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ajremixWhat is this? A chapter up at a decent time? Well damn- it must be a slow day (read: week) for me!
Title: The Inventor 10
Fandom: DCU
Rating: G
Word Count: 1185
Characters: Ted, Barbara
Summary: Eras don’t end, they merely change. The return of cyberbuddies.
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
An electronic ping echoed through the flat and, curious at the sudden chat request, Barbara wheeled herself to the closest monitor with one quick flick of her wrist. She stared long and hard at the screen, certain that she wasn’t reading it right.
BEEB: So has my timing gotten any better?
Her hands tightened on the arms of her wheelchair, a wave of hope and trepidation starting up somewhere deep in her chest.
BEEB: Sorry for the whole... not being here thing for the last two years. But it’s really me. I’m really back |:>)
She’d heard about it. Of course she heard about it- from Dinah, from Dick, from the gossip line that ran so rampant through their community -but it still didn’t fully prepare her for this. No amount of preparation could stop the painful clench of her heart or keep her jaw from tightening. They were still running tests, Barbara knew, and there had already been too many false sightings (one false sighting was too much in Barbara’s mind) for her to simply accept that this could be possible, that Ted had finally come back.
BEEB: If you need proof, bring up the security stream from the Watchtower. I’m hanging out with J’onn at the monitors.
She did as was suggested, double checking to make sure she had direct access to the cameras and that she wasn’t being rerouted to some pre-constructed feed. She wasn’t. The sight made her chest clench, biting down on her lip. There in the Monitor Womb the security camera caught sight of breaking news stories from across the globe. News that she could hear playing in tandem on her own monitors. J’onn was ever present but he paused in his vigilance to give his company a sidelong look, then shook his head with a small little smile before turning to the monitors once more.
But Barbara’s eyes were glued to the man next to the Martian, the man who looked straight into the security camera, gave a smile so painfully familiar and waved. Blood pounded in Barbara’s temples and she had to force herself to breathe again, tears beginning to sting at her eyes. She could feel the darkness breaking up inside of her, light and joy threatening to bubble out.
BEEB: I hope the reason why you’re not answering is because you’re overwhelmed and not because you can’t use your arms.
BEEB: I have a list of lady-hugs I’m intending on collecting. Your name is on the list and my collection is woefully incomplete :>(
BEEB: The only tearful hug I’ve gotten so far was from Dinah. And by ‘hug’ I mean ‘attempting to crush my spine’. And by ‘tearful’ I mean ‘threatening me bodily harm if I ever get myself almost-killed again’.
Barbara sobbed into her hands, “Ted...” Her transcription program couldn’t capture the nuances of emotions, but he seemed to understand everything she felt that was wrapped up in his name.
BEEB: Dinah said she’s only letting me get away with making you cry again once. I’m pretty okay with it being because you’re overjoyed at my return and not from grief of my not being there.
She laughed through her tears. “How do you always know when and what to say to make me feel better?”
BEEB: Talent. Because I like making you laugh.
“I missed you, Ted. So much.”
BEEB: Don’t have to anymore. I’m not planning on going anywhere again.
BEEB: And even if I did, I have the feeling Booster would track me down and drag my ass back, heroic sacrifice for the sake of the world or not.
“I’d help him find you,” she said, smiling broadly at the image of Ted, lounging so casually before the computer. “And then I’d have to beat you for leaving us behind.”
BEEB: Depending on your weapon of choice, I may take you up on that offer.
Barbara’s fingertips reached out, tracing Ted’s grin and she couldn’t help thinking that, even though he was here and alive, it was unfair that he was so far away. “How long are you going to be at the Watchtower?”
BEEB: Just until everyone’s satisfied I’m not a clone/robot/dimension jumper/shapeshifter/golem/whatever else their ingenious minds may be convinced I could be.
“So a while.”
BEEB: At least they finally trust me enough to let me at a computer. Supervision or not.
“Well, they couldn’t have found a more experienced babysitter than J’onn.”
On the screen, J’onn looked up, startled at Ted’s sudden belly laughing. Barbara wished she could stream the audio.
