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Post by Owen Merlowe on Apr 29, 2016 20:27:56 GMT -6
"Truck? I feel like someone crashed a Death Star into my head."
The bed was slightly spinning. That wasn't helping anything. He knew that if he sat up the room would be spinning. He'd had hangovers before, from booze and drugs, but this was the worst he'd felt in awhile. Owen had offered to let Dinah go. But no, she wouldn't take his advice and flee. Why would she after all these years? Listening to orders was never her strong suit. That was their entire star crossed story up to this point. Neither of them could follow orders.
"Option two... You take my gun and shoot me in the head. Just until the magazine is empty. It will make everything okay." Even talking hurt at this point. Each word pounded in his head as he spoke it. "You know damn well I've had just as many hangovers, if not more than you. God, why does this one feel so bad. Normally, I wouldn't whine, but I think the angels were singing me my last rights last night."
Owen made a feeble gesture to the dresser and mumbled something that sounded like pants. Then he mumbled something else that sounded briefly like shower. "Fine. Need a shower first. I feel like a demon crapped me out. Just help me into the bathroom, would you?" It wasn't a good idea by any means, but he felt like he was covered in grime and ick from being inside his suit and letting the poisons burn through him. He would have asked if Dinah felt the same, but he couldn't quite focus yet. He was probably dehydrated and the thought of water was something he was going to cling to. Especially, since his body was the site of a biological warfare experiment and he was currently, by someone's standards... Winning. He wasn't sure how this constituted winning at all.
He looked weakly at Dinah. "You can come too or you can take a turn. I don't have the stamina to debate. Just help me up."
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Nightwing
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You've got to listen, I'm a songbird with a brand new track. You underestimate.
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Post by Dinah Grayson on May 2, 2016 21:10:08 GMT -6
"No, I'm not shooting you. And the only person who's had more hangovers than me, is Keith Richards. And that's only because his life is one long hang over." She looked over at him, resting her head on her knees as he grumbled and groaned. Admittedly, she did feel like crap, her head and limbs felt heavy and sore and her mouth was drier than the Sahara. But that had been such a constant state for her for so long, it was just something she had gotten used to. She also knew he was feeling much worse, because, being the self sacrificing asshole he was, he'd made sure she had gotten most of the antidote. She tried not to jostle the bed at all, knowing he was a knot, fraying at both ends about to totally come apart.
"That wasn't the angels, honey. That was me, but I'm glad you think I sound so nice." She grinned at him slightly before her voice dropped almost to a whisper. "You were having some form of nightmare fighting off the last of it. Figured I'd help you out." She closed her eyes and sighed as she brought herself back upright, carefully slipping off the bed before walking around to his side, mentally noting where his vague gestures were pointing at for her requested items. Then she slipped her arm around his shoulders and slowly helped him sit up, trying to make sure he didn't get too much vertigo from the action. Then she grabbed one of his legs and turned him to face her so she could stand him up.
"I, luckily, have had lots of practice taking care of invalids. Though usually they're shorter, more blonde, and I can just carry them to the tub. I'll wait, but I'll be in there just to make sure you don't crack your head open or something." Part of her just wanted to jump in to get it over with, to let the water wake her up and keep an eye on him at the same time. Another part of her said that was a line she shouldn't cross, but all those lines were getting blurrier by the second as she helped him to the bathroom, leaving him to sit on the toilet while she turned on the water, keeping an eye on him as she did so.
"Do you need help getting everything off, or do you think you can manage that on your own?" She stood back, leaning against the wall in front of him, sighing softly at the coolness of it against her shoulders.
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Post by Owen Merlowe on May 9, 2016 12:30:35 GMT -6
Every word stabbed him in the brain pan. Even his own chuckle at the Keith Richards joke hurt. "Can't argue." It wasn't that he didn't want to. It was just that he was currently fighting to keep at least 15 years worth of meals down. The comment about her singing caught him off guard. He realized briefly that she had used her powers to help him through the worst part of it. As she helped him to his feet, Owen groaned softly.
Dinah was moving him slowly, so the vertigo didn't drop him too badly. "Should make a career out of singing or something." Owen walked slowly with her to the bathroom. He hadn't felt like this before, even the hangover from the metapower drugs he'd used occasionally didn't hurt this bad. But he had to remind himself that Crane's toxins were just that. Poisons designed to kill you in the worst ways possible. Nothing fun about them.
