#if he did he would t have locked Alfred out to fire u

[frogaroundandfindout]

“Just you know, this isn’t avoidance its acceptance. There comes a time when every son has to leave the nest and take wing for the first time. We all move on. I may not be your partner anymore. But I’m just as committed to your crusade as the night you made me take the oath. I wanted you to know that. And something else…you were the best father you could be. Given the circumstances. Consider this my valedictory speech. The final exam is over and I’m ready for the real world. Time to pass the torch to the new class. You could do worse with the kid. Keep your eye on him okay? And tell Alfred thank you from a former boy wonder. ”

Jason steals them a get away car and dick leaves while the others report back to the cave. Dick settles into his apartment and Alfred has Jason drop off the disco wing suit. (Nightwing vol.1 #106)

[wandixx]

Ghost of fries and Hero of cookies part 3

All work words count: 14 643

Words in this part: 3 056

Summary of whole work: Duke wasn't expecting to wake up from his quick rooftop nap to some meta kid with fries. He also wasn't expecting kid to stay

Or

Danny asked Dani to stay safe while she was in Gotham. Where would she be safer than under the wing of local hero? And he looked like he needed bad day combo anyway

This part summary: Joker goons are in for an orange surprise and Duke does not like it in the slightest

Beta read by @audhumla-sailor though English is second language for both of us, so proceed with this in mind. I also know all of the charaters through fics alone, so probably ooc. Stay catious if it's something you don't like

First part, Previous part

trigger warnings: gun violence, panic attacks, dissociation, mentions of Joker gas and what it doeas to people (tell me if i missed something, I'll add it)

Duke was having quite a good day. His schoolwork finally got lighter and up until now nothing notable happen on his patrol. Obviously, couldn’t have Gotham without at least one mugging and bank and corner shop robbery. About the last thing, if it was chain store he would conveniently arrive too late to stop it and just follow up to make sure cashier didn’t get fired. He used to be intimately close with hardships of getting necessary supplies like food or gas masks while corporate assholes were trying to suck people dry. But it was family business so he actually had to step in. He did mention secure way of getting resources to would be robbers though. All in all, not so bad, pretty good day. As for now, he was swinging on grapple to meet with Dani, armed with healthy snack Alfred demanded he took for her when he got texted on his Signal-work-phoneTM. It meant important business 90% of the time, so he stopped to check it out. Other 10% were memes from Dani that usually were worth it anyway.

Got it in one, Hoopoe texted. He opened chat expecting funny video or something instead to be greeted by:

Dani: Hey Signal

Dani: Peple aint spossedf t get out f Arkham

Dani: Amirite?

His stomach dropped. He wished it was hypothetical question but he knew better than to believe such fantasies. Things didn’t go so well in Gotham, especially not with Hoopoe.

You: Yeah, your right. What’s up?

You: You’re*

Dani: Nerd

Dani: Whatre you’re thots on clowns

Dani: ?

His stomach officially landed at his feet and decided it wasn’t enough dropping and ended up on a street below. Even if Joker was still locked up, his goons being active were bad news.

You: Where are you?

You: Hoopoe, where are you?

Dani: Clm dow I ned to chek

Dani: I have ni ieda

Dani: The box building rod

Dani: roof*

Dani: Warehouse?

Dani: That the wors

Dani: I think

You: There are over 1000 warehouses in Gotham

Dani: Idk wht yu want me totll yu

Dani: Therere other warehous arond?

You: Okay

You: Check corners for symbol and number

Back in the day everyone other than Bruce decided to take part in a challenge to count all of the warehouses in Gotham manually. They each got their sector and graffiti spray to mark counted buildings. Later it kinda turned into a way of identifying them. 

Dani: Red blb with too wite dots

Dani: #83

Okay, he wasn’t too far. He risked roof hopping and checking texts to make sure she didn’t try anything stu-

Dani: Im goin in

You: No!

You: Stay where you are!

You: Hoopoe!

You: Hoopoe!

Dani: Calm down worrywart

Dani: Jus wante ti get ab look

Dani: Invisible

Dani: M not dump

I doubt it

You entered building with Joker’s goons with no back-up or plan. It’s extremely dangerous

Dani: Yeah, yeah don care

Dani: 5 goons in clown masks

Dani: Maks idk wat of

Dani: Not northern hemisphere of sky for sure

Dani: Weird containter s

Dani: Ari smells funny

Dani: Giggly i guess

Dani: U prbl know better

You: Get out of there

You: NOW!

You: Try not breathing it in

Dani: K

Dani: Ill stop brething then

You: GET OUT!

Dani: K

Dani: Why so agressive

Because Duke knew what Joker gas could do to person. He knew how it took wonderful people (like his parents) and left shells wand shadows of who they used to be. Because every gas release left him with panic attack. Because he knew it was more dangerous than even some vigilantes thought it was.

You: Wait until I get there

Dani: K

He almost tripped with how much he tried to speed up.

Dani was actually vibrating when he arrived but stayed quiet. Good. If she breathed in some Joker gas it wasn’t working dose yet. Duke had deep feeling not even Alfred’s cookies would be enough to deter her from entering. Offering her a granola bar he sat at the edge of the roof with bone deep sigh. Girl took snack eagerly, bouncing around like puppy high on caffeine.

“How about we take a note of this happening and get going? Other Bats are better equipped to deal with this,” They weren’t but he didn’t want Dani anywhere near this mess. He himself didn’t want to be anywhere near it either.

Kid got deadly still, staring at him as if she could read his deepest secrets if she looked hard enough.

“They’re scaring you” she whispered with strong feeling but Duke had trouble reading what feeling was it. He put his face in his hands for a moment. How was he even supposed to answer that?

“Joker is one of the most dangerous people in Gotham and these guys are working for him. They have guns. Of course I’m a little scared”

Judging by the face Dani made, she wanted to call him out on his bullshit but thought better of it. She floated to sit next to him, swallowing granola in few bites.

“My friend Johnny mentioned him,” she started between chewing ”he said ‘bastard murdered my baby bro Jay and Jay knew his way in fight, stay away from him Dani’. Normally Johnny isn’t so careful”

“All more reasons to leave it for others!” Duke almost shouted, hope growing in his chest. Maybe he could steer her away from it!

“He also told me to hit him if I happen to meet him. He would owe me ‘big one’ then. Do you think I could get ‘small one’ for couple of goons?!”

“Hoopoe no!”

Girl looked thoughtful and after over two weeks of working together he learned to fear this expression.

“Whatever you’re thinking, no. I’ll buy you biggest fries, just leave this–” he waved vaguely at the warehouse hoping it would get message across “–whole mess alone” There was lump in his throat.

Dani haven’t abandon whatever thought got her like that and nodded to herself few time. She drifted around a bit, shifted under her way too long cloak and finally settled with a soft smile.

