a restless robin's dream

[bossymarmalade]

Grayson has never appeared quite so foolish, Damian thinks, as he watches the older boy prance about the glade in a gold tunic garnished with ivy strands of greenery. Todd is slumped on the forest floor and Grayson dances in circles around him. He’s fairy-light on his feet, barely touching the ground, and he dusts Todd’s sleeping head with a shimmering powder.

“And, as I am an honest Puck, if we have unearned luck,” Grayson chants, “Now to ‘scape the serpent’s tongue, we will make amends ere long.”

Damian opens his mouth to tell Grayson to stop acting so strangely, to stop wasting his efforts on Todd, but only a croak comes out. There’s a hollow feeling where his tongue used to be. He lifts his hands to examine the injury, but his hands are gone too, broken sticks from a birch tree protruding from the stumps of flesh.

“Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania,” Green Arrow greets Batman nearby. “I do but beg a little changeling boy, to be my henchman.” They, too, are clad in the regal finery of a fairy court, and Damian blinks several times in bewilderment as they discuss Todd’s fate.

Green Arrow gestures to the sleeping Todd. “Give me that boy, and I will go with thee.” The Green Lantern that Damian found amusing attends him, nods at Batman in encouragement.

Batman shakes his head in fervent refusal. “Not for thy fairy kingdom. Robins, away! We shall chide downright, if I longer stay.”

But Grayson continues dancing, Todd will not awaken no matter how much fairy dust is spilled upon his head, and Damian waves the useless stubs of his arms, groans within his savaged mouth. The fairy-robins heed not the beckon of their king, and madness overtakes Batman at once.

Batman’s impish clothes are gone, and he’s a dark warrior once more. He walks behind Damian and the boy finds himself rooted from the spot, unable to flee from his father’s foreboding grasp upon his shoulders.

“The boy should not survive his shame,” the Lantern suggests, his eyes kind upon Damian even while his words seal his fate, “and by his presence still renew his father’s sorrows.”

Grayson, help! Damian thinks, but Grayson still dances among a field of fairy-robins, Todd laid prone in their center, Green Arrow having taking advantage of Batman’s distraction to instruct the ritualistic ceremony that centers on the wayward young man.

Damian’s father has gone mad, a displaced king with too many broken heirs, and he takes the Lantern’s advice to liberate himself of at least one. “Die, die, Damian,” he says, taking the boy’s fragile neck in his strong hands, “and thy shame with thee!”

Grayson, stop dancing! Damian tries to scream, but Father adds, “And with thy shame, thy father’s sorrow die!” and he hears the sickening pop of his own neck as it twists beneath Batman’s brutal strength. Grayson steps lively nearby, and he only has eyes for the sleeping boy at his feet.

“Father, no!” Damian gasps as he sits up in bed. The darkness of the room is cold around him, and he finds he’s kicked the blankets off. Father shifts on his side of the bed when Damian calls his name, but he doesn’t wake up. Damian lies back down beside him, holds his hand over his pounding heart as he wills himself to calm down.

The details of the feverish dream steadily trickle away until it’s a blur in his mind. It’s still enough to convince Damian he should return to his father’s room at a decent hour rather than staying up late with the adults to discuss pets named after characters in Titus Andronicus and Grayson’s high school performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

meow mix

[bossymarmalade]

“So.” Ollie sat in Kate’s visitor’s chair and propped his feet up on the edge of her desk, shaking one of them doubletime. He grinned wide at her. “Sooooooooo.”

After valiantly ignoring him until she finished her e-mail, Kate sat back and folded her arms. “Fine,” she said. “Get it out of your system.”

Ollie’s feet thunked down on the floor and he leaned forward. “You finally caved and decided to take on a probationer!” he exclaimed (unnecessarily, since Kate obviously knew this already). “It’s great, it’s great. I always kinda hoped you’d come around, Kate o’my heart, since, y’know — being the *other director* of SeRVE, your holding back could be construed as a lack of confidence in our own program.” He cleared his throat. “To certain persons, anyhow.”

Sorting through the pens and pencils in Kate’s holder, Ollie selected a green pencil whose point had been worn down flat and sat back to chew contentedly on it. “So who’s the newbie? I didn’t bother to read that far down.”

“Remind me, some time when there isn’t work to do,” Kate said, eyeing Ollie as he gnawed on the pencil like a hyper, hippie beaver, “to discuss with you your tendency to talk like a Georgette Heyer novel.”

( kit and kat )

sneaky sneaky sneaky

[bossymarmalade]

Dick pulled Roy along by his hand, leading him toward the Arboretum. Yeah, Bruce had “quarantined” it, but that kind of thing had never stopped Dick before.

Certainly never stopped Roy.

He couldn’t help himself from giggling. There was always a kind of thrill when he was defying Bruce in any way. He crawled up into the vents and followed down until he came out into the Arboretum, landing gently on the soft ground.

“Fun enough so far?”
Roy followed Dick because he follows him everywhere. In that non creepy, totally okay with it kind of way. He never really knew what off limits meant anyway.

Seriously.

Look at him.