He let Dinah sit him on the toilet and listened to her before responding. "Right. That little blonde you used to hangout with when we were kids. Don't think she liked me much then either. Doubt she'd like me now." He leaned against the sink for a second and then took a deep breath as the water came on. He stood up too quickly, but caught himself on the sink. There was a weak wave of his hand. He didn't want to be this weak in front of her. He didn't like the way it made him feel. "I'll be fine. Just a little wobbly. You've done enough already." He slid his boxers off and moved to take his shirt off, struggling a little with it. It didn't help that the room seemed to be slowly revolving. That gun option was looking better and better.
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Nightwing
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You've got to listen, I'm a songbird with a brand new track. You underestimate.
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Post by Dinah Grayson on May 26, 2016 21:33:31 GMT -6
"Ah, yes...She definitely wouldn't like you now. You're a dangerous criminal after all. And shes always protective of her friends." Even if it's from their own dumb decisions. She smiled wanly at him, watching him struggle to move even just a little bit. She stepped forward to help him on instinct as he caught himself on the sink and frowned when he waved her off.
She didn't believe him. He wasn't fine. He was going to crack his damn head open in the tub. Well screw that. She sighed and pulled her shirt off, tossing it aside before taking off her pants. She would be damned if he fell over because he was suffering after effects of saving her dumb ass. She knew he would complain. She knew he would try and stop her from helping, but he didn't care. He'd saved her life, (a few times if she was counting), and she would at least try and return the favor.
She ducked under his arm, putting it across her shoulders to give him something to lean on, on the short trip to the shower. "No complaining. No trying to get me to stop. Just shut up and accept the help. You need it. Despite what you think."
She guided him into the shower slowly, keeping a good grip on him as he stepped over the edge of the tub, making sure he didn't face plant straight into the wall. She started slow, letting him go but keeping her hands at the ready to steady him as he stood under the water, grabbing the shampoo for him so he didn't bend over and possible just topple.
"So, decision time. Would you like me to wash your hair so you don't have to lift your arms and can just stand there? Or do you want to do it yourself?"
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Post by Owen Merlowe on May 30, 2016 0:38:24 GMT -6
"Well, the good news for her is that I don't even like me most days. So, she's in good company." He paused for a moment, voice taking on a serious tone. "I'm glad you have friends like that in your life. It makes me happy for you. Sincerely."
He saw Dinah start to take her clothes off and raised an eyebrow. Even that hurt. As a naked Dinah slid under his arm and gave him something to lean on, Owen managed a weak smile. "I had a dream that started like this once. Shame I feel the way I do. I'd much rather have that dream." He leaned against her, kissing the top of her head. "I know better than to argue with you. I'll just end up with more bruises."
Then he followed her lead as she lead him into the shower. Owen just stood there, leaning against the wall, soaking under the water. His eyes came into focus as the small shower caddies became one. He could see the bright blue of his shower puff. It was rather bright at this time of the morning. He sighed, not really liking being this vulnerable around another person at all. He moved slightly off the wall and was still wobbling a bit. Another sigh, this one slightly pained. "You might as well do it. I'm going to fall over if I try. My balance seems to be a little off."
As Owen felt Dinah's hands run through his hair, he mumbled softly. "I'm sorry. For everything, you know. I didn't want to and then after awhile, it seemed like you'd moved on and I didn't want to ruin that after I struck out on my own. So I left it alone. I thought it would be better for you."
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Nightwing
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You've got to listen, I'm a songbird with a brand new track. You underestimate.
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Post by Dinah Grayson on May 31, 2016 3:06:37 GMT -6
The kiss on her head had thrown her, just a little bit. She wasn't sure how to react to it. Tender affections weren't something she usually received from males, unless there was something else to be had. And while he had made the joke about the dream, the gesture in and of itself seemed simply kind. She figured he was just being appreciative and carried on.
“Yes, lots more bruises, can't say some won't be from me either.” she smiled a bit, trying to loosen up both in attitude and posture. They both seemed still a little raw from last night. She knew she felt still very open, very vulnerable. Probably why she was trying to be distant and Stern, even when washing his hair.
“You know, one of the perks of being a freakishly tall woman is I don't have to stand on my tip toes to reach the top of your head,” she grinned before starting to massage his scalp. Out of reflex and routine, she began humming as she did so, no particular tune in mind, just notes that sounded pleasant when strung together. It usually helped clear get mind in the morning when she was on tour and felt like shit, like she did now.
