AN: TOP OF THE MORNIN' TO YA LADDIES AND LASSES! Happy Saint Patty's Day to you all! I know I'm a little late, OK, a lot late. In fact, happy Easter. But I'm doing my best! Anyway, what do ya think of the new cover photo? And please, go and vote on my page for Tommy's love interest. Enjoy!
|QUEEN MANOR
|November 18, 09:13 PDT
I was having a peaceful sleep. Which was weird. I mean, I had had practically had nothing but nightmares since my Dad died. It almost felt like a foreign concept to me. I didn't necessarily have a good dream, or any dream really, but it was a peaceful sleep. I understand that it's a little screwed up that not having a nightmare is my idea of a good night's sleep but I'm too lazy for therapy. I was woken up by someone rolling on top of me. I groaned in annoyance. Leaning my head up I saw a mess of yellow hair massed on my chest. My mind immediately thought, "Oh, god. What did I do last night?!" But then I realized it wasn't some random girl. It was Bucky. She must've climbed into my bed during the night. She used to do that all of the time when we lived in the cave; although, it was a lot less awkward when she was six. I tried to silently crawl out from under her. I heard what sounded like a squeak come from under my covers.
"What the..." I whispered. Lifting up the covers I saw Selena cuddling up against me. "What the?!" I exclaimed.
She moaned in protest to the noise. I flinched. The last thing I needed was for her to wake up. But now I was stuck between a rock, and a hard place; or rather, a five, and a twelve year old. I could feel myself begin to panic. I never was one for kids, Bucky was different of course, but still. Slowly I tried to worm my way out of the tangle of arms, and legs. Somehow I ended up stuck against the headboard of my bed with Selena's arms around my leg. My eyes scanned the room as I looked anywhere, and everywhere for help. I needed something! I spotted my ring on my nightstand, a million miles away. I reached out with my will, demanding it to come to me. Nothing. A groan escaped my throat. Why wouldn't it work? I thought I had gotten the hang of that trick. It didn't budge. It just sat there, mocking me with it's redness. It still hurt my head to think about it.
I still needed something to help me out of this... predicament. But I didn't know how to get out! It was worse than when I was trapped by the Hidden Fist! Out of nowhere I heard someone snickering. I looked up to see Mom at my door with a hand to her mouth. I gave her a pleading look, mouthing "help!" She just shrugged, not moving an inch. I glared at her; she replied with a smile. Bucky crawled up, and grabbed my other leg, forcing a gasp of surprise out of me.
I looked at Mom. "Help me!" I whispered. She simply smiled, and walked out the door. "Wait!" I pleaded.
I found her again in the kitchen. Ollie didn't seem to be up yet. She was in her pajamas, a t-shirt and shorts too short for my Mom to be wearing, and an apron. There was a spatula in her hand. The most heavenly aroma wafted into my nose. Bacon!
"Well, I didn't realize you were such a ladies' man." She said. I groaned in reply. "Hungry?" She asked.
"Yeah." I scratched the back of my head, and growled. "Thanks for the help back there."
"You handled it." She said, staring at the pan of food on the stove she was cooking.
"You live to torment me, don't you?" I asked.
She smiled at me. "It's a mom thing." She set a plate of bacon, and eggs in front of me. "Eat up."
I took a bite. It was delicious. "I didn't know you could cook." I said.
She smiled. "My mom taught me. It seems that there's a lot you don't know about me." Her gaze settled somewhere far away for a moment. "I guess there's a lot we don't know about each other."
Suddenly I found the design of the plate very interesting. "I guess so..."
She looked like she had an idea that brightened her mood. "Hey here's an idea," she set a glass of orange juice in front of me, "why don't you, and I go on a date?"
I choked on my food in surprise at the proposal. Grabbing the OJ, I drowned the food in my throat. When I could speak again I asked, "What?!"
"You know, go to lunch? Maybe see a movie?" She said. "Hang out, just the two of us. Mother, and son."
"Oh!" I gasped.
"What did you think I mean?" She asked in a joking tone.
"Hey there is a certain thing that comes to mind when you say 'date', that you just don't do with your mom." I said.
She burst out laughing. "Ha ha! OK. So what do you say?"
I thought for a moment. Then I smiled, "Yeah. Sounds like fun."
She seemed to be really happy about that. "OK."
"I smell bacon!" Ollie sang as he walked in, clad in nothing but a bathrobe.
