#i laughed so hard i almost died and shattered my screen protector

[avaloniaofficial]

waffle house after work ended up with

7 plays of robot rock

1 play of paramore

2 plays of yellowcard

5 syrup shots taken [1 FROM THE COOK]

2 vineyard vines shorts shat

1 screen protector destroyed

[avayarising]

Some additions of my own from my ‘Dick and Tim love each other so damn much’ bookmark tag:

Road to Damascus by irrelevant (one-shot, 37k)

Beautiful fic of Tim stalking Dick and eventually becoming brothers even where Dick’s parents didn’t die. (Also a truly disturbing Bruce Wayne.)

In a universe where Bruce Wayne is willing to kill, the Graysons never fall. His family alive, Dick Grayson stays with the circus. He's happy. Tim Drake grows up in Gotham while his parents travel the globe. He has tutors and a lot of money and a camera. He's not happy, but he's almost okay with that because he has Dick. Even if Dick doesn't know it.

EMERGENCY CONTACT by Lumi09 (one-shot, 2.5k)

Tim’s school phones Dick as Tim’s emergency contact. Dick absolutely loses it.

The woman speaks up again. “Seeing as you are written down as emergency contact for Timothy Jackson Drake, I regret to inform you that there has been a major bus accident involving Timothy and many other students.” And that simple sentence is enough to shatter the peace and monotone of Dick’s day. The bright blue screen swirling until a tiny dot, until Dick can remember to blink or breathe as the woman’s words seem to have taken a physical form and rip the air from his lungs with her bare hands. “What?” Is the pitched word that slips from his pressurized lungs and from his lips. or Dick would really love to not lose another brother. Thank you.

Every lesson we learned by dukeaubergine (one-shot, 2.2k)

A rewrite of the scene after Damian cuts TIm’s line, where Dick actually finds out that that’s what happened. Dick and Tim bonding, plus some actual gentle parenting of Damian.

After Damian hacks Tim’s files and attacks him, Dick takes the time to make it clear his actions were wrong, and Tim explains his own thinking. The conversation is hard on all of them. It’s worth it.

how to feed your local demon by InkpotSprite (2 chapters, 14.5k)

A reworking of A Lonely Place of Dying with Incubus!Dick and lots and lots of love.

“Oh, don’t forget your–” A few papers fell out as Dick lifted it up, revealing pictures of Nightwing, Robin and Batman in the middle of a fight with Poison Ivy. “Files.” “Ah. Those.” Tim laughed nervously, the sharp, citrus-like taste filling the air. - Dick is an incubus, starved for affection after the loss of Jason. Tim isn't affectionate by nature but wants to help anyway.

Baby Robin by ThemsTheDragons (one-shot, 6k)

Dick and Tim got close before Dick’s parents died. Angst and comfort.

Dick had never thought of himself as a role model. He can’t help it, he reaches over and squeezes Timmy’s cheeks. “Aw, Timmy! That’s so cool!” Suddenly, he has an idea. “Hey, do you want to meet the rest of us Flying Graysons?” Tim’s eyes widen. His mouth in an ‘o’. Dick takes that as a yes. Or Haly's Circus spends a week, not a day, in Gotham. This changes everything and nothing.

unleash the beast (with a kiss on the cheek) by InkpotSprite (one-shot, 1.5k)

Tim finds a way to express affection to Dick.

Dick's chest tightened as his lips parted to say something that he'd truly regret. Before a pair of lips pressed against his cheek, then disappeared so quickly that Dick was almost sure he'd imagined it. If it weren't for Bruce's fractionally wide eyes, Dick would think he had. Slowly, he turned his head to the side. Tim smiled back at him. - Tim decides to try and be more affectionate towards Dick via cheek kisses. Little does he know what he's about to unleash.

will we ever get to the other side? by dizarys (one-shot, 4.9k)

Two hurting boys comforting each other.

Blockbuster is dead and Dick is lost. Haunted by that night and no longer Nightwing, he flees Gotham only to find himself back in Bludhaven on mob business. Now Robin is the city's new protector and Dick is determined to avoid Tim & his old life. That is, until he finds Tim bleeding in an alley.

Have any Dick & Tim fic recs for us poor unfortunate souls? We’re hungry for brotherisms

I feel you anon, there can never be too many Dick & Tim brotherism fics! 😊 I had a great time wading through my bookmarks to pull some recs (and inevitably lose a bunch of time re-reading things lol), so thanks for the ask!

so I've organized the below first by general time period, then categories like Canon Divergence and Alternate Universe. I've also limited myself to fics that have a clear focus on Dick & Tim as the primary relationship (although some of them include other characters or ensembles).

Hope that you find something new that you enjoy, friend!!

A Thousand Ninjas, by @silverwhittlingknife (100k WIP series) - Silver's fantastic epic that covers the span of Dick and Tim's relationship in preboot canon. Some of the individual works are WIP, others are complete - just read them all, okay, you will not regret

Dick and Tim, through the years: from Lonely Place of Dying, through Tim's Robin years, and beyond Red Robin. "Watch me on the trapeze, Tim. I'm going to do my act - 'specially for you." (B 441) "Who the hell are you?" (NT 60) "Dick Grayson is my brother. My best friend." (R 181) "You're my equal. My closest ally." (RR 1) "I can't see him. You can't see him. But I know Robin. And Robin's always there when you need him." (TT/O Secret Files) "You're my brother. You'll always be there for me." (RR 12) "And then I think... no... it's for Tim. For him, a thousand ninjas is just the start of what I would do." (N 138)

EARLY ROBIN TIM

Brothers Have the Worst Timing, by @havendance (1k) - god I love Tim just popping up randomly to be the most annoying little brother ever, and frankly there's no better time for it than during Nightwing/Huntress, when he can bother both Dick and Helena at once.

Tim crashes Dick and Helena’s ill-advised one-night stand; this is awkward for everyone involved.

A Long Fall with a Sudden Stop, by @eggmacguffin (5.1k) - Interesting and appropriately awful take on fear toxin, with a relatively young Robin!Tim having to manage an incapacitated Dick. Also good Dick & Bruce content.

Dick Grayson was not and never has been afraid of heights. However, there were moments, moments in the wake of tragedy, in the midst of doubt, where he was deathly afraid of falling. — Dick Grayson. Fear Toxin.

Little Brothers and Stupid Ideas, by lazarusfell / @gretahayes (2k) - Tim breaking into Dick's apartment to be a neurotic little dork at him, my beloved.

Dick doesn't think he'll ever get used to his little brother's idiosyncrasies. It's like whenever he thinks the kid can't get any weirder, he decides to just blow Dick out of the water with some new abnormality. It's endearing.

LATE ROBIN TIM

lifeline, by me c: (~700) - just a ficlet, but I'm still fond of it, so. set nebulously post-Infinite Crisis, after both brothers' Really Bad Year.

