Roy moaned. His jaw was aching, the dull, pounding pain was killing him...
"Come on, Roy. Time to get up." Oliver strode in, throwing open the curtains. Roy moaned, rolling over, pulling the blankets over his head as sunlight, accursed sunlight, streamed into the room.
Oliver rolled his eyes. Typical teenager, he hated to get up.
"Come on, Roy- I know you're gonna hate this, but we have a photo shoot today for the Wall street Journal, about the new policies my company is embracing..."
Roy said nothing, simply snuggled deeper into the blankets.
Oliver sighed, running a hand through his dirty blonde hair. "You're not even listening, are you?"
He sighed. "Fine. You've brought this on yourself." and with that, he seized the blankets, ripping them from the bed, leaving his son clad in his red and black plaid boxers and a white t-shirt. Roy opened his eyes and shot his mentor an annoyed look, before curling up on himself and settling back down.
"Do you have to do this every morning!?" Oliver snapped, frustrated. Roy said nothing, eyes closing, and Oliver sighed, walking over to the stereo and slamming a CD into it, pressing play and cranking the volume.
"You know you love me, I know you care, just shout whenever, and I'll be there..."
Roy's eyes flew open then and he sprang to his feet, running over and trying desperately to find the off switch. Oliver grinned triumphantly- he knew that the Justin Bieber CD would be worth it.
He nodded to Roy. "Get dressed. We leave in half an hour."
As soon as he was gone, Roy grabbed some aspirin and popped them. The ache in his jaws numbed a bit, and he pulled on a dress shirt and dress pants- when he moved out, he was going to be that guy who never owned a suit and tie- THAT was how much he hated dressing up.
He headed downstairs, and Oliver looked at his ward, nodding his approval. "Get some breakfast."
Roy nodded- he was never much of a talker in the morning- and he grabbed a bowl of frosted flakes and milk, taking his first bite and nearly choking. The pain in his jaw was even worse than earlier, and he had to bite back a hiss of pain, simply pretending to eat. He had to get the photo shoot over with, then he'd be fine. He could come home and sleep it off.
Oliver noticed his son wasn't eating, but didn't say anything. His son would tell him if something was really wrong, and teenagers appetites were always fluctuating.
Roy got in the car, resting his cheek against the cool glass of the window, smiling. It numbed the pain in his jaw a little.
Oliver didn't really noticed Roy's odd behavior, since the boy had his ear buds in, and he assumed he was just on his ipod.
Once they got out, the real fun began. It'd been a two hour drive to the place where the photo shoot was supposed to happen, and Roy was feeling like doing anything BUT smiling at the moment.
But he shrugged on his suit coat anyways- it'd just be a few pictures, he tried to convince himself.
Of course, the photographers were COMPLETE IDIOTS and kept having him tilt his head this way and that, shots of him solo, Oliver solo, the two of them together... And the whole time his jaw was killing him.
Oliver noticed the boy's pain when he looked over to see Roy leaning against the wall, head tilted forward, forehead pressed against his lower arm.
"Roy? You okay, buddy?"
Roy said nothing, swallowing. He was dizzy and he didn't know why...
He tasted it in the back of the throat and turned, staggering into the bathroom and locking himself in the stalls, leaning in front of the toilet, breathing ragged.
The photographers exchanged bewildered looks, and Oliver smiled. "Excuse me for a moment."
He ducked inside, worried. He saw Roy had locked himself in the bathroom, heard his son's breathing...
"Roy?" You alright, buddy?" he asked, concerned.
Roy swallowed. The feeling of nausea had passed, thankfully, since he really hadn't wanted to puke his guts out here.
He slowly stood, breathing slowly, and unlocked he door, walking out a little unsteady.
"You alright?" Oliver asked, looking worriedly at the boy.
Roy nodded. "Just thought I was gonna puke for a minute or so..."
Oliver felt he boy's forehead. He was a little warm... He kicked himself for not noticing it sooner.
"Why didn't you tell me you were feeling sick sooner? I wouldn't have made you come..."
Roy stumbled slightly as another wave of dizziness hit him, leaning against the wall. "I would've. Wasn't this bad in the morning, figured I could handle it."
"What was wrong this morning?" Oliver asked, cocking an eyebrow at the boy.
Roy shrugged, wincing. His whole head was pounding, now. "Just my jaw- guess it got worse..."
Oliver cocked his head. "Open your mouth for me."
"What? I'm fine, Ollie..." Roy said, trying to brush his father off.
"Yeah. That's why you almost threw up a minute ago. Now open."
Roy rolled his eyes and obeyed, and Oliver looked into his son's mouth, nodding. "Wisdom teeth. You got them earlier that I did- must be screwed up."
"What?" Roy asked, looking at him, concerned.
Roy placed a hand on he boy's shoulder. "Wisdom teeth are screwed up. Must've come in a bit ago, I'll make an appointment with the dentist..." Oliver pulled out his blackberry, setting everything up.
Roy sighed. "Do I have to go? I just wanna sleep..."
"The same thing happened to me with my wisdom teeth, Roy- trust me, you won' feel any better until they come out. Now come on- they have enough pictures, we can go..."
Roy nodded, not listening as Oliver parted ways and barely registering they were walking out, nearly falling on his face when they left via the revolving door. Damn wisdom teeth...
He chose to curl up in the back seat as Oliver drove, not really caring where they headed, just letting his eyes close in blessed SLEEP...
It was four hours later when the dentist nodded. "Definitely wisdom teeth. We can get them removed. The sooner the better. I can get you in tomorrow, how does that sound?"
