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sylph_ficsTitle: Our Troubles Will Be Far Away
Cowriter:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
merfilly
Characters: the usual suspects and a few guest characters
Rating: PG
Word Count: 7,940
Continuity: HappyVerse
Disclaimer: DC Comics makes the money, people
Notes: It's official... HappyVerse is our refuge from the meaner things in comics.
Summary: December 26th, the morning and some necessary encounters.
After breakfast, Mia made her way upstairs and noticed Ollie was just going from the master suite to the kitchen, looking a bit worse for wear, but cheerful. "Oll... Dad?" she called.
Ollie turned, tilting his head, "Yeah, Mia?" It was still startling to hear her call him 'Dad', but... not in a bad way. "What is it?"
"Umm...The Titans are having a get together next weekend...it would make things way easier if they only have to send one jet to grab me, Tim, and the others..." she started. "So, is it okay if I just stay here this week?"
"Let me run it past Bruce. There's no school, and Connor and I can handle the city, but... he might not want you underfoot, you know. It's all right with me, though."
Mia nodded. "Actually...Alfred said it was fine by him if it was okay with you."
Ollie's smile flashed a bit wicked. "Then it's already done... but I'll ask Bruce anyway..." //So he can pretend he makes the decisions around here.//
Mia grinned. "Thanks." She looked very pleased to have his blessing on staying, as she walked down to her room. Ollie turned and went back into the master suite, where Dinah was finishing her packing. "Bruce...Mia wants to stay the week with your boys."
"Oh? Any particular reason?" Oddly, Bruce looked as though he were preparing for a day or two away, as well.
Ollie cocked an eyebrow at that, then shook his head. "Titan shindig next weekend."
"Ollie, honey... no one says shindig anymore," Dinah purred at him, eyes twinkling.
Bruce had merely shaken his head at his lover's choice of words. "Ah. So they intend to take it easy on whoever comes after them--or, more likely, Dick will borrow a jet, since they all need to go. Sensible. I don't mind... Alfred can keep them under control."
Dinah nodded. "Mia and Tim have good heads on their shoulders."
"What about Roy?" Ollie asked, defending his eldest.
"He's your son," Dinah said simply.
Bruce's lips quirked and he closed the bag he was packing to walk over and slide an arm around Ollie's shoulders lightly, not saying a word. He might agree with Dinah, but he didn't have to say so. Ollie grumbled, but he turned into Bruce, inhaling his scent sharply. "Has more of her traits, you ask me," he mumbled very quietly when Dinah was zipping the last of her bags.
"Your temper," Bruce told him equally softly, then let go to walk over and kiss Dinah goodbye.
Ollie had private thoughts on temper, having been the recipient of too many Dinah ass-kickings.
Dinah flowed up against Bruce, kissing him hard and long, making sure he had something to tide him over for awhile from her. He pulled her just as close, kissing her every bit as deep, then slowly let go. A soft sigh escaped her before she crooked a finger at Ollie, who came and got one of his own from her. "Mind taking my bags with you?" Dinah stroked his face. "I can pick them up this weekend. Except this one." She grabbed the small one Oracle had sent over.
"Sure, pretty bird," he said softly, eyes lit with the thought of their New Years' plans.
"You two enjoy yourselves. I think I'll go be very publicly Brucie in... hm. London, since the boys will be with the Titans, then rejoin them after."
Dinah grinned. "Just don't forget that you owe me a very public Brucie date if we're going to lay the groundwork for our relationship."
Ollie rolled his eyes...the playboy and the minx would be interesting, to say the least. Seeing what the gossip pages had to say about that was likely to be far, far too entertaining.
Bruce laughed, "Of course, Dinah. As though I could forget."
She nodded, kissed them both on the cheek, then turned to go. Ollie grabbed her other two bags to take them into the hall next to his own for the boys to load... if Alfred did not beat them to it. Ollie hoped his words to Roy and Dick on his way down got things moving quickly. Which they did, as both young men thought Alfred worked entirely too hard, and with him cleaning up the detritus of breakfast it was a perfect opportunity.
Connor was just emerging from his room again, Kyle following, neither looking too happy at another long absence.
Kyle sighed softly, "I'll try and get switched back to earthside duty, love." He liked space, but god, this was hell.
Connor shook his head. "You're needed out there. I have faith you'll find the ones who went missing."
Kyle bit his lip, then nodded. "All right. Thank you. I've got to go..." The ring warned him of Ollie's presence, just a bit late, and he turned. "At least I'll get to say goodbye. See you when I can.." he looked as though something hovered at the tip of his tongue.
Connor leaned in and gripped Kyle by the back of his head, pulling him in for a deep kiss, regardless of his father or the two behind him. Ollie shook his head, grinning at Connor's strength of will concerning the relationship.
Dick just grinned slightly at the two of them. "See you, Kyle. Be careful out there... I'd tell you to kiss Kory when you find her but I think both our guys would argue..."
"Hell, kiss her for me," Roy said. "She's gonna need it."
Connor merely ducked his head, smiling. When he looked up, Kyle saw the warning to be safe in his eyes, but those were words they did not say yet, defying the bad by refusing to voice it.
"All right, I'll tell her it's from you two," Kyle said, and his eyes said, 'I will' back at Connor before he headed down the stairs.
The noise of them in the hall got three heads poked out of Mia's door, then various calls of 'see you later' type goodbyes from the three before they piled back into the room. Who knew what they were up to.
Dick and Roy followed him out with the bags, and watched as he took off, Dick shaking his head. Both he and Roy knew all too well what those leave-takings felt like, sending a lover and a friend somewhere you could not follow....//Never gets easier// He tilted his head back at the manor, eyes saying, 'let's go distract your brother.'
They got back in and upstairs to find Ollie and Connor distracting each other, discussing the merits of the bow Kyle had gotten the older man. Roy was drawn toward the conversation, but hesitated, not wanting to leave Dick out. Dick saw Bruce and Dinah stepping out of the master suite and headed that way, motioning Roy to go ahead and go to his brother and father. He wasn't the one that needed comforting at the moment.
Dinah was easing her bag to one shoulder, her other resting lightly on Bruce's arm, trying to maintain contact as long as she could with him. She knew she was pushing her timeline by taking so long to go, but her family was here and that felt most important, even knowing what she had to do in Metropolis. She looked at Dick and smiled, drawing her hand back casually, in case it still creeped the young man out to see Bruce so relaxed with casual touches. "Keep an eye on Tim and Kon with Mia?" she asked. "She's the hard headed sort that will try to do too much to keep up with them."
Dick nodded. "Yeah. I'd planned on it anyway." He smiled back at her, wishing she hadn't pulled away. But then, she did have to leave. "Be safe."
"I will...just have to go break Eddie Fyres' skull if he does not show up on time," she said in a low voice. She then threw her free arm around Dick as she moved forward, hugging him. "Ollie said they were taking Dart, by the way. The two of them might be able to keep up with her."
Dick couldn't help the way his eyes lit at that--he loved Lian, but getting Roy alone... That was something they hardly managed anymore, and it wasn't fair to keep foisting her off on Alfred. He hugged her back, "Thanks for the heads up."
Dinah pulled back, then brushed her cheek against Bruce. "Feel free to drop by," she told him. "Pieter and Michael should be gone by tonight."
Bruce nodded. "I probably will, if things go well." He turned his head, saying into her ear, "Be careful," very softly.
"I will." She smiled as she walked away, heading downstairs to leave. Each of the groups of her family got casual words their way, as she plotted just how to get more time off from saving the world, country by country.
Dick watched his father watch her leave, seeing the way his eyes tracked her, then noticed the garment bag he was holding and the business-casual wear--to formal for a day at the house. "Bruce?"
"I'm heading to Metropolis... I think I need to talk to Clark."
"About?" //What're you up to, Bruce?//
"A number of things, Dick. Don't worry about it--and keep an eye on the house."
"Sure, Dad," he grinned. "No problem." Smart-alec twenty-three year old left with the kids and the keys, what could possibly go wrong?
Bruce shook his head at the patriarchal name, then gave Dick a look that spoke of his pride in the young man. "I'll be driving," he added. "If an emergency comes up, it will take me longer to return."
"We'll handle it," Dick promised. "C'mon, you and I used to handle this city alone. The four of us'll manage just fine, if we need to. Go hug Clark for me."
Bruce did not roll his eyes...but his body language implied it. "Right." He clasped Dick's shoulder firmly and walked on by, hearing the motorcycle peal away down the driveway.
Dick grinned and went to help Lian get everything packed up and loaded into the car to head for the airport, hugging her close, promising they'd see her in no time.
Ollie and Connor came down with Roy soon after, and Roy took his daughter, murmuring softly in Dineh to her about being good and how much he loved her. When she left his arms for Connor's, the eldest archer hugged his son that was staying.
"Keep an eye on Mia," he said firmly. "You know how bad she can be about things. I don't want her fluent in Japanese by week's end," he added with a mock-glare at Dick.
Roy snorted, "Yeah, I know how she gets. I'll keep an eye on things."
Dick shrugged at Ollie, "Not me you have to worry about there, but I'll try and keep Timmy from pushing her too hard."
"Thank you." He chuckled. "Maybe Alfred can teach her to cook when those two boys vanish on her."
Roy chuckled. "Maybe....if she gets in the kitchen unharmed."
Dick shrugged. "Anything's possible..."
Ollie nodded, then guided Connor and Lian on out the door, and into the car to head for the airstrip themselves. Dick waited until he heard the car start up and leave... then pounced at Roy, kissing him deep.
Roy chuckled into the kiss, but he cupped his lover's backside and pulled him even closer, pleased with the idea of having the house to themselves...since the terrible threesome were staying cooped up together.
Dick wrapped around him, laughing as he broke the kiss. "God, I haven't been near a trap set in months, come catch for me?"
Roy shook his head at that. "Sure, Dick...be glad to."
"We can't go straight back to bed..." Dick said with a grin, "I hate being predictable. Let's go!" as he started to wriggle out of Roy's hold.
Roy grinned harder as he made it a challenge to get free, then gave chase when Dick did free himself in one of those impossible twisty moves. Dick's laughter echoed through the halls, and in the kitchen below a smile crossed Alfred's face. It had been far too long since that sound was heard in the manor.
Not much longer, and the sound of thundering feet and loud teenagers could be heard as game systems were being carted down toe the big televisions. That made Alfred shake his head... but a smile played around his lips as well. Young people in the Manor again, laughter and play ringing through the halls... this was well. This was very well, indeed.
*~*~*~
Bruce spoke to the car as he steered towards the correct exit. "Call Clark Kent, cell."
"You have reached the phone of Reporter Clark Kent. Leave a detailed message, and I will get back to you," sounded as soon as there was a connection.
"Clark. Where are you? Call the cell. Disconnect call." He would give it a few moments, then try one of the other numbers. He should have been home already, the flight ought to have been in over an hour ago.
He had to wait nearly two minutes before the car connected again. "Bruce?"
"Good morning Clark. The question stands."
Clark sighed. "Metropolis airport... barely landed, thank you."
Bruce did a quick mental check, running maps in his head. "Would you like a ride somewhere? I can probably reach the airport before you get Lois's bags off the carousel."
There was a hesitation, then Clark nodded...Bruce could hear his glasses scrape the phone. "Uhh, sure." He bit his lip against asking why Bruce was in town.
"I'll see you shortly, then." He turned the car that way. "Which airline?"
Clark gave him the details, repressing every reporter instinct he had, knowing Bruce likely would not say it over the phone anyway.
Bruce shook his head, wondering what had happened that they'd taken a later flight on a different carrier than they'd been booked. When he arrived at the airport, he saw that by visual evidence, the Kent reporting duo had a cold. Lois declined to leave her husband's side, looking miserable, while Clark merely had the red nose and eyes to match. "Sorry...caught a bug, playing in the snow yesterday," Clark told him.
Bruce shrugged. "I managed to avoid that. Here, Lois, let me take that," he reached out for her last bag.
She let him, then let Clark hand her into the car. "Perry's going to kill us," she groaned.
Clark looked sheepish. "We sort of forgot our coats and gloves, since it was a late snow."
"What is going to have Perry so upset?" Bruce asked, inwardly amused by the thought of the two ace reporters forgetting something so very simple. "Even Lian had better sense than that, you two."
Clark gave him a glare that said he had never needed them before.
"Coming in like this first thing from vacation? Our first ever joint vacation?" Lois said skeptically. "He'll never let us go again."
"A point," Bruce nodded. "As Clark failed to mention, where am I taking you both?"
"Home," they both said, Lois a bit more emphatically than Clark. "For rest and medicine," Clark added.
Bruce nodded and drove that way, carelessly competent, pulling up before their door and helping to unload the bags, "I do need to talk to Clark, Lois..."
She arched her eyebrow at him. "And since when, oh Dark one, does that exclude me?"
"When I may need to argue with him, and don't need you ganging up on me?" with one of his more charming smiles.
