They haven't gotten together in a long time. The last time was probably two years ago, when they were fourteen. Sunset smiled like she actually meant it, Whitney didn't put on a mask every morning and Lex and Bruce were closer than two entwined fingers.

Now Ty's spending all his time at parties, Tony's at MIT, has new friends and spends all his free time working on this new robot or weapons for Obie.

It was a stupid idea, created by bored children at auctions and charity galas, named 'the council of the future', alluding to their inheritances, how they are the future, how they cannot escape it — or, that's what Tony likes to think. Sunset rolls her eyes and tells him he's being dramatic.

Over time, the idea faded. They are no longer dragged along to every function, just as they are no longer innocent children, happy with life and unaware of what their names — and bank accounts — bring. Tony's been kidnapped three times in the last year, Ty's had four girls claim to be pregnant with his child, Sunset's ostracised at her school, and Whitney gets sneered at every times she opens her mouth. It's changed them, it really has. Trauma is not exclusive to poor underdogs

This time, Tony called it, and it's just enough of a surprise for everyone to fly in to Malibu, where Ty already is and Tony is spending the holidays with an empty mansion.

Ty rocks up on a shining chrome motorcycle, hair ruffled and tan Malibu skin on display, he has the scowl of a hangover, likes he's just woken up (even though it's five pm), and there's a dusting of white under his nose. He stays on the bike, ready to leave, as the others assemble.

Sunset steps out of a Lamborghini, heels high and smile higher. Her nails match her hair and her car, a shining, glossy red. She purses her lips and flicks a lock of hair out of her face. Ty grins at her lopsidedly, already making a sly comment about, "that time of the month?" like the douche-bag he is. Sunset just curls her lip and flips him off.

Lex comes in a chauffeured black limo that pulls away smoothly as he gets out. Wearing a suit perfectly tailored to his figure, dark eyes flitting over the two already assembled. He stalks over, looking liek a lion on the hunt.

Whitney arrives in a cute little corvette, hair down and looking deceptively innocent, wide eyed and flawless. She nods at Sunset and ignores Ty, and Lex wanders over to make small-talk.

Tony rocks up in a pair of jeans and a band t-shirt, always the causal one. The car he gets out of is non descriptive, an Audi with blacked-out windows, it drives over to the opposite side of the lot, parking smoothly. Whitney smiles at him. Ty tries not to look his way and fails.

Bruce is the last to arrive, dropped off by a taxi. He's goes straight to Lex, running a hand through his hair, although there is none of the same knowing-your-soul friendliness there, just seeing a familiar face in a crowd.

And so, they assemble, Sunset and Whitney leaning on their cars, next to each other in the desolate Malibu parking lot, overlooking the late-afternoon sea. Ty's still sitting on his bike, pulled up next to sun's, and Tony stands as the link to the Gotham partners.

"Glad you got up for us, Ty-Ty," Tony lilts, noticing the bags under his eyes and his muse, rolled-out-of-bed-(literally)-hair.

"Man," he groans, "last night was wild ."

"Were there many doughnuts?" Sunset pokes, eyebrows raised and eyeing the smudge of white powder under his nose.

He wipes it hastily; sniffing. Whitney laughs, "oh, how the mighty have fallen."

"Shut up, Whit," he growls, "at least I'm not sucking up to high society ."

"Well, you're doing that too, just to any girl with tits," she sneers, crossing her arms.

"Hey," Tony laughs, "don't be mean...he sucks guys as well."

The group titters. This is how they talk, in jibes and jabs. It's been so long and this, this is how they show they care, how they show they missed each other. Not normal, but is that expected?

"Lex," Sunset drawls in her southern accent, "you really should look into something...that's not a suit. It makes you look old, dear."

"And you shouldn't play matchy-matchy with a paint job," he snarls back. Sunset wiggles her fingers like she's hurt.

"Girls," Tony interrupts, sitting on the bonnet of Whitney's Corvette, the two had always been close, there has always been that strange, adolescence closeness there, the promise of what to be. "no need to fight."

