All Together
“I am he as you are he as you are me.
And we are all together.”
~I am the Walrus by the Beatles
Set after Take Me Home: Little Lost Bird
I totally understand why Lian calls monitor duty “stupid.”
Oh, I know why it’s necessary. The world needs protecting, the butt of evil needs kicking. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Got it. But, there is nothing more boring than the watchtower when it’s quiet. And that’s exactly how it was two nights after I had helped Robin thrash some drug dealin’, minor abusing scum bags.
I sat lazily in the chair at the monitor control, staring at screen after screen of absolute quiet and serenity. I could’ve gone to the trophy room and took a look around, but I’d done with Hal last week and once Hal Jordan gives you the grand tour with all the stories about the glory days, there’s not much more a simple walkthrough can add. I could have scoured the internet for all the naughty Black Canary fansites and then send their URL’s to Dinah, but I’d done that the week before last.
“Go. Home,” a menacing voice growled. I nearly hopped out of the chair. Slowly, I turned to identify the speaker. Standing there, illuminated by the glare from all the screens was Batman. I should have known. Only Bats could enter a room without drawing attention. At least with Wally or Clark there was a woosh and a gust of wind.
“Huh?” I found myself saying.
I could have sworn, he quirked an eyebrow at me. “Go. Home.”
“But--”
“It’s just as quiet in Gotham as it is here, so I can stare at a screen all night in the cave or here. It makes no difference to me. But, I’m taking your shift. Go home to your child. Consider it a trade for bringing mine home safely.”
“Thanks, Bruce.”
He made a slight nod. “Now get up, you’re in my chair.”
I scooted out of the seat in question, slinging my quiver over my shoulder. As I headed for the transporter I squeezed Bruce’s shoulder.
He grunted in response.
********************************
I transported into the hallways of my home. By the time I got to the living room a four foot bundle had jumped into my arms.
“Daddy!” I kissed her on her head and put her on my hip. “Uncle Batman let you go from stupid monitor duty?”
“How did you know that?”
“I told her.” I looked up. There, walking in from the kitchen was Dick. “Bruce mentioned he might take your shift.” He brought with him two glasses of lemonade in Lian’s favorite Superman glasses. He looked nervous and honestly, so was I. Me and him hadn’t talked much since I left the Outsiders. He’d made himself scarce. “I sent the babysitter home. I hope you don’t mind.” His words came out shakily, but he smiled.
“Dude, of course I don’t mind. You’re family, remember?” I gave him a pointed look.
He squirmed on the couch. “Yeah.” He ran a hand through his dark hair. “I was hoping I could take you and Lian out for pizza and ice cream.”
Saying those magic words Lian shouted for joy and immediately wiggled out of my arms to go hug Dick.
“Dick…” I knew where he was going with this.
“It’s the least I could do after how you helped Tim,” Dick stated.
I waved the statement away. “I don’t need payback for helping him. He’s my best friend’s little brother. And besides, Titans Together, forever.”
“Well, look at it this way: me taking you guys out has been a long time coming.”
“Heck yes on that. Baby girl,” I said looking at Lian. “Put your coat on while I change- we’re going out!”
“Yay!”
I watched as Dick broke out into a grin.
And we are all together.”
~I am the Walrus by the Beatles
Set after Take Me Home: Little Lost Bird
I totally understand why Lian calls monitor duty “stupid.”
Oh, I know why it’s necessary. The world needs protecting, the butt of evil needs kicking. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Got it. But, there is nothing more boring than the watchtower when it’s quiet. And that’s exactly how it was two nights after I had helped Robin thrash some drug dealin’, minor abusing scum bags.
I sat lazily in the chair at the monitor control, staring at screen after screen of absolute quiet and serenity. I could’ve gone to the trophy room and took a look around, but I’d done with Hal last week and once Hal Jordan gives you the grand tour with all the stories about the glory days, there’s not much more a simple walkthrough can add. I could have scoured the internet for all the naughty Black Canary fansites and then send their URL’s to Dinah, but I’d done that the week before last.
“Go. Home,” a menacing voice growled. I nearly hopped out of the chair. Slowly, I turned to identify the speaker. Standing there, illuminated by the glare from all the screens was Batman. I should have known. Only Bats could enter a room without drawing attention. At least with Wally or Clark there was a woosh and a gust of wind.
“Huh?” I found myself saying.
I could have sworn, he quirked an eyebrow at me. “Go. Home.”
“But--”
“It’s just as quiet in Gotham as it is here, so I can stare at a screen all night in the cave or here. It makes no difference to me. But, I’m taking your shift. Go home to your child. Consider it a trade for bringing mine home safely.”
“Thanks, Bruce.”
He made a slight nod. “Now get up, you’re in my chair.”
I scooted out of the seat in question, slinging my quiver over my shoulder. As I headed for the transporter I squeezed Bruce’s shoulder.
He grunted in response.
********************************
I transported into the hallways of my home. By the time I got to the living room a four foot bundle had jumped into my arms.
“Daddy!” I kissed her on her head and put her on my hip. “Uncle Batman let you go from stupid monitor duty?”
“How did you know that?”
“I told her.” I looked up. There, walking in from the kitchen was Dick. “Bruce mentioned he might take your shift.” He brought with him two glasses of lemonade in Lian’s favorite Superman glasses. He looked nervous and honestly, so was I. Me and him hadn’t talked much since I left the Outsiders. He’d made himself scarce. “I sent the babysitter home. I hope you don’t mind.” His words came out shakily, but he smiled.
“Dude, of course I don’t mind. You’re family, remember?” I gave him a pointed look.
He squirmed on the couch. “Yeah.” He ran a hand through his dark hair. “I was hoping I could take you and Lian out for pizza and ice cream.”
Saying those magic words Lian shouted for joy and immediately wiggled out of my arms to go hug Dick.
“Dick…” I knew where he was going with this.
“It’s the least I could do after how you helped Tim,” Dick stated.
I waved the statement away. “I don’t need payback for helping him. He’s my best friend’s little brother. And besides, Titans Together, forever.”
“Well, look at it this way: me taking you guys out has been a long time coming.”
“Heck yes on that. Baby girl,” I said looking at Lian. “Put your coat on while I change- we’re going out!”
“Yay!”
I watched as Dick broke out into a grin.