voice under control.
"I'm so sorry... I didn't..." //I didn't mean to die on you...//
"Kon...not your fault," Roy said sharply. He remembered the blame game Donna had played, feeling she had failed. "Just...be there for Tim now, okay?"
Tim's voice ran hard overtop of the archer's, "Knock it off! You didn't die on me on purpose--just don't do it again!"
"Trust me, I don't want to," Kon protested, shifting back enough to look Tim in the face, shaking his head. "It's not on my list!"
"Boys." Dinah's voice was calm, under all their words, but it go their attention slowly. "Jim and Babs have likely arrived above. Kon and I need to arrive soon after...so Tim...try very hard to find a balance." As she spoke, she gestured for the others to give the two space, pushing her bike around to get it aimed out of the cavern.
Kon just nodded once, waving that he'd heard her. Tim sighed, nodded... and started trying to get to 'Robin' from 'freaked out teenager'... It wasn't going well, he could hardly think past the shock and the joy--god, he was going to be completely unpredictable if he couldn't get this under control... "You're back..."
"Yeah. Somehow..." He wrapped a hand around the one Tim had been beating on him with and dragged it to his throat, making Tim feel the pulse, feel him breathing, "See?"
Mia walked a few steps with Roy, then pulled free and went to their side. She tried not to show her frustration as Kon's field kept her from touching Tim, and just showed him the loyalty and respect she had given him since this all began. "Tim...you can do this," she said softly. She did not care what Kon thought; she could not abandon the one friend she felt she had. "He's back, he's here, and he'd have to go through the ENTIRE family to get clear of you."
Kon looked up at Mia, tilting his head at the expression on her face and the tone of her voice--and shifted the aura out from under her hand before she got any madder at him. Not that he understood why she was mad at him, or their in the first place, but...
Tim shuddered as Mia's hand dropped onto his shoulder, and let Speedy's strong voice pull him back towards something that resembled sanity. "I... thanks, Mia. C'mon, Tim, pull it together..."
Dick looked over at the knot of teen heroes and smiled slightly, shaking his head as he tugged at Roy's shoulder. "Come on, Bowhead. The kids'll be fine, and you and I need a real shower and to get dressed for dinner, if Jim & Babs are here..."
"Roy...Don't forget to ask where I am." Dinah winked a her oldest 'son'. "And prompt for my luggage to be fetched in when they tell you I had business. Kon and I will need to change as well." She then looked startled and flew across to him with a little look of guilt, hugging him tight, nuzzling her cheek to his. "Missed you."
Roy nodded, "Sure, Di, I can do that. If I don't Lian will..." he smiled, then wrapped his arms around her. "Missed you, too..." His voice was warm and easy--he understood being busy...
Tim struggled to get himself together, when what he really wanted to do was say the hell with dinner and drag Kon somewhere he could lay on him--utterly bizarre as that was, he just... he needed to be where he could feel Kon, hear that breathing and reassure himself Kon was there.
She drew back from him, then smiled at Dick. "You too, Dick." She gave his hair a brief ruffle before walking back over to her bike, leaning on it as Mia just silently gave her strength to Tim. Kon could see the bonds they had forged, felt it in the way Tim accepted her touch. //What happened while I was gone?// Kon wondered, holding on to Tim until his best friend rolled his shoulders in 'let go'... which he did only unwillingly.
Tim slid off his lap and stood up, leaning back a little against Mia's hand, and Kon followed him up, looking back at Dinah unhappily. He'd just gotten Tim back, he didn't want to let him out of his sight... and if he'd known a little better how to look, he'd have seen the same thing in Robin's carefully blanked expression.
"Tim, honey...we'll be pulling up in just a few minutes...Jim won't be here that long." Dinah gave Mia a long look, and the girl nodded.
"You're hoping that's the case so you quit having to play the friends' only card," Mia teased to set the right tone they needed to be using. Dick and Roy had already vanished up the stairs--but laughter from above said they'd heard that jibe.
"Huh?" Kon questioned, baffled. //Just friends with who?//
"Long story, Kon. One you'll get later. Go, so you can come back, I've got to get upstairs." It took absolutely everything he had to say that, to be willing to let Kon out of his sight... and his hand locked hard on Mia's, reaching for her strength.
Mia let him hold on to her, and gave Kon a small smile. "I'm glad you're back too, Kon...but like he said.....hurry."