Lois did not look like she was buying his charm, but then she sneezed. "Fine, just know that I'll get the digest version anyway!" She went on up to their apartment, as the staff got the bags to carry up.
Clark merely turned to Bruce, eyebrow raised. "Kon?"
Bruce nodded, and indicated the car with a tilt of his head. "Shall we?" This wasn't a discussion he wanted to have anywhere that might be overheard, not in a town that was shifting more and more towards Lex's power in Superman's absence... Their old foe had long ears and a longer reach, still.
"Bruce, he's my responsibility," Clark began, but he did go to the car.
Bruce waited until they were moving to start the conversation. "Clark, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm fairly certain you buried Conner Kent not two days after we buried Superboy."
"I know." Clark had thought long and hard over that. "Lois agreed to grant him the Lane name."
"And then what?" If Clark had actually thought this one through, he might concede the argument... but he doubted it.
Clark fidgeted. "I was going to invite him to move back here. We can get a bigger place."
"In Metropolis. In the middle of winter. Would you like help?" He was serious. That was the kind of money it was going to take, and Clark knew it. "...He's not going to want to live with you, Clark. You've got to know that."
Clark got that stubborn look, then looked at Bruce with widening eyes. "Why...You are involved in..." He was speechless, as he realized Bruce was being openly concerned for someone, in truly human fashion.
"Try that in a sentence, Clark?" The tone was very, very dry.
"Bruce, you'll have to excuse me, but this is the most human intervention you've done for someone... ever."
He shrugged slightly, picking a random route through the city. "I'm not, actually, doing it for Kon. If the boy's miserable, Robin will be unhappy... and I have seen enough of that recently."
"Oh." Clark thought about that a long time. "I know Tim's had a rough time...but what are you suggesting? You know Kon and Cassie were seeing each other; it's not like Tim won't have to share his best friend to some other city anyway."
"It's been rather obvious that's... not still the case."
"What do you mean? Dinah specifically asked me not to let the ladies know...and surely Cassie hasn't come by your place." He itched to ask about that hero gathering, but refrained again. It was obvious he was not connecting the boys closely.
Bruce shook his head. There were limits to what he would reveal, especially when he'd never been quite certain of Clark's opinions on some things. "Ask Kon. He might even answer."
Clark frowned. "So what is your counter to what I suggested?"
"Not entirely mine." The plan was much more Dinah's than his, but he'd thrown in a few... refinements along the way. "He's been discussing things with Dinah since she pulled him off Kilauea, and apparently has a better head on his shoulders than I thought. It apparently took some convincing for him to agree to take a secret identity back on at all, but he finally agreed--I believe he and Babs have been discussing the details. You could always mention Lois's offer."
"Go on." Clark was quite unsure that he liked the smell of this; when Dinah did manipulate things, it had a tendency to work to the Bat Agenda, or so he saw it.
"He's arguing for taking the GED as opposed to going back to high school... and given the situation I can't see reason to argue. Once Tim gets word of that, I'm relatively certain he'll do well enough to place competitively."
"If you think Tim can get him to study, I need to check you for rose colored glasses," Clark joked weakly. "Where will he live? Why isn't he here, telling me himself what he wants? Why do I get the feeling you are manipulating things to further your own cause?"
Bruce turned his head long enough to give him a very level look. "He's not here because he idolizes you too much to argue with you--I believe that's been well proven. And Clark... when was the last time you bothered to ask what he wanted?" He turned his attention back to the traffic. "Dinah, the driving force behind most of this, thinks you wouldn't listen to her, so between Tim's request and hers, I agreed to come."
Clark opened his mouth... and shut it. He had a lot of regrets, and many of them centered on his... son. That definition still took getting used to, and he had realized he should have been a father. He had possessed two examples of what being a father meant... and wasted their lessons. "You are doing this for Tim. What is Dinah's sudden interest in the workings of the Bats' personal lives?"
"She's always had a habit of taking in strays. Kon seems to be the latest--she's very much doing this for his sake, not Tim's." He'd caught that reaction out of the corner of his eye, and it altered the rest of his response. "Clark. I'm not trying to step between you and Kon. I have my sons. But that we buried Superboy and Conner has created some fairly large problems for the two of you. Especially as he's still terrified of Lex, and for good reason. He needs to be hidden... and you must admit we're among the best at that."
"Lex." The man was still embroiled in legal finangling to get off all the charges he faced from his presidency, and events after. "Where will he live again?"
"Dalton Towers, at least for the present. Given his affection for Metropolis, I wouldn't be surprised to see that become fairly permanent." //Close enough to let you two figure out your relationship without being under each other's feet.//
Clark cocked his head, then remembered where the mighty Oracle lived and nodded. "Alright. I can handle that. And I'm to assume he's going to be working with their team?"
Bruce's lips quirked slightly. "I don't believe that's been settled yet, but he won't be active for a while yet, he's still recovering. Once he's recovered, I find it more likely that he'll go back to the Titans."
"Last I checked, the Titans were... being difficult. And only for weekends." Clark frowned at the recovering comment. "Does he... he need me?"
"They still are, but they're also his team," Bruce replied, then tilted his head slightly. "He's not ill, Clark, just drained... so I suppose it depends on how you mean the question..."
The former Man of Steel frowned, not sure himself. This was just too... unexpectedly new. "When will I get to see him?"
"Give the boys another day or so, then call down and ask him, Clark."
The reporter nodded. "I can do that." Clark looked over at his friend. "This world trip is agreeing with you."
//Good.// "It seems to be," Bruce agreed mildly.
"Lois likes the normal." Clark kept his voice non-committal. "Although, she was out of sorts the first time J'onn had to rescue her from her mouth in a hostage situation."
"I missed this... and I think I pity J'onn."
"Goldie took Lois out to lunch after it." Clark grinned unrepentantly; he was fond of J'onn's gossip columnist guise. "And Lois is always in the middle of the worst stories."
"Yes, she is." That was actually something of an understatement, in Bruce's opinion. "Is normal suiting you as well?"
Clark looked out the window. "It's a good experience for me."
"Clark."
"It's looking permanent." He turned back. "And I'm still trying to adjust."
Bruce's hands clenched on the steering wheel a moment and his jaw tightened. //No, damn it.// "That..." It was rare that he had absolutely no idea what to say, but... this was one of those times. His deliberate cruelty on the ruined Watch Tower had served its purpose, spurred Clark to act... but he'd been far too harsh. If they had lost Superman forever... the world was much poorer.
Clark reached out, reacting to his emotions with a gentle touch on his arm. "They say it might be another side effect of kryptonite...something blocking my regenerative factors. They won't know until I don't test for it in my system at all."
"That... would be logical," Bruce nodded once, not shifting his arm. "You've never been exposed to that high a level of it. I take that to mean you are still showing at least trace levels?"
Clark nodded with a sigh. "Radioactive isotope. Not enough to make me sick, but enough to show I took a high dosage."
Bruce nodded once, still uncertain of what to say. He knew how much Clark had wanted a normal life, but their history was mostly Superman and Batman...
"We'll see how it works out." Clark looked out the window again.
"All we can do, in this case," Bruce agreed. "Anything else?"
"Take care of my son, Bruce." The voice was dead calm. "I'm going to be there for him...but you have a way of dealing with us aliens."
Bruce bit down on several responses, his eyes going cool. He had to admit that one was deserved, though Lois was apparently wearing off on her husband a bit much. "After the end of this week, I doubt I will see him often in the next few months, Clark. You'll be much closer."
"Still." Clark looked back at him. "Well, you've given Tim most of his manners in that field... I'm sure Kon will be a lot more careful in the future with his own skin."
"I would tend to think so," Bruce nodded as he turned the car back towards Clark's apartment again. "Certainly if he chooses to listen to what Tim has to say."
Clark laughed. "I've not been the best at that." He remembered the conversation surrounding his exile to the satellite, when Kara's ship crashed.
"That is... something of an understatement, Clark... but Tim's starting younger."
There was a chuckle at that. "Dick turned out well, so I'll trust that Tim will to."
"Not quite what I meant," Bruce replied as they neared his building.
"I know." Clark turned his infuriating smile back to him. "You be safe, Bruce. Or next time it will be you J'onn's having to swoop in for. Of course, he likes you a lot more than he likes Lois."
Bruce's eyes narrowed at him, but they were no longer quite so cool. "I could say the same to you," he replied as he pulled up and stopped. "Go take care of Lois, Clark."
Clark nodded. "Take care." He stepped out, sneezing as the cool air grabbed at his abused sinuses.
Bruce shook his head at that and pulled away again. He would spend a few hours being idle, then call Dinah.
*~*~*~*~
Dinah had left the door open, and when Eddie strolled in, she thought about commenting on his grey hair or some other wise crack to pick on the man who always brought trouble. Instead she merely smiled and indicated the couch.
"I have two friends who should be here soon. And thank you, Eddie." She handed him a Zesti as he shook his head.
"Your voice was not one I expected. You gave up calling when the old man died." He waggled an eyebrow at her. "Getting close to him again, too."
"Don't believe everything you read, Fyres... we're still heroes together in this business." She made her tone intentionally frosty.
"Well, if he's not in the way, and that sword wielding boyfriend isn't around…" He let his voice trail off lecherously.
"One: he's not my boyfriend. Two: Ollie'd still kill you. Three: I'd kill you worse," Dinah said, getting comfortable with the give and take of sparring verbally with Eddie.
"So you're saying that thing on Dino Island was just a wham-bam…" His words choked off at a look from her that could have cut steel in two. "Oh, so we're not admitting to that. Got it." He drained the Zesti, just as a knock on the doorframe intruded.
Dinah smiled at Mister Terrific and Doctor Midnite as they entered the apartment. "Gentlemen..." She followed with a nod to Sentinel, as he trailed them. "I hate to bother you but I have a small issue I think you can help me with."
"Always glad to help, Canary. But I'm puzzled as to what it would take us for." Terrific studied his one time teammate, seeing that she looked far less restless than the last time he had seen her.
"It's the damned cure! You're using me for the cure?" Eddie sounded both enraged and impressed; he had not known Dinah had it in her, not even after watching her run the three-ring circus in Tokyo at Shado's side.
"Oh stuff it. Star Labs has the official experiments, Eddie... but I've got personal reason to see it in trials under people with access to other science." Dinah cut the former CIA man a look before focusing on Midnite, her one time suitor and boyfriend for a minute. "Are you familiar with the project at Star to synthesize a generic vaccine to prevent most known diseases?"
"I had heard of it," he admitted.
"That man is carrying the source of it in his blood." She flicked her fingers at Eddie.
"That man has a name," the person in question grumped. "I still can't believe you..."
She whirled on him, her eyes flashing. "It's for Oliver! So he doesn't have to constantly worry about someone he loves, someone with the plague of the twentieth century!" She watched his face as he tried to hide the emotions, knowing the former spook still had a soft spot for the man he had tried to kill and had used multiple times. What really arrested her attention was when he made the connection that it was someone close to Ollie who was ill... and he paled.
"Yeah, take my blood. See what you can come up with to make a form to give someone else," Eddie told the JSA members.
"We'll use your kitchen, Canary," Terrific said, carrying some of their gear. Midnite fell in behind Eddie, leaving Dinah with Alan.
"You look well, Dinah," Alan said to open communication as he sat down. She slowly gravitated to the chair across from him.
"Thanks. How's Molly? Todd?" She fiddled with her sleeve, not quite looking at him.
"They're fine. Molly helped Ma and Joan cook the Christmas dinner last night. Everyone, almost, came to the new Headquarters." The implicit disappointment should have made Dinah show some remorse, and when she just looked up with a nod, he grew more intrigued. Ted had muttered at him about women and men and it just not being right, but after the argument on Thanksgiving, Alan had carefully not pushed the issue.
"I spent the holiday in Gotham. Taking care of my ties there," she offered. "Especially young Tim."
"That's the boy you mentioned…distant cousin, Jack Drake's kid? And I saw the pictures… You and those archers handle things fairly smoothly, especially with Gotham's native protector."
"Yes sir, that's the one." A soft smile lit her features, thinking of how happy Tim had been. Alan saw it, and smiled himself; the young woman had found someone to mother, and that suited him fine. It was always a good thing when she mentored, even if she refused to take on a permanent sidekick. "And the two families need to work on relations anyway."
"Just remember, Dinah... we do love you. And we're always around." He wanted to heal whatever schism they had inadvertently caused.
"I know." She looked up as Eddie came out, glaring at her.
"I hate needles."
"And yet you love bullets," she responded cheerfully. "Thanks, Eddie. Want me to say hi for you?"
"Tell Connor to get his narrow ass to the monastery. Jansen misses him." He nodded briefly to Sentinel, heading immediately for the door.
"Yeah, I will when I call him tonight... amazing invention Eddie, the phone?"
"Oh hardy har..." He was still grumbling as he left them, while the other two JSA members came out with their samples.
