the most wonderful time of the year

[batmantled.livejournal.com]

WHO: BATFAM and friends!
WHERE: The Bathouse
WHEN: Thanksgiving Day
WARNINGS: batangst, family drama, look who’s in this log
SUMMARY: holy shit Dick invited everyone now what do
FORMAT: words



[ When all is said and done, the place really does clean up pretty nicely. No visible cluttery mess aside from that half-assembled Christmas tree in the corner of the living room, and there’s appropriate mood music on in the background. Make yourself at home and grab some food before it’s gone. ]

Comments

<333!!!

[birdcodename]

[Babs definitely has color back to her face and, while she's still taking it pretty easy, being up and about is really nice. When she spots him wandering over to her, she smiles widely. What's with them and being unable to stay healthy for more than a month at a time?]

Unless I'm the ghost of Thanksgiving Past, I think that's a pretty good bet, man wonder.

[batmantled.livejournal.com]

[ Whether it's the lingering buzz from the fear gas or not, seeing her here and healthy is... well.

It means something.

And that's definitely his cue to drag the nearest chair over and slide right in beside her, a mostly comfortable distance away. And that tea's getting handed over. ]

Swear I didn't sip it.

[birdcodename]

[Babs frowns at that distance between their chairs but accepts the tea.]

You can sit closer, you dope. I'm not contagious.

[Reaching for the arm of his chair.]

[batmantled.livejournal.com]

[ He lets her tug him a little, then finally just gives up and moves the chair where she wants it. And if his arm just happens to slide up and around her, he just...

All the sudden a hug seems really warranted. It's definitely the fear gas, this time.

Which is another subject he should probably broach with her sometime soon. ]

Didn't watch the news this morning, did you?

[birdcodename]

[Oh hello there hug. Babs gingerly wraps her arms around him in return before returning the hug in earnest. Something's wrong. Something's definitely wrong. She doesn't release him when he starts speaking. ]

Charlie told me about the parade; I was out of it this morning.

[batmantled.livejournal.com]

[ Yeah, he's... pretty okay with that letting that embrace linger a little longer. It's been a long day. And somehow he's gotten through all of it without realizing how much he needed a hug until right now. ]

Didn't go so well.

[birdcodename]

[Babs has a little experience in knowing when Dick needs a hug, even if he doesn't. She slowly, slowly starts to release him and sink back down into her chair, her gaze focused on him.]

You were gassed. [It's easy enough to jump to that conclusion.]

[batmantled.livejournal.com]

...Yeah. [ why does she know these things. :c ]

I think a few of the kids might've seen me.

[birdcodename]

[Oh sdkjfsdf Dick. Yeah Babs definitely released that hug too soon, she's wrapping her arms around his shoulders tightly again.]

Hey, we can move out of the living room if you want to.

[batmantled.livejournal.com]

[ Not-the-living-room actually sounds pretty good right now, but he glances up at her anyway, a little caught between surprise and genuine gratitude. ]

Roof? [ Why not make use of that sadly unloved elevator? ]

[birdcodename]

[Babs doesn't hesitate in her answer, not first considering some of the difficulties of being on the roof.] Let's go, man wonder.

[But she does know that privacy can help a great deal in just letting things move through you rather than trying to bottle them up. And that's what she plans to let him do.]

[batmantled.livejournal.com]

[ Her hand gets a squeeze, cause damn if he's not feeling a little close to this side of self-indulgent. Then he lets go and stands up to lead the way, snagging a cookie from the table a little absently when he passes it by. ]

You try those? They're good.

[ Keep it light. Keep it simple. The elevator's right where it should be, since no one who lives here regularly uses it. He turns to look at her when he hits the button and then just. Offers a small, half-embarrassed shrug. ]

...All aboard?

[birdcodename]

[Babs raises her eyebrows at the offer of a cookie but mostly ignores it as they board the elevator. That embarrassed shrug just puzzles her. Since when had he been anything but comfortable around her? Maybe it was the gas. Probably was the gas, now that she considered his behavior.

So, she reaches over to give his wrist a firm squeeze.]

All aboard.

[batmantled.livejournal.com]

[ There's definitely a heavier chill outside when the doors open up than he'd really been planning on subjecting Babs to, but already the change in atmosphere has him feeling a little calmer. Damian gets the tower, the bathroom, and most of the garage, but this is his spot. Fortified, Grayson-approved, and sporting a pretty unarguably spectacular view of Manhattan.

He heads over to the chest to find her a blanket, stealing a not-quite-subtle glance in her direction to look for a reaction. ]

...Don't keep me waiting, Babs. What do you think?

[birdcodename]

[The chill is actually pretty nice. Being cooped up with a fever for the better part of the past few days has made her want some fresh air, no matter how warm or cold. Taking that first breath is relieving, liberating, and for a second she just closes her eyes to enjoy it.

When she opens her eyes again, there's a thousand blinking lights staring out at them on the roof. It really is quite amazing, way better than her view of Gotham back home. The Kord Needle's pretty awesome but this? A calming, bright smile lights up her face.]

This is... amazing.

[batmantled.livejournal.com]

That was kind of the gist of the idea. [ Aw, yis. She gets the blanket draped not-so-subtley around her and then he takes a seat down on the roof beside her. ]

And you said I couldn't put down roots.