#Growing up is HARD

[iftadwascool]

ALIEN BABY!!

[attention-all-pickpockets]

they should invent a transition from adolescence into adulthood that doesn't significantly alter and/or irreparably destroy everything you once found comfort and familiarity in

[musical-chan]

Father of Time Chapter 61: Uncomfortable Conversations

The next morning Link was chatting cheerfully with Kafei and Saria at breakfast when Aevum walked in the door. He gave a startled jump when he saw her but she merely nodded calmly, her gaze pleasantly neutral. 

"More rested today?" 

"Ah, yeah, I mean, it wasn't that bad yesterday but dad thought–" 

"I don't mind the delay, Link. But we do have some things to do today at my temple. You will probably be gone until evening. Sorry, Kafei, you'll have to find something else to do." 

"No worries! Maybe I'll go chat with Talon again, see if he'll show me around the ranch. It's not at all like the Romani Ranch at home."

Saria jumped up off the chair and ran for the back bedroom.  "Oh, I want to go! Let me get my ocarina." 

Link glanced over at Kafei.  "When do you need to get home again anyway?" 

"I'm waiting to hear back from Anju but I was expecting to be gone for a few weeks. I thought I'd stay for a little while if you don't mind the company."

(Read the rest on AO3!)

Hey! I'm back! I've got more teenage Hero of Time for you!

[wolfstar111888]

There are times where I believe that growing up is hard and makes me wish I was a kid again.

[seemehowiam]

big kids

“i can’t wait,

till i grow up.”

“i can’t wait

till i get big.”

“i can’t wait

till i can take

good care of myself,

and be a big kid.”

oh the youngsters,

wanna get big,

till the “big” 

is too scary.

“take your time,

little one.”

“live it out,

and don’t rush the big kid stuff,”

the big kids would say.

the big kids knew what it was like,

to be excited about doing big kid stuff.

they too,

wanted to be a big kid

when they were small.

but now the little ones

are big kids now.

oh how they wish

to be little again.

to run,

away from the madness.

into their own little imaginary land, 

where anything could exist.

a big game of pretend,

where the worst penalty for losing

was a gentle reprimand.

now replaced 

with far worse punishments.

“i wanna be small again.”

 07102021

[covvboytears]

perfume, patrick süskind (1986)

[violetswritingg]

Canary Cry

Robin/Nightwing (Dick Grayson) x OFC!

Description: Her violence was silent. Until it wasn't.

"I'm fine."

"Fine is just another word for drowning."

Rating T-M (mentions of blood, child abuse, mental health, cannon situations of violence and the like. Loss of parents, hard of hearing/deaf character, poorly written fight scenes lol)

Want to read the other chapters?

Click here

19

Starlight Prep

October 1, 12:00 PST

"Hey you okay? You've been off all morning." Emily asked, her glasses reflecting the florescent lighting of the cafeteria. Closing her book when she couldn't ignore her friend's predicament any longer, "It's not your concussion is it? Do you need to go to the nurses' office?"

Kate felt guilt instantly crawl up her throat at Emily's worried words and scrunched eyebrows. The blonde reaching out and laying a hand in front of Emily, "I'm okay, my aunt just got called out on some urgent business this morning, she left in a rush. Just worried that's all."

"On, urgent... flower shop business?" Emily raised her eyebrows, a disbelieving tone coloring her voice.

"Um, a shipment was running late, she had to go meet the supplier, check on the flowers. See if they were still good for sale or not." Kate came up with, not sounding sure even to herself.

"And that's what you're worried about?" Emily double checked, "I didn't know you were so invested into your aunt's business."

"I'm not, I mean – I am, just... she really cares about it, and they were like some kind of exotic flower. Super expensive." Kate left it at that, Emily just nodding eyes contemplative for a second before they lit up again.

"Here," Emily pulled out an insulted canister from her lunch bag, "It's Jasmine tea, my favorite, it always helps me calm down, maybe it will help you." Emily pushed it closer to Kate and the blonde got this sinking feeling in her stomach as she hesitantly grabbed the warm thermos.

"Are you sure? It's your favorite, I don't wanna take it if-"

"It's so okay, we're friends. This is what friends do. Drink it, it'll help you feel better, I promise." There was something more in Emily's voice that set Kate on edge, her smile a little too big, eyes a little too squinted. Was she upset?

Kate didn't want to upset her only real friend at Starlight, and so she lifted the thermos and went to drink but before she could she froze.

That's when Kate heard the music.

That's when Kate realized what day it was.

"Shit."

Kate slowly turned around, face blooming a vibrant shade of red as Ben walked in on a rolled out red carpet, a quartet of violins behind him playing long chords as he held up a banner.

Katherine Lance, please give me a chance... HOCO?

Kate wanted to die.