Though outwardly she seemed calm and collected if a bit blunt, inside she was chaos. Her feelings were a whirlwind of anger, confusion, uncertainty, anxiety and that small spark of hope. That pesky thing she usually only gave to others. She liked to keep hope for herself well away from her heart, it's remains having been held together by scotch tape for so long, she didn't want to disturb the fragile balance.
After more than a few moments she realized her barriers weren't up, she wasn't just humming, she was using her powers with abandon like she could if she wasn't paying attention. Mentally she cursed at herself and switched gears, changing the tune slightly and focusing on Owen, on dulling his pain and discomfort. He mumbled his apologies and she let out a small snort before she could think about it.
“Yeah, well…I wouldn't say I was moving on but, I get it. I don't like it, but I get it. Just don't like people making decisions for me. Thinking they know better, and not giving me a chance to say otherwise. And I don't just mean you.” she helped him rinse and then grabbed the blue loofah and the soap, lathering it up. She held it out to him to see if he wanted to try our if he thought he'd fall over still.
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Post by Owen Merlowe on Jun 16, 2016 11:25:57 GMT -6
"Well, I'm starting to get used to you being rough. It's not unappealing."
As the water washed over him, Owen swore he could feel every individual drop on his head. Then he felt Dinah's hands on his head, massaging in the shampoo. "Never thought you were freakishly tall. I enjoy the fact that I don't have to hunch over. It was always a perk." His body and head ached, but his emotions were raging like a hurricane inside. Old feelings, one's he had sworn were dead and buried came raging to the surface.
Owen usually prided himself on being calm, cool and collected. Well, at least when he wasn't angry and trying not to get killed, anyway. Now, he had no control over anything that was happening and he didn't like it one bit. And then the torrent of emotions dissipated. He felt himself become calm and the pain dulled a little bit. It occurred to him that Dinah was humming. She was using her powers on him to make him feel better. Normally, he would have objected, but he was okay with it for once.
"Not that it's worth much, but I didn't really make the initial decision. That was made for me. He cleaned me up too. Told me if I walked the straight and narrow and got cleaned up, that maybe I'd be able to see you once we were both in a better place where we wouldn't get each other killed. I was a dumb kid. I agreed, because I wanted to be better for you." Owen shrugged, taking the loofah from her.
"But then I did what I usually do... I was stubborn and my mouth got in the way. I didn't like the old man's methods, so I quit and became this stunning trainwreck you see before you." He gestured with the loofah, before leaning against the wall and soaping himself up.
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Nightwing
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You've got to listen, I'm a songbird with a brand new track. You underestimate.
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Post by Dinah Grayson on Jul 7, 2016 11:50:33 GMT -6
Dinah snatched up the shampoo as Owen took the loofah. Dropping a small amount into her hands, she massaged it into her hair. Even with the threat of getting it into her eyes, she kept them open, just to keep an eye on him. He was using the wall as support, which was fine, for now. But Dinah wasn't really leaving much to chance. She did enough of that on a nightly basis.
She frowned, listening to his explanation of his life after that last night she'd seen him. Her smile was brittle and sour, thinking how that sounded exactly like Jason. "You were not a dumb kid...he was just being him. Being manipulative and using your insecurities against you. Seems to be his default." She sidled past him to wash the soap out of her hair, quite enjoying the warm water. She let out a small sigh and tilted her head back.
"Hah, who isn't a trainwreck? Especially those of us crazy enough to put on armored costumes and run around in the middle of the night." She took the loofah from him after he finished with it and gave herself a good once over and rinsing off and stepping out to grab a towel. She quickly dried off before offering a towel to Owen.
"Feeling at all better? Or do I need to help you dry off and dress too?" She grinned at him teasingly.
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Post by Owen Merlowe on Aug 6, 2016 9:37:53 GMT -6
"I was most definitely a dumb kid. The drinking, the drugs, stealing things. Granted, I could see how my roguish charms were appealing, but I was going to get myself killed. He did do those things, but... Jason wasn't all bad. He treated me well and tried to do right by me, I just didn't get that at the time. Hindsight is twenty twenty."
Owen rinsed the soap off of himself and looked at Dinah, rinsing off her hair. He smiled at the statement about anyone in armored costumes running around in the night. His head was starting to clear a bit. He wasn't 100 percent, but he'd be okay. Some food and aspirin would probably keep him up and running. It would do for now.
