#part 8

Part 1 <previous next>

Possible trigger warning for mention of death in child birth. It's literally one sentence, and it didn't actually happen. It is the explanation for the twins' nonexistent mother.

“Okay, let me make sure I understand the situation.” Barbra looked around the cave at all of the bats save Damian and Cass. They had even woken Duke up early for this. “None of you knew Tim was in a relationship, let alone married? None of you?” She was frankly impressed with the unmitigated disaster playing out in front of her.

“No we didn’t.” Bruce responded “Why did you? Did he know you would find out regardless and tell you to get ahead of that? Make it seem like we all knew.”

Albert was the man Shane remembered, and Ilya was already smiling at him with warmth when he slipped the soups into the fridge.

"Want me to get those heated up?" Shane asked.

"That would be amazing, my love, thank you."

Shane got to work as Ilya settled the Longphisher's at the table with wine and non-identifiable stories about Anya's puppy days.

"I was just showing Martha the pictures from Mountain View Trail," Ilya caught Shane up as he placed the pot of soup on the table mat.

"Oh, yeah," Shane offered conversationally. "It was gorgeous."

Gorgeous was an understatement, but he didn't think a polite neighborly dinner really called for any confessions of the soul.

"Oh!" Martha squeaked. "What?" Shane froze. Had he done something wrong? He couldn't think of anything. He started running through the whole interaction, combing for any social misstep. "I haven't heard you speak English before," Martha continued sheepishly. "We thought you didn't-"

Ilya cackled. "Svoboda speaks better English than me!"

"Sloboden?" "Just Bodi is fine," Shane offered in place of a correction of her pronunciation.

Albert smiled. "Bodi. Nice to officially meet you."

Heat rose in Shane's cheeks. He hadn't even introduced himself. Wow he was a bad neighbor. Three weeks in and he hadn't even spoken enough to anyone besides Ilya to have used English in public. That was… yeah that was just a fact. Speaking Russian made him feel safe. Every time he was in town he was either hanging back, letting Ilya do the talking, or gossiping into his ear in Russian. How embarrassing.

"My family back in Russia primarily spoke English," Shane said as easily as he could.

"Oh?" Albert prompted, ever curious. In some ways he reminded Shane of Rose. He was the type of person who you felt was really listening when you spoke, and really cared that you were entertained when he shared a story himself. It hadn't occurred to Shane that he could just say he was from Russia. The plan was going to be something complicated to explain his shoddy Russian. His family moving there when he was a teenager, having roots in Russia but for some reason not teaching him it when was he was a kid. But no one around here spoke Russian enough to even realize his accent was terrible. What was just proposed made much more sense anyway. Shane had never been a good liar, but he'd practiced their story a minion times in the mirror so he was confident enough that he at least wouldn't be caught in a slip up, he trimmed off the parts about his immigration and obliged. Besides, it gave him an excuse to give his story out loud and make it real. "Irene and I both come from fairly influential families in Russia, no one you'd really be able to know the names of but high up enough that they cared about their reputations. Having a gay or even bisexual," Shane nodded to Ilya, "son wasn't going to be acceptable."

Albert nodded along without judgment or urgency. Shane's fondness for the man was unquenched.

"We met at 18, and then we kept meeting." Ilya and Shane shared a smile. Martha and Albert shared a similar but different one. "But obviously our families would never approve, so. Even when we go serious we had to keep hiding. No one could know anything. It was constant hiding." "That sounds tiring," Martha sympathized.

"It was," Ilya said, voice low.

Shane's chest twisted. He wanted to drop into Ilya's lap and wrap his arms around him. After the Longphishers were gone. He would do it then.

"Yes," Shane continued, "and so we made a plan to run. Irene had a friend in the US. She able to set us up with a life. We owe her everything." "Technically," Ilya was always the one who had an easier time lying out of the two of them. "We are missing persons. But it feels more like we are fugitives. We cannot spend any of our own money in any way that is traceable, or appear in anything that could let government find us." "If they find us we'll be kept apart. Sure there are other dangers, but that's the only one I care about." Ilya shot Shane a look that seemed to say 'good job at selling that one!' but Shane wasn't lying. No, his gut roiled at the idea of being caught, of being dragged back to the scrutiny. His mother rearing back into his life.