"I'll let you know the progress, Dinah. It's for that girl with the Titans, isn't it?" Midnite looked at her through his goggles, seeing a woman who finally knew just what she wanted. He missed what might have been, wished he could have been the one, but the blow had faded, and he realized he wanted her at least as a friend in his life.
"Yes." Dinah smiled at them, giving Alan a hand up from the couch, then hugging his neck. "Give my love to Molly and Todd."
"Don't be such a stranger, since you do remember where Gotham is," he said gruffly.
"I'll try to get by." She grinned at the other two. "And thank you again."
"Any time."
`~`~`~`~`
Ollie noted the alarm was set to exterior doors only as he disarmed it, and motioned for Connor to remain outside with Lian... which made the younger archer move far from the porch.
"It's just me," came the lazy voice of his best friend.
"Connor, it's clear... just Hal mooching all my food, again."
His son relaxed and walked up with Lian, her bag slung over his shoulder. "Good afternoon," he said as Lian blinked slowly at the almost-stranger in the house. She kind-of remembered him, and he had been to her house once, but... She stayed close to Unca Connor.
"Didn't you ever hear it's not polite to pick your friend's locks, Hal?" Ollie asked as he walked over to him. "Connor, there's nothing in the car that will freeze, is there?" It was oddly cool in his city tonight.
"No, Dad."
"You gave me a key, pal...remember? Or is your old age catching up anyway?" Hal nodded to Connor. "How you doing, champ?" He smiled as the boy shook his head. "And... Lian? You've gotten big since I saw you."
"Don't go trying to charm my granddaughter," Ollie said firmly. "We'll empty the car later, Connor. Get our Dart settled in for the week. Might be best to put her in Roy's room."
Connor nodded and headed up with Lian, talking to her softly. He hadn't missed the reaction, and while Hal was safe, he couldn't fault her for it. She'd been through more than enough to know to be wary... wrong as that was.
"I had forgotten," Ollie said, and shrugged, walking over. "Thought you were overseas?"
"When do I miss Christmas if I can help it?" Hal settled on the couch comfortably. "Stopped by on Christmas eve."
Ollie settled not far away, equally casual, turned just enough to look at him. "Sorry I missed you, but there're these newfangled inventions I had to re-learn about called cell phones..."
Hal leveled a look his way. "After what I saw here on Thanksgiving, I was NOT running the risk of you being with the Bird and having her yell for me interrupting dinner or some thing along those lines."
Ollie chuckled softly. "She does have opinions about that. Though, considering that she's the one that left to take a call, it would've been fine. Pot, kettle, and all that."
Hal nodded, then raised an eyebrow. "So you were with her?"
"Yeah--and she brought the entire hero community one hell of a present. Superboy's back. Robin hasn't quit smiling yet, far as I know."
The test pilot narrowed his eyes at hearing that. "She in the habit of collecting formerly dead heroes?" Hal shook his head. "I take it you two shared the holiday with his family again?"
"I'd have said strays, but she does seem to have decent luck with it," Ollie replied, then nodded. "If I want to see Roy and Mia for more than the time it takes to wolf down dinner, it's the best plan."
Hal gave a muttered sigh of difficult archers then. "Am I going to have to drag this out a piece at a time? Spill what you are up to, why your family and that family are so... chummy."
Ollie turned an oddly serious look on his best friend, studying him a few moments. "Well, Arsenal and Nightwing seem to be picking back up where they left off. I'm waiting for the cute nicknames and finishing each others sentences to start again any day now, and once I figure out what the hell is going on with Tim and Mia I'll let you know. Right now they seem to be enjoying confusing the everloving hell out of all of us."
Hal leaned forward. "You and Dinah? What is it? If you tell me the two of you are intent on being friends, I will scream. Not as effectively as she does..."
"Don't. You'll scare Lian, and I'll have to kick your ass." He was dead serious about that, too. "No... we seem to be past the 'just friends' thing. Seems like she's even really forgiven me..." For which he was so very thankful.
"And this is going over with Bruce Wayne the Batman how well? I had heard stories you know? Stories about the two of them playing coy around one another."
Ollie snorted. "They've been playing at that game for almost as long as I've known her, Hal, it's nothing new. And it seems to be going over just fine..." Despite every attempt, he hadn't kept the lazy, pleased drawl out of his voice on those last couple of words. //Shit, sorry Bruce...//
"You..." Hal shook his head, eyes wide in shock. "You both...."
Ollie tilted his head slightly, "Want to try that in a sentence, Hal? You're not giving me much to work with here..."
Hal looked annoyed at him, drew in a deep breath and tried again. "You and him, sharing Dinah's time? Her company? Sorry, pal, but that just seems... creepy."
That wasn't a word he'd expected, "Creepy? Why?"
"It's... Bruce. The Bat. Doesn't play well with others." Hal shook his head. "Don't you and Dinah have enough problems keeping it together without letting him get in the middle of it all?"
Ollie sighed softly. "We probably will, yeah... but we'll manage." The //God I hope we'll manage,// was in his eyes but not said.
Hal appraised him shrewdly, feeling that things were not fully in the open yet. "Tell me the whole story, Ollie. I'm your best damned friend, or at least I thought I was. Help me understand here, so when Dinah is fawning all over one of you or both around Supes, I can do damage control."
"You are," Ollie replied quickly, hearing the thread of hurt in Hal's voice over this, and the honest worry. "Dinah's going to be dating Brucie, while Black Canary runs with Green Arrow again. We're all rather looking forward to seeing how much confusion that causes those of us in the know." He couldn't help the smile about that. Several people were going to be entirely too amusing.
"And who would 'be in the know'?" Hal could already see the looks on some of his colleagues' faces. "And just how in the hell did you convince Bruce this was a good idea? Let alone Dinah?"
"Those of us that know who the Bat is. No-one else would have much reason to be confused..." Ollie thought that one was fairly obvious. "I still blame Bruce for this, but Dinah argued with us a fair bit."
"I meant who knows about the situation," Hal clarified. "So I know who to watch my words around, and who I can just go get quietly drunk with over this." Hal was not surprised Dinah had argued; she had always gone on about monogamy.
"The kids know, and I think she had to tell Wildcat."
Hal nodded. "And most of said kids are mixing it up too." He looked at Ollie with an intense look, one that screamed worry. "I hope you know what you're doing. Bruce has never been one to share his things well, and you and Dinah have always struggled as it is."
Ollie struggled with himself a moment, then decided to just come clean and see if that would calm Hal down any. "You're missing a piece, Hal. Normally, you'd be right about Bruce--god knows we butted heads over Di enough early on..."
"Go on. I had caught that, thought he was just being territorial over the girl from Gotham, until I started hearing rumors lately."
"Back before I met you, before I started going with Di... Bruce and I were an on-and-off thing, whenever we happened to be in the same town." His eyes were very steady on Hal's face, watching the reactions.
The first reaction was utter shock. The second was disbelief, and the third was an even larger sense of worry. "All those years of talk about me and you, and you never even hinted... But this doesn't change my concerns, Ollie. I don't want that bastard having a chance to hurt you with his callous attitude toward human beings."
Ollie shrugged slightly. "It wasn't important, Hal, and it was over. No sense in bringing it up, as far as I could see." He shook his head a bit, not pleased with Hal's view of things. "Bruce wasn't always like that, Hal, and you know it... and he's back to being a lot more like the man I used to run with than the one we've seen lately. Maybe between Di and I we can keep him that way--and I don't hurt that easy, Hal."
The test pilot gave him a look that said he knew better. "Excuse me. I was there through a lot of your 'not hurt easy' moments over the years." He took a deep breath, let it out in a sigh. "I'll do what I can to look over you though. I'm assuming it's not going to be common knowledge."
Ollie shrugged slightly, nodding at the truth of that. Hal'd been there through most of it, actually. "Thanks, Hal, and no, it's not. Not with the way the angle they're planning on working."
"Alright." Hal would do all he could to deflect the rumor mill until it did inevitably blow up in their faces. He looked at his best friend curiously. "You really think it will work? That you and Dinah at least will come out on top this time?"
That last question... he probably should have expected as much. Hal and Bruce... really didn't get along, most of the time. But then, it wasn't like he got along any better with Clark. "I think we've got a shot. I'm hoping. We're off to a decent start, anyway--and don't say a word about how long Di and I were together the first time before things got bad. I'm not going to make the same damn mistake again." //You said that once already...// The thought was more accurate than he liked, but he wasn't going to screw this up. Not this time.
"Good. Because I don't want to scrape up the pile of goo you'll be when Wildcat gets done this time if he ever gets it in his head that you hurt his little girl again. Not to mention your girlfriend? She's gotten a hell of a lot better than before fighting all on her own."
"She always was better than either of us... but yeah. You should have seen her and Connor going at it over Thanksgiving," he whistled softly, proud of both his lover and his son.
"You could make millions for that on pay-per-view," Hal said. "That boy of yours is one very solid fighter." He was slowly relaxing.
"Yeah. He sure is, and I probably could if they wouldn't both kill me over it," Ollie agreed, smiling, glad to see Hal calming down. He wanted to ask if they were all right, if Hal was taking the revelations as easily as he appeared to be, but... that'd never been their way.
"So, how's Roy doing these days? He's been kind of quiet out there in New York."
"He's good, far as I can tell. Lian's keeping him pretty busy. I think he's enjoying the solo work, but he's looking at a few options for a new team, too. And looking for a bigger place. I keep telling him the house market's booming out here, but he just laughs."
"Yeah, well, moving up under your nose is not what the kid needs. He's been pretty solid from all I've seen since I got back." He settled in for the evening, letting the revelations stay out of his way for enjoying the evening with his friend.
"He grew up damn good," Ollie agreed. "Doing a better job than I did at his age by a lot."
"Yeah...mostly because of me," Hal said, tweaking his friend with that comment.
Ollie snorted. "No way. That's my Pretty Bird's work."
"Who do you think took her in hand before you came along, old man?" The smile he gave was pure Hal, all flyboy and devil-be-damned.
"If you ever tried 'taking her in hand', she'd kick you across a state, flyboy." Ollie shot back. "You're not her type." What she put up with from Bruce still stunned him.
Hal roared with laughter. "Yeah, only Barry stood a shot of taking her in hand anyway."
Ollie nodded, chuckling softly. "True. Damn true. How've you been, other than getting into trouble all over the world?" It was hard to miss the headlines.
"I don't get in trouble; I fix it." Hal smirked. "I'm just flashier than your Bird about interfering."
Ollie snorted. "True, it's hard to miss your ring in action. Seriously, Hal. How've you been?"
Hal shrugged. "Good. Keep checking in on Arthur, since he's still searching for his boy."
Ollie nodded once. He could easily understand that. He started looking for another topic, as this one was going nowhere rather quickly. Hal wasn't normally quite this evasive, not with him... //What's going on in your head, you old sky jockey?//
Hal sighed softly. "I saw Carol again."
"How'd that go?" //Oh. Okay, this makes sense now.//
Hal laughed bitterly. "I tell myself I'm happy for her...and I know I'm lying through my teeth. I want, so badly, to be the one in her life."
Ollie shifted and reached out, laying a hand on his shoulder, offering the only comfort he could give for this. All the words were too trite. The man nodded in acceptance of the comfort. "Ollie... make it work with Dinah. You two... and I'm saying two because, well, you know Bruce and I... but you and Dinah belong together."
"Yes, I know you and Bruce," Ollie agreed. //I don't like it, but I'm not going to change it, either.// "I mean to, Hal."
"Good." He nodded to the TV. "Think there's a fight on?" That was a clear indication Hal did not want to talk anymore, not about life, but that he was quite comfortable still with Ollie.
"Probably. Let's have a look." He leaned for the remote, flicked the TV on, and started searching--it had taken him a while to learn to handle the equipment Mia used so easily, but he'd gotten fairly proficient with it finally. He found one and flicked it on. "Look decent?"
"Well it's not Grant versus Clay, but it will do," Hal teased. "Think we can con Connor into making a beer run? Oh wait, he's not even legal yet. Damn, guess it's Zesti for us."
Ollie chuckled softly at Hal's words and went to go grab them a couple of soft drinks, then settled in to watch the fight, finally relaxing himself as he realized they were fine.
Cowriter:
merfillyCharacters: the usual suspects and a few guest characters
Rating: PG
Word Count: 7,940
Continuity: HappyVerse
Disclaimer: DC Comics makes the money, people
Notes: It's official... HappyVerse is our refuge from the meaner things in comics.
Summary: December 26th, the morning and some necessary encounters.
After breakfast, Mia made her way upstairs and noticed Ollie was just going from the master suite to the kitchen, looking a bit worse for wear, but cheerful. "Oll... Dad?" she called.
Ollie turned, tilting his head, "Yeah, Mia?" It was still startling to hear her call him 'Dad', but... not in a bad way. "What is it?"
"Umm...The Titans are having a get together next weekend...it would make things way easier if they only have to send one jet to grab me, Tim, and the others..." she started. "So, is it okay if I just stay here this week?"
"Let me run it past Bruce. There's no school, and Connor and I can handle the city, but... he might not want you underfoot, you know. It's all right with me, though."
