half sleep, half waking

Dick knows things are always a little.. different, with Lysander. That his life hasn’t exactly been easy, and he certainly hasn’t been shown the care he deserves. He didn’t exactly expect much else from Lex Luthor of course but - it doesn’t change how much Dick just wants to make that right somehow. Even if that’s not really his place.

And it’s probably not, god knows he’s sure he’ll have to answer for this at some point, but he doesn’t care. Lysander deserves to be cared for.

“I can hang around for nine minutes, don’t mind me. I can even help out, fi you need it.” Dick offers with a smile. He doesn’t mind milling around so Lysander can do his thing, really - it’s nice sometimes, to just stop and relax, even if it’s to wait. “Hey - I’m never going to say no to muffin if you’ve got one to spare. I’ll even throw an extra dollar in the tip jar for you guys to start off with tomorrow.” He says with a grin, glancing around. “I can get started on the chairs first, if you want?”

sometimes, when he was feeling particularly self-indulgent, lysander liked to think of a world in which dick was his father.

it tended to crossover into a world where jess was his mother, because both of them were particularly kind to him, and so far seemed to be the only adults in his life who actually wanted to check in. but still, dick was a lot nicer than he felt he deserved, but he did enjoy it when he could -- but he couldn’t enjoy those fantasies for long, really, because then he felt guilty and terrible about his actual family.

jessica jones had come into lysander’s life at quite a key moment. 

truly, if he were honest, she probably saved his life. well, actually, considering the space she rented out to him and the times she came to visit with dinners and sweets and much more friendship than he thought he deserved, there was no probably about it. however, lysander was... quite an anxious thing, shocking a grand total of nobody, and although he wanted to thank her, he was too nervous to vocalise just how much she had done for him -- and, he wasn’t sure she’d appreciate the emotional rambling, either.

           ❝ One of the LONGER ones. ❞ It implied more that all of the nights of his were long - and this one , maybe even more so. And it was true ; Cyrus didn’t get as healthy an amount of sleep as he’d like , cherishing every precious second of it before he’d have to spend his waking hours working again. A work-a-holic in the oddest of ways , definitely refusing to change such habits even when he was on hiatus from performing. ❝ So trust me - it’s really appreciated. ❞ Even though the other had refuted his offer , Cyrus would be leaving a large tip. It was the most he could do. Noticing his nervous expression , the witch had to ask , ❝ You good ?? ❞  

Tim gives Lysander an indifferent shrug. “You’d be one of the hundreds of people to kick me out so you could close; at least you didn’t have to wake me up to do it.” Tim wished he was joking about that.  “If it’s really not too much trouble, I’ll take a large coffee.”

“Oh?” Bruce glanced at the clock on the wall, chuckling lightly, offering the other a polite smile. “My apologies, Lysander. I hadn’t realized how late it was.” Though his voice and features displayed sincerity, the older male was actually lying.

Bruce had chosen that time specifically to pass by, wanting to avoid the distractions of the day, knowing the younger male wouldn’t be able or as willing to speak if there was a multitude of people around them. He just wanted to check up on him, finding it easier to reach out at his work rather than at home, not wanting to over step any boundaries and overwhelm Lysander by invading his privacy. They didn’t know each other very well after all, Bruce was simply a regular at Beans & Beans. And that rich guy who continuously ignored his father’s calls.

“I hate to be a bother, but I would truly appreciate it.” Bruce stepped towards the counter. “I was supposed to make an order of arrangements a few days ago,” he said, sighing. “But I completely forgot. And now the event is four days.”

lysander could never, would never understand bruce wayne. it wasn’t necessarily mean or anything, because the frailer of the two did try his best, but bruce was... kind, but quiet. he was sure the older man meant well, but he was too unsure of himself to really ever know that.

still -- lysander was pretty sure that bruce was trying, which was far more than he could say for his own father, and although he wasn’t particularly trusting, he didn’t want to seem rude. bruce was a nice man and was an excellent customer, and he mentally acknowledged that he’d come to visit lysander on his turf, where it was safer and more comfortable for him. pulling his woolen sleeves down over his hands, lysander offered a polite -- albeit nervous -- little smile. 

“Oh don’t worry, that’s totally fine. I’m not here for the flowers.” Dick assures him with a smile, taking a few steps towards Lysander - slowly enough that he doesn’t freak the kid out, of course. The last thing he wants is to startle him, especially if he’s had a busy day at the shop. All Dick really wants is to check on the kid, make sure he’s okay - maybe take him to dinner, or at least to catch up if he doesn’t feel like eating.

So he’s a little protective of Lysander, sue him.