There were audible gasps and murmurs among the crowd as Kate stood slowly, walking up to Ben. "You didn't mention a string quartet." Her voice hissed out the last word while her face grinned widely. Eyes shining with murderous intent.

"I thought it would be more romantic." Ben just shrugged and offered her the sign, "So, you gonna give me a chance, Lance?"

Kate wanted to kill him, and then die. But remembered their agreement and took a moment, and as long as she did this one thing people would keep leaving Emily alone. Ben so far had kept up his end, she had to keep up hers.

"Yeah, let's do it." Kate took the sign and the room went crazy, Ben pulling her in for a hug, spinning her around without her permission. Setting her down as the string players stopped on a sweet note and left.

~~*~~

By her final period, chemistry (barf), Kate was vibrating. No longer toting around the ridiculously large poster paper as it was shoved inside her locker. Her knee bouncing as she watched the clock, not having heard anything from Dinah since this morning and the worry was starting to eat at her.

Was she okay?

The minutes ticked by like hours and Kate was counting the seconds. 

It started out as slight tremors, the rattling of the clock against the wall. 

But those tremors turned to destruction and hell fire in an instant, the earth seeming to tip sideways as a large plant tendril erupted thought the classroom floor tile. Kate, out of instinct, grabbed Emily and pulled her out of the way of the destruction. Both girls coughing on the plaster dust and debris in the air.

"Shit." Kate cursed, watching as if in slow motion the plant started to come down in their direction. Glancing at Emily, Kate's stomach rolled at the terror on her friend's face, sharing in the shock that was present there too. "Move!" Kate pushed Emily, sliding them closer to the door. Screams, metal crashing into metal, and squealing brakes just now entering her hearing. The electric whine from her hearing aides making her wince.

Kate gripped onto Emily's hand with a death grip as she pulled her through the destroyed classroom and pushed her into the hall. Where more students were, all screaming and pushing. Kate saw someone get taken down by the tide, her eyes widening. Pulling Emily to the side of the hall and backing her up against the lockers she screamed over all the noise, "Stay here! Don't move!" And with that Kate was diving into the mass of panicking rich kids.

Seeing the hand flailing around designer shoes and blood, Kate reached down, covering their body with hers. Taking the stiletto's to the calf and kicks to the ribs as she elbowed the people around her and pulled the girl up. Her golden blonde hair messy and filled with debris dust, eyes red and wet, cheeks covered with mascara. Kate held on as she dragged the girl through the crowd, not particularly caring if she was breaking the girl's hand with how hard she was holding onto her. 

Once back over to Emily, who was now sporting some bruising around her face and holding her ribs, Kate pushed past the guilt and latched onto her as well. Dragging both girls behind her through the crowd and into a side hallway that was less crowded. Stumbling when the ground turned again and shocks were sent through the floor. Another plant tentacle erupted in the main hallway behind them.

Kate watched with wide eyes, as bodies flew, she knew she couldn't save them, but that knowledge didn't stop the twisting of her stomach and the feeling of nausea crawling up her throat. The fire alarm started to ring and smoke started to fill the air.

"Come on! We have to keep moving!" Kate crouched, Oxygen was heavier than carbon dioxide, as she pulled both Emily and the blonde girl to one of the emergency exits that Dinah and Oliver had her memorize.

Dinah and Oliver.

They were in Metropolis, meaning it was just her in Star right now, there was no way she could deal with this on her own. Especially not with Emily and the other girl with her. First responders will be too busy to get here, she was stuck. Kate cursed in her head violently as they broke out into daylight. Dodging another plant tentacle that had decided to flop down in the alley way. Barely missing the girls by inches.

Kate's arms across their waists being their saving grace. The things started to move again and Kate pushed the blonde girl into a run in front of her and pulled Emily with them. Getting farther down and into a back alley behind the school. Kate looking at the cross section and then following the storm pipes down and cheering under her breath.

Letting go of both girls she moved to a dumpster, that was thankfully empty. Pushing it with a grunt, exposing two metal doors.

"What is that?" The blonde asked in a squeak.

"Panic room built by the school when it was founded for the dean and admin in case of an active shooter situation. Upgraded six years ago with Waynetech gear and seven layers of tactile bulletproof metal walls. You'll be safe down there." Kate puffed as she pushed off of the dumpster, head on swivel.

"How do you know that?" The blonde asked again, breathing calming down now.

"Does it matter?" Kate groaned as she pulled on the padlock, Lifting up her leg and pulling out a tactile laser blade from her boot, which was against dress code. Cutting through the lock and pushing open the doors. Which opened to metal stairs and dark pathway towards the panic room. The blonde darted down there, Kate looked to Emily, expecting her to do the same.

"Emily? What are you doing? Get down there!" Kate snapped, over her dead body was she going to let Emily stay in harms way.

"I can't do that."

