The "World of Heroes" DC RPG Season IX

[Byrd Man]

With Ollie's attempt at rescuing Miri, it gave her enough time to get her head back together and power up her ring. She shot through the chair destroying it and placing the strange woman in a crystal case as it falls over with her inside it.

"If you want to know what love is, my crystal will allow you time to really consider and see what it is without you harming anyone. I would take you with me to Zamaron but things there need to be settled first before any new additions are put there. Hopefully the proper authorities can hold you so you won't disrupt anymore outings."

Beep! Beep!

"Please excuse me, Oliver, I need to go check a few things. Thanks for the outing even though it was rudely interrupted. Maybe you know where you can put this over zealous and misguided woman so she can do little harm."

Miri walks over to a private area and sees what her ring wanted.

"Ok, ring, show me what you wanted."

It shows her four very familiar symbols heading her way from Earth's orbit.

"Why would a Sinestro Corps, Red Lantern, and a Blue Lantern be heading this way? I can understand a Green Lantern especially if it is one of the Earth ones but the rest don't make sense. Ring, identify who they are."

"They are Atrocitus of the Red Lantern Corps, Saint Walker of Blue Lantern Corps, Sinestro of Sinestro Corps, and Kyle Rayner of Green Lantern Corps."

"Hmm, I better go and meet them before they reach Star City. The citizens might be half way used to a Green Lantern but I doubt the other three would be as welcome here."

Miri changes into her Star Sapphire outfit and flies up to meet them.

I watch as the Star Sapphire flies off into the distance.

"Well, that's not something you see everyday....even in my line of work."

My cellphone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and look at the text.

Lian's school in twenty minutes.
Dnt be late!

R

I turn around and look at the crystal prison Miri put Cupid in.

"Well, she should keep."

I put the phone back in my pocket and turn to leave.

*******

"Councilman Queen," the school principal says with a smile as soon as I walk through the door. I shake his hand and nod.

"Hey there. Am I late?"

"Just in time. They're about to open the auditorium."

I smile and pat the principal on the shoulder before walking off.

"There you are," Mia says. "Connor and I had a bet going to see if you'd be late."

"So who lost?"

"Me of course."

Chuckling under my breath, I wrap my arm around Mia and walk with her down the hall.

"Where's everyone at?"

"Roy and Lian are down the hallway with Connor and Dinah."

"Dinah?" I croak. "She's here?"

"She was coming out here for awhile. You don't remember me telling you?"

"Yeah, sure I do....uhh, hold on, I gotta go to the bathroom. I'll meet you up there."

Mia smiles, shakes her head, and walks off while I make a beeline for the bathroom. I make sure my hair is straight, and my breath doesn't smell too bad before stepping out of the bathroom and walking back down the hallway to where Mia and the gang are waiting.

"Hey, guys. Guess what has two thumbs and made it on time? This guy!"
​

 

[twylight]

The cityscape of Star City seemed to float by effortlessly as Zinda hummed to the music. I glance over at her, she'd gained a liking for modern pop music, of all things. I smile and look back out the window, we were ahead of schedule, and the city melted into the suburbs as she pulled the car up to an apartment complex.

"This'll do ya!" she put the car in neutral and smiled at me.

"Thanks again for doing this." I gathered my bag and purse.

"Not a problem." She caught my arm and pulled me into a hug.
"You come back when you're ready. We miss you." And there it was, the one thing we'd gone the entire mission, and our overdressed late lunch at Denny's without mentioning. I smiled weakly over her shoulder as her curly blonde hair pressed against my cheek, smelling of gas and flowers. I committed this moment to memory, not having the heart to tell her…

"I will, I promise. Give Babs a hug for me." I said as we separated.

"Yes, ma'am, now.." Zinda looked over my shoulder and nodded, I turned seeing Lian throw open the door and come running down the steps.

"Bye, and thanks." I plant a kiss on Zinda's cheek and step out of the car, the warm early evening air brings me smells of fresh cut grass and a distant BBQ.

"AUNT DINAH!" I turn and give Zinda a quick wave as she drives away before kneeling and scooping up Lian.

