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sylph_ficsTitle: And Repeat the sounding joy
Cowriter:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
merfilly
Characters: Bats, Arrows, the Bird, and a very special guest or two
Rating: PG
Word Count: 6,540
Continuity: HappyVerse
Disclaimer: DC Comics makes the money, people
Notes: It's official... HappyVerse is our refuge from the meaner things in comics.
Summary: Introductions, secrets, dinner and entertainment...
Dick slid out of the clock and headed for the door, still reeling from the revelation that Superboy was alive. He'd scrubbed the worst of the chalk and sweat off, but they both needed to really clean up--which meant they needed to be into a shower before the--*low, carrying chime*--doorbell rang. "Shit! C'mon, we've gotta be upstairs before Babs spots us or Alfred will kill us both!" He suited action to word and bolted for the back stairs, thereby completely avoiding Ollie and Bruce as they surfaced from Bruce's office at the sound of the doorbell. Roy was just as quick, thinking this was way too familiar.
Mia had kept up with Tim, and the two of them were both grinning like crazy as they heard the door chimes still echoing through the house. They finally managed to contain it to conspiratorial looks, which Alfred noted and the direction they had come from. At worst, he was sure to chalk it up to a sneak into the Cave to show the young lady around.
Tim could barely keep the smile off his face as Alfred opened the door. "Master Gordon, Miss Barbara... it's been far too long." He was--they all were--rather certain that Jim Gordon knew exactly who's Christmas Eve dinner he had truly come to, but the appearances must be maintained--difficult as that might be with Black Canary and Arsenal seated around the table. He had thought, though, that... "Is Miss Dinah not with you after all? I was under the impression she would be joining us..."
"Oh she will be, Alfred...she had some business in town first," Jim told the man. He looked around at the tasteful signs of the season in evidence.
"It's so good of Bruce to invite us here this year. I know he's been away," Barbara said with a twinkle in her eye for Alfred.
"Yes, but Christmas is best spent at home," Alfred said, just before Bruce's voice--the lighter register he used outside the cowl, but not the full lilt of the Fop, Alfred noted--called out as he came down the stairs, "Jim! Barbara! It's so good to see you both." Master Oliver was at his side, and his sharp eyes picked up small signs he had rather not. //Really, Master Bruce, the children are more restrained...//
"Mister Gordon...a pleasure to meet you at last. Bruce here was telling me what it was like to live in a city with an honest man in charge of the police forces," Ollie said with a charismatic smile. As they reached the newcomers, Ollie's eyes were studying every detail of Barbara's face, before he took her hand and kissed the back of it. "As for you, Miss Gordon, I am enchanted to finally meet the woman Dinah Lance considers more stubborn than herself."
Barbara had to fight to not roll her eyes, but she was smiling, feeling the pull of the blond man. //A real smooth one, even knowing what he's done to her.// "And it's interesting to meet you at last."
Bruce shook his head, chuckling softly, "Ollie, I'm rather sure I mentioned Jim had retired..." He watched Ollie and Babs from behind an amused expression--his lover's inability not to flirt a source of amusement at the moment. "Oh, yes. Babs probably mentioned, Jim, but this is Oliver Queen... we fell out of touch years ago, but the boys have kept in touch, and it seemed a good time to renew old friendships, so I invited him and his family out... It's not as though I don't have the room..."
"Barb did mention it." Jim glanced at the blond man with a speculative look, hoping this wolf was on a leash. "And my retirement is surprisingly quiet."
"Sorry...I'm researching all the things to look for in the men and women around me as I aim toward office," Ollie said, smiling at Jim reassuringly.
"And I told him you'd be an excellent person to talk to about that," Bruce said to Jim, on his toes and enjoying the complex weave of interactions this was going to be...
Tim slid forward at that point, "Mister Gordon," he said politely, then headed towards Babs, "Hey, Babs, you look good. I don't think you've ever met Mia..?" He put a light question in his tone--it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for Babs Gordon to have met some of Dick's friends and their younger siblings--and obviously, Batgirl had known the original Speedy. Thank god he'd filled Mia in a little.
Mia nodded politely to Barbara, still amazed that she was standing in the same room as the number one hacker of all times, the one woman Dinah actually spoke of with respect equal to that for her mother. "Hi...I seem to remember the name from my older brother's stories."
"I can only imagine what Roy Harper would have said about me."
"Tim," Jim said politely, weighing the boy's apparent health carefully. "You got a little taller."
Tim stood up a little straighter, still trying to control the overjoyed smile--and keeping it to the corners of his mouth. "I'm still the family shrimp, but I'm working on fixing that," he nodded.
Alfred spoke up, "May I take your coats?" he asked, moving to assist Barbara out of hers. "I believe that the den is unoccupied, Master Bruce?"
"Right, right. Jim, this way..." as he headed that way. "If they're not in the den, Alfred, where are Connor and Lian?"
"I believe Master Connor took Miss Lian upstairs for a nap, so she would not be overly tired for the meal." Alfred took care of the coats as the families made their way to the den.
"Your travel looks good on you, Tim...glad of it." Jim had honestly worried for Jack Drake's son being taken into the Wayne household, for an assortment of reasons he could never admit.
Mia studied the very independent Barbara, seeing the way she handled herself. It was one more flame of inspiration as she dealt with her curse and her blessing, illness and skill.
Bruce nodded, and wondered what was keeping his eldest child--who was currently pinned to the shower wall having his mouth devoured in a promise for later.
"It's been... interesting," Tim nodded, "and fun, a lot of the time. Barring, you know, the usual complaints about travel." Even with Bruce's money smoothing the way, problems happened.
Jim nodded. "Never been one much for travel," he said.
"Mia, Dinah tells me you have an interest in computers?" Barbara quested, trying to test Mia's skill there, drawing her into a technical conversation as she quickly spotted Tim's tutoring at work.
Ollie let himself slip into the back ground, a skill he did not use often. He watched Tim, and Mia, then glanced at Bruce. There was something... very vague to him, but maybe more clear to his lover, about them.
Tim cocked his head curiously, and started to talk to Jim about that--Babs had Mia distracted, after all.
Bruce looked back at Ollie, a slightly puzzled look on his face. He didn't understand what was going on between his son and Ollie's daughter, either, barring that Tim was bonding to her in a way the distant young man rarely allowed himself to. Upstairs, their eldest sons dragged themselves out of the shower, Dick momentarily envying Roy's shorter hair (but they needed to talk about that) as his own tangled, and hurried to dress in dinner-appropriate clothing, Roy bitching the entire time.
Mia was about to ask a question on her specific set up when the door chimes sounded again, and she bounced to her feet. "Dinah's here!" she announced, to cover the real reason for her actions, letting her excitement serve as an excuse for Tim to go with her to see in the manner of close friends sharing everything.
Ollie shook his head at that, but it was just barely feasible...Dinah had remained in Mia's life even after giving him the brush off.
Roy, however, heard the chimes and cussed. "Forgot to make sur eher bags were brought in!" he groaned.
"Aw, crap. Oh, well. We can do it ourselves, then, and save Alfred the work," Dick replied as they left the room and headed down, Dick trying to decide exactly how to play his "official" discovery of Kon's return--he suddenly smiled. //Dick Grayson would know the kid because Kory and Roy talked about him, okay. I can be happy... but god, how in hell is Tim going to play this?//
Tim looked over at Mia, "Excuse me a minute, sir?" he asked, but was obviously going to follow Mia anyway.
Alfred went to the door again, fully expecting it to be Miss Dinah, and opened it.. then stared in shock, barely managing to retain control of his expression.
Dinah stood there with her hand lightly on Kon's arm. "Alfred...that guest I said I would be bringing," She said smoothly as she saw the four Titans gathering behind him. "You may know him from the papers...Superboy? Kon, this is Alfred Pennyworth, who makes everything happen in Bruce Wayne's life."
Roy admired how cool she could play it, even as he let his eyes go wide. "Did you say..."
Mia drew in a hissing breath. "Oh my god..."
Dick was equally awed by his family's ability to play a situation cool as Tim stood stock-still, eyes going miles wide in perfectly simulated disbelief, playing to an audience that had apparently never left the den, and he joined in, "But I thought--"
"I do recognize the young man, but... I was under the impression that he was deceased..."