( the colour of desire )

play date

[bossymarmalade]

Gar had never been to Mia’s house before, the Archer house. It wasn’t like they had it when Roy was younger, and he always hung out at the Tower anyway. But he was all for it, and seeing her new puppy was always a plus. Not more of a plus then spending time with Speedy though. Alright so she wasn’t around and couldn’t hear his thoughts so he knew he didn’t have to lay it on that thick, but he really did like hanging out with her. Mia was fun, who didn’t like spending time with her?

He flew to the house before, because it was really just quicker that way, before turning from an eagle to his regular form and knocking on the front door.

Mia sat on the floor of the living room playing with her dog. Who didn’t have a name yet but she was thinking on it. It didn’t really matter because she was just so damn cute. Mia tossed the plush squeaky toy across the floor and watched her chase after it then come back shaking it in her mouth and chewing on it making it squeak. She bushed back her bangs and leaned over kissing the puppy on her head. “You’re so cute!” She said petting her.

Looking across the floor as the door bell rang Mia popped up off the floor and headed over to the door opening it and grinning at Gar. “Hey!” She said and opened the door wider for him to come in watching the puppy dash out the door. “No! Wait!” Mia called running after her.

( classic young love )

home sense

[bossymarmalade]

“Ring - find Guy,” Kyle instructed; and the ring complied and drew a picture in Kyle’s mind. Guy was outside the Watchtower, in space. Guy was carrying a bundle of rebar-type-things, but in Kyle’s mind’s eye the older Lantern was currently hovering and staring at the Earth. He was by himself.

Kyle felt grateful as he headed towards the airlock. If he was going to talk to Guy about…about…. Kyle shut his eyes as he entered space and took a deep breath. Okay. If he was going to talk to Guy about things, he was glad it would be somewhere quiet without any distraction or other people. And bonus for talking while doing some nice productive work.

He slowly floated over to where Guy was hovering. Somehow - instinct, or months of working together perhaps -Guy could tell his partner was approaching and he turned and grinned in greeting.

Instinctively Kyle smiled back in response. He couldn’t help it, not with Guy. “Hey. Superman got you assigned to repair duty, huh?” Kyle motioned to the rebars, and noticed that there were also some giant panels and other repair parts floating in a bundle closer to the Watchtower. “Maybe it’s some sort of ‘welcome back’ for Green Lanterns from the Justice League, ‘cause I got the same duty just a couple days after returning to Earth.” Kyle didn’t remark that Hal hadn’t gotten repair duty. But…hey. Hal was Hal.

( repairs, not all successful )

unique

[bossymarmalade]

"I’m the son of the Batman and his one true heir. The others can entertain whatever delusions comfort them at night, but I’m the only one who shares Father’s blood.

…Also, I can roll my tongue three times."

"Whatyoumean like make that cloverleaf shape with your tongue? That is SO COOL." Bai considers for a moment. "If Jason was a vampire he could share your father’s blood, the amount he talks about clawingoutofacoffin I keep thinking he might be one."

Damian nods in confirmation and favors the young woman with a subdued smile. “Maybe I’ll show you some time. And pay no mind to Todd. He’ll say anything for attention.”

“That’s the truth. But I don’tmind so much. Lots of people want attention and arejust not so. Obvious. About it.” Bai cocks her head, eyeing Damian curiously. “Hey, you ever wonder if your father has other kids out there? That seemstobe kind of a thing. Not mentioning any names of Arrows or anything.”

Bai rolls her eyes. She likes Roy and Mia well enough, and their family, but in regards to the clan attitude as a whole, her impression’s closer to that of her Grampa Barry (disdain) and less like Wally’s (delight).

Damian’s intriguing and Jason’s fun and, well, *Tim*, and Dick’s always been cool, and Steph is a hoot, so maybe if there’s allegiances to be made, Bai wouldn’t mind throwing in with the Batfam.

( there can be only one )

forever catchup

[bossymarmalade]

The pool on the Watchtower was Olympic-sized and *then* some, since it had to accommodate for all kinds of Leaguers of varying sizes, densities, and compositions. It had different sections for temperature and chlorine and oxygenation control, but Ollie generally opted for plain old turn-your-hair-green chlorinated. He liked swimming. He’d never seen the point of running for fun or even exercise; wasn’t there enough running in the course of a normal patrol to start doing it for kicks?

Swinging his arms in front of him, Ollie headed out of the change room and to the pool, only to find that he hadn’t been the only one jonesing for an early-morning swim. There was a red head moving steadily along in the water, and although there were plenty carrot-tops up in the Tower, only one of them belonged to him. In a manner of speaking.

“Hey, Roy!” he called, waiting for Roy to stop and turn around before taking a running dive into the water.

Roy woke up earlier than he wanted to today. His mood was iffy at best and he decided it would better to swim it out than let Lian wear him down before he’s ready.

He’s managed to navigate his way around the place pretty nicely. Finding the pool and squeeing just slightly at the size of it. How cool was this?~

Roy decides that not jumping right in would be an insult to this establishment and this pool and everything he stands for. So stripping of his shirt, he decides he’ll leave his jeans on and deal with the wet fabric later. He’s under the water, his hair sticking from the top as he swam. Coming up though, he caught Ollie’s voice and turned around in the water, frowning.

( marco. polo. )

lunch break

[bossymarmalade]

Kyle handed Kate her lunch bag with torta and a Dr Pepper, also gracing her with a rather pathetic frown.

