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Post by Countess on Oct 7, 2024 18:10:13 GMT
Damian is being a really, really good sport. Barbara had been worried, underneath all the sadistic glee at unleashing her favorite little gremlin on Johnny. When she sees him with a little tension, Barbara puts down the next formed crust for Johnny. She pauses briefly to reach over to Dames, hand on the side of his neck as she pulls him in. A little kiss is placed on his forehead, a thank you, a reminder. Everything is okay. It will continue to be okay, too. She tilts her head to the side, placing her cheek on his crown, then goes to the sink to wash her hands briefly.
It is such a simple act, done absolutely instinctually. Anything to soothe him.
Barbara sends Johnny a look, something with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. "What, did you think I am as mean to everyone else as I am you? No, darling, you get special treatment from yours truly," she says, quick as a whip. She starts to toss the last bit of dough, her own, as Johnny moves on to gushing about the Watchtower. It gives her a little confidence and pride. That place is a labor of love.
Barbara rolls her eyes. "I was not there, Dames," she gently corrects Johnny. "Just working as Orcale," she says, very specifically. None of them know about her extracurricular activities... and it is going to stay that way, until she is ready for people to know.
"Dames, we don't need to ask- oh- you're already doing it," Barbara starts, then cuts herself off with laughter. Of course he would bake it. "I'll just use the oven for mine," she says, laughing still. She shakes her head. "Come on, hotshot, your base is ready," she tells Johnny, pointing to his. In the meantime, she gets to work on her own. She bobs her head in tune with the beat, hips swaying from side to side. This really is her favorite song by them. After spooning on some sauce, she sends Damian a mischievous look.
"Show me love," Barbara sings to him, spoon in her hand like a microphone. "You've got your hand on the button now~" she continues, setting the spoon down, pointing at him. The music swells, she spins, only to go up to him, take his hands, and begin to dance.
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Post by Nomz on Oct 7, 2024 22:19:42 GMT
The show of affection from Barbara is a surprise, but not unexpected. Since he's moved in, she has slowly been slipping these actions in more and more. Damian knows that by not stopping her, he is giving her silent encouragement. He isn't sure he wants to stop her. In some ways, it makes him miss his-
He's spared too much thought on this topic when Johnny mentions a 'big psychic gorilla' and his ape army. This is perhaps the most expressive the man has seen from the boy as his eyebrows nearly get lost in his short, curly brown hair. His eyes snap to Barbara for confirmation and she is prepared to soothe any worries she thinks he has. In truth, she would see a touch of disappointment that Barbara hadn't been on the ground for that mission. More so considering the training they had started.
When Johnny snorts about the incinerate comment, Damian buries a smirk before more than the corners of his lips can curl. Damian listens to the man as he explains his powers, cutting away the nonsense and taking notes. He wonders about the distance of this ability and if he needs to be able to see the location. Did that make it a telepathic ability if he could? Would knocking Johnny unconscious be the only way to disable-
It is only due to Johnny's ability to tell when a pizza is done that keeps Damian's dinner from turning into a hockey puck. He nods in acknowledgment of a job well done. Damian looks to his and asks is the plainest tone ever created, "I see why EasyBake ovens were so popular. Truly, he has missed his calling by becoming a hero."
He catches the mischievous look from Barbara too late to do anything about it. His ears take in her singing, and the young lad shifts back a step, closer to Johnny. Barbara does a little spin and Damian throws his pride to the wolves to mouth 'Help Me' at Mr. Storm.
His sister has his hands, pulling him into her dance, and... he moves surprisingly well. When people refer to fighting as a dance, few think about the fact that the opposite is also true. Though, while Barbara looks like she is having fun, Damian looks like he's trying to fight off an assassin.
"Storm!" It is the only warning Johnny gets before Damian tugs Babs close by one hand and then lets her spin away like a top. He's not seen or done much dancing except swing dancing in some movies. "Catch."