BEEB: Cruel woman. Your words cut to the wick. :>P
“If you’re good, I’m sure they’ll let you out sooner. I,” Barbara paused, swallowing down a tight knot in her throat. He was dead. Had vanished so utterly and she couldn’t help him. No one had helped him but now he was back and he was still laughing even though he had all the reason in the world to distrust his fellow heroes, to turn his back on them as they had him. “I’d love to talk to you again. In person.”
BEEB: When I’m done here, you’ll be the first person I visit. Promise.
Another person approached Ted in the Watchtower- Kimiyo, who looked just as excited to have him back despite her being too naturally reserved to do more than smile broadly. Ted stood up, greeting her with his own wide grin and pulling her in for a hug. They exchanged words, too far from the camera for Barabara to make out what they were saying and when Ted turned back to the computer, Kimiyo wiped at her eyes.
BEEB: That’s two hugs so far. Shall I reserve the third one for you?
“I’ll take whichever number hug I can get,” she replied. “I don’t mind.”
BEEB: Gotta go, Roller. Need to be poked and tested and monitored some more.
BEEB: Can’t wait to see you again.
“Same here. Take care of yourself, Ted.”
BEEB: And you, Babs.
She watched as he logged off, saying something to Kimiyo that made her giggle behind a hand, just before they moved out of the camera’s view. Barbara turned off the feed reluctantly, as if Ted was about to run back on. She sat for some time, just looking at the blank screen, feeling as if a weight she hadn’t known was there had lifted from her body. A sound right behind her gave her a start.
“Babs? Babs, are you okay?” Stephanie bent down to look her in the eyes, silently holding out a handful of tissues. Hastily, Barbara put a hand to her face, shocked to find that tears were streaming over her cheeks.
Gratefully she took the tissues, wiping at her eyes and blowing her nose before saying, “I’m fine. I really am fine.” She smiled at Stephanie and it was like the sun breaking through a cold, grey world and filling it with warmth and color again. “Could you do me a favor and get Tim on the line while I go wash up? I have some good news he’d want to hear.”
Title: The Inventor 10
Fandom: DCU
Rating: G
Word Count: 1185
Characters: Ted, Barbara
Summary: Eras don’t end, they merely change. The return of cyberbuddies.
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
An electronic ping echoed through the flat and, curious at the sudden chat request, Barbara wheeled herself to the closest monitor with one quick flick of her wrist. She stared long and hard at the screen, certain that she wasn’t reading it right.
BEEB: So has my timing gotten any better?
Her hands tightened on the arms of her wheelchair, a wave of hope and trepidation starting up somewhere deep in her chest.
BEEB: Sorry for the whole... not being here thing for the last two years. But it’s really me. I’m really back |:>)
She’d heard about it. Of course she heard about it- from Dinah, from Dick, from the gossip line that ran so rampant through their community -but it still didn’t fully prepare her for this. No amount of preparation could stop the painful clench of her heart or keep her jaw from tightening. They were still running tests, Barbara knew, and there had already been too many false sightings (one false sighting was too much in Barbara’s mind) for her to simply accept that this could be possible, that Ted had finally come back.
BEEB: If you need proof, bring up the security stream from the Watchtower. I’m hanging out with J’onn at the monitors.
She did as was suggested, double checking to make sure she had direct access to the cameras and that she wasn’t being rerouted to some pre-constructed feed. She wasn’t. The sight made her chest clench, biting down on her lip. There in the Monitor Womb the security camera caught sight of breaking news stories from across the globe. News that she could hear playing in tandem on her own monitors. J’onn was ever present but he paused in his vigilance to give his company a sidelong look, then shook his head with a small little smile before turning to the monitors once more.
But Barbara’s eyes were glued to the man next to the Martian, the man who looked straight into the security camera, gave a smile so painfully familiar and waved. Blood pounded in Barbara’s temples and she had to force herself to breathe again, tears beginning to sting at her eyes. She could feel the darkness breaking up inside of her, light and joy threatening to bubble out.
BEEB: I hope the reason why you’re not answering is because you’re overwhelmed and not because you can’t use your arms.