Mia nodded. "Actually...Alfred said it was fine by him if it was okay with you."
Ollie's smile flashed a bit wicked. "Then it's already done... but I'll ask Bruce anyway..." //So he can pretend he makes the decisions around here.//
Mia grinned. "Thanks." She looked very pleased to have his blessing on staying, as she walked down to her room. Ollie turned and went back into the master suite, where Dinah was finishing her packing. "Bruce...Mia wants to stay the week with your boys."
"Oh? Any particular reason?" Oddly, Bruce looked as though he were preparing for a day or two away, as well.
Ollie cocked an eyebrow at that, then shook his head. "Titan shindig next weekend."
"Ollie, honey... no one says shindig anymore," Dinah purred at him, eyes twinkling.
Bruce had merely shaken his head at his lover's choice of words. "Ah. So they intend to take it easy on whoever comes after them--or, more likely, Dick will borrow a jet, since they all need to go. Sensible. I don't mind... Alfred can keep them under control."
Dinah nodded. "Mia and Tim have good heads on their shoulders."
"What about Roy?" Ollie asked, defending his eldest.
"He's your son," Dinah said simply.
Bruce's lips quirked and he closed the bag he was packing to walk over and slide an arm around Ollie's shoulders lightly, not saying a word. He might agree with Dinah, but he didn't have to say so. Ollie grumbled, but he turned into Bruce, inhaling his scent sharply. "Has more of her traits, you ask me," he mumbled very quietly when Dinah was zipping the last of her bags.
"Your temper," Bruce told him equally softly, then let go to walk over and kiss Dinah goodbye.
Ollie had private thoughts on temper, having been the recipient of too many Dinah ass-kickings.
Dinah flowed up against Bruce, kissing him hard and long, making sure he had something to tide him over for awhile from her. He pulled her just as close, kissing her every bit as deep, then slowly let go. A soft sigh escaped her before she crooked a finger at Ollie, who came and got one of his own from her. "Mind taking my bags with you?" Dinah stroked his face. "I can pick them up this weekend. Except this one." She grabbed the small one Oracle had sent over.
"Sure, pretty bird," he said softly, eyes lit with the thought of their New Years' plans.
"You two enjoy yourselves. I think I'll go be very publicly Brucie in... hm. London, since the boys will be with the Titans, then rejoin them after."
Dinah grinned. "Just don't forget that you owe me a very public Brucie date if we're going to lay the groundwork for our relationship."
Ollie rolled his eyes...the playboy and the minx would be interesting, to say the least. Seeing what the gossip pages had to say about that was likely to be far, far too entertaining.
Bruce laughed, "Of course, Dinah. As though I could forget."
She nodded, kissed them both on the cheek, then turned to go. Ollie grabbed her other two bags to take them into the hall next to his own for the boys to load... if Alfred did not beat them to it. Ollie hoped his words to Roy and Dick on his way down got things moving quickly. Which they did, as both young men thought Alfred worked entirely too hard, and with him cleaning up the detritus of breakfast it was a perfect opportunity.
Connor was just emerging from his room again, Kyle following, neither looking too happy at another long absence.
Kyle sighed softly, "I'll try and get switched back to earthside duty, love." He liked space, but god, this was hell.
Connor shook his head. "You're needed out there. I have faith you'll find the ones who went missing."
Kyle bit his lip, then nodded. "All right. Thank you. I've got to go..." The ring warned him of Ollie's presence, just a bit late, and he turned. "At least I'll get to say goodbye. See you when I can.." he looked as though something hovered at the tip of his tongue.
Connor leaned in and gripped Kyle by the back of his head, pulling him in for a deep kiss, regardless of his father or the two behind him. Ollie shook his head, grinning at Connor's strength of will concerning the relationship.
Dick just grinned slightly at the two of them. "See you, Kyle. Be careful out there... I'd tell you to kiss Kory when you find her but I think both our guys would argue..."
"Hell, kiss her for me," Roy said. "She's gonna need it."
Connor merely ducked his head, smiling. When he looked up, Kyle saw the warning to be safe in his eyes, but those were words they did not say yet, defying the bad by refusing to voice it.
"All right, I'll tell her it's from you two," Kyle said, and his eyes said, 'I will' back at Connor before he headed down the stairs.
The noise of them in the hall got three heads poked out of Mia's door, then various calls of 'see you later' type goodbyes from the three before they piled back into the room. Who knew what they were up to.
Dick and Roy followed him out with the bags, and watched as he took off, Dick shaking his head. Both he and Roy knew all too well what those leave-takings felt like, sending a lover and a friend somewhere you could not follow....//Never gets easier// He tilted his head back at the manor, eyes saying, 'let's go distract your brother.'
They got back in and upstairs to find Ollie and Connor distracting each other, discussing the merits of the bow Kyle had gotten the older man. Roy was drawn toward the conversation, but hesitated, not wanting to leave Dick out. Dick saw Bruce and Dinah stepping out of the master suite and headed that way, motioning Roy to go ahead and go to his brother and father. He wasn't the one that needed comforting at the moment.
Dinah was easing her bag to one shoulder, her other resting lightly on Bruce's arm, trying to maintain contact as long as she could with him. She knew she was pushing her timeline by taking so long to go, but her family was here and that felt most important, even knowing what she had to do in Metropolis. She looked at Dick and smiled, drawing her hand back casually, in case it still creeped the young man out to see Bruce so relaxed with casual touches. "Keep an eye on Tim and Kon with Mia?" she asked. "She's the hard headed sort that will try to do too much to keep up with them."
Dick nodded. "Yeah. I'd planned on it anyway." He smiled back at her, wishing she hadn't pulled away. But then, she did have to leave. "Be safe."
"I will...just have to go break Eddie Fyres' skull if he does not show up on time," she said in a low voice. She then threw her free arm around Dick as she moved forward, hugging him. "Ollie said they were taking Dart, by the way. The two of them might be able to keep up with her."
Dick couldn't help the way his eyes lit at that--he loved Lian, but getting Roy alone... That was something they hardly managed anymore, and it wasn't fair to keep foisting her off on Alfred. He hugged her back, "Thanks for the heads up."
Dinah pulled back, then brushed her cheek against Bruce. "Feel free to drop by," she told him. "Pieter and Michael should be gone by tonight."
Bruce nodded. "I probably will, if things go well." He turned his head, saying into her ear, "Be careful," very softly.
"I will." She smiled as she walked away, heading downstairs to leave. Each of the groups of her family got casual words their way, as she plotted just how to get more time off from saving the world, country by country.
Dick watched his father watch her leave, seeing the way his eyes tracked her, then noticed the garment bag he was holding and the business-casual wear--to formal for a day at the house. "Bruce?"
"I'm heading to Metropolis... I think I need to talk to Clark."
"About?" //What're you up to, Bruce?//
"A number of things, Dick. Don't worry about it--and keep an eye on the house."
"Sure, Dad," he grinned. "No problem." Smart-alec twenty-three year old left with the kids and the keys, what could possibly go wrong?
Bruce shook his head at the patriarchal name, then gave Dick a look that spoke of his pride in the young man. "I'll be driving," he added. "If an emergency comes up, it will take me longer to return."
"We'll handle it," Dick promised. "C'mon, you and I used to handle this city alone. The four of us'll manage just fine, if we need to. Go hug Clark for me."
Bruce did not roll his eyes...but his body language implied it. "Right." He clasped Dick's shoulder firmly and walked on by, hearing the motorcycle peal away down the driveway.
Dick grinned and went to help Lian get everything packed up and loaded into the car to head for the airport, hugging her close, promising they'd see her in no time.
Ollie and Connor came down with Roy soon after, and Roy took his daughter, murmuring softly in Dineh to her about being good and how much he loved her. When she left his arms for Connor's, the eldest archer hugged his son that was staying.
"Keep an eye on Mia," he said firmly. "You know how bad she can be about things. I don't want her fluent in Japanese by week's end," he added with a mock-glare at Dick.
Roy snorted, "Yeah, I know how she gets. I'll keep an eye on things."
Dick shrugged at Ollie, "Not me you have to worry about there, but I'll try and keep Timmy from pushing her too hard."
"Thank you." He chuckled. "Maybe Alfred can teach her to cook when those two boys vanish on her."
Roy chuckled. "Maybe....if she gets in the kitchen unharmed."
Dick shrugged. "Anything's possible..."
Ollie nodded, then guided Connor and Lian on out the door, and into the car to head for the airstrip themselves. Dick waited until he heard the car start up and leave... then pounced at Roy, kissing him deep.
Roy chuckled into the kiss, but he cupped his lover's backside and pulled him even closer, pleased with the idea of having the house to themselves...since the terrible threesome were staying cooped up together.
Dick wrapped around him, laughing as he broke the kiss. "God, I haven't been near a trap set in months, come catch for me?"
Roy shook his head at that. "Sure, Dick...be glad to."
"We can't go straight back to bed..." Dick said with a grin, "I hate being predictable. Let's go!" as he started to wriggle out of Roy's hold.
Roy grinned harder as he made it a challenge to get free, then gave chase when Dick did free himself in one of those impossible twisty moves. Dick's laughter echoed through the halls, and in the kitchen below a smile crossed Alfred's face. It had been far too long since that sound was heard in the manor.
Not much longer, and the sound of thundering feet and loud teenagers could be heard as game systems were being carted down toe the big televisions. That made Alfred shake his head... but a smile played around his lips as well. Young people in the Manor again, laughter and play ringing through the halls... this was well. This was very well, indeed.
*~*~*~
Bruce spoke to the car as he steered towards the correct exit. "Call Clark Kent, cell."
"You have reached the phone of Reporter Clark Kent. Leave a detailed message, and I will get back to you," sounded as soon as there was a connection.
"Clark. Where are you? Call the cell. Disconnect call." He would give it a few moments, then try one of the other numbers. He should have been home already, the flight ought to have been in over an hour ago.
He had to wait nearly two minutes before the car connected again. "Bruce?"
"Good morning Clark. The question stands."
Clark sighed. "Metropolis airport... barely landed, thank you."
Bruce did a quick mental check, running maps in his head. "Would you like a ride somewhere? I can probably reach the airport before you get Lois's bags off the carousel."
There was a hesitation, then Clark nodded...Bruce could hear his glasses scrape the phone. "Uhh, sure." He bit his lip against asking why Bruce was in town.
"I'll see you shortly, then." He turned the car that way. "Which airline?"
Clark gave him the details, repressing every reporter instinct he had, knowing Bruce likely would not say it over the phone anyway.
Bruce shook his head, wondering what had happened that they'd taken a later flight on a different carrier than they'd been booked. When he arrived at the airport, he saw that by visual evidence, the Kent reporting duo had a cold. Lois declined to leave her husband's side, looking miserable, while Clark merely had the red nose and eyes to match. "Sorry...caught a bug, playing in the snow yesterday," Clark told him.
Bruce shrugged. "I managed to avoid that. Here, Lois, let me take that," he reached out for her last bag.
She let him, then let Clark hand her into the car. "Perry's going to kill us," she groaned.
Clark looked sheepish. "We sort of forgot our coats and gloves, since it was a late snow."
"What is going to have Perry so upset?" Bruce asked, inwardly amused by the thought of the two ace reporters forgetting something so very simple. "Even Lian had better sense than that, you two."
Clark gave him a glare that said he had never needed them before.
"Coming in like this first thing from vacation? Our first ever joint vacation?" Lois said skeptically. "He'll never let us go again."
"A point," Bruce nodded. "As Clark failed to mention, where am I taking you both?"
"Home," they both said, Lois a bit more emphatically than Clark. "For rest and medicine," Clark added.
Bruce nodded and drove that way, carelessly competent, pulling up before their door and helping to unload the bags, "I do need to talk to Clark, Lois..."
She arched her eyebrow at him. "And since when, oh Dark one, does that exclude me?"
"When I may need to argue with him, and don't need you ganging up on me?" with one of his more charming smiles.
Lois did not look like she was buying his charm, but then she sneezed. "Fine, just know that I'll get the digest version anyway!" She went on up to their apartment, as the staff got the bags to carry up.
Clark merely turned to Bruce, eyebrow raised. "Kon?"
Bruce nodded, and indicated the car with a tilt of his head. "Shall we?" This wasn't a discussion he wanted to have anywhere that might be overheard, not in a town that was shifting more and more towards Lex's power in Superman's absence... Their old foe had long ears and a longer reach, still.
"Bruce, he's my responsibility," Clark began, but he did go to the car.
Bruce waited until they were moving to start the conversation. "Clark, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm fairly certain you buried Conner Kent not two days after we buried Superboy."
"I know." Clark had thought long and hard over that. "Lois agreed to grant him the Lane name."
"And then what?" If Clark had actually thought this one through, he might concede the argument... but he doubted it.
Clark fidgeted. "I was going to invite him to move back here. We can get a bigger place."