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Post by Beriadan on Oct 8, 2024 12:01:12 GMT
Johnny waved a hand at Barbara's just working as Oracle statement. He had joked about it, but after his encounter with Grodd, Johnny was firmly against the idea that she was just Oracle. Without her, he would have been fighting blind on his own against the supervillain.
"That's not true! Just Oracle had my back 110%. You gave me all the info I needed on our hairy friend, plus you called in Pilgrim with seconds to spare. It wasn't the most successful first mission, but it would have been far worse if you hadn't been there for me!"
Johnny was working on his pizza as he spoke. Sauce, check. Not too much, just a nice even layer. Then cheese, a good portion of mozzarella from crust to crust. Pepperoni next, evenly spaced yet visually chaotic. Johnny took a handful of red jalapeños, nestling them between the gaps in the pepperoni. Then he sprinkled chilli flakes on top, and drizzled chilli oil as well.
"This is actually my favourite. It was made up by a pizza parlour downtown who the Fantastic Four saved from - you know, it just occurred to me, I do save the world in exchange for pizza quite a bit."
Johnny grinned at Damian. He didn't mind the EasyBake oven quip. The kid didn't need to know how many successful dates he'd had that hinged on that trick alone. Everyone loved pizza, and he was one of the best personal ovens out there. He did nothing to help him either, simply giving am exaggerated shrug.
"Sorry, Damian. You're on your own with - woah, hey, there's a pizza here!"
Johnny caught Babs as she was twirled his way, grabbing her hand and twirling her around. He was a natural dancer, to the surprise of nobody, and he was a natural show-off, too. He danced right back at her, grinning, enjoying the music and the movements, giving her a run for her money with his skills.
"Nice moves, Oracle, but they don't call me the Storm of the Dancefloor for nothing!"
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Post by Countess on Oct 8, 2024 14:56:38 GMT
Barbara is keenly aware that Damian would have moved away, pushed, protested, stabbed to get the point across he doesn't want her little shows of affection. The inaction speaks volumes to her. It encourages her, deeply. He isn't the type to just let things happen he doesn't want. Her heart feels a little lighter, now. What drags it down a bit more is the disappointment. Had he... wanted her to be there? They had been training together, is that why? Does he really think she is ready for that? Well... maybe she should take more risks. She will get out again, soon. Go for something a little bigger. If he thinks she can handle it... she can. Johnny's protestations to her selling herself short hit home, too. "Just means you gotta work harder, right? Maybe I can do a more hands on approach next time, really make sure you perform well," she floats. He doesn't know her history, not like Dames. Not like all of the Justice League. "Do well enough, hero, I'll get you some pizza as thanks," she adds, laughing a little.
Maybe it could work out, with him. In the field.
That line of thought is immediately ended the moment Dames makes his tease at Johnny. She sputters, laughing in that unexpected way. "Dames, good one," she says between laughs. "Oh my god, I am using that. Easy Bake, Vintage, you are just getting all the nicknames, aren't you?" Babs says, letting herself get lost in this moment a bit. She hasn't been this happy in a while. It is okay, right? Just for a moment?
Barbara spins, her skirt flaring out around her like petals on a flower. She's a dancer, too, though a bit out of practice. Babs makes up for it with confidence. The music continues to swell- spinning isn't quite the call here. She moves with the beat, grinning all the while. Her moves are sensual, hitting the beats but flowing between them like water.
"Bring me to the fire, throw me in the flames," Barbara sings, noting the pun just for him.
The song comes to an end, Barbara breathing a bit harder from it. A look is shared between her and Johnny- a sort of unexpected thanks- and she thinks she will be happy to remember this forever.
"I would say you need to take me dancing, Vintage, but you don't owe me another date," Barbara says, something mischievous in her eyes.
"Yet."
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Post by Nomz on Oct 8, 2024 17:46:23 GMT
Damian smirks in triumph as Barbara spins away from him, startling Johnny as he's in the middle of denying him help. The boy shakes his head at the two adults, still feeling the gentle warmth of pride that his sister had found his Easy Bake Oven joke funny. Leaving the two to dance, he approaches Barbara's half-finished pizza and takes it upon himself to finish the toppings.
