The Ends 11
Spencer
I don't know what to do with myself. It has been four weeks. It has been one month. Roy leaves tomorrow. He has been up and about for two of those four weeks but Mrs. Cleary would not budge on his recovery time. I thank her silently every day. He is with Bruce right now and probably will be for at least a few hours going over their plan, the maps, the supplies, and the attempted devices for communication that may or may not work. Jackson is with Talia above ground learning the long bow. That woman really likes him and I am still unsure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. She is not overly fond of me and my ineptitude as she reminds me often. I really want to punch her face in the face but I am more than sure that I would end up in… Well I probably would just end.
So here I am up in the manor making my way to the library. I discovered the large room three weeks ago and have come here often. It is early evening and the sun will not set for hours so I have lots of light to read by. The warm June air has made the halls of the manor stuffy and close. Walking into the library I move straight to the window and throw it open. A soft breeze blows in and runs through the soft bristles on my head. I turn and throw myself on the dusty couch. The book I left there is gone and I look around frantically trying to locate it. It is on the small table to the left stacked under other books. Someone else has been here and tidied up. The old blanket has been neatly folded and the one decorative cushion fluffed. The small stack of three books consists of A Tale of Two Cities, The Lord of The Flies and the book I had been reading, The Call of The Wild. I put the other two books back where I found them and make a note to read The Lord of The Flies next. How very appropriate. I open the book and find that instead of the folded page I had bent to mark my spot there is a piece of paper with a neat script written on it. 'Do not fold the pages'. Ok fine I won't. I take out the paper and begin reading where I left off but manage only a couple of words before my thoughts distract me.
Roy is leaving at first light and I will not lie, I am heartbroken and terrified. I have no idea how I will deal with his absence. I know both Jackson and I have worked hard and can reasonably take care of ourselves but the three of us are a family. We do not have someone like Roy here in the cave. I have made friends with Amber and I often patrol with Daniel or Dick. The men are kind and both have interesting ideas of humor but even though I like them they are not Roy. Jackson has Eric. The two boys get along very well and of course Talia just adores him but again neither is Roy. We lost our family to the Ends but we made new bonds and now it is trying to take that away from us. I am being selfish, I know that but I am still only sixteen and every once in a while I am allowed a moment to be a spoiled teenage girl. I let the moment pass, wipe the not tears from my eyes and begin reading my book again.
I hear the footsteps as they approach. I am not sure if it is Roy's insistence of always listening or the person in question is making their presence known but I am aware of them. I look up as he walks into the doorless library. He does not look at me as he walks over grabs one of the books on the table and sits down on the opposite end of the couch. I have my back leaning on the arm and my legs stretched out along the cushions. I have to pull them in or my toes would be touching his hip. He opens his book and in greeting says. "Honda."
"Wayne." I try to imitate his arrogant tone but I sound forced where he is nothing but natural. Damian Wayne I am pretty sure dislikes me only marginally less than his mother does. Since I have started patrols I have spent a decent amount of time with Dick who apparently just absolutely adores Damian. His Batman to his Robin. I am not exactly sure what that means. Dick has tried to throw us together because we are so close in age. I am slightly older, which is the only thing I have over him. I would have played nice but the first thing the boy said to me was, 'You are very small' followed by a very annoyed sounding 'Tt'. I can't be certain but I believe my face offends him in some way. I tried to start a conversation but he did not hold up his end so it was awkward and he obviously did not want to speak to me so I left him alone. Dick continues to encourage me to talk to him and does not believe that Damian dislikes me. He will speak to Amber. Damian even calls her by her first name and asks how she is. So I am positive that the boy just does not like me.
"It would be appreciated if you did not fold the pages of the books and used a proper book mark." He speaks without looking up from his page.
"Yeah I got the memo." I respond waving the note he obviously left for me. We sit in silence again. I could get up and leave but I was here first. That is very childish of me but hey I am still a child. I focus on the page but his presence is distracting. He closes his book and turns slightly towards me.
"Your brother and you have been assigned to this week's hunting party." I look up surprised and mildly confused. "I will be leading it."
"I was under the impression that I, we were not ready." I state. Talia had made it very clear that I was a still a hot mess when it came to my skills or lack thereof. "How?" The question slipped out of my mouth.
