another version of me,i was in it.

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Prologue For She Loves Control Coming Soon

prologue for she loves control coming soon 😚😚

  • amoure-mio
    amoure-mio liked this · 1 year ago

More Posts from Fairiesdowntheroad

3 years ago

Woozi (이지훈):

---------------

“Sunshine in Room 0922”

Woozi ():

synopsis: Jihoon meets a ferocious ghost in the basement of a hospital and after he fails to exorcise it, he has no choice but to run. However, just as he's about to escape, he spots you, who isn't supposed to be there. He recognizes you as the ghost in unit 0526, who awoke from a coma a few months ago.

parts: 1 - “Moonlight in Unit 0526” | 2 - “The Sunshine in Room 0922”

genre: romance, fluff, horror(?), fantasy(?)

warnings: ghosts, mentions of suicide

characters: ghost hunter!jihoon x reader

word count: around 4.3k

a/n: WOW this one sure is long! I don't really know what to say aside from how this one + the first part add up to over 8k words... I didn't expect it to be this long but I love it <3 + I just wanna take this time to appreciate Jihoon's voice; I really love his voice. SIMPLE remains one of my favorite songs. + Matching gifs to pt.1 but this time he's smiley :D

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Crap.

If it wasn't for his nap that afternoon that left him waking up 30 minutes past the golden hour of when he could see ghosts, Jihoon would have gotten more time to exorcise this furious, powerful, and evil ghost. Jihoon was sure that he wouldn't be able to do it. With only 30 minutes on his hands, Jihoon had yet to find the weak point of this ghost. He needed to find a weak point for this ghost to let their guard down and weaken, allowing Jihoon to press the flaming crucifix necklace to its chest.

Ten minutes left until the clock would strike 8 pm. If that happens, Jihoon would be stuck in a vulnerable situation.

Jihoon clenched the crucifix that was wrapped around his hand. The ghost was emitting a dark fog of aura that only Jihoon could see. He knew so little of the ghost. All this evil spirit did was attack, it didn't even speak, only screamed. The location of this ghost's haunting was the basement of a hospital.

The creature was a human but it looked deformed. It had intimidating red eyes and sharp teeth, with bony hands and a long, skinny body. Its hair was long and black.

Jihoon was panting, one knee on the floor. The monster was on the other side of him, on all fours, crawling closer. The amount of dark energy resonating from this monster was immense, he could feel so much anger and resentment coming from this ghost. It had to be forcefully exorcised or persuaded to leave.

With almost no background information aside from the fact that it had been haunting the hospital for years, Jihoon concluded that forcefully exorcising it was the best decision he could make.

Jihoon met eyes with the creature. It slipped a large smile and at the same time, both of them charged at each other. Jihoon had his enclosed fist out, ready to punch the ghost with a burning fist.

The cross around his neck could only do so much to prevent him from getting hurt and possessed. Even with the cross, it wasn't like he was protected by a shield.

Jihoon landed the first punch across the ghost's face. He could feel lingering pain in his hand since he used all his strength in that punch. His knuckles were nearly bloody and extremely red from trying to get this monster down. The ghost went flying onto the floor and Jihoon didn't hesitate to jump on top of it and press the crucifix onto its chest while holding one of its hands. Like wildfire spreading, the ghost began to scream, the first stage of pain stinging.

Withstanding the pain, the ghost took its bony hand that was free from grasp and grabbed Jihoon's hand. Its nails dug into Jihoon's hand like nails getting pounded into a wall.

“Get lost,” Jihoon muttered. “Go!”

All the ghost did was scream in reply.

“LEAVE!” Jihoon shouted, pressing the crucifix down harder, feeling the blood trickle from his hands. He had to get rid of this ghost. If he failed to, it would grow even stronger after recovering, feeding off the fear of the patients, nurses, and doctors.

Just a bit longer until this ghost would vanish.

Suddenly, he felt the nails stop digging in his hand.

Before he knew it, the ghost was laughing, slipping its long and bony finger in between Jihoon's hand and the crucifix necklace that was wrapped around it.

With a snap, the crucifix necklace broke apart, the silver necklace now just one line in the hands of the ghost. Jihoon tried his best to hold on to the crucifix but the ghost regained its power. It kicked him away and tossed the crucifix into a corner.

“Fuck...”

Just then, Jihoon caught a glimpse of the clock.

7:58 pm.

‘Shit.’

Just then, he saw something else too.

Across the room, outside the entrance to the basement, was someone.

‘They shouldn't be down here,’ Jihoon thought.

He had strictly told the hospital staff to stay away from the basement.

Jihoon needed to make a run for it.

And he needed that person out of the way too.

-

Wandering around the corridors of the hospital, you were wondering where everyone was. You woke up and when you headed out of your room, it was like everyone was rushed to hide away and nobody told you about it.

You were bored inside of your hospital room so you decided to take a small walk. It had been a few months since you woke up from your year-long coma so you were trying to adjust to your body again. You hated staying in the hospital so you wanted to get out quickly, and if you wanted to leave quickly, you would have to prove to the hospital that you were capable of even walking out the door.

Walking had become easier but you still had your hands traveling against the wall to help you in case your legs decide that they don't want to work.

“Psss...”

The voice was faint and eerie, like an echo from a ghost.

“Help me...”

You turned around, scanning the empty hallways for the owner of the voice. You turned back and just then, you saw the figure of a familiar little girl. She was crying in the darkness, at the door that led downstairs into the basement. No patients were allowed in there.

Plus, that girl got discharged a few weeks ago.

You remembered her as the girl who shared the same hospital room with you. She counted the days you were in a coma and accompanied you, filling your days with less boredom than now.

“What are you doing here?” You asked, approaching the little girl.

“I lost something,” The girl said walking further away as you approached, opening the door and heading down the stairs. The stairs led to another door that would then lead to the basement floor. “Can you help me find it?”

“I can't go down there, why don't we get a doctor to help?” You began to get creeps, goosebumps crawling up your skin while following her down the steps. “What did you lose?”

She opened the door and stepped into the basement. “My doll.”

“Doll?” You wondered, staring at the little girl as she walked forward. You stayed behind, watching the girl walk without knowing that you stopped, letting the door close.

The little girl you knew hated dolls because she tripped on a doll and twisted her ankle because of it.

You watched as the little girl continued. It wasn't a little girl at all, you knew that for sure. You didn't know what it was though and you didn't want to follow.

The little girl entered a room and never came back out. You stood still, just watching that room. You didn't even notice anything else and there was nothing else but silence.

‘What was that?’ You wondered.

Just then, you could hear running footsteps approaching. You turned your head to the opposite side of the room you saw the little girl enter and saw a man running toward you. His hand was dripping blood, leaving you in a state of shock.

You couldn't tell if he was a person or not.

He was running while looking back as if he was getting chased. When he reached the door, he quickly opened it and came in, his heavy breaths filling the silence. You couldn't even say a word, he grabbed your hand with his non-bloody hand and dragged you up the stairs.

The sudden hasty movement led to a slight pain in your legs but you still followed up behind him. When you two exited the stairway, he continued to run, leaving a dotted trail of blood.

“Hey!” You shouted. If you continued to run anymore, your legs would turn to jelly from overuse. “Stop! I can't run!”

-

Jihoon came to a stop and turned around to you, who was also panting, your legs wobbly. He looked back.

“Just a little further.”

You shook your hand, still holding his hand to help keep you up.

“Look, I haven't used my legs for a year, I can't just run!” You tried to catch your breath, staring at him. His features looked familiar but you couldn't pinpoint where you saw him. It was more like deja vu. “I've only begun walking a few months ago...”

Jihoon sighed, glancing from you and the empty hallway. At last, he wrapped one arm around your back and the other around your legs, carrying you bridal style down the hallway, the next destination was the lobby area. The pace wasn't too fast nor too slow.

“What's the rush?” You asked, unable to take your eyes off of his face. He had masculine features, his eyes were sharp and his lips were thin.

“Why did you go down there? I strictly told the hospital staff to not let anyone near the basement,” Jihoon said, only looking forward as you two walked, the light of the lobby getting clearer. “You could've gotten hurt.”

‘And possessed.’

“No one told me that. Plus, who are you? Are you a doctor?” You asked.

He ignored your question and continued walking.

“I'm Y/N. Now, can you tell me your name?”

Jihoon paused. Slowly, he turned his head to see your face. Being so close together made your heart pound nervously. Jihoon examined your face and recognized you immediately.

The ghost in unit 0526.

With the light of the lobby being clear, Jihoon put you down and quickly checked his wristwatch that now had a crack against the glass.

8:06 pm.

It wasn't the golden hour. It wasn't because of his ability to see ghosts that he could see you. You were real. You were human.