//Tim, what the hell?// "It's good to be back, Mia... see you in a sec." He went to the bike, picking the helmet up to settle behind her again, fighting not to look over his shoulder at Tim, not to say the hell with all of it and refuse to leave his side.
Tim turned as Dinah kicked the bike to life and into gear... and made himself let go of Mia's hand. "Okay, upstairs. Upstairs, Babs, dinner, nice, normal behavior---holy SHIT Mia he's BACK!" The careful, calm list dead-ended in an exuberant shout that made annoyed noises come down from the roosting bats above.
Mia grinned at that, and nodded. "Everything's gonna be great now, Tim! He's back for you, and he...Tim, I think he's kind of...crushing on you." Her voice was teasing, with the inside joke of knowing Tim's feelings went deeper than friendship.
"I can hope?" He hugged her hard, feeling like he could do just about anything, finally understanding every stupid cliche people used to try and say what this kind of joy was like...
"Mia, I..." He wanted to shriek loud enough to scare the bats, laugh for joy and spin her in circles... but he couldn't let go that far... He'd already embarrassed the hell out of himself. "Come on. I'm not letting him beat me to my own front door." He let go of her, intending to burn off energy and the bubbling delight running through his body on the trip up the stairs. Taking them several at a time ought to help at least a little...
Mia's laughter bubbled up, the joy at seeing Robin so...vibrant...more than enough to push her to keep up with him, and they ran up out of the Cave, sliding through the clock.
Cowriter: [info]merfilly
Characters: Bats, Arrows, the Bird, and a very special guest or two
Rating: PG
Word Count: 4,682
Continuity:
Disclaimer: DC Comics makes the money, people
Notes: It's official... HappyVerse is our refuge from the meaner things in comics.
Summary: Delivery of the best present ever.
Early afternoon, Dec 24th
Dinah escorted Kon up to the waiting jet, her bags and his obeying his efforts so far to manipulate them into obedience. "Getting very good at that," she said.
"Finally getting my strength back," he replied. She might think he was doing okay... in his opinion, this sucked. Baggage shouldn't have been a problem. He was glad to stuff them into the storage spaces and let go, relieved to have his aura back up around him--the first couple of days had been.. uncomfortable. He dropped into a seat, looking around. "I still can't believe I get to meet Oracle--I mean, it took forever before Tim slipped and I found out she was female..."
"That's exactly how I prefer it, Superboy," her low voice said as Kon picked up the soft sound of wheels from farther up, and she came into view.
//Wow, hot...// Kon noted, watching the redheaded woman--who was really, really pretty, in kind of a quiet way... Not in-your-face like Kory, but she was really, really pretty... "Wow, and your avatar looks so mean..."
Dinah laughed, sticking her tongue out at her partner on that one. "Kon, this is Oracle...but you better get used to calling her Barbara." The blonde curled up on a seat as well, her legs tucked under her.
"My avatar looks mean for a reason, Kon," Babs replied, sending her chair rolling towards him. "Hi."
Kon walked over to meet her, taking her hand--and calluses on her hands, as much as the strength in her shake, told him this woman wasn't just the computer jockey extraordinaire. Her hand felt like Tim's, or Cissie's... She could fight, and the curves of her arms backed that thought. He shook himself out of the thought and smiled at her, "Hi, Barbara. So why's that?"
She started to answer, then turned her chair to a specific spot and locked the wheels into the frame of the plane, "Go ahead, Zinda," she said to the air, and the plane started to move again. Then she looked at him. "It makes people pay attention, more than my own face."
"I dunno, you'd sure have my attention..." She reminded him of Knockout, too, just a little bit, and half the world knew how that had ended...
"Babs had to be sure no one mistook her for a lightweight, and that mask is pretty damn scary," Dinah said, lounging casually. She was doing a very good job of keeping her excitement confined to anticipating Tim's reaction, she thought, because she wanted to be up and moving and figeting with anticipation of seeing all her family...both her Arrows and her Bats. "Of course if they ever saw her first thing in the day, no coffee..." she teased.
"Dinah!" Babs protested, glaring over at her, then looked back at the kid grinning at her. "Thank you for the vote of confidence," she replied neutrally, trying to figure out how to shut the flirtation off without hurting his feelings--Dinah would be angry with her and so would Tim. "It's good to have you back, Superboy. I heard you say you're getting stronger..." a redirect towards business ought to work.