“You’re scared… Terrified. You’re terrified of them,” she started calmly, like she would talk to a victim if she actually knew how to do it ”It’s okay. It’s great. Fear is what keeps humans alive,” she nodded as if she recounted something from textbook properly in front of the class “But I’m not scared and I fought people much stronger than them and I’m even better now thanks to you. If you’re so terrified, it means they need to be dealt with and it needs to be done fast. It’s okay,” her grin from soft turned devilish “I was itching for some fun fight anyway”

“Dani-”

“It’ll be quick, I promise,” she said, serious again “Don’t worry,” she stood up, saluted and fell through the roof, all too fast to react or not miss it with a blink. Frankly, it caught Duke so off guard he couldn’t even move for a few seconds after the whole ordeal anyway. He threw himself down to the nearest window as soon as he regained control over his body. His heart was stuck in his throat.

Dani tackled first goon with delighted giggle right when he crashed inside. He checked if his mask was secure on reflexes he plummeted towards the ground, moving his body to land safely on top of the shelf. Warehouses were weird place to fight. Easy to get vantage point like Duke just did but was also hard in a way. Little space made it hard to use wider streaks, easy get backed into corner. Annoying more than anything.

Dani’s wrestling match was so attention grabbing that nobody even looked at Duke, despite his far from subtle arrival. He threw himself forward when he caught telltale shine of the gun in one of goons hands. It was dumb move when Dani was so close to his ally, but who he was to criticize Joker goon’s live choices. It didn’t take Signal long to understand he wouldn’t make it on time. He had to but there was no-

Two gunshots rang in rapid succession split second before Duke got to the goon and, with swiftness granted only by adrenaline and fury people got when someone their got hurt, knocked man out cold. Before body could hit the ground he spun around to see the damage because Dani still refused to wear any armor and from this close goon would have to be Storm Trooper to miss her. Because she was most likely bleeding heavily. What if they hit something instantly lethal?

He faced a fight right in time to see Dani jumping at another goon also openly wielding a gun. He wanted to yell at her but bullets were fired before he got a chance. He looked for blood dripping from her torso while dodging another man  barely taking his eyes off Dani.

“That wasn’t nice,” she sounded like she pouted! At being shot! “If I was anyone else I would be seriously hurt right now, you know?” her voice was somewhat off. Like it wasn’t quite made by her vocal cords but some awkward voice generator.

Before the appalled man could react, he got technically not too good right hook to the jaw. It was strong enough to make him unconscious and get quite loud creak out of his neck. Duke hoped Dani didn’t mess up the guy's spine. He was criminal but he didn’t deserve this type of treatment.

Duke focused back on his own fight when he made sure that girl wasn’t in immediate danger of dying. He dodged running goon again, who literally ran himself into the shelf because of that. Signal used his short confusion to hit him in the side of his neck, rendering the opponent unconscious. Okay, they made it, this was the last-

Another gunshot made his sped-up heart skip a beat. Lump in his throat suffocated him.

No, no, no, no, no-

“I shot you in the face!”

 He looked her way ready to see unmoving body and red decorating concrete floor.

“There was a good quip for- oh right” she started cheerfully, entirely unharmed, before her face twisted into something actually demonic.

“Y̶o̸u̵r̵ ̶p̵e̶s̴k̶y̵ ̴l̷i̷t̶t̸l̶e̸ ̵b̷u̸l̴l̴e̶t̷s̵ ̴w̸o̴n̵'̸t̵ ̵h̶u̵r̶t̸ ̸m̷e̶, ₥ØⱤ₮₳Ⱡ₴”

She laughed in distinctly Dani way, all bright and joyful while also so not like herself, distorted and echoey it mage hairs at the back of his neck stand.

Duke froze when goon fired again and there was no way she dodged it. There was not enough space. She had to get shot. She got shot and he did nothing to stop it. A child got hurt because of him-

He looked at but hadn’t quite seen how Dani knocked out last goon and flew up to him. He heard her voice but words were impossible to understand over rush of blood in his ears. He could tell she was laughing. They should get out. Dani mentioned giggly smell in the air. It had to mean Joker gas. They needed to be out yesterday.

He stumbled a bit, forcing his leg to cooperate, half caring, half dragging girl to the nearest exit point. Fact that he could touch her and didn’t feel any blood was grounding a bit.

“-gnal, Signal are you okay? Your heart is beating weird,” Dani asked, sounding a bit scared for the first time today. Duke’s brain felt too fuzzy to care “Signal, you’re freaking out, calm down, please”

Light assaulted their eyes the moment they were out. Before he got fully used to it, he set girl in front of him and detached her cape. She may have squawked at this action but he didn’t care. She was shot, he needed to check her for injuries.

She got shot, she got shot, she got shot-

“Signal what-” he was clearly freaking her out “Oh. You think I’m hurt. I told you I could handle it. I’m fine. Signal I’m really fine. I have intangibility, bullets can’t hurt me. I’m fine Signal”

Duke wanted to make sure. Adrenaline or simple wish to not worry him could make her ignore something. He couldn’t let her. He made her turn maybe a little to roughly.

He wouldn’t be able to forgive himself if she bled out.

She was actually fine.

Relief hit him so strong he crumbled against the wall, his mind finally succumbing to the haze. It was fine. It was all actually fine.

He may have heard some yelling.

Next thing he registered was something tad too warm, almost burning his palms. His gloves did their job of protection well though. There was a herbal smell. Melissa, he registered after a moment. It took him some more time to realize that the source of the smell was in his hands. He had scathingly hot cup of melissa in his hands. He stared at a little bit squashed paper again trying to get used to the light. He didn’t even realize he closed his eyes. Sound of the paper bag made him look up where Dani, still without her cape, crouched few feet away from him.

“You back?” she asked cautiously. Duke wasn’t sure how to answer. He was and he wasn’t. His mouth didn’t work anyway. He shrugged, mindful of the cup in his hands. Blanket, he didn’t even know he was wrapped in, fell from one of his shoulders.

“I don’t know what happened but Jazz likes this tea when she needs to calm down. Though she usually needs to drink it to make it work,” Dani rambled, gesturing widely “You’re still breathing kinda funny, can you slow down? It’s not good for humans to breathe so fast. It doesn’t let good stuff from air get in your blood and travel around your body and it’s not healthy. I know, Jazz told me and she is really smart. She wants to be this doctor who stabs brain back into working. She had this smart word for it… Neurosurgeon, I think it’s this one. She said breathing like that is not good for brain so slow down? In for four, out for four? I don’t know, Signal, just calm down?”

Right, he still was hyperventilating. Duke focused on his lungs, forcing them to expand, trying to match up Dani’s slightly gasping breaths.

He really was freaking her out, wasn’t he?

Melissa was almost lukewarm by the time he was back in his body enough to drink it. It was sweet, a bit too much for his taste.