"I was," Kon said with a shrug. "I guess I'm more like Superman than we thought--holy crap! Arsenal?! What're you doing here?!" as he caught that voice. He wasn't sure he could know Mia, but Roy was an out hero...
Roy gave a cocky grin that was pure Titan and walked over to grip Kon's arms by the shoulders. "Man...you are going to be the toast of the community!"
Bruce and Ollie had come out of the den on the sound of that unfamiliar voice raised, followed closely by their guests, and calling Roy by code name. What they saw, as Mia slid her arm around Tim's waist, and Dinah watched with smug satisfaction, made both wonder if the blonde had already spoken to the kids to warn them. It would explain the odd reactions in the den. Barbara spared a close look at Tim, worried for him more than she would be able to explain without dropping heavy secrets.
Kon's arms clasped around his tight, "You think? I mean--"
"Smack him, Di," Roy cut him off, rather or not Dinah actually did so. "This is your treat? Wow... what a heck of a Christmas present!"
Kon had ducked at Roy's words, hoping to evade the smack if it came, and looked past Roy uncertainly, "Um, Di? Who should I be apologizing to? I am kind of crashing the party..."
Tim was just waiting for Dinah to start the introductions, praying for Dinah to throw him a clue--he hadn't managed to figure it out yet...
Bruce looked at his lady-love through narrowed eyes for a long moment, wondering just how much she'd revealed... and then he caught the look on Tim's face and decided that it did not matter.
Dinah took a deep breath. "Well, you recognized my Boy-o there, Kon. The brunette with him is Dick Grayson, a childhood friend of Roy, and the key reason we're holding our Christmas here. The pretty blonde is Mia Dearden-Queen, his little sister. With him...that's the one I told you about. Tim Drake. He's had a pretty rough year, and I really wanted to make Christmas special for him, seeing's how he's my cousin." She managed to sound so sincere about that that Ollie had to glance away briefly, hiding a grin. "Back there by the den...Mister Bruce Wayne, long time supporter of many of the charity funds that help our community along, and prominent Gotham son, with Ollie Queen, Father of my Boy-o and Mia. You met Babs and Jim in the car..." She scanned for Connor and Lian, to see them at the top of the stairs, with Connor urgently whispering in Lian's ear. //Oh, please be telling her to keep the secrets....// "Up on the stairs, that would be my goddaughter, Lian and Roy's younger brother, Connor Hawke." She smiled at all assembled. "This is Kon, or Superboy."
"Um... hi, all..." Kon waved, trying to memorize those descriptions so he could run with them. "Oh... Kory's ex, right? Am I remembering okay?"
Dick laughed, "Yeah, I dated Starfire for a while..."
"Cool."
Bruce spoke up, "Kon, it's quite all right---It's always good to see one of our heroes come home, even if this must be quite the story..."
//That's Batman, that's Batman, the guy being nice to me is Batman, holy shit..// "Ah... thank you, sir..." He managed to flash a smile, "I was going to blame Dinah for everything if it wasn't okay, since she pretty much kidnapped me--not that I'm complaining," he amended hastily, his eyes going back to Tim's still-shocked face. "Hey, you okay?"
"I... we all thought you were dead..."
He gave the same shrug again, "I... got better? Anyway, hi..." Offering a hand to Robin to shake, as if they'd never met in their lives, was just about the freakiest thing he'd ever done.
"Tim...stop with the hero worship thing already," Mia teased, nudging Tim as hard as she dared, worried he was going to shatter.
Barbara stared at Dinah next, amazed that the woman had managed, in one long introduction, to veritably explain all of their presences in a way that left only the three public heroes exposed as what they truly were. Still, she glanced at her father, and caught just the vaguest wrinkling around his eyes. // He's known for years, or I'm still just a girl in a homemade cape...//
Roy gave a prayer that Tim pulled it off, aware that the stage was fully set, and now Tim was the star.
Lian came downstairs at Connor's side and looked at Kon in curiosity, but went to Dinah and climbed up in her arms.
Ollie liked the way Dinah had made their connection patently obvious, if removed, and glowed with pride at the way she claimed Roy so boldly as hers. "Good to see you came back, Kid...you're some relation to Metropolis's favorite hero?" he asked.
"MIA!" he whined, hand wrapping around Kon's tightly. "Pay no attention to her, would you?" he asked, "She's got no idea what she's talking about, but thinks it's fun to hassle me..."
Kon laughed, "Sure, I can do that--" he turned to look at Ollie, managing to make himself let go of Tim's hand again, and nodded. "Yeah--it's really freaking complicated and I find out new stuff all the time, but yeah, we're related, and thanks... Can't say I was all that crazy about the way Dinah found me, but I am so glad to be alive..."
Tim let himself bite, just like the fanboy Dinah and Mia were painting him to be, "'The way Dinah found you'?"
"Yeah--and I'm not admitting to it, either. Terminal embarrassment, I mean bad..."
Bruce's lips curved, amused and able to show it... He'd been serious, this must be quite a story.
Dinah shook her head. "Nothing embarassing. I was working when my partner said there was a lone hero trying to double check a volcanic flow, and asked me to assist. There was Kon, and though he was a bit confused, he's the reason the flow did not cause more damage." It was completely the truth, Babs decided, from a very odd perspective, and she tried to remember when Dinah became so skilled at spinning stories just the right way.
"Dinah...your luggage in Mister Gordon's car?" Roy asked.
Jim jerked. "That's right...here, let me go..."
"I think not," Alfred said. "If you will merely allow me to use your keys..."
Kon suddenly beamed at her, "Ooh, I like your version! Much less embarrassing."
Tim decided to get the full story later, when he and Mia were the only ones there, and settled for, "I don't see why you'd say that was embarrassing, you probably helped a lot of people..."
Hearing Tim sound like Hiro was breaking Kon's brain in some really icky ways, but he could handle it... He settled for a laugh that said, 'no way in hell'.
Dick sighed softly, "Alfie, you know, you could let us do that..."
He received a very level look in response, and Bruce chuckled again. "Dick, have you ever won that argument?"
"No, but I can keep trying..." He finally realized he really ought to say hi to Babs, and walked over to the woman he'd been crazy about for years--and had held on to for far, FAR too long. "Hey, Babs," he said softly, tilting his head at her. "How've you been?"
She smiled up at him, fondly, but not clinging or needy. "Pretty good actually. I've got a few pursuits keeping me tangled up, some fiesty partners in them...." She was just as able to layer the truth into innocent conversation.
Mia took Tim's hand. "Hey, instead of standing around here, Tim, why don't you show Kon to a room to freshen up?"
//Oh Mia, you have been around Dinah far too long.// Roy could certainly see the manipulating Bird in those words, but it left him confused again for his sister. Where did she fit in this new dynamic?
Ollie must have had the same thought, as he frowned, but he turned to Jim after Jim passed over his keys. "Why don't we head into the den? I'd really like your opinion on how to spot a good man."
He smiled. "Good. You need someone to keep you busy... Running around the world with Bruce has been a "trip" and a half." Okay, the joke was weak, but.
"Smarter to let the bags come in first, I was thinking, but Alfred should be able to figure out where," Tim replied with a shrug, then nodded. "Sure. Come on up," and he headed that way, not trying to reclaim his hand.
Kon followed, "Thanks, I do kind of need to..."
Bruce followed Jim and Ollie into the den, wondering if Dinah would join them.
"I'll be in there soon, Jim... I'd like to hear your thoughts too, but I need to change; Mom's bike was a little dusty."
"Oh that monster still runs? It tore up a good bit of Gotham when your father was still on the force," Jim called back to her before focusing on Ollie's insightful questions, as most of them settled into the pre-dinner holding patterns.
Roy had moved over to steal his baby from his 'mom' and was then coaxed, along with Connor, and Dick when he rejoined them after another couple of minutes, into playing one of her games with her.
Tim led Kon up into a room, and wrapped around him tight again. "Oh,that was stressful..."
"You think it was for you! I don't do this sneaky stuff!"
Mia went up with the boys, but turned off in her room to make herself presentable for dinner. The boys were interrupted by Alfred clearing his throat, and depositing Kon's bags there for him.
"Master Kon...welcome," Alfred told the boy, far more warmly than he could have below, in front of Jim Gordon. "Master Tim...He may use the room across from yours during his stay."