“That was seriously TMI, chica,” he sat down and unwrapped his own sandwich, taking a big bite. “Not the Titans part, that’s not TMI,” he mused, around the food in his mouth. “Not even the Kate-specific part, now that I think about it.”

“You are amazing, ese. AMAZING.” Kate accepted the bag gratefully and leaned against the concrete half-wall next to him, cracking open the can of soda. She took a long slurp, then had a bite of torta. After swallowing, she continued. “Let’s face it, Rayner. You just don’t want to hear about any sex that the elder Green Arrow may or may not be having. Allegedly.”

“Oh, oh Ms Spencer,” Kyle squinted up at her, waving his hand dismissively. “Spare me your legal mumbo jumbo! Allegedly, what. May or may not? You DO know I have great communications with the rest of Queen’s brood, never mind his other partner Green Lantern Hal Jordan, si?” Kyle washed his bite down with a gulp of 7-Up. He grinned up at her. The sun was behind her and so green shades materialized over his eyes. “Why the coy, Kate?”

Kate crossed her legs at the ankle, faking demureness. “I didn’t want to offend your delicate sensibilities, chico,” she said, licking her lips clean of torta crumbs. “I know how difficult these things are for you to heaaaar.”

She paused, then added wryly, “I don’t know if Green Lantern Jordan wants to know about the sex I’m having either, to be perfectly honest.”

Dammit, Kyle looked pretty hot in those shades.

( dr. pepper is a known aphrodisiac )

sweet cherry pie

[bossymarmalade]

The red folds of his cape flow over the back of his chair as Superman waits patiently in the cafeteria. A white bakery box sits on the center of the table, unopened. He smiles and greets his team members when they pass, and he whistles a folksy tune to himself when not occupied with polite inquiries about their well-being.

When Batman finally steps into the arched entryway, Clark half-rises from his chair in excitement. “Batman!” he calls aloud, waving a massive hand to make sure the other sees him. “Over here!” Batman grimaces about something beneath the cowl, and Clark isn’t sure exactly what embarrassed Bruce, but it must’ve not been too egregious because he’s seated at Superman’s table a few moments later.

Clark smiles warmly upon him. “Thanks for meeting me. I brought you something.” He opens the cardboard lid of the bakery box, and the buttery-sweet scent of glazed cherries and flaky pie crust wafts up from its confines. Clark closes his eyes for a moment and inhales appreciatively. “Ma’s famous cherry pie. I told you she’d be glad to make one just for you.”

It took everything in him to avoid grinning or even smirking at the delicious and heavenly smelling cherry pie that Clark had brought just for him. Mrs. Kent was a splendid cook and although Alfred was quite the gourmet chef, he lacked a special homemade flavor that Mrs. Kent had mastered early on.

Batman muttered a quick “thanks” as he pulled the box towards him, he was ready to have a bite here and now despite the fact that he wasn’t really hungry but nothing could stop him from taking just one little bite. He was going to be sure to give Martha a proper thanks later, perhaps a couple dozen roses or whatever intel he has of the items the farm could be in need of. They were good people and it would be only right to thank them properly.

Batman took out the fork from inside the box and began to cut himself a slice by turning the fork to it’s side and placing pressure against the heavenly pie. “I didn’t expect for her to have one ready for me so soon,” he said as he finished creating one messy and uneven cut no thanks to the curved angle of the fork.

Clark gestures to a dining room attendant and politely requests silverware, two saucers, and two cups of coffee. Bruce’s enjoyment of the pastry, obvious to Clark despite his friend’s attempt at restraint, gratifies him. He’s always pleased to see Bruce happy about something, rare as those moments are. The attendant brings out the plates, and Clark cuts both of them a small slice of pie.

“What’s happened while I’ve been away?” he asks as he fixes his coffee to his liking with a healthy dose of cream and one sugar. The spoon clinks against the white china as he stirs. “I noticed Alfred is aboard the tower now. Were you so bad that he had to come keep an eye on you?”

Clark grins around a slurp.

Bruce takes his coffee black and quietly thanks the man with super hearing as he cut him a slice of the delicious pie. Taking a small sip of the coffee to see if it’s to his liking, he places it back on the table and breaks a piece of his slice to eat. After having chewed it he was now looking at his friend once more.

“The question you should be asking is: ‘what didn’t happen when you were away’.” It’s true, there was so much that had happened when Clark was out that it would take all day for Bruce to give details, let alone name them all; time that was precious and he’d rather not spend on something so meaningless.

“What do you know about SeRVE?” He asked quietly, staring the man directly into his eyes. Bruce had to know if Clark had a hand at Oliver’s plan, to see if it were the entire League that thought it was fine bringing criminals up into their base or just the select few forming a dictatorship of a sort because no one dared to question Oliver’s stupidity other than Batman.
“I’ve heard a little about it.”

Clark focuses on the pie for a moment because he guessed Bruce’s opinion about SeRVE the moment Oliver informed him about the program. Cherry pie is simple. An ethical debate with Bruce never is. Clark lingers on a few bites before steeling himself to the inevitable discussion.
“I know it’s the only thing sparing Jason from Blackgate right now,” he says, eyes soft with sympathy. “I’m grateful the boy has a chance for rehabilitation, and close enough to remain under your guidance, no less. Aren’t you, Bruce?”

