Disclaimer: I don't own Justice League Unlimited.
Rest and Relaxation
Chapter Seven: New Game, New Rules
Bart was struggling to remember a time when he was more bored. He stifled another yawn as Cyborg once again went over the equation for finding speed. It was distance times time, or something like that. He had told them enough times, Bart would have thought it would be stuck in his head by now. For what seemed like the hundredth time, the young speedster wondered why he was so excited about coming here in the first place.
Because you thought you'd be kicking superhero butt all the time. I bet Wally never had to do this.
The end of period bell chimed, and Bart excitedly got to his feet, along with Robin and Speedy.
Cyborg seemed to be relieved to be finished, too. "Okay, guys. Homework is to write up a summary of chapters 14 and 15. And Robin; no smartass replies like last time, okay?"
The black and red clad hero winked at Cyborg before leaving. After the kids had left the room, Cyborg sighed, flopping into his chair. It was hard enough when they were teaching just Robin. Now they had two more students, and one on the way. He wasn't having a fun day.
Bart and Robin sat on the sofa as they drank their sodas, looking out over the city. Speedy was in the kitchen, fetching herself a drink.
Bart looked over at Robin. "What did you write for your last report?"
"'Chapters 9 and 10: stuff happens'," Robin quoted grandly, and Bart laughed.
Speedy's mug made a noise at it reached the counter. The young speedster looked over at her. On the surface, her costume didn't seem very much like the male Speedy that Bart remembered seeing on T.V. But once she removed the Raven-like hood and cloak for battle, her costume was almost a spitting image.
"What's she like?" Bart asked quietly, nodding over at her.
"Quiet."
"Really? 'Cause I've met Green Arrow, and he didn't-"
"Wait wait. You've met Green Arrow?"
"Yeah, when Flash took me to the Metro Tower."
"You've been to the Tower? Ah, that's not fair."
"What's not fair?" a quiet voice enquired, and the two looked over to see Speedy sitting down on a chair next to them. Robin pointed at Bart.
"He's been to the Metro Tower," he said, the words almost sounding like an accusation.
She sighed. "Lucky. Ollie never takes me to anything League related."
"Neither does Batman. What's it like?"
"Oh, it's so damn big. I mean, you look at this place," he said, gesturing to the room around them, "and it's big, sure, but nothing like the Metro Tower."
"I hope I'll get to see it someday," Robin said, and Speedy nodded.
"Yeah, if only to meet all the people Ollie's always talking about."
The two continued to discuss their respective mentors, and Bart felt himself disappear from the conversation. He bore no ill will towards them for doing it, but still – it didn't feel good to be left out.
"Guys…"
Bart turned to look at the doorway behind them, where Beast Boy and Starfire were stood. The green changeling tapped his foot impatiently, his arms crossed.
"Guys…"
Robin and Speedy continued chattering away.
"DUDES! Shut up!"
The two clammed up and looked over at him.
"Thank you," he said, nodding. "We've seen you guys take in KF here, and I gotta say, it's great the way you guys didn't push him away or anything."
Bart smiled at the two. Robin gave him a wink, while Speedy just have him a polite nod.
"And with that said, I'd like to… oh. You wanted to do this, didn't you?" he said, looking over at Starfire.
Starfire stepped forward. Bart tried to keep his eyes locked on her face. When Wally had told him about the Titans, he hadn't told him anything about the vicious attack on his hormones that would be Starfire. He was still having trouble with it now. Robin had told him that Nightwing and Starfire were 'close', and Bart had had one simple thought:
Lucky jerk.
"Thank you, Beast Boy. I would like to introduce… Wonder Girl."
The two stepped aside, and a blonde girl about Bart's height stepped though, wearing something similar too, but not quite the same as, Wonder Woman's outfit.
All hormones to the battle stations…
"Hi," she said, offering a cheery wave. "Nice to meet you."
She shook hands with Robin, who simply nodded in greeting. She then moved over to Bart, who numbly offered his hand. She shook his hand while she quickly and almost imperceptibly looked him up and down before moving on to Speedy.
Kid Flash grinned goofily. This was a part of the job he could get used to.