At a low moment, Dick thinks he needs to catch Tim, and he just - can't. Tim catches him instead.

a soft place to land, by unchosenone / @bitimdrake (3k) - set during the OYL cruise around the world; gorgeous brotherly feels and support and absolutely adopted as personal canon.

Tim rubs the back of his head, trying to affect a joking tone. “I knew I should’ve just gone for the new escrima sticks.” Dick is ready to be a good big brother to his grieving little bro. Tim flips the script.

ribbons just beyond the eye, by silverwhittlingknife (5.9k) - you know how Dick and Tim had their island adventure in NW #143, and afterward they had to swim out several miles to where they parked the Batsub because the remote stopped working, and Dick talked about making a pit stop in Palermo to visit a "great little Italian restaurant that serves a great ciambellone for dessert"? Well, this is what happens when they do, and it's lovely.

Two weeks after their fight over the Lazarus Pits, Dick and Tim go on a trip, and Dick confronts some old memories.

RED ROBIN / BATMAN REBORN (Dick!Bats) ERA

Brothers, by KelpieCodyne (8.5k) - a refreshing and measured look at the divisive events of Red Robin, from Dick’s perspective. bashes no one, hurray!

Bruce is dead, Dick is Batman, and his brother is floundering. In a desperate attempt to save Tim from himself, Dick tries some tough love. It does not go the way he hopes. Or - Red Robin's 'BruceQuest' through the eyes of Dick Grayson.

We've Taken Different Paths, Traveled Different Roads, by Sohotthateveryonedied (2.3k) - brothers 🥺 even in the middle of their Brucequest fight, Tim can show up out of nowhere for a middle-of-the-night pajama party and heartfelt talk.

Dick is suddenly very awake. He bolts upright, staring at the dimly lit figure. “Tim?” “Hi, Dick,” Tim whispers. He isn’t in uniform for once, instead wearing a pair of sweats and a shirt that Dick recognizes as one of Bruce’s. Dick was wondering where that went. “Jesus, kid,” Dick exhales, an uncertain mixture of disbelief and bafflement. “What are you doing here?” Tim and Dick are still in a fight of sorts, or are they? Have they made up yet, or is the terrain still cracked? Dick wants so badly to ask, but just having Tim in the same room as him is already more than Dick could have hoped he’d get.

a conversation at 4:30am, by xscintillate / @scintillyyy (4.6k) - Dick having a nightmare that Tim is dead and checking all of his regular napping spots with increasing paranoia to prove that he's alive, my beloved. such a great look at the brothers, suffused with all of the love they still share post-Brucequest.

dick & tim, post RR#12 because sometimes having a conversation might end up going nowhere, especially if it's one you're not ready for, but it's enough for now

the best of both of us, by @ashynarr (7k) - a lovely pair of conversations between Tim and Dick, working through their conflict in RR and reconnecting after everything.

They used to have a routine, involving shitty take-out, shitty movies, and a bit of shit-talking. Dick wants to restart it, after everything. Tim's not sure if it's that easy. Or: After Harkness' arrest, Dick and Tim have a heart-to-heart. It helps, a little.

there's an endless road to rediscover, by @zahri-melitor (1.2k) - post-RR fic where Dick and Tim skip right to affectionate violence as a gesture of reconciliation, which is so delightfully in-character, tbh.

Sometimes the only way to show that you've moved on and forgiven each other is to take a flying tackle from the ceiling. Dick and Tim know each other's demonstrations of affection. Damian doesn't.

When it Rains, by vellaphoria (5.8k) - an exploration of Tim and Dick's (most recent) experiences with sexual assault, so warnings for past rape. really excellent.

After Cass and Tim return from Paris, something seems... wrong. Dick tries to find out what it is.

nightwing and red robin hit the town (or do they?) by xscintillate / scintillyyy (7.2k) - hilarious reversal of the "Tim is sad Dick never has time to hang out with him because Eldest Daughter Syndrome" trope.

Dick just wants to hang out with Tim on patrol, like old times. It's a shame that everyone else seems to have the same idea. It's fine. Dick'll get him next time.

POST-FLASHPOINT / MODERN ERA

so won't you stay, won't you stay (with me?), by dizarys / @dizaryswrites (1.4k) - beware the ANGST, this one really stomped on my heart 😭 but it's lovely

Dick seized his hands, holding tight. A long moment of silence passed. Tim kept time with Dick’s breathing as it steadily returned to an even pattern. "I'm proud of you for asking for help." His big brother whispered. "But I haven't." "I dunno, TimTam. Breaking into my apartment seems like a cry for help." Tim's having a hard night. So where else does he go but to his big brother's apartment? Whumptober Day 12

go past where our feet could touch, by redboard (Ink) / @upswings (1.5k) - this is such a lovely fic about the brothers having feelings about their long-gone mothers, and Dick seeing himself in Tim and processing things in his own life by being there for him (without sharing his own issues, at least that we see, lol). perfect characterization.

Today Tim was calmer, almost cheerful – as if it was any other Saturday afternoon. But it had also not escaped Dick's notice that Tim had gone on a universe-hopping trip to rescue Bruce, and one of the first things he'd done upon returning was, apparently, unbox a lot of photos of his dead parents. "How was the multiverse?" Dick asked.

WE'RE NOT DEAD (WE WALK)., by orpheusaki / @damianbugs (4.9k) - fantastic whumptober fic. the boys go through it, by god.

Dick is overwhelmed for a moment, filled with clarity and inexplicable confusion as he blinks around him bleary-eyed. There's the familiar itching covering his skin, tiny grains of dark sand invading the cuts that have torn through his suit from the crash. He coughs, throat dry and closing with every gasp of harsh air. The desert is as unforgivable as the last time he was here, an empty expanse of dunes that might just be a trick of the heavy sun against the back of his neck. Dick pushes the panic away behind his eyelids, savoring the darkness before opening his eyes again. Immediately, he sees Tim. Unconscious, hunched over, covered in blood and sand Tim. (Dick and Tim get stranded in the desert, Dick is always moving forward.)

CANON DIVERGENCE

long distance, by unchosenone / bitimdrake (1.7k) - A Red Robin era AU where Bruce is actually dead.

Six months—months—radio silence, and Tim is calling him. Dick doesn’t even know where Tim is. He scrambles for the phone.

Holding the Line, by Birdchild / @birdchildsnest (6.6k) - part 2 of the series and the first part is just as good, but more focused on the Dick&Tim&Damian relationship as a whole. In this, Dick is plagued with nightmares about the people he loves falling, and struggles through the resultant insomnia.