"What the fuck do you mean, 'you can't do that'?" Kate spit, losing her cool, which she knew Dinah would not be happy about but she pushed on. "Emily..." Kate trailed off, straightening up as she finally noticed the dark gleam in her friend's eyes.

"You are such an idiot."

With that Emily launched at Kate. Pushing her, causing the door to slam shut with a loud bang. Kate being knocked back into the side of the dumpster, coughing as the air is knocked out of her lungs. Emily not giving her even a second, nails digging into the scarred skin of Kate's wrist and pulling her into Emily's space. Forcing her around, Kate's back against Emily's chest. Arms coiling around Kate's neck, cutting off her air. Choking her.

"Can't scream when you can't breathe." Emily chuckled with malice, emotions flipping on a dime, "Do you know how difficult that last months have been? Pretending to be Emily? Shy, bullied Emily? It was torture. All so she could get to you, what's so special about you huh?!" Emily shook Kate in her grip, Kate clawing at Emily's covered forearm, wet clicking noises falling from her lips as she tried to breathe, "What makes you so valuable?" Emily grit into her ear, "If you had just drank that stupid tea this wouldn't be happening. But no matter." Emily chuckled with sick mirth, "This is more fun anyway."

Kate's vision started to dim, dark encroaching at the edges the longer her lungs were cut off from the oxygen they were so desperately begging for. Finally finding her feet Kate relied on muscle memory, digging her nails into Emily's shoulders and crouching down. Effectively flipping Emily over her shoulder and stomping down on her throat with more force than was necessary. Coughing as she tried to regain her breath. Chest heaving as she struggled and her vision slowly came back. Emily's hands on her ankle trying to push her off and failing. 

"What the fuck?" Kate spit, eyes blazing, ignoring the sting of betrayal. It could be dealt with later, "Who do you work for?!" Kate pressed harder with her foot before letting up and giving Emily the chance to answer. 

"You're gonna find out." Emily grinned like a crazed lunatic, something silver catching Kate's eye a second too late. The needle in her calf, the plunger being forced down before Kate can react. Immediate wooziness overcame the blonde as a short scream rang out. Kate stumbling back into the dumpster before slumping to the ground. 

Eyes getting heavier and heavier until she couldn't fight anymore, going limp with Emily's smile of lunacy being the last thing she saw before everything went black. 

~~*~~

"Computer. National news." The Bat commanded as the cave announced his entrance. The news broadcast being narrated by Cat Grant, showing video of the wild plants as they tor apart downtown Metropolis.

"Should we head out there?" Robin asked, chomping at the bit. Bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet.

"No. The league will soon have the situation under control. That's not why I'm here." Batman brought up a picture of Sportsmaster on the holo-computer, hovering next to his head, "According to your intel Sport's master supplied Cadmus' Blockbuster formula to Kobra."

"Who combined it with Bane's venom to create Kobra venom." Wally added on, starting a chain.

"Which the brain used to create his animal army." Robin continued.

"And upgrade Wolf." Superboy added in, smiling at the large animal, scratching under his chin.

"The brain also used inhibitor collars like the one at Belle Reve Penitentiary." M'Gann spoke up.

"Is it possible that plant thingy's on Kobra Venom too?" Artemis asked, glancing to the empty spot beside her and silently wondering where Kate was.

"I had Green Lantern run a spot analysis. The vine's cellulose does contain trace amounts of Kobra Venom variant." Batman picked up again, wiping away the photo of Sportsmaster and bringing up the keyboard.

"These cannot be coincidences." Aqualad spoke up for the first time since everyone had assembled. "Unrelated criminals are cooperating with one another worldwide."

"Exactly. It's now clear our enemies have formed some kind of Society of Super-Villains." Batman confirmed, "The attack on Metropolis is only the beginning."

"You got that right," Robin scoffed, typing at his own holo-keyboard, "Plant creatures have sprouted in Gotham City, Paris, Taipei... and Star City..." The team tensed, suddenly realizing the missing small blonde.

"Kate.." Artemis breathed as video of one of the larger plants ripping through a larger building they all recognized. Her school, kids covered in bruises and debris dust streaming out of the front doors and into the arms of too few first responders and more plants, "We have to go get her!"

Static on the multiple screens Robin had pulled up interrupted the worry that had sprouted in the team, Batman whipping around to face the screens.

"Dude!" Wally snapped over Robin's shoulder.

"it's not me!" Robin gnashed out in response. "Someone's cutting into the satellite signal. All satellite signals."

The face of the Joker popped up on all five screens in front of Batman and the team, smiling like the maniac he is. Knocking on the camera lenses before speaking.

"Ladies and gentlemen We interrupt your regularly scheduled mayhem to bring you this important announcement." The Joker's gravely tone sent shocks down the team's spines as he flicked open a switch blade and turned the camera, "from the injustice league." His crazed laugh ringing through the cave.

