If you wanted to see what happened during the extraction, look up Without Me. This is what's happening in this one world alone. Anywho, the first part is about pizza, and they have been harmed in the making of this story, several times. The ending's a bit abrupt, but I didn't know how to make it totally awesome. Okiday. enjoy!
Sorry for the delay. The site's been stubborn and hasn't let me post until now. :[
Ch. 28 - Homecoming
Everyone paced anxiously as they waited for the half hour to be done. Red Tornado had to have a sense of humor, because he put the countdown clock above all their heads in big, red numbers. It even beeped softly as it ticked passed the seconds. Nanoseconds were even being recorded for those who felt no time was passing. Nothing helped their anxiety.
"What do you think happened to Robin all this week?" M'gann stayed with her boyfriend, more than a little worried.
"If we're lucky," Artemis started, keeping her eye on Wally sitting on his X still, "he ran into the League there and they took care of him like he was their own boy wonder. Or he ended up in an empty cave and managed to survive there in the quiet. Worst case scenario, he ran into an evil version of the League. Or just the bad guys.
"Either way we're getting answers today." She looked over the rest and the chill of reality seeping now into them. Great. Just what they needed. More doom and gloom. Uncomfortable, she decided to change the venue. "Hey, who's hungry?"
That stirred up a lot of controversy. "How can you even think about-"
"Sounds like a great idea." Hal gave everyone a broad grin, calming them a bit. "Look, this is Batman we're dealing with. The best thing we can do is sit back, grab a snack, and watch the show. Stressing isn't gonna help anyone. Who's up for pizza?"
"Who's buying?" Stewart smirked, both encouraging Artemis' idea: get everyone's minds off of the possibilities and keep the hope alive.
His coworker looked over to Superman who looked more constipated than Wally pacing near the zeta-tubes. "You still got Bat's credit card?"
"Wha... ah... yeah?"
"Think you can hit up the local pizza parlor and snag us some pizzas?" He grinned encouragingly. "The kid will want a victory dinner before Batman whisks him back to their secret cave, and didn't he say they never get takeout?"
This made the man of steel relax a little, giving him a slight glare. "There's a reason for that, and I don't think you want to suffer his wrath."
"Well I want pizza," Hal insisted. "I spent the past two weeks off world and the one thing I really want right now is real Earth food, grease and all. Now go fetch me some pepperoni pizza."
"Hal-"
"I could use some too," John added, slightly amused. He looked over to the team watching the debate. "How about you guys? Pizza sound good?"
"Pizza always sounds good," Wally piped in, looking up at them grinning. Anxious though he was, he was clearly itching to bring the dynamic duo back. Yet he managed to keep a positive outlook on things. "I'll take two. We can save Robin a slice and that'll be fine with his wardens."
"Wardens?" Conner asked, a bit amused. Roy nodded knowingly. The way he described his private life, it was sometimes like he had two wardens. At least that was the case with food and nutrition.
"The cheap pepperoni pizzas around here are actually pretty good," Artemis added in. "A couple cans of soda and we're the clear."
"Is now really the time to talk about food?" Kaldur questioned, exchanging glances with M'gann. They really didn't understand where things were going.
"Better than never I guess," she shrugged.
"Got that Supes? We need at least five pepperonis and a dozen cokes." Hal grinned as he ordered their leader around. "If you hurry, you can make it back before they do."
"Hal..." Seeing the kryptonian whine was a bit amusing, making his clone struggle to hide a smile.
"That'll be a lot for him to carry don't you think?" John and his cohort passed knowing glances, probably having already talked about all of this earlier. "Strong he may be, but he only has two hands."
"Good point." Hal looked over to Conner and snapped his fingers. "Hey! Junior! Help your old man out with the grub okay?"
"Me?!" "What?!" The clone and his genetic donor gave identical surprised faces, making a few of them chuckle. No denying relations there. "But-"
"No arguing. Go!" Both lanterns powered up their rings and shoved the men into the zeta-tube. One of their rings pressed the coordinates into the system and sent them through without a choice in the matter. Stunned kryptonians were so fun to mess with.