"And eggs." Mom announced. Raph walked in next, with Selena right behind him.
Ollie leaned against the counter next to Mom. Selena flopped into the chair right next to me. Raph; however, sat down as far away from me as possible. About that time Bucky wandered in. She didn't say anything. She just came in, and sat on the other side of me. I chuckled at her.
"What?" She whispered to me.
"Your hair!" I said. It was plastered to the side of her head.
She glared at me, and took a piece of bacon from my plate. I glared at her, offering a growl for a warning. A small smile crossed her lips.
Mom set out more plates of food for Raph, Selena, and Bucky. "It seems we're getting a lot of mouths to feed around here." She said.
Selena squealed with joy, tucking in to her eggs. Raph absent mindedly pushed the food around his plate. Bucky just kept eating off of my plate, which annoyed me in no small way.
|STAR CITY MALL
|13:45 PDT
Mom carted me all around town. First we saw a movie, nothing that interesting. It was just some Avengers movie. Those things were always so laughably unrealistic. Then we went to lunch. Mom took me to a fancy, high end restaurant. It took maybe a whole ten minutes before she realized that I was uncomfortable, and we left to a burger joint. It was actually pretty fun. We ate food covered in grease, talked about how stupid the movie was, and just generally talked about life. She explained how she, and Oliver had been arguing over the date to their wedding. Mom wanted to have it in the spring but Oliver didn't want to wait that long. It was nice to talk about things not related to the world blowing up or fighting for our lives. We were just normal. At this point she was dragging me all over the mall, making me try on all of these clothes. They way she explained it, we had access to Oliver Queen's account, and if we didn't use it then we were committing economic heresy. I didn't really care about the clothes, I was just having fun with her. She took me to Men's Warehouse.
She kept bringing me all of these shirts, and pants telling me to try them on. I felt like a trained monkey.
"Why are we doing this?" I asked as she placed another shirt on the door of the changing room.
"Because you need some nice clothes." She replied.
"I have clothes!" I complained.
"I said nice clothes." She repeated.
I peaked out the door. "Mom, sarcasm is my thing." I said.
She raised an eyebrow. "And where do you think you got that from?"
Without hesitation I said, "The burger. I knew it gave me something."
She laughed a melodious laugh that made me happy to hear. It was as if making her laugh was actually improving my state of mind.
"Fine." I said. I tried on the clothes that she had set out for me, a blue shirt with gray pants, and a pair of dress shoes.
"Wow." Mom said.
"I know." I said. "I look ridiculous."
"Heh. Tommy..." Mom laughed. "You have no idea. You look amazing!"
I looked in the mirror. I looked like a freaking teenage sit-com character. A groan escaped my mouth, "You have to say that. You're my mom."
"Oh you're such a pessimist!"
"I like to consider myself a realist."
A sales representative walked in, and smiled widely at me. "Well, now don't you look like a strapping young man!"
"See?" Mom asked.
"OK, two things," I looked at the guy, "first, 'strapping young man?' What is this the wild west? And second, he also has to say that. He's just trying to sell crap."
He just straightened up, all offended. "If you need anything I'll be in the front." He said, and walked away.
"Wow, you just can't take a complement can you?" Mom asked.
I sighed, "I still don't get why I need all of this stuff."
Mom sighed and walked up to me with a blue tie. "Look, Tommy," she said, "this is about more than just clothes." She strung the tie around my neck and began to tie it. Lowering her voice a bit, she added, "You do have a public image to uphold now. You aren't just a street kid anymore."
"Why? What changed?" I asked. "I know I didn't."
"Everything changed."
"Why?"
"Because Ollie, and I are getting married."
"OK, how does that affect me?"
"Ollie is more than just Green Arrow, Tommy. He's Oliver Queen, and he is in charge of Queen Consolidated, his company. And you are his step son now. People will look at you in a new way from now on." As she said it, I realized that she was right, people had been acting weird around me recently. She finished adjusting my tie, and stood back to admire me in the mirror. "There, you look great." She squeezed my shoulders affectionately.
My mind was still stuck on the fact that my public image just became important. Never, ever, in my entire life, had I ever given any thought as to what other people thought of me. Now I was supposed to just accept that I had to behave myself, and wear the right clothes so that I don't possibly reveal part of someone else's secret?! This was madness! Why should I care about what people see me as?!
"I think we should get you a few of these suits." Mom said with a smile.
