"I can't believe they left us here again." Roy sad sighing. "I mean, is the monster attacking Time Square really THAT important?"
"Batman said we're supposed to go to bed." Dick pointed out as they sat in the watch tower.
"Yeah. Right, I'm not a babysitter. I won't bathe anyone or anything, so go jump in the pool and then change into your pj's." Roy ordered.
"Sweet!" Wally was running off towards the pool with Scarlet on his back, all three children jumped into the water, splashing one another for a bit before heading to there mentor's rooms. There were pajamas there, and they all emerged to find Roy in the main room, feeling proud of himself for being so creative.
"Now what, Roy?" Scarlet asked, looking excited.
"Go get your tooth brushes and follow me." Roy ordered. He led them t the bathroom off Green Arrow's room and gave them each a little tooth paste.
"Ack. You got the boring flavor." Scarlet said. "My toothpaste has glitter in it."
"It's not glitter, kid, or you'd be puking up sparkles." Roy assured her.
"Then what is it?" Scarlet asked, and Roy stopped dead. "I don't know. But it isn't glitter. Now brush."
The three children all spit, and Roy handed them each a red solo cup full of mouthwash. "You know the drill..."
To his horror, Scarlet DRANK it, and he gawked...
"You aren't supposed to DRINK IT!" he cried.
Scarlet coughed. "Now you tell me. It tastes horrible..."
Wally stared from where he was reading the mouthwash bottle.
"This has fluoride in it. It could kill her!" Wally said.
"What!?" Roy snatched the bottle from Wally and stared, trying not to hyperventilate.
"No one move! I have to call poison control!" Roy whipped out his cell phone, panicking slightly...
"Press one for immediate help." The mechanical voice said. Roy stabbed the one button, feeling his heart racing.
"Please hold."
Roy paced back and forth, panicking...
"Hello, my name is Charles, poison control attendant. What's your situation?"
"Um... my sister just drank mouthwash." Roy said.
"How much?"
"A solo cup full." Roy said, and there was a pregnant pause.
"Kid, did you dare her to or something?"
"No I didn't dare her to! She doesn't know how to use mouthwash, apparently..."
"I guess not. You should've made sure she knew how... How old is she?"
"I don't appreciate you criticising me, Charles." Roy said haughtily. "And she's six."
"What kind of six year old doesn't know how to use mouthwash? Gee, your sister has some problems... You sure she's not retarded or depressed or something?"
"Now you look here, CHARLES, you are being a major butthead. My sister is a little weird, but she is NOT crazy or suicidal or retarded, and I don't appreciate your criticism..."
"And who puts mouthwash in a solo cup?"
"I hope your house burns down, Charles." Roy said, severely pissed, before he hung up.
"Did you just tell someone you hope their house burns down?" Dick asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"Do as I say, not as I do." Roy grumbled, before sighing. "Okay, poison control is useless, so plan B. We're going to the ER."
"Roy... my stomach hurts." Scarlet said, looking pained.
"Well yeah, you just drank mouthwash. Okay, everyone, shoes on, we're going to the ER..."
"But I don't wanna..." Wally said. He was tired.
"Wally, Scarlet could die. This isn't up for debate. Now come on."
Everyone quickly obeyed, except for Scarlet, who was still doubled over, clutching her stomach. Roy's face creased with concern slightly.
"Want me to carry you, Scarlet?"
"Uhhhuh. It hurts... Roy... I'm sorry I drank it." She said, curling against Roy's chest.
"It's alright- you didn't know." Roy said calmly. "Okay, we'll zeta to Star and go to the hospital... Everyone hold hands. It's a big city." Roy ordered, shifting Scarlet to one arm and Taking Wally's hand, and Wally took Dick's...
They stumbled out in Star City, and Roy lead he dreary procession to the ER...
Roy went to the front desk, nodding to the secretary. "Hi. Can I get some help here?"
"What's wrong?" the receptionist asked, looking over the counter at him.
"Um... my sister drank mouthwash." Roy said.
"I'm sorry, but we can't treat anyone until we have a signature if someone who's over eighteen..."
"What? She could be dying..."
"No exceptions, kid,"
"Well this sucks." Roy muttered, before gently letting go of Dick's hand. He made his move then, running past the secretary and into the hospital with Scarlet...
"Help! I need help! Little girl dying here!" a nurse and doctor were instantly beside him.
"What's wrong?" The doctor asked.
"My sister drank mouthwash."
"Kid, I told you we can't help you unless you have an adult with you!" the secretary was approaching them, looking ticked off...
Roy set Scarlet down, turning to face the secretary. "My sister just drank mouthwash with fluoride in it, she could be dying- our parents are busy, and I won't let her die." Roy said, getting protective.
"Roy..." Scarlet looked pale, breaking out in a cold sweat.
"She should be fine, son..." The doctor tried to reassure Roy...
"Kid, out in the waiting room until your parents get here." The secretary demanded. "Now."
"Roy..." Scarlet said quietly, tugging urgently on her brother's sleeve.
"Not now, kid. No, not until I know my sister isn't going to die from poisoning..."
"R-" Scarlet gagged before proceeding to puke all over the ER floor and on the nasty secretary's shoes.
"Oh crap..." Roy muttered. Scarlet finished puking, wiping her mouth on her sleeve and looking a bit better...
"Hey Roy, I feel better now..." Scarlet said.
The secretary's hands were clenched into fists, her knuckles were white, face red, and Roy knew enough to know she was going to explode any minute now...
Wordlessly, he grabbed Scarlet and ran back into the waiting room, grabbing Dick and Wally's hands and running off into the night...
Roy didn't stop running until they were back in the watch tower, setting all three kids down on the couch...
"Okay, your stomach feels better now?" Roy asked, and Scarlet nodded eagerly. Roy saw the color was coming back into her face and sighed with relief.
"Okay- all of this NEVER happened, okay. NEVER." Roy said.
"What did happen back in the ER?" Dick asked.
"Scarlet puked all over... Look, no one got hurt, everyone's fine, and I helped you guys get ready for bed. Now, let's go to sleep and forget this ever happened." Roy ordered, sitting on the couch.
To his surprise, Scarlet crawled onto his lap and Dick and Wally snuggled against him, and within an hour, they were all asleep. Roy sighed. It was never simple with these three, but he realized, as he, too, drifted off, that he wouldn't have it any other way...
Batman, Flash, Aquaman, Green Arrow, Superman, and Hawkman all entered the watchtower to find the kids dressed in pajamas, asleep in a heap on the couch...
"He actually did it." Batman said, crossing his arms and smiling slightly at the sight before them.
"I can't believe how responsible he is..." Oliver said, grinning, proud.
"I guess... Glad everything's honky dory here." Superman said, smiling.
Batman rolled his eyes. "Whatever, Boyscout."