Bruce wasn’t pleased with Clark’s answer but of course, Clark knows this. Realizing that Oliver must have sold the idea of Jason to Clark before the entire risk of having psychopaths and criminals running rampant because with someone as simple as Clark, he’d much rather see the slight good rather than paying attention to the whole picture.

That’s why he aimed to hit at home and brought up Jason, when all Bruce wanted was Clark’s opinion of the whole picture.

“That wasn’t what I asked you,” he spoke in his raspy growl. Quite irritated that Clark would bring up Jason. ”What do you know of SeRVE and did you approve it, thinking it doesn’t need the entire league’s input?”

“I’m sorry, Bruce. I didn’t mean to avert your question.” Clark gives Batman his full attention, knowing the snarl in his voice means his defensiveness is already in play. “I just thought you’d have some respect for it since it’s being used to help one of your boys.

“I know that it’s designed to give a second chance to the criminals we fight who demonstrate remorse and a willingness to try. Is that not a worthy cause? I haven’t officially condoned it,” he adds, “but I have no objections to it thus far. Either way, we’re a team. My vote counts the same as anyone else’s.”

Bruce’s eyes practically stared a whole into the Man of Steel, if Bruce had the heat vision, there would have been a clean and perfect hole through the man’s skull. Obviously, no one else in the league bothered to realize the harm that can be done by not only allowing admittance of criminals into the Watchtower, it was worse if you had a bond with one of them.

It’s due to Jason’s reputation of being a Robin that Oliver, Kyle and the rest had been rather easy on the boy. Giving him a small pat for shooting at the members of the League that were to care for him isn’t considered beneficial. “I’m not sure what you’ve been fed by Ollie but not only will SeRVE fail in helping Jason, it will bite the league hard on it’s ass.” Standing up all of a sudden, he glared at Clark one last time before taking the boxed pie into his hand. No reason in leaving the pie for his ‘friend’ who refused to admit the problem of the whole situation.

“I’ve got more important things to do,” was all he said as he began to leave.

“Bruce, wait!” Clark stood in front of his chair, extending his arm toward Batman’s departing back. “You’re objecting, but you haven’t yet told me which alternative you support. What would you have us do with Jason, with the others?”

Clark already suspected the answer. He knew from experience how cold Bruce could be in these matters, but he always felt inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt anyway.

a golden opportunity

[bossymarmalade]

Dinah sought him out in the Tower, unable to hold back the feeling bubbling up inside her. She found him in the trophy room, locking up a new case. He turned to watch her. She didn’t hesitate. Dinah rushed forward, grabbing Batman’s face. She pulled him into a fierce kiss, her body pressed up against him.

Batman was shocked and rather uncomfortable with the kiss, he practically froze for a moment before pulling her away. His face full of shock, “What’s the meaning of this?,” he growled but it was wavering between the Batman voice and Bruce’s.

“Just… Taking the initiative.” Dinah didn’t completely let go of him, smiling warmly. “What’s wrong with this?” She threw his question back at him.

This wasn’t the first time she kissed him out of the blue like this, and it won’t stop surprising him. One thing he’s learned about the cowl is that some women are driven sexually by the danger that comes alone with it but he knew Dinah enough that it wouldn’t be that to have her do this but he was still a bit unnerved and hesitant to answer. So instead he pulled her arm off him, and took a step back.

Dinah followed his step, but this time she kept her hands to herself. “Don’t pull away, Bruce.” She stepped up again, only inches away from him. “Not unless you can give me a valid reason this shouldn’t happen.”

His brows furrowed and his eyes narrowed as he glared at her, he had many but yet they were deemed as foolish by the others. “You know that I don’t have time for this. Nor do I think it’s what you really want.”

Dinah didn’t back down. “How do you know what I want?” To be honest, she was sick of men telling her what she did or didn’t want. When did she get to decide? “I’m not asking you to change your schedule for me. That doesn’t mean we can’t spend some of the time you do have together.”

“You’re right, I don’t know what you want and I’m sure I don’t want to know. I’m not sure why you’re after me and so strongly all of a sudden but I’m sure it’s in your best interests to stop, Dinah. If you want a friend, fine but I’m not the person you after.” He gave her a glare before turning to leave.

“Is that it?” Dinah glared at the back of his head. “I have friends, Bruce. That’s not what I’m after. And if you think this is sudden, you’re more blind than I thought.” She walked over, careful not to stomp. Showing her anger would only set him off more. She stepped in front of him. “I’m going to ask one more time.” She leaned up again and this time the kiss was soft, even against his unmoving lips. “Is there nothing here? Not even a little?”

It took all of his restraint to not kiss her back, he was cold and strong willed like that. He wasn’t about to kiss her back because of feelings for her, no that’s something he can control far more easier than concealing sexual desires. Unlike his feelings which Bruce has a long history of concealing (since he was eight years old, the man is a pro now) and become an expert at it, he’s still learning how to properly hide his carnal desires. So he took a deep breath, hoping the desires leave after with the carbon dioxide he is giving off, after the kiss to try to remove the thoughts, but he didn’t answer her other than give her a glare.

Dinah leaned back, looking at the white out lenses, imagining that she could see through them into his bright blue eyes. She wanted nothing more than for him to understand. This wasn’t a sudden whim, or a rebound. Dinah truly cared for the man before her. She smiled softly, if not a little ruefully. “You didn’t say no.” It wasn’t much to go on, but it had to be. “I guess, that’s good enough an answer for me. You can try to hide these things. You can even do a good job at it… But you are human, Bruce. Even if you’re too stubborn to see it.”