He took the towel offered to him and started to dry off. "You putting clothes on for me? That would be a remarkable twist for a change." He said, managing a smile. He must have been feeling better, because he was ogling Dinah as she dried off. "I'm feeling well enough. I think I'll be able to function somewhat. Not a hundred percent yet, but at least I can function."
"I'll get you some clean clothing." Owen said as he stumbled out into the bedroom. He threw some boxers and a t-shirt out for her as well as some clean socks, before trying to dress himself, rather slowly. He waved her off. "Don't laugh. I just don't want to push too hard. for a change."
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Nightwing
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You've got to listen, I'm a songbird with a brand new track. You underestimate.
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Post by Dinah Grayson on Aug 16, 2016 20:44:55 GMT -6
Dinah still felt like she had after every massive bender, but her headache had come down to a dull throbbing and the full body ache she had been pointedly ignoring was more of a soreness that she felt every morning anyway. All of it was something she knew wasn't normal and yet she accepted it as normal operating parameters anyway.
She gave Owen a promising grin at his mention of a twist in their usual routine. "I'll try not to make a habit of it." She caught the t-shirt and boxers and put them on, knotting the shirt at her waist and rolling the boxers a few times until they felt more snug. Then she looked at the socks, and her boots, then her utility bracers just lying on the floor.
"God this feels like I'm in high school all over again." She sat back on the bed, deciding boxers were better than nothing and started putting on socks. Then she shoved her feet into her boots and hoped she did not pass any sort of reflective surface on the way. She could only maintain the confidence of this look if she didn't actually see what it looked like.
"Hopefully everyone will be distracted by the bare midriff and long ass legs to not ask too many questions. Or take pictures. Which reminds me." She bent down to pick up one of the bracers and grabbed the bed for support as everything went blurry for a moment. But she took a deep breath in as she sat back on the bed and began digging through compartments. She came out with sunglasses a few moments later and slid them on.
"Much better. Ok, grab the biggest bottle of aspirin you have and lets go get some breakfast."
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Post by Owen Merlowe on Aug 20, 2016 22:25:35 GMT -6
Much to Owen's surprise, his head hadn't exploded yet. The criminal mastermind was busy struggling with a t-shirt and a pair of pants. His balance was slightly off, but he finally managed to get fully dressed. He laughed softly at the comment about her trying not to make a habit about dressing him. "I mean I was going to offer you some sweats, but whatever you want to do. I'm pretty sure that the legs and the midriff will keep everyone distracted." His head was pounding and he knew that the stuff in his system was taking its sweet time to get figured out.
His body cried out for a little something to take the edge off, but Owen knew better than to do that around Dinah. That would be later, when the drugs would help his body repair itself after this little near death experience. He just laughed. "I don't remember you wearing my clothes that much in high school. I seem to recall you not having clothing on for some of my high school experience." Owen paused. "I also seem to recall not attending high school as much as I should have. These things are starting to connect in my head."
Owen, now fully dressed in a t-shirt, jeans and combat boots, he shoved a wallet in his pocket and grabbed a bottle of aspirin off the night table. He paused and grabbed a set of shades for himself as well. "Not the biggest one that I have, but enough for both of us, anyway. Where do you want to go? That diner a few blocks from here? The one we used to go to as kids?"
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Nightwing
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You've got to listen, I'm a songbird with a brand new track. You underestimate.
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Post by Dinah Grayson on Sept 7, 2016 8:27:27 GMT -6
"No! Gimme sweats! I'll take the sweats..." She shuffled over to his dresser and began rummaging around until she pulled a pair out. She let out a small sigh of relief and started to put them on, one leg at a time. Probably not her best idea as she started hopping around on one foot because she had been too stubborn to take off the boots before trying to get into the pants. She was determined. Even if all the jumping was doing no favors for her headache. At all. But she finally got into them, with some close calls, but she had subtly hopped closer to the bed just in case her balance decided it wasn't good enough for her any more.
All those years on the balance beam paid off as she stood up and looked down at herself. Now she just looked like a hungover coed. She had no problem with that. "I'll keep the midriff. And I used to wear your shirts...all the time. That's why you had to escape out the window without them most days." She gave him a sly grin.
"Yeah, that one should be fine. Don't think any crazy people with cameras will be there. And they're pretty quiet. Sometimes I go there when I don't want to be chased down for an autograph or photo and want a good burger. Everyone there is pretty respectful of privacy." She looked at the bottle of aspirin in his hand and nodded, mostly to herself. It would at least dull the pain the rest of the way until she could ignore it completely.