“You good now?” Dani asked and Duke nodded. He was as good as he could at the moment “Great, I didn’t want to leave you for too long so I don’t have BatBurger. I got cookies though. And I can go get it now”

“Don’t,” he caught her arm and squeezed, not sure why he did it himself.

“Huh?”

“Don’t go anywhere”

“Sure. Wanna cookie? I have chocolate chips and healthy, wheat ones”

“Chocolate”

“Okay” she nodded and fixed blanket on his arms. It was comfy. If Duke was firing on all cylinders, he would wonder where she got it.

“Don’t ever do it again”

“What is it though?”

“Jumping into danger like that”

“Oh, really? It wasn’t that dangerous, they were normal humans”

“They had Joker gas and guns”

“Intangibility means I can ignore bullets Signal, don’t be such worrywart. It’s bad for your health. What’s Joker gas?”

Question and the whole statement felt so surreal that Duke couldn’t help but laugh, choked and hysterical as it was. She didn’t know what Joker gas was. Worrying about her getting shot was bad for his health. He just had a panic attack and was comforted by a ten years old girl with cookies and melissa. What the fuck?

“Hey!” Dani pouted “Don’t laugh like that! Jazz always says that you shouldn’t laugh when someone doesn’t know something, just explain it to them! Signal!” she whined but the damn broke he couldn’t rear his hysteria back in “Alright, I’m Googling it”

She did as Duke’s laughter winded down. He was almost calm when she deemed her research enough.

“Alright, this is some nasty shit”

This sentence startled him into full silence. Dani was ten, swearing wasn’t something she did, like, ever. He must’ve scared her a lot.

“I’m fine though. I didn’t breathe it in. Did you? This laughter sounded a bit worrying to be honest”

“I’m okay, I had gas mask. People sometime laugh to release tension”

“Oh”

“Yeah. But you were in the building with it and didn’t have gas mask”

“I wasn’t breathing”

“You were talking”

“Our fucked up biology, as Danny likes to put it, means that one doesn’t mean another. I just don’t use it often because humans find it uncanny and my throat gets itchy after some time”

Something in Duke wanted to argue more but it was squashed but utter exhaustion that crashed him.

“Alright”

They sat for a long moment.

“Are you ready to patrol now?”

Duke would laugh again if he had any energy left.

“I think we should end for today. I would be useless like that”

“Okay, valid. You go home I’ll fly around a bit”

“No. You’re going home too. I don’t have enough emotional energy to worry about you getting into some mess like this again”

They stared at each other for a long moment before Dani looked away with angry huff.

“Okay. You’re worse than Danny, you know?”

“I don’t care. Go home and stay safe”

“You sure you will be alright if I go now? I can walk or fly you somewhere, not home if you don't want me to but maybe somewhere closer?”

“I’ll be fine. I can call my brother. Just go please”

“Sure. See you tomorrow, Signal. You were really brave today”

“Thank you, Hoopoe” If she answered, he didn’t hear her. He fumbled with his comm to turn it on with still shaky hands. Finally he managed and called a pick up in the form of Jason. It was great to have older brother who always had time like that. Even if it meant a lot of unnecessary questions about what happened Duke wasn’t up to answering it yet and threats of serious violence on his enemies.

Duke couldn't force himself to let go of the orange blanket. It was grounding.

Though Alfred made him hot chocolate with marshmallows. He wouldn’t repeat today for that, but it certainly was nice accent.

*********

"Humouristic" summary of this part

Dani: Yo, there are goons here. Gonna investigate.

Duke: *quietly freaks out*

Random Joker's goons: *do normal goon things*

Dani: *attacks them* HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Duke: Is this what minor heart attack feels like?

Goons: *start shooting*

Duke: Is this what major heart attack feels like?

Dani: Dude, you good? Here, get some tea, cookies and blanket

*

Dani, few hours later, texting: Hey Signal, remeber to bring back my cape tmrw

Duke, internally: Wait, this is her cape?

Duke, also texting: Wanna better one? Like Spoiler has?

Dani, somehow conveing Ghost Speak via text: Don't you dare

Thank you for reading this <3

Next part

[lfthinkerwrites]

Regarding Jonathan Crane, pt. 3

Title: Regarding Jonathan Crane

Fandom: Batman

Rating: T

Warning: Mentioned Character Death, brief descriptions of past violence

Summary: Bruce is made aware of the situation and reflects on the events that brought them to this point.

Previous Chapters:  1/2

AO3 Link

Saturday, February 3rd

8:30 pm

Since he'd escaped from Arkham Island almost 24 hours earlier, Croc had kept a low profile. Bruce knew though it would only be a matter of time before he caught his trail somewhere beneath the city. Croc was predictable. Dick was already out scouring the Bowery for information, while Oracle and Tim listened in on any radio chatter. Bruce himself was driving into the Bowery, after giving Gordon his latest update.

"How goes your search Master Bruce?"

Bruce pressed the intercom on the car to respond. "No sign of Croc yet. I'm going to meet Dick now in the Bowery. According to an associate of his, Croc has a lair somewhere beneath the old Blue Line subway tunnels. We'll be checking that out first. How's everything back at the Manor?"

"As well as can be expected, though Master Damian is quite insistent that he should have been allowed to accompany you."

"No," Bruce said adamantly. "Damian's not prepared to take on someone like Croc just yet."

"You and Master Dick should exercise caution as well. I know how difficult your last encounter with Croc was for you sir."

Bruce's grip tightened on the Batmobile's steering wheel. His last encounter with Croc had been the night of the Arkham Riot, when he'd been down in Croc's lair to get the spore samples that would counteract Dr. Young's TITAN formula. His encounter with Croc had been difficult yes, but it was what had happened before that still haunted him at night, almost two years later...

...He's still fighting off the effects of Crane's latest toxin as he chases the Rogue down into the sewers. It's more potent than it's ever been. He should of seen this coming he thinks. Crane had been too quiet since Nigma went into his coma. That always meant that he was up to something. Finally, he reaches the door that leads into Croc's lair and goes through it. He stops and slowly walks in. Scarecrow is in control tonight, not Crane. That makes the situation even more dangerous.

He sees Crane at the edge of the water, holding his pouch above it. "Stay back!" He cries out, his usually deep voice high and tinged with mania. "Or this goes into the water supply!" He dangles the bag over the edge and Bruce pauses. There's no reasoning with him at this point. Any scraps of human decency that Crane had ever had had gone with Nigma. Bruce slowly begins to reach for a batarang from a back pouch on his belt.

"Don't! I warn you!" Crane shouts again. "There's enough toxin to drive Gotham mad with fear for a hundred years!"

"Don't do it Crane," Bruce says. Then he pulls the one card he thinks he has left, even if it disgusts him to do so. "Edward is still out there Jonathan. Will you doom him too?"