"Dick was used to anxiety dreams, even (or especially) ones about falling and failing to catch people. They weren’t pleasant, but he understood that they were his brain’s way of working through buried fears. The garbage disposal of his subconscious. But these dreams were more like the hyper-vivid nightmares and thrashing night terrors he’d had after his parents’ deaths. And they were constant. Every time he closed his eyes. He didn’t just feel rattled when he woke up; he felt flayed open."   (This will make more sense if you've read "Redrawing the Lines," but it takes place before "Season of Darkness, Season of Light," so you don't need to have read that.)

now the little red lighthouse knew that it was needed, by xscintillate / scintillyyy (22k) - beloved Tim never becomes Robin but shows up in Dick's life and becomes his brother anyway fic of my HEART

"Kid," he says, frustration bleeding through, "I don't know who you think I am, but I can promise you, I don't know anything about any companies. You might want to call the police about this, instead." "No, that's just it," the kid says, "I can't trust the police. I think they're in on it. I think I might get arrested soon. I need—I think I need Nightwing's help." in an alternate universe where jason survives ethiopia--dick and tim still find each other.

this also has a WIP sequel, so the little red lighthouse tried to shine once more, which is equally excellent

well, what would you do if you went back in time?, by xscintillate / scintillyyy (3.5k) - yeah, in retrospect Tim's smug know-it-all tendencies would become exponentially worse if he traveled back in time and actually knew everything, lol. of course he takes the opportunity to be a Pest to both Dick and Bruce c:

tim goes back in time, and prevents certain things--but still makes his appointment at the circus with dick and is kind of a menace (aka: snippets from an au where tim goes back in time and makes it so he doesn't become robin...but he's still just having fun going around and preventing everything he can think of regardless and making sure to bother dick)

the time you won your town the race, by silverwhittlingknife (4.4k) - technically WIP, but absolutely works as a (DEVASTATING) oneshot. It's been well over a year and I still have not recovered tbh.

He doesn’t know exactly what Tim would say. But he knows what Tim would do. Tim dies. Dick doesn’t take death for an answer. A Red Robin 12 AU.

the picture frames have changed and so has your name, by zahri-melitor (24k) - a fix-it it fic for Grant Morrison's 2009 Batman and Robin comic run, which infamously has Dick more-or-less forget that he's supposed to have a close relationship with this alleged "Tim Drake" guy. (Little brother who?)

So, in this fic, Dick literally forgets. Tim notices, and investigates. Also wonderfully highlights Tim's relationships with Helena, Barbara, and the Birds of Prey, and sometimes with Damian.

There’s something wrong with Dick. Tim thought everything was getting back to normal. Bruce was alive and back in their timeline, the Birds of Prey were once again operating out of Gotham, Dick had the city well under control as Batman and even Damian had been less obnoxious than usual. And then during a firefight at a warehouse by the docks, Tim was almost hit by a flying boomerang. And Dick never noticed. When something is wrong with your big brother, who else do you turn to but your big sisters?

Dizzy Edges, by Jojo_Squires / @jojosquires (156k WIP)

A Tim-time-travels-and-interferes-to-make-his-family's-lives-better fic which includes the whole Batfam, but is definitely centered on Dick&Tim and the weird itching dissatisfaction of their missing close relationship from the original timeline - which neither of them can even remember that they're supposed to have.

I leap on my email notifs and stuff new chapters in my mouth as soon as they come out.

Tim Drake didn't quite know what he was agreeing to four years ago, but he tried to make the best of it! Using notes from his past (future?) self, he (somewhat messily) tried to help everyone his other self cared for. Now, it's four years later and he can mostly ignore the second set of memories lying in the back of his brain. It'd be much easier if Dick Grayson would just leave him alone. If Tim believed in destiny he might actually think that the universe cared about what was lost. Dick Grayson has spent the last year feeling like he's veered off course. Something keeps itching at the back of his brain. He's missed some clue. Helena Bertinelli's promised to help him crack down on human trafficking, but Dick thinks her foster kid might actually be more help in that department.

First Priority, by avaya29 / @avayarising (6.8k) - okay so Jason does feature prominently in this one but also he's a hilarious outside observer to Dick&Tim's shenanigans. Also, GLUE TRAP.

As the door opened Tim quickly disabled another three separate electronic sensors in the doorjamb by swiping them with a device that looked a bit like a thumb drive. “Walk where I walk,” he said. He took a big step over the doormat, eyed the floor carefully, then took a careful skipped sidestep to another mat against the right-hand wall, where he removed his shoes. “What the hell?” whispered Jason, still standing in the open doorway. Tim pointed up. There was a net rigged up on the ceiling. “Pressure pads under the carpet.” “I repeat, what the hell? After Tim completely derails Jason's beatdown attempt by asking him for a hug, Jason's first priority is to get this touch-starved kid more cuddles. Tim's first priority is to avoid DIck's traps. Jason learns a lot about his brothers and what happened while he was away, and something about himself too.

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE

Patchwork Siblings, by Raberba_girl (40k) - fluff and whump and we also get both Talon!Dick and regular!Dick being big brothers, which is delightful.

Years ago, young Dick Grayson was taken by the Court of Owls and made into a Talon. When Talon is flung into an alternate universe where Dick Grayson was taken in by Bruce Wayne instead, he latches onto the first familiar person he sees. (Or: Little Bat-stalker Tim Drake is understandably alarmed to find that an undead assassin has imprinted on him.)

5+1 Night's at Freddy's, by cowboymater (6.6k WIP) - okay so this is only the first chapter of an expected six, but it's already a wildly interesting and entertaining scenario with great characterization. my kingdom for 5000 AUs where young Dick and Tim are thrown together into Trials and Tribulations out of nowhere for their brotherly meet-cute.

The 5 nights Tim spent at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza with Robin and the 1 he spent with Batman, OR, this would be the coolest thing that happened to him ever if the animatronics were trying to kill them less, OR, the "Batman meets Freddy Fazbear" fic I found hidden under a loose floorboard in Tim Drake's childhood bedroom.

darling boy, by deitybird (335k) - Fuzzy and funny de-aged!Tim shenanigans, with Dick as his primary caretaker but the whole Batfam getting involved. Author pulls what plot, character, and relationship points they like and want to explore from varied canon (post-Crisis, New 52, Rebirth, Infinite Frontier, Batman the Animated Series, etc.) and fanon to build out that 335k of story, and it's a very fun time. Toddler Tim is such a gremlin ♥

His comm crackles to life. “RR’s suit is in a pile on the floor,” Jason says, voice grim. “But no sign of him. Something bad must’ve happened if he ditched it all.” “I wouldn’t say it’s bad, per se,” Dick replies, gazing down at the kid nestled against his chest. Now that he’s looking properly, he can see hints of his little brother in those small features. “But at least I can confidently say that he’s not dead.” Or: Tim gets de-aged to four. Dick takes care of him.

Under a Parent’s Wing, by IzzyMRDB. (39k) - YMMV on whether this will be your cup of tea, as this is an AU where Dick comes into a parental rather than brotherly role for a younger, AU!Tim, who is also autistic and abused. But it’s also delightful, heartfelt, and a thoughtful exploration of the complicated, difficult situation as given.