Kon jumped, then stilled when Tim completely refused to let go of him. //Um, okay, god, we need to talk, cause I can't figure out where we are, man....// "Thank you," he said to the welcome, smiling at the older man.
Tim smiled backwards over his shoulder. "Thanks, Alfie. How long before dinner's done?" Tim was hungry. Alfred let a small, dry chuckle escape. "As Master Bruce was very insistent the meal be over as quickly as possible, it will be ready in another ten minutes."
Tim grinned. "Great timing, Dinah." He approved. "We'll be down quick, then. Kon, move it." His arms finally let go again. Kon grabbed up a bag and vanished into the bathroom--but only half-closed the door, waiting for Alfred to leave.
The elder man soon walked away, having many details still needing his hand or eye.
Tim leaned against the bedroom wall. "So, about this embarassing thing?"
"I'mnottelling. Not before dinner. After maybe," his voice occasionally muffled as he swapped out of the dusty clothing. "Gonna be so glad when my TTK behaves right all the time again..."
Tim slid into the bathroom at that, frowning, "You're having trouble?"
"Yeah. I was dead, rem--"
Tim's hot weight slammed against his chest as hands tangled into his hair--and Kon found himself being kissed hard and deep, a warning snarl in Tim's throat--//Holyshit... OH. Oh. okay... yeah...// he started kissing Tim back, arms wrapping around him.
It felt like an eternity before Tim's lungs screamed for him to let go, and it was longer before he actually pulled away to take a harsh gasp of air, and "Don't fucking remind me, Kon. I spent half of the last six months hating the entire world for going on when I'd lost everything and saving it had taken you from me, don't remind me."
"Tim...? Tim, I..."
"Shut up, Kon. It hurt and I hated it, and I hated myself for never telling you this..." his hand snapped, a hard gesture at the two of them and the way they were wrapped together. "So, now you know."
Kon pulled him closer, hand curving around the back of his head, pulling him close--it was a headtrip to realize that what he'd never thought he could have was right there saying 'yes'... "God, Tim, talk about stupid, both of us...I didn't mean to, I--"
Tim kissed him again, hard, all strong pressure and sharp motion, hand tightening in his hair... and Kon shuddered and let him, giving Tim anything he wanted... //Cassie's gonna kill me,// flicked through his mind, but he ignored it to pay attention to his... his Tim. //my Tim? My Tim.//
Soft scratching sounds came from the door, followed by a softer voice. "Tim, hate to intrude, bro..." Mia was there, and she switched to the family nickname thrown by all the men at each other. "Just about time...and Dinah's about to go down...want me to beat her there to see how the dads handle it?"
Tim groaned and pulled out of the kiss. "Yeah, sis, wouldya? That ought to be a riot..."
Kon blinked, tilting his head, so very massively confused, and waited til he heard her steps recede to ask, "Bro, Sis? Since when're you and Speedy so tight? And "the dads"?"
Tim sighed. "Since you died, Bart vanished, Cassie took off to go nuts trying to bring you back, Cass's off doing godknowswhat somewhere in Eurasia and I got dragged to Ollie's for Thanksgiving. She's... really great, Kon."
"She seemed pretty cool, yeah," Kon was willing to agree with that. "So.. that still--"
"Save it for later, she's right, we've got to get downstairs. Time to go back to playing fanboy at you..."
"Which is just freaky, by the way," Kon stuck in, //but... kinda cool, in a weird way...//
"It's only til Jim and Babs leave." Even Tim wasn't sure who he was reassuring.
Mia managed to just barely beat Dinah to the dining room where everyone had been corralled, to see how Ollie and Bruce handled the presence of Dinah in a public setting, so to speak. Bruce was waiting at the head of the table, sneaking furtive glances over to the door...and was quicker than Ollie at that, getting to see her as Dinah walked in dressed in dark blues, her choker the only black she wore. Mia blinked; how in the world did she manage to twist all that hair up and make it look so good, so fast?
Ollie saw her enter, and felt his heart hammering. His clan were situated along one side of the table. Logically, it seemed she should sit beside Roy, but that put her, in Ollie's mind, too far from himself and Bruce. He quietly moved to the second seat from Bruce's position, leaving the seat between them open...and she smoothly took it as if she expected it.
"I do appreciate you letting me come, both to be near my family, and to better get to know Tim, Bruce." Dinah managed the words easily, ignoring the way Babs narrowed her eyes.
Dick shook his head, "Alfred must be having conniptions at how unbalanced this table is," he said as he took his spot across from Roy.
"My pleasure, Dinah," Bruce replied with an easy smile, "I didn't realize how connected we were at first, and I'm glad to see that Tim still has blood family."
Tim brought Kon down just after that, eyes flicking to Mia with a tiny, curious headtilt--then he spotted Dinah tucked between Bruce and Ollie and his teeth flashed in a small smile, amused that they'd pulled that off even in this company, and he found the seat across from Mia, Kon settling beside him as if they'd only been making small talk, not rewriting their entire world. He studied Mia, thinking over 'bro, sis' and their linked, twined hands and the way she'd tried to protect him--it made his head hurt, and he shook it off.
Jim was seated opposite Dinah, with Babs beside him. When everyone was seated, Alfred unobtrusively took the other end of the table, getting another eyebrow from Babs, but she kept her mouth shut.
Connor helped Roy contain Lian in the chair between them, and tried not to dwell on the fact the one opposite him should have held Kyle. He instead nodded politely to Alfred and avoided the small talk passing around the table. He was vaguely amused by the double layered comments that kept escaping his parents..to include Bruce, as he had made his mind up there was no use fighting the inevitable.
Keeping the mental tally of who was supposed to know what and who said what was a source of no little amusement to the Bat--especially noting which comments drew, or did not draw, certain reactions from the Oracle at his left.
Kon mainly kept quiet, barring praising the food and devouring everything placed before him--it was easier to stay quiet than to risk blabbing about something he shouldn't have known.
Tim, too, was finding the conversations amusing--and that Babs was on Dick's left hand amused him immensely. They seemed to be dealing well, though. He was teasing her, just a little and every so often, and she wasn't getting angry... //Thank god. They're really over each other.//
Dinah was watching Tim and Mia and Kon a lot, completely bemused by what she saw of Tim playing hero-worship, Mia's wide eyed awe at having a dead hero return plus her protectiveness over Tim. Roy and Dick did flirt a little, under the bemusement of all involved, but it was done in that teasing fashion of age old friends completely at home with one another. Ollie tried to talk politics once, and Dinah cut him off with a quick word that left no doubt in Jim's mind they had once been married...or close to it. Bruce had been opening his mouth to cut Ollie off--and flashed a smile at Dinah when she did so before he could.
Tim flicked a smile at her one of those times he saw her watching--this was actually good practice--and he kept it going throughout dinner, and through Alfred's serving of desserts to people far, far too full to treat them with the care they deserved. Kon was the only one who could, and that only because of his currently bottomless appetite.
In the middle of dessert, Dinah's phone made a polite chime, and she covered her mouth. "I'm sorry everyone; that means I have to take it," she said softly, honestly embarassed to break the hospitality of the table so rudely. She stood, to leave the room, ignoring the question in certain eyes as to who it might be.
Roy watched her go, one hand tensing, wondering... Lian's lower lip started to quiver--and Dick reached across the table, "Sssh, Lian, it's okay... Sssh, baby..."
"Not okay," Lian denied softly, shaking her head, but trying to be good...
"Cass...this is a surprise," they all heard her say as she cleared the doorway. That got Barbara's attention, and she almost followed Dinah out, but realized it would not be proper.
"Miss Lian," Alfred said, catching the girl's attention. "Will you help me with the clean up this evening?" He would occupy her at least.
Tim kept his face under control by some miracle of will and didn't stare after her. //Cass? Our Cass?//
Lian looked up at him, "Okay, Alfie.. I'll help... Now?"
"Yes, Miss Lian."
"Alfred...that was a wonderful meal; you outdid yourself this year," Jim complimented.
"Yes, Alfred...thank you," Barbara said in turn, too curious about Cass and why Dinah was her point of contact.
Roy watched the silent flicks of worry on all the young bat faces, making him curious.
Bruce was every bit as interested and concerned as his younger partners, but had to keep it completely off his face, unlike the kids. //Cassandra?// Dick, Tim, and Kon chimed in with their thanks as well, and Dick shook his head at Roy, trying to tell him to drop it as Lian started collecting the dessert plates.