For a moment, Crane hesitates. "Edward..." he says. Then his voice hardens. "You took him from me. You"ll pay for that. This whole goddamn city will pay for that!" He raises the pouch over the water again and Bruce reaches behind his belt. He'll only have one shot, he needs to make it count-

Suddenly something rises from the water and grabs onto Crane. Bruce realizes it's Croc. Croc raises the scrawny man above his head and the pouch falls harmlessly onto the ground. Bruce races to pick it up before firing the batarang at Croc's shock collar. The collar goes off, shocking Croc, but he does not let go of Crane. With a growl, he plunges back into the murky depths, taking Crane with him.

Bruce should go after them. He's not sure what Croc intends to do with Crane, but he has to stop him. He's about to dive into the water when the Earth above him shakes. The TITAN infected plants are still growing. He needs to get the spores for the antidote or everyone on this island will die, to say nothing of what Joker will do if he gets into Gotham City. But if he doesn't go in, Jonathan Crane may die. One life, vs hundreds, potentially thousands... He takes one last look at the water, then he continues into the lair...

...That was the last time anyone had seen or heard from Jonathan Crane. As far as Gotham and the rest of the world was concerned, the man was dead. Bruce sighed. He should have been more resistant to the fear toxin. He should have been quicker to disarm Crane. He should have gone after Croc. Every death that happened on his watch, no matter whose it was, was his responsibility.

"Are you alright Sir? You've been quiet."

Bruce shook off the memory and focused back on the road. "I'm fine. I'll check in again when I meet with Dick." Bruce shut off the intercom and prepared to make the turn into the Bowery. Then his car phone rang. Bruce narrowed his eyes. That couldn't be Alfred or Barbara. He pressed the talk button to answer the phone. "Yes?"

"Bruce?"

Bruce's eyebrows raised under the cowl. "Selina? What is it?"

"I need to see you."

The almost desperate tone in her voice immediately set Bruce on edge. Selina's never desperate. "What's wrong?"

"It's Eddie. I think he's in real trouble."

Not Nigma. Not now. What could he have possibly gotten up to-Croc. Did Nigma-

"You look like Hell," is the first thing Selina says when he staggers into her apartment. He should go back to Wayne Manor to rest, but he needed to see her first. Selina can sense something deeper than exhaustion brought him here. "Bruce. What's wrong?"

Bruce takes a breath. "Jonathan Crane's dead."

Selina's eyes widen. "What? How?"

"I chased him down into Croc's lair. He was dangling a pouch of fear toxin over the water. Croc grabbed him and dragged him under." He should have gone after them. He knows now he had time. Why didn't he?

Selina sinks onto her couch. "Jesus..." her hand comes up to her mouth as she gasps. "Oh God! Bruce! Eddie! How am I going to tell Eddie?"

Bruce shook his head. "Where are you?"

"I'm on the roof of the Iceberg Lounge."

Bruce made a sharp u-turn. "I'll be there in ten minutes."

Selina was waiting alone on the roof of the Iceberg Lounge, just as she said she'd be. She looked visibly relieved when she saw Bruce as he approached. "Hey handsome."

Bruce wished he could take the time to exchange pleasantries with her. "What happened with Nigma?"

Selina sighed. "He's gone Bruce. He's not at his apartment or his office and he hasn't answered his phone for over 24 hours." Selina's eyes softened slightly. "When I was by his apartment earlier, he had a box of news clipping about Crane out on his coffee table. He's gone after Croc Bruce. I know it."

Bruce knew she was right. He remembered when Selina told him about Edward's reaction when she informed him about what had happened to Crane. He should have told Tim or Dick to check on him when they'd gotten word about Croc's escape. "When was the last time anyone saw or spoke to him?"

"Yesterday morning," she answered. "We didn't know he was gone until earlier this afternoon."

So Edward had potentially been gone for over 24 hours. Bruce narrowed his eyes. He could be anywhere underneath Gotham by now. He might be dead. He clenched his fist. He should have never let Croc take Crane. He should have kept a closer eye on Edward. He should have done better by both of them, but he didn't and Crane was dead. And Edward potentially was too.

He felt Selina's hand on his shoulder. "Bruce," she said gently. "What happened to Crane wasn't your fault."

"I'm responsible for it Selina. I could have done more to prevent it. I should have gone after Croc."

"Bruce, the whole island was going to Hell, you'd just been exposed to enough fear toxin to drive ten people insane and you were on Croc's home turf. If you'd gone after them, you would have died." She gently reached up to cup Bruce's chin. "What happened to Crane was horrible, but he knew the risks going down there. You can't make yourself responsible for everything. We can't bring Crane back, but we can still save Eddie."

She was right. Edward's safety was the priority now. He reached up to take her hand. "I'll find him Selina," he promised. "If Edward's down there, I'll find him before it's too late."

Selina withdrew her hand and smiled. "I know," she said. "I'm coming with you."

"Selina," Bruce warned. "This will be dangerous."

"Oh really?" Selina drawled. "Going down into the sewers to chase Killer Croc will be dangerous? You don't say." Her face grew serious. "Eddie's my friend. If we find him before Croc does, I'm one of the only people around who might be able to talk sense into him. We both know he won't listen to you."

Bruce didn't like the idea of Selina coming with him, but he conceded the point. "Alright, but be careful."

"Relax," she said, sauntering towards the edge of the rooftop. "I'll just grab Eddie and get out. I'll leave the fighting to you. "

Nightwing was waiting by the entrance to the Old Blue Line Bowery Station when Bruce pulled up in the Batmobile. He gave Bruce a quick nod of acknowledgement then did a double  take when he saw Selina exit the vehicle. She gave him a small wave. "Hi Boy Wonder."

Nightwing looked over to Bruce. "You wanna fill me in?"

Bruce locked down the Batmobile and walked over to Nightwing. "Nigma's gone after Croc," he explained. "We need to find him before he finds Croc."

Nightwing's eyes went wide under his domino mask. "Aw jeez..." He looked back towards Selina, who had joined him by the entrance. "I take it you're here to try to save Eddie from himself?"

Selina stretched her arms out above her head. "Try the key word there." She glanced at the entrance. "Ready boys?"

Nightwing stepped to the side and swept his arms towards the entrance "After you my Lady." Selina chuckled a bit and stepped through, followed by Bruce and Nightwing. The three descended the steps into the old station and walked out onto the old platform. Bruce winced as he saw the homeless gathered around meager fires, barely looking up at them as they passed. Budget cuts had forced the city to close down much of the shelters. Bruce would have to see that some of the Wayne Charity Foundation's budget went towards opening new ones. The three passed one older man who was sitting by the edge of the platform. He looked up at them with vague curiosity.

"You here for Croc or for Riddler?"

Selina looked sharply down at the man. "You saw Riddler? When?"

"Last night," the man answered. "Told him Croc was there. I warned him not to go down there. He didn't listen though."