They've ordered out often enough that he knows what she likes and takes his time assembling the mushrooms, spicy sausage (gross), onion, and spicy little peppers. Even though he is a vegan, he's never been one to push it on other people and the smell never bothers him. Damian doesn't notice that he is swaying to the beat of the music as he works, too focused on trying not to gag at their playful, friendly flirting. Honestly, why are adults so troublesome?
But also, he finds a bit in comfort that Barbara seems to have relaxed and allowed herself to be happy. She's having fun and that means more to him than he thought it did. Perhaps he should be kind to these Roy and Flash guys as well.
"Storm," Damian calls, raising a hand to point at the pizza. While Barbara said she would use the oven, he didn't see why she needed to wait. After all, eating without Barbara would be impolite, and waiting for her pizza to bake would let his get cold. Asking Johnny for help is the only option. "Help, please?"
Hopefully, he won't turn Damian down again. He's had enough people let him down recently that he isn't sure he can handle much more.
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Post by Beriadan on Oct 8, 2024 19:04:17 GMT
Johnny winked at Babs as the song ended and the dance finished. She was an intriguing woman, he gave her that. Her personally ebbed and flowed like the tide. From the stern and sharp-tongued Oracle to the loving sister here.
He turned his attention back to the matter at hand. With both pizzas ready, Johnny turned up the heat on both, cooking them through with care and control.
"Storm, huh? I take that as a mark of respect, Damian. Hey Babs, did you hear? I'm nearly on first name terms with him!"
Johnny finished his cooking, leaving two perfectly baked pizzas waiting for them to grab. He picked them both up, the gentleman that he was, and placed them on the table. Damian's received a quick heating as well, as he nodded to Barbara.
"Babs, would you grab the wine? Damian, if I would have known you were here, I would have grabbed something... well, hey, I still could. What're you drinking?"
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Post by Countess on Oct 8, 2024 19:45:17 GMT
Damn, he really, well and truly, grew on her. For a moment there, she even caught herself thinking of next time. Kinda nice, actually.
Barbara sticks her tongue out at Johnny, a soft little tease for both of her boys. "Careful, if you call attention to it, you might lose points," Barbara says, chuckling all the while. She is careful, so careful not to tease Damian often. Sometimes, it is okay, but other times... he takes it very seriously. He is prickly like that, with little landmines all around him to keep himself safe. She loves him enough to have the patience to navigate it.
"Yeah, I got it," Barbara says, delicately taking the decanter in one hand and the glasses in the other. She goes slow, however, hoping to let Damian pick the seat he wants, first. "Water, right Dames? Oh- can you grab the ranch? It is in a mason jar," she calls out to the both of them, quickly answering for her brother. It is a force of habit. The ranch is her own concoction- vegan for Dames. She also just likes it.
Once spots are picked out, specifically not by her, she pours the two of them a moderately generous glass. There are pizza cutters on the table- one for Dames, one for Babs and Johnny. She's been careful about cross contamination since he moved in.
Babs eyes the fiery blaze that is Johnny's pizza. "Spicy enough for you? You know I have hot sauce," she says, nodding over to the fridge.
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Post by Nomz on Oct 9, 2024 1:56:44 GMT
"Negative 3 points," Damian says as soon as Johnny brings attention to the name and Barbara gives him his warning. He bites back a smirk as Johnny grabs the pizzas to bring to the table and moves through the kitchen with them as if he belongs here. His brows furrow as the thought hits him. Johnny doesn't belong here. Hell, Damian doesn't-
Hearing his name drags his attention to the present and he is quick to try to shove his thoughts away.
"The body requires water to survive," he says as he tips his head in acknowledgment of Babs' request. The ranch is tucked into the shelf inside the refrigerator's door and his fingers close around the glass. Barbara is happy. He's- well, Damian isn't unhappy and he desperately just wants to stay this way. Just this once.