Also I would, no lie, read hundreds of fics based on the premise of kid!Tim discovering that THE Dick Grayson (aka THE ORIGINAL ROBIN) is coaching gymnastics classes and using his sneaky determined ways to finagle himself into said classes.

When Tim found out that Dick Grayson was a gymnastics instructor in Bludhaven, he quickly signed up. After all, learning gymnastics from The Nightwing himself is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Dick Grayson is more concerned at the obvious signs of child abuse he sees in one of his students. AKA Dick Grayson, as a childcare worker, is a mandated reporter who knows how to recognize child abuse in his students. Tim Drake, after a lifetime of fear and confusion, learns to trust adults.

[shewhorunswithfandoms]

Resistance Chapter 1

So. I’m going to regret this later. But this is the first chapter of a Young Justice fanfiction I’ve spent a long time writing. It features an original character  (albeit a bit of a cliche one) but here you go~

Tags: @writing-yj @imagineyoungjustice

It used to be different. There used to be a time when people would laugh at the concept of real life superheroes. They didn’t appear all at once; they popped up slowly. It began with rumours in Gotham City of a vigilante, then Metropolis was attacked by aliens and Starling City gained a vigilante when they changed to Star City. At first, people didn’t believe the rumours. As more sightings headlined in their respective local newspapers, however, we began to believe, to hope. We began our downfall.

It all started when the Flash, Central City’s Scarlet Speedster, died. President Luthor is who everyone knew was behind the death; but any evidence implicating him would mysteriously disappear before it could be used against him. The Justice League wasn’t seen for nearly a week, assumed to be in grieving of one of the founding heroes.

We were wrong though. In our blind trust of these heroes, we forgot they weren’t perfect. We thought they had retreated to simply let the news sink in, but we could have never known they were really plotting. They call it Liberation Day, June 20th, 2009, or the day Superman murdered President Luthor and took over the government. He had melted Luthor where he sat, on the chair in the Oval Office. We laughed hesitantly, so very sure it was just a prank in bad taste. Our illusion shattered quickly, as we screamed in terror of these false gods.

Liberation Day was six years, nine months and twenty days ago. The Justice League and the golden days of safety are just fading memories to the younger generations. The Justice Lords and terror are our new reality. They rule with an iron fist, our every action watched by their cameras and spies.

Murmurs of a resistance sometimes catch my ear before they are quickly squashed. Murmurs saying the Bat isn’t dead, that he is trying to fix what happened nearly seven years ago. They are hard rumours to believe though, no one has seen even the Bat’s shadow since Liberation Day.

Batman wasn’t the only one to disappear. On that one day, on June 21st 2009, every single superhero who was opposed to the Justice Lords’ new rule just vanished. For the first few days, Gotham was a madhouse. The villains and gangs reigned superior. We all cowered like dogs and hid in our houses until the streets outside went silent. We watched as, one by one, every villain outside was systematically slaughtered by the Lords, only a few being left alive to go on and serve as deputies. The citizens of Gotham watched in horror, unbelieving that our so called heroes could do such a thing. Me? I watched it just as they did, with confusion and shock. I had grown up with these heroes. Superman was Uncle Clark to me, he was the nice one who always snuck me cookies. He was the one who helped convince Bruce to let me aid him as a heroine.

This was my family murdering people on the streets. I had shamed myself, saying I should be out there defending my neighbors as the blood filled the streets. Bruce’s order to give up my cowl and lay low had overridden any thoughts I had of running out there. I cried myself to sleep every night, hearing people cry out for the caped crusaders who had defended them before this. I cried because my friends, my family, were no more. I cried because this was not how it was supposed to be. We were here to protect people, not massacre the ones who dared to defy.

It hurts still, even now (six years, nine months, twenty days). Today is the day I’ve always been fearing, since the takeover and Bruce’s disappearance. The news was blaring out the headline Gotham rebel arrested and a picture of my former brother in arms, Richard Grayson. They had put out wanted alerts for every member of the Batfamily the moment we went underground. I hadn’t seen him in so long (six, nine, twenty) but I would know his crystal blue eyes anywhere. They didn’t have the same sparkle as they had before, he had grown a beard and looked so very thin.

“The notorious rebel Richard Grayson has been apprehended by Happy Harbor police this week. He has been #2 most wanted since Liberation Day almost seven years ago. He is being arrested for acts of treason, being an illegal vigilante in Gotham years ago and assaulting one of the Justice Lords. They are still searching for Bruce Wayne and Alexandria Kyle, #1 and #3 Most Wanted respectively. Please call your local police if you have seen either of these fugitives.” The news woman read off the teleprompter in an almost dead monotone, the screen switching to show pictures of the other fugitives. I blinked, hardly recognizing my own photo. I had not seen myself since I changed my appearance, and not heard my true name in just as long. I went by Abigail Ramone now, and looked nearly completely opposite of Alexandria.

My shocked gaze at the ancient television screen was interrupted as my phone rang. All use of cellphones had been forbidden, and contact restricted to only phone lines the Lords could monitor. I hesitantly crossed into the hallway off my living room, hovering over the phone as it rang a few more times. I had waited a tad too long, however, and the answering machine kicked on with a whirring, creaking, groan.

“Abby, it’s your Uncle Moony. I was hoping you could meet me at the park down the street from your mother’s old home tonight three hours before curfew.” A gruff voice crackled out of the machine, soundly awfully familiar for some reason. I didn't have an Uncle, let alone one named Moony. I glanced back to the living room, where the flat voice was still reading facts about Dick, Bruce, and Alexandria. It was suspiciously timed, a phone call from a fake Uncle and Dick getting caught.

“Most knew the three as former vigilantes in Gotham. They were the notorious Batman, Nightwing, and Feline. They all vanished after Liberation Day, and have not been seen until now. Wayne is believed to be somewhere around Keystone or Central City, while Kyle is believed to be in Coast City. In other news..” I turned the television off. I didn't get my hopes up on Bruce being near Central considering how off my supposed location was. I had stayed in Gotham because I knew that was the last place they would expect me to stay, and because I couldn't bring myself to leave the only city I’d ever known.

It was almost surreal still, seeing the Gotham of now. Don’t get me wrong, Gotham was still the most crime infested city in the nation. It still rank of corruption and drugs, but it didn’t hold a candle to the Gotham of yesterday. No more villains such as Poison Ivy and Riddler interrupted our days. Some had survived the first wave of massacre, fleeing to Arkham Island; but the Lords had actually been trying to drive them there. They sank the island, with all of it’s occupants. They hadn’t just killed some villains; they kill innocent workers and guards who had done no crime against them. All of the big bads had been there, Joker and Harley, Penguin and Killer Croc, Riddler and Ivy, Freeze and Scarecrow, Two-Face and Firefly. All of them gone the instant Lord Orin had commanded the ocean to swallow Arkham Island whole.

