Nine: Same Difference
"Have we ever broken up?"
"Once; Z kissed you. We took a break for a couple of days, but that was around four years ago."
He nods slowly. I sit on the lounge in the room, whilst he remains in the wardrobe, probably changing out of his uniform.
My phone suddenly rings, from under a pillow on the bed. I jog over to it and pull it out. It reads 'Cliff' on the screen. I put it on speaker and leave the phone on the bed.
"Hey Cliff," I say, scooping up Bugs.
"Hana! How are you? I heard you've been sick!"
I wonder who made up that lie to cover my absence...
"I'm alright now!" I reply. Dick walks out, shirtless.
"That's good, but listen. I got a call from a couple friends. They want you, Cleo and Bailey to model for them! I've talked to the other girls already. See...I want to be your manager."
I freeze for a moment. What?
"Oh gosh," I get out, standing at the end of the bed.
"I know, I know. It's a big decision! But you have to be one of the most beautiful and well toned girls I've ever seen! Plus you have a gorgeous personality. You'd make a perfect full-time model."
"Th-Thank you Cliff, that means a lot."
"Well, it's true."
I chance a glance, to see Dick sitting on the lounge, listening to the conversation, watching me and patting Wipeout. I look back at the phone on the bed.
"Now I understand this is a big decision, darling, so I'll leave it and you can discuss it with your other half. I'd imagine you and Richard have had many a business opportunity offered to you. Bailey and Cleo have said yes, you should know, but for now; goodbye!"
"Uh, bye!"
He hangs up and my phone goes back to sleep. "So...you're a model?" I hear Dick's voice say. I smile, then look at him and nod.
"Don't play dumb, you knew that. I know you would have done a search on me first chance you got," I say, taking slow steps across the room.
"Aright, I did. You have a PhD; why aren't you pursuing being a Doctor?"
"I'm too emotional," I admit.
"Who told you that?"
I smile at the floor. "You did. You're honest with me, see? You're an honest person. A sweet person..."
"Okay, you know me and I know you; but how much do I love you?" There is a familiar glint in his eye. I turn my head curiously at him.
"I'm sorry; is there a certain way that I'm supposed to know that? Because as far as I know...we are very much in love..." My voice quietens at the end awkwardly.
"Well, see; you're over twenty. When I was five, I made a deal with my dad, to give the one I-"
I place my hand over his mouth, and he frowns. "I'm gonna' stop you there," I say, before turning around and walking over to the vanity. I open one of my jewellery boxes and take out the small frayed box.
"You gave this to me, back in March." I hold it out for him to see. I lift the lid, revealing the 'Grayson' necklace, the small robin on the pendant glistening.
He stares at it, slightly surprised. "I must love you, then," he finally says. I'll admit it; it warms my heart, a lot. How childish of me.
"I'm pretty sure you do," I mumble. "And I- I can tell you about all of the things in your box, as well."
He gets up and walks into the wardrobe. I hear him moving things around, a couple things hitting the floor, then he returns with his box.
"Good, because there are a few thing in here I have some questions about."
As the night goes on, he asks about the things in his box that relate to me. I tell the story behind them, which usually leads on to him asking other questions.
I also notice, that he put the video game Wally used to beat him in, in the box. It makes me smile, but I continue to supply information to the fullest.
Though it was awkward, we decide to stay in the room together. I change into a long-sleeve shirt and some shorts, before tying my hair up and climbing into bed.
I hear him in the shower before I fall asleep; even though I've been out for three days, I'm exhausted. I welcome the peace with open arms.
~
"Oh, sweetie! You're back! Big mission with Emerald Star?" Misty is welcomed with a hug by her mother, but frowns at her words.
"Uh, yeah. Sh-She's got a Green Lantern ring now. She's going by Girl Lantern."
"That's great! I'll whip you up some dinner now, okay?"
"Alright..."
Misty wanders into her room, her uniform disappearing. When she enters, it is much different than she left it; apparently, she is still playing soccer.