"We are responsible for the attacks on your cities." Count Vertigo spoke next, claiming responsibility from his position in front of the group of supervillains, "If you wish to save them, a ransom of ten billion American dollars is required. Delivery instructions have been sent to the United Nations. There is no time limit, but the longer your governments wait..." Count Vertigo trailed off. Leaving Joker the floor to grab the camera and point it back at himself.

"The more we get to have our... Jollies!" More sickening laughter filled the cave before static filled the room again.

"Roger that Aquaman, the UN will prepare the ransom as a fallback. But it won't come to that." Batman spoke over comms, a hand pressed to where his ear would be behind the cowl. Robin typing furiously, the video being brought back up on screen in a still image of the new group of supervillains.

"Count Vertigo, The Joker, Poison Ivy, Ultra-Humanite, Atomic Skull, Black Adam, Wotan, and Black Siren. Eight heavy hitters." Robin counted off, a red box surrounding each villain's face as he named them. "Probably behind nearly everything and everyone we've faced."

"There's your secret society." Wally muttered.

"Not so secret anymore." Artemis tagged on.

"Perhaps after India they realized we would deduce the truth and saw no point in hiding any longer." Aqualad added his own line of thought.

"Yeah? That was their mistake. Right now I say we go kick some plant creature butt." Wally jumped on the opportunity for some action. "After we get Kate of course."

"The Justice League will handle the plants, and finding Kate. I have a different job for this team." Batman cut down Wally's expectations. The red head complaining, the others following, only to be silenced by a batglare, "With the plants attacking so many locations simultaneously there must be a central control system. Your mission is to destroy it."

~~*~~

Star City

October 1, 14:30 PST

Black Canary and Green Arrow, drove through the broken, plant infested, streets and swung from buildings from arrows – respectively. Both of their heartbeats in their throats as they finally come to the school their kid was at only hours ago.

The tracker she had consented to offline, not even showing her vital signs. Something that had Canary on the edge of panicking, if she wasn't already.

"Do you really think she would stay put?" BC's teeth worried on her bottom lip, the comms still picking up the mumbled words.

"Just a look and then we'll move on." Green Arrow soothed, landing on the roof of the messed-up building, repelling himself off the side and into the back alley. Black Canary having to leave her motorcycle at the mouth of the side alley that feeds into the back one due to the plant taking up all the space.

"Let's see if she remembered." Green arrow muttered under his breath, turning to face the doors built into the side of the building. Pausing at the obviously burned through padlock and smiling to himself, letting himself get his hopes up. Black Canary joining him, the two sharing a look of relief before opening the doors.

A head of blonde hair covered in dust shot out and into the arms of the man in green. The force spinning them to where her back was facing Black Canary as she curled in on herself. Green Arrow's shoulder's relaxing as his gloved hand came up to the back of her head as she shook. Eyes closing as he breathed.

"It's okay. You're okay, we're here. You did good little bird." Green Arrow sighed, pushing her back to look at her face, freezing.

"What? What's wrong with her?" Dinah bit, grabbing the girl's shoulder gently and turning her, "No..."

Black Canary had to remember that she needed to breathe, even if her heart was breaking.

~~*~~

Bayou Bartholomew

October 1, 18:32 CDT

"Twenty minutes out." M'Gann informed from the helm. The mood in the ship noticeably low as each individual kept glancing at the empty spot amongst the seats.

"Robin, if you could provide a holo-map. I'll search for signs of concentrated sorcerous activity." Zatana lifted his hands as soon as the map came to life in front of him.

"What about Kate? She should be here. Do you have any word on her whereabouts, could you track her Zatanna?" Aqualad finally spoke up about the loud thoughts everyone had been having in the background of the revelations happening.

"We are currently working on locating her." Batman cut in, his attempt to dissuade the teams' worry failing.

"Meaning you don't know where she is, she could be hurt Batman." Robin piped up, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Black Canary and Green Arrow are on it. Unless you think you can do a better job?" Batman questioned, his tone suggesting an eyebrow was raised under that cowl of his. Robin backed down, sharing a glance with Aqualad and Artemis. Seeming to let it go.

"This is ridiculous. We should be out there looking for Kate." Artemis finally burst, having sat on her frustrations the whole flight.

"Agreed." Robin piped up, typing on his wrist computer. "I've been scanning security cameras around the school and I can see her getting herself and two other girls out into the alley on the south-west side of the school but then they disappear."

"Can you pull up that still from the injustice league video?" Artemis didn't even finish her questions before it was up. Robin looking back at her with a questioning gaze.

The woman beside Poison Ivy sticking out to Artemis, looking a little more pleased with herself than the rest. Her light blonde hair, black body suit and black collar making her look like the Black Canary rip off that she was.