Bruce narrowed his eyes. Edward had been down here for 24 hours. They needed to hurry. He jumped onto the tracks and gestured for Selina and Nightwing to follow him.

As they walked down the tunnel, the faint light from the fires on the platform completely dimmed. Bruce pulled a small flashlight out of a pocket on his belt and clicked it on, illuminating the tunnel before them. For a while, they walked on in silence, until Nightwing broke it.

"Going up against Croc...what's Eddie thinking? He's got to know he doesn't stand a chance against him."

"He's not thinking," Selina answered. "He's not being rational." She clucked her tongue. "He never really was rational where Spooky was concerned."

"I'll say," Nightwing muttered. "I never understood what he saw in Crane."

"Neither did I," Selina admitted. "But Eddie loved Crane. He still does love him. It doesn't matter what I think. And I think Spooky loved him back, in his own way. It wasn't like Joker and Harley."

Crane was a misanthrope who enjoyed the terror he caused, despite a token attempt to pass off his actions as 'pure research.' He disregarded all other concerns, including his health, as something completely beneath his notice. If there had been anyone on Earth that Jonathan Crane had truly cared for though, it was Edward Nigma. His always precarious grip on himself had slipped for good after that last fight in Metropolis, when Edward had finally bitten off more than he could chew. Bruce had been at that battle with the rest of the League, but he didn't see Edward go down. It wasn't until after the fight that he saw Shining Knight, standing over Edward's limp body. He almost didn't recognize him through all the blood. Shining Knight was still holding the bloody mace, stammering out apologies as Bruce had cradled Edward's body and yelled for a medic. Bruce suspected that Edward's earlier dip in the Lazarus Pit was the only reason he survived, even if his memories couldn't be salvaged. The only thing that comforted Bruce was the fact that Crane hadn't been there to witness it. Regardless, that had been the start of his final, fatal descent. Bruce felt his grip on his flashlight tighten. He'd had a hand in everything that had happened to Crane and Edward in the last few years. That was something he'd never forgive himself for.

Bruce paused when he noticed something up ahead. An open manhole, with the lid cast aside. He slowly walked over to the open space and shone his light down. It was about a six foot drop, with railings. Bruce went down first, shining his light  to make sure there were no surprises waiting for them. When he saw it was clear, he gestured for Dick and Selina to follow him.

"You think Eddie was here?" Selina asked when she joined him.

"Yes," Bruce answered. "Let's keep going."

"He's been down here for a whole day," Nightwing said. "What's he been doing? Do you think he found Croc?"

"He could have gotten lost down here," Selina argued. "Maybe we'll run into him."

Bruce doubted that and he'd be surprised if Selina actually believed that.

"So what's the plan if we do find him?" Nightwing asked.

"I'm going to try to talk him into going back up with me," Selina answered. "And if he doesn't listen, I'm going to need your help hog-tying him and dragging him back up."

Nightwing snorted. "Great. Just like old times. I'm sure he'll really appreciate it too."

Bruce's attention was caught by the sound of water. That and the smell told them that they were in the sewers proper.

"I really hate when we have to chase after Croc," Nightwing complained, holding his nose. "Just once, can't he hide out in a bakery, or a field of flowers or something?"

"Eddie must be driven to find him," Selina added. "That's the only reason he'd be down here."

Bruce didn't respond, leading the way forward. If Croc was down here, they needed to be on the alert.

"Either of you boys have the time?"

Nightwing pulled up the sleeve of his costume. "12:30. We've been down here for about four hours, I don't think we're in the Bowery anymore."

Bruce accessed the palm top computer embedded in his right glove. "According to my schematics, we're under the Diamond District."

"You think Eddie made it this far?" Nightwing asked.

"He's got to be down here somewhere," Selina said. "You don't happen to have a tracking device on Eddie, do you?"

"No." Bruce said. He'd considered putting one in Ed's cane when they worked together on the Sharp case last year, but he'd decided against it. There was too much of a risk that Edward would have found out and be set off by it and there was a part of Bruce that had wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. With everything that had happened since then, Bruce wished that he had. He'd promised himself when Edward had woken up and announced his intent to reform, that he'd do what he could to ensure he stayed reformed...

...The office Edward had chosen to set up shop at is small, but Bruce supposes it will do. He'd decided that morning to pay the former rogue a visit as Bruce Wayne. There were things he needed to know about Edward, things he didn't think he'd find out as easily if he went as Batman. The door to what he assumes is the waiting room was wide open, so Bruce walks in. He raises an eyebrow at the open boxes that litter the floor. "Hello?" he calls out. "Anyone home?"

He hears a noise and Edward appears, walking out of the room just beyond the waiting room. His eyes widen in recognition when he sees him and Bruce tenses. The moment of truth. Does Edward remember that Bruce Wayne is Batman?

"I know your face," Edward murmurs. Then a smile appears on his face, one that doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Of course! You're Bruce Wayne!"

This is a good sign, Bruce thinks, but he's still cautious as he reaches out to shake his hand. "Indeed I am."

Edward takes his hand and shakes it, more out of a desire to be polite Bruce thinks. "I'm sorry for the mess in here. I just moved in."

"No worries," Bruce says. "I can only imagine how busy you must be."

Edward picks up one of the boxes on the floor and sets it on what will probably become a secretary's desk. "So," he says in a jovial tone that sounds just a bit forced, "How can I help the wealthiest man in Gotham today?" A look passes on Edward's face. "You're not here to settle a score with me are you? I don't remember if I've ever robbed you or not."

Either Edward is doing a very good job of mocking him, or he legitimately doesn't remember. Bruce is beginning to think it's the latter. Time to do another test. "I actually came to ask for your help."

Edward's eyes widen in genuine surprise then. "You-my help?" He recovers and claps his hands together. "Well then! What kind of conundrum do you have for me?"

Bruce takes the opportunity to study the man before him. Edward's put on weight since he's been released, looking healthier than Bruce had seen him for a long time. His eyes no longer have that manic gleam Bruce remembers from the last few encounters they'd had before Metropolis, but Bruce thinks they're a bit duller than they used to be. The purple shades obscure them somewhat. Bruce clears his throat and continues. "We've been having a rash of break ins at Wayne Towers in the past two weeks. I'd like you to take a look into it." Bruce had already figured out that a security guard was part of a robbery ring and was assisting his friends in breaking in. He wants to see if Edward can come to the same conclusion. He wants to know how sharp his mind still is.

Edward pulls out a pad of paper and a pencil from the desk drawer and jots this down. "Break ins...Do you have security footage?"

"Yes. You'll have access to everything you might need." Bruce pulls out his checkbook and writes an amount down. "I think this should about cover it."

Edward takes the check from Bruce's hand and his eyes almost bug out at the amount. "This-Mr. Wayne I-" Edward passes the check back. "This is too much. I can't accept it."