There was anarchy at first, various gangs trying to get their piece of Gotham until Lord Diana established her Amazonian deputies as the Gotham Queens. Most of the big cities had a ‘patron Lord’, which were the heroes who used to protect them. Metropolis became the new capital, with Lord Kal at the helm. Washington DC was destroyed when the Lords bombed the Hall of Justice to keep people from gathering there in protest. Lord Diana had chosen Gotham when Batman and his heroes went into hiding, knowing we would be formidable if we ever decided to try and take back Gotham. Lord Oliver had assumed Star City, establishing his deputies as Roy Harper and Ray Palmer when Dinah Lance had vanished. Lord Orin had returned to Atlantis after the Lords established their hold and hadn’t been seen since. Lord J’onn remained, to my knowledge, in the floating satellite the League had once called home, presumably to monitor any intergalactic threats. As for the rest of the world, all travel outside the country had been prohibited; our contact with the outside forbidden. We knew nothing of what happened to the rest of the world six years, nine months and twenty days ago.

I glanced back at the answering machine. The house that was listed on my forged papers as my childhood home didn’t have a park anywhere near it. The only place I can remember having a park nearby was my true home, which frightened me. Whoever that had been knew who I really was. These cover identities were secrets, shared only with the fellow protectors of Gotham. They were all set up when we first became heroes, and we worked hard on making them believable. We added paperwork to the trail, growing the covers as we grew ourselves. A glance at the clock told me I had just enough time to get changed and arrive early in order to get a good hiding spot to figure out who ‘Uncle Moony’ really was.

[thatmasquedgirl]

The Aging Soulmate AU

For the last couple of days we’ve been sort of collaboratively been working on this, so thought I’d compile it in one place that wasn’t so long.

With new stuff because duh.  (It was quiet at work today so of course I thought about how I’d reply to the last things.)

Tagging everyone who displayed interest at the end.

Based on this post:

AU where people age until they reach 18 and then stop aging until they meet their soul mate so they can grow old together.

Oh look at that.  I have stumbled upon a soulmate AU that I would actually write for Arrow.  Huh.

@felicity-said--yes said: I will give all the money i have to write Arrow like this.

Could you imagine the centuries old protector Vigilante of Star City, who meets the barely 25 hacktivist? oh my god, i seriously wish i could write…

OH MY GOD DID YOU JUST READ MY MIND BECAUSE THAT WAS SO WHERE I WAS GOING WITH THAT.

AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES.  YES I CAN IMAGINE.

UP THE AGE THOUGH BECAUSE I DO NOT NEED THAT MUCH TEENAGE ANGST FUELING THE WORLD.  THAT IS LIKE MY HIGH SCHOOL NIGHTMARE.  NO, THEY STOP AGING AT… 25.  BETTER.  LESS ANGST AND SELF-IDENTITY CRISES.

BUT JUST PICTURE IT, OKAY.  STARLING CITY HAS HAD A VIGILANTE FOR CENTURIES.  HE ISN’T LOVED, BUT INSTEAD FEARED BECAUSE HE’S A BRUTAL, VIOLENT MAN.  SEASON 1 OLIVER ALL OVER AGAIN.  HE DOES IT BECAUSE IT’S LITERALLY ALL HE HAS.  ALL HIS FAMILY IS GONE AND HE’S UTTERLY ALONE IN THE WORLD.  EVERYONE HAS FORGOTTEN OLIVER QUEEN.  AND HE’S SO TIRED AND JADED AND EXHAUSTED BY LIVING.

IT’S NOT THAT HE WANTS TO DIE.   IT’S THAT HE DOESN’T CARE.  SO HE TAKES CRAZY RISKS BECAUSE HE JUST DOESN’T GIVE A FLYING FIG ANYMORE.

ENTER A MYSTERIOUS CYBER HACKER WHO COMES IN AND STARTS STEALING FROM HIS TARGETS.  BY THE TIME HE FINDS THEM, THE RISING STAR THE PRESS IS CALLING FIREWALL HAS ALREADY BEEN THERE.  AND IT PISSES HIM OFF BECAUSE THERE IS LITERALLY ONE DAMN THING HE’S GOOD AT AND THIS SNOT-NOSED SHIT IS SHOWING HIM UP.

SO HE BUYS ONE OF THOSE DOODADS THAT ALL THE KIDS ARE TALKING ABOUT (also, i need him to actually talk like that, damn it) AND MANAGES TO TRACE THIS ASSHOLE BACK TO AN ABANDONED WAREHOUSE.  BY THE TIME HE GETS THERE, NOTHING.  HE SCOURS THE PLACE AND FIREWALL IS ALREADY GONE.  SO HE RUNS A HAND OVER HIS FACE, SIGHS–MAYBE PUNCHES A HOLE THROUGH SOMETHING–AND THEN IT HAPPENS.

HE SEES SOME BLONDE GIRL WHO SO CAN’T BE 25 YET WALKING DOWN THE STREET WITH A LAPTOP IN HER ARMS.  JUST LIKE THAT, HE KNOWS.

FIREWALL.

IT’S ANOTHER TWO WEEKS BEFORE HE NOTICES A VISIBLE FURROW IN HIS FOREHEAD THAT WASN’T THERE BEFORE.

…

I’m sorry for shouting headcanons at you.  Not so sorry for what I wrote.

@felicity-said--yes said: I may not have creative writing skills but I WILL ALWAYS ACCEPT HEADCANONS BEING SHOUTED AT ME!!! AND OH MY GOD I LOVE THE NAME FIREWALL IT IS SO PERFECT!!

COULD YOU IMAGINE OLIVER FIGHTING IT TOOTH AND NAIL TO DENY THAT HE IS GETTING OLDER. BECAUSE (depending on how quickly they age, normally or faster, and the timeline of this story) HE IS GETTING OLDER AND THAT MEANS HIS BODY HURT MORE AFTER A FIGHT.

BUT THEN ALSO BECAUSE OF THIS INFURIATING SMALL BLONDE WOMAN, HE’S FEELING THINGS HE HASN’T FELT IN CENTURIES, SINCE HIS SISTER PASSED AWAY. BUT THIS BLONDE HAS HIS HEART RACING FOR REASONS OTHER THAN VIOLENT ADRENALINE AND HE HATES IT

I’m not even apologizing this time…

HE HAS TO AGE AT A NORMAL RATE, RIGHT.  SO HE DOESN’T NOTICE IT AT FIRST.  BUT THERE’S THIS NEW FURROW IN HIS BROW, RIGHT.  AND HE JUST SHRUGS IT OFF.

BUT THEN HE STARTS RUNNING INTO FIREWALL.  HE TALKS TO HER–SHE’S WEARING A MASK (because he never sees her without the mask okay)–AND THEN HE NOTICES HIS SHOULDER IS A LITTLE STIFF AFTER A LONG NIGHT OF TAKING DOWN BAD GUYS. WELL, OKAY, THAT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN–HE PUSHED HIMSELF TOO HARD.