"Who wants to guess that Black Siren being a part of this and Kate being missing is a coincidence?" Artemis grits, crossing her arms over her chest, bringing to light everyone's worst nightmares.

"I wish I could say I disagreed with your thought process." Aqualad grimaced, eyes lingering on the woman everyone else's eyes were drilling holes into.

"So, that means she could be where we're going? Right?" M'Gann asked, hopeful to a fault.

"That's exactly what that means." Robin confirmed, his mouth in a thin line as he stared out across the passing scenery, arms crossed tightly over his chest.

~~*~~

[charcoaled]

nothing quite prepares you for the gravity of sitting in the only bedroom that you’ve ever known four days before you move halfway across the world. desperately needing to spread your wings, but selfishly, childishly never wanting to leave your mother’s side.

knowing you only have four sleeps left still living in this house that your father lived in as a kid. trying to commit this view to memory

[postixr-blog]

I sit on the bench with you

In our home town

Near the house we grew up in

The sun is slowly setting

And I look towards you,

Sitting on your phone

And I wonder,

Is this the last time?

The last time we get to sit on this bench

The last time we get to talk so closely

The last time you buy me some shitty energy drink

The last time we can watch the sunset

After all, we have spent almost all our time

All the wasted years of bickering

The years of fighting, regret,

But, it's okay,

For now we are close

But that itself makes me fear

How long do we have left?

Will I know you when we are grown?

Will I remember your favourite colour?

The day you first rode your bike?

Your favourite animal?

The day you hugged me and told me it's okay?

All these questions,

Only time can answer

So for now I'll try to enjoy,

Enjoy these moments when you make me go outside

Make me watch random movies with you

Make me sing nerdy songs in the car

Make me try and hit the perfect high five

Enjoy each and every one

When I have children,

Will they get excited to see their uncle?

Will I be excited to see my brother,

Will you be excited to see your sister?

I hope so,

Please don't let go,

For you are my brother,

A person I used to wake up every single day too,

A person I used to dream of having a dog with,

A person I cared every day for no matter how severe the fight,

I care about you

So please, don't let go

Don't stop being the boy I knew,

The boy who'd love going outside and playing in the grass

The boy who'd love air-boxing my arm in public,

The boy who wasn't afraid to dance to the music in Tesco,

The boy who shows me all of his nerdy interests without any shame

Keep on being, my big brother

[maslosstuff]

Where had the years gone by

[dosa-sambhar]

Saw an edit of 2521 today and had this ache in my heart again, no media has impacted me sm in recent times, everytime I remember the friendship that the characters shared makes me feel so sad and nostalgic and suddenly I reminiscing about my high school friends and how much I miss the time i spent with them and how everything went downhill after high school.A few of the scene like the scene on the beach when Seungkwana shouts that "this summer is ours" and when they get older and seungkwana and baekyijin are talking and seungkwana says something like I miss the old days we used to have fun back then. Everytime I remember that scene makes me feel so fucking sad

Growing up is such a weird and strange feeling

[marbearwrites]

This perfume dabbed on my wrists

Smells of 18-year-old you

It brings a smile to my face

Yet the dull ache returns in my chest

To know we haven't seen each other in 11 years

Soon to be 12

I'm not sure if you're ignoring my texts

Or if you do not care

Mom told me you're out on the streets

I never thought you'd end up there

Funny how family breaks and splinters

But we can never speak of it...

[hydrngea]

feeling rlly weird abt having a birthday tmr

[rogueemmy]

Age 3-6 is a wonderful time for very logical thinking that isn't exactly reality. I knew a guy who was this age during the tail end of the Vietnam war. He knew about gorillas, from visiting the zoo and books. He would also hear the people in the news talking about gorilla warfare, and logically concluded that his country was at war with a band of wild gorillas.

For me, it was the "cold war" on the news regularly. I also lived in the upper midwest, where meteorologists would forecast a "blast of Canadian cold air" at regular intervals. These "blasts" of cold air often would lead to large amounts of snow and unsafe windchills, keeping people safely indoors after a trip to the store to buy milk, eggs and bread to hunker down - and logically we were at war with Canada, and they fought hard with cold air!

when I was a kid I thought the weather guy on TV controlled the weather and he was just telling us what he was gonna do for the next few days. when he said "30% chance of rain Thursday" I thought he was just guessing how likely it was he'd wake up in a rain mood that morning

[violetswritingg]

Canary Cry

Robin/Nightwing (Dick Grayson) x OFC!

Description: Her violence was silent. Until it wasn't.

"I'm fine."

"Fine is just another word for drowning."

Rating T-M (mentions of blood, child abuse, mental health, cannon situations of violence and the like. Loss of parents, hard of hearing/deaf character, poorly written fight scenes lol)

Want to read the other chapters?

