the ultimate feeling.

Linda raised an eyebrow, a smirk on her face despite the situation, “I meant the guy who shoved me was an ass but sure, you’ve got a lovely rear-end too. Though personally I tend to go for Hot-Yoga, does wonders.” And back to the point, “Look, you made that tech, but you haven’t approved this use of it… Kinda like the guy who invented dynamite. But…” she looked down in thought for a moment, “If anyone could think of a way to mess with or stop them from using it, it’d be you?”

“Well, you know me--- always fishing for compliments.” Ted gave her a wide grin as he shrugged his shoulders. “I’m starting to get some things in order, but people haven’t exactly been giving me the time to explain myself. Protests started outside my office as soon as Miss Lane published the piece. And I can’t just come out abruptly with all this information, NOVA doesn’t seem the type to cancel out killing someone to keep them quiet...”

“Because they are severely underfunded and understaffed. Do not talk shit about my librarians, I will come after you.” Oliver dropped into a chair lazily across from Ted. “When did you turn into such a dickhead? I remember you being a lot more pleasant when we were younger. Now you’re just a crotchety old man. No wonder you don’t have any friends.” Oliver examined his nails lightly. “Yeah, no shit,” he replied. “That’s why I dug up that dusty ass book.” 

“I’ll have a check on their desk in the morning.” Ted said absently as he continued to carefully flip through the pages of the book. He glanced up and stared at Oliver with a raised brow, “I got left with a company I didn’t want and the only person in the world that I ever wanted to be with is suddenly keeping some life chancing secret from me, Oliver, the crotchety old man thing was inevitable ever since mom died...” Ted continued to look through the book. “So you’ll have no issue digging up more from my personal collection then.”

Gwen rolled her eyes. “What would you do without me?” she asked, leaning back in her chair with the relaxed nonchalance of someone talking to an equal, not an employee talking to her boss. Somehow, she felt that Ted appreciated that about her, even though he seemed intimidating. He was lonely at heart, like they all were. This was one of the few tenuous connections Gwen had made that felt like something that could last. Perhaps that was why she was so distressed over the thought of him dying. 

She propped her arm up on the armrest, biting at the nail on her thumb lightly. She couldn’t say why she was really leaving, so she had to say some excuse. “Uh…I’m not sure I’m going to be in this dimension for much longer.” She sighed, dropping her hand. “I’m going to finish work on the joint, and then I’m done, Dr. K,” she said. 

“That is something I do not wish to find out, Miss Stacy.” Ted never wanted kids, but Gwen was probably the closest he’d ever get. He wanted her around--- she had a bright mind, she had the drive and the passion. Gwen would be a perfect addition to a more permanent spot at KI should she want it, however her reveal completely dashed any of Ted’s hopes.

“Oh.” Ted swallowed, glancing up at her for a moment and when he felt his face grow heavy, he looked back down at his work. “I’m sure you’ll be in high demand after the joint goes public, Miss Stacy, you’re sure you don’t want any part in the resulting opportunities?”

Linda got back to her feet, only using Ted for a little balance aid once she was back. “I’m fine, more bruised pride than a bruised coccyx,” she sighed, rubbing her backside a little before flicking her hair back. “Speaking of coccyx’s, Nice job on that ass by the way.” Linda shook her head at the station and let out another sigh, “What can we do, Ted? This isn’t right.”  

Ted helped her up, checking her briefly to make sure there were no bruises or scrape marks from hitting the pavement. “Me?” He smirked, “Thank you--- I never work out.” Ted scoffed before watching the scene around them. “I’m---- I’m trying, Linda. You know since KI got outed as creating the tech for NOVA, things haven’t been especially easy on my end...” Max fled as soon as the story came out, leaving Ted completely alone.