"MUUWWAHHH" I plant a kiss on her cheek and squeeze her tightly.

"NUUUGHHHAAA!" she wiggles. Oops, I forgot. 9 year olds hate this stuff. I place her on the ground and kneel to her eye level, realizing that… it's not as deep a kneel as it was last time I saw her.

"WOW, you've gotten tall. Did Daddy mark it on the wall?" I pat her head.

"Yep! An inch and a half!" A pang goes through my heart, and the idea of moving to Star City flits through my head before coming to rest on a pile of disappointment and memories in the corner of it.

"My goodness!" I stood as Roy came to the door followed by Mia.

" Come on I wanna show you my project! Well half of it anyway, the rest is set-up at the school…" She grabbed my hand talking about her project and dragged me to the door.

"Hey you." He grabbed me in a hug.

"It's great to see you." I smiled at him, he turned out alright, and maybe even better.

After that it was Mia's turn, and then Connors, past that it moved like the whirling dervish of activity I'd missed so badly. Drinks, catching up and the like would have to wait as we piled into the car. Lian was intent on sitting next to me so Connor took shot gun with the two of us in the back. Mia took her own car, I didn't even know she had her license.
I wrapped my arm around Lian on the drive there as she leaned against me and moved her arms around explaining her project. Definitely sounds like someone called Victor. I made eye contact with Roy in the rearview mirror and raised my eyebrow, he smiled and shrugged.

Reaching the school I stopped Lian from leaving the car right away and put my hands on both sides of her face, and looked into her eyes, well, her eye. I ran my thumb gently on her cheek below her eyepatch.

"You know I love you right?" I kissed her forehead before she wiggled away in disgust.

Smiling I left the car and Roy shut the door behind me.
"You know she hates that. Something about being a pre-teen."

"EH, she'll come back around.. in 12 or so years." I looped my arm through his as we walk towards the school.

"You do a great job with her."

"Thanks, I just hope I continue to."

I stop him before we enter.

"You will. And she'll do an even better job with her own, it get's better on down the line."

"Well, that explains a lot about you then." He smiled and moved as I went to punch his arm.

"Hey now!"

Lian stood leaning against the open school door with her hand, impatience written all over her face and body as she shifted her feet. Her arm indignantly on her hip.

" Come ON!" She bounced.

I followed them inside and down the Hallway, it's been forever since I was in a school. Other parents and students milled around in various locations, but it seemed centralized to two large doors at the end, which I guessed was the Auditorium. Mia checked her phone before turning and heading back the way we came.

"Ahhh, Mr. Harper, Hello Lian." A tall, trim woman came up to us, and leaned over to wave at Lian from close distance. If I could have made a soccer mom, this one would have been it. Slim, fit, attractive and overly peppy. I noted her lack of a wedding ring and inched a tad closer to Roy.

"Hello, Marie Langston, you know Connor, Mia…" He glanced around for her before angling towards me.
"This is my um… this is Dinah Lance." He looked at me a tad hopelessly and I smiled. What would he call me in polite society? His sponsor? Hadn't been for years, still miss that car though. His mentor? No that was for someone else. His step-mother-but-not-really-because-I-never-married-his-guardian-only-bonked-him-on-a-regular-basis? I reached my hand out and shook hers.

"Hi, it's nice to meet you. I'm Lian's Aunt." Her smile wilted a bit before she was able to bring it back up.

"So nice to meet you."

"Ms. Langston is the head of the Parent Committee."

I give her my best excited and interested smile.
"That's great. Wow, so you guy must have been busy with this then?"

She 'giggled' and threw her arms up a bit.
"Well, you know."

I want to punch her. I smile and nod at her and then smile and nod at Roy. He shrugs and smiles back. So much smiling. Moment's like these I'm glad I don't have children a hint of emotions surfaces. That ship has gone and sailed many times over. I look at Lian talking to her group of friends, at Roy chatting to Ms. Predator and at Mia and Connor laughing in the corner. I have my 'children' and they're pretty kick-ass.

"Hey, guys. Guess what has two thumbs and made it on time? This guy!"