Click here

15

Star City

September 7, 05:15 PST

Kate's eye fluttered open, her head still swimming from sleep and remnant effects from a concussion and the drugs they gave her in Bialyia. Which were proving to linger in her system and make her sluggish.

Her string lights glowing a dim orange that didn't bother her eyes too much, her blinds drawn shut tight and no music played on her vinyl player like it normally did. Kate had not been having a good time the last couple of days since she got back and had her memories restored. Which almost didn't happen due to her head trauma and the worry it would scramble her brain trying to put it back together.

At the end of the day her panicking at being in some weird white room in a medical gown is what pushed Dinah to risk it. It was strange to remember, not remembering. In a way Kate was still confused as to what happened, sitting through the debrief was a challenge and she didn't really hear anyone talking.

"Kate."

The girl's eyebrows pinched together at the voice in her head, her brain pinging in protest. Hot tendrils of pain sparking at her temples and behind her eyes.

"Listen to me."

Kate groaned, her eyes slamming shut as her hands came to her head. Curling into a ball to try and get away from the pain. And failing.

"It's your mother. I just want to talk."

~~*~~

Kate's eyes shot open, as did her body. Gagging and trying to breath at the same time from the sudden rush of movement. Turning over on her side Kate emptied her stomach into the bucket Dinah had set up as this had been a trend with her concussion the last couple of days.

Dinah had kept her home for the last three days, letting her rest, trying not to feel upset when there wasn't instant recognition in Kate's eyes when she looked at her.

Dinah knew it was only because the last two missions of Kate's that left her with mild concussions piling on top of each other and then getting mind blasted by Psimon on top of it all and then drugged. It was a dire mix that led to where Kate was now mentally. Thankfully there had been a lull in team missions so Kate wasn't missing out on that part. But she hadn't gone to school either, following the concussion protocol.

The voice still echoed in her head, making the pounding worse than it was and causing her to gag again. Dry heaving loudly.

"Kate?" Dinah's voice cut through the pounding and Kate's body relaxed at the feeling of soft hands on her back. "It's okay, don't fight it."

Kate dry heaved a couple more times before stopping, coughing at the burn of stomach acid in her throat and the aftertaste coating her mouth. Dinah silently handing her a glass of water that Kate took and drank heavily from before Dinah pulled it away.

"You'll make yourself sick again."

Kate just huffed and sat back against her headboard, leaning her head back against the wood, closing her eyes.

"My head hurts." Kate mumbled and Dinah leveled a worried look at her that Kate didn't see.

"Here." Dinah offered her two pills from the prescription bottle on Kate's bedside. The alarm bells had been ringing in her head for days. All the red flags that where documented with concussions Kate was showing and Dinah knew it was going to be a long recovery period if they didn't try some alternative to rest and pain meds.

Dinch was just worried that Kate wouldn't be the same anymore, too many cases of personality changes and mood swings with brain injuries and concussions. Kate was just coming into her own, Dinah would hate for her to have to start all over again because of this.

Dinah watched as Kate seemingly passed out again and her stomach twisted. Pulling out her phone Dinah clicked on a contact. Listening to it ring a couple of times before he answered.

"Palmer, I need a favor."

~~*~~

Palmer technologies

September 7, 08:30 PST

Kate, still passed out but now in her goldfinch suit, was rolled into the medical labs part of the building. Ray Palmer walking with Dinah right behind the procession of doctors, also in her suit now.

"Just the preliminary scans show some decent trauma to the brain, on both lobes. It's not great, there also seems to be some minor bleeding which I think is what is causing the major side effects you've been seeing. Thankfully I can help her." Dinah's shoulder's slumped a fraction in relief at the man's anxious words.

"How?"

"We've been working on a medical device that is meant to help those with CTE and traumatic brain injuries. It's a simple implant into the base of the skull that sends out nanites to repair the damage and then exit the body through fluids." Ray explained, stopping the woman right outside of the lab the other doctors had rolled Kate into.

"Has it been tested before?" Dinah asked, her eyes trailing the medical bed. Watching until Kate's blonde hair disappeared.

"Not on a person..." Dinah's eyes cut to the man, darkening in a silent threat. "But it's worked before on primates, whose brain structure is the most similar to humans that you're going to find. It will take some reworking and we'll need to run some more tests on her as well as run some simulations before we move forward, but it's her best shot right now besides brain surgery."

Dinah let out a long sigh, one arm curling around her stomach, fingers pinching the bridge of her nose.

"We won't go forward unless our simulations show more than a ninety-five percent chance of this working. I promise you Goldfinch will be safe and we will do our best to help her." Ray soothed the woman, not knowing the exact connection between them but knowing it was close for her to be reacting like this.

"One hundred percent or nothing Palmer." Dinah stood firm, her stomach rolling in barely maintained anxiety.