"We have extra red pepper flakes and parmesan cheese as well."
Damian juggles the jar of ranch and the two other toppings as he goes back over to the table. He takes the seat in the middle. While it may seem like he took it to keep the two separated, it is for a much smaller purpose. He feels like he can get lost in this if he has these two on either side of him.
"My pizza is still superior to that spicy disaster. Here-" Knowing that he still has Johnny's initial consent, Damian cuts a slice of his own pie and lays it down on the man's plate. Hopefully, he will learn to enjoy actual pizza rather than something just meant to sear his taste buds. With a secondary pizza cutter, Damian cuts first his sister's pie and then Johnny's. He carefully places a slice on both their plates, unintentionally taking a page from Barbara's book by showing his care with his actions.
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Post by Beriadan on Oct 9, 2024 19:54:33 GMT
"Oh, we're doing points?"
Johnny laughed as he took a seat, but his ass had barely touched the chair -
"Hot sauce? Hell yeah!"
He rose again quickly, sauntering over to the fridge. Johnny began to rummage around as he did so, enjoying the cool temperature on his skin.
"Listen, the spicier, the better. It's the laws of nature. Uh... heat is neat. Practically Darwinian."
Johnny sat back between them, noting the cut-up pizzas and smiling. He glanced at Babs across the boy's head, eyebrows raised in surprise, but a grin across his face. As he spoke, Johnny took a pinch of red pepper flakes and sprinkled them daintily over the surface of his molten beast.
"Hey, thanks. That's two points to you, which means you're on twenty right now. Babs, you're on fifteen, so you better catch up!"
Johnny took Damian's slice first. A look of surprise came across his face, and he nodded slowly.
"You know... pineapple isn't half bad. You make a good pizza. But you know what it needs?"
Johnny picked up the bottle, dumping the contents on it and taking a huge bite. He gave a wide, goofy grin as he chewed. Johnny couldn't quite hide his laughter.
"Mph... a bit of spice definitely goes a long way!"
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Post by Countess on Oct 9, 2024 20:41:52 GMT
"Always have been!" Babs says in response to his question on points. She chuckles, pleased as punch by him, even as he doesn't even get a seat before running off to something else. Golden Retriever, indeed.
Barbara takes the seat on the right of Damian, as she usually does. Something about habits, how she is a creature of it. "Hey! Grab me the Red Hot! There should be some crazy stuff in there, my other brothers are... well, they are boys. You know how it goes," Barbara calls out to Johnny. "You really want to fuck up your day? Da Bomb is the way to do it," she says, snickering. Jason was the only one that would eat that, and it wasn't because he liked it, but because he hated himself.
"Thanks, Dames," Barbara says as he cuts her a slice. She doesn't mind being still, letting the others help with all this. Barbara learned a long time ago how to let others help like this. Being a control freak has its perks in her job with the JL, but not at home. So, instead, she finally tastes that wine. She makes a very, very satisfied noise, holding the glass out in front of her in appreciation. "That is... phenomenal, Johnny, thank you," she says as he returns with his loot, genuine in that.
While she knows this date really isn't a true one, he is bringing a game to this she can appreciate and meet. Her last date-
Barbara takes a breath. Not here. Not now.
Instead, she shares a look with Johnny, giving him a wink. She looks at Damian, then up to him. "He likes you," her eyes say. A feat onto itself.
"Only fifteen?" Barbara says in mock hurt. "I cooked, I cleaned, I put my pretty girl disguise on, and that's worth fifteen points?" she says, really laying it on thick. She connects her eyes with Damian. "You are on, Dames. So on. Just you wait, I am coming for you," she says, faking deathly seriousness. She gives him a wink, so he knows she is joking. Best to make sure he knows he isn't actually in trouble.
Barbara spoons some of the ranch, then dabs a bit of the Red Hot, onto her slice before taking a bite. It is cheesy, flavorful goodness. It earns another sound of satisfaction. For a moment, she basks in it. Then, with a breath, turns to the two boys.