"In Metropolis. In the middle of winter. Would you like help?" He was serious. That was the kind of money it was going to take, and Clark knew it. "...He's not going to want to live with you, Clark. You've got to know that."
Clark got that stubborn look, then looked at Bruce with widening eyes. "Why...You are involved in..." He was speechless, as he realized Bruce was being openly concerned for someone, in truly human fashion.
"Try that in a sentence, Clark?" The tone was very, very dry.
"Bruce, you'll have to excuse me, but this is the most human intervention you've done for someone... ever."
He shrugged slightly, picking a random route through the city. "I'm not, actually, doing it for Kon. If the boy's miserable, Robin will be unhappy... and I have seen enough of that recently."
"Oh." Clark thought about that a long time. "I know Tim's had a rough time...but what are you suggesting? You know Kon and Cassie were seeing each other; it's not like Tim won't have to share his best friend to some other city anyway."
"It's been rather obvious that's... not still the case."
"What do you mean? Dinah specifically asked me not to let the ladies know...and surely Cassie hasn't come by your place." He itched to ask about that hero gathering, but refrained again. It was obvious he was not connecting the boys closely.
Bruce shook his head. There were limits to what he would reveal, especially when he'd never been quite certain of Clark's opinions on some things. "Ask Kon. He might even answer."
Clark frowned. "So what is your counter to what I suggested?"
"Not entirely mine." The plan was much more Dinah's than his, but he'd thrown in a few... refinements along the way. "He's been discussing things with Dinah since she pulled him off Kilauea, and apparently has a better head on his shoulders than I thought. It apparently took some convincing for him to agree to take a secret identity back on at all, but he finally agreed--I believe he and Babs have been discussing the details. You could always mention Lois's offer."
"Go on." Clark was quite unsure that he liked the smell of this; when Dinah did manipulate things, it had a tendency to work to the Bat Agenda, or so he saw it.
"He's arguing for taking the GED as opposed to going back to high school... and given the situation I can't see reason to argue. Once Tim gets word of that, I'm relatively certain he'll do well enough to place competitively."
"If you think Tim can get him to study, I need to check you for rose colored glasses," Clark joked weakly. "Where will he live? Why isn't he here, telling me himself what he wants? Why do I get the feeling you are manipulating things to further your own cause?"
Bruce turned his head long enough to give him a very level look. "He's not here because he idolizes you too much to argue with you--I believe that's been well proven. And Clark... when was the last time you bothered to ask what he wanted?" He turned his attention back to the traffic. "Dinah, the driving force behind most of this, thinks you wouldn't listen to her, so between Tim's request and hers, I agreed to come."
Clark opened his mouth... and shut it. He had a lot of regrets, and many of them centered on his... son. That definition still took getting used to, and he had realized he should have been a father. He had possessed two examples of what being a father meant... and wasted their lessons. "You are doing this for Tim. What is Dinah's sudden interest in the workings of the Bats' personal lives?"
"She's always had a habit of taking in strays. Kon seems to be the latest--she's very much doing this for his sake, not Tim's." He'd caught that reaction out of the corner of his eye, and it altered the rest of his response. "Clark. I'm not trying to step between you and Kon. I have my sons. But that we buried Superboy and Conner has created some fairly large problems for the two of you. Especially as he's still terrified of Lex, and for good reason. He needs to be hidden... and you must admit we're among the best at that."
"Lex." The man was still embroiled in legal finangling to get off all the charges he faced from his presidency, and events after. "Where will he live again?"
"Dalton Towers, at least for the present. Given his affection for Metropolis, I wouldn't be surprised to see that become fairly permanent." //Close enough to let you two figure out your relationship without being under each other's feet.//
Clark cocked his head, then remembered where the mighty Oracle lived and nodded. "Alright. I can handle that. And I'm to assume he's going to be working with their team?"
Bruce's lips quirked slightly. "I don't believe that's been settled yet, but he won't be active for a while yet, he's still recovering. Once he's recovered, I find it more likely that he'll go back to the Titans."
"Last I checked, the Titans were... being difficult. And only for weekends." Clark frowned at the recovering comment. "Does he... he need me?"
"They still are, but they're also his team," Bruce replied, then tilted his head slightly. "He's not ill, Clark, just drained... so I suppose it depends on how you mean the question..."
The former Man of Steel frowned, not sure himself. This was just too... unexpectedly new. "When will I get to see him?"
"Give the boys another day or so, then call down and ask him, Clark."
The reporter nodded. "I can do that." Clark looked over at his friend. "This world trip is agreeing with you."
//Good.// "It seems to be," Bruce agreed mildly.
"Lois likes the normal." Clark kept his voice non-committal. "Although, she was out of sorts the first time J'onn had to rescue her from her mouth in a hostage situation."
"I missed this... and I think I pity J'onn."
"Goldie took Lois out to lunch after it." Clark grinned unrepentantly; he was fond of J'onn's gossip columnist guise. "And Lois is always in the middle of the worst stories."
"Yes, she is." That was actually something of an understatement, in Bruce's opinion. "Is normal suiting you as well?"
Clark looked out the window. "It's a good experience for me."
"Clark."
"It's looking permanent." He turned back. "And I'm still trying to adjust."
Bruce's hands clenched on the steering wheel a moment and his jaw tightened. //No, damn it.// "That..." It was rare that he had absolutely no idea what to say, but... this was one of those times. His deliberate cruelty on the ruined Watch Tower had served its purpose, spurred Clark to act... but he'd been far too harsh. If they had lost Superman forever... the world was much poorer.
Clark reached out, reacting to his emotions with a gentle touch on his arm. "They say it might be another side effect of kryptonite...something blocking my regenerative factors. They won't know until I don't test for it in my system at all."
"That... would be logical," Bruce nodded once, not shifting his arm. "You've never been exposed to that high a level of it. I take that to mean you are still showing at least trace levels?"
Clark nodded with a sigh. "Radioactive isotope. Not enough to make me sick, but enough to show I took a high dosage."
Bruce nodded once, still uncertain of what to say. He knew how much Clark had wanted a normal life, but their history was mostly Superman and Batman...
"We'll see how it works out." Clark looked out the window again.
"All we can do, in this case," Bruce agreed. "Anything else?"
"Take care of my son, Bruce." The voice was dead calm. "I'm going to be there for him...but you have a way of dealing with us aliens."
Bruce bit down on several responses, his eyes going cool. He had to admit that one was deserved, though Lois was apparently wearing off on her husband a bit much. "After the end of this week, I doubt I will see him often in the next few months, Clark. You'll be much closer."
"Still." Clark looked back at him. "Well, you've given Tim most of his manners in that field... I'm sure Kon will be a lot more careful in the future with his own skin."
"I would tend to think so," Bruce nodded as he turned the car back towards Clark's apartment again. "Certainly if he chooses to listen to what Tim has to say."
Clark laughed. "I've not been the best at that." He remembered the conversation surrounding his exile to the satellite, when Kara's ship crashed.
"That is... something of an understatement, Clark... but Tim's starting younger."
There was a chuckle at that. "Dick turned out well, so I'll trust that Tim will to."
"Not quite what I meant," Bruce replied as they neared his building.
"I know." Clark turned his infuriating smile back to him. "You be safe, Bruce. Or next time it will be you J'onn's having to swoop in for. Of course, he likes you a lot more than he likes Lois."
Bruce's eyes narrowed at him, but they were no longer quite so cool. "I could say the same to you," he replied as he pulled up and stopped. "Go take care of Lois, Clark."
Clark nodded. "Take care." He stepped out, sneezing as the cool air grabbed at his abused sinuses.
Bruce shook his head at that and pulled away again. He would spend a few hours being idle, then call Dinah.
*~*~*~*~
Dinah had left the door open, and when Eddie strolled in, she thought about commenting on his grey hair or some other wise crack to pick on the man who always brought trouble. Instead she merely smiled and indicated the couch.
"I have two friends who should be here soon. And thank you, Eddie." She handed him a Zesti as he shook his head.
"Your voice was not one I expected. You gave up calling when the old man died." He waggled an eyebrow at her. "Getting close to him again, too."
"Don't believe everything you read, Fyres... we're still heroes together in this business." She made her tone intentionally frosty.
"Well, if he's not in the way, and that sword wielding boyfriend isn't around…" He let his voice trail off lecherously.
"One: he's not my boyfriend. Two: Ollie'd still kill you. Three: I'd kill you worse," Dinah said, getting comfortable with the give and take of sparring verbally with Eddie.
"So you're saying that thing on Dino Island was just a wham-bam…" His words choked off at a look from her that could have cut steel in two. "Oh, so we're not admitting to that. Got it." He drained the Zesti, just as a knock on the doorframe intruded.
Dinah smiled at Mister Terrific and Doctor Midnite as they entered the apartment. "Gentlemen..." She followed with a nod to Sentinel, as he trailed them. "I hate to bother you but I have a small issue I think you can help me with."
"Always glad to help, Canary. But I'm puzzled as to what it would take us for." Terrific studied his one time teammate, seeing that she looked far less restless than the last time he had seen her.
"It's the damned cure! You're using me for the cure?" Eddie sounded both enraged and impressed; he had not known Dinah had it in her, not even after watching her run the three-ring circus in Tokyo at Shado's side.
"Oh stuff it. Star Labs has the official experiments, Eddie... but I've got personal reason to see it in trials under people with access to other science." Dinah cut the former CIA man a look before focusing on Midnite, her one time suitor and boyfriend for a minute. "Are you familiar with the project at Star to synthesize a generic vaccine to prevent most known diseases?"
"I had heard of it," he admitted.
"That man is carrying the source of it in his blood." She flicked her fingers at Eddie.
"That man has a name," the person in question grumped. "I still can't believe you..."
She whirled on him, her eyes flashing. "It's for Oliver! So he doesn't have to constantly worry about someone he loves, someone with the plague of the twentieth century!" She watched his face as he tried to hide the emotions, knowing the former spook still had a soft spot for the man he had tried to kill and had used multiple times. What really arrested her attention was when he made the connection that it was someone close to Ollie who was ill... and he paled.
"Yeah, take my blood. See what you can come up with to make a form to give someone else," Eddie told the JSA members.
"We'll use your kitchen, Canary," Terrific said, carrying some of their gear. Midnite fell in behind Eddie, leaving Dinah with Alan.
"You look well, Dinah," Alan said to open communication as he sat down. She slowly gravitated to the chair across from him.
"Thanks. How's Molly? Todd?" She fiddled with her sleeve, not quite looking at him.
"They're fine. Molly helped Ma and Joan cook the Christmas dinner last night. Everyone, almost, came to the new Headquarters." The implicit disappointment should have made Dinah show some remorse, and when she just looked up with a nod, he grew more intrigued. Ted had muttered at him about women and men and it just not being right, but after the argument on Thanksgiving, Alan had carefully not pushed the issue.
"I spent the holiday in Gotham. Taking care of my ties there," she offered. "Especially young Tim."
"That's the boy you mentioned…distant cousin, Jack Drake's kid? And I saw the pictures… You and those archers handle things fairly smoothly, especially with Gotham's native protector."
"Yes sir, that's the one." A soft smile lit her features, thinking of how happy Tim had been. Alan saw it, and smiled himself; the young woman had found someone to mother, and that suited him fine. It was always a good thing when she mentored, even if she refused to take on a permanent sidekick. "And the two families need to work on relations anyway."
"Just remember, Dinah... we do love you. And we're always around." He wanted to heal whatever schism they had inadvertently caused.
"I know." She looked up as Eddie came out, glaring at her.
"I hate needles."
"And yet you love bullets," she responded cheerfully. "Thanks, Eddie. Want me to say hi for you?"
"Tell Connor to get his narrow ass to the monastery. Jansen misses him." He nodded briefly to Sentinel, heading immediately for the door.
"Yeah, I will when I call him tonight... amazing invention Eddie, the phone?"
"Oh hardy har..." He was still grumbling as he left them, while the other two JSA members came out with their samples.
"I'll let you know the progress, Dinah. It's for that girl with the Titans, isn't it?" Midnite looked at her through his goggles, seeing a woman who finally knew just what she wanted. He missed what might have been, wished he could have been the one, but the blow had faded, and he realized he wanted her at least as a friend in his life.
"Yes." Dinah smiled at them, giving Alan a hand up from the couch, then hugging his neck. "Give my love to Molly and Todd."
"Don't be such a stranger, since you do remember where Gotham is," he said gruffly.
"I'll try to get by." She grinned at the other two. "And thank you again."
"Any time."
`~`~`~`~`
Ollie noted the alarm was set to exterior doors only as he disarmed it, and motioned for Connor to remain outside with Lian... which made the younger archer move far from the porch.
"It's just me," came the lazy voice of his best friend.
"Connor, it's clear... just Hal mooching all my food, again."
His son relaxed and walked up with Lian, her bag slung over his shoulder. "Good afternoon," he said as Lian blinked slowly at the almost-stranger in the house. She kind-of remembered him, and he had been to her house once, but... She stayed close to Unca Connor.