The man took in the woman's desperate look and slowly nodded, his jaw clenching as his eyes steeled.

"I promise."

~~*~~

Palmer Technologies

September 9, 09:30 PST

Dinah watched through the glass as the doctors led Kate through some exercises, the procedure having been a success and after being asleep for a day Kate was up and back to normal.

By some miracle.

The doctor's wanted to keep her another day just to monitor for negative side effects but had found none. These last tests being the only thing between Kate and freedom from the lab. Dinah had been forced to watch as the nanites worked with her immune and nervous system, meaning until those things were out of her system she was immune-compromised as the nanites rewired everything her body had into healing.

But the nanites had been cleared from Kate's system as of today and she looked back to normal, not exactly happy to be poked and prodded by a bunch of scientists but Dinah would take all the flack in the world from the girl just as long as she was better.

Being able to see Kate again, Dinah was met with a cold gaze and silence as the girl, back in her suit, walked right past her to the door.

The drive to the Arrow Cave entrance tunnel was a quiet one that had Dinah on edge. Only when they got inside, Oliver and Artemis working on something at the lanes, did Kate blow up.

"You had them crack open my skull! Put some strange device inside of me and then sew me back up like I'm some kind of crash test dummy! What the fuck Dinah!" Kate yelled, not even letting the woman finish asking her if she was okay.

"You had a grade four concussion and brain bleed; you weren't getting any better at home Kate! What else was I supposed to do?!" Dinah fought back, her hands digging into her hips.

"Oh I don't know, ask before you do the massively invasive surgery that requires you to open up my skull!"

"You were literally concussed! You had no idea what was happening around you!"

"Do you know how scary it was!" Kate's voice broke, Dinah's defensive walls fell down, "Waking up, confused and alone, in that lab. I though I was back in Bialyia, I-" Kate shook her head, teeth sinking into her bottom lip.

"I was just trying to help you. I'm sorry I wasn't there, they said you could only be in a sterile environment. I-I Just wanted you to get better, and I couldn't help you by myself." Dinah explained, closing the distance between her and the girl, hesitantly placing her hands on Kate's shoulder. "I won't put you through that again without your consent, I was just so worried. You couldn't keep anything down, you looked at me like you didn't know me, you were confused and in utter brain fog. It would have taken weeks, if not months, for you to heal on your own and even then there was no guarantee that the brain bleed would stop on it's own. It was either risk your life and keep you home, emergency brain surgery, or Palmer Tech. I did what I thought was best for you."

Kate's anger ran out of steam as she witnessed Dinah's eyes fill with water, a desperate plea for the girl to understand.

"I can't lose you Kate." Dinah whispered and Kate softened. Reaching out and wrapping her arms around the woman, who for once needed more comforting than Kate did.

"I know. I'm sorry. It's okay."

~~*~~

The Lance Apartment

September 10, 06:30 PST

"Are you sure?" Dinah asked, holding the girl's uniform jacket hostage by the door, worried blue oceans casing every inch of Kate. "No headaches, nausea, confusion, forgetfulness-"

"I'm okay Dinah. Whatever Palmer tech did worked, I feel good. No headache, no nausea, or any of the other stuff. Now I gotta go or I'm gonna be late." Kate grabbed and squeezed the woman's hands, rescuing her jacket and adjusting her backpack over her shoulder, "I can't miss anymore school, I'm probably already so behind."

Dinah watched the genuine concern on Kate's face and reached forward to tuck a stray blonde strand behind her ear.

"Don't worry about catching up right away okay? Take your time, don't push yourself too hard, we still need to be on the lookout for any lingering effects of the nanites. Just... have a good day at school okay?" Dinah dropped her hand and opened the door, leaning against it to hide just how tight her grip was on the handle hidden from Kate's sight.

"I will. Thanks D." Kate was out the door before Dinah could visibly react to the nickname. Which was probably for the best.

~~*~~

Starlight Prep

September 10, 12:45 PST

The day had gone by slow, with Kate more than a little lost in most of her classes, needing Emily to catch her up between periods on what she missed and collecting homework she missed. But now it was lunch time and Kate was exhausted.

Forgetting just how tiring it can be to be around so many people for so long. It didn't help that Ben had ambushed her in the lunch line. Emily needing to go to the bathroom and telling Kate not to wait on her to get food.

"Hey there Kate." His grin was sickly sweet, a sharp gleam in his eye. "I'm glad I caught you, one would almost think you were avoiding me. You haven't been at school for a while."

Kate sighed and feigned a smile back at the boy, "I got a concussion doing some afterschool sports. Had to stay home until the majority of the symptoms passed. Doctor's orders." Kate shrugged and went back to picking her lunch selection, sliding slowly down the line.

"Oh shit." Ben cursed, his eyes going wide, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it happens." Kate brushed off, trying to go for the last basket of tater tots only for the girl in front of her to grab it. "Great." She puffed under her breath, frown twisting her lips downward.