Oh…. **** My chest tightens and I'm sure my eyes are much like those of a small, cornered rabbit. Be calm. I run a hand discreetly over my black dress, so glad I didn't overdress. You've been on this ride before many times, and you're not interested. But at the same time, I fear I might be and just don't know it. No, this time, nothing is going to happen. Nothing. I turn slowly towards the voice and smile. We're just friends. Really old friends who lived together, killed people for and sleep together sometimes. I really should get a 'chip' for the length of time it's been since we last did.

"Hi Ollie."

 

[Byrd Man]

"Hi Ollie."

"Long time no see, Pretty Bird," I say with a smirk before turning to the others. That's right, Queen, play it cool. You're not here for her, you're here for Lian. Who cares how dolled up she is? Lian's what matters, not the sexy, sexy, sexy, sexy lady within arm's length.

"Uhh...So, Lian, do you have something for me?"

"No," she replies. The sharpness of her voice takes me back a bit...then I realize what's going on. Of course she doesn't want to give you a hug and kiss in front of all her classmates, you old fool. Ahh, tweens.

"Well, can you at least tell me what you made?"

"We made a potato battery. It lights up a lightbulb and everything."

"No way?" Connor says with a smile."That sounds awesome."

"Not as cool as my original project idea, though. Dad wouldn't let me do it."

"What happened to you, Roy? You used to be cool, man?"

"She wanted to build a potato gun, Ollie."

"What's wrong with that? I bet she could have beat you in target practice."

Roy narrows his eyes and begins to speak.

"Language, Roy," Mia cuts him off. "We are in a school, after all."

"I think they're letting people in to look at the projects. Why don't you show it to us, Lian?"

 

[twylight]

Gah DAMN him. But at least he chased off that pant's chaser. I know Roy can handle himself but still. It would be nice if he'd meet a nice gi- and I'm turning into Ma Hunkel.

I follow them into the auditorium and Mia move next to me and slides her hand into mine.

"Missed you." I nudge her with my shoulder.

"I missed you too. You shouldn't be such a stranger."

"I know, I know. I'll come visit this summer. I promise." She smiles back and I'm again amazed at what a beautiful… woman she's become. I've been sappy this entire time.

I stare at the back of Ollie's neck. Gah, he's such an ass. How -dare- he use that nickname here and now?

The Fair went quickly; Mia, Connor and I ended up scanning the many booths together with Lian standing dutifully by her project for half the time and the other half flitting between Ollie and I. I saw the Principle talking to Ollie before he then called everyone to attention and announced the winners. I'd almost forgotten that Ollie was a Councilman now, I can still remember his fights with Carter, he was finally in politics.

"We're going to dinner afterwards. Would you like to come?"

I jumped at Connor's voice in my ear.

"Isn't it a school night for Lian?"

"Roy's taking her for ice cream after this and then home." Oh.. well.. I glance over at Roy and Lian a little distance away. She's standing with a cluster of classmates eagerly awaiting the results. Roy glances at Connor before nodding at me. I really wanted to spend time with them, especially since I'm only around for a few days but, tomorrow was time enough and I think Roy mentioned it was a half day.

"Um, sure." I smile at him.

"I'd love too, is it alright with Ollie? You know what, it's fine, I'll be there."

Connor smiled
"Good."

"Welcome everyone to the…" I turned my attention back to the Principal.

****
Lian skips down the hallway in front of us, her second place trophy gripped in her hands.

"Well, we're going to head home." Roy picks her up and slings her onto his shoulders. It's a wonder she's not too big for that.

Lian leans down and gives me a hug.
"See you tomorrow Aunt Dinah." I smile up at her and squeeze her hand.

"Okay, and good job sweetie."

Mia bounces on the tips of her toes, her car key's already out. Yes… definitely going to give Ollie a talking to about that.

"I'll drive us Dinah."

"Okay. Bye Roy." I wave and follow Mia to her car.

 

[Byrd Man]

"See you tomorrow Aunt Dinah." I smile up at her and squeeze her hand.

"Okay, and good job sweetie."

Mia bounces on the tips of her toes, her car key's already out. Yes… definitely going to give Ollie a talking to about that.