"Piss off, Stark," Lex says, the same time as Sunset rolls her eyes so hard they near pop out of their sockets.

"Hmm, yeah, well, we're here for a reason, ladies and gentlemen. And it's not to squabble."

"You're the one that called the meeting, Tony," Ty says, helmet under his arm. "Why don't you share?"

"Ty, a wonderful idea. Applause, everybody," he starts to clap, cut off by Sunset, who growls out, "we're not ten and bored at charity functions, Stark. Why are we here?"

"Wonderful point, Sunny. As she brought up, we are not ten. This alliance has little use anymore, with me in New York, Ty in Malibu, Lex in Metropolis, and Bruce fucking around in Gotham, of all places, and well, I have no idea where Whit and Sun stay."

"Miami," Whitney says, the same time Sunset goes, "Houston."

"Yeah, whatever," Tony waves off, although he notes it down. "The point is, we're rarely in the same place at the same time, much less terrorising galas."

"You do that on your own," Ty snorts.

"You know, that little incident with that girl.. what was her name, Melissa? Melanie? wasn't as well covered up as you think."

Ty blushes darkly, flipping Tony off, who's wearing a smug face.

"So, I've called the council of the future—"

"We're still calling it that?" Bruce asks, looking confused.

"We can have another meeting for the name!" Tony snaps, "now stop interrupting me!"

Everyone shifts, the quests down, and Tony talks again. "We're here to discuss our future, and work out a deal that is mutually beneficial for all of us. Alright?"

"Is there an opening to leave?" Sunset asks lazily, easing her eyebrows.

Tony grins darkly, "oh, you won't want to leave. And, technically, you could have left anytime though these years. You didn't even need to show up today."

Sunset sniffs and mutters something rude, while everyone else ignores her.

"We all in favour?" Tony asks, looking at everyone.

Everyone mumbles 'yeahs' and 'yeses'

"Okay. Um, I have…" He rustles around in his pockets until he finds a pen and notepad. "Here!"

Sunset rolls her eyes again, "can't you ever be prepared, Stark?"

Tony just tuts at her. "Ideas?"

"What kind of ideas?" Bruce asks.

Tony shrugs, "ideas for how we can make this —" he waves around at everyone "— good. I mean, I control Boston and New York, anything at MIT. Sunny's in Houston, and she influences the underground scene there. Ty's the same in Malibu. Whit's in Miami and owns the PR game. Lexy is due to inherit one of the largest companies in the world, as am I. Bruce's one of the biggest players in Gotham. Together we're a formidable team, if we can make it work, that is."

"That true," Luther nods. "If we make the most of this pairing, we could... well, we could do practically anything."

"My point," Tony nods. "So, ideas?"

"I'm looking to invest in the stock market, perhaps - due to our varied strongpoints - putting pressure on certain people, certain companies can help that."

"Money," Sunset says like it's obvious, "we're rich, right? As Lex said, the stock market - any market."

"Political tensions. Tony's dad has connections to the government and military, so does Lex's. Whitney's friends with a few diplomats, aren't you? -" she nods, "together, we could easily push and pull."

"why don't we take the old-fashioned road?" Ty suggests, "revenge. Sunset's been bullied, Tony...you're fifteen and at university, Lex and Bruce - I don't care, but the rest of us have issues. why don't we punish those who have crossed us?"

"Soo, yes to all of those," Tony says triumphantly, "we have more than enough spare time, right? I breeze though my classes and none of you do much."

Sunset and Whitney looks vaguely offended, while Ty just nods.

"We should write up a contract, put in clauses and everything."

"We're not one of your father's business deals, Stark," Sunset laughs.

"No," Tony agrees, "but if this is going to work, we need rules."

"I second," Lex votes.

The rest of the council shifts, murmuring agreement.

"So, we should meet tomorrow, Ty's place."

"Hey!" Ty says indignantly, "who said?!"

"Me," Tony deadpans. Bruce snorts and Whitney giggles.

Tony looks out to the sunset, the burning disk of the sun is sinking under the horizon, a red-gold with orange-streaked sky. "Hey, Sunny, look, it's a sunset."