"Good food requires good conversation," she says, smiling. "If you could invite anyone in the world to dinner, who would it be?" Babs asks.
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Post by Nomz on Oct 10, 2024 3:43:34 GMT
Damian hesitates as Johnny's statement processes in his head. It is a fact that Barbara has more points than Storm because Damian likes her more. Johnny is saying Damian has more points than Barbara. By that logic, did that mean-
Heat crawls up the back of his neck, through his hair, and stops to sear the tips of his ears. People are not supposed to pick Damian. Certainly not people who are not bound to him through their loyalty to Mr. Wayne. Every muscle in his body locks down, trapped in a 'fight or flight' response as Barbara speaks in mock hurt.
He meets her gaze, trying for a scuff at her words, but there is a shard of vulnerability in his eyes. For as long as she has known him, he has never looked like this. Even when he came to her after trying to live on the streets of Gotham for a week. Damian reaches out for his water, shaking his head and struggling to bury this feeling with his bare hands despite the rocks splintering his nails.
"You are no threat," he manages to say, tone hollow not because he feels nothing, but because he feels too much. "I am superior just like pineapple pizza. Though, if Storm keeps consuming so much hot stuff like this, I doubt his scorekeeping will matter much more."
Barbara, sweet and beautiful and wonderful, throws Damian a bone and he sinks his claws into it. Anything to distract himself. Conversation is good. He keeps his eyes on his pizza as he waits for the icebreaker and his heart sinks with the question. Not because it is a bad question, but because he does not like the answers that fill his mind.
'Father. Mother. Grayson. Brown. Drake. Todd. Duke. Cain.'
Damian slams that door, refusing to be defeated by his feelings of longing for that family. His lips purse as he snorts, saying the very first name that pops into his mind. For a long second, 'Susan Storm' waits on his tongue.
"Matias Jacinto. He runs a security firm, I believe. I was reading up on him while on patrol."
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Post by Beriadan on Oct 10, 2024 17:22:08 GMT
"Anyone at all...?"Johnny thought about this hard as he chewed his incredibly spicy pizza, covered in Da Bomb sauce just as a kicker. His mind floated to... well, his family. His old family. Reed, Ben, Sue... Johnny frowned as he ate. Those were good times, before Reed had chosen work over them. Who else? There were plenty of women who he'd like to take back out to dinner. A few he would love to spend just an hour with. One he'd die just to share a slice of pizza with. Johnny swallowed. What about something positive? Superman. Now that would be a dinner. Wonder Woman? Perhaps, though he'd feel bad for his sister. Sue and her kids. He'd done it a thousand times, and he'd want to do it a thousand more, but that wasn't the answer they were looking for. Brother loves his sister, niece and nephew and wants to spend all his free time with them. Stop the press, Daily Bugle, we've got the scoop of the century.
"Hmm... it's a good question. I mean, off the top of my head? Tony Stark. Whatever happened to him, anyway? I'd like to share a burger with that guy."Johnny dipped his crust into more hot sauce, winking at Damian as he did so, swirling it around in the air before him as he looked at Barbara with a genuinely curious look. "How about you, Babs? You hang around with pretty incredible people every day, and that includes yourself. And yours truly, of course. Who would you pick?"
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Post by Countess on Oct 11, 2024 1:10:26 GMT
Barbara immediately sees the look in Damian's eyes, and her stomach falls a bit. "Hey bud," she says, careful not to touch him right now. She has never seen him like this before, not once. Was it Johnny or Babs that triggered this? Both? "You can take a sec upstairs, if you want. No one is keeping you here," she offers him very quietly, now more concerned for him than anything. All she wants to do is hug him, but she isn't sure that is the right thing right now. Sometimes, she is so in the dark with him... "You're such a delight to have with us, but even I need moments alone to think, to regroup. Tactically speaking, of course," she says, continuing to be quiet to spare him some of his pride. "You could get the new tools Alfred gave you...? I am very sure Johnny would love to see those," she says, eyes flicking briefly up to the man in question. She's worried about Dames.