"I'll drive us Dinah."

"Okay. Bye Roy." I wave and follow Mia to her car.

"See you guys later," I say with a wave to Roy and Lian. "Congrats on the win, kiddo. I bet that potato gun would have won you first place!"

Roy grumbles under his breath and Lian laughs. They both say goodbye and I follow Connor to my car.

"I got a text from Mia, she wants to know where we're going."

I ponder it over for a few seconds before finding the answer.

"Tell her to follow us out of the parking lot and follow us to the restaurant. Drive for me, will you, son?"

I toss the keys to Connor and sit down in the passenger seat. He starts the car up and drives us out of the parking lot. Mia pulls out and follows behind us.

"So where are we going?"

"The Starlight Room."

"I thought they only took reservations?"

"They do," I say as I pull my phone out and dial. "I'm making one right now.......Hey, Bobby, it's Ollie....doing fine, having an evening out with the family....say, speaking of that, you think you could swing it so we could get a table tonight at the Starlight? Uhh, four....we're on the way there now, so in about twenty minutes.....yeah, under Queen....you're a champ, Bobby, thanks a lot."

I hang up and tuck the phone back into my pocket.

"Good ole Bobby...uhh, Deputy Mayor Barnes to you. The Starlight Room is his business."

"Using your old government connections to get ahead, huh? Wow....you've become what you've feared the most."

"Just a one time thing. Tonight's special."

"Uh-oh...."

"Do me a favor, just let Mia follow you without telling her where we're going. Kinda want it to be a surprise, tonight's special...."

I think back to that old photo I have in photo album somewhere. Dinah and I, at a table in the Starlight Room. Her hair is short and dark while the little bald spot on the back of my head is nowhere in sight. Those were the salad days. Back then, Roy was still a rambunctious kid named Speedy, and Connor, Mia, and Lian were just names without any kind of connection.

"I kind of have a history with that restaurant. We both do."

"Just make sure you don't embarrass yourself."

"I'll try, but I can't make any promises."

 

[twylight]

" Um… okay?" Mia closed her phone and started the car. I looked at her puzzled as I flipped shut the visor after a quick check.

"Everything okay?"

She looks a tad perplexed but fell in behind a car I assume is Ollie's.

"Yeah, he was jus a bit dodgy when I asked where we were going. He said just to follow him so.." she gave a shrug and flipped on some music at a low volume.

That's weird. Connor is usually the most up front when asked something. Unless… Oliver. I place my elbow on the door ledge and look out the window, checking Mia's speed and attention to the road out of the corner of my eye. She's competent, why worry at all?

We chat about random things in her life. School, the future, boys, all the while I can tell she's skirting the Ollie issue. After a moment of silence I take a breathe.

"You know you guys don't need to worry about Ollie and I."

She glanced at me quickly.
"We're not. It's just…"

"'It's just…'?"

She bit her lip.
" We haven't seen you in a while and we, I figured, it was because of him."

I look out the passenger window quickly. I have been staying away, just drowning myself in work. Keeping compact with those I needed. Why do I feel the constant need to deny myself of family? The necklace around my neck seems to get heavier. Oh… that. But Ollie; Ollie was a different beast altogether.

"No, that's not why. I've just had a lot of things I need to wrap up." My fingers brush the ring and I can feel Mia glancing at it.

"If you need help, you know you can call us. Connor and I can come whenever. We don't need Ollie's permission."

I smile at her.

"Yeah, you do. He's your guardian and he deserves to know." I was lucky to even be included in their lives. A divorce without being divorced. The irony, it seems I only ever get his leftovers and fragments.

The car lapses into a comfortable silence, and I watch the city streets move by. Ollie and I. I would be the last person to deny our chemistry, but the first to admit that the two of us only work sometimes. Right now wasn't one of those times, and maybe… our time had passed altogether. He lit that fire that was just, so hard to put out and kept trying to live. A street sign flies past and I blink in recognition as Mia turns the car.

"That --"

Mia parks and looks at me curiously.

"You know this place?"

I laugh and shake my head.

"Yeah… it's where he took me the first night when I moved to Star City with him." Mia raised her eyebrow and I continue to shake my head with a smile.

