"It is very big. Sort of... bigger on the inside. There is a lot here and you will have time to see as much as you want. Either this time, or if you want to come again some other time..."
he smiles and waves around.
"This is the main hall. This is where I use things to watch Earth and keep tabs on those in need."
He grins and leads her back to the well, then places his hands on the side.
"Gotham, north side. Now."
the well turns cloudy, then shifts and alters, shuddering around like a top, but then the clearing waters reveal Gotham City, dark, lovely, lit in nighttime.
It's been a long day, and a lot of things have happened. But there's one thing that's a constant in Steph's afterlife, and that's the memories, the dreams. fire, everywhere, and the faces - burning, melting horribly, and all of them staring at her. YOU DID THIS. YOU KILLED US. At first it's not much. Just a shift, a restless toss in the big, unfamiliar bed. She winces in her sleep, her forehead creasing. and it never stops. Orpheus's throat is cut in front of her, the blood splashing across her costume, staining the floor, and Black Mask laughs. She murmurs, faintly. and then he's all she can see, Black Mask and his laugh and his power drill, twisting her skin, tearing at her flesh, and the knives marking patterns on her thighs and her chest, and the saw and the kives and the drill and the knives and the saw and over it all that awful, gleeful laugh The sheets are screwed up and tangled from her tossing and turning, and she's breaking out into a cold sweat, teeth clenched. she won't scream she won't scream she won't scream. she won't
( ... )
And with the first sound, a whimper or a scream, soemthing that wakes him;, alarmed, and worried,anmd something cut off, alarm turns to very powerful worry and he is moving, suddenly, at a speed not possible anywhere else, and then, the door to her room is open and he is by her bed, kneeling, one hand gently touching her shoulder.
"Steph? Are you okay? You-"
he falters, seeing the state of her sheets and gently touches her shoulder again.
She sits up, eyes crammed shut, taking deep, calming breaths. Her hands are shaking, even when she wraps her arms around herself tight, and it takes several deep breaths before she can look at him.
"Oh - I woke you up," she says, voice only a little ragged. "I'm sorry - it's okay. It was just a dream."
Day Two - Every Channel Ever, Closets of Sparkly Doom, and Other Strange ThingsoriginalmarvelMarch 27 2006, 13:10:55 UTC
Every night comes to an end and this one does too. Cap wakes up slowly, eyes blinking, and realizes he is half laying against Stephanie, one arm thrown over her side. He blushes and tries to slowly move his arm so as to not wake her.
Day Two, Part TwooriginalmarvelMarch 29 2006, 14:08:13 UTC
"Welcome to the Gallery, Stephanie."
He leads her into a large room, where a path wanders around a collection of oddities, trophies from missions conducted by him, the other Marvels, Shazam, and Black Adam long ago. Also contrained there are the few magical artifacts that had been recollected by the forces of good since the explosion.
He led her into the maze, explaining each item as they came to it. It would take awhile to get through.
Re: Day Two, Part Twoi_spoiled_itMarch 30 2006, 09:15:19 UTC
Steph's not in any hurry; she's rather enjoying this peaceful wandering with her fingers linked through his. He's so obviously proud of his home and of the history behind it; she imagines she'd be the same, were she leading him through the Batcave. The objects themselves aren't as interesting to her as the way Billy feels about them, and it's mostly his face she watches as they work their way through the collection.
"This is pretty amazing, all this," she comments, as they reach the end.
Re: Day Two, Part TwooriginalmarvelMarch 30 2006, 09:51:57 UTC
He smiles at her, his eyes crinkling a bit.
"It is mostly older stuff now, but it has been some kind of adventure, since I started all of this about four and a half years ago. Sometimes, I dont even know How I have managed to get through it all, you know?"
He grins and grips her hand tightly.
he leads her onward, out of the Gallery and into a hall that stretches out a long ways. he strolls down it, tugging on her hand occasionally, almost as if making sure it is still there, that she is still there.
Re: Day Two, Part Twoi_spoiled_itMarch 30 2006, 10:54:49 UTC
She isn't going anywhere; her hand's tucked inside his larger one, fingers linked with his, occasionally just stroking his hand with her free thumb. "I guess you get through it the same way you get through everything - you just do what you've gotta," she says, thoughtfully. "It's not like we sit down to save the world. It just - ends up happening."
