Fic: Rainbow’s Freedom (Paradise Arc) (32/37)
Title: Rainbow’s Freedom (Paradise Arc) (32/37)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters: (this chapter): Alfred, Brendan, Hal/Steve, Clark/Bruce, Dick, Lex/Jamie, Ollie/Dinah, Melody, Roy
Series Notes: In the 23rd century, Earth is a technologically-advanced society that practices the ancient institution of slavery. As Bruce and Clark continue to juggle being lovers as well as Master and slave, Bruce continues his Abolitionist work, and a shocking Family Secret is revealed. Meanwhile, the Queen Family welcomes a new member, and Steve and Hal meet their Destinies, although neither one realizes it yet. The entire series can be found here.
Genres: Drama, AU
Rating: (this chapter): G
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Summary: Once again it’s Halloween Week in Gotham, and the gathering includes some battered survivors this year.
Date Of Completion (First Draft): July 23, 2008
Date Of Posting: May 29, 2009
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1215
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
All gather
Together,
Grateful
To be
Alive.
Ancient Vulcan Spiritual
Pre-Reform Vulcan
10th Century B.C.E.
XXXII
GATHERING
Alfred directed Brendan to put the luggage in the proper guest rooms, Steve grateful for his quiet efficiency. He wheeled Hal in, Bruce coming forward.
“Steve, Hal, wonderful to see you! What a miracle!”
Bruce embraced the wan pilot, Hal’s brown eyes sparkling. “Thanks for the greeting, Bruce.”
Bruce drew back, his hands on Hal’s shoulders. “We thought we’d lost you forever.”
“Nah, I’m like gum on your shoe. Can’t get rid of me.”
Bruce laughed. “I see your sense of humor is still intact.”
Steve put a hand on Hal’s shoulder. “Still a smart-ass.”
Bruce laughed again and hugged Steve, who returned the hug with a smile. “Well, that’s good to hear.” He swept his arm out. “We have an elevator here for your use.”
“Wow, this is great, Bruce.” Hal wheeled himself to the elevator. “It’ll sure make things easier.”
“We are here to serve.”
Clark and Dick appeared, and Hal said, “Hey, guys! Would you give me a wheel up to my room?”
“Sure!” Dick said, running around to the back of the wheelchair. “Is this an automatic chair?”
“Nope, the old-fashioned kind, kiddo.” Hal flexed his arms. “Need to keep in shape.”
Dick giggled. “Well, I’m strong enough to push you!”
Clark walked beside them as they entered the elevator.
“Steve, you coming?” Hal called.
“Right away, buddy.”
Steve hurried to join the group as the elevator doors closed.
Alfred came down the staircase. “Ah, so our guests are in good hands.”
“Very, Alfred.”
Alfred hurried to the front door. “Your other guests are arriving.”
Bruce nodded and turned to greet them as Alfred opened the door.
“Bruce!”
“Lex!” Bruce heartily embraced his old friend. “You look great.”
“Clean living,” Lex smirked. Jamie was right behind him, carrying two suitcases.
”I’m sorry you had to take a cab.”
Lex waved his hand negligently. “Not a problem. We had an opportunity to take an earlier train so we grabbed it.” Lex glanced upstairs. “Who beat us in?”
“Hal and Steve.”
“How’s Hal look?”
“Not bad, considering. Steve looks more worn out!”
Lex grinned. “Ah, the rigors of young love.”
Bruce laughed. “Yes, well, it was pretty scary there for awhile.” He said to Jamie, “We’ll take the elevator so you won’t have to lug those suitcases up the stairs.”
& & & & & &
Two hours later, Dick glanced out the front window. “Alfred, the Queens are here!”
“Get into place,” Alfred said briskly, and Dick quickly stood at the foot of the stairs, arms behind his back, ready to serve.
Bruce was already coming from the library. He took his own place in the foyer as the door knocker was applied, and Alfred opened the door with a grand gesture.
“Welcome, Lord Oliver and Mistress Dinah.”
“Thank you, Alfred.” Ollie grinned. “Well, how’s my fellow Lord doing?”
“Just fine, Ollie.”