"Didn't you ever hear it's not polite to pick your friend's locks, Hal?" Ollie asked as he walked over to him. "Connor, there's nothing in the car that will freeze, is there?" It was oddly cool in his city tonight.
"No, Dad."
"You gave me a key, pal...remember? Or is your old age catching up anyway?" Hal nodded to Connor. "How you doing, champ?" He smiled as the boy shook his head. "And... Lian? You've gotten big since I saw you."
"Don't go trying to charm my granddaughter," Ollie said firmly. "We'll empty the car later, Connor. Get our Dart settled in for the week. Might be best to put her in Roy's room."
Connor nodded and headed up with Lian, talking to her softly. He hadn't missed the reaction, and while Hal was safe, he couldn't fault her for it. She'd been through more than enough to know to be wary... wrong as that was.
"I had forgotten," Ollie said, and shrugged, walking over. "Thought you were overseas?"
"When do I miss Christmas if I can help it?" Hal settled on the couch comfortably. "Stopped by on Christmas eve."
Ollie settled not far away, equally casual, turned just enough to look at him. "Sorry I missed you, but there're these newfangled inventions I had to re-learn about called cell phones..."
Hal leveled a look his way. "After what I saw here on Thanksgiving, I was NOT running the risk of you being with the Bird and having her yell for me interrupting dinner or some thing along those lines."
Ollie chuckled softly. "She does have opinions about that. Though, considering that she's the one that left to take a call, it would've been fine. Pot, kettle, and all that."
Hal nodded, then raised an eyebrow. "So you were with her?"
"Yeah--and she brought the entire hero community one hell of a present. Superboy's back. Robin hasn't quit smiling yet, far as I know."
The test pilot narrowed his eyes at hearing that. "She in the habit of collecting formerly dead heroes?" Hal shook his head. "I take it you two shared the holiday with his family again?"
"I'd have said strays, but she does seem to have decent luck with it," Ollie replied, then nodded. "If I want to see Roy and Mia for more than the time it takes to wolf down dinner, it's the best plan."
Hal gave a muttered sigh of difficult archers then. "Am I going to have to drag this out a piece at a time? Spill what you are up to, why your family and that family are so... chummy."
Ollie turned an oddly serious look on his best friend, studying him a few moments. "Well, Arsenal and Nightwing seem to be picking back up where they left off. I'm waiting for the cute nicknames and finishing each others sentences to start again any day now, and once I figure out what the hell is going on with Tim and Mia I'll let you know. Right now they seem to be enjoying confusing the everloving hell out of all of us."
Hal leaned forward. "You and Dinah? What is it? If you tell me the two of you are intent on being friends, I will scream. Not as effectively as she does..."
"Don't. You'll scare Lian, and I'll have to kick your ass." He was dead serious about that, too. "No... we seem to be past the 'just friends' thing. Seems like she's even really forgiven me..." For which he was so very thankful.
"And this is going over with Bruce Wayne the Batman how well? I had heard stories you know? Stories about the two of them playing coy around one another."
Ollie snorted. "They've been playing at that game for almost as long as I've known her, Hal, it's nothing new. And it seems to be going over just fine..." Despite every attempt, he hadn't kept the lazy, pleased drawl out of his voice on those last couple of words. //Shit, sorry Bruce...//
"You..." Hal shook his head, eyes wide in shock. "You both...."
Ollie tilted his head slightly, "Want to try that in a sentence, Hal? You're not giving me much to work with here..."
Hal looked annoyed at him, drew in a deep breath and tried again. "You and him, sharing Dinah's time? Her company? Sorry, pal, but that just seems... creepy."
That wasn't a word he'd expected, "Creepy? Why?"
"It's... Bruce. The Bat. Doesn't play well with others." Hal shook his head. "Don't you and Dinah have enough problems keeping it together without letting him get in the middle of it all?"
Ollie sighed softly. "We probably will, yeah... but we'll manage." The //God I hope we'll manage,// was in his eyes but not said.
Hal appraised him shrewdly, feeling that things were not fully in the open yet. "Tell me the whole story, Ollie. I'm your best damned friend, or at least I thought I was. Help me understand here, so when Dinah is fawning all over one of you or both around Supes, I can do damage control."
"You are," Ollie replied quickly, hearing the thread of hurt in Hal's voice over this, and the honest worry. "Dinah's going to be dating Brucie, while Black Canary runs with Green Arrow again. We're all rather looking forward to seeing how much confusion that causes those of us in the know." He couldn't help the smile about that. Several people were going to be entirely too amusing.
"And who would 'be in the know'?" Hal could already see the looks on some of his colleagues' faces. "And just how in the hell did you convince Bruce this was a good idea? Let alone Dinah?"
"Those of us that know who the Bat is. No-one else would have much reason to be confused..." Ollie thought that one was fairly obvious. "I still blame Bruce for this, but Dinah argued with us a fair bit."
"I meant who knows about the situation," Hal clarified. "So I know who to watch my words around, and who I can just go get quietly drunk with over this." Hal was not surprised Dinah had argued; she had always gone on about monogamy.
"The kids know, and I think she had to tell Wildcat."
Hal nodded. "And most of said kids are mixing it up too." He looked at Ollie with an intense look, one that screamed worry. "I hope you know what you're doing. Bruce has never been one to share his things well, and you and Dinah have always struggled as it is."
Ollie struggled with himself a moment, then decided to just come clean and see if that would calm Hal down any. "You're missing a piece, Hal. Normally, you'd be right about Bruce--god knows we butted heads over Di enough early on..."
"Go on. I had caught that, thought he was just being territorial over the girl from Gotham, until I started hearing rumors lately."
"Back before I met you, before I started going with Di... Bruce and I were an on-and-off thing, whenever we happened to be in the same town." His eyes were very steady on Hal's face, watching the reactions.
The first reaction was utter shock. The second was disbelief, and the third was an even larger sense of worry. "All those years of talk about me and you, and you never even hinted... But this doesn't change my concerns, Ollie. I don't want that bastard having a chance to hurt you with his callous attitude toward human beings."
Ollie shrugged slightly. "It wasn't important, Hal, and it was over. No sense in bringing it up, as far as I could see." He shook his head a bit, not pleased with Hal's view of things. "Bruce wasn't always like that, Hal, and you know it... and he's back to being a lot more like the man I used to run with than the one we've seen lately. Maybe between Di and I we can keep him that way--and I don't hurt that easy, Hal."
The test pilot gave him a look that said he knew better. "Excuse me. I was there through a lot of your 'not hurt easy' moments over the years." He took a deep breath, let it out in a sigh. "I'll do what I can to look over you though. I'm assuming it's not going to be common knowledge."
Ollie shrugged slightly, nodding at the truth of that. Hal'd been there through most of it, actually. "Thanks, Hal, and no, it's not. Not with the way the angle they're planning on working."
"Alright." Hal would do all he could to deflect the rumor mill until it did inevitably blow up in their faces. He looked at his best friend curiously. "You really think it will work? That you and Dinah at least will come out on top this time?"
That last question... he probably should have expected as much. Hal and Bruce... really didn't get along, most of the time. But then, it wasn't like he got along any better with Clark. "I think we've got a shot. I'm hoping. We're off to a decent start, anyway--and don't say a word about how long Di and I were together the first time before things got bad. I'm not going to make the same damn mistake again." //You said that once already...// The thought was more accurate than he liked, but he wasn't going to screw this up. Not this time.
"Good. Because I don't want to scrape up the pile of goo you'll be when Wildcat gets done this time if he ever gets it in his head that you hurt his little girl again. Not to mention your girlfriend? She's gotten a hell of a lot better than before fighting all on her own."
"She always was better than either of us... but yeah. You should have seen her and Connor going at it over Thanksgiving," he whistled softly, proud of both his lover and his son.
"You could make millions for that on pay-per-view," Hal said. "That boy of yours is one very solid fighter." He was slowly relaxing.
"Yeah. He sure is, and I probably could if they wouldn't both kill me over it," Ollie agreed, smiling, glad to see Hal calming down. He wanted to ask if they were all right, if Hal was taking the revelations as easily as he appeared to be, but... that'd never been their way.
"So, how's Roy doing these days? He's been kind of quiet out there in New York."
"He's good, far as I can tell. Lian's keeping him pretty busy. I think he's enjoying the solo work, but he's looking at a few options for a new team, too. And looking for a bigger place. I keep telling him the house market's booming out here, but he just laughs."
"Yeah, well, moving up under your nose is not what the kid needs. He's been pretty solid from all I've seen since I got back." He settled in for the evening, letting the revelations stay out of his way for enjoying the evening with his friend.
"He grew up damn good," Ollie agreed. "Doing a better job than I did at his age by a lot."
"Yeah...mostly because of me," Hal said, tweaking his friend with that comment.
Ollie snorted. "No way. That's my Pretty Bird's work."
"Who do you think took her in hand before you came along, old man?" The smile he gave was pure Hal, all flyboy and devil-be-damned.
"If you ever tried 'taking her in hand', she'd kick you across a state, flyboy." Ollie shot back. "You're not her type." What she put up with from Bruce still stunned him.
Hal roared with laughter. "Yeah, only Barry stood a shot of taking her in hand anyway."
Ollie nodded, chuckling softly. "True. Damn true. How've you been, other than getting into trouble all over the world?" It was hard to miss the headlines.
"I don't get in trouble; I fix it." Hal smirked. "I'm just flashier than your Bird about interfering."
Ollie snorted. "True, it's hard to miss your ring in action. Seriously, Hal. How've you been?"
Hal shrugged. "Good. Keep checking in on Arthur, since he's still searching for his boy."
Ollie nodded once. He could easily understand that. He started looking for another topic, as this one was going nowhere rather quickly. Hal wasn't normally quite this evasive, not with him... //What's going on in your head, you old sky jockey?//
Hal sighed softly. "I saw Carol again."
"How'd that go?" //Oh. Okay, this makes sense now.//
Hal laughed bitterly. "I tell myself I'm happy for her...and I know I'm lying through my teeth. I want, so badly, to be the one in her life."
Ollie shifted and reached out, laying a hand on his shoulder, offering the only comfort he could give for this. All the words were too trite. The man nodded in acceptance of the comfort. "Ollie... make it work with Dinah. You two... and I'm saying two because, well, you know Bruce and I... but you and Dinah belong together."
"Yes, I know you and Bruce," Ollie agreed. //I don't like it, but I'm not going to change it, either.// "I mean to, Hal."
"Good." He nodded to the TV. "Think there's a fight on?" That was a clear indication Hal did not want to talk anymore, not about life, but that he was quite comfortable still with Ollie.
"Probably. Let's have a look." He leaned for the remote, flicked the TV on, and started searching--it had taken him a while to learn to handle the equipment Mia used so easily, but he'd gotten fairly proficient with it finally. He found one and flicked it on. "Look decent?"
"Well it's not Grant versus Clay, but it will do," Hal teased. "Think we can con Connor into making a beer run? Oh wait, he's not even legal yet. Damn, guess it's Zesti for us."
Ollie chuckled softly at Hal's words and went to go grab them a couple of soft drinks, then settled in to watch the fight, finally relaxing himself as he realized they were fine.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-11-27 11:02 pm (UTC)I hope they can do something effective to help Mia. Glad Eddie cooperated.
Glad Bruce and Clark had their conversation about Kon. The image of both Clark, and Lois, sick from the sudden snow is just wonderful. I love the image of Clark as human. The two of them are very much dead when Perry gets his claws in them.
"A number of things, Dick. Don't worry about it--and keep an eye on the house."
"Sure, Dad," he grinned. "No problem." Smart-alec twenty-three year old left with the kids and the keys, what could possibly go wrong?
I snickered loudly at this exchange, and Dick's internal monologue that followed. Thank god Alfred will be there or Bruce would probably be out a manor. That coupled with Dick pouncing Roy as soon as Lian was out the door was great.
Very, very glad that Ollie was honest with Hal. The fly-boy deserves to know what is going on, so he can laugh at the people who don't as they try to figure it out.
Love it, can't wait for more.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-27 11:16 pm (UTC)I hope so too. Really a lot. Dinah hit Eddie pretty low, but it got what she wanted.
Bruce really wasn't crazy about the whole thing but Dinah asked so nicely... Yeah. I didn't know Filly was going to do that but it was a riot. And yup, they sure are.
Oh, you have no idea how loudly I laughed at that bit, even as I was writing.
Hal's Ollie's best friend. He just couldn't outright lie to him, not when Hal asked. And yeah, he may enjoy that.
*G* On it!
no subject
Date: 2006-11-27 11:17 pm (UTC)Glad you liked that little convo...Clark was being ornery for me.
And the Bruce&Dick mess...LOL. I loved that.
Ollie and Hal...poor Hal.
Soon...moving to the next hliday.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-27 11:03 pm (UTC)LOL. But sometimes, being predictable can be fun!!!
Another great part, that line especially got me smiling. Love the interaction, how all the couples fit together and really love how Mia fitting in with Tim and Kon has everyone wondering what is happening.