"Yeah, but I'm so not ready to get back on the field, Oracle, sorry... I mean, if there's something big I'll try, but right now I'd probably be more harm than help.."
She nodded once, glad to see he'd apparently gained some sense somewhere along the way. "There's nothing at the moment. I was asking how you felt."
"Better," he replied with a smile. "Much better. Thanks for the rescue, by the way..."
"Not a problem." //Anytime, kid.//
"Oh sure...I'm the one facing a hike over an active volcanic area and she gets all the thanks," Dinah said, buffing at her nails. "Just doesn't pay to have the fishnets these days," she sighed melodramatically.
"I already told you thank you, Di, about half a dozen times," Kon retorted. "I hadn't talked to her yet." He'd started calling her the nickname just so he could get a word or two in edgewise.
"He's got you there, Dinah," Babs said, chuckling softly.
Dinah grinned, throwing a small pillow at her...which was effectively caught and tossed right back. Dinah curled it under her head against the back of the couch. "True...and it's been fun sharing all my favorite takeouts with you."
"Even I didn't know some of those places existed, and they're great... Thanks," and he grinned, "for pointing me at them." Not watching a woman that gorgeous lounging like that was about impossible, and his eyes tracked between them both. He really wanted to know why the chair, if it was temporary or if she was permanently... down... but that wasn't the kind of thing you asked about. He might not get social stuff right sometimes, but he knew better than that....
"Jim's picking us up at the strip?" Dinah asked lazily, looking like a very content cat more than a bird right now.
"Yes." Babs just knew her partner was hiding something, more than the presents she'd so-carefully purchased with cash, but for the life of her she couldn't figure out what it was, what was keeping her in such a great mood, why she couldn't wait to get to the Manor... //It's almost like she... no. There's no way...//
"Jim?"
"My father, Kon."
"My dad's old partner on the force," Dinah cooed. She had been very proud to have that connection to Barbara, once everyone's identity was out in the open. "He also happens to be a friend to the Wayne household," the blonde continued. "But then he's got mor e charm than the broody one there." She flicked her eyes at Babs playfully.
"Your dad was a cop?" Kon hadn't known that.
Dinah nodded. "Cop turned private eye...seems to be a popular trend for ex-cops." Her mind brushed over three in quick succession; her father, Martian Manhunter civilian identity, and Babs' own ex-fiance.
"Guess that'd make sense," Kon nodded. "Lets them stay kind of in the biz..." He blinked as the plane started to descend again, "That was quick.."
"Zinda is a mover," Dinah said, proud of her other teammate as well.
"Guess so," he agreed as the plane dipped, shaking his head as his ears popped...
In short order they were on the ground, and leaving the plane. Kon caught a glimpse of a buxom blonde leaving the jet behind them, crossing the strip in the other direction toward a big bear of a man and a smaller, yet more arrogant looking man. Dinah shook her head at that.
"Creote seems to be keeping Savant out of trouble....and she's more or less adopted them since her crush did not pan out," Babs told her.
Kon could also see their waiting ride, and his eyes were sharp enough to see 'Jim' quite clearly.
//...why does he look so familia--police, Jim, James--// "Commissioner Gordon?!" he squawked, recognizing the man from dozens of news broadcasts--he'd watched a few with Tim, when they were too far away for Robin to get back to Gotham, and well, the Joker always made the national news... The names Barbara mentioned didn't ring any bells, neither did the faces, so he didn't bother to pay attention to them.
Dinah turned an amused look his way. "Former Commissioner Gordon, now, but yes. Best cop in all the Atlantic Seaboard, after my dad left," she teased.
"Ever," Babs retorted. "Yours chose the private sector...lack of public mindedness," she added, her voice as playful as Dinah's as they picked up what was obviously an old exchange.
Jim inspected his daughter first, noting how well she seemed to be doing, then glanced at the kid with the women as they approached.
Kon filed that away, //Barbara Gordon is the Oracle...// and walked along with the two women, pulling the luggage along behind him again, a couple of pieces floating against his hands as he dragged the others along by their wheels. He was letting Dinah worry about identity messes. She was the adult, anyway.
"Dad!" she called gladly, and abandoned the exchange to wheel up to him, reaching up for a hug.