He lets out a heavy sigh, not wanting to deal with this bothersome back and forth so he looks her directly in the eyes. It takes him a moment before pulling the cowl over his head to bear his face to her and make it only fair for her to see him, since she has been staring her down the entire time.

“Listen, Dinah. It is because I am human that I need to be stubborn about this. You should know how much a single mistake can change our entire lives,” he was loosely referring to Craig and quite possibly Ollie, he wasn’t quite sure. “I’ll give you a chance, but if this doesn’t work out between us, we will immediately go back to being colleagues and nothing more. Do you understand?”

Now it was her turn to not to answer. She would go back if need be, but she didn’t have to like it, and this was too new for her to think about it ending. Right then, it was just the two of them, alone in the trophy room. She took his hands, no longer stiffly at his sides and placed them on hers. Dinah reached out, pressing her hand against the side of his face. “A chance is all I ask.”

He stood there quietly, brooding as always as he stood before her. Towering her by at least half a foot, he was wondering why she stood before him still. Perhaps she was awaiting for a set date, to make sure he isn’t saying things just to brush her off and push her away. So he took a second to recall his calendar, “there’s a gala I will be attending, tomorrow.” Was all he said, it was an invitation if she was quick to realize it.

He turned around once more, putting his cowl back on and began to leave the room.

“I’ll see you then.” Dinah smiled at his retreating back until the door clicked softly. At least it was something. Something to look forward to, unlike a certain date she had for that night. Dinah sighed, steeling herself for her date with Guy.

coffee tea or me

[bossymarmalade]

Maybe it wasn’t the best plan in the world, but Kate had been meaning to actually get to know (as compared to ‘get to know’) Dick Grayson for a while. She just hadn’t exactly gotten around to it, predominantly because of life getting in the way, but also because she was a little nervous. It wasn’t like she wanted to date him, and it wasn’t like he didn’t seem like a nice guy, just…

Well. She’d never done that kind of thing with people she hadn’t actually met before.

Fortunately, Dick seemed interested in actually sitting down and talking, besides just getting her off in a rather spectacular fashion, if his response to her text was any accurate indicator. She sent him a time, then prepped the espresso machine in her suite. At least she’d have a minute or two to clear the worry from her brow.
Dick walked through the halls of the ‘Tower, a little bounce in his step. He’d been hoping he’d get a chance to talk to Kate. He had really enjoyed the whole Arboretum experience, but he’d heard so many things about her that you just couldn’t answer when high on sex pollen.

Besides, it was always just fun to meet his fellow heroes.

( don't take your eyes off this )

whiskers

[bossymarmalade]

"Looks like it’s coming back slowly…" Hal said consideringly as he patted Ollie's stubbly cheek, then chuckled. "You just don’t look like yourself without it."

Ollie sighed gustily and wriggled his toes, looking out the window of Hal’s guest room. “I know,” he said. “Who knew when I grew that thing back on the road that it’d come to be part of how I friggin’ *define* myself?” He let his head loll back against the headboard.

Hal shifted comfortably on the bed, pillowing his head better against Ollie’s thighs. “mmmm,” he hummed. “I get to see the awkward growing-in stage again.”

“And it won’t be as cute as it was ten years ago.” Stroking Hal’s soft brown hair between his fingers came so naturally now, Ollie mused, watching Hal’s eyes drift shut. His lazy Lantern. Hal snoozed more than a narcoleptic cat, but Ollie kind of liked it; he knew Hal had manic jags of energy to offset the lounginess and reserves of stamina (that vaunted willpower, there) to withstand whatever was thrown at him, and the contrast was an exciting and appealing one.

“Hey there,” he said, rubbing his thumb between Hal’s eyebrows. “Dontcha think it’s about time you moved out of this guest room? I hear there’s some pretty stellar accommodations just down the hall.”

( sleeping arrangements )

it's all done with mirrors

[bossymarmalade]

Things on the Watchtower might be volatile and constantly in flux — take the current post-nanobots state of it, for example — but the part Ollie liked best was seeing old friends again. Especially very pretty friends who wore fishnet stockings.

He tracked Zatanna down in the tower theatre, where she was eating candy and watching a rather rickety copy of Gone With the Wind. Ollie sat down next to her, quiet for a moment as they watched Scarlett shoot a Yankee in the face, then nudged her with his shoulder.

“I know you’ve seen this one before,” he said, “so d’you mind if I interrupt? I swear I’ll be done before she marries Rhett and Bonnie dies.”

Settling in comfortably in the Tower’s theatre, Zatanna munched away at a pack of Junior Mints as the copy of Gone With the Wind sputtered to life against the screen. For once a little solitude since her return to the tower, she’d honestly forgotten how hectic it could be way up here.

Before long, the screen exploded in the death of a Yankee soldier by Scarlett’s hands, and within seconds Ollie’s shoulder brushed up against hers. With a jump, her heart lept into her throat and she tried to quickly calm herself from the surprising greeting, “Hello Ollie,” She replied with a laugh.

“Oh I don’t mind if I miss Bonnie, by that time I’m eternally depressed with this movie. So what’s up?”