Bruce hugged both Ollie and Dinah, and Bruce smiled as he saw Melody.
“And how are you doing, Miss Melody?”
The little girl giggled. “Fine, m’lord.”
Dick flashed his friend a smile, then looked curiously at the redheaded boy hanging back a little.
“May I present Roy, my second Squire,” Ollie said, bringing the boy forward with a gentle hand on his back.
Roy lowered his head. “I am honored, Lord Wayne.”
Bruce smiled and lifted Roy’s chin up. “We are pleased to see you as part of the Queen Household, Squire Roy. My own Squire will help you get settled.”
Dick smiled brightly, Roy meeting his eyes. Dick’s smile grew even brighter, an answering one from the redhead.
Alfred gestured and Dick hurried forward, taking one of the numerous bags. He smiled up at Dinah, who caressed his hair before she followed Ollie up the grand staircase.
Melody hurried to catch up to her Mistress and the boys fell into step together up the stairs.
“This is some place,” Roy said as he hefted a bag.
“It sure is. It’s hundreds of years old,” Dick said proudly.
“Queens’ Castle is, too.” Roy looked around. “It’s brighter than this place, too.”
“Well, the Manor does all right in sunshine.”
Roy smiled. “I’m sure it does.” His eyes lit up as he looked at the chandelier. “That’s awesome. It’s like a million lights!”
“Bigger than at the Castle?”
Roy chuckled. “Yep.” He glanced out the window. “Cool that you live by the ocean.”
“I’ll show you the beach later if we have time.”
Roy really looked happy at that suggestion, Dick filing the observation away.
He helped Roy get settled, his new friend pleased at having a room of his own. He immediately looked out the window at the sparkling sea.
“One of the best things about the Manor,” Dick said cheerfully.
“The Castle is close by the sea, too. Guess I just got spoiled.”
Dick laughed. “That’s easy to get here.”
“So your Master’s a good one?”
Dick nodded vigorously. “The best.”
“Well…”
Dick grinned. “Tied with Mistress Dinah and Lord Oliver.”
Roy nodded in satisfaction.
“Need help unpacking?”
“Thanks.”
& & & & & &
Steve rested a hand on Hal’s chair. The brunette was the center of attention as the rapt audience of Bruce, Ollie, Dinah and Lex hung on his every word.
“They found me out cold next to the remains of my ship on this backwater asteroid. My oxygen was nearly kaput.” Hal grimaced. “I felt exhausted, like I’d run a marathon. I’d had some wild dreams.”
“Dreams?” Dinah asked.
“Yeah. I went through all kinds of crazy tests, fighting aliens and rescuing fire and flood victims, using a ring.”
“A ring?” Lex exclaimed.
Hal nodded. “It was green, and that was the color of the energy that shot out of it. I could make it in the shape of anything.” He laughed. “I made a boxing glove and knocked out an alien.”
Ollie grinned. “Boxing gloves are usually effective.”
Dinah slapped him on the thigh.
“It was so weird! Maybe close to oxygen deprivation triggered these dreams, but they were so vivid!”
“Well, at least the dreams didn’t injure you,” Dinah said.
“Yeah, my injuries were from the crash. I had some broken ribs and a twisted ankle, and plenty of bruises.” Hal frowned. “A general weakness seems to be a residue of something in the asteroid’s atmosphere. The docs said I should recover fully in time.”
Steve squeezed Hal’s shoulder.
“Well, we’re glad to have you back, buddy.” Ollie squeezed Hal’s knee.
“Yes,” Lex added. “Though your dreams sound like what the Green Lantern Corps is supposed to do.”
Hal nodded. “I guess the old tales were in my subconscious while I hallucinated.” He grinned. “And when I came to, I found this one had been missing but ended up in Paradise!”
Steve joined in the laughter. “It wasn’t Paradise without you, dear.”
“Oh, a man after my own heart.”
Bruce noticed a shadow in Steve’s eyes. “So the Amazons took good care of you, my friend?”
“Very much so.”
“The Amazons were once great Warriors,” Dinah observed.
“They still could be, if they weren’t drugged.”
The undertone was bitter, but the group was distracted by Clark’s arrival with refreshments.