"Will you have another cup of coffee?" Alfred asked the adults who had taken some with dessert.
"Not me Alfred," Roy said, already keyed up enough without adding more caffeine.
"I'll take another cup, Alfred...and thank you for feeding my horde," Ollie said.
Jim shook his head as well. "Not me."
"Yes, please, Alfie," Dick asked, and Bruce closed his eyes--mostly in jest.
Tim winced. "Dick, c'mon, you'll be bouncing off the walls, that was tiramisu you were into anyway..."
Roy laughed. "Let me tell you about the night he decided we need to stay awake all night...while Alfred was sick one year," Roy began, the lead in to a tale of a Dick misadventure in Alfred's kitchen.
Tim's eyes widened and he leaned forward eagerly--and Dick whined, "Roooy, don't you dare..." //Do you want to get laid tonight, jerk?// his eyes asked.
Roy's response was to use his eyes to mentally strip and ravish Dick. "You see, he reasoned if four scoops of coffee were fine for morning coffee, then all-nite coffee should have eight to a pot."
He fought not to shudder at that look, and growled instead. "Har-per..." as he kicked him under the table.
"Brilliant logic there," Bruce said idly.
"It was bitter, of course," Roy continued, catching the man's foot in his own. "So he dumped...a pound of sugar in it...."
Mia was beginning to giggle, seeing a young Dick and Roy up to hijinks in the kitchen, probably getting ready for a patrol.
"It was not an entire pound, you," Dick argued, glaring.
Tim couldn't help the laugh, seeing that sooo clearly.
Jim chuckled. "Sounds like a proper cup of graveyard Joe," he said. "Bullock...one of my men...he makes it about that strong and sweet."
Babs shuddered, then looked up as Dinah came back in smiling and wiping at her eyes. The blonde went right to her red headed friend, leaning down over her shoulders. "Babs, our young girl friend...she's going to call you tonight...her mom needed her before I could bring you the phone." She spoke to Barbara but loud enough the Bat Clan at large could hear. "She misses you...misses the work she did with you."
"Thank you, si--" Dick started to say, then shut up when Dinah came back into the room, and his eyes widened at that before he could stop it. //Cass's with Shiva?!//
Every muscle in Tim's body tensed at once at that news before he could stop himself, //Cass, No...//
Bruce managed to pull a politely interested look onto his face, when he truly wanted to find out precisely what had been said right then...
Kon tilted his head, trying to figure that one out, then tucked it away for later.
Babs let out a small sigh. "So, it's working for them?"
"Yes...they found a path that suits them both," Dinah answered, hoping the other Bats felt the fact that both of them were okay with it. Roy hated that the other half of the family was now on edge from whatever was going on, and hated being out of the loop even more.
"Well, Barbara, are you ready to head up to the precinct?" Jim asked.
Tim slowly relaxed, making his eyes lighten again, and Dick's shoulders unkinked as Dinah reassured them. Even Bruce relaxed some at those words. There just weren't many people that could knot Tim up like that, and for Dinah to be the one talking about her...//Something's up with BG,// Kon realized.
"Yes, Dad," Babs said. She took another hug from Dinah, over her shoulder, and then let Dinah straighten.
Dinah then wrapped her arms around Jim's neck, after he stood, and kissed his cheek softly. "Merry Christmas, Jim."
"Merry Christmas, Dinah." He smiled at her, proud to see his former partner's daughter living up to her heritage.
Ollie stood, and shook hands with Jim. Roy and Connor both stood up, also shaking his hand before Roy walked to Barbara and took her hand, kissing it in almost the exact same manner as Ollie had. "You take care of yourself, RedHead...."
Dick watched that, eyes going wide, then got up to say goodbye himself, to Jim and Babs.
It took nearly ten more minutes for the Gordons to get out of the house, and then Kon saw it was like everyone was listening for the car to actually be gone.
Most of them had followed Jim and Babs towards the door, and Bruce turned towards the den once they were sure Jim wouldn't come back, and it was as though that broke the floodgate.
Dick smacked Roy in the back of the head, not particularly hard, mock-glaring at him. "You did not need to rat me out!"
Tim chuckled softly, "I dunno, I want the rest of that story..."
Dinah listened half a second past that and then launched herself into Bruce's path. "Miss me?" she asked impishly. Ollie laughed, moving closer to them both, pleased to see her in high spirits and still very open to touching.
Roy moved up against Dick, wrapping an arm around him. "What do I get to shut up?" the archer purred.
Mia let out a deep breath as she bounced over to Tim. "You know, that was the most interesting practice I have ever had in double talk."
Connor just shook his head and went to the kitchen to help Alfred and Lian.
"Oooh-kay..." Kon said slowly, staring at the way the crowd had suddenly just... shifted. He blinked at the sight of Dinah bouncing into Batman's path--then his jaw dropped as Bats, Bruce, whatever, pulled her into his arms, dipping his head to kiss her. It looked as though the kiss wasn't supposed to be all that intense, //But, but... Green Arrow's right there... and since when does Batman...//
Then he turned at the sound of that purr and his eyes widened as Nightwing slithered around in Arsenal's arms and started to talk in his ear, low and soft, and Roy's eyes flared hot. //Holy crap, Vic wasn't joking, that one time...// Almost afraid, he looked back at Tim and Mia--and Tim was still laughing at her comment. "Yeah, I know, that was great..."
Ollie pressed up behind Dinah, pinning her to the man they both loved, curled close against her, while Roy pulled Dick toward the stairs, not letting much distance come between them.
Mia saw Kon look over and cut off her laughing and smiling, ducking her head with a blush. "Tim...Kon should be filled in on our family situation."
Kon heard a soft noise and turned--then turned back to Tim and Mia, flushing crimson, "Um, I think I get it..."
Tim looked over the wall of Kon's shoulder and shook his head. "Bruce, honestly, get a room! And don't you dare be mad at Dinah, not with what you pulled with me and Steph. Dinah had a much better reason. And Kon and Mia and I are going up to my room, where he doesn't have to be traumatized by you guys deciding to imitate teenagers!"
Ollie did pause then, flashing a grin down at his lady lover. "You loved being able to do that," he purred. "Sharing that rush."
"Now, Ollie...I had only Tim's best interests at heart," Dinah purred back, drawing an amused noise from Bruce.
"Come on guys," Mia told Kon and Tim. "You guys need some time alone, and I need to work on my language practice."
Roy paused at hearing the baby bird round on the Bat...and grinned like a crazy man. "Our little bro has a heavy pair...." and Dick laughed as they topped the stairs, grinning. "Yeah, he does--or else a complete lack of common sense..." There were days he wasn't sure which.
Bruce looked over his shoulder at Tim, "I had already decided that, Robin, thank you..." his voice low as he kept Dinah close.
Once again, Mia had managed to confuse the hell out of Kon--he was about ready to just give up trying. Tim nodded once at Bruce, relaxing now that he knew things would be okay for Dinah, and headed up the stairs with his.... boyfriend?... and his sister, getting out of the Bat's way.
Dinah looked up at Bruce as the kids started up the stairs, hoping he really did understand. "I had to keep it a secret...I thought you might feel Tim needed to be told first...and believe me, the knowing but not being sure...tears a person apart." Ollie squeezed her slightly, and smiled when she ran a hand over his.
"It's all right, Dinah," Bruce replied. "Tim did have a rather good suggestion," he said, and his eyes looked up two floors in the general direction of the master suite.
Mia sighed softly. "Superboy...Kon...welcome back, and welcome to the combined Bat/Arrow Clan...where you need a score card to keep up with who is related how."
Kon shook his head, wincing, "Um, okay... somebody fill me in on the scorecard thing later.. I just... I'm not thinking about that, okay?"
Tim grinned slightly, "I know, Kon. That first morning at breakfast was insane,.." he said as he opened his door. "Mia..." his voice was low, uncertain.
"Later, Tim." She bumped up to him, gave him a quick hug. "Congratulations." She then pulled away and went on down to her room, going to work on her Japanese syntax.
"Bossy girl," Tim muttered, but was more than willing to take her up on the offer. He hugged her back, tightly, then held his door open to let Kon in, wanting a door between him and his best friend--who'd been gone far, far too long--and the rest of the world. They had a lot to talk about, after all.