“You know what? I’m sick and tired of you talking down to me. I am a good soldier. I am a good person. I have been sober for 3 years, I went back to college and finished even after I lost my goddamn legs, I work with veterans to get them jobs, I have listened to you talk down to me from your richy-rich throne and just fucking took it because I thought you could help. I deserve your respect,” Flash spat. “Especially since you are way off the mark, but you are too blinded by your own fucking big head to realize that Project REBIRTH wants me to kill you and I just fucking might. Have a good night.” Flash aggressively spun his chair around, wheeling his way out of Ted’s office. 

“You think I give a shit about anything right now? You think I give a shit when I have been working myself down to the god damned bone to fix what the fuck went wrong? I will admit, Thompson, I haven’t been the most pleasing man to work with--- but I’m not going to take your elitist rant either.” Ted felt his chest tighten along with a slight tingling sensation crawling up his left arm. He took a deep breath and scrambled for the pills in his desk drawers. “If you don’t, someone will.” Ted said calmly. “Ever since Miss Lane published that piece, my company and I are as good as dead. I’m afraid I’m a sitting duck now, Thompson.”

“I don’t know, you forget to eat and drink, which is pretty important,” she replied, gesturing at the brown paper bag. “Eat. I want to see you actually take in some nutrients.” She took another bite of her sandwich. “You’re making me sound like my f-reaking dad, so please at least take a bite before I start using his stern voice, too.” She leaned back in her chair casually, a crooked smile on her features and her head tilted to the side as she tried to figure out where to start with all of it. 

Gwen knew that most importantly, she needed to tell him that the watch was working again. She realized in that instant that the hip was the perfect reason to buy herself some more time to make a decision, to buy herself some more time with MJ before she had to go back. She was sure that would be the end of all this—that she had to go back. She was trying to put it off as long as possible. Gwen pressed her lips together for a moment. “Well, I just wanted to let you know that after it’s done, I’m, uh—” She paused. “I might be leaving KI.”

“I had oatmeal this morning if that means anything to you. Well--- about half of the bowl before a tripped and dropped it on the kitchen floor.” Ted shrugged as he rifled through the bag of food that Gwen had brought him. No one had been so considerate to him before. He was just Ted Kord. The boss. No one cared to know if he was eating or taking care of himself. He supposed that was why he grew so fond of Gwen so quickly, she was one of the first people at work to treat him like something other than the failing son of Clara and Thomas Kord.

At Gwen’s confession, Ted’s expression faltered. “Oh--- uh-- why?” he said with a frown. “Palmer didn’t offer you a spot right? The pay’s shit and he’s been coming after my R&D teams since he took over. So I’m telling you--- it’s shit.” Ted nodded abruptly. 

“They want me to go after you,” he said, cutting Ted off as he spoke. He was tired of feeling like he was just some burden, not when what he had to say was important and directly impacted Ted. He may not have been a genius, nor was he as accomplished as Ted, but he knew right from wrong. And he knew that it was wrong to be dismissed like this. “They want me to go after you. I thought you should know.” He turned around. “Good fucking luck, Dr. Kord.” He pushed the door open in front of him. 

Flash had been discounted at every turn in his life—he was used to it. He was used to people underestimating him, dismissing him. He had used his considerable size and strength to exert power when he was in high school, but now he didn’t even have that for him. Still, he wouldn’t let rich dicks step all over him, not when he was just trying to help. 

“Because of Miss Lane’s story?” Ted’s brow raised. “If so, I’m not the one you want to be going after, Mr. Thompson.” He stood from his chair, carrying some papers in his hand to drop in Flash’s lap. “The deal with NOVA was signed by Max Lord. Right there.” he pointed to Max’s signature on the contract. “Normally I deal with these issues in more of a private setting, but Miss Lane blew this right out of the water. It’s public now and I will not stand for anyone trying to tarnish or expose a company my mother built with her own mind and intellect. So if they’re going after anybody... it’s not me and it’s not Kord.”

