p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Having gotten back to the manor at just past 3 in the morning, Jason didn't surface again until the Sunday afternoon. Alfred served up an omelette while Jason sat, sleep-rumbled, at the counter. He'd just begun to dig in when Alfred suddenly excused himself, Jason watched him leave and caught sight of Bruce leaning in the doorway, his expression was unreadable./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Without a word, Bruce stepped forward, he retrieved a folded piece of paper from his pocket as he walked, he laid it flat on the breakfast bar beside Jason's plate. It was one of the flyers Roy had gotten into trouble for at school. The frog illustration stared up at him mockingly and Jason gave an audible gulp./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You lied to me," Bruce's voice was stern, gave no room for an argument - not that Jason had one. He looked up into the disappointed eyes of his guardian and his shoulders slumped./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I met a colleague for brunch this morning and they showed me this. Their daughter brought it home from school. Apparently Oliver Queen's ward was causing trouble again, he's bad news." Bruce continued almost conversationally./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Jason bristled, "They don't know him," he stated hotly, the words dripping from his tongue and laced with venom./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Bruce simply raised an eyebrow at his young ward, surprised by the immediate, protective edge to his response. "Jason, I forgave that you called Alfred to pick you up at 3 o'clock this morning after you had us worried sick. I forgave you for not dropping us a message to let us know you were safe. I forgave you for having your phone off all night," he listed, his voice was filled with disappointment and it ate away at Jason, he had never meant to let Bruce down. "I believed you when you told me you'd fallen asleep watching movies, I thought span style="font-style: oblique;"'these things happen'/span, I was even glad that you'd found someone your own age to spend time with, I thought it would be good for you. You've never given me any reason to doubt you. But Jason, I cannot forgive you lying to me. I can't condone you putting yourself at risk for somebody who may only cause you trouble."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Bruce sighed softly and placed a gentle hand on Jason's shoulder. Jason blinked owlishly down at the poster, and he considered whether everything had been worth Bruce's disappointment, and there was a part of him that wanted to say 'no, nothing was worth letting Bruce down', but another part of him recognized that Roy was becoming increasingly more important, and those moments that they'd lain in that field as Roy had cracked right before his eyes, that had been worth it. Roy had needed him and he had been there. That was worth everything./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'm sorry I lied. I didn't want to. I was just so worried that you'd say no. And I really wanted to be there for him. He's my friend."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Bruce scrubbed a hand down his face as though tired, "I understand that Jason, but something very easily could've happened to you."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Jason frowned, his eyes became misty in the face of Bruce's unwavering gaze and unfaltering concern, it was something that Jason still sometimes didn't know how to handle. "I know. Bruce, I'm not just some kid. I had to grow up pretty fast, and I know you don't like to think about it, neither do I. But I know those streets better than most people, I span style="font-style: oblique;"can/span take care of myself," Jason tried again to explain, "span style="font-style: oblique;"I just needed to be there./span"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"A hint of sadness reached the billionaire's eyes and a gruff sigh escaped him. "Jason, that's no excuse and this isn't a debate. You're grounded."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Jason's mouth fell open. Bruce stared at him for a long moment before leaving the room and Jason didn't know how to react. He'd never been grounded before./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Roy woke up to the sound of someone rummaging through the kitchen, considering that Oliver hadn't even been gone for a full 7 days, it was incredibly unlikely to be him. Because Roy was still half-asleep it didn't occur to him to consider the only other person who had a key. Assuming he'd have to fight off some pretty ambitious burglars, he grabbed a baseball bat and slunk silently down the stairs. It wasn't until he got to the foyer that he picked up on the tell-tale humming that could only be Dinah./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"As Oliver's sometimes-girlfriend, whenever he was in town, Roy would've thought that she'd have something better to do with her Sunday than invade his house. As he rounded the corner into the kitchen, she was happily raiding the fridge./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Morning," Roy called abruptly, causing her to jump slightly, and very nearly smash her head on the top shelf./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She flicked her gaze over to the clock, "Afternoon, more like," but she was grinning at him somewhat fondly. Roy rolled his eyes but returned the smile./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Roy liked Dinah, she was kindhearted and honest, way too good for someone like Oliver Queen who was never around to appreciate her. She always tried with Roy, though the age difference between her and Ollie made her in no way old enough to be Roy's mother, she always made sure to include Roy wherever possible./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""What're you even doing here?" He couldn't help but ask./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Well, young man, I'll have you know that I have a birthday party to attend tonight, and the dress I wanted to wear was in Ollie's wardrobe. So, I thought I'd stop by and get it. And because span style="font-style: oblique;"someone/span was being a lazy shit, I figured I'd cook up some dinner for us while I was here."