On her desk are two new pictures; one, with Hanabrie Shiloh. The other may not be new, but it has changed. A frame that once held a memory she shared with Tanner, now holds an image of her and a boy with bright blue eyes and black hair.
Daphne texts her. 'Skype?' It reads. Misty runs over to her laptop and opens up the application. Soon enough, Daphne calls her.
The brunette sits at her desk in her gigantic bedroom, only she is sitting on Jaime's lap.vThe boy however is distracted on his phone.
"So, how much is different with you?"
"Soccer, and...maybe a boyfriend?"
"What happened to Tanner?"
"I'd like to know that too. Here, this guy."
When she holds the photo frame up to the camera, Daphne gaps quietly. "Wait, is that true?" She nudges Jaime with her elbow.
He looks up from his phone. "Oh yeah," he laughs, scratching his head, "I know you guys started dating about...two weeks after we did," he says, wrapping his arms around Daphne.
"Dude, Misty, that's my brother. It's, the guy who you had a lovely time with in metropolis, you know; with Garfield?" Daphne explains.
Metropolis. Where she had a mission with Beast Boy and Robin. Of course, she knew Daphne had to be careful what she said over the insecure line.
"Geez..."
~Hana's POV~
The next day, I feel mostly replenished. I wake up first, to see Dick asleep beside me.
I take a shower and change into my uniform, before entering the Batcave. "I thought you may try to leave early," Batman says from his seat in front of his screens.
"Well, Artemis is next on my list. The sooner I get her memories back, the sooner I can get everyone's back. Right now, that's my priority," I say quietly.
"You have not eaten since you woke up."
It hadn't even occurred to me how hungry I was. Alfred walks in, holding a plate with two croissants and a bottle of apple juice. "But I-"
"Hana. If you want mystic strength, you'll need to have physical strength. You haven't eaten in days." Batman finishes speaking, before walking over to me.
He takes my shoulders and guides me over to one of the seats, forcing me to sit. I sigh and take the croissants from Alfred and take a bite.
My mind wanders to the 'gift' my mother had given me. What was the name?... Cody?
"Bruce," I begin, when I finish my first croissant. "My mother told me that there was someone other than The Electrocutioner who she wishes she had told me about."
He nods for me to continue as I open my apple juice. "His name is Cody Shiloh."
The Dark Knight is silent for a moment, before he turns towards his screen and begins typing away. I begin eating my second croissant, when a criminal file suddenly opens.
"Charger. He's your fa-...The Electrocutioner's protege."
"Really? I never realized..."
He opened an image of Charger. I nearly cough up my croissant. I down it with some apple juice before jumping to my feet.
"But he looks like-"
"You. Yes. I never made the connection, since he supposedly has no last name. I assumed that he was just another runaway. But if his last name is Shiloh..."
"How old is he?"
"Well, we assumed he was seventeen when we arrested him four years ago. He's been in and out of Belle Reve since then. He'd be about twenty-one now."
"Can I see him?"
Batman is silent for a moment. "I will arrange a meeting."
I nod slowly and continue to eat my breakfast. I stare at the photo of Cody and wonder who he is. A cousin, maybe? Perhaps Hal knows...
When I finish eating, I stand up to Zeta to the warehouse when Nightwing enters the cave. "Can I uh...ask you another question?" He asks quietly, walking close.
"Sure," I say.
"What's with the tattoo on my hip?"
"Oh," I begin laughing, before pulling my uniform jacket down slightly, revealing the back of my right shoulder. "Yeah, we got those when I turned eighteen, in Happy Harbour."
His says 'Her Constellation' and mine says 'His Star'. "We were pretty drunk," I mumble, before turning around and walking through the Zeta-tube. He follows.
"Nightwing, B01. Emerald Star, B08."
"That's Girl Lantern, B08. Update."
The computer makes a series of clicks in acknowledgement.
My eyes land on Artemis, or Tigress. Her turn.
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