Ch 19: Salutations

AN: Sorry guys. I know I missed updating last week. Life has been even busier than I thought it would be this semester, and it just got to the point that I thought I would try to hit an 'earlier' update this week rather than a really late one. I wish I had a longer, better chapter to get to you, but I've been busy, and Flopsy's back at school too so I don't really have anyone bugging me/discussing with me/helping me anymore, so… yeah. Sorry.

I'm going to TRY to keep updating weekly, but gosh darn it I will at LEAST hold myself to a bi-weekly schedule.

That said, there's definitely not going to be an update next week. Remember how I went to Japan a couple months ago? Well now the UTokyo students are coming here to stay with us. This will be a busy week…

XxXxX

'Good morning, Uncle J'onn.'

J'onn's known her for less than twenty-four hours, and already having her in his mind feels normal.

'Good Morning to you, M'gann. You rested well?'

'You know I did.'

He does. After their stressful meditation last night, they had remained mentally close, even sharing dreams once they had finally fallen asleep. J'onn makes a mental note to see if Hello Megan! ever broadcast in this universe. The way his niece dreamed about it makes it seem… charming.

Their link shifts and it takes him a moment to realize why. She's pulled her teammates – the ones that remain on the Watchtower, anyways – into the background. It is a testament to their newfound closeness that J'onn is not even surprised by this instinctive action. He knows how close they are, now. Unlike with him and the League, it's not a breech of privacy for them.

It's pleasant to have so many people in his mind again. She mentally grins at his appreciation.

Your teammates are not morning people. It's not a question. He feels like he knows them almost as well as M'gann does, now. It might be a while before the awake. Would you like to get breakfast and then I can show you around the Watchtower?

She moves physically this time, pulling him into a big hug. I would love that! Thank you!

He thinks, to himself this time, I will love it more.

XxXxX

Kaldur smiles even before he is completely awake.

He smiles even though he hurts, even though there's still a dull ache in his torso. It doesn't matter, because he remembers why he was injured. Wally is 's alive and he's here, and Kaldur's family is as whole as it's ever going to be. For the first time in years,Kaldur is at peace with himself.

He doesn't have Wally's blood on his hands.

He allows himself to dwell on that selfish thought for only a moment before releasing it. There are better things to think of than the lessening of his own guilt. The bounce that has been long absent from Dick's step, for one. Artemis openly and honestly smiling for another.

They're going to be okay.

Beyond that wonderful understanding, it takes Kaldur a moment to gather himself due to the drugs that are hazing his thought. M'gann must be nearby, given the hum in the back of his mind, although the link isn't fully open to him. How wonderfully strange to have the buzz of Wally's thoughts intrude upon his own once more!

Mentally oriented, Kaldur braces himself and opens his eyes. This is definitely a hospital. More precisely, Kaldur seems to be in one of the medical bays on a watchtower. Good. That matches his hazy memories from… last night?

Yes. Conner and Dick seem to be absent from the link – didn't they leave with their mentor's counterparts? – so they likely haven't yet returned to the Watchtower. Wally's mind exudes the peacefulness that comes with a deep sleep, while Artemis and M'gann's presences are more defined; they must be awake. It's probably only the next morning then.

A polite cough alerts him to the fact that he's not alone.

"Good morning, Wonder Woman."

"As Wally's brother-in-arms, you needn't be so formal with me, Aqualad. Call me Diana."

"Diana, then. If you would please call me Kaldur in return – all of my friends do."

The Amazon smiles at him. "I would be honored to count myself among that circle."

"As I am honored by your presence." Kaldur replies smoothly. Formal pleasantries have always been his forte. It is fortunate that one who understands such things greets him.

"The doctors are tell me your recovery rate is quite impressive. They say you're essentially healed already, although they still want to keep you for observation for a few days."

Kaldur frowns. There's far too much at stake for him to be sidelined for mere 'observation.' His Team needs him. Perhaps he could find a way to get cleared without insulting their kindness in treating him…?

Diana chuckles. "Wally gets that exact same look when he's planning how to bust out of here."

"I don't mean to be disrespectful in the face of your generosity…" The Amazon waves off his apologies.

"I know. I figured you would feel that way though. I'm here to spring you before you sneak out on your own. Medical will release you if I ask them to."