"The very first time I moved to Star City." I grab my purse and slide out of the car, shutting the door behind me as Mia does the same. Sliding my purse on my shoulder I give Ollie a meaningful look, the first time I'd really looked at him all evening, as he approaches us. Going to play this cool; it's the only way to combat his narcissism.

"Nice choice."

 

[Byrd Man]

I grab my purse and slide out of the car, shutting the door behind me as Mia does the same. Sliding my purse on my shoulder I give Ollie a meaningful look, the first time I'd really looked at him all evening, as he approaches us. Going to play this cool; it's the only way to combat his narcissism.

"Nice choice."

"Thank you. What better place to hold a little welcome back dinner but here?"

I give Dinah a smile as we head in to the restaurant. The maitre d' finds us a table and we all order our drinks and food.

"So, Dinah, how have you been?"

 

[twylight]

I let Ollie led, he obviously pulled strings for us tonight. I remember this place being reservation only, and judging by the maitre d's reaction, I'd be right.

"Bottle of champagne please." I smile at Ollie across the table, almost daring him.

"So, Dinah, how have you been?"

I look up from my water glass.

"Good. You know, keeping busy. Doing the odds and ends that always seem to slip through the cracks. You? I heard you made Councilman. Congratulations." I run my fingers up and down the stem of the water glass in front of me.

 

[Byrd Man]

"Good. You know, keeping busy. Doing the odds and ends that always seem to slip through the cracks. You? I heard you made Councilman. Congratulations." I run my fingers up and down the stem of the water glass in front of me.

"Thanks. I enjoyed my time as mayor, just wish I hadn't messed it up by trying to make a run for president. Overextended myself, I guess."

The waiter comes up with a bottle of champagne.

"Can we get another bottle? This one is a bit...cheap..."

"Sir, it's two hundred dollars a bottle."

"Well, find us some champagne no less than five hundred dollars a bottle....be sure to bring two."

"Yes, sir."

Mia scowl and Connor shoots me a look.

"What? It's a celebration. It's not every day that Dinah comes to grace us with her presence."

I turn to Dinah and nod with a smile.

Your move, Lance.

 

[twylight]

My finger moves along the bottom of my empty champagne flute.

"It's so easy to be overextended these days. At least you recognize it, better than most people." I stop the Waiter.

"Please put those two bottles on a separate bill."

Turning I smile at him sweetly.

"Don't want people to think a Councilman is being excessive."

Mia shifts uncomfortably in her seat and I give her a quick reassuring nod.

"I'm sorry I couldn't visit more frequently. I've missed keeping in touch." I lock eyes with him as I say it. First part truth. Second part lie.

 

[Byrd Man]

Mia shifts uncomfortably in her seat and I give her a quick reassuring nod.

"I'm sorry I couldn't visit more frequently. I've missed keeping in touch." I lock eyes with him as I say it. First part truth. Second part lie.

"I'm sure you were busy in some far-off location that's never heard of cellphones."

The waiter arrives with one of the bottles. I take it and look at it him.

"I pay for this one."

The waiter backs off and I pop the cork of the bottle, filling my glass up before passing it across the table to Dinah. I wait until she's taking a sip of her drink before I speak.

"How's Dr. Mid-Nite these days?"

 

[twylight]

I narrow my eyes at him as he talks to the waiter. Very smooth. He pours and I take a sip.

"How's Dr. Mid-Nite these days?"

My throat tightens and the champagne comes back up quickly, as I choke and cough. Damn him. There's no way he could know. None. The only person who knew I was in South America was Zinda and even she didn't know I was there at Pieter's request.

I compose myself.

"He's doing great." I smile and take a sip again, this time it goes all the way and I can't help but silently thank him for going with the expensive option.

Pausing, I wait for him to bring his glass to his lips before bringing my glass away from my own and speaking.

"It's nice to have someone I don't have to share with others."

 

[Byrd Man]

"He's doing great." I smile and take a sip again, this time it goes all the way and I can't help but silently thank him for going with the expensive option.

Pausing, I wait for him to bring his glass to his lips before bringing my glass away from my own and speaking.

