Chapter 11: The Games We Play (Part 2)
After witnessing the atrocious dancing of their older mentors the team retreated to any free space in the living quarters. The boys ,apart from Damian, were sat around the couches, while the fourth Robin spent time with Dick, Stephanie and Artemis. The four girls however grouped up inside the kitchen to play truth or dare.
"You're turn Dawn, Truth or Dare?" Mar'i questioned. Without missing a beat Dawn replied "Dare."
Mar'i let out an evil giggle, "I dare you to speed past Damian and put salt in his drink."
Sophie and Lian gave a concerned look towards the young girl, they didn't realize she had that kind of side to her. "You've got it" Dawn chuckled, "Back in a flash."
For a brief moment Dawn's seat was empty but she quickly returned as if she had never left. "Done," she chuckled.
"I guess I'm next," said Lian.
Dawn smirked to the archer, "Truth or Dare?" she asked. Lian thought for a moment but soon answered "Truth."
"Who put salt in my drink?!" An angry voice shouted from the other room, "Donald you better run!"
After hearing this the group of girls began to howl with laughter, Sophie even fell off from her seat. While she attempted to catch her breath Dawn asked Lian her question, "Is it true my brother skipped school in Star City?" she asked with a smug grin.
"Yes he did," Lian confirmed.
"Yes!" Dawn cheered. "Now he can't tell mom abou-" Dawn stopped herself from finishing that sentence. "Next question, next question." She then called. The three girls raised an eyebrow towards the blonde haired speedster wondering what trouble the goody-two-shoes had caused for Don to be able to hold it over her.
"Sophie." Lian smiled.
"Truth," Sophie answered taking a sip from the drink in her cup.
"What's with you and Damian?" Lian asked.
Sophie snorted as the question hit her, she began coughing as her drink went down the wrong way. When she finally composed herself she questioned Lian, "What? What do you mean?"
"Well you're always out on patrol with each other and Damian is super comfortable with you," Lian answered.
"And he doesn't insult you like he does to us," Dawn added, biting into a piece of cake.
"Ew no he's too..."
"Too what?" Mar'i asked curiously.
"He's too Damian." Sophie replied.
Lian and Dawn smirked at each other, hatching a plan. "Me and Dawn don't accept that answer," Lian said.
"You do realize he's my pseudo uncle right?" Sophie answered.
"Isn't he younger than you? It doesn't matter anyway, like you just said he's you're 'pseudo' uncle." Dawn said as she began on another slice of cake. Sophie shook her head and grimaced, "Nope, I don't have a thing for Damian. If you still don't like that answer then give me a Dare."
"Fine, I dare you to kiss Jon on the cheek." Lian quickly dared.
"Ooooo good one!" Dawn encouraged.
Sophie stood up from her chair and chuckled at Dawn, "What is with you two?" she asked as she left the kitchen to complete the easy dare. Once Sophie had left the room Lian and Dawn turned to Mar'i, to see if she had anything to say about Sophie's little interview.
"The family tree is a bit all over the place," She shrugged.
"I don't care about what he is 'keen' to do and what he isn't. Who is it?" Rose questioned.
Tim's brow furrowed as he looked at the assassin, "Lawrence Crock, Sportsmaster."
"That washed up old man?" Rose laughed.
"That 'washed up old man' knows where your brother is and he won't talk Rose. He's stubborn, more so than Batman." Tim informed.
Rose walked over to the wall where Tim had previous stood and pulled out the knife from the furniture, "He'll talk."
The ex-Robin quickly stood up from his chair and grabbed Rose's arm before she could leave and do something stupid, "Rose, I think I have an idea. One that won't involve assaulting a retired old man."
The masked woman turned around and looked at Tim, "You have one minute and then I'm finding Joey on my own."
"Sportsmaster always talked about family back in the old days. Guess who he knows of but has never met?" Tim asked.
Rose rolled the mask from her face and gave a smirk towards Tim, "Lian Harper." She answered. The assassin laughed at the man in front of her, "If you think she is going to help me then you're an idiot."
Tim grinned, "She will if it leads to her learning where I've been taken."
"Oh I do like this idea." the white haired girl smiled as she figured out what Tim was alluding to. "I hate to be that girl but we're going to have to make this believable." She added.
Tim sighed at the thought of what she was suggesting. "Rose, I need you to promise me something." He asked.
"I'm not one for promises usually but what is it?" She asked.
"If this plan goes to shit, make sure you tell Stephanie that... Tell her I like the name Thomas," Tim pleaded. Rose thought for a moment and then silently promised him that she would. Rose walked over to a nearby bookshelf and turned to Tim, "Time to get to work" she smirked as she pulled the shelf down, watching it crash against the floor.
"There is no way that Firestorm counters Queen Mera!" Don called out dropping his controller into his lap. Jon laughed at his friends misfortune and lightly pushed Don's shoulder, "It's not a counter dude you just aren't good at this game."
A voice appeared behind the couch where the two young heroes sat, "Oh wow I didn't realize this place had 'Justice League Super Brawl 8'!" Zachary said astounded.
Jon turned his head towards the young magician, "Yeah, Dawn bought it a few days ago, wanna play?" the Superboy asked.
"Hell yeah I do!" The magician's face lit up as he ran around the couch and took a seat next to Jon. "Go easy on me though, I never really have time to play games." Zachary stated as Don passed his controller ot him.
Jon took the game to the character selection screen and ran is cursor across the many heroes of the Justice League. Jon decided on playing 'Nightwing' while Zach chose 'The Flash'.