Cowriter:
merfillyCharacters: Bats, Arrows, the Bird, and a very special guest or two
Rating: PG
Word Count: 6,540
Continuity: HappyVerse
Disclaimer: DC Comics makes the money, people
Notes: It's official... HappyVerse is our refuge from the meaner things in comics.
Summary: Introductions, secrets, dinner and entertainment...
Dick slid out of the clock and headed for the door, still reeling from the revelation that Superboy was alive. He'd scrubbed the worst of the chalk and sweat off, but they both needed to really clean up--which meant they needed to be into a shower before the--*low, carrying chime*--doorbell rang. "Shit! C'mon, we've gotta be upstairs before Babs spots us or Alfred will kill us both!" He suited action to word and bolted for the back stairs, thereby completely avoiding Ollie and Bruce as they surfaced from Bruce's office at the sound of the doorbell. Roy was just as quick, thinking this was way too familiar.
Mia had kept up with Tim, and the two of them were both grinning like crazy as they heard the door chimes still echoing through the house. They finally managed to contain it to conspiratorial looks, which Alfred noted and the direction they had come from. At worst, he was sure to chalk it up to a sneak into the Cave to show the young lady around.
Tim could barely keep the smile off his face as Alfred opened the door. "Master Gordon, Miss Barbara... it's been far too long." He was--they all were--rather certain that Jim Gordon knew exactly who's Christmas Eve dinner he had truly come to, but the appearances must be maintained--difficult as that might be with Black Canary and Arsenal seated around the table. He had thought, though, that... "Is Miss Dinah not with you after all? I was under the impression she would be joining us..."
"Oh she will be, Alfred...she had some business in town first," Jim told the man. He looked around at the tasteful signs of the season in evidence.
"It's so good of Bruce to invite us here this year. I know he's been away," Barbara said with a twinkle in her eye for Alfred.
"Yes, but Christmas is best spent at home," Alfred said, just before Bruce's voice--the lighter register he used outside the cowl, but not the full lilt of the Fop, Alfred noted--called out as he came down the stairs, "Jim! Barbara! It's so good to see you both." Master Oliver was at his side, and his sharp eyes picked up small signs he had rather not. //Really, Master Bruce, the children are more restrained...//
"Mister Gordon...a pleasure to meet you at last. Bruce here was telling me what it was like to live in a city with an honest man in charge of the police forces," Ollie said with a charismatic smile. As they reached the newcomers, Ollie's eyes were studying every detail of Barbara's face, before he took her hand and kissed the back of it. "As for you, Miss Gordon, I am enchanted to finally meet the woman Dinah Lance considers more stubborn than herself."
Barbara had to fight to not roll her eyes, but she was smiling, feeling the pull of the blond man. //A real smooth one, even knowing what he's done to her.// "And it's interesting to meet you at last."
Bruce shook his head, chuckling softly, "Ollie, I'm rather sure I mentioned Jim had retired..." He watched Ollie and Babs from behind an amused expression--his lover's inability not to flirt a source of amusement at the moment. "Oh, yes. Babs probably mentioned, Jim, but this is Oliver Queen... we fell out of touch years ago, but the boys have kept in touch, and it seemed a good time to renew old friendships, so I invited him and his family out... It's not as though I don't have the room..."
"Barb did mention it." Jim glanced at the blond man with a speculative look, hoping this wolf was on a leash. "And my retirement is surprisingly quiet."
"Sorry...I'm researching all the things to look for in the men and women around me as I aim toward office," Ollie said, smiling at Jim reassuringly.
"And I told him you'd be an excellent person to talk to about that," Bruce said to Jim, on his toes and enjoying the complex weave of interactions this was going to be...
Tim slid forward at that point, "Mister Gordon," he said politely, then headed towards Babs, "Hey, Babs, you look good. I don't think you've ever met Mia..?" He put a light question in his tone--it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for Babs Gordon to have met some of Dick's friends and their younger siblings--and obviously, Batgirl had known the original Speedy. Thank god he'd filled Mia in a little.
Mia nodded politely to Barbara, still amazed that she was standing in the same room as the number one hacker of all times, the one woman Dinah actually spoke of with respect equal to that for her mother. "Hi...I seem to remember the name from my older brother's stories."
"I can only imagine what Roy Harper would have said about me."
"Tim," Jim said politely, weighing the boy's apparent health carefully. "You got a little taller."
Tim stood up a little straighter, still trying to control the overjoyed smile--and keeping it to the corners of his mouth. "I'm still the family shrimp, but I'm working on fixing that," he nodded.
Alfred spoke up, "May I take your coats?" he asked, moving to assist Barbara out of hers. "I believe that the den is unoccupied, Master Bruce?"
"Right, right. Jim, this way..." as he headed that way. "If they're not in the den, Alfred, where are Connor and Lian?"
"I believe Master Connor took Miss Lian upstairs for a nap, so she would not be overly tired for the meal." Alfred took care of the coats as the families made their way to the den.
"Your travel looks good on you, Tim...glad of it." Jim had honestly worried for Jack Drake's son being taken into the Wayne household, for an assortment of reasons he could never admit.
Mia studied the very independent Barbara, seeing the way she handled herself. It was one more flame of inspiration as she dealt with her curse and her blessing, illness and skill.
Bruce nodded, and wondered what was keeping his eldest child--who was currently pinned to the shower wall having his mouth devoured in a promise for later.
"It's been... interesting," Tim nodded, "and fun, a lot of the time. Barring, you know, the usual complaints about travel." Even with Bruce's money smoothing the way, problems happened.
Jim nodded. "Never been one much for travel," he said.
"Mia, Dinah tells me you have an interest in computers?" Barbara quested, trying to test Mia's skill there, drawing her into a technical conversation as she quickly spotted Tim's tutoring at work.
Ollie let himself slip into the back ground, a skill he did not use often. He watched Tim, and Mia, then glanced at Bruce. There was something... very vague to him, but maybe more clear to his lover, about them.
Tim cocked his head curiously, and started to talk to Jim about that--Babs had Mia distracted, after all.
Bruce looked back at Ollie, a slightly puzzled look on his face. He didn't understand what was going on between his son and Ollie's daughter, either, barring that Tim was bonding to her in a way the distant young man rarely allowed himself to. Upstairs, their eldest sons dragged themselves out of the shower, Dick momentarily envying Roy's shorter hair (but they needed to talk about that) as his own tangled, and hurried to dress in dinner-appropriate clothing, Roy bitching the entire time.
Mia was about to ask a question on her specific set up when the door chimes sounded again, and she bounced to her feet. "Dinah's here!" she announced, to cover the real reason for her actions, letting her excitement serve as an excuse for Tim to go with her to see in the manner of close friends sharing everything.
Ollie shook his head at that, but it was just barely feasible...Dinah had remained in Mia's life even after giving him the brush off.
Roy, however, heard the chimes and cussed. "Forgot to make sur eher bags were brought in!" he groaned.
"Aw, crap. Oh, well. We can do it ourselves, then, and save Alfred the work," Dick replied as they left the room and headed down, Dick trying to decide exactly how to play his "official" discovery of Kon's return--he suddenly smiled. //Dick Grayson would know the kid because Kory and Roy talked about him, okay. I can be happy... but god, how in hell is Tim going to play this?//
Tim looked over at Mia, "Excuse me a minute, sir?" he asked, but was obviously going to follow Mia anyway.
Alfred went to the door again, fully expecting it to be Miss Dinah, and opened it.. then stared in shock, barely managing to retain control of his expression.
Dinah stood there with her hand lightly on Kon's arm. "Alfred...that guest I said I would be bringing," She said smoothly as she saw the four Titans gathering behind him. "You may know him from the papers...Superboy? Kon, this is Alfred Pennyworth, who makes everything happen in Bruce Wayne's life."
Roy admired how cool she could play it, even as he let his eyes go wide. "Did you say..."
Mia drew in a hissing breath. "Oh my god..."
Dick was equally awed by his family's ability to play a situation cool as Tim stood stock-still, eyes going miles wide in perfectly simulated disbelief, playing to an audience that had apparently never left the den, and he joined in, "But I thought--"
"I do recognize the young man, but... I was under the impression that he was deceased..."