You stared at Jihoon, who had his eyes fixated on your face. The way he stared at you and the silence made you hear nothing but your thumping heartbeat. For some reason, at this moment, you felt a lingering warmth on your hand.

“Is something wrong? Do I have something on my face?” You managed to ask. You looked away from him and felt your face, just cheeks, nose, lips, and skin.

Just then, you saw the dripping blood and remembered about his injury. Upon realizing that you had completely discarded his injury to ask identity questions, you began to freak out.

“Your hand! Gosh, nurse! Someone!?” You looked around, calling for help. “Someone is injured!”

Meanwhile that, Jihoon couldn't stop looking at you.

He almost couldn't believe that you were real.

What if that night, he burned you into ashes?

What would have happened then?

Suddenly, you felt a warm hand caress your cheek. A familiar warm hand.

“What's wrong!?” A doctor asked, finding the two of you.

You broke away from his touch and began to tell the doctor about Jihoon's hand.

-

While watching him get treated, you overheard that he was a ghost hunter and decided that you wanted to wait to tell him about the little girl you saw. He was sitting alone in the lobby, staring at his hand that was now wrapped in a bandage.

“Hi,” You said, sitting down next to him. “So, you're a ghost hunter? Like those guys who suck up ghosts?”

Jihoon let out an annoyed sigh. “I fight ghosts and send them to the spirit realm using a crucifix. You almost got that same fate because of me, why are you questioni-”

“What??” You asked, confused. Your heads were turned to face each other and your eyes met. He gulped. “Did ghost hunting make you crazy or something?”

“Forget it,” Jihoon mumbled, turning away.

You let out a cheerful laugh. The memories of that night in unit 0526 began flooding back into Jihoon's mind. He drew the picture of you smiling excitedly in his mind.

“Anyway, I wanted to tell you about this. Just before you came and made me run with you, I saw a little girl that used to share a room with me; but it wasn't her! She got discharged a few months ago and the girl I saw liked dolls.”

“And the one who shared a room with you disliked dolls?” Jihoon asked, his voice serious.

You nodded and leaned closer to him. “So, ghostbuster Jihoon, was that a ghost who transformed into her? You're a ghostbuster, right? Is this hospital haunted?”

Jihoon was a bit confused. You didn't seem to remember anything but you managed to say his name naturally as you've always known it.

“How do you know my name?” Jihoon asked.

“I don't know your name...” You replied. The response was so natural that you didn't even know you said his name. “Now that we're at it, to add to my list of questions for you, what's your name?”

Jihoon just stared at you. “Lee Jihoon. I'm a ghost hunter, not a ghostbuster, and yes, this place is haunted by a ghost. The little girl you saw was just a brain trick, they didn't transform, they just displayed the child in front of you and made it seem as if it was real.”

You smiled, staring at him. “That's cool.”

Your eyes locked and Jihoon couldn't help but say, “You were stuck in your unit for who knows how long, so lonely and cold, and now you think ghosts are cool?”

You stayed quiet, staring at him. People were now passing and coming like usual, no longer needing to hide from the ghost in the basement. You both stared into each other's eyes until he turned away, looking down at his hand.

“Are you warmer these days? Have someone to take care of you?” Jihoon asked.

“Do you know me?”

Jihoon sighed. He knew that it was no use. He knew that no matter what kind of games the heavens were playing, it had to be impossible for you to remember him. That night in unit 0526 would forever remain a memory of his. Only his.

It was just a pure coincidence that he met you again. It had to be. Jihoon quietly wished that that was what it was.

“Forget it,” Jihoon finally said, standing up, ready to leave. He was already paid and told the hospital director who called him that he would come again some other day to try and get rid of the ghost. He had also already informed the director that there was indeed a ghost and to try not to go into the basement alone.

When he took a step forward, he was stopped by a hand tugging onto his pinky.

“You have beautiful hands by the way,” You said quietly, staring at his delicate fingers. His pinky was so warm that you just felt like you had to slip your hand into his again. The feeling was familiar, like a comforting homemade meal after a tiring day.

Your heart was beating hard against your chest.

Jihoon looked down at you who was still sitting on the chair. You had your eyes focused on his hands.

“I feel like I know you,” You finally said, looking up at him. “I just don't know anything about that feeling... so if you do know me, please, stay with me.”

“Why?” Jihoon asked. He only met you once but for some reason, now that he met you again and you were human, he wanted to meet you again and again. He just simply accepted your leave because you were a ghost then.

His heart was racing.

You let out a soft breath.

“You feel like...” You couldn't find the right words to describe the familiarity of being around him. There were feelings of joy, comfort, and reassurance that you remember feeling before. “You feel like home.”

“Home? But we just met?”

“No, it doesn't feel like we just met,” You shook your head, holding his hand a bit tighter. “I feel like you were someone special to me.”

He wanted to tell you about the first meeting but the words couldn't get out of his mouth. He just stood there and listened while holding your hand.

“Come visit me whenever you can,” You said, smiling beautifully and brightly, like the glowing moon in a midnight sky. “I'm in room 0922.”

Slowly, you took your hand away from his and stood up. You smiled at him softly and then said, “Good night.”

Jihoon stood still.

Maybe there was something beautiful to recover.

-

ROOM 0922

Jihoon couldn't believe what he was doing.

At first, he visited you with the excuse that he was checking out the haunted area and decided to drop by. Of course, that was what he was doing. He was checking out the energy and since this ghost was powerful. He was also digging into the past of the hospital to try and see if the ghost had some sort of connection with the hospital, and if so, what kind of connection.

When he first came to your room, you were just sitting in bed, staring out the window and laughing at some cute kids who were failing to play foot volleyball correctly. He couldn't lie, the sight made him smile.

You saw his reflection in the window and turned around to greet him, your expression was bright and cheerful.

“Hey, you actually came!” You said, smiling.

“I was just dropping by.”

“Cut the nonsense, I know you're here to see me,” You moved your body a bit closer to him, who was sitting beside the hospital bed you were on. “You said you met me before. Tell me about that day.”

Jihoon was a bit taken aback. He didn't plan to stay long but from the way you were looking at him, he was sure that he was going to stay there for a long time telling you a story.

“Are you sure?” Jihoon asked, smiling slightly. The story would either sound ridiculously amusing or incredibly emotional. “It's a strange story. I told you, you were a wandering spirit when I met you.”

“That's why you should tell me! I was a ghost, right?” You looked at him expectantly.

Jihoon sighed. Even when he didn't plan to stay long, Jihoon ended up staying with you for a long time, telling you about the first day you two met. The story made you laugh and brought you to tears near the end. You were such a confusing but beautiful and warm person in Jihoon's eyes that he didn't know what to do with you, who had slipped back into his life.

After the story, you began asking more questions about him. He was growing more comfortable around you so he answered each question you asked. Sometimes you both would laugh at the absurdity of your questions.

“Do ghosts sleep and pee and po-”

“Quit it- I'm not a ghost!” Jihoon cut you off before you could finish your question. The two of you couldn't help but laugh.

As the days followed, Jihoon found himself visiting you more and more. He knew that it was strange, how often he was visiting you.

Whenever he was at home, he would think of you, wondering what the bored you would be doing. When he came to the conclusion that you were probably bored out of your wits, walking around haunted corridors or laying down in your hospital bed, he would decide that coming to see you wouldn't hurt. Sometimes, he would try to convince himself to just stay at home instead of leaving to see you.

“No, Y/N will be fine...”

“Should I just go see them? It's not like I like them or something... right...?”

“No, if I keep visiting, it'll seem like I like them.”

“Ugh, maybe I'm thinking too much, I'm bored too, visiting wouldn't hurt.”

“But aren't I visiting too often?”

“Whatever, I'll just use the excuse that I'm analyzing the haunted basement.”

“Gosh, I use that excuse too often.”

That would repeat over and over until Jihoon decided to go to you or stay at home.

Now, he was in front of your hospital room again. He didn't even know how he ended up here. His original schedule for the day was to go check up on the new crucifix that was being made and get some new prayers. Somehow, he had just decided to come to see you again because somewhere deep down in his heart, he yearned for it.

“Hello,” it was an unfamiliar voice.

Jihoon turned around to see a female nurse holding a clipboard.

“Are you looking for someone?”

“Oh, yeah, I was just visiting Y/N.”

“Y/N? They were discharged this morning.”

Jihoon felt his tears turn a bit red.

“Oh, thank you.”

Jihoon left the hospital quietly, wondering why you had left so suddenly, without a word. He watched your recovery and kept you entertained throughout the days that were meant to be lonely. Now, for some reason, he just wanted to cling to you.

Jihoon was walking down the street, a dark cloud hovering above his head. He was busy, caught up in his thoughts when he felt a gentle tap on his back.