"It's nice to have someone I don't have to share with others."

This time, it's my turn to choke.

"*koff*"

Some of the champagne shoots up my nose and I cough some more before grabbing a cloth napkin and wiping my mouth.

"So, Mia....have you told Dinah about making the honor roll?"

"Yeah...I got invited to join the Beta Club this semester. I'm really excited."

"Yep, Dinah, we're real proud of Mia. She wishes you could be around more often, Connor does too. Same with Roy and Lian, but you obviously have much more important things to do with your time....not to mention much more interesting people to do."

 

[twylight]

"*koff*"

Smiling I take another sip of wine. Guilty satisfaction washing over me.

Connor speaks and I look at Mia in surprise.

"Why didn't you say something? That's great! I'm so proud of you!"

She blushes and I smile, putting my hand over hers and giving it a light squeeze.

"Yep, Dinah, we're real proud of Mia. She wishes you could be around more often, Connor does too. Same with Roy and Lian, but you obviously have much more important things to do with your time....not to mention much more interesting people to do."

Mia's eyes which had been looking at me widened and I could feel my hand starting to tighten around hers. Letting go, I meet his gaze with narrowing eyes, trying to push down the flush I can feel rising in my cheeks. Be cool Dinah. Be cool. The urge to punch the insolent smile off his face raged through me. How could he be so callous in front of Mia and Connor?

Connor cleared his throat nervously and shifted to stand up. I put my hand out, indicating him to stop.

"Well. This has been lovely." I stand up.

"Let's do it again, sometime not soon." I turn and walk out.

Pushing the door open the hot summer air hits me, but feels like cool breeze against my face. I just want to…..scream.

 

[Byrd Man]

Mia's eyes which had been looking at me widened and I could feel my hand starting to tighten around hers. Letting go, I meet his gaze with narrowing eyes, trying to push down the flush I can feel rising in my cheeks. Be cool Dinah. Be cool. The urge to punch the insolent smile off his face raged through me. How could he be so callous in front of Mia and Connor?

Connor cleared his throat nervously and shifted to stand up. I put my hand out, indicating him to stop.

"Well. This has been lovely." I stand up.

"Let's do it again, sometime not soon." I turn and walk out.

Pushing the door open the hot summer air hits me, but feels like cool breeze against my face. I just want to…..scream.

I curse under my breath and stand up.

"Dammit, I didn't mean to say all that."

"Ollie, for the love of God, just let her go. You've done enough."

I pull out my wallet and dig around for what I'm looking for.

"That's the sane, rational thing to do."

I toss my credit card on the table and turn to leave.

"But that's not what I'm known for doing. You two eat up, this is just between us. Nothing to do with you two."

I take off after Dinah. By the time I catch up, she's on the sidewalk a half a block down from the restaurant, trying to get a cab.

"I'm sorry about that last comment," I say, announcing my presence. "I spoke before thinking. Just throwing crap out there."

 

[twylight]

I turn and look at him for a moment. Disheveled, panting, apologizing, pathetic. I close the distance between us swiftly and use my right hook on him.

"You jackass." I seethe.

"How dare you say that in front of them. You had no right to use them against me. That's low, even by your miserable standards." Damn it, don't cry, my voice lowers as I reopen healed wounds. A siren wails in the distance and a car whizzes by.

"Besides, who left who in Seattle? Who's slept with every woman who looked sideways at him. Need I remind you why Connor is even here? At least I kept to myself until you were dead." Bad move Dinah. I don't let him talk.

"You don't know anything about me anymore, or what I went through and you didn't even care when I came back. Mia, Connor, Roy and Lian did. So don't you ever question my commitment to them"

 

[Byrd Man]

"Besides, who left who in Seattle? Who's slept with every woman who looked sideways at him. Need I remind you why Connor is even here? At least I kept to myself until you were dead." Bad move Dinah. I don't let him talk.

"You don't know anything about me anymore, or what I went through and you didn't even care when I came back. Mia, Connor, Roy and Lian did. So don't you ever question my commitment to them"

I rub my stinging jaw and scowl.