Selina told Bruce that Edward wasn't quite his old self just yet. Now Bruce fully believes it. "Mr. Nigma," he says. "Edward. Please. I want you to take it."

Edward eyes the check for a long moment, then takes it and puts it in his pocket quickly, as if he thinks that Bruce will change his mind and demand it back. "I'll get started on the case right away," he says. The man wets his lip and continues. "You must have a lot of options Mr. Wayne. Why me? I can't imagine your board at Wayne Enterprises would be too happy about this."

"No, the probably won't be," Bruce admits. "But I believe you really do want a fresh start. And I believe in second chances..."

"Bruce!"

Selina's voice jolted him out of his memory. Before he could respond, she rushed past him, running to what looks like a scrap of cloth on the ground about ten feet from them. A green scrap of cloth. Bruce rushed to catch up to Selina as she picked it up off the ground. When he was next to her, he got a closer look. It was Edward's green bowler hat. "He was here," Selina said. "I knew it."

"So what happened?" Nightwing asked. "Did Croc...?"

Bruce shone the flashlight around the immediate area. No blood. The water wasn't deep enough in this part of the sewer for Croc to have dragged him under either. His lair must be close by. "Come on," he said. "Stay behind me." He can hear Selina unfurl her whip and Dick ready his fighting sticks. The three of them continued on down the sewer. About ten minutes later, they hit a junction.

"Which way?" Selina asked.

"It's too dangerous to split up," Bruce said. He looked back down at his glove. The signal was weak down here, but he could just make out the map of the sewer system that Oracle had uploaded to the server for such an occasion. "The left leads to deeper water. The right's a dead end. We should go left."

Before either of his companions could reply, they heard a long, loud scream from the left. It was one of the most terrible noises Bruce had ever heard. It was a cry of pain, anger, and agony. Dick and Selina's eyes were both wide. "Was that Eddie?" Dick asked.

Selina stood frozen for a moment. "Oh my God! EDDIE!"

Without a word, Bruce ran towards the direction the cry had come from at top speed. He barely heard Dick and Selina behind him in full pursuit. He thought about Metropolis. He thought about the night Jonathan Crane had died. He would not fail Edward again.

[sentinelprimefanatic]

Stolen Tomatoes (Romerica fanfic)

Alfred is caught stealing some of Lovino's tomatoes. An entire crateful, to be exact. Let's see how this goes...)

Alfred carries the heavy crate with ease and then sees Lovino. He tries to run away, but Lovino steps in front of him, utterly pissed off. Alfred gulps. "Ah shit."

Lovino crosses his arms and growls. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

Alfred bites his lip and thinks about whether he wants to rat on someone or not. He chooses the latter. "Francis paid me $100 to steal your tomatoes. So I'm taking them."

Lovino frowns and growls again. "Give them back or... uh... i will.. fucking kill you bitch asswipe!"

Alfred laughs and then smirks. "I'm the hero bitch you can't kill me. I don't think you can even injure me!"

Lovino smirks back. "Welp, I guess i'm stealing all your burgers." He runs off.

Alfred's jaw drops in shock. "Wha-  OH NO YOU DON'T!" He chases Lovino at the speed of a football player. A really fit football player.

Lovino screamed curses in Italian and now ran faster than a cheetah, how him and his brother usually run when they get scared. 

Alfred, however, slowly gained on him. He balances the tomato crate on one hand. He slowly takes out his pistol and aims it at the Italian.

Lovino runs into Alfred's house and slams the door, locking it. 

Alfred smacks right into the door (which caused the crate of tomatoes to fall but don't worry the tomatoes weren't harmed), rubs his head, and growls. "YOU COME OUT HERE RIGHT NOW!" When Lovino didn't, he looked for his key. Realizing he left it inside, he jumps in through a window. It wasn't open, so glass get everywhere. He doesn't get a scratch on him, however. "GOD BLESS AMERICA! DON'T TOUCH MY BURGERS!" He points the pistol at Lovino.

Lovino screamed and stood frozen, terribly afraid of the American.

Alfred's tone becomes very venomous and menacing. "You better not touch my burgers. Understand? You aren't going to..." He smirked in a very creepy manner.

Lovino snickered. He had already thrown all the burgers in the sink, getting them all soggy. "Already did~!"

Alfred's eye twitches and he slowly laughs in a very eerie way. "Then you're so screwed..." He slowly pulled the trigger, the bullet zooming past Lovino's head. He fires two more times, one bullet also missing and the other one hits Lovino in the shoulder.

Lovino had been frozen with fear that entire time, but the pain in his shoulder snapped him back to reality. He clutched his shoulder as he ran up to Alfred and kicked the American in the dick REALLY HARD.

Alfred freezes in pain for a second before falling over in pain. He clenches his teeth. "oW.....YOU FUCKER!" He manages to shoot Lovino in the knee from the floor.

Lovino cried out in agony, clutching his knee now. "F-fuck off!"

Alfred snarls. "NEVER AND-" He realizes how much blood Lovino is loosing. It's really, REALLY bad. He gasps and covers his mouth, feeling immense guilt because it was his fault. "Oh shit dude, you're bleeding out..... like, A LOT."

Lovino glares at the American. "Yeah, because of YOU!" He lets out a low growl.

Alfred slowly gets up off the floor. "Oh god, I went nuts.....I really need to learn to control myself.....h-hold on one sec." He runs and gets the first aid kit from the bathroom. He then goes back over to Lovino, taking out a roll of bandages. "Let me take care of those wounds."

Lovino shakes his head. "No fuck you I'd rather bleed out!" He looks pale and there is pain in his voice, but he remains stubborn.

Alfred frowns and is really concerned for the poor Italian, who looks like he could pass out at any time. "Please, dude I'm sorry. I can't stand to see you in pain like this. Let me take care of it. Please?"

Lovino shakes his head and attempts to limp toward the door.

Alfred stands in the doorway. "You know what?! I don't fucking care if you don't want me to, I'm patching up those wounds." He prevents Lovino from leaving the house.

Lovino growled. "Fuck off you ASSHOLE!" He tried shoving Alfred out of the doorway, but is too weak to be able to.

"No, I'm trying to help you." Alfred pushes Lovino back and then grabs Lovino by the arm, dragging him to the couch in his living room. "Like I said, I'm bandaging those wounds." He holds Lovino against the couch.

Lovino screamed more Italian curse words and attempts to punch and kick Alfred like a little child, which only made Alfred grip Lovino's arm tighter.

Alfred holds Lovino down and pulls the bullets out of the wounds, then bandages them up. "There. That should be better."

Lovino stopped flailing when Alfred was done and glared at the American, feeling tired and dizzy.

Alfred sighs and shakes his head. "I'm so sorry, I get like that sometimes. I'm not able to control myself. At least you're okay now, though."

Lovino closed his eyes and his head fell to the side. 