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Post by Owen Merlowe on Sept 27, 2016 11:05:47 GMT -6
"Wait, it's all coming back to me now. I remember escaping from your room and being chased by your brother, half naked across a couple rooftops that one time."
Owen watched Dinah jump and try to maneuver out of the boots and he smiled broadly. A few different thoughts ran through his head. He remembered a time that he followed her to gymnastics practice and Jason almost kicked his ass for intervening. He'd forgotten that she was training to be part of the US Olympic team. And the circumstances that kept her from being involved, also came flashing back.
"This reminds me of all that time you spent training that gym when we were kids." He paused for a second. "Remember when I was young and dumber and got in a fight with that blonde kid who kept hitting on you?"
After waiting for her reply, he nodded. The diner was always a sacred place for the two of them. When they were younger they'd go there for dates and share fries and do other things that teenagers did, like talk about their lives and friends. Though Owen's friends were a little different than the people that Dinah tended to hang out with. These days, he knew those people were losers. Then was a different story.
"Yeah, that's good. Privacy is a good idea. We could both use some of that. It wouldn't do for a famous rock star to be seen with someone like me."
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Nightwing
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You've got to listen, I'm a songbird with a brand new track. You underestimate.
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Post by Dinah Grayson on Oct 18, 2016 21:24:11 GMT -6
“Oh yes…” she said sourly. “All of that training, to be undone by biology. Stupid puberty.” she pouted. It was still a sore subject for her, every after all these years. She, she had gone on top so other successful things, but Olympic gold has eluded her. All because she had a growth spurt at the exact wrong time. “I coulda been a contender. “
She started heading for the door, laughing at his memory of the blonde. It took her a few moments to recall specifics, but she waited for him to follow her out. Walking outside, she hissed at the bright light of the sun, flinching away before stepping fully into it, shoving her thumbs in her waistband.
“Yeah I remember you picking a fight with a guy too dumb to understand the word ‘no’. You let him have one free shot and he broke your nose. Then you broke several of his ribs so I think it balanced.”
She took a moment to get her bearings, spotting the truck, yeah we definitely stole that, and it's definitely going back. She also fought the urge to roll her eyes at his last statement because it would do no favors for her headache. The normal knee jerk reaction to spout off at the mouth, tell him she did what she wanted, with whom and when. Screw public perception. But she took a second to think about it and she sort of understood; he was worried about safety, not perception. Mostly.
“Well, you know I don't give two shits about what other people think. And I can take care of myself. Besides, ‘John Wayne’ still owes me a date. Gonna have to be seen with me sometime.” she gave him a cheesy grin.
When she spotted the diner down the way, a flood of memories hit her. Many an afternoon had been spent there, eating, making plans, coming up with a plethora of ways to get into all kinds of trouble. And with Owen came his cadre of shit kickers, whose every idea was worse than the last. Looking back now, she really had to wonder how they had survived to adulthood.
“There are some days I miss being an anonymous person, being able to get into trouble and not have a front page splash on TMZ or Yahoo. If course that also means I'd anyone wants to come at me, it'll have to be very public.”
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Red Hood
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Post by Owen Merlowe on Oct 26, 2016 14:12:14 GMT -6
Owen gave a smile and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Puberty wasn't all bad for you. If I say so, myself. Though I might be a little biased about some of those things." He gives her a soft smile. "I know. You would have gotten us banned from the Olympics though. When you won every Gold medal, we wouldn't have been asked back ever again." Owen took time to lock his front door and activate his security measures before they left.
The comment about the boy that he got into a fight with made him smile. "I don't regret that. I don't regret it for a minute. If the guy couldn't get that no means no, then hopefully, he took a very valuable life lesson away from that conflict. I might have helped another girl out in the long run. I hate pushy men."
He walked alongside Dinah. The commentary about her doing what she wanted and not caring about what other people thought didn't shock him. Though, he couldn't help but smile at the mention of him owing her a date. He shook his head and shrugged. "You know what I meant. I know you don't care about perceptions. I also don't want you to get hurt."
As the diner came into sight, Owen grinned and made a gesture with his hand. "There it is in all its glory. The famous Gotham Diner. Home of failed plans, a few memorable dates, and a few trips to juvie for quite a few kids." He held the door open for her as they walked up the two steps into the entrance. "Yeah, secret identities do have their perks. That's why I have so many of them."
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