"Are you sure you want to pick those two?" Don hesitantly asked.
"Why? What's wrong with those two?" Zach asked curiously. Jon shrugged and started the game and Don sunk into his seat waiting for what was to come.
"3... 2... 1... FIGHT!" The game announcer cheered.
That's when two more voices appeared behind the three boys.
"Oh snap who's playing me?" Dick asked.
"Well whoever picked me has already won" Wally answered.
Don sighed, "Jon is Nightwing and Zach is Flash" he said to the two of them.
Dick and Wally swapped places and began to coach Jon on Zach on how to play their alter egos.
"Flick the stick to the left, press A and double tap Y and you'll freeze his feet," Dick hinted towards Jon. "You got it," Jon replied as he made Nightwing dash and throw a freeze grenade."
"You don't even have those!" Wally complained out loud.
"Well I'll be sure to get some then because they clearly work." Dick taunted.
Wally scowled towards the first Robin and then leaned over towards Zach. "Press X, then Y, then X again, flick right and then B," Wally coached. Zach nodded nervously and did what Wally had told him, The Flash on the screen zipped around and released a flurry of blows onto the blue and black superhero, knocking him out and giving Zachary the round. Wally raised his hands in success and taunted his friend, "Booyah! Welcome to the speed-zone baby!"
"That's it we're playing doubles!" Dick challenged, "Squeeze up kids, time to own this motormouth."
Jon and Zachary passed the two extra controllers from the table over towards their older peers. Dick and Wally chose their alter egos while Jon chose 'Batgirl' and Zach chose 'Kid Flash'.
As the timer counted down to start the match one more person came by the lounge corner and stood beside the couch where Jon and Dick were sat. Sophie looked at the five guys cramped onto a couch together with very competitive looks on their faces, she stood there for a moment, listening to the taunts they were saying to each other.
"Come on Zach! Step up your game!" Wally groaned as he lost the round for the two of them. "But you didn't even switch out," Zach replied with confusion.
"That's my Superboy," Dick cheered as he and Jon clapped a loud high-five.
Sophie let out a giggle to announce that she had been watching, "Nice choice of character Jon," she smiled. Jon turned to the redhead beside Dick and smiled, "It's a good character."
Sophie looked behind her over to the kitchen door to see the three other girls peeking to watch the dare, holding in their laughter. Sophie blushed as she moved behind the couch and planted a kiss onto Jon's cheek and then the red bat quickly scurried away into the kitchen as the girls laughed at Jon's bewildered reaction.
"Sophie! Your uncle is sat right here!" Dick teased loudly. The first Robin saw the blush creeping up on Jon's face and Dick couldn't help but release a childish giggle, "N'aww young love."
"Grayson!" Damian called over to Dick.
"Yeah buddy?" Dick asked as he switched his character out for Jon's.
"Grab Sophie, Steph is here and she has something to tell us." Damian ordered.
Dick nodded and reached his controller over to Don, "Here, show your cousin a thing or two."
"That's right you better run Dickebird!" Wally goaded.
"That's usually your thing Wally." Dick retaliated.
Dick walked into the kitchen and fetched Sophie from the giggling group of girls and the two walked through the makeshift dancefloor where Jaime, Gar, Cassie, Zatanna and M'gann were currently enjoying themselves. Sophie and Dick made their way over towards the entrance of the large living quarters to see Damian stood talking with Stephanie, someone the two hadn't seen in a long time.
Sophie sped up towards the blonde woman with her arms wide open, "Aunty!" she smiled as the two embraced. "Not too tightly Sophie" Steph laughed. Sophie retreated with a smile still on her face, "You look so pretty!" the redhead complimented.
"And you're still a little cutie," Steph grinned as she pinched Sophie's cheeks.
Dick eventually caught up with Sophie and the rest of the 'Batfamily', "You look as lovely as ever Steph," he complimented as he placed a kiss on her cheek. "Where's Tim?" He then asked.
"We left Mar'i and Zach's gifts behind so he went to get them." Stephanie informed with a really suspicious grin and a blush creeping up her face.
Damian, Dick and Sophie all exchanged looks, they knew she was hiding something. They are a family of detectives after all.
"Fancy a glass of Wine?" Dick asked.
Steph chuckled and shook her head, "No thank you, I'm not drinking tonight."
"Oh?" Sophie and Dick acted surprised. Damian folded his arms and tutted, it was obvious what they was trying to deduce.
"What is it you wanted to tell us Stephanie?" Damian asked straight to the point.
Stephanie was now clearly blushing, "I'm sure Tim wants to be here first."
"Oh come ooonnn he won't mind!" Sophie pleaded.
"We'll pretend we don't know" Dick promised with a chuckle.
Stephanie exhaled and let out a giggle, "Fine." she smirked. She then motioned for the three to come in close so that she could whisper to them without the other heroes hearing.
"I'm uh... I'm pregnant. Me and Tim are having a baby," She whispered with excitement.
"Seriously? That's amazing!" Sophie squealed as she hugged Stephanie one more time.
"Congratulation Steph, Seriously!" Dick cheered, joining the now group hug.
"Indeed. Congratulations to you and Timothy," Damian said trying to hide his smile.
"Thank you guys," Stephanie smiled, then looking over to Damian, "Oh come here would you?" she asked.
Damian sighed and hesitantly joined the group hug.
"Got any ideas for a name yet?" Sophie asked.
A/N: Next update should be Sunday(ish) hopefully.