Fic-bit: Does he or doesn't he?
Backdated entry containing choose-your-own adventure ending to this fic.
Batman's breathing is wet, sucking-- Roy hadn't realized that someone could live so long with an arrow through his chest. He feels like throwing up, but in a distant way. Batman clutches at the desk like he's drowning. Roy puts another arrow on the string, and comes closer, warily, circling around.
"...Dick" says Batman, wetly, when he sees Roy.
"Yeah," Roy agrees, and puts the arrow through his throat. Then he strips naked, leaves all of Speedy's stuff on the floor, and grabs some of Dick's civvies from a locker. Ships leave from Gotham Harbour every day. One of them will be going somewhere where no one has heard of Batman.
---
Batman doesn't even turn, really, to grab the arrow, just sort of reaches behind him. It feels like he's grabbed Roy's throat.
"Speedy," he says. "Your infiltration needs work."
Roy almost can't -- he stares at Batman, choking on too many things to speak, rage and fear and humiliation all together.
"You--" Roy says, and can't even finish it. You ruined Dick, he doesn't know how to say.
"I'll mention it to Green Arrow," says Batman, paternally.
Although he knows it would be useless, Roy wants to shoot him again, just to relieve his feelings. "You-- You have to stop," he says, because it's the only thing he can. "You have to."
Batman doesn't quite smile. "Do you think Dick would allow that?" he asks. The answer is perfectly obvious, and Roy burns. He can't make himself say it.
"I understand that the show is expected to go until midnight," says Batman. "I hope you catch the last act. It's apparently quite spectacular."
Roy jams the arrow he finds himself clutching into the tire of the Batmobile. Nothing happens. The arrow sticks out comically like an impotent cupid's arrow.
"I know," says Roy, and means I know what you are now but Batman just smiles.
Roy doesn't go to the show. Instead he goes home. Green Arrow is entertaining a lady friend, but he notices Roy coming in.
"Hey, kid. Your date stand you up?"
Roy can't make himself answer. Slamming his door, he hears Ollie say, "Kids, huh? He'll get over it."
Batman's breathing is wet, sucking-- Roy hadn't realized that someone could live so long with an arrow through his chest. He feels like throwing up, but in a distant way. Batman clutches at the desk like he's drowning. Roy puts another arrow on the string, and comes closer, warily, circling around.
"...Dick" says Batman, wetly, when he sees Roy.
"Yeah," Roy agrees, and puts the arrow through his throat. Then he strips naked, leaves all of Speedy's stuff on the floor, and grabs some of Dick's civvies from a locker. Ships leave from Gotham Harbour every day. One of them will be going somewhere where no one has heard of Batman.
---
Batman doesn't even turn, really, to grab the arrow, just sort of reaches behind him. It feels like he's grabbed Roy's throat.
"Speedy," he says. "Your infiltration needs work."
Roy almost can't -- he stares at Batman, choking on too many things to speak, rage and fear and humiliation all together.
"You--" Roy says, and can't even finish it. You ruined Dick, he doesn't know how to say.
"I'll mention it to Green Arrow," says Batman, paternally.
Although he knows it would be useless, Roy wants to shoot him again, just to relieve his feelings. "You-- You have to stop," he says, because it's the only thing he can. "You have to."
Batman doesn't quite smile. "Do you think Dick would allow that?" he asks. The answer is perfectly obvious, and Roy burns. He can't make himself say it.
"I understand that the show is expected to go until midnight," says Batman. "I hope you catch the last act. It's apparently quite spectacular."
Roy jams the arrow he finds himself clutching into the tire of the Batmobile. Nothing happens. The arrow sticks out comically like an impotent cupid's arrow.
"I know," says Roy, and means I know what you are now but Batman just smiles.
Roy doesn't go to the show. Instead he goes home. Green Arrow is entertaining a lady friend, but he notices Roy coming in.
"Hey, kid. Your date stand you up?"
Roy can't make himself answer. Slamming his door, he hears Ollie say, "Kids, huh? He'll get over it."