Time Passes and All Things EndoriginalmarvelApril 1 2006, 15:07:52 UTC
A few days of this go by - days of fun, laughter, and shocking teenage awkwardness; days of kisses and shy smiles, nights spent curled up together with nothing more than the occasional accidental brush of hands, milkshakes, and smiles, and otherwise standard wacky hi-jinx.
But eventually, it's time to go...
Billy turns to her, on the sixth day and nods.
"I think... it is time to go bac to Milliways. How about you?"
His words are a little sudden, but he knows, whether with the Wisdom of Solomon or just an instinct, that they are true.
Re: Time Passes and All Things Endi_spoiled_itApril 1 2006, 15:21:45 UTC
"We do have to go," Steph agrees. "It's not like it's the end of anything." She flashes a slightly mischievous grin. "The couches at Milliways are totally good for making out on."
Comments 258
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"It is very big. Sort of... bigger on the inside. There is a lot here and you will have time to see as much as you want. Either this time, or if you want to come again some other time..."
he smiles and waves around.
"This is the main hall. This is where I use things to watch Earth and keep tabs on those in need."
Reply
Reply
"Gotham, north side. Now."
the well turns cloudy, then shifts and alters, shuddering around like a top, but then the clearing waters reveal Gotham City, dark, lovely, lit in nighttime.
he leans back anc watches her.
Reply
fire, everywhere, and the faces - burning, melting horribly, and all of them staring at her. YOU DID THIS. YOU KILLED US.
At first it's not much. Just a shift, a restless toss in the big, unfamiliar bed. She winces in her sleep, her forehead creasing.
and it never stops. Orpheus's throat is cut in front of her, the blood splashing across her costume, staining the floor, and Black Mask laughs.
She murmurs, faintly.
and then he's all she can see, Black Mask and his laugh and his power drill, twisting her skin, tearing at her flesh, and the knives marking patterns on her thighs and her chest, and the saw and the kives and the drill and the knives and the saw and over it all that awful, gleeful laugh
The sheets are screwed up and tangled from her tossing and turning, and she's breaking out into a cold sweat, teeth clenched.
she won't scream she won't scream she won't scream. she won't ( ... )
Reply
"Steph? Are you okay? You-"
he falters, seeing the state of her sheets and gently touches her shoulder again.
"Steph?"
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"Oh - I woke you up," she says, voice only a little ragged. "I'm sorry - it's okay. It was just a dream."
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"It's okay. I dont need sleep. And it sounded... bad?"
he isnt certain, here, on uncertain ground.
"Are you okay?"
he sits on the ground for a minute, looking up at her.
"Do you... want to talk about it?"
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On second thought, maybe I should rest in?
He sighs though as his conscience kicks in. He does have a few things he needs to do. He slowly starts to move away again.
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"g'mornin'," she mumbles, giving him a sleepy lopsided smile.
Steph and mornings are so not a good combination.
Reply
He leads her into a large room, where a path wanders around a collection of oddities, trophies from missions conducted by him, the other Marvels, Shazam, and Black Adam long ago. Also contrained there are the few magical artifacts that had been recollected by the forces of good since the explosion.
He led her into the maze, explaining each item as they came to it. It would take awhile to get through.
Reply
"This is pretty amazing, all this," she comments, as they reach the end.
Reply
"It is mostly older stuff now, but it has been some kind of adventure, since I started all of this about four and a half years ago. Sometimes, I dont even know How I have managed to get through it all, you know?"
He grins and grips her hand tightly.
he leads her onward, out of the Gallery and into a hall that stretches out a long ways. he strolls down it, tugging on her hand occasionally, almost as if making sure it is still there, that she is still there.
Reply
"Heaps of things do that."
Reply
But eventually, it's time to go...
Billy turns to her, on the sixth day and nods.
"I think... it is time to go bac to Milliways. How about you?"
His words are a little sudden, but he knows, whether with the Wisdom of Solomon or just an instinct, that they are true.
Reply
Reply
"Anytime, Stephanie. You are always welcome here. Always. And you can call on me when you need me, and I will always come."
He smiles and sighs a bit.
"But the days goby here and minutes speed there. We should go back before the tempation seizes me to whisk you away for another few weeks."
he grins at her.
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