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Mari smiled politely at the waiter as he handed her the drink. She took a sip and sat back in the sun bed, delighting in the looks she knew she was getting from the various people around the pool. The looks were all for very different reasons, of course. Some were looking because she was a smoking hot supermodel. Others were looking because she was the superhero known as Vixen.
But it was mostly the smoking hot thing.
She felt a shadow over her, and looked up to see a waiter holding a portable phone.
"Phone call for you, ma'am."
"Who is it?" she asked, opening one eye and peering over her sunglasses.
"A Mr John Stewart, ma'am."
Vixen smiled and slowly swiped the phone from his grasp.
"Thank you."
The waiter took a bow and left.
"Hey boo."
"Hey. How's the photo shoot going?"
Vixen shrugged, though she knew John wouldn't be able to see it. "The same as usual. Exotic locale, fine wines, delicious cocktails… the usual, boring things."
She could practically hear the smile on the other end. "I feel for you."
A grin threatened to play across her lips, but she settled for a confident smirk. "You seem quite chipper. I take it hanging around with your friend worked out for the best?"
"…you could say that."
She heard someone shouting in the background.
"Where are you now?"
"At his apartment. We're watching a game," he said, his tone of voice like a child showing off a new skill.
Vixen's smile widened as she reached for her drink. "By the way… just who is this mystery friend of yours?" she asked, bringing the straw to her lips and taking a sip.
Silence.
"Flash."
She nearly spit it out.
"Flash? That's your 'friend who always helps you to relax'?"
"Well… 'relax' might be a- oh come on! There is no way that isn't a foul!"
Mari jerked her head back at the sudden outburst, and proceeded to tentatively place her ear on the receiver once again. She heard laughing and some incomprehensible talking coming from the background.
"Oh yeah? I don't suppose you'd like to bet on that?" John retorted.
"John?"
"Hm? Oh, sorry baby. Where was I?"
"You were telling me about relaxing with the Flash, of all people."
"Right. Well, I wouldn't say 'relax' exactly, but more of a- what? That's such a crock!"
"John!"
"What? Oh, sorry."
"Maybe I should leave to your game."
"Uh, yeah, okay. I was just calling to tell you I won't be able to pick you up from the airport on Thursday."
"Why?"
"There's a League poker night, and I need to show these amateurs how it's done."
"Boo – you've never played poker."
"That's right, baby. I'm going to win," John said a little too loud, as though trying to imply that Mari had said something quite different.
"Well… glad that you're enjoying yourself, John."
"…Uh huh…"
"Don't worry about picking me up; I can make my own way home."
"…Uh huh…"
Mari paused. "I'll just go straight to the motel and meet up with Superman. He has the most chiselled abs…"
"…Uh huh…"
Vixen sighed. "Goodbye, John."
"Uh huh… I mean… uh… wait, Superman did what?"
The smirk spread itself across Mari's lips once again. "I'll see you after the poker game, boo."
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John hadn't been in many mansions. In fact, he had only been in one; Wayne Manor. And Ollie's estate was a very different kind of mansion. Posters littered the walls, all of them vintage originals framed in the finest protective glass.
The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Beatles… those were just some of the few posters that were on the walls of the staircase, and John almost started when he saw a life size mannequin of Errol Flynn as Robin Hood on the landing. It was in a glass case, of course, but it was still quite disarming.
Wally, meanwhile, was looking from wall to wall in awe; he was in a world of items that he no doubt found cool or amazing in some way. John was slightly perplexed at this, seeing as how Wally had been here before. The speedster didn't see the Errol Flynn mannequin until he was on the landing, at which point said mannequin was staring at him, grinning courageously.
"GAH!" he yelped, his voice going up to a much higher pitch than John thought possible. The Green Lantern couldn't help but smile.
A door on their right opened, and Ollie stepped through, his face seeming strangely incomplete without his Green Arrow mask.
"C'mon in fellas. Don't mind Errol there," he said, a grin showing beneath his goatee.
Wally scowled and pointed at the mannequin. "Did you move him? 'Cause you know he scares the crap out of me."
"Would I do that?" Ollie replied, his voice rife with mock anguish.
Wally grumbled incoherently as he entered the room, heading straight for the snacks.