"I was," Kon said with a shrug. "I guess I'm more like Superman than we thought--holy crap! Arsenal?! What're you doing here?!" as he caught that voice. He wasn't sure he could know Mia, but Roy was an out hero...
Roy gave a cocky grin that was pure Titan and walked over to grip Kon's arms by the shoulders. "Man...you are going to be the toast of the community!"
Bruce and Ollie had come out of the den on the sound of that unfamiliar voice raised, followed closely by their guests, and calling Roy by code name. What they saw, as Mia slid her arm around Tim's waist, and Dinah watched with smug satisfaction, made both wonder if the blonde had already spoken to the kids to warn them. It would explain the odd reactions in the den. Barbara spared a close look at Tim, worried for him more than she would be able to explain without dropping heavy secrets.
Kon's arms clasped around his tight, "You think? I mean--"
"Smack him, Di," Roy cut him off, rather or not Dinah actually did so. "This is your treat? Wow... what a heck of a Christmas present!"
Kon had ducked at Roy's words, hoping to evade the smack if it came, and looked past Roy uncertainly, "Um, Di? Who should I be apologizing to? I am kind of crashing the party..."
Tim was just waiting for Dinah to start the introductions, praying for Dinah to throw him a clue--he hadn't managed to figure it out yet...
Bruce looked at his lady-love through narrowed eyes for a long moment, wondering just how much she'd revealed... and then he caught the look on Tim's face and decided that it did not matter.
Dinah took a deep breath. "Well, you recognized my Boy-o there, Kon. The brunette with him is Dick Grayson, a childhood friend of Roy, and the key reason we're holding our Christmas here. The pretty blonde is Mia Dearden-Queen, his little sister. With him...that's the one I told you about. Tim Drake. He's had a pretty rough year, and I really wanted to make Christmas special for him, seeing's how he's my cousin." She managed to sound so sincere about that that Ollie had to glance away briefly, hiding a grin. "Back there by the den...Mister Bruce Wayne, long time supporter of many of the charity funds that help our community along, and prominent Gotham son, with Ollie Queen, Father of my Boy-o and Mia. You met Babs and Jim in the car..." She scanned for Connor and Lian, to see them at the top of the stairs, with Connor urgently whispering in Lian's ear. //Oh, please be telling her to keep the secrets....// "Up on the stairs, that would be my goddaughter, Lian and Roy's younger brother, Connor Hawke." She smiled at all assembled. "This is Kon, or Superboy."
"Um... hi, all..." Kon waved, trying to memorize those descriptions so he could run with them. "Oh... Kory's ex, right? Am I remembering okay?"
Dick laughed, "Yeah, I dated Starfire for a while..."
"Cool."
Bruce spoke up, "Kon, it's quite all right---It's always good to see one of our heroes come home, even if this must be quite the story..."
//That's Batman, that's Batman, the guy being nice to me is Batman, holy shit..// "Ah... thank you, sir..." He managed to flash a smile, "I was going to blame Dinah for everything if it wasn't okay, since she pretty much kidnapped me--not that I'm complaining," he amended hastily, his eyes going back to Tim's still-shocked face. "Hey, you okay?"
"I... we all thought you were dead..."
He gave the same shrug again, "I... got better? Anyway, hi..." Offering a hand to Robin to shake, as if they'd never met in their lives, was just about the freakiest thing he'd ever done.
"Tim...stop with the hero worship thing already," Mia teased, nudging Tim as hard as she dared, worried he was going to shatter.
Barbara stared at Dinah next, amazed that the woman had managed, in one long introduction, to veritably explain all of their presences in a way that left only the three public heroes exposed as what they truly were. Still, she glanced at her father, and caught just the vaguest wrinkling around his eyes. // He's known for years, or I'm still just a girl in a homemade cape...//
Roy gave a prayer that Tim pulled it off, aware that the stage was fully set, and now Tim was the star.
Lian came downstairs at Connor's side and looked at Kon in curiosity, but went to Dinah and climbed up in her arms.
Ollie liked the way Dinah had made their connection patently obvious, if removed, and glowed with pride at the way she claimed Roy so boldly as hers. "Good to see you came back, Kid...you're some relation to Metropolis's favorite hero?" he asked.
"MIA!" he whined, hand wrapping around Kon's tightly. "Pay no attention to her, would you?" he asked, "She's got no idea what she's talking about, but thinks it's fun to hassle me..."
Kon laughed, "Sure, I can do that--" he turned to look at Ollie, managing to make himself let go of Tim's hand again, and nodded. "Yeah--it's really freaking complicated and I find out new stuff all the time, but yeah, we're related, and thanks... Can't say I was all that crazy about the way Dinah found me, but I am so glad to be alive..."
Tim let himself bite, just like the fanboy Dinah and Mia were painting him to be, "'The way Dinah found you'?"
"Yeah--and I'm not admitting to it, either. Terminal embarrassment, I mean bad..."
Bruce's lips curved, amused and able to show it... He'd been serious, this must be quite a story.
Dinah shook her head. "Nothing embarassing. I was working when my partner said there was a lone hero trying to double check a volcanic flow, and asked me to assist. There was Kon, and though he was a bit confused, he's the reason the flow did not cause more damage." It was completely the truth, Babs decided, from a very odd perspective, and she tried to remember when Dinah became so skilled at spinning stories just the right way.
"Dinah...your luggage in Mister Gordon's car?" Roy asked.
Jim jerked. "That's right...here, let me go..."
"I think not," Alfred said. "If you will merely allow me to use your keys..."
Kon suddenly beamed at her, "Ooh, I like your version! Much less embarrassing."
Tim decided to get the full story later, when he and Mia were the only ones there, and settled for, "I don't see why you'd say that was embarrassing, you probably helped a lot of people..."
Hearing Tim sound like Hiro was breaking Kon's brain in some really icky ways, but he could handle it... He settled for a laugh that said, 'no way in hell'.
Dick sighed softly, "Alfie, you know, you could let us do that..."
He received a very level look in response, and Bruce chuckled again. "Dick, have you ever won that argument?"
"No, but I can keep trying..." He finally realized he really ought to say hi to Babs, and walked over to the woman he'd been crazy about for years--and had held on to for far, FAR too long. "Hey, Babs," he said softly, tilting his head at her. "How've you been?"
She smiled up at him, fondly, but not clinging or needy. "Pretty good actually. I've got a few pursuits keeping me tangled up, some fiesty partners in them...." She was just as able to layer the truth into innocent conversation.
Mia took Tim's hand. "Hey, instead of standing around here, Tim, why don't you show Kon to a room to freshen up?"
//Oh Mia, you have been around Dinah far too long.// Roy could certainly see the manipulating Bird in those words, but it left him confused again for his sister. Where did she fit in this new dynamic?
Ollie must have had the same thought, as he frowned, but he turned to Jim after Jim passed over his keys. "Why don't we head into the den? I'd really like your opinion on how to spot a good man."
He smiled. "Good. You need someone to keep you busy... Running around the world with Bruce has been a "trip" and a half." Okay, the joke was weak, but.
"Smarter to let the bags come in first, I was thinking, but Alfred should be able to figure out where," Tim replied with a shrug, then nodded. "Sure. Come on up," and he headed that way, not trying to reclaim his hand.
Kon followed, "Thanks, I do kind of need to..."
Bruce followed Jim and Ollie into the den, wondering if Dinah would join them.
"I'll be in there soon, Jim... I'd like to hear your thoughts too, but I need to change; Mom's bike was a little dusty."
"Oh that monster still runs? It tore up a good bit of Gotham when your father was still on the force," Jim called back to her before focusing on Ollie's insightful questions, as most of them settled into the pre-dinner holding patterns.
Roy had moved over to steal his baby from his 'mom' and was then coaxed, along with Connor, and Dick when he rejoined them after another couple of minutes, into playing one of her games with her.
Tim led Kon up into a room, and wrapped around him tight again. "Oh,that was stressful..."
"You think it was for you! I don't do this sneaky stuff!"
Mia went up with the boys, but turned off in her room to make herself presentable for dinner. The boys were interrupted by Alfred clearing his throat, and depositing Kon's bags there for him.
"Master Kon...welcome," Alfred told the boy, far more warmly than he could have below, in front of Jim Gordon. "Master Tim...He may use the room across from yours during his stay."