“Well,” Ollie said, “I’m sure you’ve noticed the new look for me.” He tapped his clean-shaven chin, fingernail scraping the slightest bit of stubble. “And, um … it’s not like I’m particularly vain, or anything —”

He caught Zatanna’s gentle, knowing laugh and grinned ruefully. “Yeah, yeah, you’ve known me too long to let me get away with that. But I’m serious, Zee. I … I need to get my beard back. I can’t deal with looking like this. Bad stuff happened with me looking like this, and it’s making me crazy to keep remembering it every time I look in a mirror.” Ollie drew a shuddery breath. “So what I’m asking is — think you can help?”

( sunning and fluffing my beard )

quality time they rarely have

[bossymarmalade]

Batman was in the lounge eating the remainder of the homemade cherry pie Clark had brought from the Kent farm a few hours prior. The pie was too good to leave in the refrigerator for another day and as much as most of the crowd inside the tower seemed to loathe if not hate the man, he wasn’t going to give them the chance or satisfaction of tasting this delicacy.

Well, maybe a few of them he would but not the likes of Guy.

He sat there alone on an empty table, drinking his black and strong coffee and slowly eating the slice of pie before him.

Stephanie was still getting use to hanging around the Watchtower. The others had all been welcoming enough, but she was still skittish walking around by herself up there sometimes. Most of them had pulled an all-nighter and were filing into the lounge to have breakfast, Steph balancing a tray stacked with waffles and a tall glass of milk. It was stupid to be nervous who to sit with, but it was like high school all over again.

That’s when she spotted Bruce chowing down on some cherry pie. It was weird seeing him all by himself in a room full of people, yet it made some sort of sense at the same time. Smiling tiredly, Steph walked over meaningfully to him and plopped down across the table from him. “Hi, Bruce. Fancy meeting you here.”

He wasn’t comfortable with his name being said so he had quickly stood up when having heard ‘Bruce’. Turning to see it was Stephanie, his hardened face had softened a bit. “Batgirl, it’s nice to see you,” pointing to the seat in front of him, he motioned for her to seat, “come, join me.”

Though he wasn’t sure why anyone would want to join him but it was quite obvious to him that she was a bit unsure who she could sit with. So he did had naturally offered her a seat with him, if she refused it, it was fine and there would be no hurt feelings. Otherwise, he’d understand she was a bit intimidated by the big names that surrounded them.

“Sure, thank you,” she said cheerily. She began cutting up her waffles with vigor before letting lose a massive yawn. Last night had really taken it out of her. Count Vertigo and The Riddler had teamed up and kept a good chunk of the League busy just hours before. It was difficult to solve puzzles and save two cities when everyone kept getting motion sickness from a villain in stealth mode. Seven hours and twelve Leaguers later, here they sat, nearly comatose, enjoying a warm breakfast.

“Last night was brutal. How are you managing?” She smiled a little lopsidedly through her exhaustion and pulled back her cowl, taking a heaping mouthful of waffles.

Bruce was doing his usual lone wolf bat thing and had taken down the Penguin and Mr. Freeze last night, he was able to break into the Iceberg Lounge and release the hostages the two men had held captive. He outwitted the two brilliant men and used their weaknesses against them, physical strength against the Penguin and threatening of Nora when it came to fight Mr. Freeze.

Bruce faintly grinned, he would have joined the rest of the group had it not been a call from Gordon himself explaining the mayor being taken in as a hostage. “The same. I think you should take a room and get yourself some rest, you deserve it.” Bruce had kept in touch with whomever had Watch Room duties and found out the status of their fight. It seemed Stephanie had played a good part in taking them down and it made Bruce proud.

Offering the last slice of the pie, he looked at her, “would you like some?”

“I’ll probably do just that after I finish breakfast.” She rolled her stiff shoulders in an effort to relax. Nights like these were rough, yet oddly satisfying. She smiled a little more at him. “I’ll split that last piece with you if you take half of one of my cinnamon waffles,” she offered back.

Steph noticed faint bags under his eyes, remembering what Black Canary had told her on their way back to the Watchtower. “I heard about you fighting Penguin and Mr. Freeze today. Very nice work. That couldn’t have been easy. Team Bats for the win.” She took a bite of the pie Bruce gave her, savoring the delicious cherry. Oh, she so had to ask where he got this. This was much better than what the lounge usually served pie-wise. “So what else do you have planned for today? Sleep like you deserve or work some more?” she continued teasingly.

He shook his head, he wasn’t interested in her cinnamon waffles, especially when she certainly looked like she was enjoying them. He couldn’t take them from her even if there were a high possibility of her getting fat from the, but he wasn’t going to eat them so it’d be a waste. Hell, he wouldn’t even be eating the pie if it weren’t for the fact that it was Martha Kent’s homemade award winning pie, let alone it had been made just for him.

“It was nothing,” he said brushing off the compliment, but he couldn’t help the faint smile he had when she took a piece of the pie, obviously enjoying it. “If you like the pie, I can have them custom ordered for you to arrive in Central City.” He knew she’d like the thought but probably not so much that “daddy bats” was taking care of everything for her, but who was to deny the best pie to ever have graced their tongue?

He heard the teasing tone and drank more of his coffee, “I’ll get my rest when my work is done.”