"You're right. I don't know anything about you anymore. You know why? Because you won't let me."

I move towards her, my finger thrusting in the air.

"I told you awhile ago why I kept my distance after you came back, but yet you continued to shut me out. I told you a few years ago that I was trying to change, and I have. I watch after all of them. Connor, Mia, Roy, and Lian...especially Lian. You keep bringing up the past, but that's all it is right now: the past. You're the one who's running off all over the world with JSA and whoever else, while I'm here back in Star City with our family, I say our family because you used to be a big part of it. But now I'm the one who's the responsible one here, you're the flake now. So, shut me out and feel all high and mighty if you want to, I'll be here tomorrow with my family while you go off again, like always.

 

[twylight]

I bite my tongue. He's right, I never did tell him where I went and what happened when I 'died'.

"I told you awhile ago why I kept my distance after you came back, but yet you continued to shut me out. I told you a few years ago that I was trying to change, and I have. I watch after all of them. Connor, Mia, Roy, and Lian...especially Lian. You keep bringing up the past, but that's all it is right now: the past. You're the one who's running off all over the world with JSA and whoever else, while I'm here back in Star City with our family, I say our family because you used to be a big part of it. But now I'm the one who's the responsible one here, you're the flake now. So, shut me out and feel all high and mighty if you want to, I'll be here tomorrow with my family while you go off again, like always.

I glare at him.

"Just because I didn't talk to you doesn't mean I didn't talk to them." I flit my hand in the air.

"I did see you change. I just didn't see you change enough. You were still too busy with your own agenda to care about anything else. We talked about me leaving, but I suppose you don't remember that between your city meetings, retraining Mia and JLA business. At least I only 'flaked' once. It's pretty much been your M.O. from day one." I turn and walk away. What the hell Dinah. What. The. Hell. He has changed, he's become the man you wanted him to be. Stable and…….stable.

What did you really expect? That he'd chase you down, throw you over his shoulder and bring you back? No.
Is that what you wanted? Yes. NO!

I stop and look up, biting my lip before giving a short bitter laugh. He's the one I'm inextricably, and always connected to no matter what I do, or how far I go. We share history; good or bad and we share family.

I take a breath, remembering the moments during his bid for Mayor, for Presidency, for Mayor. I'd kept it all to myself, not wanting him to know. Not trusting him to care. A memory surfaced from right after Ted's death.

"There's no hidden motive or plan to try to sleep with you. I can change and I can show you I can change."

"I'll believe it when I see it Queen.

"Believe me, you'll see it, Lance."

"I'm sorry."

 

[Byrd Man]

I glare at him.

"Just because I didn't talk to you doesn't mean I didn't talk to them." I flit my hand in the air.

"I did see you change. I just didn't see you change enough. You were still too busy with your own agenda to care about anything else. We talked about me leaving, but I suppose you don't remember that between your city meetings, retraining Mia and JLA business. At least I only 'flaked' once. It's pretty much been your M.O. from day one." I turn and walk away. What the hell Dinah. What. The. Hell. He has changed, he's become the man you wanted him to be. Stable and…….stable.

"Talk all you want, that's all it is and all it will ever be."

I catch back up to Dinah and ignore the few people in the street who've been watching us as our argument has progressed.

"For the past two years, I've tried to be the bigger man. I didn't try to reach out to you because you didn't want me to. I've been acting like a prick, I admit it, but that wasn't my original intention. It was you who came to a school dressed to the nines, trying to show me what I can't have. You knew what you were doing from the start. You wanted to drive me crazy....and, you know what? It worked. I regressed back to my old. petty self. So, congratulations on winning. Does it make you feel better?"

 

[twylight]

I spins on him, my hair flying behind me, bringing our faces inches apart.

"You know what the real issue is? Your ego. You can't handle that I left, because you thought everything was okay with me. You thought we were just fine."

He was so close I could see the pattern in his eyes. Icy blue and familiar. Why do I feel like this, why do I just want to scream at him for not coming to get me?

Because, for once, he was the grown up. He took the high road and took care of everyone while I finished pulling myself together.

"It makes me feel just fabulous. Especially because you can't!"