“Just dropped by to check on you, actually. Thought it might be nice to catch up?” Dick offers kindly, no real expectation, no pressure at all. Just an offer to spend some time with him, if Lysander wants to put up with him for a while. “Though if you’ve got something cooler to do than hang out with some old guy, I won’t hold it against you.”

there weren’t many people lysander trusted so immediately as he had trusted dick. when he’d come back home -- or as close to home as he could comfortably be without living out in the wilderness -- he’d completely wanted to ignore any kind of interaction with his father. moreover, he didn’t want to have any sort of fatherly connection, too afraid of disappointment and whatever else may come his way, but dick... dick had been what a dad should have been. 

aside from grateful, he still didn’t know how to feel about it. that is to say, he didn’t know if he deserved it, but he’d take it all the same.

alexander froze in his tracks. typical. of course the coffee shop was closing in ten minutes when he had wanted to escape the rest of the latverian delegation for as long as he could. then again, it was all his fault. he should have checked the opening hours before marching inside. alexander let out a defeated sigh and mimicked the other’s gesture by running a gloved hand through his hair. “can i please have a small black coffee on the go?’ he peered over his shoulder, half-expecting a doombot to wait outside the window. “no sugar.”

            The fact he was even being served was gratifying - bad idea of course to buy CAFFEINE late at night , but the witch was way too accustomed to pulling all-nighters and late nights in general. Immersing himself in his craft , he’d been preparing a ritual to pull off at midnight - of course , he needed to stay awake during it. The boost was need. ❝ Can I get just a regular mocha coffee ?? I’ll pay extra since I know it’s the fucking apex of rude to show up this close to closing. Promise. ❞

“Oh.” Shit, of course. She hadn’t realised how late it was. “I’m sorry, um… Are you sure? You don’t have to–” 

“Sorry,” Tim said as he rubbed the back of his head and gave his brother in law a small smile. Ever the chronic night owl robin Tim hadn’t really stopped to consider the time before he chose to stop in to visit the shop. “You don’t have to if it’s going to be a bother. I’ve got plenty of coffee at home.”

“  oh … morning, “   melodie replied through a yawn,   an unthinking response as she nonchalantly carried around 3 people’s weight of ingredients.    a beat before she realised that that wasn’t a regular morning activity,   quickly putting down the bags of flour and coffee beans.        sheepish smile,   she quickly tried to deter any further questions about her weight lifting capabilities by pulling freshly baked tray of cookies off the cooling rack.     ‘ it’s been – ah ! good ! everything’s almost out of the oven,    wanna have a good luck cookie? they’re earl grey and lavender – ! ‘ 

“welcome to beans and beans,” the young man smiled politely, running a hand through his curls as he stood behind the taller plants towards the back of the store. stepping out a little, he eyed the clock on the wall. it was late and he’d already counted the till, but... he could still serve them. right?

“good morning,” lysander smiled lightly as he walked in the door. he didn’t need to be there as early as melodie did, baking things and making coffees, but he didn’t like to leave her alone when it was still early. not that he’d be any protection for her, but the older man figured that his presence might do something to deter... no-gooders. it was well intentioned, anyway.

Should Tony be flying around in the suit? Probably not. In fact, he feels like he probably made some kind of promise to someone (Pepper) not to do so unless absolutely necessary. But then again, what does absolutely necessary even mean? It’s a totally different measure to two different people, right? Surely if he deems it absolutely necessary to be racing through the skies as Iron Man to make sure he gets home on time - which he definitely wouldn’t be able to otherwise - that should be okay, right?

He can only hope.

Catching the sight of a flower stall down below, Tony makes a quick detour - flowers are always good, right? - and lands a couple of meters away as so not to ruin any of the arrangements. “Didn’t mean to startle you, everyone relax.” He insists as his armour disappears, nanotech retreating back into the housing device on his chest. “I just - need some flowers, I guess. Any suggestions are welcome. Which bunch says ‘I’m sorry I flew home when I wasn’t supposed to’?”

lysander had to realise that not everyone was as slow-paced and unsteady as him. living in the same town as superheroes was jarring, and when iron man himself landed out the front of his store -- well, his half of the store, that is -- the thin, almost sickly looking man raised his eyebrows and braced himself for the man walking in. the iron suit looked out of place in his florist, and as he finalised a sale for a young woman, lysander gave a little wave to the man.

⎣ alfie allen, cis male, he/him ⎤I just saw LYSANDER LUTHOR walking around new york they’re TWENTY SIX years old and they’re the child of LEX LUTHOR. Their abilities are N/A and they are working as CO-OWNER OF BEANS & BEANS COFFEE. at their best they’re THOUGHTFUL & DETAIL-ORIENTED but at their worst they can be ERRATIC & GUILTY. 

tw: child abuse, domestic violence. not really in detail but it’s there.