"I can't imagine anyone denying you," Kaldur agrees with appreciation. "Thank you."

She moves to help him up. "You're most welcome, Kaldur. I… I look forward to getting to know the rest of Wally's family."

This time, he can return her smile. "I feel the same way."

XxXxX

"Y'all stay safe now!"

"Yes Ma'am." Conner accepts yet another hug from his Ma's counterpart as he and Clark step out onto the front porch. It was wonderful to spend the night with a semblance of his family – and even more wonderful to wake up to apple cinnamon pancakes that are exactly like his Ma makes – but it's time for them to get back to the Watchtower. Conner moves to shake Jonathan Kent's hand, but the older man just pulls him into a hug of his own.

"I remember when Clark was your size. I miss being bigger than my Boy."

"You're just mad I don't have to conspire with you to reach the cookie jar anymore."

"I miss out on so many sweets nowadays…" The family laughs at Jonathan's teasingly heartbroken expression.

"You take care of him, now, Clark." Martha says, kissing her son on the cheek.

"I will, Ma," Clark swears sincerely, "I promise."

"And come back and visit!" Even Kara, who will see the other two Kryptonians later at the Watchtower, came out to say goodbye. To Conner she says, "I'm not done with you yet! There's still so much trouble we could cause Clark, am I right?"

Conner grins at his 'cousin.' "Most definitely."

"Now we're definitely leaving, before you two can really plot against me." Clark shakes his head. He and Conner giver everyone a final round of hugs, then he grabs his 'brother' and takes off. Hopefully, the rest of their family is doing just as well.

XxXxX

"I think the watchtower needs to be disinfected. I've acquired a limpet over night," Artemis says when Shayera knocks on her door.

Shayera wonders why the younger woman is still in her sleep things even though her eyes are bright enough to suggest she's been up for some time now. It only takes a moment for her to realize why the blonde hasn't yet changed. A pair of arms is wrapped tightly around Artemis' torso. When she leans slightly to look around the woman, Shayera can that those arms belong to Wally. He's buried his face in Artemis' back and is leaning on her for support. He presses in closer to Artemis when the Amazon's movements cause more light to flood in from the corridor.

"Whos'air? S'too bright," he murmurs. Artemis shakes her head in amusement, mussing the golden locks caught between her back and her boyfriend's face. Shayera can't help but smile at the two.

"And people say I'm not a morning person," Artemis huffs.

"It's barely morning," Shayera feels compelled to add. "How are you still tired?"

"Din't sleep good."

Shayera rolls her eyes and returns her attention to Artemis. "Right. Well, I came to see if I could call in that spar you owe me before lunch."

"I would love to. Just give me two minutes to change and put Wally back to sleep."

Shayera nods, and steps back so she can close the door. When Artemis goes to pry her new growth off of herself, though, she runs into a problem.

"Wally, you have to let go."

"No."

"I need to change."

"I'm not letting go of you."

"You're going to have to. I want to go spar with Shayera. You should go back to sleep."

"I can sleep when I'm dead. I don't want you to leave me."

Artemis sighs. "Okay, Love. If you let go, we can both change, and you can come with us."

Wally stays tense at first, but after a moment, the arms around her relax. "Thank you." He's gone for an instant, and when Artemis turns around, clothes are being thrown in her face. He's already changed.

It takes her a little longer. Wally refuses to completely let go; he holds her hand so she's forced to do everything one-handed. She doesn't protest, despite the added difficulty.

Finally, she's completely ready except for her inability to get her hostage hand through her sleeve. He recognizes the problem, releasing said hand in favor of kissing the other one.

"I love you," Artemis breathes, pulling him close when she's fully dressed. "More than anything."

"And I you," He responds without missing a beat. A banging on their door interrupts the moment.

"I hope you haven't forgotten about me already," Shayera's voice calls from the other side.

Artemis throws open the door. "Of course not. My new growth just slowed me down a little."

"Excuse you. Fastest Man Alive right here!" Wally fakes outrage, but can only hold it for a few seconds. "I'm so glad I get to come watch some of my favorite gals beat each other up," he says, sliding his arms around both women's shoulders.