Steph rolled her eyes a bit when he didn’t take the compliment, but didn’t push it. It was to be expected with Bruce. ‘If he started patting himself on the back feeling appreciated, now what kind of a Batman would he be?’ she thought to herself sarcastically. She finished the pie by soaking up the cherry juice with the waffle she had offered to Bruce. She could feel herself grinning like a cat getting its belly rubbed; Cinnamon waffles became more of a miracle every day. “Meaning that like Gotham, you will never sleep.” She laughed a little to herself.

“Really? That would be so-! … You really don’t have to do that.” The prospect of pie made by whom she could only assume was a literal angel at no coast to her was so very tempting, but Bruce was already financing Steph’s apartment and equipment (Not to mention she had “mysteriously” been awarded a full-ride for her first four years of college due to a scholarship she had never signed up for.) She wasn’t one who enjoyed being taken care of, because, well, no one had ever tried taking much care of her. That’s why she always doted on everyone else.

“There will come a day I will get my rest,” he knew it would be the day the city finally puts him to sleep permanently but he wasn’t going to say it and/or dampen her mood. It was the least he could do for her.

“Don’t even worry about it, a good friend makes them and enjoys making the pies. It’s her passion to say.” Martha Kent was many things and just like her son is a good friend of Bruce so is she and her husband. They were wonderful people, much like his own and he knew she wouldn’t take Bruce’s money for the pies but to make things fair, he’ll offer a bit of help to get Steph the pie she most certainly enjoys.

“It’ll be a nice treat, especially from Alfred’s.” He let out a very brief chuckle. His face becoming more evident of being pleased.

“Well, okay, then,” Steph said a little hesitantly. Who was she to deny the miracle that was pie? She finished off her waffles and glass of milk with a happy sigh. Her face suddenly looking twice as tired as before, she picked up both of their empty trays now, standing up and dumping them in the nearby trash shoot and stacked them on the counter. Steph walked back to Bruce and crouched to give him a warm hug.

“You know, this was nice. We should eat together more often. I think I’m going to go crash for a few hours in one of the guest rooms you suggested. G’night, Bruce.” Steph kissed his cheek sweetly before heading out of the dining hall to go let herself die a little bit in bed.

“Good night,” he said softly after she surprisingly planted a kiss to his cheek. His eyes had widened and he didn’t expect the hug either but didn’t protest to neither.

“You deserve the rest,” he had said long after she disappeared. She was doing well, her curriculum, life and the work here were all being juggled and she still manages to work so hard in them all. The pie will merely be a treat to keep her going, a reward from a concerned figure in her life.

the wrong arrow

[bossymarmalade]

He’d been sitting in the canteen for what seemed like at least an hour, turning a banana over in his hands. Nobody bothered him, which was kind of great (they were all doing their own thing, good for them) and kind of lousy (like…it was kinda lonely and nerdy to sit by yourself) and now he was at that point where he’d been turning the same thoughts over and over in his head so many times he was starting to get dizzy.

“You look like you need some company, kiddo,” came a chipper voice, and Kyle looked up from his rapidly-bruising fruit to see Ollie Queen already sitting down with a tray.

“I’m just fine, thanks. A-okay! Peachy keen!” Kyle protested mildly, snapping the stem of the banana. Of all the people who had to come by, it had to be Green Arrow Sr. He considered abandoning the banana with Ollie, but for whatever reason he stayed planted.

“So,” Ollie said, popping open the carton of chocolate milk he’d selected on a whim (too much of a kid’s drink, plus most of the commercial dairy industry and rBST, ugggh), “you look like you’re churning a bunch of mind-cement in that head of yours.”

It was bordering on peculiar to be sitting casually with Kyle Rayner here, considering the last time they’d had any sort of extended contact wound up with them both in the infirmary. But man, so much had changed since then. With Hal, and now with Connor getting in touch again …

“You’ve heard from him, right?” Ollie asked. “Connor, I mean. You must’ve been worried. Not to mention, uh, since you two got together right before he left … that’s gotta be rough.”

As he said the words he realized he really meant them. Poor kid. What would it be like to just start a relationship with somebody and then have that somebody leave town and be incommunicado for almost a month?

Kyle’s shoulders bunched even more at the mention of Connor’s name. He put the banana down and then picked it up again. Then put it down again. He didn’t even like bananas.

“This is weird, man.” Kyle started. “I just want you to know, I think this is really really weird.” When Ollie didn’t dispute him, Kyle felt satisfied enough to continue. “I heard from him, finally. He sent me an email. Typical kind of Connor email, if you know what I mean. Plain and simple and just…stated things. Dammit. I read it and it was like…I dunno. Floodgates.” He looked up at Ollie, sidelong. ”Sounds kinda familiar to you?”

“Chillingly.” Ollie’d felt almost the same thing when he first got in contact with Hal, after so long (with a bullying message asking if Hal was too busy jumping hoops for the Guardians to bother contacting Ollie, if he remembered it right) but when Hal had answered back and wanted to meet up, it was like … floodgates. It was a good word.

“He’s not used to all this,” Ollie said, kindly, because it didn’t hurt him anymore to be kind to Kyle. “He was in the ashram since he was twelve, Kyle, and to be part of the League and living with me and Mia and then discovering he was in love with you after almost *dying*? He got overwhelmed. And since he’s got my blood in him, that translates to doing a road runner act.”