Watching the display end, over half the room cracked up laughing. "You didn't-" "Priceless! Forced bonding!" "Oooo... they're gonna be so mad..." "Think they'll actually get the grub?"
"Probably," Hal answered smugly. "Superman is way too good a guy not to get us food. The kid on the other hand..."
"Conner will go if Superman will," M'gann assured them, smiling a little. Each of them relaxed a little, thinking of those two. "He wants to make him proud, no matter what."
"Think they'll make it back in eighteen minutes?" Artemis looked up at the clock again, realizing their little distraction only took about five minutes away.
"Count on it."
Shrugging, the group started to pace less and talk more. Stressing over the next fifteen or so minutes wasn't helping anyone. If Batman didn't return after that point, stressing may be important. An hour later... well that would be inevitable.
Five minutes left, the zeta-tube activated again and granted entrance to the two kryptonians, who were in the midst of being incredibly sheepish. Identically sheepish. It was enough to make girlfriends and colleges laugh at them. M'gann used her telepathy to distribute the boxes and drinks without any difficulties. "Here, let me."
"Thanks," murmured the clone.
"Have fun bonding?" Hal's teasing made everyone smirk knowingly at the pair. The two were a little red at the comment but no one pressed for more. They were too distracted by the food. "Ah come on! What happened to Little Mitty's?! I liked their stuff."
"Think they closed down," his cohort stated as he took a slice for himself. "Kelsey's is pretty good too you know."
"But Mitty's crust had a zing to them. I swear he-"
Above them the timer beeped, signaling the end of the countdown. Wally got back on his feet, raising the device to chest level. "Alright. Let's get this done."
"Remember," Hal started, "for the return, you turn the other handle. Otherwise you're just sending over air."
"Got it." He pressed the buttons and braced himself once more. "Here goes nothing."
Once again, the machine charged up and sent out a blinding light. This one though brought with it a sucking noise just before the snap. Opening their eyes, they could make out two figures coming to a halt two feet before the speedster. Wally still had his firmly shut. "Did it work?"
"What do you think?!"
"OW!" Everyone's vision cleared just as they looked over to the source of the voices. One lifted their spirits straight to heaven. Before them was Robin, glaring and smirking at Wally who rubbed his shoulder protectively. "That hurt!"
"So did being sent to an alternate reality where I was DEAD! I told you not to mess with that thing! Do you have any idea how stressing that other world was?!" Robin threw his hands up in the air dramatically. "Their Batman rejected me until last night, majority of the league thought I was an idiot for doing this job, and out of all of us, only Zatanna visited the mountain! Two of-!"
Without any warning, the boy wonder fell prey to the group hug, nearly being suffocated by Wally, M'gann, and Artemis. His other teammates hung back a bit, grinning to themselves as they got closer. Happy days were here again.
"You're back! You're really back!" "DUDE! I'm so sorry! I never shoulda-" "Man we've missed you."
"I can tell." For a moment, the little bird just stood there, startled, then he broke into a broad grin, taking in as many people as he could in his arms. "It's good to be home."
"Suffocating yet?" Roy's joke only brought attention to him, which was what he wanted.
Robin just grinned at him. "Not yet. If you really want me dead, get over here and finish the job."
The laughter emanating through the cave was accompanied by many more hugs and reassurances that their little light was there. Batman stayed where he was, just watching it all. Only his closest allies saw the subtle smile on his face. This was the best part of the job after all: watching people being returned home to their loved ones. It only doubled this time because it was one of their own.
Their little bird was finally home, and nothing could tear him away from them now.
A/N: Well, there you have it! A few loose ends will be tied up tomorrow. But this is pretty much it. Tomorrow's all fluff and a small thing or two, but nothing significant for the epilogue. hope you've liked the pizza!