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Roy chuckled lightly, a part of him was glad that she wasn't just checking in on him, it made him feel like a child, the other part of him was disappointed that she wasn't, at least that would've meant that she - or Ollie, if he'd sent her - cared./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Why do you put up with him?" Roy asked suddenly, he couldn't hold it back anymore, he didn't understand it. Dinah clearly had an active social life, why would she wait around for someone like Oliver?/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Dinah sighed softly and took a seat across from Roy at the dining table. She reached over to place a delicate hand atop of his. "Roy, you don't understand-"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Roy scoffed and promptly withdrew his hand from her grasp. He didn't need Dinah treating him like some kid. He could see that Oliver had no time for either of them, he just couldn't comprehend why. Dinah's pitying tone just got his back up./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You don't know Oliver the way that I do. His childhood was- well, his family has always been wealthy. Anything that Ollie wanted? He got it. And when you grow up living this life of instant gratification, well, you grow up feeling a little entitled." She began, and Roy huffed a little, span style="font-style: oblique;"instant gratification/span was something he'd become closely acquainted with recently./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""When his parents died, it hit him pretty hard. He wanted to make sure he span style="font-style: oblique;"lived/span his life, y'know? And I'm not making excuses for him, I wouldn't do that. But Ollie can be rather dense. He doesn't always see what's right in front of him, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care. He span style="font-style: oblique;"tries/span, Roy, he just doesn't always succeed. But he loves you, he's just not very good at showing it, he doesn't know how to be what you need. And I think that scares him a little."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Roy considered that, and he had to concede that most teenagers his age would give anything to have their parents butt out of their business and leave them alone, but those kids were simply taking what they had for granted. He sighed./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I love Ollie. And I know he loves me, because he always comes back, and he needs me. And the same goes for you. Just, don't give up on him, 'kay?" She implored him, she leaned over the table with wide, sincere eyes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I think he's already given up on me," Roy whispered, his chest was stinging and his heart felt heavy./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Oh, sweetie," Dinah breathed before she rounded the table to envelope him in a hug./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Without a word, Bruce stepped forward, he retrieved a folded piece of paper from his pocket as he walked, he laid it flat on the breakfast bar beside Jason's plate. It was one of the flyers Roy had gotten into trouble for at school. The frog illustration stared up at him mockingly and Jason gave an audible gulp./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You lied to me," Bruce's voice was stern, gave no room for an argument - not that Jason had one. He looked up into the disappointed eyes of his guardian and his shoulders slumped./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I met a colleague for brunch this morning and they showed me this. Their daughter brought it home from school. Apparently Oliver Queen's ward was causing trouble again, he's bad news." Bruce continued almost conversationally./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Jason bristled, "They don't know him," he stated hotly, the words dripping from his tongue and laced with venom./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Bruce simply raised an eyebrow at his young ward, surprised by the immediate, protective edge to his response. "Jason, I forgave that you called Alfred to pick you up at 3 o'clock this morning after you had us worried sick. I forgave you for not dropping us a message to let us know you were safe. I forgave you for having your phone off all night," he listed, his voice was filled with disappointment and it ate away at Jason, he had never meant to let Bruce down. "I believed you when you told me you'd fallen asleep watching movies, I thought span style="font-style: oblique;"'these things happen'/span, I was even glad that you'd found someone your own age to spend time with, I thought it would be good for you. You've never given me any reason to doubt you. But Jason, I cannot forgive you lying to me. I can't condone you putting yourself at risk for somebody who may only cause you trouble."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Bruce sighed softly and placed a gentle hand on Jason's shoulder. Jason blinked owlishly down at the poster, and he considered whether everything had been worth Bruce's disappointment, and there was a part of him that wanted to say 'no, nothing was worth letting Bruce down', but another part of him recognized that Roy was becoming increasingly more important, and those moments that they'd lain in that field as Roy had cracked right before his eyes, that had been worth it. Roy had needed him and he had been there. That was worth everything./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I'm sorry I lied. I didn't want to. I was just so worried that you'd say no. And I really wanted to be there for him. He's my friend."