Kon jumped, then stilled when Tim completely refused to let go of him. //Um, okay, god, we need to talk, cause I can't figure out where we are, man....// "Thank you," he said to the welcome, smiling at the older man.
Tim smiled backwards over his shoulder. "Thanks, Alfie. How long before dinner's done?" Tim was hungry. Alfred let a small, dry chuckle escape. "As Master Bruce was very insistent the meal be over as quickly as possible, it will be ready in another ten minutes."
Tim grinned. "Great timing, Dinah." He approved. "We'll be down quick, then. Kon, move it." His arms finally let go again. Kon grabbed up a bag and vanished into the bathroom--but only half-closed the door, waiting for Alfred to leave.
The elder man soon walked away, having many details still needing his hand or eye.
Tim leaned against the bedroom wall. "So, about this embarassing thing?"
"I'mnottelling. Not before dinner. After maybe," his voice occasionally muffled as he swapped out of the dusty clothing. "Gonna be so glad when my TTK behaves right all the time again..."
Tim slid into the bathroom at that, frowning, "You're having trouble?"
"Yeah. I was dead, rem--"
Tim's hot weight slammed against his chest as hands tangled into his hair--and Kon found himself being kissed hard and deep, a warning snarl in Tim's throat--//Holyshit... OH. Oh. okay... yeah...// he started kissing Tim back, arms wrapping around him.
It felt like an eternity before Tim's lungs screamed for him to let go, and it was longer before he actually pulled away to take a harsh gasp of air, and "Don't fucking remind me, Kon. I spent half of the last six months hating the entire world for going on when I'd lost everything and saving it had taken you from me, don't remind me."
"Tim...? Tim, I..."
"Shut up, Kon. It hurt and I hated it, and I hated myself for never telling you this..." his hand snapped, a hard gesture at the two of them and the way they were wrapped together. "So, now you know."
Kon pulled him closer, hand curving around the back of his head, pulling him close--it was a headtrip to realize that what he'd never thought he could have was right there saying 'yes'... "God, Tim, talk about stupid, both of us...I didn't mean to, I--"
Tim kissed him again, hard, all strong pressure and sharp motion, hand tightening in his hair... and Kon shuddered and let him, giving Tim anything he wanted... //Cassie's gonna kill me,// flicked through his mind, but he ignored it to pay attention to his... his Tim. //my Tim? My Tim.//
Soft scratching sounds came from the door, followed by a softer voice. "Tim, hate to intrude, bro..." Mia was there, and she switched to the family nickname thrown by all the men at each other. "Just about time...and Dinah's about to go down...want me to beat her there to see how the dads handle it?"
Tim groaned and pulled out of the kiss. "Yeah, sis, wouldya? That ought to be a riot..."
Kon blinked, tilting his head, so very massively confused, and waited til he heard her steps recede to ask, "Bro, Sis? Since when're you and Speedy so tight? And "the dads"?"
Tim sighed. "Since you died, Bart vanished, Cassie took off to go nuts trying to bring you back, Cass's off doing godknowswhat somewhere in Eurasia and I got dragged to Ollie's for Thanksgiving. She's... really great, Kon."
"She seemed pretty cool, yeah," Kon was willing to agree with that. "So.. that still--"
"Save it for later, she's right, we've got to get downstairs. Time to go back to playing fanboy at you..."
"Which is just freaky, by the way," Kon stuck in, //but... kinda cool, in a weird way...//
"It's only til Jim and Babs leave." Even Tim wasn't sure who he was reassuring.
Mia managed to just barely beat Dinah to the dining room where everyone had been corralled, to see how Ollie and Bruce handled the presence of Dinah in a public setting, so to speak. Bruce was waiting at the head of the table, sneaking furtive glances over to the door...and was quicker than Ollie at that, getting to see her as Dinah walked in dressed in dark blues, her choker the only black she wore. Mia blinked; how in the world did she manage to twist all that hair up and make it look so good, so fast?
Ollie saw her enter, and felt his heart hammering. His clan were situated along one side of the table. Logically, it seemed she should sit beside Roy, but that put her, in Ollie's mind, too far from himself and Bruce. He quietly moved to the second seat from Bruce's position, leaving the seat between them open...and she smoothly took it as if she expected it.
"I do appreciate you letting me come, both to be near my family, and to better get to know Tim, Bruce." Dinah managed the words easily, ignoring the way Babs narrowed her eyes.
Dick shook his head, "Alfred must be having conniptions at how unbalanced this table is," he said as he took his spot across from Roy.
"My pleasure, Dinah," Bruce replied with an easy smile, "I didn't realize how connected we were at first, and I'm glad to see that Tim still has blood family."
Tim brought Kon down just after that, eyes flicking to Mia with a tiny, curious headtilt--then he spotted Dinah tucked between Bruce and Ollie and his teeth flashed in a small smile, amused that they'd pulled that off even in this company, and he found the seat across from Mia, Kon settling beside him as if they'd only been making small talk, not rewriting their entire world. He studied Mia, thinking over 'bro, sis' and their linked, twined hands and the way she'd tried to protect him--it made his head hurt, and he shook it off.
Jim was seated opposite Dinah, with Babs beside him. When everyone was seated, Alfred unobtrusively took the other end of the table, getting another eyebrow from Babs, but she kept her mouth shut.
Connor helped Roy contain Lian in the chair between them, and tried not to dwell on the fact the one opposite him should have held Kyle. He instead nodded politely to Alfred and avoided the small talk passing around the table. He was vaguely amused by the double layered comments that kept escaping his parents..to include Bruce, as he had made his mind up there was no use fighting the inevitable.
Keeping the mental tally of who was supposed to know what and who said what was a source of no little amusement to the Bat--especially noting which comments drew, or did not draw, certain reactions from the Oracle at his left.
Kon mainly kept quiet, barring praising the food and devouring everything placed before him--it was easier to stay quiet than to risk blabbing about something he shouldn't have known.
Tim, too, was finding the conversations amusing--and that Babs was on Dick's left hand amused him immensely. They seemed to be dealing well, though. He was teasing her, just a little and every so often, and she wasn't getting angry... //Thank god. They're really over each other.//
Dinah was watching Tim and Mia and Kon a lot, completely bemused by what she saw of Tim playing hero-worship, Mia's wide eyed awe at having a dead hero return plus her protectiveness over Tim. Roy and Dick did flirt a little, under the bemusement of all involved, but it was done in that teasing fashion of age old friends completely at home with one another. Ollie tried to talk politics once, and Dinah cut him off with a quick word that left no doubt in Jim's mind they had once been married...or close to it. Bruce had been opening his mouth to cut Ollie off--and flashed a smile at Dinah when she did so before he could.
Tim flicked a smile at her one of those times he saw her watching--this was actually good practice--and he kept it going throughout dinner, and through Alfred's serving of desserts to people far, far too full to treat them with the care they deserved. Kon was the only one who could, and that only because of his currently bottomless appetite.
In the middle of dessert, Dinah's phone made a polite chime, and she covered her mouth. "I'm sorry everyone; that means I have to take it," she said softly, honestly embarassed to break the hospitality of the table so rudely. She stood, to leave the room, ignoring the question in certain eyes as to who it might be.
Roy watched her go, one hand tensing, wondering... Lian's lower lip started to quiver--and Dick reached across the table, "Sssh, Lian, it's okay... Sssh, baby..."
"Not okay," Lian denied softly, shaking her head, but trying to be good...
"Cass...this is a surprise," they all heard her say as she cleared the doorway. That got Barbara's attention, and she almost followed Dinah out, but realized it would not be proper.
"Miss Lian," Alfred said, catching the girl's attention. "Will you help me with the clean up this evening?" He would occupy her at least.
Tim kept his face under control by some miracle of will and didn't stare after her. //Cass? Our Cass?//
Lian looked up at him, "Okay, Alfie.. I'll help... Now?"
"Yes, Miss Lian."
"Alfred...that was a wonderful meal; you outdid yourself this year," Jim complimented.
"Yes, Alfred...thank you," Barbara said in turn, too curious about Cass and why Dinah was her point of contact.
Roy watched the silent flicks of worry on all the young bat faces, making him curious.
Bruce was every bit as interested and concerned as his younger partners, but had to keep it completely off his face, unlike the kids. //Cassandra?// Dick, Tim, and Kon chimed in with their thanks as well, and Dick shook his head at Roy, trying to tell him to drop it as Lian started collecting the dessert plates.