 

[Byrd Man]

I spins on him, my hair flying behind me, bringing our faces inches apart.

"You know what the real issue is? Your ego. You can't handle that I left, because you thought everything was okay with me. You thought we were just fine."

He was so close I could see the pattern in his eyes. Icy blue and familiar. Why do I feel like this, why do I just want to scream at him for not coming to get me?

Because, for once, he was the grown up. He took the high road and took care of everyone while I finished pulling myself together.

"It makes me feel just fabulous. Especially because you can't!"

"Please," I hiss. I lean in close, so close that all I have to do is whisper. "You say you don't me, don't need me...then why the hell are you here right now? You came for Lian, sure, but you were the one who got dolled up, chose to go out with us tonight. And now, here you are, arguing withe me on some Godforsaken sidewalk with all our dirty laundry being put on display. I know you don't need me....but don't lie to me or yourself by saying you don't want me."

 

[twylight]

"Please," I hiss. I lean in close, so close that all I have to do is whisper. "You say you don't me, don't need me...then why the hell are you here right now? You came for Lian, sure, but you were the one who got dolled up, chose to go out with us tonight. And now, here you are, arguing withe me on some Godforsaken sidewalk with all our dirty laundry being put on display. I know you don't need me....but don't lie to me or yourself by saying you don't want me."

I hold my ground, as he moves closer. So much closer. I breathe in to calm the tension in my chest, but all it does is give me a whiff of his after shave. Still the same kind after all these years.

I inch forward and glare at him.

"I'm sorry you consider this being 'dolled up'. Must not have been with any women recently if you think this is it." I speak low and motion to my dress even though I know he won't move his eyes from mine.

"Not everything is about you, Oliver. Mia and Connor were at dinner, despite your best attempts to lampoon that. You may remember who invited me to begin with. Not you, that's for sure."

I move closer and put my mouth next to his ear as I whisper.
"Don't kid yourself that I'm unfairly 'tempting' you. You must not want me as much as you say, because you never came after me."

 

[Byrd Man]

I move closer and put my mouth next to his ear as I whisper.
"Don't kid yourself that I'm unfairly 'tempting' you. You must not want me as much as you say, because you never came after me."

I close my eyes as she talks. She smells wonderful. God, I've missed that smell. I move back just enough so that both our eyes are locked together.

"Would it have mattered if I did come after you? Probably not. You would have just said that you were busy and didn't want to see me. You'd do anything you could to prove that you're stronger than me."

Don't give in. Don't give in. Don't give in.

 

[twylight]

I close my eyes as she talks. She smells wonderful. God, I've missed that smell. I move back just enough so that both our eyes are locked together.

"Would it have mattered if I did come after you? Probably not. You would have just said that you were busy and didn't want to see me. You'd do anything you could to prove that you're stronger than me."

Don't give in. Don't give in. Don't give in.

I blink. Would it have? It would have, at the very least, meant this conversation happened long ago, in some remote location and not on some city street.

"I am stronger than you. That is why I left. Because you couldn't handle all the things you were holding together and me."

His proximity was too close. I remember Babs telling me a long time ago that when we fight it's like being trapped in a room with two very large magnets. I move to take a step back. Need a buffer, something, anything.

 

[Byrd Man]

"I am stronger than you. That is why I left. Because you couldn't handle all the things you were holding together and me."

His proximity was too close. I remember Babs telling me a long time ago that when we fight it's like being trapped in a room with two very large magnets. I move to take a step back. Need a buffer, something, anything.

"That was the old me. I've got it all under control now and, as it turns out, I've become the stronger one."

We've been moving as we've been fighting, not fully paying attention to our surroundings. The sidewalk and street has given way to some side alley. I close the gap between us again. Dinah backs up slightly, only to find her back hitting against the side of the alley.

"Here's the rub, though," I say as I inch so close, our faces are only an inch or to apart. "I don't need you anymore. It's true, I've got a handle on my little impulse control problem....but this?.....I don't need to do this...I want to do this."

I lean in and close the gap, pressing my lips against hers. She hesitates at first but finally gives in to the long, deep kiss that's been a few years in the making.