Jim leaned down and returned her hug as fiercely as she gave. "Barbara, Metropolis seems to suit you," he said. "Bullock figured you'd be home back in Gotham by now."
"Not much difference in how she lives, cooped up inside all day and night," Dinah teased.
"Hello, Dinah. And this is..." He recognized the boy, did not understand how, but accepted it and gave him a chance to choose his own name.
"Kon-El," the teen replied, shifting control of the bags to reach out. "Superboy, sir."
Jim shook his hand firmly, nodding in approval at that bold declaration. "An honor," the older man said, and he meant it. He opened the door for Barbara, and then opened the trunk.
"Leave room for her chair," Dinah told Kon when he got ready to put the bags in.
Kon dipped his head, "Sir, I've had to deal with some of your crazies, the honor's mine..." He loaded bags, then looked at Barbara through the glass. When she nodded, he loaded the chair in, too, then found a seat of his own. //Still the same ugly city...//
"God, I've missed Gotham," Dinah said just as he thought that. "Don't get me wrong, Metropolis is nice, but a girl like me...Gotham suits me better."
Jim shook his head at her. "You sound like your father. He would never move, not even when it started getting dirtier."
Kon just gave her a large-eyed, startled look, and shook his head.
As they entered the car, Dinah leaned forward. "Jim...can you drop Kon and I off at my place here? Mom's old shop? I've got some business to tend before dinner."
"Of course, Dinah," Jim nodded, and took the route towards the shop. "Do you have a car here still, or will you need me to come back?"
"I'll be able to get there on time, Jim. Thank you." She smiled prettily for him, then took Kon's hand and squeezed. He relaxed, settling back against the seats. She obviously had some kind of plan, and he could go with that. Dinah and Babs made eye contact in the mirror, communicating silently. Barbara would do whatever it took to back Dinah's plan, whatever it turned out to be.
When Jim had driven off with Barbara, Dinah looked at Kon a moment, then pulled out her cell phone. "Come on, Roy...answer your phone."
Uncooperatively, it went to his voice mail after a few rings... and a minute later, hers rang, displaying his number. She answered it, smiling to herself. "Boy-o, I need a huge favor. Got a present I'm bringing in the back way...Need you Titans to be there."
"...Di?" his voice was breathless, and confused. "What would you need to... nevermind. Okay. I'll get them downstairs... Connor, too? Or no?"
Dinah hesitated, and he could hear her weighing matters. "I think this needs to be handled within the Titans, for now," she said.
"Okay, Dinah. You've got it." //What the hell...// "Anything else? And when?"
"Leaving the shop now, Boy-o." She led Kon around to a delivery door, deactivated an alarm and opened it to show a vintage motorcycle. She looked it over real quick, nodding to herself.
"At least this time I have pants," Kon said, while staring at the bike. "Oh, maaan... talk about hot..."
Roy stared at his phone. "What the..."
Dick, from the mats--he hadn't seen the use in leaving them--tilted his head. "What's up, Roy?"
"Dinah wants us to get the Titans downstairs... not even Connor, just us..."
Dick tensed, then nodded. "Okay. How much time do we have?"
Roy shook her head. "I think she just broke out her mom's bike," Roy said. "So not long."
Dinah did briefly consider what Babs had tried to warn her of, that Bruce was going to be furious; she had no choice but betray the secret of Batman if she wanted Kon to be reunited with Tim, tonight. But, she was almost positive that Bruce would want Tim's happiness at this point more than holding a secret from another Titan.
"Okay. Get Tim and Mia, I'll meet you." Dick was cat-curious, at this point.
Roy nodded, moving quickly. He ran into Connor first, and smiled. "Bro? Can you hang on to Lian for me? Make sure she stays out of trouble? I need the juniors' help for a minute on a project."
"Of course, Roy. I believe she is once again with Alfred, but I shall locate her."
Kon waited for her, wondering what made that uncertainty cross her face, then straddled the bike behind her.
Roy moved on with a warm slap on Connor's shoulder, finding Mia in the middle of keeping a controller out of Tim's hands laughing. "You two...gimme a hand downstairs?"
Tim stopped fighting her over the controller and whipped around, falling into an alert posture. "Problem?"
Roy shook his head. "Another bird whispered in my ear," he said.