"You'd better have a lot of Twinkie…" Wally said as he reached the table, quickly grabbing pretzels and chips from the bowls.
"Wally! Wally, that's what the plates are…" Ollie put a hand over his face. "…for…"
John smiled and pulled up a chair, nodding a greeting to the other players. Black Canary was sat with Wildcat on her left, and an empty seat on her right and on John's left, presumable for Ollie. Dr Fate was sat a chair away from John on his right shuffling cards, a dealer's cap on his golden helmet. John cocked an eyebrow at the wizard, wondering whether he should laugh or not.
"Um… hey."
Ollie sat down at the table next to Black Canary and looked over at John straight faced.
"Something wrong, John?"
"Uh… no."
"You're sure?"
"Oh, yeah. Nothing wrong."
"Good. Because for a moment there I thought you were laughing a Dr Fate's-" Ollie burst out laughing, "…cap…" he managed, before continuing laughing.
Dr Fate paused before removing the cap. With a brief swirling of pinkish purple energy, Dr Fate was now dressed in a black turtle neck sweater and brown pants, his helmet removed. He shrugged.
"My attempt at humour."
John crossed his arms and grumbled something incomprehensible as Wally sat down, carrying a plateful of snacks. He looked around the table before settling on Ollie.
"What? Was it the cap thing?"
Ollie, his shoulders shaking in silent laughter, just nodded. Wally leaned over to John.
"Don't worry; they got me with that, too."
That was not want John wanted to hear, because his grimace deepened. "Can we just play the game?"
Ollie put up his hands. "Okay, okay… calm down, Johnny. Bad kitty." The billionaire archer once again burst out laughing, and John shot an accusatory glare at Wally.
"What? I didn't tell him. True, I may have mentioned that we saved a cat from a tree," Wally said, fighting the smirk that was pulling its way on to his face. "… but I didn't say anytheeheehee…"
The two laughed away at John's expense, while Black Canary just looked at him apologetically. Dr Fate continued to shuffle the cards, having put the cap back on, while Wildcat was also fighting a smile, although with more success than Wally or Ollie had.
The hulking ex-boxer cleared his throat. "Could we get on with the game?"
Ollie nodded, wiping away a tear. "Yeah, yeah, yeah… okay…" he said, trying to catch his breath. Wally also brought down his laughter, and the two looked over at each other, red in the face from laughing too much.
As soon as they made eye contact, they both burst out laughing again. After a few more minutes (and a threatening glare from Canary), the two had calmed down.
"Okay," Ollie said, clearing his throat and cricking his neck. "Let's get this game started."
Dr Fate nodded and began dealing.
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Ollie thinned his eyes as he looked across the table at the unreadable Dr Fate. The wizard's expression hadn't changed for the entire game.
"So… how's Inza?" Ollie asked, throwing some chips on the table. "Fifty."
"She is well, thank you. How is Dinah?"
Wally pursed his lips and hissed. "Oh ho ho…"
Canary seemed unfazed by her usage as poker banter. John surmised that Ollie must have done it before.
Fate threw some chips on the table. "I will see your fifty…" he threw some more chips on the table. "And raise you fifty."
Wildcat whistled. John simply watched the two duelling gamers before him. He had personally never seen the appeal of poker; at least, until now. True, he wasn't much of a player, and after tonight, he would be more than happy to admit it, but it was worth it to see those who were good players going at it.
Wally leaned over and spoke to John out of the corner of his mouth.
"I'll bet you ten bucks Fate's goin' down."
"Oh, you're on."
Ollie smiled at the little exchange. Black Canary leaned forward to address the two.
"I'll take some of that. I think Ollie's bluffing."
The archer looked over at her accusingly, and a hint of a smile played across Dr Fate's face before disappearing again.
"We'll just see who's bluffing, missy."
Ollie pushed forward his entire stack of chips. "There. Match that."
Fate matched it.
Ollie's smirk remained intact, though John could have sworn he saw something disappear from his eyes. Keeping his eyes on the wizard in front of him, he lay down his cards.
John cocked an eyebrow. From what he knew of the game, Ollie had a pretty impressive hand. His expression of focus remaining, Dr Fate lay down his cards, and Ollie's smirk intensified.