Can't wait for more.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-27 11:18 pm (UTC)True, but...
*Grin* Everyone's confused about the three of them--including them! (and us...)
On it!
no subject
Date: 2006-11-27 11:18 pm (UTC)I like the way the two familes, plus their Lantern and Super zipped close together like this.
And the younger three...well, they amuse me to write them.
New Years, here we come.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-27 11:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-27 11:30 pm (UTC)Hal and Ollie... that was interesting. And we love writing it for the brightness, so I'm glad you enjoy it for the same!
no subject
Date: 2006-11-28 12:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-27 11:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-28 12:14 am (UTC)*grin* Bringing in other people... the Bat the Bird and the Arrow are having FAR too much fun plotting against their comrades to mess with their heads a little. Silly elders.
...Not that the kids aren't every bit as bad... *throws up hands and scolds them all* You're all horrible and tricksy people.
Yeah, the comics would rather give us a steady diet of angst... I like some happy, folks. Really I do.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-28 12:19 am (UTC)I have to have a break from angsting and thoughts of darker ideas.
Of course, this verse is consuming much of my time to write such.
And fic is the best way to get the stories they leave out.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-28 08:45 am (UTC)*snicker.*
"What about Roy?" Ollie asked, defending his eldest.
"He's your son," Dinah said simply.
*snicker, again.* And, ah, it's true.
Ollie had private thoughts on temper, having been the recipient of too many Dinah ass-kickings.
Yes, but, Ollie, hers were justified. Yours. . .not as much. *pets him, anyway.*
Ollie rolled his eyes...the playboy and the minx would be interesting, to say the least. Seeing what the gossip pages had to say about that was likely to be far, far too entertaining.
To say the least, Ollie. And I have no words for how much I love Bruce calling his fake self Brucie. I really liked the whole Ollie/Dinah/Bruce exchange, actually. It did a fab job of showing how normal . . ."settled in" they are getting in their relationship.
"Hell, kiss her for me," Roy said. "She's gonna need it."
*g* This is such pure and perfect Roy.
And the goodbye between Connor and Kyle tugged at my heart. Oh, they're so *perfect* together. *happy, contented coo.*
Dick couldn't help the way his eyes lit at that--he loved Lian, but getting Roy alone...
*g* Aww.
"We'll handle it," Dick promised. "C'mon, you and I used to handle this city alone. The four of us'll manage just fine, if we need to. Go hug Clark for me."
Yes. And do say that it's from Dick. Just in case there's any doubt. *g*
Dick wrapped around him, laughing as he broke the kiss. "God, I haven't been near a trap set in months, come catch for me?"
*sighs.* Dick Grayson. Sometimes I worry about your brain.
I loved Alfred's musings, particularly about Dick's laughter sounding through the manor. Aww.
I could quote the entirety of the Clark&Bruce convo, but sufficent to say, it was wonderfully handled. It truly conveyed a sense of history and friendship that those two should always have, regardless of whose bed they are sharing. But you didn't sugar coat the tension that should, and would be there, given the stupidity that DC put them through. It was all sorts of perfect. *happy squee.*
The hint about Clark missing being Superman made me squee. YES. "A Good Year" my ass.
She watched his face as he tried to hide the emotions, knowing the former spook still had a soft spot for the man he had tried to kill and had used multiple times.
*g* I love Dinah. And that sentence is why I love Eddie.
And ALAN SCOTT!!! *squee.* I'm kinda partial to him, anyway. But oh, his *love* of his neice here was lovely.
Connor nodded and headed up with Lian, talking to her softly. He hadn't missed the reaction, and while Hal was safe, he couldn't fault her for it. She'd been through more than enough to know to be wary... wrong as that was.
Awwww. And I love the detail of Lian shrinking away from Hal. Much as it probably hurt the man.
The test pilot narrowed his eyes at hearing that. "She in the habit of collecting formerly dead heroes?" Hal shook his head. "I take it you two shared the holiday with his family again?"
*kicks Hal for being an insensitive ass here.*
A
Date: 2006-11-28 03:34 pm (UTC)*snicker.*
Ollie's so Bad sometimes.... but everyone knows who really runs the show in the Manor. They also know to just not mention it.
*snicker, again.* And, ah, it's true.
Yeah. Mia's definitely the sane Speedy. At least thus far. Roy's a sweetheart, but Dinah knows very well that he's very much Ollie's boy, and not so much with the good sense, sometimes. Especially with Dick egging him on.
Yes, but, Ollie, hers were justified. Yours. . .not as much. *pets him, anyway.*
*chuckle* This is very very true--and Roy definitely picked up more of Ollie's temper.
To say the least, Ollie.
Yeeeah. I hate writing tabloid headlines... *sighmutter* but it's very definitely going to be highly amusing.
And I have no words for how much I love Bruce calling his fake self Brucie.
With as often as he hears "Brucie, dahling..." in that mask, it makes sense to me.
I really liked the whole Ollie/Dinah/Bruce exchange, actually. It did a fab job of showing how normal . . ."settled in" they are getting in their relationship.
Yaaay! *glee* Soo pleased it worked correctly. They really are settling in.
*g* This is such pure and perfect Roy.
*grinbounce* We kinda thought so, glad you agree! *giggle* He's worried about her too, after all.
And the goodbye between Connor and Kyle tugged at my heart. Oh, they're so *perfect* together. *happy, contented coo.*
Yes, they are. There's just this distance thing they both hate.
"Dick couldn't help the way his eyes lit at that--he loved Lian, but getting Roy alone..."
*g* Aww.
Yes. Aww indeed. Dick claims it's nice not to have to worry about littlemiss knocking at inconvenient times, and that they'd been taking a bit too much advantage of Alfred.
""We'll handle it," Dick promised. "C'mon, you and I used to handle this city alone. The four of us'll manage just fine, if we need to. Go hug Clark for me.""
Yes. And do say that it's from Dick. Just in case there's any doubt. *g*
*chuckle* Bruce just rolled his eyes again. He doesn't think so.
"Dick wrapped around him, laughing as he broke the kiss. "God, I haven't been near a trap set in months, come catch for me?""
*sighs.* Dick Grayson. Sometimes I worry about your brain.
He's kind of a whimsical creature, a lot of the time (and could we please remember that DC?). This whole happiness thing is making him need to move... and besides, they barely dragged themselves out of bed an hour ago, they can't go straight back. Also, by the time they decide to quit, he's going to be all a-quiver from Roy's hands around his wrists so much--which is probably at least half of why Roy's not complaining. He knows his mate after all.
I loved Alfred's musings, particularly about Dick's laughter sounding through the manor. Aww.
Alfred issa Alfred, and therefore thoughtful by nature. He's also very happy at this point. *foresees various Alfredly interventions if necessary to retain this way of things.*
B
Date: 2006-11-28 03:34 pm (UTC)I could quote the entirety of the Clark&Bruce convo, but sufficent to say, it was wonderfully handled.
Thank you so much. It was... interesting to write. Bruce is trying to deal with some of the damaged faith between them--but he's still Bruce and can therefore only go so far.
It truly conveyed a sense of history and friendship that those two should always have, regardless of whose bed they are sharing.
*relief/pleasure* So glad. Needed to be that way, so relieved it worked. They are old friends, old partners... and I'm informed Bruce has never made so much as a polite pass at Clark, mainly because he had no wish to deal with the fallout. Besides, the boy scout's not his type.
But you didn't sugar coat the tension that should, and would be there, given the stupidity that DC put them through.
Couldn't do that. Ollie and Dinah and Bruce hashed out their mess in the comics (in some oddly simple ways, given Bruce's usual habits, but I'm not complaining...), but he and Clark haven't, so... despite that this is HappyVerse, they had to have the tension.
It was all sorts of perfect. *happy squee.*
*joygleerelief* Thankyou!
The hint about Clark missing being Superman made me squee. YES. "A Good Year" my ass.
*nodnod* Yeah. You said it. BS, DC, B.S., he's been a hero waaay too long not to miss it. Like Jen's saying over in her journal, he loves to fly, and would miss that at least.
*g* I love Dinah. And that sentence is why I love Eddie.
I love Dinah, too. Not so much with the Eddie love, but Filly writes him great. He's a jerk and a cad, but the thought of someone close to Ollie having AIDS scared him half to death.
And ALAN SCOTT!!! *squee.* I'm kinda partial to him, anyway. But oh, his *love* of his neice here was lovely.
I'm discovering a real love for Alan, and Filly did an awesome job.
Awwww. And I love the detail of Lian shrinking away from Hal. Much as it probably hurt the man.
Yeah, awwww. And Lian's a smart little cookie. I pulled off JLA0 and Hal's "so I have a niece"-ish line to get that they don't know each other much, and with what Lian's been through... yeah. And I think it did hurt Hal--but you know, if it gets him to show up at Roy's more often I don't think Roy'll complain.
*kicks Hal for being an insensitive ass here.*
Hal is a jerk sometimes, but really, himself, Ollie, and now Kon?
no subject
Date: 2006-11-28 10:28 pm (UTC)Dinah loves her Roy, but she does know his faults.
Yes, but, Ollie, hers were justified. Yours. . .not as much. *pets him, anyway.*
*g* I don't know. She might have been excessive for decking him after she had just patched him up....
To say the least, Ollie. And I have no words for how much I love Bruce calling his fake self Brucie. I really liked the whole Ollie/Dinah/Bruce exchange, actually. It did a fab job of showing how normal . . ."settled in" they are getting in their relationship.
They are quite amusing to me. I just love the plots they have for their relationship as things go on.
*g* This is such pure and perfect Roy.
My Roy...well, I can easily see a scenarios where Kory dumped both boys in her bed and told them to stop hiding it, and could she play too?
And the goodbye between Connor and Kyle tugged at my heart. Oh, they're so *perfect* together. *happy, contented coo.*
They are the sappy pairing in my eyes. I love them though.
*g* Aww.
Constantly shuffling Lian off, poor girl.
Yes. And do say that it's from Dick. Just in case there's any doubt. *g*
My Bruce refuses to hug Clark...it's really amusing.
*sighs.* Dick Grayson. Sometimes I worry about your brain.
Oh he's just an over excited boy turned loose to play with his best friend in the whole world....
I loved Alfred's musings, particularly about Dick's laughter sounding through the manor. Aww.
Alfred is very happy to have things so content.
I could quote the entirety of the Clark&Bruce convo, but sufficent to say, it was wonderfully handled. It truly conveyed a sense of history and friendship that those two should always have, regardless of whose bed they are sharing. But you didn't sugar coat the tension that should, and would be there, given the stupidity that DC put them through. It was all sorts of perfect. *happy squee.*
We tried hard. Clark was being stubborn in my head though.
The hint about Clark missing being Superman made me squee. YES. "A Good Year" my ass.
THANK YOU!!!!
*g* I love Dinah. And that sentence is why I love Eddie.
I dod like Eddie...maybe one of the better things Grell ever did, though I like the way Dixon evolved him to Connor's friend.
And ALAN SCOTT!!! *squee.* I'm kinda partial to him, anyway. But oh, his *love* of his neice here was lovely.
I have a thing for Lanterns, period. Alan ranks...second, maybe, in my hierarchy. First on days I'm kicking Hal to the curb for being stupid.
Awwww. And I love the detail of Lian shrinking away from Hal. Much as it probably hurt the man.
Yeah...but my Hal isn't looking for kids...just his woman.
*kicks Hal for being an insensitive ass here.*
He can't help it. Honestly. He's got a few issues with his own life.
And a little extra
Date: 2006-11-28 08:48 am (UTC)*snicker.* You are writing something similar to this exchange, right? Because the image cracks me up.
Hal was not surprised Dinah had argued; she had always gone on about monogamy.
*snicker.* Yes, Hal. I'm sure those conversations never made any sense to you, either.
"All those years of talk about me and you, and you never even hinted... But this doesn't change my concerns, Ollie. I don't want that bastard having a chance to hurt you with his callous attitude toward human beings."
Aww, is that jealousy I detect, Hal?
And I blame Hal not one bit for his harshness about Batman. Because well. It's not been untrue in the past, has it? *ignores stupid canon about why.*
And I adore Hal asking about Roy. Aww.
But this owned my very soul: "Yeah, only Barry stood a shot of taking her in hand anyway."
*loves hard on whichever one of you wrote this.* I lovelovelove Barry/Dinah references. All of them.
I really loved the conversation between Hal and Ollie. It was so very them and such a *guy* way of hashing things out. Greatness.
Re: And a little extra
Date: 2006-11-28 03:43 pm (UTC)*snicker.* You are writing something similar to this exchange, right? Because the image cracks me up.
Oh, something similar will probably eventually get written, as all three of the elders are having far too much fun with the idea of making their contemporaries heads spin.
"Hal was not surprised Dinah had argued; she had always gone on about monogamy."
*snicker.* Yes, Hal. I'm sure those conversations never made any sense to you, either.
Now what makes you say that? *very curious* Is there canon I'm missing?