Yuna had always fixed him into the image of the perfect man. Scolded him away from desire and autonomy. Worst of all, without even knowing Ilya, she seemingly knew he was a threat. Like a sixth sense—she was obsessed. At home Ilya had been the source of all things warm, in Montreal his name was a cold snarl. It was like Yuna could somehow feel that he was the one thing that made Shane deviate from the image she curated. She had never missed an opportunity to tell Shane how improper the man he loved was. Oh how she would rive if she learned the depth of the only thing Shane wouldn't give up for her.

If god forbid they were found, they would be torn apart, Shane would be forced back into the spot light, and the last part of self he'd managed to shove under his fingernails would be ripped away. Ilya was laughing at something Albert had said. Shane would kill before he let that happen.

"What do you think, Bodi?" Martha called over.

Shane was ripped from his thoughts, still feeling a bit raw. "What?"

"Just say you think that would be a lovely idea." Ilya laughed in Russian. "They're offering to deal with the power company for us if they ever come out so we don't get seen."

"Oh, yeah that would be great. Thank you."

[Danny floating around a space station, inspecting glowing tech. Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) appears, constructing a giant glowing boxing glove with his ring.]

Green Lantern: [grinning] Who are you, Casper? And why are you messing with that? Danny: [turning around] First of all, rude. Second, it’s Danny, not Casper. Third… this thing was glowing. I’m like a moth to a flame.

Danny: [looking at Hal’s ring] Cool toy. Green Lantern: [smirking] It’s not a toy. It’s a highly advanced weapon powered by willpower. Danny: Uh-huh. So, like… can I try it? Green Lantern: [laughs] No way, kid. Danny: [phases through Hal and tries to grab the ring] Come on, share the cool space bling! Green Lantern: [yanks his hand away] Okay, definitely no.

[Danny watching Hal make constructs]

Danny: You’re telling me that thing can make anything? Green Lantern: Yep. As long as I can imagine it and have the will to sustain it. Danny: [grinning] So, like, a giant pizza? Green Lantern: [sighs, makes a glowing green pizza] There. Happy? Danny: [pretending to eat it] Meh, needs ectoplasm.

[Hal sees Danny go intangible to dodge lasers during a fight.]

Green Lantern: Okay, not bad, Ghost Boy. Danny: Thanks. You’re doing great too—for someone using a glowing green mood ring. Green Lantern: [narrowing eyes] It’s not a mood ring. Danny: [grinning] You sure? It kinda screams “emotional support jewelry.”

[Danny tries to prank Hal mid-mission.]

Danny: [phasing into the cockpit of Hal’s spaceship] Boo! Green Lantern: [not even looking] Saw your glowing trail. Nice try. Danny: Dang it! Why do you space people keep catching me? Green Lantern: Kid, you literally glow. Stealth is not your strong suit.

[Green Lantern tests Danny’s creativity with constructs.]

Green Lantern: If you had a ring, what would you make? Danny: [grinning] A giant thermos to trap bad guys. Green Lantern: …Why a thermos? Danny: Because ghosts. Duh. Green Lantern: [muttering] This is why I don’t work with teenagers.

[Green Lantern complains to the Justice League group chat.]

Green Lantern: Why is the ghost kid my problem today? The Flash: He’s everyone’s problem, Hal. Welcome to the club. Wonder Woman: Perhaps he’s a test of patience. Batman: He’s surprisingly effective. Danny: [joins the chat] Aw, Bats thinks I’m useful. Green Lantern: Who gave him access to this chat?!

[Later, Danny with Sam and Tucker]

Danny: So, I met Green Lantern today. Cool guy, bit of a control freak. Tucker: Dude, his ring can do anything! Did you try it? Danny: No, but I did call it a mood ring. Pretty sure he hates me now. Sam: Sounds about right.

p1here p9here

bonus under the cut :glee:

Masterpost

On Monday morning, Damian couldn’t help but look of the window once Alfred had entered the ‘leaving children at the school’s entrance’ line of cars, the green-eyed teen clearly looking for dear freckled face.

“Is there a reason for you to be so nervous about meeting with mister Danny, master Damian?” Alfred questions with sincere curiosity. “I thought that your last evening together was quite the success?” The thing is, neither Alfred or Bruce knows about the phone call, and when they arrived home what they found was a pile of older siblings hugging and teasing a beet red Damian.

“Saturday evening was perfect, Pennyworth.” Damian answers as he straightens on his seat and turns his face to the front so Alfred could see him better. “Daniel even prepared some potato and soy croquets for us to snack on.”

“That was very considered from his part.” Alfred continues their small talk, a soft smile forming on his face at the sight of Damian’s faint blush. “Then I guess this is about you wanting to invite him to dinner at the manor? I thought you had already invited the boy for quick visits when your siblings and father were away and when I wasn’t paying attention?”