He turned around to see no one. Figuring that it was probably the wind poking fun of him, Jihoon turned back forward.

“BOO!” You shouted.

He didn't get that scared but he definitely found it funny. Jihoon began to laugh hysterically at your failure, about to collapse to the ground. It wasn't just that failed prank that made him laugh, he thought you disappeared. Like a ghost he exorcised, he thought you vanished into ashes, your body flying in the wind. How stupid, he thought.

“Was it that funny?” You asked, helping him stand up. You were a bit confused because you never saw him laugh this hard. “You're acting stra-”

When you brought him back to his feet, Jihoon pulled you into a hug, slipping his arms around your waist and embracing you warmly. Slowly, you brought your hands around his shoulders.

There was silence between you two.

You recalled the story he told of your first meeting, about how he embraced you and comforted you. He didn't directly tell you how he felt or how he thought you felt during that moment, but you could tell that it was a comforting, beautiful, and warm moment, like a campfire in the snowy winter.

-

“Where did you go?” Jihoon asked, totally not explaining why he hugged you. The two of you were sitting on a bench in the park, with cans of coffee in your hands.

You turned to him and looked into his eyes. “I went to unit 0526.”

“Why?” Jihoon asked. Your eyes on his made him nervous.

“To try and remember what happened. I also wanted to try and remember my ex-boyfriend.”

“Why would you try and remember that jerk? I told you, that guy abandoned you on purpose. He left you after recovering and moved away. He didn't even stay and care for you or even wait for you to wake up from your coma. Do you still believe that's true love? Are you going to wait for him when you remember how dear he was to you?” Jihoon asked, sounding annoyed and like he was scolding you.

You let out a soft chuckle, taking his hand into yours. There was just something about his reaction that made you happy.

“That's not it,” You brushed your fingers on his delicate palm. “I want to find him and confront him; because of my foolishness and blindness, I almost died. I couldn't love the man I wanted to love and because of that, I nearly lost everything, that's why I tried to end it all with him by my side. I think there could have been a better solution than that, don't you think? I think I could have come to a better conclusion if I thought about it harder.”

Jihoon stared down at your hand while you looked up at the sky.

“Don't look for him.”

You turned to Jihoon.

“I don't want you to go see him. Just let him be a part of your past. If anyone should find him, I will.”

You stared at him. He took his hand away from yours, his ears tinting red.

You couldn't help but smile. “Do you like me, Jihoon?”

Jihoon tried to distract himself with anything he could find and put his eyes on. “Nonsense...”

You giggled. “I'll go find my ex.”

Jihoon refused to turn to you, knowing that his heart was racing because of you. He was afraid that he'd become a stuttering mess and do something he shouldn't.

“I'm sure that he had a good reason,” You said, purposely trying to get a reaction from Jihoon, who tried to stay indifferent, but couldn't any longer.

“You're unbelievable,” Jihoon muttered. “I'm a ghost hunter. I have to fight ghosts. I can see ghosts. I can be extremely dangerous to be around. I can't like you.”

“It's fine if you ask me. You're pretty cool. So, just tell me how you truly feel about me. You like me, don't you?”

Jihoon let out a sigh.

You laughed and reached for his hand to try and affirm him that it was okay, only to stop halfway. Your hand couldn't even grab his because the second they were about to touch, he moved them onto your neck, kissing you on the lips.

After he kissed you, he bumped his head against yours gently. The kiss left you breathless in this hot weather. His hands were so warm too that you just had to press your palms against the back of his hands.

“You can just say you like me,” You said, suppressing a giggle, letting his hands massage your jawline.

Jihoon smiled softly.

“Nonsense.”

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Woozi ():
Woozi ():

© serenityseventeen

time finished: 8/5/21 - 8:24 pm

1 year ago

SHE LOVES CONTROL — teaser.

SHE LOVES CONTROL Teaser.
SHE LOVES CONTROL Teaser.
SHE LOVES CONTROL Teaser.
SHE LOVES CONTROL Teaser.
SHE LOVES CONTROL Teaser.

summary — being a woman is difficult.what about being a woman who is pursuing a career in motorsports? you would be met with pandemonium.that was the story of her life.always having to fight for a place among the big leagues ; in this case the men just to prove she belonged in the sport.

her last name didn’t help her much either.the world would continue to bark and bite away at her confidence — even more so if they knew of her family ties.that was the reason why she chose to race under a different name,everyone would respect her so called “underdog” story after all.

the drivers were….alright to say the least.she knew of their prying eyes and judging stares when she had first made her appearance on the grid.thankfully,there were a few diamonds in the rough to help her out.for now,she just needed to prove herself to everyone ; quench her hunger for victory.this was going to be a wild season..

pairing — f1 22-23 grid x fem driver!reader,love interest tbd

release date — tba!

hi everyone!! this is my first piece of writing for f1 👩🏻‍💻 i have been keeping this in the drafts for a while,lmk if u want to be on the taglist!


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3 years ago
( -) !?
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( -) !?

(っ ̫-) !? ★ 𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗘 𝗝𝗘𝗡𝗢 𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗕𝗢𝗔𝗥𝗗

LIKE OR REBLOG IF U SAVE/USE

2 years ago

codename: nightingale: agendas

Reference: Young Justice Season 1 Episode 22

WC: 9106

synopsis: dinah and ollie sit thru a (shocking) meeting while conner goes exploring and finds a dad. meanwhile, we see our fave songbirds have a good day, and our fave redheads make appearances too.

main masterlist

codename: nightingale series masterlist

a/n: I'm using a mostly third-person structure here. Unfortunately, I'm only going to be focusing on the league meeting and our girl. Sorry to anyone who wanted to see superboy’s adventure. also the gif had to be of them today.

Codename: Nightingale: Agendas

3rd Person POV

WATCHTOWER

November 25, 06:54 EST

“Times like these, one feels the very weight of the world upon us,” Wonder Woman noted, staring out at the earth as the tower orbited around it.

Aqualad approached, “Everyone is here.”

Together with the original three, Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, they re-entered the meeting room where the rest of the League was.

“Our agenda is clear,” Aqualad began. “What's at stake should not be underestimated.”

“The decisions we make today will reverberate for years to come,” Superman continued.

“And influence whether or not the world continues to put their trust in the Justice League,” Wonder Woman reminded them.

“Please take your seats,” Batman instructed. “We have work to do.”

As everyone settled around the U-shaped table, the leaguers took their places, the screen before them coming alive. “Another expansion of the league could generate hostilities from our enemies,” Martian Manhunter announced. “No one needs or wants another Injustice League.”

“Point taken,” Superman conceded, “But the option remains to vote no on all candidates,” he reminds the current League members, gaining nods from some around the table. “So I nominate Icon for league membership,” the man of steel decided, pulling a picture of Icon to the holoscreen for everyone to see.

“Why? Because you suspect Icon might be Kryptonian like you did with Captain Marvel?” Green Arrow asked, casting an unamused look toward Superman.

“You thought I was Kryptonian?” Captain Marvel perked. “Cool.”

“Icon interests me also,” Wonder Woman supplied. “As does his protege, Rocket,” she adds, pulling up her photo on the screens. “Athena knows the league could use more female members.”

“Agreed,” Black Canary smiled.

“Hear, hear,” Hawkwoman concurred.

Codename: Nightingale: Agendas

3rd Person POV

MOUNT JUSTICE

November 25, 10:25 EST

“Gobble, gobble!” Wally cheered, eating the cranberries set out on the table. “Mm. Mm. Oh, I love Thanksgiving!”

Using her telekinesis M’gann swatted Wally’s hand away with a wooden spoon “Hey, those are for dinner, Wally,” she chastised.

“Yelsrap egas yramesor dna emyht!” (Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme) Zatanna chanted. “There. Seasoned to perfection and ready for the oven.”

After M’gann levitated the turkey into the oven, she faced the resident speedster. “Wally, I thought you were eating with your family.”

“Oh, yeah!” Wally frowned, standing straight.

“Hey, do you know if NG or Robin will be stopping by tonight?” Zatanna asked as she began picking things up to put away.

Wally shook his head, “Nah, they went out-”

“On a date!?!” Zatanna asked, whipping her attention back to Wally.

“Oh, I wasn't supposed to share that..” Wally trailed, a frown taking over his face.

“Good for them!” M’gann cheered.

“Yeah… look if they ask, I said nothing…” he covered.

Zatanna smiled, “Your secret is safe with us.”

Wally looked between the girls before nodding, “Good, well, I gotta go. Dad will kill me if I'm late,” he said, grabbing another handful of cranberries and speeding out, ignoring the chastising shout of M’gann after him.

“Wally!”