John's head hung down as both Wally and Ollie performed their own separate and elaborate victory dances. Canary looked up at the two with a bored expression, resting her head on her hand.
The two high fived before sitting back down. Ollie rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
"Who wants to play again?"
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Impossibly, Fate and Ollie had been ejected from the game early on. Ollie quietly mumbled something about showing Fate some music, and had left, taking the good doctor with him.
Wally tossed two chips onto the pile. "I'm in. Hey, just what is Dr Fate a doctor of? Could he like, prescribe me painkillers and stuff?"
John shot him a look. "Stop trying to change the subject. You're just nervous because you've got a bogus hand." The Lantern picked up some chips. "I'm in."
Black Canary shrugged. "Ah, let the kid talk. We all know who's going to win this game anyway," she said, smirking. "I'll see that…" she said slowly, before throwing some more chips on the pile, "and raise you twenty."
Wildcat groaned. "I'm out," he said, throwing his cards face up on the table. "I'm gonna see what Fate and Arrow are up to."
He pushed back his chair and left the room.
"Looks like it's just you and me, boys."
John didn't like the sound of that, but kept his face stony. He had a pretty good poker face, if he said so himself.
"You turn, Wally," he said, keeping his eyes on the blonde heroine before him.
"Right, right…" he said, quickly counting the value of the chips before him. "I'll see your twenty…" He grinned. "…and raise you thirty."
While his outward appearance remained the same, John's jaw dropped mentally. Black Canary was nowhere near as subtle.
"Thirty?"
"Yeah. Why?" His grin changed into a smirk. "Is that a problem?"
"No," Canary replied slyly, her surprised appearance giving way to sultry seduction. "I was just surprised with you pulling such a… big move."
Wally and John cocked a collective eyebrow at the emphasis on 'big'.
John silently lay down the appropriate number of chips, and then looked over at Canary, who just smirked.
"I'll see your thirty… and raise you twenty."
Wally whistled, impressed. "Too rich for my blood," he set down the cards. "I'm out."
Canary looked over at John as the other three players re-entered the room. "Just you and me, then."
"Looks like it."
"You ready to cave in?"
"Not quite. I've got enough to take you down."
"Is that right?"
John nodded, a smirk on his face. Wally tried to peer over John's shoulder at his cards, but he had them too well hidden.
"Dude, c'mon. I'm trying to help."
"Help? Like two games ago when you shouted out I had four aces?"
"Well… I was surprised."
Ollie coughed over a laugh as he sat down, followed by the others. Wally looked over at Fate.
"So, Doc. You hear anything interesting?"
Fate's expression was as impassive as always. "Green Arrow's collection is impressive, although I do think he could have more selection."
Ollie threw his arms up in the air. "Just because I don't have every Pink Floyd album on the face of the Earth, doesn't mean my music collection is lacking. I have the important ones!"
Dr Fate's expression seemed to become harder for a moment. "All of the Pink Floyd albums are important."
Canary smirked, her eyes still locked with her opponents. "How about we just put all of our chips on the table? Whoever loses, loses."
"Fine by me."
The two shoved their chips into the middle of the table, and lay down their cards. The occupants of the table gasped, and Ollie mock fainted, putting the back of his hand to his forehead.
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"A tie? I mean, c'mon, how crazy is that?"
John sighed, his arms crossed. "Yes, Wally, I realise that it was a very important moment in you life, but could we please drop it now?"
Flash put up his hands in surrender. "I'm sorry. But a tie! Wow! That just… hasn't happened before."
"Really?"
"No. That's a new thing. Everybody will remember the night when John Stewart tied with Dinah Lance on poker night!" he said grandly, pointing to some point on the horizon.
"Wally? What're you pointing at?"
The two turned to see Bart behind them, stood with Cyborg. Wally quickly withdrew his arm and made his way over to his cousin.
"Hey, buddy. I hear Dr Alchemy's escaped from prison again."
Bart groaned. "Oh, c'mon. Again? I don't like fighting that guy. He stinks."
John cocked an eyebrow. "But if he stinks, you should be able to take him down easily, right?"
Wally looked over at him. "No, he actually, really stinks. Like, smells bad."
Bart nodded. "Really bad."
John paused. "Oh."