He poked at his penne alfredo for a moment before adding, “It’s not like you did anything wrong.”

“I’m not used to all this either. But I thought…anyway. I really shouldn’t talk or else I’d just make myself into a hypocrite. I guess I didn’t really realize how much, how much I missed the guy until he sent me that email. Not even when he left, I thought I was taking it all in stride, but. That damned email, Ollie. Jesus Christ.” Kyle threw down the banana finally and pushed his hands in his hair, keeping them rooted.

He stared at the ceiling lights for a while, then his eyes slid down to look at Ollie. “I’m not mad at him, don’t get me wrong. It’s not that. I’m just more. I suppose I should take all of this slow. I’m not used to that either. I mean it may take me a while to figure something out, but once I do, Dios, I just want to keep on picking up momentum. Connor is so much more…more…”

Kyle searched for the word, but he was kind of hoping Ollie would just understand. Truth was, he was really relieved now that Ollie had chosen to sit at the nerd table. He didn’t realize just how much he had to say about this, to someone who’d understand, until it all came spilling out.

got your back

[bossymarmalade]

Kyle found Guy in a quieter area of the Watchtower, away from the usual hubbub in the lounge or the canteen. Self-sufficient to the penny, Guy had even created his own bartender, bar counter and a stool for one as he slowly nursed a beer and stared out of the plexi-glass walls and into space.

Kyle created a bar stool for himself, and slid in next to Guy. “God I could use one of those right about now,” he started, looking thirsty and hopeful.

Guy returned nothing but a hard, sideways glance and a raised eyebrow. Kyle sat and waited until Guy finally sighed and asked, “Ya wanna put one on my tab, kid?”

“Are you…you don’t have some sort of mind reading powers I don’t know about, do you?” Kyle asked, sitting up and feigning shock.

Guy smiled and snorted, despite himself. “There’s a reason you suck at poker, kid.” He still didn’t make a move to get a beer from the green light bartender, who Kyle noted was quite the sexy little number. Guy sure had a type. Female.

The younger Lantern pointed at his face, motioning in a circle around it. “This, right?” he said, as Guy slowly nodded. Kyle soberly continued. “I honestly don’t know how to get rid of it. I see it every day in the morning…drives me loco. I don’t know how you stand it, really.”

Guy smiled a bit, more to himself than to Kyle. He relented and held up a hand to the bartender, who brought a beer over for Kyle, “So, why so cheerful today, kid?”

( in which plans are made )

am not

[bossymarmalade]

part 1: jason's diary

fuck you ollie

Considering that Jason’d thought that they weregood? That he and Ollie had made up SOMEhow?

After this - stupid shit that Ollie had pulled…

Fuck it. He knew he couldn’t have trusted anyone, least of all rich spoilt shit assholes like Bruce and Oliver. They’re like every fucking so called social worker out there, claiming to help but they didn’t actually KNOW what someone like Jay or any other street kid would need - no, just talkign about theirfeelings.

And then storming out after a goddamn session claiming that Jay of course was a little thug and it was a good thing Wayne adopted him because otherwise he’d be a criminal.

Well fuck them all. Jason didn’t need this. Didn’t need SerVE. And he didn’t need fucking handouts from any of these rich bastards who couldn’t see past their passive-aggressive assholes.

( and now the tears )

mea maxima culpa

[bossymarmalade]

"Well, Bruce, it turns out you were right about Jason, just like you're right about everything. If you've been expecting me to fail, ta-daa, I have. Spectacularly. I should never have got involved in the first place."

Despite being right, he wasn’t quite sure if he wanted to hear Ollie’s admittance of failure. Not because he thinks that Ollie was right but because he was hoping that Jason could change.

However, that wasn’t important right now. He’d failed Jason once, he couldn’t allow for it to happen again, so naturally he asked what happened. “What happened, Ollie? Do not try to skip out on the details, I’ll find out soon enough if you refuse to share them.”

Ollie gave him a flat look. “Y’know,” he said, “considering I *came* to you with this, you could maybe not assume that I’m trying to snow you right from the get-go.” He sighed and ran his hands through his hair, pulling it into tortured furrows. “Did you watch that nano surveillance footage yet? Of me and Jason? Because if not, then I have a lot more backstory to lay out than I really want to.”

( schism )

unsteady

[bossymarmalade]

"What’s going on?" Mia demanded. "And I swear if you blow me off I’m going to have Kiki tear up all of your stuff or something. I’m not ten, I’d like to be kept in the loop of things happening."

Ollie didn't look at her. "It’s not something I want to get into with you, Mia. Suffice it to say that Jason and I have had a very violent falling-out (no, we didn’t brawl, not that kind of violent) and I won’t be working with him anymore. That doesn’t mean you can’t keep being friends with him if you want."

Mia crossed her arms and frowned. "Why? What changed?"

Ollie looked at Mia for a long time, mouth set. “It involves what happened during the nanobots thing,” he said. “Because what went down with Jason and me was bad. Very bad, and it spilled over into really ugly aftershocks, and at this point I’m the worst person to be involved with him.” He considered for a moment, then touched Mia’s shoulder. “D’you wanna talk to me about what happened to *you*?”

( retraumatization theatre )