With the speedster gone, the soft sobs of the sorceress in training became apparent. M’gann turned to Zatanna, but she tried to wipe her tears away, “It's nothing. It's the onions.”

“These are all the things I used to cook for…” she cut herself off. “It's my first Thanksgiving without my dad,” she admitted, allowing M’gann to wrap her in a hug.

“Least she had a dad,” Connor grumbled, looking over to Wolf.

His flat expression changed to a wince when a high-pitched tone pierced his ears.

“With Superman off-world, only one thing alive with less than four legs can hear this frequency, Superboy, and that's you,” the charismatic tone of Lex Luthor rang through Connor’s ears. “Meet me in Washington, D.C. East Potomac Park. Come alone. I promise it'll be worth the trip.”

Conner contemplated for a moment before standing up, nodding Wolf along with him.

M’gann saw as he got up, and, releasing Zatanna, she called out to him, “Conner?”

Conner paused for a second, “Figure you don't want my help in the kitchen. Remember the last time?” he fibbed.

“Uh, yeah,” she stuttered, casting him a skeptical look. “But…”

Conner huffed, “I'm just walking, Wolf. No big,” he shrugged, exiting the cave.

Codename: Nightingale: Agendas

GOTHAM MUSEUM OF ART, UNIVERSITY DISTRICT, GOTHAM CITY

November 25, 10:30 EST

You spotted him on the steps before you even crossed the street to the Museum. He is sitting there in his favorite green hoodie and staring at his phone. It was strange to see him in the light of day with no sunglasses on. Smiling, you sent him a text, and a second later, he’s raising his head, blue eyes meeting yours with a glint.

You wait for the cross sign, and soon enough, you’re walking with the masses. Dick meets you on the curb, and your smile grows even bigger, “Hey there, boy wonder,” you greet softly.

“Not today,” he corrects. “Today we’re Dick and (Y/n), not “the boy wonder” and not “the sonic sidekick” just Dick, and (Y/n),” he decides.

“Dick and (Y/n), I think we can manage that,” you agree.

Dick offers another smile, and you can’t help but appreciate how blue his eyes genuinely seem. “Well, (Y/n) I happen to have two tickets to the Gotham Museum of Art where they are showcasing a new exhibit on the fabled Court of Owls,” he explained, showing off the two tickets as he pulled them from his pocket.

“Court of Owls, huh? Sounds ominous,” you tease, looping your arm with his as you walk up the steps to the Museum entrance.

“Very, it’s this old story used to keep kids in line. Bruce said his dad used to tell it to him when he was younger,” Dick explained while handing the tickets to the guy at the front.

“Bruce Wayne liked bedtime stories. Who knew?” you mused.

Dick smirked, “Well, it’s a poem, actually.”

“Tell it to me,” you ask while the two of you head down the tiled pathway and to the Court of Owls exhibition.

Dick led you to the middle of the room, letting you look around and take in all the art. The paintings were dark, but they held an air of regency, power, and mystery. It seemed like something out of a novel with their painted masks and elaborate gowns.

“Beware The Court of Owls, that watches all the time,” he began, and your eyes focused on the first painting, rows of people standing with white masks and rich clothes. “Ruling Gotham from a shadowed perch, behind granite and lime,” he continued, focusing on you as you spin around, absorbing his words and the paintings on the wall. “They watch you at your hearth, they watch you in your bed, speak not a whispered word of them,” you freeze as you stare at what’s probably the most frightening of them all, a zombie-like individual, clad with swords and an even stranger mask, “or they'll send the Talon for your head.”

“Hmm, the Talon,” you hum, “seems like someone who might want to work with Sportsmaster and Cheshire.”

Dick snorts at your musing, stepping up next to you while your eyes traced over the painting of the Talon, “Well, he’s got the mask for it,” he adds.

You smiled at Dick, and you continued around the room. Stopping every so often to analyze a new work of art or go off on some half-related tangent. You spent hours in the Museum, looking at the Court of Owls exhibit and more. Eventually, you made your way to the garden outside.

“You know, during the day, it doesn't seem that bad during the day,” you tell him, squinting up at the sun.

“I know, when the sun's out, it makes you wonder why we need Batman,” Dick admits, as the two of you sit down on a bench in a gazebo.

You think of Batman for a moment. His cape swept around him, hearing the news stories on the TV before your parents passed away. “We both know better, though,” you remind him as you linger on the thought of your parents.

Dick lets out a small sigh but nods, “Yeah, we do. I wanted to talk to you about that, actually,” he admits.

“What about?” you ask, turning your full attention to him.

“Now that you know who Bruce is, does it change things?”

Your brows furrowed as you again missed the meaning of the question, “How do you mean “change” things?”

“I mean, you said your parents used to work for Wayne Enterprises. They worked for Bruce,” Dick shrugged, and you slightly shrug.

“It’s strange,” you admit. “Did you know he sends me cards on my birthday and the day they died? He’s done it every year since that night.”

A clear look of surprise crosses Dick’s face at your admission, “He does?”

“It was weird when I realized that he’s not some faraway CEO that I've never really met and is instead someone who’s seen me grow from much closer than any of us could have expected. And it sometimes makes me question Dinah and Ollie because they know. You know?” you pause, sitting straighter in your seat; it felt surprisingly good to be able to talk to someone about this. “I mean, Ollie and Bruce are friends, and they know. But it's not something that ever gets brought up at home.”

“So… strange?” Dick offers.

You snort a little at the simplification but nod, “Exactly. It’s an eccentric move on his part, though,” you add.

Dick smirks at you and, without missing a beat, shoots back with, “Would it have been more centric for him to tell you that he’s Bruce Wayne, billionaire philanthropist, and ex-boss of your now-dead parents randomly one day at the Mountain?” he asks.

Your lips curl into a smile as well as you stare at Dick, “No, I suppose that would've been equally strange and eccentric.”

Codename: Nightingale: Agendas

3rd Person POV

WATCHTOWER

November 25, 11:23 EST

As the League stared at an image of The Atom, Captain Marvel squinted before addressing the other members, “Seriously? The Atom? Well, how useful could he be at that size?”

“It's the size that makes him useful,” Batman argued.

“Absolutely!” Flash agreed. “Still, we could always use more raw power. And Earth has a third Green Lantern, Guy Gardner-“

Both current Green Lantern members, John Stewert and Hal Jordan, were quick to negate this argument, “No.”

Barry looked at the image of Guy Gardner and then to Hal, “But we could really-“

“No,” the Lanterns repeated.

Codename: Nightingale: Agendas

BAT BURGER, UNIVERSITY DISTRICT, GOTHAM CITY

November 25, 12:07 EST

It’s lunchtime when you decide that you’ve seen enough of the museum.

“Are you hungry?” Dick asks as the two of you exit the building.

“Starving,” you smile at him.

“C’mon, there’s a Bat Burger a block over, then I want to show you one more thing,” he decides.

“Lead the way,” you nod, and he smiles back as the two of you take down a street heading south.

The second you walk in, you can’t help but snort when you get a solid look at the college student working the register. He was wearing a pretty pathetic version of Batman’s suit. The best part was the girl at the register next to him. She was dressed as Robin; neither seemed excited to be here.

“The costumes?” he asked quietly, and no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t bite away the smile.

“They’re awful,” you giggle softly under your breath.

“Bruce refuses to come in most of the time,” Dick smirked.

Shaking your head, you laugh silently before managing out, “What should I get?”

“Batburger with Jokerized fries, make it a Bat-Mite Meal for a toy,” he laughed.

“A toy?” you repeat, amusement clear in your eyes.

“They’re collectibles,” Dick shrugged.

“I’ll remember that,” you snort.

You both ordered a Bat-Mite Meal, which the bat-dressed cashier glared at you for, but he ultimately relented. You were about to sit down at a booth opened up, but Dick grabbed your hand.

“We’re gonna eat somewhere else,” he stated vaguely.

“Where?” you press.

“Trust me,” he smirked.

You stared at Dick for a moment and took a deep breath. You did trust him, your eyes dipped to your hands, and you nodded, “Lead the way.

***

THE CLOCKTOWER, OLD GOTHAM, GOTHAM CITY

November 25, 12:53 EST

“Dick, where are we?” you asked, staring up at the clocktower that stood tall before you.

“C’mon!” he simply ignores your question and tugs you over to the building.

Dick pauses for a second next to the doors, looking around to make sure there aren’t people paying attention, and then he is pulling you around the side of the building into an alleyway. Pulling out his phone, he tapped a few things, and then the wall shifted. You’d seen similar tech with Oliver’s bunkers as the brick moved and revealed an elevator. You sent Dick another cautious look, but he simply nodded toward the elevator. You stepped in, and he followed, the brick closing almost immediately.