Flash grinned, pointed his thumb over his shoulder. "You wanna go?"
Bart nodded. "Yeah, sure."
"See you later, Cyborg. Thanks for looking after him."
"Actually, he hasn't been much trouble. But that's mostly because of Cassie," he said, smirking before he turned around, waving over his shoulder. "Bye, Bart," he sang, all too aware of the glare that Bart was sending his way.
"So," Wally began, smirking as he looked down at Bart, hands on his hips. "Cassie, huh?"
"Yeah," Bart mumbled, and John smiled.
"You like her, huh?"
"No! Well, yeah, she's okay."
"'Okay', huh? Ah, I remember when I used to say that about Ra-" Wally stopped short as he saw the curious looks on John and Bart's faces, "…Ra…Ra…Ro…Ro…Berta… Roberta! I used to say that about Roberta."
John and Bart looked at each other, then back to Wally. "Who's Roberta?" they asked simultaneously.
"Just… a girl… I knew- anyway, we were talking about your romances, not mine."
"She's not a romance."
"Right," Wally said slowly, smirking.
"She's not! Look, I'm not gonna talk about this anymore," Bart said, his nose turned up. He sped down the side of the Tower and across the water.
John smiled and looked over at Wally, who was standing with his hands on his hips in the usual Flash pose.
"You've got another mission, huh?" he said, keeping his gaze forward at the horizon.
John shrugged, also keeping his eyes forward. "Vacation's over."
"You're still gonna…"
"Yeah, I am."
"Good. 'Cause… y'know…"
"Yeah."
"See you later."
"Next Thursday. Fate's place."
Wally grinned. "Cool."
And with that, he took off down the side of the Tower, pursuing his young ward across the waves and to Central City.
John put his hand to his earpiece. "Lantern to Watchtower. One for pickup."
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THE END.
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(A/N: And there we go. I had tremendous fun writing the poker game, so I hope you enjoyed reading it.
I'd like to thank the following for their reviews:
Hhgbh: Dude, thanks for your ever-vigilance in reviewing every chapter. It's greatly appreciated and it really helps when one knows they've got a regular audience.
Kj: Sorry I didn't work Nightwing into this story, but he will be in my next JL story (shameless plug) 'Gut Feeling', along with another Titan that you mentioned…
ChunkyMunky241: Thank you for your reviews– they helped to shape Bart into a more solid character. I raise my Superman coffee mug to you! (Silently hopes for update on 'Many Times, Many Ways')
Me: Y'know, it's occurred to me that between this story and 'Connections', I've already done quite a bit of HG/GL stuff, only they've been separated for most of it. There'll be some John/Shayera interaction in my next story, so don't worry about that. Thanks for your reviews!
Mist: I'm glad you felt for John during this whole mess. He really didn't have any idea what was going on at all most of the time (which some might say is par for the course as far as John and Wally are concerned). Thanks for your reviews!
TouchofViolet: I love your stories, so a review from you really means bucket loads. Thanks for the review!
Crhblack: I was aiming for a simple friendship story between John and Wally, since I haven't seen much of that in the show or fan fiction recently (outside of slash, as you mentioned). I'm glad that others appreciated it as well. Thanks!
BlazeStryker: Your suggestions helped me figure out how to do Barry's back-story, so props to you!
Doza: I'm glad that you liked it. Your story 'Six Sharp Claws and a Mister Pointy' is absolutely awesome so far. I'm looking forward to when you incorporate Wally's morning dance, as well as the other DC characters. But, y'know, mostly the dancing thing.
Caliente: I'm glad you enjoyed Barry's appearance – I enjoyed putting him in, if only for the "omgwtf"? Factor that comes from him appearing.
Proponent of EVO: Thanks for your input – now please, please, PLEASE update 'Bored!' I freakin' love that story.
Artemis 85: I'm glad you enjoyed the story, and thanks for reviewing.
I looked pretty thoroughly, but if there's anyone I missed, then thank you also. And of course, thanks to those of you who review this chapter.
I'd also like to thank:
'Those Who Ride the Lightning' website – for info on the Top and Bart Allen.
Oh, and by the way… review!
"This is Super Chocolate Bear, saying good night Seattle, and good mental health.")