"Will you have another cup of coffee?" Alfred asked the adults who had taken some with dessert.
"Not me Alfred," Roy said, already keyed up enough without adding more caffeine.
"I'll take another cup, Alfred...and thank you for feeding my horde," Ollie said.
Jim shook his head as well. "Not me."
"Yes, please, Alfie," Dick asked, and Bruce closed his eyes--mostly in jest.
Tim winced. "Dick, c'mon, you'll be bouncing off the walls, that was tiramisu you were into anyway..."
Roy laughed. "Let me tell you about the night he decided we need to stay awake all night...while Alfred was sick one year," Roy began, the lead in to a tale of a Dick misadventure in Alfred's kitchen.
Tim's eyes widened and he leaned forward eagerly--and Dick whined, "Roooy, don't you dare..." //Do you want to get laid tonight, jerk?// his eyes asked.
Roy's response was to use his eyes to mentally strip and ravish Dick. "You see, he reasoned if four scoops of coffee were fine for morning coffee, then all-nite coffee should have eight to a pot."
He fought not to shudder at that look, and growled instead. "Har-per..." as he kicked him under the table.
"Brilliant logic there," Bruce said idly.
"It was bitter, of course," Roy continued, catching the man's foot in his own. "So he dumped...a pound of sugar in it...."
Mia was beginning to giggle, seeing a young Dick and Roy up to hijinks in the kitchen, probably getting ready for a patrol.
"It was not an entire pound, you," Dick argued, glaring.
Tim couldn't help the laugh, seeing that sooo clearly.
Jim chuckled. "Sounds like a proper cup of graveyard Joe," he said. "Bullock...one of my men...he makes it about that strong and sweet."
Babs shuddered, then looked up as Dinah came back in smiling and wiping at her eyes. The blonde went right to her red headed friend, leaning down over her shoulders. "Babs, our young girl friend...she's going to call you tonight...her mom needed her before I could bring you the phone." She spoke to Barbara but loud enough the Bat Clan at large could hear. "She misses you...misses the work she did with you."
"Thank you, si--" Dick started to say, then shut up when Dinah came back into the room, and his eyes widened at that before he could stop it. //Cass's with Shiva?!//
Every muscle in Tim's body tensed at once at that news before he could stop himself, //Cass, No...//
Bruce managed to pull a politely interested look onto his face, when he truly wanted to find out precisely what had been said right then...
Kon tilted his head, trying to figure that one out, then tucked it away for later.
Babs let out a small sigh. "So, it's working for them?"
"Yes...they found a path that suits them both," Dinah answered, hoping the other Bats felt the fact that both of them were okay with it. Roy hated that the other half of the family was now on edge from whatever was going on, and hated being out of the loop even more.
"Well, Barbara, are you ready to head up to the precinct?" Jim asked.
Tim slowly relaxed, making his eyes lighten again, and Dick's shoulders unkinked as Dinah reassured them. Even Bruce relaxed some at those words. There just weren't many people that could knot Tim up like that, and for Dinah to be the one talking about her...//Something's up with BG,// Kon realized.
"Yes, Dad," Babs said. She took another hug from Dinah, over her shoulder, and then let Dinah straighten.
Dinah then wrapped her arms around Jim's neck, after he stood, and kissed his cheek softly. "Merry Christmas, Jim."
"Merry Christmas, Dinah." He smiled at her, proud to see his former partner's daughter living up to her heritage.
Ollie stood, and shook hands with Jim. Roy and Connor both stood up, also shaking his hand before Roy walked to Barbara and took her hand, kissing it in almost the exact same manner as Ollie had. "You take care of yourself, RedHead...."
Dick watched that, eyes going wide, then got up to say goodbye himself, to Jim and Babs.
It took nearly ten more minutes for the Gordons to get out of the house, and then Kon saw it was like everyone was listening for the car to actually be gone.
Most of them had followed Jim and Babs towards the door, and Bruce turned towards the den once they were sure Jim wouldn't come back, and it was as though that broke the floodgate.
Dick smacked Roy in the back of the head, not particularly hard, mock-glaring at him. "You did not need to rat me out!"
Tim chuckled softly, "I dunno, I want the rest of that story..."
Dinah listened half a second past that and then launched herself into Bruce's path. "Miss me?" she asked impishly. Ollie laughed, moving closer to them both, pleased to see her in high spirits and still very open to touching.
Roy moved up against Dick, wrapping an arm around him. "What do I get to shut up?" the archer purred.
Mia let out a deep breath as she bounced over to Tim. "You know, that was the most interesting practice I have ever had in double talk."
Connor just shook his head and went to the kitchen to help Alfred and Lian.
"Oooh-kay..." Kon said slowly, staring at the way the crowd had suddenly just... shifted. He blinked at the sight of Dinah bouncing into Batman's path--then his jaw dropped as Bats, Bruce, whatever, pulled her into his arms, dipping his head to kiss her. It looked as though the kiss wasn't supposed to be all that intense, //But, but... Green Arrow's right there... and since when does Batman...//
Then he turned at the sound of that purr and his eyes widened as Nightwing slithered around in Arsenal's arms and started to talk in his ear, low and soft, and Roy's eyes flared hot. //Holy crap, Vic wasn't joking, that one time...// Almost afraid, he looked back at Tim and Mia--and Tim was still laughing at her comment. "Yeah, I know, that was great..."
Ollie pressed up behind Dinah, pinning her to the man they both loved, curled close against her, while Roy pulled Dick toward the stairs, not letting much distance come between them.
Mia saw Kon look over and cut off her laughing and smiling, ducking her head with a blush. "Tim...Kon should be filled in on our family situation."
Kon heard a soft noise and turned--then turned back to Tim and Mia, flushing crimson, "Um, I think I get it..."
Tim looked over the wall of Kon's shoulder and shook his head. "Bruce, honestly, get a room! And don't you dare be mad at Dinah, not with what you pulled with me and Steph. Dinah had a much better reason. And Kon and Mia and I are going up to my room, where he doesn't have to be traumatized by you guys deciding to imitate teenagers!"
Ollie did pause then, flashing a grin down at his lady lover. "You loved being able to do that," he purred. "Sharing that rush."
"Now, Ollie...I had only Tim's best interests at heart," Dinah purred back, drawing an amused noise from Bruce.
"Come on guys," Mia told Kon and Tim. "You guys need some time alone, and I need to work on my language practice."
Roy paused at hearing the baby bird round on the Bat...and grinned like a crazy man. "Our little bro has a heavy pair...." and Dick laughed as they topped the stairs, grinning. "Yeah, he does--or else a complete lack of common sense..." There were days he wasn't sure which.
Bruce looked over his shoulder at Tim, "I had already decided that, Robin, thank you..." his voice low as he kept Dinah close.
Once again, Mia had managed to confuse the hell out of Kon--he was about ready to just give up trying. Tim nodded once at Bruce, relaxing now that he knew things would be okay for Dinah, and headed up the stairs with his.... boyfriend?... and his sister, getting out of the Bat's way.
Dinah looked up at Bruce as the kids started up the stairs, hoping he really did understand. "I had to keep it a secret...I thought you might feel Tim needed to be told first...and believe me, the knowing but not being sure...tears a person apart." Ollie squeezed her slightly, and smiled when she ran a hand over his.
"It's all right, Dinah," Bruce replied. "Tim did have a rather good suggestion," he said, and his eyes looked up two floors in the general direction of the master suite.
Mia sighed softly. "Superboy...Kon...welcome back, and welcome to the combined Bat/Arrow Clan...where you need a score card to keep up with who is related how."
Kon shook his head, wincing, "Um, okay... somebody fill me in on the scorecard thing later.. I just... I'm not thinking about that, okay?"
Tim grinned slightly, "I know, Kon. That first morning at breakfast was insane,.." he said as he opened his door. "Mia..." his voice was low, uncertain.
"Later, Tim." She bumped up to him, gave him a quick hug. "Congratulations." She then pulled away and went on down to her room, going to work on her Japanese syntax.
"Bossy girl," Tim muttered, but was more than willing to take her up on the offer. He hugged her back, tightly, then held his door open to let Kon in, wanting a door between him and his best friend--who'd been gone far, far too long--and the rest of the world. They had a lot to talk about, after all.