The elevator moved faster than you were anticipating as it shot upwards. There were no numbers in the elevator, but the small screen panel flashed “CT” when it dinged as it stopped.

“CT?” you asked.

“Welcome to the Clock Tower,” Dick introduced as the elevator doors opened and revealed a pretty high-tech space with a view of most of Old Gotham.

Your eyes widened a bit as you looked out the window. You could see the bordering districts; to the north was the Diamond District, to the east was City Hall, and to the west was Chinatown. Your childhood home had been along the Diamond District and Old Gotham borders. From your place in the Clocktower, it seemed so far away. You heard Dick type something, and then with a hiss, a panel moved, revealing some stairs, up to the clock’s mechanics.

Turning back to Dick, you quirked your brow, but he smiled and started ascending the stairs. You gave the skyline one more look before following after him. He led you up and out of the clock’s framework. Soon you found yourself sitting on the edge, facing south with the large clock face just a few feet behind you. Your legs were dangling off the edge, and though a normal person would be terrified, you knew that even if you fell, Dick would catch you.

The two of you pulled out your food, it was a little colder than when you got it, but the view made up for it. You could see Gotham Harbor and the ferry that led to Blüdhaven, Blackgate Penitentiary, and Tricorner.

“One day, I think I might move to Blüdhaven,” Dick said suddenly, and your eyes focused on him, and then on the ferry, leaving the port in Tricorner.

“Why Blüdhaven?” you ask, taking a bite out of your burger.

“It’s not too far from Gotham if Bruce needs backup, but….”

“It’s not Gotham?” you offer as hen trails off.

“Yeah, I love being Robin, and Gotham is my home, but sometimes I think about life outside of Gotham,” he shrugs.

You smile softly, turning back to study Dick for a moment, “Yeah, I get that,” you nod, and he turns away from the ferry to look at you. “I love Dinah and Ollie, and sometimes I think it was sheer luck that I ended up with them. Star City’s great, but I’m not sure if it’s where I want to stay,” you shrug.

“Where do you want to go?”

“Gotham, for a bit anyway,” you admit.

“Really?” Dick’s eyes widened a bit.

“My parents were Gotham U alumni, I’m not sure yet, but I think it’s where I want to go for college,” you explain.

“Gotham U is a good school. At least, that’s what Bruce keeps telling me,” Dick huffed.

“He probably doesn’t want you to go too far.”

“So that I can keep being his sidekick?” Dick scoffed.

“Because he’d miss you, Dick. I think it’d be a difficult day for him when you move out because for all his stoicism, I think deep down, he’s a family person, and you’re his kid,” you reason.

Dick goes silent as he considers what you said, the two of you turning back out to the skyline in silence.

Codename: Nightingale: Agendas

3rd Person POV

WATCHTOWER

November 25, 13:45 EST

Green Arrow stared at the current picture before hitting a button on his controller. “If we're considering Blue Devil, then I nominate Red Arrow,” he announced. “Roy has more experience, and he's no kid anymore. He's 18, a legal adult. He's ready.”

Aquaman was quick to interject, “Is he?” he asked. “Red Arrow has been uncooperative and disrespectful. “If we reward that behavior, what message does that send to the rest of the team?”

The league fell into silence. Batman studied Green Arrow, his eyes darting around the table, analyzing everyone’s reactions before landing on Black Canary. The woman in question met his stare with a curious expression. However, her unspoken inquiry was answered seconds later when the picture changed.

Suddenly the image was no longer of Red Arrow but instead of her protege, Nightingale. Canary’s lips parted in surprise while Batman stood.

“If we are discussing former sidekicks, then I think we should consider Nightingale,” Batman announced, effectively shocking the League. They all stared up at the rotating image of Canary’s former sidekick.

“No. Red Arrow may be 18, but the rest of the team is too young,” Superman argued. “We're not inducting children into the league.”

A light hum echoed from the Sorcerer with the gold helmet, “That seems myopic,” he intervenes. “I have been one with Kid Flash and Nightingale. Both are ready. I’d argue that Nightingale has a unique capability. Her inner strength and honest desire to do good fuel her and, by extension, her teammates. It makes her much stronger than any of us have yet to see or actively comprehend,” he advised.

“And what of Zatanna?” Wonder Woman baited.

“Absolutely not!” Doctor Fate’s sudden disagreement brought an amused smile to the Themiscyrian’s lips.

“That sounded almost protective, Doctor,” she hinted. “At least we know Zatara is still in that helmet somewhere.”

“Why is Dr. Fate a member?” Captain Marvel inquired, standing up. “You coerced Zatara into giving up his life to you, or else, lose his daughter instead,” he reminded everyone. “Not cool.”

Red Tornado turned at this, “Should such behavior be condoned?” he asked, addressing the League.

Dr. Fate spoke up immediately, “Zatara desires Dr. Fate to remain with the league.

Oliver scoffed in response, “Oh, please.”

“It is true. Zatara's trust in Nabu is measured. He desires the league to maintain a close watch upon us. Though he also voices concern regarding admitting any children into the League, he admits that Nightingale has surpassed even his expectations,” the sorcerer explained.

“She’s 14!” Oliver argued, glaring at the sorcerer.

“But she has shown an incredible ability to get the job done, any job. No matter the odds. Doctor Fate is right, she is strong, but more than that, she’s smart enough to hold her own against any caliber of criminal she encounters,” Batman advised.

“She’s on probation!” Oliver countered, turning to the Gotham hero. “You,” he emphasized, “put her on probation.”

“And all that’s done is prove the potential she possesses, even at 14. And while on probation, she managed to salvage a mission her team would have otherwise failed. More than that, she brought them to success. Even on probation, they trusted her to lead them. Is that not the level of trust and skilled ability that we want the League to emulate?”

As the League fell quiet, absorbing what Batman had said, Wonder Woman was the only one to turn, “Is your own protege not the same age?” she asked.

“Robin is still learning. Nightingale’s knowledge and ability should be seriously considered regardless of her age,” he argued. “She has been doing this beside Canary and Green Arrow for many years now. It’d be a mistake for us not to take that into account.”

“She is still developing,” Martian Manhunter intervened. “Her recent realization of her abilities is just that, recent. She is still learning her limits, and her powers still require honing,” he reasons.

“You admitted during her hearing, J’onn. Her rate of improvement has been a steep curve. She has already begun to demonstrate the benefits of her powers and how it relates to her team,” Batman countered.

“She is your protege, Canary. What do you think?” Superman interrupted, redirecting the attention to the powered heroine.

Dinah hesitated for a moment, meeting Oliver’s eyes before addressing the League, “I do not doubt that she could do this, that she could be a League Member and perform in her position capably. She would do it to the best of her ability, which we shouldn’t underestimate. But Green Arrow’s right; she’s a kid. More than that, she’s my kid. I’m not sure if that makes me biased, especially since I brought her into this world of heroes and villains, but all I know is that she has proven to me a hundred times over that she can and will adapt, no matter what. And that she will always do what’s best.”

“I agree,” the thick timbre of Arthur Curry drew the attention of everyone around the table. “I spent a year with the youngling. During that time, I not only had the opportunity to observe but to participate and contribute to her training. I learned much from her mannerisms at that time. Many of my people were hostile when she came to Atlantis, but she won them over. All of them. She took the time to learn our customs, people, and language. She made friends, and at the same time, she balanced her obligations in a way that I would never have expected from someone so young,” he shared. “Red Arrow may be older, but I believe that Nightingale is better suited to what the League demands of an individual. Moreover, she will hold herself accountable to it all,” as Aquaman finished his explanation, the League fell into another silence. Everyone’s eyes focused on the holographic image of Nightingale displayed before them.

Codename: Nightingale: Agendas

CENTRAL CITY

November 25, 14:00 EST

“I think this is your worst idea yet,” you snort as you and Dick exit the zeta.

“You suggested it!” he shot back with a smile.

He wasn’t wrong, though you had meant it facetiously. When you and Dick left the Clocktower, you made a joke about raiding the West family kitchen for a pre-dinner snack, but Dick took it seriously. This allowed him to show you that there were Zeta points hidden all over Gotham, including one very close to the Clocktower. Before you knew it, you were in Central City, making your way to Wally’s house.

“Dick, we can’t just invade on their Thanksgiving,” you argue.

“We’re not invading,” Dick argued.

“How are we not invading?” you scoffed.

“Because he asked first,” a new voice answered as a gust of wind hit you.

Your eyes leveled on Wally and then darted to Dick, “not cool.”

“It’s cute that you were worried,” Wally smirked.

“I’m sorry for not wanting to bug you on a family holiday,” you lament sarcastically.