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Bruce scrubbed a hand down his face as though tired, "I understand that Jason, but something very easily could've happened to you."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Jason frowned, his eyes became misty in the face of Bruce's unwavering gaze and unfaltering concern, it was something that Jason still sometimes didn't know how to handle. "I know. Bruce, I'm not just some kid. I had to grow up pretty fast, and I know you don't like to think about it, neither do I. But I know those streets better than most people, I span style="font-style: oblique;"can/span take care of myself," Jason tried again to explain, "span style="font-style: oblique;"I just needed to be there./span"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"A hint of sadness reached the billionaire's eyes and a gruff sigh escaped him. "Jason, that's no excuse and this isn't a debate. You're grounded."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Jason's mouth fell open. Bruce stared at him for a long moment before leaving the room and Jason didn't know how to react. He'd never been grounded before./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Roy woke up to the sound of someone rummaging through the kitchen, considering that Oliver hadn't even been gone for a full 7 days, it was incredibly unlikely to be him. Because Roy was still half-asleep it didn't occur to him to consider the only other person who had a key. Assuming he'd have to fight off some pretty ambitious burglars, he grabbed a baseball bat and slunk silently down the stairs. It wasn't until he got to the foyer that he picked up on the tell-tale humming that could only be Dinah./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"As Oliver's sometimes-girlfriend, whenever he was in town, Roy would've thought that she'd have something better to do with her Sunday than invade his house. As he rounded the corner into the kitchen, she was happily raiding the fridge./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Morning," Roy called abruptly, causing her to jump slightly, and very nearly smash her head on the top shelf./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She flicked her gaze over to the clock, "Afternoon, more like," but she was grinning at him somewhat fondly. Roy rolled his eyes but returned the smile./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Roy liked Dinah, she was kindhearted and honest, way too good for someone like Oliver Queen who was never around to appreciate her. She always tried with Roy, though the age difference between her and Ollie made her in no way old enough to be Roy's mother, she always made sure to include Roy wherever possible./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""What're you even doing here?" He couldn't help but ask./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Well, young man, I'll have you know that I have a birthday party to attend tonight, and the dress I wanted to wear was in Ollie's wardrobe. So, I thought I'd stop by and get it. And because span style="font-style: oblique;"someone/span was being a lazy shit, I figured I'd cook up some dinner for us while I was here."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Roy chuckled lightly, a part of him was glad that she wasn't just checking in on him, it made him feel like a child, the other part of him was disappointed that she wasn't, at least that would've meant that she - or Ollie, if he'd sent her - cared./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Why do you put up with him?" Roy asked suddenly, he couldn't hold it back anymore, he didn't understand it. Dinah clearly had an active social life, why would she wait around for someone like Oliver?/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Dinah sighed softly and took a seat across from Roy at the dining table. She reached over to place a delicate hand atop of his. "Roy, you don't understand-"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Roy scoffed and promptly withdrew his hand from her grasp. He didn't need Dinah treating him like some kid. He could see that Oliver had no time for either of them, he just couldn't comprehend why. Dinah's pitying tone just got his back up./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""You don't know Oliver the way that I do. His childhood was- well, his family has always been wealthy. Anything that Ollie wanted? He got it. And when you grow up living this life of instant gratification, well, you grow up feeling a little entitled." She began, and Roy huffed a little, span style="font-style: oblique;"instant gratification/span was something he'd become closely acquainted with recently./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""When his parents died, it hit him pretty hard. He wanted to make sure he span style="font-style: oblique;"lived/span his life, y'know? And I'm not making excuses for him, I wouldn't do that. But Ollie can be rather dense. He doesn't always see what's right in front of him, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care. He span style="font-style: oblique;"tries/span, Roy, he just doesn't always succeed. But he loves you, he's just not very good at showing it, he doesn't know how to be what you need. And I think that scares him a little."/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Roy considered that, and he had to concede that most teenagers his age would give anything to have their parents butt out of their business and leave them alone, but those kids were simply taking what they had for granted. He sighed./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I love Ollie. And I know he loves me, because he always comes back, and he needs me. And the same goes for you. Just, don't give up on him, 'kay?" She implored him, she leaned over the table with wide, sincere eyes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""I think he's already given up on me," Roy whispered, his chest was stinging and his heart felt heavy./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;""Oh, sweetie," Dinah breathed before she rounded the table to envelope him in a hug./p