Alfred began poking the Italian. "Hey, hey. Oh that's right, you lost a lot of blood, you need rest..." He shakes Lovino. "Hey, I know you need rest, but come on!" After realizing Lovino was still unresponsive and looked very weak, he began to panic. "Dude? Dude?! DUDE! PLEASE! Oh my god!" Alfred quiver a little with guilt and worry. "Oh my god...um..." He calls 911 and tells them to send an ambulance, then hangs up. "Okay, okay. Ambulance is on it's way. L-lovino, I'm so sorry.....if only you could hear me right now. I just hope you'll be okay." Lovino lets out a shaky breath and stirs a little, but otherwise doesn't do anything. 

Alfred sighs with relief. "Oh thank god, at least he's breathing. Still, it's better for him to still go to the hospital. I may have bandaged his wounds, but he could need some kind of blood transfusion. Shit, I messed up..." The ambulance arrives and the paramedics tell Alfred that Lovino will be fine. They say that he just needs some time to recover, meaning he will have to stay here for a while, and that nothing else is needed. Then they leave. "Oh thank god, he just needs rest. Well, I'm going to cook something for him." Alfred starts to cook burgers.

Lovino wakes up about an hour later, in tears and confused as to where he was. "Wh-wha?"

Alfred sees that Lovino is awake and walks over to him, then sits on the couch by him and smiles. "Oh, hey! You're awake. The paramedics said you didn't lose too much blood and you'll be fine. You just need some rest. Which means your stuck in my house for a while. Sorry about that."

Lovino blinked a few times and looked up at the American. "Shit.....you can't be serious..."

Alfred nods. "Yep. You're stuck here. At least you get your tomatoes back. After what I did, I don't think I could possibly still keep those from you. Plus, while your here, I'm giving you food. I know you don't like burgers and I kinda burnt the ones I made anyway, hehe, so I ordered a pizza instead."

"Pizza...American pizza is shit." Lovino yawned, both groggy from sleep and pissy from an annoying headache.

Alfred chuckles. "No, It's from an actual authentic Italian pizza place, not Dominoes or Pizza Hut. I know you don't like that shit and to be honest, I don't either. I mean, it's not as bad as Arthur's cooking, but still bad enough."

Lovino nodded and smiled slightly, looking at Alfred with eyes sparkling with wonder.

"You're adorable!" Alfred smiled but then covered his mouth in embarrassment after realizing what he said.

"W-wha?" Lovino's face flushed with pink, wondering why the fuck Alfred called him adorable.

Alfred also blushes and laughs nervously. "U-um...I mean.....fuck." He covers his face with his hands. "Pretend y-you didn't h-hear that..."

Lovino nodded and looked down, still blushing furiously. "O-okay..." He looked as red as a tomato.

Alfred sighed and shook his head. He stayed silent until he recovered from the embarrassment. "Um, so, wanna watch a movie or something while we wait for the pizza?"

Lovino nodded. He would be bored just laying there, so he had to do something. And watching a movie was something. "Nothing too scary! Not like i can't take it.. I know you're a scaredy cat when it comes to movies..."

Alfred gasps. "N-no I'm not! I'm the hero, I'm not scared of anything!"

Lovino gives hi a skeptical look. "You were scared when you thought I was hurt."

Alfred nods. "Yeah, well, that's because I didn't want anything to happen to you! A hero can't let anyone he cares about die! And I....care about you..." Alfred bit his lip, hoping Lovino wouldn't ask why? But that's obviously unavoidable.

Lovino raises a brow. "Why? I'm Romano, barely even Italy. I'm not a very nice person and I'm not as well loved as mi fratello. So why?"

"Well....because I......uh...." Alfred blushes a dark red as he hesitates with telling Lovino how he feels. The Italian might not accept him or return the feelings. He's scared of rejection. Always has, always will be.

Lovino looks up at Alfred again, his golden pools of hazel meeting Alfred's electric blue. Lovino blushes harder as he does this. Could someone actually care for him that much? He didn't think so... If Alfred did, however, it would be amazing.

Alfred clear his throat, deciding it was time to confess how he feels. "I.......I love you. Y-you don't h-have to feel t-the same way. B-but! If you do, that would be p-pretty great!" He was very, VERY nervous. The hero being nervous? Ha! Never in his life did he think something like this would happen. Let's just hope Arthur doesn't found out, he'd laugh at him for days.

"Well...." Lovino smiles, but then frowns. "B-but you sh-shot me though..."

"I-I know...." Alfred looks down, feeling incredibly guilty and regretful. Sometimes things like this made him think he was the villain. His eyes water at this thought. "I w-went out of control, w-went way t-too far....I'm s-so sorry..."

"I-it's okay.." Lovino sighed and crossed his arms, leaning into Alfred a little. "Ti amo, bastardo..." Lovino looked away, asking himself how he could have fallen for the annoying American. 

Alfred rubs his eyes, then smirks and kisses Lovino on the cheek. "I love you too~"

Lovino looks at Alfred and glares. "Get off, dumbass."

"Aw come on!" Alfred laughs. "Alright, alright. What kind of movie do you want to watch?"

Lovino shrugs. "I don't care."

Alfred smirks. "Really now? Alright, I'm putting on Frozen." He grabs the remote and searches for Frozen on the TV, eventually finding it and putting it on.

Lovino looked at Alfred in horror. "oH GOD NO!"

"Well you said anything~" Alfred teases Lovino. "If you can think of another movie, I won't make you watch it." 

Lovino sighed and thought for a moment. After not being able to think of one, he shakes his head. "Um....fuck.....I can't....fine, watch it if you want. I'm going to sleep you asshat."

Alfred eyes widen and he shakes his head. "No wait! I don't want you to sleep!" He whimpers like a frightened puppy. "I'll put something else on, just don't sleep!"

Lovino raised a brow at the American, curious as to why Alfred was suddenly so scared. "Hmm?"

Alfred calms himself down. "Sorry, I uh........I get kinda scared if I'm either alone or everyone else is sleeping. It's from watching to many horror movies, I guess."

Lovino shakes his head. "Whatever. I'll stay awake. But CHANGE THE FUCKING CHANNEL."

"Okay. Instead of Frozen, I'll put on.....um, how about Home Alone? Is that alright?" Alfred waits for approval. 

Lovino nodded and smiled warmly. He certainly hadn't done that in a while. "Sure. That's fine."

Alfred smiles back at the Italian and takes Frozen out of the DVD player. He puts Home Alone in and when he does the doorbell rings. "Oh hey I bet that's the pizza!" He goes to the door and comes back with four boxes of pizza, three bags of garlic knots with a side container of marinara sauce, and two bags of zeppolis. "Sweet! Now we can eat while we watch!" He sets the food on the table in front of the couch and takes a slice of pizza, stuffing it into his mouth "Mmmmmmm!" He talks with his mouth full. "Ith tathe good!"