"That... that's so stupid!" I shouted. I reached up, and ripped off the tie.
"Well, we're definitely paying for that."
I glared at her. "You're saying that I need to live up to other people's standards? Why?!"
"I told you why." She sighed. Exasperated, I sat down on the bench next to the dressing room. Her gaze softened as she saw me. "Tommy, look, I know that this is not what you're used to, but this is our life now."
"I-I just-" I hesitated. Looking into Mom's eyes, I saw nothing but the desire to help me. Something in me changed. Seeing how much she wanted to help me, it made me trust her. I don't know what it was specifically that made me let down my barrier, but something I saw made me open up. "I just feel like so much is happening all at once, and I guess it's just overwhelming."
She smiled, "Well, I'm glad you told me. You don't have to deal with this alone. You know that right?"
"Yeah, I guess."
She put an arm around my shoulders. "Hey."
"What?"
She took my head in her hands, and kissed me on the forehead. "I love you." She said.
I started vigorously rubbing my forehead to remove the lipstick that I knew had been left there. "Ah, Mom!" I complained.
She burst out laughing.
|WATCHTOWER
|18:34 EDT
"RECOGNIZED: GREEN LANTERN, B-23"
Mom had practically bought me a whole new wardrobe! Unfortunately for me, I hadn't had time to change back before it was time to report to the Watchtower for training, and so I had to show up dressed as a member of the cast of 90210. After being blinded once again from the Zeta-tube, I walked out into the main hall of the Watchtower to be greeted by Tim, Kori, M'gann, and Bart. All of whom immediately stopped what they were doing and stared at me.
I sighed, "Alright, let's hear it..."
"Whoa." Bart gaped.
"Tommy..." M'gann muttered.
"You look very attractive!" Kori exclaimed.
Tim laughed, "Looking sharp."
"I kno- what?" I asked.
She flew over to me, spinning around me in a flurry, sizing me up. "You look very attractive!" She repeated.
"I look ridiculous." I said.
"No!" M'gann said. "Tommy, you look fantastic!"
I scoffed, "You guys are full of crap."
Kori took my hand in hers, giving me a big smile. "You do look nice, Tommy."
I sighed. "Don't we have training or something?"
Everyone started laughing. I grumbled, and stormed off to the training room.
"OK guys the training is simple." Victor, or as Beast Boy had grown to calling him, Cyborg announced over an intercom.
Robin, Kid Flash, Starfire, Beast Boy, Wonder Girl, and I were all in a room that lead into a new part of the Watchtower that none of us had ever been in before. Everyone was in uniform but me. I fiddled with my ring out of habit.
"This is a simulation of my own design." He announced with gusto. "This is designed to simulate real combat, without the needless risk to your heath of course. Think of it like a video game. Well, the most realistic, and interactive video game you've ever been so fortunate to play."
"So what's the situation?" Robin asked.
"Simple search, and retrieval."
"Uh, really?" I asked. "Isn't that a little minor for us?"
"This isn't just a test of you guys. This is a test of the program. So we're starting off easy. But at the same time, the program is designed to adapt in response to your actions."
I smiled. "I like the sound of that."
"I don't think I do." Starfire muttered.
"Whether or not you like it, you have to help me test it. Kaldur said it would be good for both you, and the program. So you might as well get over it."
"Huh? 'Get over it'?" Star asked. "Are we supposed to fly over something?"
"Just a saying." I said.
"Oh." She sighed.
"You guys better take this seriously though. If you die in there you won't die for real, but you'll sure as hell feel it."
"Who's leader?" I asked.
"You have to ask?"
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"Tommy, you're always the leader." Beast Boy pointed out.
"Me?!" I asked.
"Well I just assumed..." KF said.
I exchanged a quick look with Robin. He seemed to be having some internal strife about the whole thing. I assume that it had something to do with me getting captured last time. I guess in the end, I was the only one here. And besides, if I messed up again then it wouldn't matter this time. It wasn't real.
"Alright. What are we supposed to be retrieving?" Robin asked.
"Something simple. A jump drive."
"Alright then!" I said. "Let's get to it!"
The scene around us changed. We went from a room in the the Watchtower to inside a helicopter, in midair, instantly. The sound of the blades spinning was deafening. We looked to be somewhere over a forested mountain. In the distance I could see what appeared to be a fortress of some sort. It really did look like something straight out of a video game. It was dark and ominous. I found it funny. The whole situation felt like I was in a freaking comic book!