Bruce noticed and filed the observation away.
counter
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters: (this chapter): Alfred, Brendan, Hal/Steve, Clark/Bruce, Dick, Lex/Jamie, Ollie/Dinah, Melody, Roy
Series Notes: In the 23rd century, Earth is a technologically-advanced society that practices the ancient institution of slavery. As Bruce and Clark continue to juggle being lovers as well as Master and slave, Bruce continues his Abolitionist work, and a shocking Family Secret is revealed. Meanwhile, the Queen Family welcomes a new member, and Steve and Hal meet their Destinies, although neither one realizes it yet. The entire series can be found here.
Genres: Drama, AU
Rating: (this chapter): G
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Summary: Once again it’s Halloween Week in Gotham, and the gathering includes some battered survivors this year.
Date Of Completion (First Draft): July 23, 2008
Date Of Posting: May 29, 2009
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1215
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
All gather
Together,
Grateful
To be
Alive.
Ancient Vulcan Spiritual
Pre-Reform Vulcan
10th Century B.C.E.
XXXII
GATHERING
Alfred directed Brendan to put the luggage in the proper guest rooms, Steve grateful for his quiet efficiency. He wheeled Hal in, Bruce coming forward.
“Steve, Hal, wonderful to see you! What a miracle!”
Bruce embraced the wan pilot, Hal’s brown eyes sparkling. “Thanks for the greeting, Bruce.”
Bruce drew back, his hands on Hal’s shoulders. “We thought we’d lost you forever.”
“Nah, I’m like gum on your shoe. Can’t get rid of me.”
Bruce laughed. “I see your sense of humor is still intact.”
Steve put a hand on Hal’s shoulder. “Still a smart-ass.”
Bruce laughed again and hugged Steve, who returned the hug with a smile. “Well, that’s good to hear.” He swept his arm out. “We have an elevator here for your use.”
“Wow, this is great, Bruce.” Hal wheeled himself to the elevator. “It’ll sure make things easier.”
“We are here to serve.”
Clark and Dick appeared, and Hal said, “Hey, guys! Would you give me a wheel up to my room?”
“Sure!” Dick said, running around to the back of the wheelchair. “Is this an automatic chair?”
“Nope, the old-fashioned kind, kiddo.” Hal flexed his arms. “Need to keep in shape.”
Dick giggled. “Well, I’m strong enough to push you!”
Clark walked beside them as they entered the elevator.
“Steve, you coming?” Hal called.
“Right away, buddy.”
Steve hurried to join the group as the elevator doors closed.
Alfred came down the staircase. “Ah, so our guests are in good hands.”
“Very, Alfred.”
Alfred hurried to the front door. “Your other guests are arriving.”
Bruce nodded and turned to greet them as Alfred opened the door.
“Bruce!”
“Lex!” Bruce heartily embraced his old friend. “You look great.”
“Clean living,” Lex smirked. Jamie was right behind him, carrying two suitcases.
”I’m sorry you had to take a cab.”
Lex waved his hand negligently. “Not a problem. We had an opportunity to take an earlier train so we grabbed it.” Lex glanced upstairs. “Who beat us in?”
“Hal and Steve.”
“How’s Hal look?”
“Not bad, considering. Steve looks more worn out!”
Lex grinned. “Ah, the rigors of young love.”
Bruce laughed. “Yes, well, it was pretty scary there for awhile.” He said to Jamie, “We’ll take the elevator so you won’t have to lug those suitcases up the stairs.”
& & & & & &
Two hours later, Dick glanced out the front window. “Alfred, the Queens are here!”
“Get into place,” Alfred said briskly, and Dick quickly stood at the foot of the stairs, arms behind his back, ready to serve.
Bruce was already coming from the library. He took his own place in the foyer as the door knocker was applied, and Alfred opened the door with a grand gesture.
“Welcome, Lord Oliver and Mistress Dinah.”
“Thank you, Alfred.” Ollie grinned. “Well, how’s my fellow Lord doing?”
“Just fine, Ollie.”
Bruce hugged both Ollie and Dinah, and Bruce smiled as he saw Melody.