"I requested the both of you on my team." He says flatly once again opening his book "I expect there to be no complications." He pauses like he is unsure if he should say more. "I believe you have been underestimated."
I did not see that coming.
Bruce
"Blake, Johnson, Forbes, Honda, and Honda." Damian had calmly rhymed off his choices for this week's team and I stared dumbfounded at him for a moment. I immediately assumed he was coerced by his mother but when I turned to glare at her she was as shocked as I was. Roy simply smirked giving his approval silently. I did put up an argument. I had no problem sending the girl but the boy was so young. Damian's response convinced me. "You are all so very concerned about the well being of the boy that you overlook the obvious. Simply put, his age is of no consequence. He has the skills needed to do this job and the morals to want to do it. In your worry for the boy you have forgotten his sister. The older Honda is capable. Need I remind you of her gate storming? They are a well oiled unit working well together and not utilizing such a team is just stupidity on our part." He was right. They are a team. Alone they are adequate. Together they are more. They are survivors.
Roy has no qualms about sending them out. "They need to get out. They have been out there for months. They can't just stop being what they have become." He points out.
I wrote their names on this week's roster and as I put the pen down a wave of déjà vu hit me so abruptly that I am motionless for a moment. I could feel the eyes in the room on me and I mentally shake off the feeling. It did not go unnoticed. Tim lingers as one by one the others leave to their bunks to the kitchen to the library. It is getting later in the evening and the cave is winding down.
"It was nothing Tim, just déjà vu." I tell him as he leans against the desk arms folded across his chest staring at me intently.
"Does that happen often Bruce?" It is more an accusation then a question.
I scowl but he is unaffected. Sighing heavily I answer. "Occasionally, but I don't see how that would have you concerned."
"Actually I wouldn't be but I have noticed that reaction in you often enough to raise my curiosity." Nothing gets by Tim. "And Spencer mentioned having that feeling often to Mrs. Cleary during her medical exam."
That I did not know and I am immediately curious. It is a new mystery within the mystery. "I guess we will have to look into this then."
Spencer
The sun is just peeking up over the horizon as Jackson and I watch Roy load the saddle bags on the motorcycle. They are stuffed to capacity. Bruce and Dick are out here as well running over last minute concerns and supply checks. The hollow feeling in my stomach is familiar. I felt it the morning my Dad left to find supplies when we were still in New York. It's not déjà vu which is of some comfort. It is just my own fear. Roy will be fine, he'll make it to Star City and he will come back for us. It's the in between that is going to be hard.
"Hey small humans, come here for a sec." Roy says as he waves us over. "I want the two of you to be on your best behavior, understand?" He is smiling broadly at us. He hunches down to be at eye level with Jackson and pulls my brother into a tight hug. Jackson returns the embrace and tries to look manly while doing it.
"Hurry Back ok Roy." Jackson tells him in a small quiet voice.
Roy ruffles his hair and turns towards me. "Spence…" I lunge at him, wrapping my arms as tight as I can around his waist and bury my face in the fabric of his shirt. He squeezes back just as tightly. "I'm proud of you Eye of The Tiger. Keep Jack in line ok. I'll be right back." He plants a quick kiss on the top of my bristly head and lets me go.
"Roy…" I don't know what else to say.
"Me to kiddo." Roy says to my unspoken words.
He climbs on the bike, kicks it on, turns his head and gives me a toothy grin with a wink and he is gone. I stand there watching the quiet road as the sound of the motorcycle vanishes in the wind. I stay even after I can no longer hear it. The others have returned to the cave. Jackson leaves a short time after them but I stay just a little longer watching as the sky brightens. I can feel the tears prickle at my eyes and the sob clench in my throat but I allow neither to happen. I take three deep breaths and steel myself. I move to go back inside and notice I was being watched. Damian looks at me without expression, turns and walks inside leaving me to make my way back alone.
Bruce
Roy has left. I am confident that he will make it to Star City and I am hopeful that Oliver is still alive. The communication system we were trying has failed one hundred miles out. We have lost contact with him but we knew that was probable. The Honda children appear to be taking his departure in stride and have resumed their regular activities. I watch as Talia slaps Spencer's hand with the wooden sword. The girl is improving. As soon as they are finished Tim would like to have a chat with both her and I. We have a few things in common both of which are completely uncommon.