“You’re not invading, and you’re not bugging. Barry’s still at the League meeting, meaning so is Bruce, Oliver, and Dinah, effectively meaning that the both of you are on your own until they get out,” Wally reasoned. “My parents are all for you guys coming over for a bit to kill time. There’s no way Mom would let you guys go back to empty homes.”

“Our homes aren’t empty,” you challenged defiantly.

“Really?” Wally questions, crossing his arms smugly as he looks at you.

“Yeah, I have Rosa, and Dick has Alfred,” you argue.

“Right,” Wally rolls his eyes, “both of whom are probably busy in the kitchen.”

Your lips flatten you realize you have no comeback.

“Exactly, now, you’re already in Central City, so why don’t we head back to my house, and you can hang out for a few hours before heading home,” Wally reasoned, the smug look still intact.

“I-“ you didn’t get a chance to argue because, in the next second, Wally had his hands on his shoulders pushing you forward, sending Dick a subtle wink as his hands kept a firm grip.

***

You made it to the West household in a pretty reasonable fashion, and the second you walked in, you were bombarded with a hug from Mrs. West.

“Oh! (Y/n) it’s so good to see you again, dear. I’m so glad Wally convinced you to come by for a bit,” she gushed, taking your coat and hanging it on the hook.

“Thanks, Mrs. West, it’s kind of you to let us stay for a bit,” you smiled back.

“Anytime, dear,” she promised before turning to Dick. “Richard! How wonderful!”

Dick was squished in a hug a second later, while Wally sent you both looks of pure amusement.

“Alright, Mom, we’ll be in my room if you need us!” Wally cheered, steering us away once more.

“Okay, have fun, kids! Let me know if you get hungry!” she called after the three of you.

“Your mom’s always so sweet, Wally,” you stated as you walked into his room.

“Yeah…” Dick trailed a playful smirk on his lips, “what happened to you?” he shot.

You couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled out as you sat down on the end of Wally’s bed.

“Ha, ha, funny guy, you’re hanging around, Birdy,” Wally scoffed, falling back beside you.

“He’s alright,” you muse, as Dick sat down at Wally's desk.

“Humor is a good quality to have, Wallace,” Dick shot back.

“If you say so, Richard,” he snarked.

“I think using your government names is very mature,” you snort, sarcasm dripping with every word.

Both boys rolled their eyes at you, but that didn’t wipe the smirk from your face, “somehow, she always ends up on top, huh?” Dick notes.

“Yeah, I get the feeling that’ll never change,” Wally scoffs as both boys stare at you. You smile wide in response and wink at them teasingly.

“Not my fault you guys can’t keep up,” you tease.

“You’re a menace to society,” Wally decides.

Your smile curls into a smirk as you look your redheaded best friend in the eyes, “thank you.”

Codename: Nightingale: Agendas

3rd Person POV

WATCHTOWER

November 25, 15:02 EST

The screen now displayed an image of “Plastic Man,” as announced by Batman.

Captain Marvel let out a slight snicker while Flash took control of the conversation, “I don't know. The guy's got a pretty substantial criminal record.”

However, Captain Marvel could not keep control, and his laughter spilled out, interrupting the rest of the conversation.

“Sorry. Sorry. The guy just cracks me up,” he apologized while trying to collect himself, though he was met with abundant unamused expressions.

Flash let out a sigh, “Maybe it's time we all talked about the elephant in the room. Should Captain Marvel stay a member now that we know he's really only ten years old?

“He does possess an adult body and the wisdom of Solomon,” Red Tornado offered in defense.

“Wisdom does not equal maturity,” Aquaman negated.

Captain Marvel frowned, “Hey, I'm sitting right here!”

“Then, Billy, maybe you should leave until we've hashed this out,” Canary offered.

“No. Captain Marvel is a member and is entitled to participate until or unless he's voted out,” Batman reminded the league.

“It's not just his age. It's the fact that he lied about it,” Wonder Woman countered.

“I didn't lie, exactly. I just left out the part about being a kid,” Captain Marvel reasoned.

Wonder Woman’s frown deepened, “A lie of omission is still a lie. You kept an important secret from us. No one in the league knew the truth.”

“I did,” Batman spoke up, surprising the League, Billy Batson included.

Wonder Woman turned her frown on Batman, “I shouldn't be surprised since you indoctrinated Robin into crime-fighting at the ripe old age of 9.”

With her focus on the Bat, Wonder Woman did not notice as Black Canary let her gaze dip for a moment, accepting that she too had done the same with her ward.

Batman noticed but moved on regardless, “Robin needed to help bring the men who murdered his family to justice.”

“So he could turn out like you?” Wonder Woman challenged.

“So that he wouldn't,” Batman explained, turning his attention back to Dinah, and the two shared a look of understanding.

“It’s more than that,” she adds, and eyes shift to the sonic screamer. “The team is composed of kids who went through tragedies, but our goals have been to help them do better, better than the things that happened to them, and ultimately be better than us.”

“Are you referring to your ward?” Wonder Woman inquired, and once again, the image shifted back to Nightingale.

“Nightingale’s been through many traumas, but all it’s done is make her stronger,” Oliver supported.

“Are you advocating for Canary’s apprentice? Does she not hold a special place to you as well?” Wonder Woman pressed.

Oliver faltered for a second, “Well-”

“I will,” Aquaman interrupted, and wide eyes turned toward him. “Roy might be an unideal choice in my eyes, but Nightingale is different, as I’ve already stated.”

“Her ability and skill aside, her age remains. She is 14 years old. Are we truly willing to tell the world that this child is a member of the League? And is she equipped to deal with the corresponding level of threat she would then live in?” Hawkwoman inquired.

J’onn switched the image to show Miss Martian, “You seem to have reached a consensus that 18 years is a suitable minimum age for joining the League, yet what of Miss Martian?” he asked. “Though she is a biological adolescent by Martian standards, she was born 48 Earth years ago.”

“So, what is the deciding factor, chronology or biology?” Red Tornado pondered. “Take Superboy,” he offered, pulling another image up.

“Exactly. He's less than a year old. Does he have to wait for 17 more to stand beside us?” Canary pressed. “Is it the fact you truly believe that those younger than us cannot uphold their titles, or is it because we as a society, and we with our complexes as heroes believe that they can’t match up since to us they’re children? We’ve already heard your beliefs on my protege. Would you argue that she has yet to prove herself? And ask yourselves if she were 18 right now, would you be more willing to indoctrinate her? Any of them?” Canary’s question hung in the air while Leaguers considered the proper weight of her words, casting glances at each other.

******

CENTRAL CITY

November 25, 17:35 EST

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay any later? It’s no bother,” Mrs. West asked as you and Dick pulled on your coats.

“Thanks, Mrs. West, but we’re good. I gotta get back to Gotham, or Alfred’ll have my head,” Dick declined.

“Yeah, I still have to make a call before everyone gets home,” you tag on.

“A call?” Wally challenges.

“I spent the day with you and Dick. Someone who normally spends the day with me is on his own,” you shrug.

“Roy,” Dick realizes.

“Yeah… I don’t think Ollie called him, but it’s not Thanksgiving if Roy’s not there for dinner,” you tell them.

“So you’re going to hunt him down? I can help if you want?” Dick offered.

“Thanks, but I know exactly where he is. I have for months,” you admit.

“You do?” Wally presses.

“Just because he decided the team wasn’t for him doesn’t mean I dropped the matter,” you remind them.

Both boys send you pointed looks, and you can’t help but smile, “I might’ve tailed him back to his apartment after we had lunch one day,” you shrug.

“Menace to society,” Wally repeated with a laugh.

“Shut up, Wally,” you scoff.

“No,” he shoots back, sticking his tongue out. You don’t hesitate to do the same.

“Very mature, you two,” Dick laughs before the two boys do a bro hug.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Wally,” you cut in, hugging the speedster tight.

“Happy Thanksgiving, (Y/n),” he smiles, dropping a kiss on your head.

You waved at Wally's parents once more before you and Dick walked out. You stepped onto the concrete, and Dick took up beside you. You looked at him with a smile. It had been a perfect day.

“Thanks for today,” you say softly as you both begin walking back towards the zeta.

“It was a joint effort,” he argues.

“Joint effort, I like that,” you admit, bumping his hand with yours.

Dick gives you a comforting smile, “You and me, we’re a team,” he tells you.

“A team,” you repeat, and when you bump his hand again, Dick surprises you by lacing your fingers together.

“Is... Is this okay?” he asks, and you swear you could see the nerves on his face.

“More than,” you tell him, slightly squeezing his hand.

Dick offers you a small, shy smile, and you reciprocate, hands clasped tightly together. You walk mostly in silence as the two of you navigate back toward the Zeta point.

“Today was… asterous,” you note with a smile.

“Really?” he asks, eyes wide.

“Yeah, I mean, how do you feel about it?”