They snort. Shayera flexes her wings and cuffs the back of his head at the same time Artemis punches his shoulder.

"You're incorrigible."

"I might be."

"But you're ours."

"That, I'll agree with."

XxXxX

When Bruce wakes up he is unexpectedly content. He is rested, warm, and can't help that he has an underlying feeling of peace. This, of course, worries him. He forces his eyes open, in case this is another Black Mercy-like attack. When his thoughts finally catch up with him, he realizes that it's not.

It's much worse.

The boy is curled up at Bruce's side, arms around him. Worse, Bruce's own arms have hugged back at some point in the night, pulling the boy into a tight, protective embrace.

Bruce immediately pulls back, sitting up and shifting away from the boy in the same motion. The movement wakes the younger man, though not completely. "Brus?" He slurs, cracking open an eye. "Wassup?"

"What do you think you're doing?" Bruce hisses.

The boy is unfazed, blinking his eyes as he returns to awareness. "We were having nightmares again. I stopped them. Didn't you sleep well?"

"That's not the point." The boy offers no apology; he doesn't even look sorry. Just confused. Bruce refuses to acknowledge the hurt that's there too. Instead, he stands and makes his way over to his dresser, carefully keeping his back to the boy. "I think you need to leave. We're done with our debriefing, and with less of a time crunch, it won't be difficult to find a spare room for you in the Watchtower."

"Bruce! Please don't be like that!" There's a shuffle behind him as the boy follows him over. Bruce feels his temper rising with every footstep. Is this boy dense? Coming into his life when he's not wanted, overstepping boundaries from the moment he arrives… How dare he intrude, when Bruce has things under control. As if dealing with worried Kryptonians and demi-goddesses and speedsters all the time isn't enough. He's a grown man that's trying to save the world. He won't be treated like some broken child.

Bruce whirls on the boy when a hand touches his shoulder. "I said, leave." Unfortunately, Dick is not one of the god-like figures who are usually trying to placate Bruce, but a boy reaching out to comfort his father-figure. The difference in mindset gives Bruce the edge to startle the boy in a way that would never work with Wally. The difference in expected strength means his shove – which Clark and Diana would never feel – topples the smaller man over. The boy's body seems to realize what's happening and begins a graceful twist that should allow him to catch himself from hitting the floor. It would have worked, too, if he was going all the way to the floor.

Instead, he catches his head on the dresser as he goes down. Because of Dick's maneuver, his face smashes square into the edge of the dresser and he lands in a heap. He presses his hand across his face in reflex from the pain. Bruce wants to reach out to him, but a quick glance up with betrayed eyes stops him.

"I…" Bruce tries. The boy doesn't answer or try to help him out this time. He's looking down at the hand he just pulled away from his cheek. There's red there. It's not bad, but Bruce can't help but be horrified. This is his fault.

Bruce made his son bleed.

There's something so big about that thought, that Bruce can't even find the words to apologize. Instead, he does the only thing he can do.

He turns on his heel, and runs away.

XxXxX

When Bruce finally heads downstairs to the common areas of the Manor, he finds Alfred in the Kitchen. The butler is re-packing the first aid kit.

"Master Bruce." He says stiffly, with a slight inclining of his head. He doesn't say good morning or offer Bruce breakfast. He doesn't even chastise Bruce. He just keeps returning bandages and gauze to their place.

Bruce wishes the man would berate him. Then Bruce would know the man hasn't given up on him, that Bruce hasn't blown everything. If Alfred yelled at him, he might even leave an opening for Bruce to defend himself. It would certainly be easier than countering his own self-loathing.

"Alfred, I… it was an accident."

The Englishman looks him straight in the eye, and Bruce goes cold. "As you say, sir."

The man closes the kit, and turns to leave the room. Bruce tries again. "Really. I didn't mean… I just wanted him gone."

Alfred stops his exit at the door, but doesn't turn. "In that endeavor, Master Bruce, you seem to have succeeded marvelously." With that, Alfred is gone, and Bruce is left alone again.

XxXxX

AN: Damn it, Bruce! Stop doing that!

Also, sorry about the Kaldur-Diana section. I really feel like they would be good friends, being from Greek-influence military backgrounds, but I have a really hard time finding their voices. Oh well.