Lovino looked at the Amercan and laughed. "Fucking eight year old!" He stuffed his face with the food as well. He had never been so hungry in his life. 

Alfred swallows the food. "Yeah, I can be a bit messy with food." His cat comes in and swipes a garlic knot. "Hey, Americat, that's not for you!"

Lovino grabbed the cat, hugging it. What can he say? He loves cats. Alfred laughs. "Isn't he just the fluffiest? I'm going to have to cut his fur when spring comes because fur like that isn't good for warmer weather." Lovino didn't care about that. He just wanted to keep hugging the precious thing. He nuzzled into the cat's belly. "Mhm.... warm..."

Alfred laughs some more and then gets up to get something to drink, but trips over a cat toy. "Oof! Dangit, this is what I get for getting him so many toys!"

Lovino laughed at the American, whining when the cat squirmed free running off. "It's okay, he'll come back when he wants to. I'm just curious where my new husky buddy Bandit is. Eh, probably upstairs messing up my bed. He better not pee on it!" Alfred sits back on the couch, chugging an entire bottle of soda. Lovino glanced at Alfred, watching and enjoying the movie. Believe it or not, this was his first time seeing Home Alone. Alfred does a spit take when a funny part of the movie comes, getting soda all over the floor. it also comes out his nose. "Aw shit, hahaha!" Lovino jumped and snickered. "Grooossss!" His snickering turned into laughter as he had never seen so much soda come out of someone's nose. Like, wow! Alfred falls off the couch in a fit of laughter, the cat coming back to lick the soda up. "Hey, Americat, soda's not for cats!" Lovino grabbed the cat, running upstairs. He was bored of the movie and wanted some fun. What? He gets bored easily! "Hey come back with my cat!" Alfred follows him, laughing. Alfred loved games like this. This was way better than a movie he had seen over fifty times.  Lovino disappeared into the bathroom, closing the door before Alfred could see where he went. He stayed dead silent.

"Aw come on! Come out! You know, I think I know a way to find you!" Alfred decides to try something to get him to stop hiding. he sings a song he thinks Lovino won't be able to resist singing. "I am aware~ that I am an asshole.~ I really don't care~ about all of that though.~"

Lovino was sitting in the bath tub with the curtain closed, watching the door silently. It was so hard to resist singing along, but he managed.  "Goddammit! It didn't work. Hmmm.......hey, Lovino! Come out or I'm smashing all your tomatoes!" Alfred chuckles to himself. That'll get him!

"No you're not!" Lovino covered his mouth quickly. He fucked up.

"Oh yes I am!" Alfred had heard him and knows which room he's in. He goes to the door of the bathroom "I'll give you one last chance to come out on your own!" Lovino silently gets up, sneaks behind the door, and hides behind it when Alfred opens it. Alfred opens the door slowly. "Lovinoooooo.... Where are youuuuu?" He looks around "Hey, it doesn't look like he's in here. I coulda sworn..." Lovino holds his breath. He doesn't want to be caught because he is worried. "Dude just come out seriously I wanted to watch a movie with you not play hide and seek!"

That was a lie, Alfred wanted to play this all day if he could.

Americat meows, revealing Lovino's hiding spot. "Ha! I heard the cat!" Alfred walks into the room, still not checking behind the door like an idiot. "Hmmm....." He turns and sees him behind the door "Aha! Found you! Now hand over the cat!"

Lovino shakes his head. "NO! My cat now! Mine!"

"Hey, I'm the one who feeds him! He's MY cat! Gimme! Now!" Alfred crosses his arm and taps his foot impatiently. "Make me!" Lovino stuck out his tongue. Alfred grabs the cat away from him and runs, laughing. 

Lovino  followed jumping on his back, like a piggy back ride. "No! Gimme!"

Alfred laughs even harder. "Come on dude, get off! I'm gonna fall over, even if you're surprisingly light!"  Lovino laughed. "Neverrr! The cat will be miiine!" Alfred runs around the house with his cat in his arms and Lovino on his back until he reaches the couch. He ends up dropping the cat and faceplanting into the couch.

Lovino sat on his back triumphantly. "Ha! I win, bastardo!"

"Aw man! That was fun! But could you maybe get off of me? I want to eat more food before my cat steals it all." Alfred chuckles. He had one crazy cat. Lovino laid his head on the middle of Alfred's shoulder bones, ignoring him. "Seriously, dude, off!" Alfred flailed a little. He really wanted to get up so he could eat! He was starving! Alfred sighs and stops flailing. "Okay. But only because this is actually kind of comfortable!" He wraps his arms around Lovino. Lovino smiled lightly, warm and comfortable where he is. Plus, kinda happy to be with the American. Alfred yawns. "Man, I'm really sleepy." He starts cuddling him. what can he say? he gets cuddly when he's tired. Lovino fell asleep, sighing blissfully.  Alfred also falls asleep and wakes up a few hours later. "Lovino?" He yawns and kisses Lovino on the cheek. "Wake up, we slept for a bit and now I wanna do something." Lovino whined. "My arm hurts.....a lot...."  "Of course it does, you got shot in the shoulder , remember? I could get you an aspirin or something to dull the pain." Alfred bit his lip, feeling the guilt of his actions again. Lovino nuzzled into Alfred, just wanting to be cozy and not wanting to move. Alfred sighs and kisses him on the nose. "Heh, I'm so glad you're stuck with me for a while. I like spending time with you."

"I'm not very fun when i'm pissy..." Lovino yawns.

"No, but I still love you. And like I said, I could get you an aspirin. Would you like me to get you one so your arm won't hurt?" Alfred picks his head up a little.

Lovino just nods, not wanting to even speak right now. "Then two aspirins. I'll go get you them." Alfred carefully pushes Lovino off of him and onto the couch. Then he goes to the bathroom and comes back with a glass of water and two aspirin pills. He hands them to him. "Here." Lovino  took them, swallowing them. "Mmm... what do you want to do?" "Play with the cat?" Alfred takes out a laser pointer. "Last time I got him to get stuck behind the couch."

Lovino grabbed it. "Watch this."

The cat comes in, yawns and stretches, and then trots over to them. Alfred nods. "Okay, start shining it." Lovino nodded, doing so, beside the fluffy creature. The cat stares at the red dot, then tries to pounce on it. "Ahahaha, this is gonna be good!" Alfred laughs. Lovino gently ran it to a wall, going up it slowly, the cat following.

"Oh my god, he's climbing the wall!" Alfred starts singing. "Spidercat, spidercat!"

It made it to the ceiling, making the cat run around to follow. They played with the cat for a while. When Alfred and Lovino got bored, they went back to the couch and cuddled. Lovino was happy to have so much fun with the American, even if he won't admit it. Alfred felt the same way and would happily admit it. They had a feeling sticking in the house together for a while wouldn't be so bad after all.