Blackbirds

PART 10

A week became two. Two weeks became a month. Several countries pulled their representatives out of Theymscira. An extra toothbrush and towels showed up in Ollie's bathroom. Save Our Children added several more chapters in the southeast. A change of clothes found its way into Dick's closet. Arguments flared--in the U.N. and the J.L.A.--over revoking Wonder Woman's ambassador status. Nightly patrols around Bludhaven and Star City were strictly observed. If they sometimes ended a little early, still, both cities managed to survive.

Rumors spread that Atlantis and Theymscira were going to take over the world.

Dick discovered that Ollie was a vegetarian. A passionate discussion of bovine growth hormone, mad cow disease and how much land was wasted on cattle that could be used for low income housing and Dick was almost converted. Almost. Pizza was pizza after all and really, there was just no substitute for pepperoni.

New rumors held that Amazons were stealing the world's children to repopulate their race.

Ollie was coerced into a week of lessons at the Trapeze School of New York. The first day, he lost his lunch. The second, he got as far as the platform. Dick cheerfully coaxed him on. "Just think of it as a big swingset."

Marcia Long's car was firebombed. She escaped without injury.

Mid-week finally saw Ollie on the trapeze. And, at lasakinaking the fateful decision to let go of the bar and hope his lover caught him. Dick's eyes might have been laughing but the grip on Ollie's wrists was steadfast, absolute. Ollie wasn't going to fall. Not with Dick holding him. "Big swingset my ass." Ollie managed to grumble before they both dropped to the safety net.

Donna and Mia quietly got married in Oregon. Their official celebration was still planned for later that year when they would tell their families and friends. For now, only Roy knew. And that only because he had been their witness.

The growing trust between Ollie and Dick bled over into their professional lives. Nightwing secured a jumpline and said jump, Green Arrow jumped. Green Arrow told Nightwing to wait, Nightwing waited, confident in the archer's aim. They were a good team. More than that, they enjoyed working with each other. Because they were on the same case, no one found the amount of time they spent together unusual. Not yet, anyway.

Lian frowned. She didn't like seeing people hurt. Especially not people she really, really cared about. She gingerly poked a curious finger at the bite mark on Dick's collarbone. Dick winced. Before he could stop her, she turned around in his arms and loudly--to make sure Daddy heard her and paid attention--proclaimed to everyone in the QuikEStop that "Unca Dick has a bite owie."

Lian knew about bite owies. Just last summer she had had two. One from Melvin Sloder at the pool during swimming lessons. The second from a puppy at the petting zoo. She had bitten Melvin back because he should have known better. She didn't think the puppy was old enough to behave yet so she didn't bite it. Plus, she liked puppies. She didn't like Slimy Sloder.

Roy Harper walked over to where Dick was still holding Lian. His green eyes sparkled as he pulled Dick's collar aside to make his own assessment of the hickey. "Looks like a bad one."
he said out loud. But the look on his face clearly left unsaid, "Or a really good one."

Customers were staring. A pair of blue haired ladies in the greeting card aisle whispered to each other. As one, they gave Dick a look that definitely didn't match their sweet, grandmotherly appearances. A leather vested teenage boy flipping through comic books gave him a good lonok, ok, smirked, then went back to reading.

Dick set Lian down, wishing he had done so sooner. "No, really, I'm fine."

Lian crossed her arms and tilted her chin defiantly. "Daddy--!"
's 's lips twitched. Inwardly, Dick groaned. Harper just couldn't wait to pounce on this little bit of news. Roy smiled warmly at Lian. "Why don't you see if you can find Uncle Dick a band-aid for his owie, Princess?"

Immediately, Lian beamed, pleased that she could help make Uncle Dick's owie all better. "'kay!"
She agreed enthusiastically. She took a few steps then looked back with a grin. "Gonna get Power Pony ones!"

"Great...thanks..." Dick said trying to sound grateful.

Roy walked back over to the condoms and Dick reluctantly followed.

"So--who is she, where'd you meet her and why the hell is she with you
instead of me?"

Dick wanted to tell him the truth. More than that, Dick wanted Roy to be happy he and Ollie were together. Somehow, he wasn't so sure that would be the case. How do you tell a friend you're sleeping with his dad?

Roy looked up from the condoms, face impatient for details. "Redhead? Brunette? C'mon, spill it!"

"Blonde." Dick managed to get out.

Roy was happy for him, he could see that. Teasing, mischievous, but underneath, Dick sensed his relief that he had moved on from Babs without too much damage.

"Built?"

Dick tht oft of Ollie riding him, deep and hard, filling him up and driving him to the edge of madness before that final, breath stealing release shuddered through their bodies.

"Oh, yeah."

Roy's eyes softened. " goo good, huh?"

Dick blushed. "Change the subject?"

"Sure." Roy's demeanor lost some of it's warmth. "No problem." He reached for a pack of condoms.

"Get the box."

"Huh?"

"I mean, look who you're buying them for, right?"

Roy arched an eyebrow, amusement took the edge off of his sarcasm. "Know a lot about Ollie's sex life do you?"

Dick tried to make his shrug casual. "Doesn't everyone?"

"Too true." laughed Roy. He reached for the condoms, hesitated, then grinned broadly as he picked up a box instead. "Not that he's had much use for these lately." He gave Dick a sly look, "Unless--you know somethin' I don't?"

"What makes you say that?" he answered too quickly.

Roy glanced at him, curious. He couldn't ever remember seeing Dick this nervous. Certainly not around him. "You been spendin' a lot of time together. Thought maybe he might've said something. You know, if he was seein' anyone."

Roy's comments were innocent enough but Dick didn't want him thinking too long about how much time he and Ollie were spending together. Roy was Roy. He could too easily stumble across the truth before they were ready to tell him. He took a closer look at Roy's selection.
"Ever Ready 24/7?"

"Problem?"

"They're pink."

"So?"

"Bright pink."

"Chill, man, it's not like you have to wear 'em, right?" he punched Dick playfully on the shoulder. "Although--" Roy flicked Dick's collar, smirked again at the hickey, then tossed a box of Ever Ready condoms to him. He winked. "My treat." He threw an arm across his best friend's shoulders. "Have I ever steered you wrong?"

"Actually--"

Roy ruffled Dick's hair. "Trust me. The babes--*your* babe--will love 'em." He tapped the smiling, bikini clad women on the box. "Do these ladies not look well pleased?" As Lian ran to join them, Roy quickly whispered, "It's the extra pleasure ribbing." He nudged Dick. "Trust me, already."

Dick closed his eyes,adinading Ollie's reaction. Lian and Roy headed for the checkout counter. Dick shook his head. "Glow in the dark if there's ever a blackout we could power half of Gotham PINK!" he muttered to himself.