BEEB: I have a list of lady-hugs I’m intending on collecting. Your name is on the list and my collection is woefully incomplete :>(
BEEB: The only tearful hug I’ve gotten so far was from Dinah. And by ‘hug’ I mean ‘attempting to crush my spine’. And by ‘tearful’ I mean ‘threatening me bodily harm if I ever get myself almost-killed again’.
Barbara sobbed into her hands, “Ted...” Her transcription program couldn’t capture the nuances of emotions, but he seemed to understand everything she felt that was wrapped up in his name.
BEEB: Dinah said she’s only letting me get away with making you cry again once. I’m pretty okay with it being because you’re overjoyed at my return and not from grief of my not being there.
She laughed through her tears. “How do you always know when and what to say to make me feel better?”
BEEB: Talent. Because I like making you laugh.
“I missed you, Ted. So much.”
BEEB: Don’t have to anymore. I’m not planning on going anywhere again.
BEEB: And even if I did, I have the feeling Booster would track me down and drag my ass back, heroic sacrifice for the sake of the world or not.
“I’d help him find you,” she said, smiling broadly at the image of Ted, lounging so casually before the computer. “And then I’d have to beat you for leaving us behind.”
BEEB: Depending on your weapon of choice, I may take you up on that offer.
Barbara’s fingertips reached out, tracing Ted’s grin and she couldn’t help thinking that, even though he was here and alive, it was unfair that he was so far away. “How long are you going to be at the Watchtower?”
BEEB: Just until everyone’s satisfied I’m not a clone/robot/dimension jumper/shapeshifter/golem/whatever else their ingenious minds may be convinced I could be.
“So a while.”
BEEB: At least they finally trust me enough to let me at a computer. Supervision or not.
“Well, they couldn’t have found a more experienced babysitter than J’onn.”
On the screen, J’onn looked up, startled at Ted’s sudden belly laughing. Barbara wished she could stream the audio.
BEEB: Cruel woman. Your words cut to the wick. :>P
“If you’re good, I’m sure they’ll let you out sooner. I,” Barbara paused, swallowing down a tight knot in her throat. He was dead. Had vanished so utterly and she couldn’t help him. No one had helped him but now he was back and he was still laughing even though he had all the reason in the world to distrust his fellow heroes, to turn his back on them as they had him. “I’d love to talk to you again. In person.”
BEEB: When I’m done here, you’ll be the first person I visit. Promise.
Another person approached Ted in the Watchtower- Kimiyo, who looked just as excited to have him back despite her being too naturally reserved to do more than smile broadly. Ted stood up, greeting her with his own wide grin and pulling her in for a hug. They exchanged words, too far from the camera for Barabara to make out what they were saying and when Ted turned back to the computer, Kimiyo wiped at her eyes.
BEEB: That’s two hugs so far. Shall I reserve the third one for you?
“I’ll take whichever number hug I can get,” she replied. “I don’t mind.”
BEEB: Gotta go, Roller. Need to be poked and tested and monitored some more.
BEEB: Can’t wait to see you again.
“Same here. Take care of yourself, Ted.”
BEEB: And you, Babs.
She watched as he logged off, saying something to Kimiyo that made her giggle behind a hand, just before they moved out of the camera’s view. Barbara turned off the feed reluctantly, as if Ted was about to run back on. She sat for some time, just looking at the blank screen, feeling as if a weight she hadn’t known was there had lifted from her body. A sound right behind her gave her a start.
“Babs? Babs, are you okay?” Stephanie bent down to look her in the eyes, silently holding out a handful of tissues. Hastily, Barbara put a hand to her face, shocked to find that tears were streaming over her cheeks.
Gratefully she took the tissues, wiping at her eyes and blowing her nose before saying, “I’m fine. I really am fine.” She smiled at Stephanie and it was like the sun breaking through a cold, grey world and filling it with warmth and color again. “Could you do me a favor and get Tim on the line while I go wash up? I have some good news he’d want to hear.”
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Date: 2010-06-04 10:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 11:09 pm (UTC)