BUT THEN HE INJURES HIS KNEE.  HE’S UP AND AROUND IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT IT ACHES AFTERWARD.  LIKE ALL THE TIME.  AND THAT… THAT ISN’T NORMAL AT ALL.  IT’S ALMOST LIKE THE ABUSE HE’S PUTTING HIS BODY THROUGH IS CATCHING UP WITH HIM.

LIKE HE’S AGING.

AND THEN HE RUNS INTO FIREWALL AGAIN.  THIS TIME THEY GET INTO A HEATED ARGUMENT (WELL, NOT JUST THIS TIME–EVERY TIME). BUT THIS TIME SHE’S TALKING ABOUT HIS DANGEROUS STUNTS AND GETTING HIMSELF KILLED BECAUSE HE’S NOT GOING TO WITHSTAND THAT KIND OF ABUSE ANYMORE.

AND THAT’S WHEN IT HITS HIM.

SHE’S HIS SOULMATE

HE’S BEEN ALIVE FOR THREE CENTURIES, ONLY TO FIND HIS SOULMATE IS PROBABLY THE MOST INFURIATING PERSON ON THE PLANET.

AND DAMN IT, SHE KNEW.

SHE KNEW FROM THE START.

SO HE DOES THE ONLY THING HE CAN DO:  HE BOLTS LIKE HE’S BEING CHASED BY A CHEETAH.

(And Firewall is completely @ohmyemilybett‘s idea.  I fell in love with it.)

@bushlaboo said: AND THIS JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER @thatmasquedgirl. Nice naming job @ohmyemilybett!

He runs right into denial, right? All the denial. He starts listing all the reasons why he can’t have a soulmate, certainly not some snarky infuriating blonde. And when he’s almost convinced himself of that his doodad goes off and it’s Firewall.

Look you’re not my ideal soulmate candidate either. Someone from this century would totally make more sense, but we’re kind of stuck here. Fate has a weird sense of humor. You can keep running or you know we could figure out this vigilanting and soulmate thing together.If not, I’ll just keep sending you grumpy cat, because you totally remind me of him, memes until you finally relent. So easy way or hard way Big Green? Your choice.

Well of course he does, right?  It’s Oliver.

SHE CAN’T BE HIS SOULMATE.  HE DOESN’T HAVE A SOULMATE.  HE DOESN’T HAVE A HEART–THEY TORE THAT OUT OF HIM YEARS AGO WHEN EVERYONE HE EVER LOVED DIED.  HIS SISTER IS GONE.  TOMMY AND LAUREL ENDED UP TOGETHER AND SLOWLY AGED AWAY.  HIS MOTHER FOUND WALTER.  HE LITERALLY HAS NOTHING LEFT TO CARE ABOUT SO HE’S LONG SINCE ACCEPTED HE’S GOING TO LIVE FOREVER.

HOWEVER LONG THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE.

SHE… UNNERVES HIM.  IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE USUALLY DON’T.  BECAUSE HE CAN’T READ THIS LITTLE BLONDE HACKER WHO ISN’T EVEN A FRACTION OF HIS AGE.  AND, TRUTH BE TOLD, THAT SCARES HIM.  HE’S SCARED OF A MERE CHILD.

SO OLIVER DOES WHAT OLIVER DOES BEST:  HE SULKS.  HE SULKS AND BROODS AND STOPS GOING OUT AT NIGHT IN THE HOOD.  HE JUST LOCKS HIMSELF UP IN THE BASEMENT OF THE OLD QUEEN FACTORY THAT HIS FAMILY ABANDONED AT THE TURN OF THE 19TH CENTURY, AS IF IT’S SOME SORT OF SELF-IMPOSED PRISON.

BUT ONE NIGHT HE WAKES UP AND SHE’S THERE.  FIREWALL, SITTING ON HIS DESK ALL BORED AND MYSTERIOUS AND DRIVING HIM INSANE WITH HER MERE EXISTENCE. SHE’S HOLDING HIS COMMUNICATIONS DOODAD–THE ONE WITH THE SCREEN HE HAS TO POKE TO OPERATE–AND SHE JUST CASUALLY TELLS HIM ABOUT HOW HIS CYBERSECURITY IS COMPLETE BULLSHIT AND HE REALLY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE COPS CAN TRACE HIM.

OLIVER JUST BLINKS AT HER A FEW TIMES BECAUSE WHAT.

THEN SHE REAMS HIM.  SHE STARTS THIS NOT-QUITE-YELLING LOUD SPEECH ABOUT HOW HE COULD ACTUALLY DO SOME GOOD IN THE CITY IF HE STOPPED BEING ALL GLOOM AND DOOM.  AND HOW, BY LOCKING HIMSELF UP, HE’S FAILED THE CITY HE’S SPENT OH SO LONG PROTECTING.  HIS LITTLE BLONDE DEMON IS TELLING HIM TO SUCK IT UP, BUTTERCUP.

SHE’S ABOUT TO LEAVE WHEN HE FINALLY FINDS HIS VOICE.  IN A LOW BREATH, HE BEGS HER TO WAIT.

FIREWALL IS JUST AS MERCILESS AS HE IS.  SHE DOESN’T CAVE TO HIS REQUEST.   INSTEAD, SHE STOPS AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS, AND, ONCE MORE, SHE MANAGES TO TURN HIS WORLD UPSIDE DOWN.

“I HOPE YOU DIDN’T THINK I WAS GOING TO THROW MYSELF AT YOU BECAUSE YOU’RE MY SOULMATE.”  HER LAUGH IS BITTER.  “I STOPPED CHASING AFTER PEOPLE A LONG TIME AGO.  SO IF YOU NEVER WANT TO SEE ME AGAIN, FINE.  IF YOU WANT TO WALK RIGHT OUT OF MY LIFE, GO AHEAD.  I’LL HOLD THE DOOR OPEN FOR YOU.”

WHEN THE DOOR SLAMS, IT MANAGES TO SHATTER ONE OF HIS FAVORITE PICTURES AND HIS LONG-DEAD HEART.

@bushlaboo said: [T]here are not words. TRUELY. I just … this is just … 😍😍😍😍 

I have many regrets in life but this is not one of them.  When I go to bed tonight, I am going to just lie there and think about this.

@madmanwithawarehouse said: If you write this I will love you forever* AND OLIVER GOES TO TALK TO HER ABOUT THE WHOLE SOULMATE THING AND THE PRO AND CONS OF DATING AND FELICITY RESPONDS WITH, “WELL WE’RE GOING TO GROW OLD AND DIE WHETHER WE’RE TOGETHER OR NOT. I JUST THINK IT’S LESS BORING THIS WAY.” *of course I’d love you forever anyway but still

OH, NO.  IT WON’T BE THAT EASY.  THIS IS OLIVER WE’RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.  HE WON’T JUST CAVE.  MAYBE EVENTUALLY, BUT NOT IMMEDIATELY.