"Matias, I didn't expect that," Barbara says after taking a bite of her pizza. She only knows him from tabloids and the news, really. "That's a good one. I bet you could learn a lot from him," she says, thinking on it. She might want that dinner guest, too, now that she thinks about it. "And Tony for you? I did expect that," she says, teasing Johnny, trying to move on, get the attention away from Damian if he wants to slip away for a moment. "You know... I worked with him for a while," she says, a bit tantalizingly, like she has something that Johnny covets and could possibly share. She already knows she is going to facilitate that meeting, Matias, too, if she can. She dips her crust into her ranch, eating it wish a bit of relishment. "Even went to visit him recently. We are old friends," she says, curling a smile over to the fanboy.
"Me?" Barbara asks. She knew she would have to answer. A different time, she would have said a name better left crowing cobwebs in the back of everyone's mind. "Hmmm..." she murmurs, tapping her chin a bit dramatically to drag it out. "I think I would say..." she starts. Does she go sappy? Flirty? Silly? Serious? Mean? Spiteful? Avenging? Sweet? "Since I have already gotten this dinner..." she continues, unbale to resist to butter the man's ego. She likes him puffed up and smiling. "Eric Hughes, one of the authors of the Cypherpunk Manifesto. He helped pioneer discussions on privacy, government monitoring, corporate control of information, and related issues back in the early 90's. I would love to pick his brain," she says finally.
Barbara takes that moment to take a long sip of the wine, enjoying it keenly.
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Post by Nomz on Oct 12, 2024 2:08:28 GMT
Running away feels like the correct answer. The right move. There is relief in knowing that Barbara is ready to offer him this one thing when he needs it most. At every turn, she only feeds that fickle little flame of faith he has in her. He reaches out to lightly tap her foot with his in acknowledgment.
Maybe it will be okay that this odd man enjoys his company. Johnny isn't making a big deal, even though Damian feels he might have noticed the change in his demeanor. He isn't making it a thing or drawing attention to it. That means more to Damian than he cares to admit. This can be okay.
He glances at Storm, catching his wink and wrinkling his nose in turn. Without meaning to do so, he sticks the tip of his tongue out at him.
"Anthony Stark, head of Stark Industries? Why would you want to have dinner with him? Didn't he decide to go off and do his own thing?" At Barbara's admission, his attention swings back to her with confusion on his brow.
"What did you work with him on?" The change in topic seems to be easing the rough waves in his mind. Damian openly scowls at her admission of going to visit him recently as well. To prevent his mouth from asking very pointedly 'why', he takes a bite of his food. Unsurprisingly, his pizza tastes amazing. His pizza is amazing.
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Post by Beriadan on Oct 12, 2024 15:43:44 GMT
Johnny paused as Barbara suddenly turned her attention to Damian. Was he uncomfortable? Was it something he'd said? He swallowed, but didn't know how to approach the subject. The kid was struggling, it seemed, but Babs was handling it like she'd done it a thousand times. Johnny could forget that people weren't as socially energetic as he was. He took a drink of the vintage wine while Barbara calmed him down, waiting until Damian felt like he could talk again.
"Well... I class him as the guy who lead the hero resurgence. He brought the Justice League together against the Kree, and he did it with style. Plus, Iron Man and Human Torch are very similar in the way we fight. I reckon we could share pointers, you know?"
Johnny grinned at Barbara as she humble-bragged about it.
"No duh, Babs. You were both in the League, after all!"
It seemed to have shaken Damian from whatever funk he had fallen into, so Johnny took another bite of pizza to give Barbara a chance to answer. He didnt want to overwhelm the two. They were alike in many ways, and he could feel his energy sapping them both. Yet he didn't want to leave, not yet. Seeing this side of Babs warmed his heart, and the kid was growing on him. Johnny couldn't help but feel, once again, that it reminded him of himself and Sue.
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