Dick smiles to himself, “I’m feeling whelmed,” he concedes.

You couldn’t help but snort in amusement at his comeback.

“Maybe we could have another asterous day that leaves us feeling whelmed?” he asks, hands swinging between you both.

“I’d like that. Maybe next time we can even aim for feeling turbed,” you mock, pulling a playful smile from Dick.

“I could get turbed,” he agrees before his phone beeps, and you wait as he checks it. “Alfred’s checking in,” he tells you, and you nod, heart-clenching a little.

Today had been great, the museum, the clock tower, even Wally, but now that it was ending, part of you wished it wasn’t. “You should probably get going then,” you say, focused on your hands as they stay entwined.

“Yeah, and you have an ex-partner to retrieve,” he adds jokingly.

“I do,” you affirm. You smile softly at Dick. Leaning close, you kiss his cheek, “It was a perfect day, Dick. Thank you, and I’ll see you soon,” you add, letting go of his hand.

Dick catches your hand and pulls you into a hug. You let out a small breath as you melt a little against him. “Sooner than you think,” he promises, and you smile. “Bye (y/n),” he bids as you let go.

“Bye, Dick,” you say softly before stepping into the Zeta booth.

***

STAR CITY

November 25, 18:08 EST

As soon as you cleared the Zeta, you made your way to the bunker, grabbed a bag, threw some of your typical patrol toys into a backpack, and then left. You made your way to the subway and took the green line from downtown Star City into Elgin. Cautiously you made your way around until you spotted the building. The Pizza shop on the bottom had become a frequent favorite of yours, but your eyes focused on the window about five stories up. Your lip quirked at the challenge before moving out of the main walkway and into the alleyway. It was now a bit dark out, which gave you the necessary cover to put your plan into action.

You pulled out your collapsed bow, allowing it to spring into full shape. Locking the mechanisms in place, you pulled a grappling arrow out from the bag and then slung the bag back on. Taking a deep breath, you notched the arrow tilting up and aiming for the billboard on the roof of the building. A second passed when you let go as the arrow flew, landed, and locked in place, and then the reel started pulling you up. You let it pull you up to Roy’s window, the lights are off, but if your general idea of his schedule is right, he should be getting home in the next hour.

You pull a set of lock picks out and start working on the window. You pause before opening it, though, spotting the precautions Roy set. Your smirk grew as you realized how much more difficult this would be.

“You never make it easy for me,” you murmur, grabbing more gear from the bag. “Not that I’d want you to, though. This is way more fun.”

***

It took you a solid 45 minutes to disable the booby traps that Roy had set, and you almost got sprayed with nanite trackers in the process, but at the end, you took a deep breath and smiled to yourself. You dropped your bag down and moved to the kitchen, pulling out a water bottle.

When you hear a key in the door about 15 minutes later, you smile, and when Roy walks in, he froze the second he saw you sitting on his sofa, watching TV.

“About time,” you sighed, “I thought you’d be back sooner,” you muse, turning the TV off and standing up.

“WHAT?” he asked, looking at you and eyes darting around his apartment.

“Yeah, and we need to discuss your security, Roy. It needs a bit of an upgrade,” you teased, which wasn’t true. His security was really well done. You just knew him and were able to predict most of his moves.

“I-” he sighed and heavy sigh. “What?” he repeated.

“It’s Thanksgiving,” you say simply.

“I know,” he nods, blue eyes wide as he stares at you.

“Okay, great, so let’s go,” you tell him, picking up your bag.

“Go?”

“Yeah, to Ollie’s?” you remind him.

“No.” “Oh… I wasn’t asking,” you press challenging.

“(Y/n) I- no.”

“Roy, I literally just broke into your apartment to get you because you have been ignoring my calls and texts. What makes you think that anything you say right now will change my mind,” you challenge.

“I-” he stuttered once more.

“You… are going to grab your pj’s the ones Dinah got you, and a night over bag, then we’re going to Ollie’s for dinner. They should be getting home in the next few hours,” you tell him.

“What if I don’t want to,” he shoots back.

“Bullshit,” you negate.

Roy glares hard for a minute, and you simply shrug at him. He lets out a groan before moving to his room. You smile proudly as he moves to pack his bag and begin replacing all of his traps.

He stares at you with mad blue eyes when he comes out, but you smile and tell him, “I reactivated your traps,” you tell him, moving toward the door.

“How many did you set?” you ask as he grabs his keys.

“23,” he huffed.

“23?” you ask with a furrowed brow, turning back, eyes darting all around the room.

“Yeah, how many did you deactivate?” he asked, pausing.

“20,” you frown.

“Meaning I won,” Roy smirked.

“No, I still got in, untouched,” you argue.

“How’d you get in?”

“No, I’m not saying.” “(Y/n),” Roy let out a heavy sigh.

“No,” you huff. “If I tell you I won’t be able to get in next time,” you argue.

Roy stares at you hard for a second, and when you were younger, you’d cave. He’d learn that look from Dinah. But not this time. You stared back at him, refusing to back down.

After a few minutes of staring in silence, Roy sighed, and you smirked. He shot you one last glare before walking to a cabinet in his kitchen, and you can hear as he moves stuff around before coming back over. Roy tossed something your way. When you caught it, you realized it was a key.

“Now you have a key. You can come in through the door. How’d you get in?” he pressed.

You froze. You couldn’t help it, Roy had been avoiding you and the team, but now he was giving you a key to his apartment. His behavior made less and less sense to you, but as you stood in front of him, you could imagine how it used to be, the two of you versus Ollie and Dinah. He used to be your partner.

“The window,” you croaked, “I came in through the window,” you tell him.

“I’m on the 5th floor.”

“I didn’t say it was easy,” you shrug, eyes focused on the key.

“Two of the ones you didn’t touch were hooked up to the front door if someone tried to come in without a key. The third was on the roof,” he tells you, grabbing his stuff and an extra helmet.

Tossing the helmet to you, he offers you his first smile of the night, a real genuine one. “C’mon, let’s go, Birdy.”

Codename: Nightingale: Agendas

3rd Person POV

WATCHTOWER

November 25, 18:08 EST

As the conversations lulled, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman stood up to address the league.

“No other ideas?” the Man of Steel inquired. “Then here are our candidates for new or continued membership,” he announced as holograms of each and every debated individual became visible around the table.

“We've debated origin, gender, size, experience, age, temperament, and background,” he explained. “But what is the fundamental criterion for membership?”

“When all is said and done, the question must be: Whom do we trust?” Wonder Woman asked. “Trust to fight beside us. Trust to have our backs. Trust to uphold the high standards and ideals of the Justice League.”

Batman waited until the holoscreen with the voting page became available to each member, then nodded his head, “Time to vote.”

Minutes ticked by as each member took their time, reviewed their notes, and made decisions. Votes were cast, and eventually, everyone had finished. Batman stood from his seat once more, summoning the results for everyone to see. Some results tracked, others were surprising, and after a few moments, for everyone to review, he spoke up.

“All those in favor of ratifying the results?”

The entire league raised their hands, “Aye.”

He nodded, “All opposed?”

When no one responded, he cast one last look at the screen, “Then we are adjourned.”

Codename: Nightingale: Agendas

STAR CITY

November 25, 19:43 EST

You’re kicking Roy from the other side of the sofa when the door opens, Criminal Minds playing on the TV. The two of you were deep in an argument over who the killer was. Boots against the floor catch your attention, so you stretch out. Leaning over the arm of the sofa, you spot Oliver and Dinah as they walk in. They both freeze as they take in your upside-down state, and then the redhead is seated across from you.

Roy had shut up when he saw them walk in. Your eyes dart from Dinah and Ollie over to Roy before looking back at your mentors, “Hey guys,” you smile softly. “I invited Roy over for dinner. I hope you don’t mind,” you state, eyes twinkling as you make eye contact with Dinah.

A soft smile graced her lips as she took in the two of you. You’re both wearing the matching long PJ pants she had gotten you last Christmas. Roy’s in some faded band tee, and you look like you're drowning a bit in one of Ollie’s old college hoodies.

“Of course, we don’t mind,” Oliver finally says, a happy look in his eyes. “Roy’s always welcome here,” he adds with a pointed look at his former protege.

“Great!” you cheer with a broad smile and a slight kick to Roy’s side. “Do you guys want to shower and clean up before dinner? Rosa left everything in the oven, so it’ll be warm when we take it out,” you tell them.

“Yeah, that sounds perfect,” Dinah affirms with a nod but pauses to make eye contact with Oliver.

“But uh, before we go, we need to talk to you about something,” Ollie adds, looking at you.

“Both of you, actually,” Dinah jumped back in, gaze flicking over to Roy.

You and Roy share a confused expression before turning back to your mentors, “What’s up?” he asked.