Roy said nothing, and Oliver looked at he boy, concerned. "Sounds good. Come on, Roy." Roy said nothing, simply curling up on his bed as soon as they got home after popping some aspirin.
Oliver sighed- he hated to see the kid in so much pain. He remembered being laid up for a full week when he'd been sixteen because of his own wisdom teeth. Even now, he still remembered the dull throbbing...
That'd been back when his parents were alive, of course, when his mother's cool hand had stroked his brow and she'd pulled him into her lap, stroked his hair and given him all the Tylenol she could, while his father nervously checked in on him every few hours. His parents were dead, now...
He sighed, sitting down on the edge of Roy's bed and starting t rub the boy's back. Roy edged away. "Just lemme sleep, Ollie." he muttered.
Oliver nodded, feeling slightly hurt but understanding where the Roy was coming from. He ruffled the boy's hair, giving him a wane smile. "I'll come in to check on you later. You call if you need anything, alright, buddy?"
Roy nodded, still curled up in his ball.
"And remember- you'll feel better tomorrow when it's all over."
Oliver watched his son carefully as he guided him out of the dentist's office. Roy was half asleep on his feet, now, but he sucessfully guided the boy to the car. Thankfully he hadn't started talking or saying anything weird yet. Maybe he wouldn't say any of those weird things people on laughing gas normally did.
He watched as Roy curled up in the passenger seat of the Lamborghini, smiling. Maybe dealing with his son post-opp wouldn't be so bad...
Just then his communicator rang. Not his normal Bluetooth for work, but his REAL communicator. That could only mean one thing...
He groaned. Not today. Why'd it have to be today, of all days?
Still, he headed towards the photo booth, propping Roy up beside him ass the computer scanned him.
"Recognized- Green Arrow 08, Speed B06." the computer announced. Roy staggered and nearly fell- they were both in civilian clothes in the watch tower. Batman, Superman and Flash looked up. Batman gave Roy a look instantly noticing how out of it the boy looked. He looked to Oliver for an explanation.
"He just had his wisdom teeth out. He's still out of it." Oliver guided Roy to a chair. Roy fell out of said chair and instead decided to simply curl up on the floor.
"Roy- hey, Roy." Olivier tapped his son's cheek.
"Hmmm..." Roy simply rolled away, and Oliver sighed, hauling the boy over to the couch and setting him down. At fifteen, the boy was all 5' 5" and all muscle, but Oliver could still carry the boy if he needed to.
"You okay, Buddy?" Oliver asked, looking at his son, concerned.
"G'way, Ollie." Roy muttered, batting his anxious father's hand away. "Wanna sleep."
Oliver nodded, still throwing glances over his shoulder every now and then as he strode over towards the table. "What do you need me for?"
"There's a situation in the Middle East that needs our attention." Batman said simply, before turning back to study the holographic map.
"Listen- can't you guys handle it solo? Roy's really not in any shape to be left alone..."
Batman said nothing. He understood Oliver's predicament, if it were Scarlet or Dick who were sick, he'd want to stay behind as well, but duties as a hero and saving lives sometimes outweighed family time.
"I'm sorry, but we're it. Everyone else is either off-world or engaged. The more heroes present, the more confidence the countries will have." Superman said, looking apologetic.
"Is it really that important?" Oliver asked, really hoping they'd say no...
"Biyalia and Iraq are on the brink of war, We need you, Queen." Batman said simply. "Dick's responsible- leave him with instructions on whatever Roy needs and he'll take care of it. If all else fails, they'll call in Agent A."
Oliver hesitated. It wasn't like Roy needed much- the first twenty four hours after, all the kids had to do was get fresh gauze in his mouth and maybe some aspirin into him.
He nodded. "Fine." He scrawled a quick list of duties down, before running to change, Batman called the three sidekicks into the room.
"Roy!" Scarlet squealed, eager to see him. Batman moved and held her back from running to him.
"Not now. Roy just got some teeth taken out, he's still drugged."
"What?" Scarlet asked, looking over at him. "Why'd they rip his teeth out?"
"Were they wisdom teeth?" Wally asked. "I read about those- guess it hurts a lot."
Flash nodded. "Yeah, it was his wisdom teeth. Listen- we have to go..."
"Dick, I'm leaving you in charge. Get Roy whatever he asks for, make sure the gauze in his mouth is changed every hour, and make him as comfortable as you can, alright?"
The eleven year old nodded, pleased but not showing it. Batman had put him in charge, meaning HE was the most capable.
Oliver, now clad as Green Arrow, walked out, then.
"You already told them?" he asked, and Batman nodded.
"He'll probably sleep for most of it, anyways. Call me if something goes wrong, alright?" Oliver instructed the kids.
Dick nodded. "We got it, Uncle Ollie."
Oliver glanced over at Roy who was asleep on the couch, striding over. "Roy." he tapped the boy's cheek. His eyes, still glassy, fluttered open.
"Hey buddy. I have to go somewhere- Dick's gonna take care of you while I'm gone, alright?"
"What 'bout the teeth?" Roy asked, having a hard time forming words with the gauze in his mouth, looking confused.
"They're gone. Dentist took them out. I'll be back soon, I promise. Just hang in there for me, alright, Buddy?"
"Mmm-hmmm..." Roy muttered cocooning himself in the blankets again and nestling back down. Oliver sighed, looking at the boy. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't concerned, but what other options did he have?
He turned and headed towards the zeta-tubes with Batman, Flash, and Superman beside him, but still, he couldn't help but look back just once...
"Well, if he stays asleep, this'll be pretty easy." Dick said brightly, watching his older brother sleep. Little did he know what was to come...