"Hey cool...I get to see your secret Lair this time," Mia joked.
Tim couldn't help but grin at that. "Hey, if you want, I'll give you the tour... Probably after dinner, though..."
Dick had thrown himself through a quick scrub and pulled on the clean clothing he'd left laying there. After a full workout, sparring with Roy, and the makeout session that had followed, he desperately needed one. Alfred would kill him if he went through the house like that again.
Roy listened to the two with fond memories of the teasing on his original team. They all four made it down into the Cave as the roar of a motorcycle could be heard in the tunnel entrance.
"Y'know, I didn't know she knew how to get down here," Dick muttered.
Roy chuckled. "She had to have Bats' help a few years back...personal case that overlapped his."
"Aah. That makes sen--who the Hell has she got with her? Bruce is gonna kill her..." He could see arms wrapped around her waist, and they sent alarm bells ringing loudly in his mind.
Mia and Roy both stared, for seperate reasons. Roy couldn't believe Dinah would do something so stupid, and Mia out of undying curiosity. The bike came to a stop, and Dinah slid off the bike, her helmeted rider a little slower to get free.
Tim tensed, seeing something gut-wrenchingly familiar in the way her passenger moved... //I have to be seeing things, what the Hell Dinah, what's going on?//
As soon as Tim tensed, Mia moved into his space, ready to take his side againt the world if necessary. The passenger flinched, reaching up slowly to remove the helmet she had insisted he wear. Dinah kept her eyes on Tim as she spoke. "I brought home another family member, everyone."
The stranger reached up and pulled the helmet off--and Dick froze, his jaw dropping. //Holy shit...// That face was damn familiar, but he was dead... Hell, he'd watched him die, listened to those last words, seen his brother fall apart at the loss...
Tim fought to keep still, watching as the helmet came down--the face was one he only saw in his dreams, one that couldn't be here, now, not while he was awake... His hands locked into hard fists at his sides, nails biting deep, and the teen with his best friend's face and body spoke. "Wonderboy, knock that off... don't I even get a hello?" That voice, god, that voice... everything was right, but it wasn't possible...
Roy's eyes went as big as they possibly could, and it clicked why she had insisted on Titans only for this...only Titans should see this kind of emotion on a Robin. Mia could feel tears waiting to be shed, a lump in her throat as she saw Superboy standing there.
Tim shuddered, trying to catch his breath, hand coming up against his throat, his head spinning, black dancing around the edges of his vision... he started to take a step forward, even though he didn't believe it he had to try--and his knees buckled under him as the black took over. He could feel himself dropping but he couldn't stop it, sick nausea in his throat....
Mia was there, arms sliding under and around to take his weight ...and then she was knocked off her feet, falling back with the heavier weight of Tim coming down on her as well. "What the f...?" she growled, taking the landing hard on one cheek and hip.
"Mia?!" Roy's protectiveness reared up instantly for his 'kid sister', knowing Dick would see to Tim.
"Damn...not what I intended at all," Dinah said mournfully, watching Tim collapse.
"Tim?!" Kon was suddenly there, kneeling at their sides, reaching out for him, "Sorry, Speedy, my control's still kind of screwed up..." He went to lift Tim off her.
Dick was there, kneeling at Tim's other side, eyes flashing dark at the boy across from him as he tried to take Tim out of Mia's arms. "Superboy..." //You'd better be who we think you are, or I swear to God I'll put you in a grave.//
The growl and the body were familiar, the unmasked face wasn't but there was no doubt who this was. "Hey, Nightwing," Kon said with a shrug, all of his attention focused on the Robin he'd pulled out of Mia's arms to let her get up. "Tim. Tim, c'mon, Wonderboy, open those baby blues for me..." //Come on, lemme see that you're okay...//
Mia made a small attempt to hold on to Tim, caught herself, and pushed back...right into Roy's waiting arms. He hugged her tight, his own eyes stormy as he checked her over, kneeling at her side.
"S'okay, Superboy." Mia had no right to be protective over Tim to the boy who had been...at the very least...his best friend, and she patted at Roy's hand, trying to calm him down.
Dinah stayed back, worried that this had all undone whatever peace Tim had finally found.