“Yeah, yeah, I aligned my chakras or whatever,” he said with a dismissive gesture. He wrinkled his nose. “First of all, don’t talk shit about my public library. Second of all, you don’t need to know where these came from because you’re being a dick.” He reached a hand out to flick Ted in the forehead. “It doesn’t matter where they came from, what matters is what’s in them.” He tapped the cover of the book on the table. “It all seems like gibberish to me, but it’s all ancient Egypt-y and shit. I figured that’s right up your alley.”

“I’ll talk all the shit I want on your public library. It’s shit and nothing ever gets re-shelved there.” Ted smirked, blocking Oliver’s hand with a laugh. “I spend an entire year studying abroad and suddenly it’s the only thing up my alley.” he said sarcastically. “Does anyone know I’m fond of HGTV or long walks on the beach? Those things are right up my alley too. I’m not all work.” Ted’s nose wrinkled as he flipped through the books. “Book of the Dead... nice,” he nodded as he flipped through the pages, “I’ve got some manuscripts with some of the rarer spells translated back home in my personal collection. If this has anything to do with what happened to you, I doubt it was published for public knowledge.”

Michael closed his eyes when Ted kissed the top of his head. He sighed softly. The sound was barely audible. He listened to Ted’s words, could hear their sincerity, which only made his chest hurt even more. His heart heart; it was tight, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. He couldn’t change this, couldn’t fix it. There could be drastic repercussions. Irreversible repercussions. Michael pulled back enough so he could look over Ted’s face; he offered him a soft, sheepish smile. “I wish I could tell you… I really, really do…” He bit down on his bottom lip, eyes a little glossy. “I don’t like serious shit… I wanna be carefree again.” But he couldn’t. Not anymore. Michael took a pause, his eyes giving Ted’s face a once over, though they favored his lips and eyes. Mostly the lips, though. “I love you…” He stated with a huff of wry laughter. “I love you, Teddy.”

Kent didn’t expect Ted to react in some big way, but he was still grateful when Ted didn’t cause a fuss. “I assumed so,” he replied. Kent shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t have a phone,” he replied. “And I knew it would only be you.” He turned slightly to watch Ted as he walked into the office, his hand up to rest thoughtfully against his lips as he leaned against the back of the chair he was sitting in, legs crossed tightly in front of him. “Have a minute to chat?” Kent knew he did. If he didn’t, Kent would make that minute. 

“Please, on behalf of all of us, let me buy you a phone, Kent.” Ted shook his head as he dropped a stack of papers on his desk. He lifted his glasses slightly so he could rub his nose. “Do I really have a choice?” He took a seat and leaned against his desk to tiredly look at Kent. “I’ve got a meeting with some representatives from the DOD in ten. So make it fast, Nelson.”

@the-tedkord liked for a starter!!

Kent had slowly been trying to understand what had happened to the fractured Justice League—and, if possible, bring them back together. Of course, he wasn’t really the type of rallying figure that they needed, but if he could at least convince the more stubborn members to take a more direct approach, perhaps that would be enough for everyone to fall in line behind Mera. She certainly seemed determined to do the right thing. He wanted her to have the best chance possible. When Ted walked into his office, Kent was already there, his legs crossed casually as he sat in a chair in front of his desk. His elbow was propped up on the armrest, obviously deep in contemplation as he rubbed his jaw with the hand that was resting against the chair. He seemed unperturbed when the lights turned on. “I expected you ten minutes ago.” 

Ted had been mostly stuck in his lab during the days, but when it got late, he at least made the efforts to go home and check on Michael. Things were rough, there was no doubt about it, but Ted was keen on making them work. Michael was the most important person to him and he knew he couldn’t lose that. When he turned on the lights, Ted was unphased to see Kent. He’d gotten used to his unannounced visits, even if they hadn’t been too frequent lately. “I was busy.” Ted dropped some papers on his desk. “You’d think for being how old you are, you’d have learned how to use a phone by now. You’re awful lucky it was just me coming in here.”