"Hey," Ben called to the girl, glancing down at Kate with a smirk growing on his face. The girl turned around with raised eyebrows and her nose stuck in the air.

"Yes?" Her eyes fluttered when she saw who it was and Kate had to stop herself from gagging, and laughing.

"Kenzie right? You wouldn't mind giving Kate those tater tots would you? They're her favorite and she has a concussion. She needs her safe foods." Ben gave the sappiest puppy dog eyes that Kate had ever seen and the girl in front of her almost literally melted. Basically panting at the attention. Without even looking at Kate Kenzie was handing over the tater tots and winking at Ben before turning around and going back to the lunch line.

"You see that?" Ben leaned down and whispered in Kate's ear, the girl fighting off the alarm bells ringing in her head at the close proximity. A small grin forming on her face without her permission. Ben lightly elbowed Kate in the side and the girl chuckled.

"Thanks." She whispered back, locking eyes with Ben for a second before turning back to the lunch line.

"You're welcome, I did want to talk to you about something though." Ben bounced behind Kate, watching what she grabbed.

"And what is that?" Kate asked preoccupied.

"Homecoming." Kate paused in her attempt to grab a slice of pizza, rebooting after a second and a glance back at the boy.

"What about it?"

"You said you'd be my date, but there are some logistics we need to go over." Ben reached over her once they got to the end of the line, typing in his lunch code to put her food on his charge account before she could stop him.

"You didn't have to-"

"It's fine, I don't mind." Ben grinned down at her and grabbed her tray from her hands, walking to the table he normally sat at with his friends, other basketball players and cheerleaders sizing up Kate as she had no other option but to follow him.

"What about homecoming?" Kate reiterated, hesitantly sitting in the spot Ben motioned for her to sit.

"I'm not too sure what it was like at your other schools but here the homecoming stuff gets a little crazy. Now I know you already accepted my invitation but usually it's done in public with like music and a banner and all that jazz, I was just wondering what day worked for you and also what color dress you were thinking of wearing. That's important so I can match my tie and the corsage." Ben grinned at her before taking a bit of his food.

Kate was immediately overwhelmed.

"Wow, um, that's a lot..." Kate chuckled, nervously glancing at the rest of the table who were listening in amongst their own conversations, "My old school didn't really do Homecoming, well they did, but it wasn't really a big deal."

Ben, and most of the others, looked at her weird, "Where did you go before this?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

Kate swallowed and hesitated, "Star City Public." The effect of her words was like a bomb being detonated.

"Holy shit-"

"Really? What was it like?"

"How did you not get stabbed?"

"Wait, wait, wait." Ben held up his hand and the whole table went silent, "I thought you were Oliver Queen's niece or something, why were you going there?" His nose scrunched up as if he could smell the poor.

"I-" Kate started, "Not technically, but he's dating my aunt, who I live with." Kate didn't know what to say under the pressure of ten sets of eyes all starting to look at her like she carried the plague.

"What about your parents?" Ben asked and Kate tensed up.

"They're dead." Another bombshell.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry." Ben rushed out.

"I had a dog die once, I know how tragic loss can be." One of the cheerleaders piped up, only to be met with harsh glares from her team mates.

"It's fine, I don't even remember them. They died when I was a baby." Kate pushed out with a forced grin.

"It's your mother. I just want to talk."

"That was so insensitive of me. Seriously if you wanna slap me you can." Ben chuckled, his smile dazzling. It was the kind of smile that if seen in a cartoon there would be a little 'bling' sound effect.

"Really. You're all good. I don't really care." Kate shrugged and played with her tater tots.

"Have you ever been inside Queen Manor?" The cheerleader on the other side of her asked, and that is what started to vortex of questions about Oliver and nothing else.

~~*~~

"Look, here's my number, I'll text you about the Hoco stuff okay?" Ben asked as the lunch bell rang, sliding Kate a slip of paper and standing. Walking backwards as he talked before disappearing in a swarm of his friends and out the cafeteria door.

"Hey Kate." Kate jumped at Emily's voice, "Someone's popular."

The insecurity was clear in the girl's voice and Kate's chest clenched in guilt.

"Sorry about lunch Emily. Ben asked me to Homecoming-"

"Holy crap!" Emily cursed, shocking Kate, both girls looking up when the warning bell rung.

"I'll tell you about it on the way to Chemistry okay?" Kate promised, picking up her stuff in a rush and both girls all but ran to their next class.

~~*~~

[dosa-sambhar]

Some days you are 14,15,16 so excited for the future and what life holds for you and all the new experiences you are gonna have and he next day you know you are 20 and have your seen your whole childhood vanish in front of your eyes and have never been more miserable about all the things you never achieved.