Aww, is that jealousy I detect, Hal?
I don't think so... but then I didn't write Hal. Can't wait to see what Filly has to say about that. Ollie just looked at him calmly and thought about some of the cases he worked (those bashers, anyone?)--and that if Hal thought he was going to talk about Batman's relationships he really needs his head checked.
And I blame Hal not one bit for his harshness about Batman. Because well. It's not been untrue in the past, has it? *ignores stupid canon about why.*
No, I can't blame Hal either. Even Ollie doesn't blame him, he understands... he's just hoping to keep his lover from sliding back into that.
And I adore Hal asking about Roy. Aww.
It was sweet, I agree.
But this owned my very soul: "Yeah, only Barry stood a shot of taking her in hand anyway."
*loves hard on whichever one of you wrote this.* I lovelovelove Barry/Dinah references. All of them.
*points at Filly* That was all her. But yes. Much with the love.
I really loved the conversation between Hal and Ollie. It was so very them and such a *guy* way of hashing things out. Greatness.
*Joyreliefdelight* Yes! *chairdance* Was trying very very hard for *guy* way of hashing things out. Much relief to know it worked.
Re: And a little extra
Date: 2006-11-28 11:38 pm (UTC)We do have something planned....but it's a ways down the road.
*snicker.* Yes, Hal. I'm sure those conversations never made any sense to you, either.
And if he had listened, maybe Carol would be with him.
Aww, is that jealousy I detect, Hal?
And I blame Hal not one bit for his harshness about Batman. Because well. It's not been untrue in the past, has it? *ignores stupid canon about why.*
Hal is harsh because Bruce won't let it go...about Parallax. And not necessarily jealousy. He's straight in this universe...
And I adore Hal asking about Roy. Aww.
Hal does have a soft spot for the boy.
*loves hard on whichever one of you wrote this.* I lovelovelove Barry/Dinah references. All of them.
So looking forward to ... well, you'll see.
I really loved the conversation between Hal and Ollie. It was so very them and such a *guy* way of hashing things out. Greatness.
Yay! Hal's too macho for me at times. But I liked getting him to get the story out of Ollie.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-28 07:31 pm (UTC)Does everyone know where the real power lies? Mind you, with Alfred being the resident adult, clearing things with him first is a good idea.
Yes they do, he's just a fan of Firefly, or whatever the DC equivalent is.
Bruce's lips quirked and he closed the bag he was packing to walk over and slide an arm around Ollie's shoulders lightly, not saying a word. He might agree with Dinah, but he didn't have to say so. Ollie grumbled, but he turned into Bruce, inhaling his scent sharply.
They are just so cute together. *sticks tongue out at Bruce's probable reply*
"You two enjoy yourselves. I think I'll go be very publicly Brucie in... hm. London, since the boys will be with the Titans, then rejoin them after."
I love how he plans his Brucie moments, and at least the kids won't have to suffer through him.
Magnanimous in your victory Roy? Such a gentleman.
Smart-alec twenty-three year old left with the kids and the keys, what could possibly go wrong?
Do you want the list alphabetical, numerical, categorical or in order of most likely to get you killed by Alfred?
Where they will proceed to get sweaty, and half naked? And Dick, predictability is a fine thing. Naps are healthy, and rebuilding.
"Good morning Clark. The question stands."
Well, um. He remembered to say good morning? That's a start right?
"Even Lian had better sense than that, you two."
Considering I'm convinced Lian has better sense than the majority of the spandex clan as a whole, that's not really an accomplishment on her part.
Clark got that stubborn look, then looked at Bruce with widening eyes. "Why...You are involved in..." He was speechless, as he realized Bruce was being openly concerned for someone, in truly human fashion.
*kicks Clark* You should know better.
Clark was quite unsure that he liked the smell of this; when Dinah did manipulate things, it had a tendency to work to the Bat Agenda, or so he saw it.
No Clark, it works toward the Canary agenda. *hands him some Airborne, since if he wasn't sick his brain might engage better*
I enjoyed the conversation between the two of them, terse and yet with real warmth. It's just so them. Even when Clark was being an idiot. I'm blaming the cold.Glad Clark misses being Superman. Can't do that job for that long without missing it once it's gone.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-28 08:05 pm (UTC)*grin* So glad you liked!
Does everyone know where the real power lies? Mind you, with Alfred being the resident adult, clearing things with him first is a good idea.
*snicker* Of course they do.
Yes they do, he's just a fan of Firefly, or whatever the DC equivalent is.
*giggle* Well, if Buffy = Wendy, Firefly = Serenity?
They are just so cute together. *sticks tongue out at Bruce's probable reply*
Bruce, of course, Growled. Fairly loudly.
I love how he plans his Brucie moments, and at least the kids won't have to suffer through him.
You're not half as glad about that as the kids are, trust me! But yea. Of course he plans them.
Magnanimous in your victory Roy? Such a gentleman.
*snicker* Hey, he made nice with Babs, he's being very magnanimous.
Do you want the list alphabetical, numerical, categorical or in order of most likely to get you killed by Alfred?
*dies laughing* Yeah, pretty much... Bruce is a bit frightened, honestly.
Where they will proceed to get sweaty, and half naked? And Dick, predictability is a fine thing. Naps are healthy, and rebuilding.
Yes, they will, and Dick wants to play, first. Then nap.
Well, um. He remembered to say good morning? That's a start right?
*snicker* True enough.
Considering I'm convinced Lian has better sense than the majority of the spandex clan as a whole, that's not really an accomplishment on her part.
*dies giggling* How very True! She does.
*kicks Clark* You should know better.
He really should. He really, really should... but then, look at the past few years. He's got reason to be... worried.
No Clark, it works toward the Canary agenda. *hands him some Airborne, since if he wasn't sick his brain might engage better*
*snicker* He needs that, apparently fairly badly, due to his brain misfiring.
I enjoyed the conversation between the two of them, terse and yet with real warmth. It's just so them.
I'm very glad. It was... intriguing to write.
Even when Clark was being an idiot. I'm blaming the cold. Glad Clark misses being Superman. Can't do that job for that long without missing it once it's gone.
I think we're all blaming the cold for him being such an idiot. And yeah, he misses it.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-28 11:52 pm (UTC)Yay! Love that we were missed. Hate that we had to be gone from ficcing so much.
Does everyone know where the real power lies? Mind you, with Alfred being the resident adult, clearing things with him first is a good idea.
True true...but anyone who meets Alfred knows who rules the roost.
Yes they do, he's just a fan of Firefly, or whatever the DC equivalent is.
LOL! Dinah doesn't catch much TV now though...too busy being on Oracle Cam herself.
They are just so cute together. *sticks tongue out at Bruce's probable reply*
You should badger Yena to write her bunny that has Bruce...different....
I love how he plans his Brucie moments, and at least the kids won't have to suffer through him.
Though the kids will have all the scandal sheets the day after Brucie and Dinah have their date, whenever that happens.
Magnanimous in your victory Roy? Such a gentleman.
With Kory? Nah, he knows Kory would never be a threat to him and Dick...partner maybe...
Do you want the list alphabetical, numerical, categorical or in order of most likely to get you killed by Alfred?
yeah my thought on that too.
Where they will proceed to get sweaty, and half naked? And Dick, predictability is a fine thing. Naps are healthy, and rebuilding.
And an excuse to be near a bed, such a fine surface for so many other things to do...
Well, um. He remembered to say good morning? That's a start right?
I thought Bruce was on good behavior here.
Considering I'm convinced Lian has better sense than the majority of the spandex clan as a whole, that's not really an accomplishment on her part.
*g* Lian is a doll.
*kicks Clark* You should know better.
They shared some very unkind things during the two Crisis events.
No Clark, it works toward the Canary agenda. *hands him some Airborne, since if he wasn't sick his brain might engage better*
LOL! Unfortunately, the Clark in my head is very patriarchal and only Diana is not defined by the men in her life for him.
I enjoyed the conversation between the two of them, terse and yet with real warmth. It's just so them. Even when Clark was being an idiot. I'm blaming the cold.Glad Clark misses being Superman. Can't do that job for that long without missing it once it's gone.
My thoughts exactly.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-28 07:32 pm (UTC)Poor Slade, no one loves him. And yet again, the female of the specie is more deadly than the male.
"That's the boy you mentioned…distant cousin, Jack Drake's kid?
So you are playing it that she is truly blood related to Tim? Good, Timmy needs relatives.
Honestly, a lot of this went over my head. Don't know Eddie and JSA only barely enough to id by person and basic powers. Enjoyable though.
She'd been through more than enough to know to be wary... wrong as that was.
*cuddles Lian* poor baby.
once I figure out what the hell is going on with Tim and Mia I'll let you know. Right now they seem to be enjoying confusing the everloving hell out of all of us."
Teenagers. It's their job to confuse the elders. Although I can't tell if they're oblivious to the confusion they're sowing, or if they take a puckish delight in it.
Several people were going to be entirely too amusing.
*cough*Clark*cough*
Hal laughed bitterly. "I tell myself I'm happy for her...and I know I'm lying through my teeth. I want, so badly, to be the one in her life."
Hal needs a girfriend, before he turns into a motherhen. Or at least to curb motherhen tendencies.
Loved this so much. Can't wait for the next bit.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-28 08:10 pm (UTC)I dunno, we obviously love him enough to keep mentioning him... and of course Dinah's more deadly. She's the better fighter.
So you are playing it that she is truly blood related to Tim? Good, Timmy needs relatives.
Yes, yes he does. And also yeah.
Honestly, a lot of this went over my head. Don't know Eddie and JSA only barely enough to id by person and basic powers. Enjoyable though.
Eddie's Eddie, what can be said? However, the cure in his blood is canon, and DC needs to be slapped for not remembering it. Dinah did, though. *praises her* I don't know the JSA real well either, which is why I hand them over to Filly.
*cuddles Lian* poor baby.
Very much poor baby. And she likes cuddles.
Teenagers. It's their job to confuse the elders. Although I can't tell if they're oblivious to the confusion they're sowing, or if they take a puckish delight in it.
Honestly, I'm not sure either. I'm relatively certain Tim knows he's confusing people, but he's rather confused himself.
*cough*Clark*cough*
Yes, Clark's definitely one of them.
Hal needs a girfriend, before he turns into a motherhen. Or at least to curb motherhen tendencies.
*agrees*
Loved this so much. Can't wait for the next bit.
Thanks!
no subject
Date: 2006-11-28 11:59 pm (UTC)Oh Slade gets love....
and it will be interesting to see the fall out of said love...ahem, where was I? Dinah lives with her body as a weapon...she is by far the deadlier of the Bird and Arrow. With Shiva's training, Bruce would be hard put to take her down in strict hand to hand, no gadgetry.So you are playing it that she is truly blood related to Tim? Good, Timmy needs relatives.
The way I saw it, even if there was nothing, she would claim it as a good cover for her sudden interest in his life. BUt I am fond of making her related to him, just for the irony of her helping train his lost girlfriend.
Honestly, a lot of this went over my head. Don't know Eddie and JSA only barely enough to id by person and basic powers. Enjoyable though.
Unfortunately, there are moments like that for readers of any fandom that spans so wide a diversity. We're going to occassionally pull people unknown to other readers.
*cuddles Lian* poor baby.
And yet the Lian in my head pluckily keeps bouncing back.
Teenagers. It's their job to confuse the elders. Although I can't tell if they're oblivious to the confusion they're sowing, or if they take a puckish delight in it.
Mia realizes they are, but she's avoiding labels so continues...
*cough*Clark*cough*
Most assuredly...the man is failing to understand that Tim is more than a friend to Kon.
Hal needs a girfriend, before he turns into a motherhen. Or at least to curb motherhen tendencies.
He so does...but I can't find anyone in his canon that works...possibly becasue I was a rabid Hal/Carol fan.
Loved this so much. Can't wait for the next bit.
Working on it now.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-29 07:04 pm (UTC)Also? Hal/Babs. They are both at loose ends...
no subject
Date: 2006-11-29 09:42 pm (UTC)*grin* Bruce is trying to stay human, mostly for his lovers' sake. Though a great deal for his sons, too.
The boys are cute.
Dinah always pwns Eddie. It's a fact of life.
Filly ruled Hal, yes, yes she did.
Um.... yeah. Check with filly on that!
no subject
Date: 2006-11-29 11:04 pm (UTC)Oh my stars and garters....
Oh darn...*ponders future developments, tries to decide*
no subject
Date: 2006-11-30 07:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-30 07:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-26 06:03 pm (UTC)Not much longer, and the sound of thundering feet and loud teenagers could be heard as game systems were being carted down toe the big televisions. That made Alfred shake his head... but a smile played around his lips as well. Young people in the Manor again, laughter and play ringing through the halls... this was well. This was very well, indeed. **
I LOVE THAT PART!!!
no subject
Date: 2006-12-26 06:11 pm (UTC)The Manor's been too much like a grave for far too long, but no more.
Thank you!