“We had a League meeting today,” she began, “and something… came up…”

Your frown deepened, “Is this about my probation?” you pressed.

Roy sighed, standing and grabbing his phone, “if this has to do with the team, you don’t need me for this conversation.”

“Sort of… but Roy, sweetheart, you’re going to want to stay and listen, Dinah tells him.

“What does that mean?” he huffed, staring at you and then turning back to Ollie and Dinah.

“We.. we had our annual vote today,” Oliver said, and your brows furrowed.

“Vote,” you repeated.

“On League status, whether to continue membership, and if we want to invite new people into the League,” Dinah explained, and your eyes darted back over to Roy.

This time he met your gaze with the same level of curiosity, “Okay…” he trailed, intense stare moving to Dinah as he crossed his arms.

Your mentor’s face seems to age in front of you in a way you’d never seen before. Her gaze shifts to Oliver, and you watch as they have a silent conversation. The longer they stare at each other, the more pained Dinah seems to get.

“Honestly, you can’t just say we need to talk and then not talk,” Roy interrupts them, forcing them to look back.

“Just spit it out!” you add on, and their gaze shifts onto you.

“They want you to join the League,” Oliver states, staring straight at you, and the room goes silent.

Oliver and Dinah are watching you nervously, and Roy seems to be glaring at the wall past your head, but he doesn’t say a word.

A scoff sputters past your lips, “wHaT???” you screech.

Dinah and Ollie wince at your high pitch, but before they can say anything, you continue, “You’re joking, right? Why the fuck would they want me??”

Dinah seems to kick into gear, “language!” she chastises.

“Seriously?!?” you argue.

She sighs, “I know this is surprising, Honey, but trust us. We weren’t expecting this either-”

You don’t wait for her to finish placating you, “what about everyone else?”

They go silent once more, and you let out an obnoxiously loud groan, “Well, the League voted yes, with a few caveats, on Roy….” Ollie admitted, and you whipped back to stare and Roy, who was now staring with wide blue eyes at Oliver.

“They’re letting Mr. Sourpuss in too? They want us both? What kind of bribe did you make them, Ollie?” you incredulously shot back.

The snark seems to snap Roy out of his frozen stupor, “hey!” he objects.

“What?” you challenge. “This is crazy! I haven’t had my first kiss, and they want me to join the Justice League!” you remind them. “And you! You’ve been mean about it, and somehow I doubt they fell to teenage intimidation!”

“We know this is a lot, but we want you to think this through before you decide,” Dinah tells you, taking a deep breath.

You pause, replaying her words in your mind, “decide?” you repeat, eyes finding hers. “I can say no?”

This time Dinah and Ollie freeze “(Y/n); you can’t be serious,” Roy hissed.

Your turn back to Roy, “I want to know,” you challenge, “can I say no?”

Oliver looks a little queasy as he answers, “technically, that is your right. You could reject their invitation.”

You stop for a minute now and take a deep breath. This was everything you wanted, and you knew that. You knew you wanted to be a part of the Justice League, you always had, but that didn’t mean you wanted it right this second. The team was still going to be here. All you’d be doing was leaving them behind, which didn’t seem right. None of this seemed real. The longer everything rolled around in your head, the less you wanted to accept. The League was restrictive in a way that wouldn’t let you grow. The team was designed to help you grow and be better, and you weren’t done. As you took deep breaths and met Dinah’s eyes, you knew she didn’t want you to say yes.

Dinah had never stopped you from doing anything. She always had your back and supported your decisions, but here and now, you could see how desperately she wanted you to say no. She would never say that to you unless you asked her directly for her opinion, but you knew.

“Can I ask them to revisit me next year?” you offer, your voice suddenly quiet compared to the nonsensical shouting you’d been doing minutes prior.

“(Y/n) this is the Justice League,” Roy reminded you.

“I know that, Roy. I also know that nearly every member of the Justice League is twice my age. I know that they’ve cemented themselves in their roles and identities. I haven’t. At least I don’t feel I have, not yet,” you snap. You stop yourself and take another deep breath, “It’s empowering to think that the Justice League thinks I’m capable enough to be a member now, but I don’t think I’m ready for that. I like being on the Team, you know? With other people my age, who get what it’s like to find our footing on our own.”

Oliver started laughing, the sound jarring compared to the tense heavy silence that’s been lapping at you all since Oliver and Dinah walked back in. “Seriously, you’re saying no?”

His question came between laughs, and it didn’t seem like he was capable of stopping. The longer you stared at him, the more your lips curled until a giggle slipped past. “I mean, yeah… but like, politely,” you offer, through your laughs.

“Do you know what it takes to get an invitation?” Ollie’s still laughing as he’s talking to you. “We,” he wheezed a bit, “we have to agree unanimously. Meaning every leaguer agreed on inviting you in, and you want to say no,” he dissolved at the end, leaning against the wall bracing himself as he laughed even harder.

Both Dinah and Roy are staring at the two of you now, but you can’t help but laugh harder at how absolutely insane this was. You’re still technically suspended for issues with authority, and now they wanted to put you on the Justice League?

Dinah’s the next to crack as she stares at you suddenly, light laughs are coming from her, and Roy hangs his head, mumbling something under his breath as Dinah comes back up to you, her hands grab your head, and she places a big kiss to your forehead, before wrapping her arms around you and squeezing you tight.

“Sorry,” you murmured to her, laughs sobering a bit.

She doesn’t say anything, but there’s a quick flash of light behind your eyes as she squeezes you again, and for a second, you see yourself with Dinah, telling her how you had ripped your suit in the last battle with Cupid.

“You have nothing to apologize for,” her voice echoed in your head, and you felt your body relax.

You pulled on everything you had in you to express how grateful you were for Dinah and all her support. How she always seemed to know how you were doing. You tried to put that gratefulness into a wave you sent her way.

You heard her take a shuddering breath before she pulled back a little to look into your eyes, and she smiled softly, “you surprise me every day, you know that?” she asks softly.

“The team will freak when they hear you said no,” Roy scoffed, and as your gaze switched over to him, you caught the quirk on his lips.

“I... I don’t want to tell them,” you offer cautiously.

“You don’t?” Ollie pressed.

“No, I mean, would they know if I don’t tell them?” you ask.

“Well, no, I suppose they wouldn’t,” he confirms.

“Good, then no one will know,” you decided. You stand up fully and look at the three, “So… can we eat now? Because I’m starving, I had to break into Roy’s apartment to get him, and that was a workout all on its own,” you huff.

“Yeah, let’s eat,” Olliver nodded, moving forward, before stopping suddenly. “Wait, you broke into his apartment?” he asked, turning back to look at you.

“Yeah, I thought you said you didn’t know where Roy lived?” Dinah pressed.

“Is that what I said?” you asked nonchalantly, moving toward the kitchen.

“How did you find me?” Roy asked, jumping in, and you looked at all of them before turning to the oven.

“The food looks delicious!” you add, ignoring them.

“(Y/n)!” Roy argued.

“Hmm? Oh! Hey, can you grab the plates, please? I told Rosa we could set the table on our own,” you ask him, and he stares at you, blue eyes narrowed in a glare.

He keeps his glare for a solid minute with you staring blankly at him before he caves, letting the matter go for the moment being, and moving to grab the plates, “someday, that won’t work anymore,” he huffs.

“Until that day then,” you shrug.

Ollie chuckles, patting Roy’s shoulders, “Good luck, chum, those eyes have been working since she was a sweet little girl. Dinah’s the only one who’s ever been resistant.”

“That’s because Dinah’s a shrink, she has to see through the bullshit,” Roy shoots back.

“Language, please,” Dinah sighs, as she helps you grab the food and bring it to the table.

“C’mon kids, let’s eat,” Ollie chuckles as you all sit back down.

For a second the world fades away, it’s just the four of you. There is no league, there is no team. No superheroes or villains, it’s just you and them. The food is great, the conversation flows so easily, in a way that you can’t remember since before the team before Roy left. There’s an energy in the room, comforting, and as your hand grazes, Roy’s when he passes the green beans, and then Ollie’s when you hand them off, there’s a thrum of comfort, of safety, of home.

***

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3 years ago

[11:32PM] “it’s beautiful isn’t it?” mingyu says while you nod looking at the old photos you two decided to go through.the said photo had you leaning your shoulder on his,dressed in halloween costumes while you two were on your house’s sidewalk when you were children.“it’s crazy how it felt like this photo was taken just yesterday” you state.he slings his arm around you bringing you closer to him.“you’re still as cute as ever since this photo you know?” he cheekily implies.you playfully roll your eyes while huffing.“you’re still as annoying though” you say breaking out into a laugh,leaving mingyu to form a pout at your choice of words.


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