Tim's eyes came open slowly, feeling the hard strength of an inhuman body under his, familiar arms around him, scent of ozone and male and his best friend in his nose, and the voice he'd missed so desperately in his ears, trying to call him back... "K-kon?" he couldn't believe he was stuttering, and he opened his eyes, looking up at--//god, that's right, everything's right, it looks like him, sounds like...//
Kon nodded, "Hey, Wonderboy..."
"H-how?" that damned stutter was still there. //I... We closed the doorway, this shouldn't be... Hell with it, I don't care how...//
"We're not sure on the how," Dinah said as Kon looked back to her. "But 3 nights ago Oracle picked him up on her scans because of a natural disaster alert in Hawai'i. I was over the Pacific, so she diverted me."
"You've had him with you since... " Roy actually looked vaguely surprised at her ability to keep that monumental a secret from the family.
"The ultimate Christmas present...someone you love, back from the dead," Mia whispered, folding her arms around herself.
"What she said. I don't know how, but--" //but I'm back, you're glad I'm back, right?//
Tim moved, wrapped up around him, arms going around his shoulders hard, "Three days? You've been back for three days?" //What the fuck why didn't you come to me?//
"I didn't know how to find you, Tim, Di promised she'd get me to you..." Kon held him just as tight, "What else was I supposed to do? I'm sorry..."
Dick watched his little brother cling to Kon, holding on tight, and got back up to go over
and talk to Dinah. "She's sure?" He sounded right, was acting right... but he wanted the confirmation.
"Absolutely positive," Dinah said. "Another reason for the delay...one was my selfish timing, and two was taking steps to be sure." Dinah watched the boys together. "Tim, I did it. I held him hostage, getting him fed up and letting his powers get back to a more normal recovery before he saw you. And I tried to brief him, so he would not be so lost." If anyone deserved blame, she would make damn sure it was on her own shoulders.
Mia nodded, seeing the logic, but not saying a word.
Tim twitched slightly, then slowly nodded. "Okay... Okay. God... you're... you're really back..."
"Yeah, Wonderboy. I'm back, Tim... I'm here..."
One of the hands around his shoulders let go--and slammed into his shoulder hard. "Don't you ever do that to me again!"
"Yep, he's a Robin alright," Roy commented wryly.
Mia smacked at Roy's arm where it looped around her. "Don't go picking on him! That's pretty damn..." She stopped, realizing that Roy and Dinah had done this...both of them, and they knew. "Me shutting up now."
Dick couldn't help a soft chuckle at Mia's attempt not to shove her foot in her mouth, and nodded.
Tim finally realized that Kon's arms weren't the only thing holding him, and that familiar solid-nothing grip was almost enough to send him into the shakes, "God, Kon, I missed you..." low, soft almost-moan, because he couldn't keep his voice under control.
"I'm so sorry... I didn't..." //I didn't mean to die on you...//
"Kon...not your fault," Roy said sharply. He remembered the blame game Donna had played, feeling she had failed. "Just...be there for Tim now, okay?"
Tim's voice ran hard overtop of the archer's, "Knock it off! You didn't die on me on purpose--just don't do it again!"
"Trust me, I don't want to," Kon protested, shifting back enough to look Tim in the face, shaking his head. "It's not on my list!"
"Boys." Dinah's voice was calm, under all their words, but it go their attention slowly. "Jim and Babs have likely arrived above. Kon and I need to arrive soon after...so Tim...try very hard to find a balance." As she spoke, she gestured for the others to give the two space, pushing her bike around to get it aimed out of the cavern.
Kon just nodded once, waving that he'd heard her. Tim sighed, nodded... and started trying to get to 'Robin' from 'freaked out teenager'... It wasn't going well, he could hardly think past the shock and the joy--god, he was going to be completely unpredictable if he couldn't get this under control... "You're back..."
"Yeah. Somehow..." He wrapped a hand around the one Tim had been beating on him with and dragged it to his throat, making Tim feel the pulse, feel him breathing, "See?"
Mia walked a few steps with Roy, then pulled free and went to their side. She tried not to show her frustration as Kon's field kept her from touching Tim, and just showed him the loyalty and respect she had given him since this all began. "Tim...you can do this," she said softly. She did not care what Kon thought; she could not abandon the one friend she felt she had. "He's back, he's here, and he'd have to go through the ENTIRE family to get clear of you."