She curls her lip and him and stalks over to her car. "Hey, Stark, look, it's you," she flips him off and slides inside, yelling, "a fuck!"

Whitney unlocks her corvette with a beep, getting inside. "Need a ride?" She asks the others with a smile, this one not-so-fake.

"Yeah," Tony says, getting into the convertible. "Sure, Whit."

He slung a hand over the side, gazing at Ty with half-lids. "See ya tomorrow, Ty-Ty."

He shakes his head and flips him off, although he's grinning. He slips the helmet over his head and guns the bike, roaring out of the parking lot.

Bruce and Lex are talking, standing together with muffled conversation.

"Oi!" Whit yells, "boys! You want a ride?"

Lex shakes his head while Bruce nods, clapping Luthor on the back and jogging towards them. He vaults into the back, landing on the seat easily, They used to do this all the time, back when they were kids and all together, only a chauffeur used to drive.

"So, is the divorce final?" Tony drawls, turning around in the seat and White turns out of the lot. The black car flashes it's headlights and Tony flips them off and laughs.

Bruce smiles, both at his antics and the question, "I don't think so."

Tony only hums, turning back around.

"Put a seatbelt on, you," Whitney pokes Tony in the side.

He grumbles in annoyance, but clicks it in all the same.

They cruise down a lane next to the sea, wind ruffling their hair and with golden hour light streaming in. tony leans back his head and closes his eyes. Bruce stretches out his legs and looks at the green foliage flying by. Whitney taps her fingers on the steering wheel to the song on the radio.

"Where're you guys staying?" She asks.

"Wherever you're staying, doll," Tony leers, and Bruce says, "The Hilton."

Whitney laughs lightly. "Tony, honey, you ain't got a chance with me."

Tony laughs, "I've heard that before."

"Shouldn't it be an indicator, then?"

"Yeah, well they recanted after an orgasm or two."

"Or two ?" she mock-gasps, "You must be losing your touch."

"I'll get back in practice with you."

"Sure, baby. But if I'm gonna do anything with you, it's gonna be as sweethearts or with a gold ring."

"I can give you that," he purrs, leaning over.

"Tony," she says pityingly, "you couldn't give a girl a golden ring if you tried." This time, there is none of the suggestive teasing.

"Why not?" He says, sounding put out. Bruce, not listening until now, tunes in.

"Family history," she says simply, eyes on the road.

Tony stiffens, and Bruce frowns, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Family history? Fuck you, Whitney."

"It's true," she says, "you'll never be able to settle down. It's just like that, sometimes." she shrugs like it can't be helped, gives a little sigh, but it only infuriates Tony further.

He leans across the seat, deadly close. Tony Stark is a shark when he wants be, raised in blood and taught to be ruthless, he can smell blood from a passive-aggressive comment away. It's sink or swim for him, in the business world, and damn if he isn't swimming.

"And it's not like that for you? Little miss perfect, smiling and sipping glasses of champagne. You hate it, admit it, Whitney. You only do it because you know if you stop, no one will ever marry you. Your father's company is in shambles, and you mother's just as drunk as my father, so don't talk."

"Get out," she bites, slamming on the brakes and screeching to the side of the coastal road. "Get out."

"At least I have a future, Whitney," he continues scathingly, "at least I'm not gonna become some housewife and live in purgatory for the rest of my life."

"Get out!" She yells, "get the fuck out of the car!"

He gets out, throwing himself out of the seat and slamming the door after him. He leans on the rolled-down window, both hands white-knuckled. "You know it's true, Whit. Don't deny it, you know it is and that's why you hate it."

Whitney doesn't say anything, just slam on the gas and speed away, leaving Tony next to the road.

When she's gone, he collapses in the fading light from the sun, and laughs, just a little. These are his best fucking friends in the world, (except maybe this new kid that he's been getting to know,) and he hasn't seen them all in two years, and he's fucked it all up yet again. So he sits there, and looks at the sun, then sticks out a thumb to hitchhike back to the house nobody lives in but his father bought as a home.