FIRST HE’LL BE ANGRY--FURIOUS, EVEN.  FAR EASIER TO BE ANGRY THAN HEARTBROKEN.  HOW DARE THIS LITTLE, BARELY-EVEN-OUT-OF-ADOLESCENCE... DEMON WOMAN TELL HIM HOW TO LIVE HIS LIFE!  SHE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT WHO HE IS OR WHAT HE’S ENDURED.

AND THEN HE TELLS HIMSELF THIS IS WHY HE’S BETTER OFF WITHOUT A BLASTED SOULMATE.

SO HE POUTS SOME MORE (AND SOME MORE BECAUSE HELLO, THIS IS OLIVER).  HE BROODS AND STEWS UNTIL HE REALIZES HIS WORST NIGHTMARE HAS COME TO LIFE:  SHE WAS RIGHT.

GODDAMN IT.

SO HE STOPS BROODING.  JUST WHEN THE CITY STARTS TO THINK THE ARROW IS FINALLY DEAD, HE RETURNS WITH A VENGEANCE.  EXCEPT THIS TIME HIS WRATH ISN’T CRUEL OR VINDICTIVE.  INSTEAD, HE GRANTS HIS VICTIMS MERCY.  HE DOESN’T KILL UNLESS HE’S GRANTED NO OTHER OPTION--UNLESS DEATH IS HIS ONLY OTHER CHOICE.

BECAUSE, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO HUNDRED YEARS, OLIVER QUEEN HAS FOUND SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR.

IT ISN’T THAT HE LOVES HER, THIS MYSTERIOUS FIREWALL THAT FATE HAS SOMEHOW SELECTED FOR HIM.  NO, HE DOESN’T KNOW HER WELL ENOUGH.  AND HE DISCOVERS THAT HE WANTS TO KNOW HER.  HE WANTS TO DISCOVER WHY ON GOD’S GREEN EARTH ANYONE WOULD PUT THE TWO OF THEM TOGETHER (OTHER THAN AS A CRUEL JOKE, OF COURSE).

THERE’S ONLY ONE PROBLEM.

HE CAN’T FIND HER.

SHE’S STILL ACTIVE.  EVERY DAY HE SEES HER NAME IN THE NEWS.  BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT HE CAN NO LONGER TRACE HER.  HE KNEW FROM THE MOMENT SHE SHOWED UP IN HIS DWELLING THAT SHE WAS AN EXPERT IN ALL OF THOSE NONSENSICAL DOODADS THE KIDS LOVE SO DEARLY.  APPARENTLY SHE’S ENOUGH OF ONE THAT SHE CAN HIDE FROM OTHER DOODADS.

AND HE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT HER.  HE DOESN’T KNOW HER FACE, OR HER NAME.  ALL HE HAS IS A BLONDE OF ROUGHLY FIVE-AND-A-HALF FEET--WHICH DESCRIBES MOST WOMEN IN THE CITY.  HIS INFORMATION IS USELESS.

BUT HE’S DESPERATE NOW.  CURIOUS, EVEN.  AND NOW HE’S LIKE A BLOODHOUND WITH A SCENT, REFUSING TO LET IT GO.

WITH NOTHING ELSE TO GO ON, HE DOES SOME MORE RECONNAISSANCE.  FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES, HE VENTURES OUT DURING THE DAY, WATCHING AS PEOPLE GO BY.  EVERY SPLASH OF BLONDE HAIR CATCHES HIS ATTENTION, BUT IT’S CLEAR NONE OF THEM ARE HER.  WHILE HIS ROUGH DESCRIPTION MAY BE PITIFUL, OLIVER KNOWS HER FAR BETTER THAN HE THOUGHT.  HE CAN TELL FROM THEIR GAITS, FROM THEIR POSTURES, THAT IT ISN’T HER.

FIREWALL CARRIES HERSELF WITH QUIET CONFIDENCE, A LITTLE SASS THROWN INTO HER WALK TO REMIND EVERYONE SHE’S SMARTER THAN THEM.  THERE’S A MISCHIEVOUS TWIST TO HER SMILE THAT WARNS THEM THAT SHE KNOWS IT.  AND ONCE HE SEES THOSE AGAIN, HE’S CERTAIN HE’LL KNOW.

DAYS TURN INTO WEEKS AND WEEKS INTO MONTHS, ALL TO NO AVAIL.  SMILING FACES AND AGING LOVERS MAKE HIM REALIZE AGAIN HOW LONELY HE TRULY IS.

IT’S WITH THAT NOSTALGIA AND YEARNING TO BELONG THAT TAKES HIM BACK TOWARD THE OLD QUEEN OFFICE BUILDINGS.  HE EXPECTS TO FIND THE BUILDING DILAPIDATED, FALLING APART WITH AGE.  INSTEAD, IT THRIVES UNDER THE BANNER OF QUEEN CONSOLIDATED, RISING UP TO THE SKY WITH METAL AND GLASS.

HIS FAMILY’S LEGACY CONTINUES.

HE PAUSES ON THE STEPS IN FRONT OF THE FOUNTAIN, TAKING IT ALL IN.  MOMENTS--MAYBE EVEN MINUTES--PASS BEFORE HE HEARS IT.

IT’S HER VOICE THAT CATCHES HIS ATTENTION, SOFT AND SWEET WITH JUST ENOUGH GRAVEL TO WARN EVERYONE SHE ISN’T ALWAYS SWEET.  HE TURNS TO FIND A BLONDE WITH LUDICROUSLY PINK LIPS STANDING ON THE STEPS, TALKING TO SOMEONE WHILE USING EXAGGERATED HAND GESTURES.  SHE STANDS AS THOUGH SHE’S AT EASE WITH HER SURROUNDINGS, CONFIDENT IN HERSELF.  AND THEN SHE WALKS OFF WITH A SWING TO HER HIPS AND A BOUNCE IN HER STEP.

JUST LIKE FIREWALL.

IN THAT MOMENT, HE KNOWS IT’S HER.  EVERYTHING ABOUT HER IS UNMISTAKABLE, RIGHT DOWN TO THAT TWIST OF HER LIPS THAT WOULD DO MONA LISA PROUD FOR ALL THE ENIGMA IT PRESENTS.  SOMEONE CALLS TO HER, WAVING AS HE REFERS TO HER AS FELICITY.

SOMEHOW, IT SUITS HER.

HE FOLLOWS HER.  OLIVER DISCOVERS WHERE SHE LIVES, AND, ONE NIGHT, HE EVEN WATCHES HER SLIP OUT IN THE ALL-BLACK GETUP DISTINCT TO FIREWALL.  HE WATCHES HER SUCK ON HER LIP AS SHE MAKES HER COMPUTER-ISH DOODAD WEAVE HER MAGIC ON ANOTHER UNSUSPECTING VICTIM.