Kon looked up at Mia, tilting his head at the expression on her face and the tone of her voice--and shifted the aura out from under her hand before she got any madder at him. Not that he understood why she was mad at him, or their in the first place, but...
Tim shuddered as Mia's hand dropped onto his shoulder, and let Speedy's strong voice pull him back towards something that resembled sanity. "I... thanks, Mia. C'mon, Tim, pull it together..."
Dick looked over at the knot of teen heroes and smiled slightly, shaking his head as he tugged at Roy's shoulder. "Come on, Bowhead. The kids'll be fine, and you and I need a real shower and to get dressed for dinner, if Jim & Babs are here..."
"Roy...Don't forget to ask where I am." Dinah winked a her oldest 'son'. "And prompt for my luggage to be fetched in when they tell you I had business. Kon and I will need to change as well." She then looked startled and flew across to him with a little look of guilt, hugging him tight, nuzzling her cheek to his. "Missed you."
Roy nodded, "Sure, Di, I can do that. If I don't Lian will..." he smiled, then wrapped his arms around her. "Missed you, too..." His voice was warm and easy--he understood being busy...
Tim struggled to get himself together, when what he really wanted to do was say the hell with dinner and drag Kon somewhere he could lay on him--utterly bizarre as that was, he just... he needed to be where he could feel Kon, hear that breathing and reassure himself Kon was there.
She drew back from him, then smiled at Dick. "You too, Dick." She gave his hair a brief ruffle before walking back over to her bike, leaning on it as Mia just silently gave her strength to Tim. Kon could see the bonds they had forged, felt it in the way Tim accepted her touch. //What happened while I was gone?// Kon wondered, holding on to Tim until his best friend rolled his shoulders in 'let go'... which he did only unwillingly.
Tim slid off his lap and stood up, leaning back a little against Mia's hand, and Kon followed him up, looking back at Dinah unhappily. He'd just gotten Tim back, he didn't want to let him out of his sight... and if he'd known a little better how to look, he'd have seen the same thing in Robin's carefully blanked expression.
"Tim, honey...we'll be pulling up in just a few minutes...Jim won't be here that long." Dinah gave Mia a long look, and the girl nodded.
"You're hoping that's the case so you quit having to play the friends' only card," Mia teased to set the right tone they needed to be using. Dick and Roy had already vanished up the stairs--but laughter from above said they'd heard that jibe.
"Huh?" Kon questioned, baffled. //Just friends with who?//
"Long story, Kon. One you'll get later. Go, so you can come back, I've got to get upstairs." It took absolutely everything he had to say that, to be willing to let Kon out of his sight... and his hand locked hard on Mia's, reaching for her strength.
Mia let him hold on to her, and gave Kon a small smile. "I'm glad you're back too, Kon...but like he said.....hurry."
//Tim, what the hell?// "It's good to be back, Mia... see you in a sec." He went to the bike, picking the helmet up to settle behind her again, fighting not to look over his shoulder at Tim, not to say the hell with all of it and refuse to leave his side.
Tim turned as Dinah kicked the bike to life and into gear... and made himself let go of Mia's hand. "Okay, upstairs. Upstairs, Babs, dinner, nice, normal behavior---holy SHIT Mia he's BACK!" The careful, calm list dead-ended in an exuberant shout that made annoyed noises come down from the roosting bats above.
Mia grinned at that, and nodded. "Everything's gonna be great now, Tim! He's back for you, and he...Tim, I think he's kind of...crushing on you." Her voice was teasing, with the inside joke of knowing Tim's feelings went deeper than friendship.
"I can hope?" He hugged her hard, feeling like he could do just about anything, finally understanding every stupid cliche people used to try and say what this kind of joy was like...
"Mia, I..." He wanted to shriek loud enough to scare the bats, laugh for joy and spin her in circles... but he couldn't let go that far... He'd already embarrassed the hell out of himself. "Come on. I'm not letting him beat me to my own front door." He let go of her, intending to burn off energy and the bubbling delight running through his body on the trip up the stairs. Taking them several at a time ought to help at least a little...
Mia's laughter bubbled up, the joy at seeing Robin so...vibrant...more than enough to push her to keep up with him, and they ran up out of the Cave, sliding through the clock.
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Date: 2006-11-10 06:40 pm (UTC)*is flattered* Thank you!
And yes. Kon and Tim are perfect. *nod*
Thank you!