“And how are you doing, Miss Melody?”
The little girl giggled. “Fine, m’lord.”
Dick flashed his friend a smile, then looked curiously at the redheaded boy hanging back a little.
“May I present Roy, my second Squire,” Ollie said, bringing the boy forward with a gentle hand on his back.
Roy lowered his head. “I am honored, Lord Wayne.”
Bruce smiled and lifted Roy’s chin up. “We are pleased to see you as part of the Queen Household, Squire Roy. My own Squire will help you get settled.”
Dick smiled brightly, Roy meeting his eyes. Dick’s smile grew even brighter, an answering one from the redhead.
Alfred gestured and Dick hurried forward, taking one of the numerous bags. He smiled up at Dinah, who caressed his hair before she followed Ollie up the grand staircase.
Melody hurried to catch up to her Mistress and the boys fell into step together up the stairs.
“This is some place,” Roy said as he hefted a bag.
“It sure is. It’s hundreds of years old,” Dick said proudly.
“Queens’ Castle is, too.” Roy looked around. “It’s brighter than this place, too.”
“Well, the Manor does all right in sunshine.”
Roy smiled. “I’m sure it does.” His eyes lit up as he looked at the chandelier. “That’s awesome. It’s like a million lights!”
“Bigger than at the Castle?”
Roy chuckled. “Yep.” He glanced out the window. “Cool that you live by the ocean.”
“I’ll show you the beach later if we have time.”
Roy really looked happy at that suggestion, Dick filing the observation away.
He helped Roy get settled, his new friend pleased at having a room of his own. He immediately looked out the window at the sparkling sea.
“One of the best things about the Manor,” Dick said cheerfully.
“The Castle is close by the sea, too. Guess I just got spoiled.”
Dick laughed. “That’s easy to get here.”
“So your Master’s a good one?”
Dick nodded vigorously. “The best.”
“Well…”
Dick grinned. “Tied with Mistress Dinah and Lord Oliver.”
Roy nodded in satisfaction.
“Need help unpacking?”
“Thanks.”
& & & & & &
Steve rested a hand on Hal’s chair. The brunette was the center of attention as the rapt audience of Bruce, Ollie, Dinah and Lex hung on his every word.
“They found me out cold next to the remains of my ship on this backwater asteroid. My oxygen was nearly kaput.” Hal grimaced. “I felt exhausted, like I’d run a marathon. I’d had some wild dreams.”
“Dreams?” Dinah asked.
“Yeah. I went through all kinds of crazy tests, fighting aliens and rescuing fire and flood victims, using a ring.”
“A ring?” Lex exclaimed.
Hal nodded. “It was green, and that was the color of the energy that shot out of it. I could make it in the shape of anything.” He laughed. “I made a boxing glove and knocked out an alien.”
Ollie grinned. “Boxing gloves are usually effective.”
Dinah slapped him on the thigh.
“It was so weird! Maybe close to oxygen deprivation triggered these dreams, but they were so vivid!”
“Well, at least the dreams didn’t injure you,” Dinah said.
“Yeah, my injuries were from the crash. I had some broken ribs and a twisted ankle, and plenty of bruises.” Hal frowned. “A general weakness seems to be a residue of something in the asteroid’s atmosphere. The docs said I should recover fully in time.”
Steve squeezed Hal’s shoulder.
“Well, we’re glad to have you back, buddy.” Ollie squeezed Hal’s knee.
“Yes,” Lex added. “Though your dreams sound like what the Green Lantern Corps is supposed to do.”
Hal nodded. “I guess the old tales were in my subconscious while I hallucinated.” He grinned. “And when I came to, I found this one had been missing but ended up in Paradise!”
Steve joined in the laughter. “It wasn’t Paradise without you, dear.”
“Oh, a man after my own heart.”
Bruce noticed a shadow in Steve’s eyes. “So the Amazons took good care of you, my friend?”
“Very much so.”
“The Amazons were once great Warriors,” Dinah observed.
“They still could be, if they weren’t drugged.”
The undertone was bitter, but the group was distracted by Clark’s arrival with refreshments.
Bruce noticed and filed the observation away.
counter