A Quick update I know, but I don't know when I'll be able to update next (hopefully soon). The Following chapter MAY be offensive (but probably won't be...)
The Family BusinessChapter 9
Parent Trap
His dad was gone and he sat in the quiet room alone. Holding her hand lightly he began to fall asleep, sitting in the chair by the bed, he placed his head by Ira's hips and closed his eyes. Sleep had almost claimed him until he felt something on the back of his head.
He opened his eyes and turned his head to see that Ira was stroking his hair. His eyes lit up and he smiled, she weakly returned it.
He sat up and took her hand, "Are you okay?" he asked, ecstatic she had awaken.
"I guess not since I'm in a hospital bed," she laughed nervously.
"You just have some broken ribs, there was an explosion at the party," he explained, then touched a bruise on her cheek, "that's were this is from."
"And this?" she asked reaching out her hand and touching the gauze pad stuck to his forehead.
"Yeah and this," he added pointing to his shoulder.
"Oh my God Ethanial, are you okay?" she asked making an effort to sit up in bed.
"Hey I'm fine," he explained grabbing her hand and leaning her back into bed, "you need to rest. I'm surprised you didn't have a concussion."
"Well you should get some rest to," she suggested.
"Yeah I should get going, besides your parents are coming," he explained getting up.
"Crap," she huffed, "now they're going to be all over me about being safe."
"Yeah I know," he understood exactly what she was going through. He bent down and kissed her forehead, "just get better okay."
Ira smiled and traced a scratch on Ethanial's cheek, which was minor and didn't need bandaging. Her hand was black the results of the fire on the scene which had left a black mist on everyone and everything.
His hand reached and grabbed hers gently and she saw the faint raven line spread across his cheek, she smiled and regretfully spoke, "I'm sorry."
Ethanial took her sooty hand and placed a kiss onto of it. He leaned in to her as she raised her head and wrapped her arms around his neck. The space between their lips began to grow smaller and Ira closed her eyes. She could feel the heat emitting from his skin, until she heard a noise outside her door.
Ethanial hurriedly let go of Ira and lunged for the chair he was occupying. When the door opened he stood up so it looked like he was going to take his leave. He never even got to the door before Shay rushed in and to her daughter's bed.
"Oh Ira," she almost cried while hugging her eldest child, "you had us so scared."
"Mom," Ira whined as she adjusted herself in the bed, trying to wiggle her way out of her mother's iron grip, "I'm fine."
"Good!" John yelled angrily as he entered the room, obviously furious, "Because now you're going to get several earfuls of how stupid and reckless you are!"
Ira turned away from her dad to watch her feet at the end of the bed instead. John had said the exact words that Ira felt everyday when she went on patrol that she was just going to screw things up. Hearing them from someone else's mouth made her realize that someone else agreed with her, it made her believe her thoughts were the truth.
And Shay would not have that. She released her daughter from her hugs and walked over to her husband back-handing him in the chest with quite some force.
"Do NOT talk to my daughter that way," she almost screamed, "She didn't get hurt on duty, she got her because some sick person had the idea of blowing up a highly attended party. And there would be more people like that if she didn't do something to stop it, and I don't know about you, but I couldn't be prouder of her."
John was about to rebuttal Shay's statement, but before he could she interrupted, "And if I remember correctly, weren't you once in an explosion?"
"That was to protect innocent civilians," he shot back.
"That's right John, That's what we did. It was in our occupation's description! And now that occupation belongs to Ira, and she's doing an excellent job. You and her know the risks, there is no way she's going to through years of this and not get hurt once," she paused to sigh then added in indoor voice, "Look John, there's to way you can handle this. You can get all pissy because our daughter, like any child does stuff you don't approve of, and disown her. Or you can be happy she's safe and forget about all your problems."
John walked over and sat next to his daughter sighing, "You know you're mother's right. And I am proud of you, but I do worry."
"I know daddy," Ira hugged her dad.
"You know for her age you're mom's still pretty smart," John enlightened his daughter.
"I heard that, and you're older then me asshole."
Bruce entered the room, "there you are Ethanial, you should hit the showers, you're still all sooty," though it sounded like a suggestion, Ethanial new it was a command.
He stood up from the chair once again and left the room. Bruce then turned his attention to Shay and John.
"She broke a few ribs and will need bed rest for two days at least. I've arranged for her to stay her with Ethanial while recovering. Barbara and Dick agreed to watch out for the city while they're on hiatus," he explained.
"Thanks Bruce," Shay said graciously.
Bruce nodded and left Ira to be with her parents. He walked down the empty halls then stopped when he felt a presence behind him.
"Would you mind telling me what exactly is going on with Ethanial?" Diana asked her hands on her hips.
"There's nothing to tell," Bruce shrugged.
"Bruce, you cannot honestly believe that there is nothing between him and Ira?" she asked sternly.
"I don't know," he lied quickly but then added, "Even if there was, it's not our place to interfere."
"Like Hades it's not, we're his parents!" she replied getting angry.
"That's right we are, but he doesn't need us for most things anymore..." Bruce started.
"But Bruce what if he gets involved with Ira?" she asked.
"What's wrong with that?" he asked particularly tired about this certain subject, "How many times do I have to say, they are not related by blood."
"I know, but what if they got married, or had children?" She asked concerned.
"Then you'd have a daughter in law and grandchildren," Bruce replied obviously annoyed.
"Bruce, I mean what about the grandchildren? They'd be a quarter Amazon, a quarter Thanagarian, a quarter African American, and a quarter whatever it is you are."
"Oh so this is an argument about race?" he asked her.
"No I'm concerned over what would happen. What if some children had wings? And some didn't?"
"Well maybe the one's that didn't would get you're flight?" he rebutalled.
"Bruce," she shook her head, "When did you become the optimist?"
"When I stopped worrying about our children who can take care of themselves. If you really want to stay up at night over something, go meddle in Chandi's life," Bruce replied and walked away, "This shouldn't be about trying to breed a master race of superheroes. This is about love."
Diana sighed, "That's not what I meant."
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