"Why are we in a helicopter?!" I asked.
"Because I thought it would be cool." Cyborg said through our earpieces.
"Whatever." I sighed.
Everyone started to repel/drop out of the helicopter. A huge smile spread across my face."Tally ho!" I said.
I jumped out without a line. It all felt so real. I felt the wind surge around my face. I could see the ground getting closer. Something in me burned with passion. It was invigorating. The rush of battle fueled the fire in my stomach. I loved it. I threw my arms out to my sides, making a big show of putting on my suit. I don't know why, I guess I was just all riled up by adrenaline. But nothing happened. I didn't feel the rush of energy that came with my suit. Looking at my chest I saw that I was still in my civvies. What was happening?! I focused as hard as I could, directing all of my will into my ring. Still nothing! Holy crap, what was happening? I would force my suit on if I had to. I closed my eyes, I would make my suit work. If will was what powered the damn thing then I would give it everything I got. My eyes snapped open, and... still nothing! And the ground just kept getting closer.
"Oh crap!" I shouted. Starfire flew out of nowhere at the last minute, and grabbed my arms, flying up away from the treeline. "Hoo!" I shouted, "Thanks, beautiful."
She looked down at me with a smile. "If I understand it correctly, I believe you I have stopped you falling for me."
"Well, you're close." I sighed.
She set me down with the others, in a dense section of the forest.
"Uh- Tommy?" Robin asked. "What was that?"
I hesitated for a moment. Then I smiled. "I was just enjoying the moment."
"What?" He asked.
"Forget it." I sighed.
"Well, suit up, man." KF said.
Everyone looked at me. "I... uh... I forgot to charge my ring."
They stared at me dumbfounded. "You're kidding." Beast Boy gaped.
"Nope." I said. "I was busy today."
"You-" Robin stuttered.
"Look, I'm sorry. I was sloppy. OK?" I grumbled.
"Like teacher, like student." I thought I heard him grumble. "You at least need something to fight with."
"I got it." Cyborg said.
A little square of white light appeared before us. It was blinding, but only lasted a moment. When the light faded, my speedy costume was laying before me, all folded, and tidy.
"How-" I asked.
"I heard you wear this outfit from time to time."
"How-" I repeated.
"Since you would ordinarily already be in your out fit, I'll pause the simulation until you're ready."
"Uh... Alright." I said.
|QUEEN MANOR
|22:20 PDT
The mission went along fine. The simulation was OK, but it needed some work. What really worried me was my ring. I laid in bed staring at it on my finger. Every time I saw it now, it was as if it mocked me. I had so many questions about it. And all I could do was stare at it. Even the voice that once spoke to me, guiding me, and teaching me, had gone silent. Ever since it turned red, it wouldn't listen to me. Nothing I asked of it would happen. Nothing I told it to do, or make, would it. Now I couldn't even summon my suit. Even before I could conjure a baseball bat, I could form my suit. It was beginning to piss me off. The whole situation made me a little depressed. Of course, I was too damn stubborn to let that be the end of it.
"Damn it all!" I hissed.
"Tommy?" I heard a squeak.
"Hmm?"
Selena was at my door. "I had a bad dream." She said. I didn't know what to do, so I just stayed quiet. She squirmed in place, holding a stuffed lion that Mom had gotten her. "Before, when I had bad dreams, Sissy would let me sleep with her. She said she would keep the bad thoughts away. But now..."
I had no idea what to say. Then a thought occored. I said, "My dad once told me that, bad dreams only happen when you let them. The best way to make them go away is to scare them away yourself."
I didn't look like she like that answer. "But... but..." there were tears in her eyes, "I don't know how!"
I groaned. The last thing I wanted, was her to start crying. I sighed, "I guess I could scare them away for you, tonight."
She perked up. Rolling over, I pulled my covers open. She came running over, and immediately got as close to me as possible. Another sigh escaped me. "You have a bad dream last night too?" I asked. I felt her nod against my chest. It was weird. I tried to roll over, but she wouldn't let me. I hoped I'd never have a daughter!
A glint of red caught my eye. My ring again. There, and then, I swore to myself that I would find a way to make it work again.
AN: OK, I know this is really late but I had a lot of difficulty with this chapter. I, once more, encourage you to go and vote on my poll for Tommy's love interest. And as always, thank you for reading.