“You will never let that go, will you, Pennyworth?”

“It will forever wound my heart, master Damian.” Alfred half jokes.

While he understands why Damian didn’t want them to know about Danny sooner, he also feels a bit sad that his youngest ward didn’t trust him enough from the beginning.

“Tt, this family is so dramatic.” Damian mumbles in annoyance.

“Said the boy that speaks like someone out of Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Alfred mumbles back. An answer that gains the older gentleman a blazing glare from his youngest accompanied by an equally flaming blush on his cheeks. “It is our turn.” Alfred announces as he stops right in front of the entrance’s hallway, casually dismissing the younger male.

Damian growls as he exits the Bentley and closes the car’s door with a little bit too much strength.

As Alfred drives away Damian catches a hint of the older man’s smile before he is covered by another ridicously expensive car. Damian glowers a little bit more, glaring at the horizon, and then he turns on his heels and start to walk towards the school’s doors.

“Hey, Damian!” Calls a voice from behind him. A voice that makes his annoyance go away and stupid insects flutter in his stomach and chest.

“Good morning, Daniel.” Damian greets the object of his affections when he stops by his side. I like the way he says it, it´s sexy. Echoes in Damian’s mind the instant he raises his eyes to look at the blue-eyed teen’s face, a soft blush painting his cheeks.

“You alright? Your face’s kinda red?” Danny asks with worried tone.

“Tt, I’m fine. It’s just that my family has been insufferable since Saturday evening.” Damian comments as he starts to walk again, Danny following close.

“Honestly, I don’t understand why your siblings would bother you for having friends.” Danny adds to the conversation. “Jazz would have thrown a party if I arrived home one day with more friends than just Sam and Tuck.”

Damian looks at Danny with mild concern, he usually does not mention his family or his life back in Illinois because whenever he does, he turns sad and nostalgic… and low and behold, the smile that Danny is directing at Damian is a sad one, the kind that don’t reach his beautiful clear-blue eyes.

Damian turns his gaze away. “It’s not that they annoy me on purpose… it’s just… since I arrived to Gotham to this day, I don’t exactly mix well with those around my age range, so when I do make a friend, they do throw a party, as you said… I’m not used to that, it’s… it’s a bit embarrassing-FOR ME! And they get embarrassing and start to treat me like a baby! It’s not embarrassing to be your friend! I like y-I like been your friend!” Damian manages to save the situation. “You are probably the only friend I’ve been able to successfully make entirely by myself.” Damian adds.

“Oh, they get too extrovert for your introvert. Ok, I get that.” Danny assures as they cross the open doors into the building. “Then again you’ve got like a dozen siblings.”

“Excuse you, I only have eight siblings.” Officially introduced to me, that is. Only the Gods know if father and/or mother have more children, at least father would be oblivious to their existence, mother on the other hand…. Damian says and thinks.

“Same difference.” Danny says.

“Changing topics.” Damian announces as he knows how easily Danny can track of a conversation. “About the dinner, is this Friday night a proper time? My father and Pennyworth would extend the invitation to your uncle but I remember that you said that your uncle sometimes has other appointments during weekends.”

“Oh, sure! Friday night is good!” Danny exclaims as he and Damian walk into the classroom. “Clocky is gonna be ecstatic! He doesn’t go out much.”

“I shall inform them then.” Damian responds as he a Danny take seat on their respective desks. Tt, I just hope father does not turn the dinner into an interrogation.

“You know, it’s funny how I’ve been into your house before but never met any of your family member.” Danny comments as he crosses his arms over his desk and lays his head on top of them. Every time Danny accompanied Damian to Wayne manor it was because Damian had forgotten something and they had to rush there to get it but Danny never walked deeper than the entrance area, he has met Titus and Alfred the cat though. “Or was that also on purpose?” Danny questions. “Are you sure you’re not ashamed of me Dames? Or you just don’t wanna share me?” Danny teases with a suave smirk on his rosy lips.

The tips of Damian ears turn bright pink.

“Tt, of course that I treasure you, Daniel!” Damian exclaims as he turns his face away. “I just know that instant you and Richard meet each other my ears will not be safe from idiotic puns!”

Danny’s pale cheeks sweetly blush when Damian says he treasures him, his suave smirk turning into a soft, enamored smile.

That’s the moment the teacher chooses to walk into the classroom, successfully starting the first class of the day.