IT’S SOMETHING HE NEVER DOES AGAIN.  SUCH BEHAVIOR MAKES HIM FEEL... DASTARDLY, AS IF HE’S SOME SORT OF PREDATOR.  AND HE’S DISCOVERED ALL HE NEEDS TO KNOW.  NOW HE NEEDS TO DECIDE WHERE HE STANDS.

HIS DAILY WALKS DON’T DECREASE.  HE LIKES IT, THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF THE CITY, THE WAY PEOPLE INTERACT.  IN MOST WAYS, HE IS IN THE WORLD AND NOT OF IT, BUT HE APPRECIATES IT ALL THE SAME.

ONE DAY HE STOPS TO GET INFORMATION FROM THE FIRE CHIEF ON THEIR NEW RESIDENT ARSONIST.  SHOUTING CATCHES HIS ATTENTION, AND HE TURNS TO FIND ONE OF THE FIREMEN YELLING AT A BLONDE WHO IS COMPLETELY UNFAZED BY HIS IRE.

AND SUDDENLY HE’S STARING AT FIREWALL AGAIN.

THOUGH OLIVER MAY HAVE HAD HIS FAIR SHARE OF DEBAUCHERY IN THE PAST, HIS PARENTS DID TRY TO RAISE HIM AS A GENTLEMAN.  AND EVERY OUNCE OF THAT FORCES HIM TO INTERVENE, EVEN THOUGH HE ISN’T SO FOOLISH TO THINK THIS WOMAN NEEDS OR DESIRES HIS HELP.

HIS FIRST WORDS TO HER AS HIMSELF ARE, “IS THERE A PROBLEM?”

BLUE EYES MEET HIS AS SHE LIES TO HIS FACE.  SHE CLAIMS SHE’S A REPORTER AND THROWS HIM A FAKE NAME.  SHE GRABS HER BAG TO LEAVE, BUT OLIVER STOPS HER BY ASKING THE SAME QUESTION TO WHICH SHE DESIRED AN ANSWER.  THE FIRE CHIEF RELUCTANTLY RESPONDS, GIVING FELICITY THE INFORMATION SHE SO DESPERATELY CRAVES.

AND THEN HE WALKS AWAY.

OLIVER STILL HAS NO CLUE WHAT TO DO WITH HER.

HE DOUBTS HE EVER WILL.

BUT OF COURSE SHE STOPS HIM.  IT’S TYPICAL AT THIS POINT; WHEN HE WANTS HER, SHE ISN’T THERE, AND WHEN HE NEEDS TO KEEP HIS DISTANCE, SHE’S RIGHT UNDER HIS NOSE.

HE’S FAIRLY CERTAIN SHE’S THE WALKING EMBODIMENT OF THE WORD INFURIATING.

INSTEAD OF HER THANKS, SHE OFFERS A QUESTION:  “WHY DID YOU DO THAT?”

“HE WAS BEING RUDE.”

SHE REGARDS HIM AS THOUGH HE’S THE MYSTERIOUS ONE.  “WHAT DID YOU WANT?”

“NOTHING.”  THAT SEEMS TO CONFUSE HER MORE THAN HIS PREVIOUS ANSWER.  “A ‘THANK YOU’ WOULD BE NICE, BUT I’M NOT GOING TO WAIT FOR ONE.”

WHEN HE TURNS TO LEAVE, HE TELLS HIMSELF THAT HE ISN’T FLEEING.

BUT, REALLY, HE’S FLEEING.

HE’S ALMOST DOWN THE BLOCK WHEN HE HEARS A QUIET “THANK YOU” IN THAT HEAVENLY SWEET VOICE.

“MY PLEASURE,” HE WHISPERS BACK, TOO LOW FOR HER TO HEAR.

A WEEK LATER, HE FINDS HIMSELF IN THE BUSINESS DISTRICT AGAIN.  HE’S STARTED TO LINGER AROUND THE QC OFFICES, TAKING IT ALL IN.  SOMEHOW IT MANAGES TO INSPIRE HIM IN A WAY THAT FEW OTHER THINGS DO.  BECAUSE A PIECE OF HIS FAMILY IS LEFT FOR ALL TO KNOW.

GONE, BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN.

IMMORTALITY AT ITS GREATEST.

“QUITE A VIEW, ISN’T IT?” A WOMAN’S VOICE ASKS.  OF COURSE.

HE TURNS TO HER.  FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE TRULY OBSERVES HER.  OLIVER IS WELL VERSED IN THE STUDY OF THE FEMALE BODY, AND IT IS WITH A WELL-TRAINED EYE THAT HE ANSWERS, “MAGNIFICENT.”

A DUSTING OF BLUSH DARKENS HER CHEEKS, BUT OTHERWISE SHE DISMISSES HIS REMARK BY TELLING HIM THE HISTORY OF HIS FAMILY’S COMPANY.  BUT HE DOESN’T MIND; HE ENJOYS WATCHING HER TALK.

SHE HAS A PROVOCATIVE MOUTH, THE KIND THAT TWISTS AROUND EVERY SYLLABLE LIKE A CARESS.  IT’S SOMETHING HE NOTICED BEFORE--WHEN SHE WAS JUST A CLEVER THORN IN HIS SIDE--BUT NOW IT MEANS SOMETHING.

OBSERVATION BECOMES DESIRE.

DESIRE BECOMES TORMENT.

AND THE TORMENT BLAZES LIKE FIRE.

FINE.  LET HIM BURN, THEN.

SHE QUIETS BEFORE INFORMING HIM THAT HER NAME ISN’T REALLY MEGAN KUTTLER--A FACT HE ALREADY KNEW--AND REVEALS HERSELF AS FELICITY SMOAK IN THE THROES OF A STUTTERED EXCUSE.  THEN SHE SAYS SHE DIDN’T ASK FOR HIS NAME.

“IT’S OLIVER,” IS ALL HE OFFERS.

“IT’S NICE TO OFFICIALLY MEET YOU, OLIVER.”

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A CENTURY, SOMEONE SAYS HIS NAME.  AND THAT THOUGHT BRINGS A SMILE TO HIS LIPS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO CENTURIES.

“AND YOU, FELICITY.”

SUDDENLY IT SEEMS TOO REAL TOO FAST.  HE’S ALREADY SCREWED THIS UP ONCE, AND THIS TIME HE’S UNLIKELY TO GET ANOTHER CHANCE.  “I HAVE TO GO.”

“I’LL CATCH YOU AROUND, THEN,” SHE REPLIES IN A CHEERFUL TONE, THOUGH THE CORNERS OF HER MOUTH TURN DOWN.

“ONLY IF YOU HAVE TERRIBLE LUCK,” HE MUTTERS IN PARTING.  THE WORDS SLIP OUT UNDER HIS BREATH AS HE SCURRIES AWAY.

BEHIND HIM, HIS SOULMATE REPLIES, “YOU DON’T SEEM THAT UNLUCKY TO ME.”

IF ONLY SHE KNEW.

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