Big Damn List has more Connor/Kyle!
Title: And A Little Child Shall (Not) Lead Them
Fandom: Green Lantern Corps
Characters: Kyle Rayner, Connor Hawke, Guy Gardner
Prompt: 028 - Children
Word Count: 2330
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The JLA have been reduced to teenagers and yet everyone has a mission but Kyle. Slashy. (Connor/Kyle)
Author's Notes: Set during Sins of Youth. Sequel to 53: Earth, 60: Drink, 34: Not Enough, 59: Food, 92: Christmas, 56: Breakfast, 39: Taste, and 65: Passing.
“Let’s get going, people. We have a lot to do.”
The J.L.A. and the J.S.A. charged forward, scattering in a maneuver that might have looked impressive if half of them weren’t adolescent and the other half could only be described as very much pre-pubescent. The very few adults in the bunch - formerly the allegedly irresponsible teenagers - shepherded their charges in their respective directions, each of them with a mission to accomplish. An unholy mix of magic and technology might have switched the ages of nearly every superhero operating in North America, but it was really all in a day’s work.
No one seemed to remember Kyle; he didn’t have a teenaged sidekick and was therefore now without a mentor and without a mission. Faking confidence was nothing he wasn’t used to already; he’d been doing that since he’d gotten the ring, and it usually worked out okay. This time, he headed in the first direction that came to mind until he could come up with a better plan.
Star City was already visible on the horizon before Kyle realized that he should have gone to ask Guy and John if either of them had had any experience with magic during their time in the Corps. The Corps had, after all, policed the entire universe, and there must have been some magic in there somewhere. Maybe Guy or John would remember something about it.
On the other hand, Kyle was already here, and having traversed the continent (not that it took him very long, because he was just that good), he wasn’t going to leave without at least saying hello to Connor.
Tracking down the current Green Arrow was a little harder than Kyle thought it would be. For one thing, he had no idea where in Star City Connor lived, and his name wasn’t in the phone book. His mother’s wasn’t either, but that was probably because she lived in New York. Kyle perched on a rooftop and tried to think like an Arrow.
Twenty agonizingly slow minutes later, he still had nothing, and had resorted to flying random search patterns that weren’t particularly patterned. Just as he was about to give into Fate’s punishment for what was turning out to be a harebrained scheme, a moving shadow below him sprouted a sharp feathery projectile.
“CONNOR!” He thought he knew exactly where the arrow had come from, and launched himself at its point of origin. A very human body was right where it should have been and he wrapped his arms around it in a warm and enthusiastic hug.
“So the baby Arrow is picking up a baby sidekick,” said a sneering voice. Without even looking, Kyle zipped the source up in a mesh construct and dangled him from the nearest flagpole.
“I do not have-“ Connor was saying, inexplicably trying to pull himself out of Kyle’s grip. The sight of the construct stopped him, and he peered downwards. “Kyle?”
With the biggest grin he could muster, Kyle took advantage of Connor’s lack of concentration to cling harder. The fact that he pinned Connor’s arms to his sides in the process was coincidental. “Hi!”
The look on Connor’s face was a memory Kyle would treasure for the rest of his life - equal parts of shock, surprise, horror, and what Kyle liked to think was delight. “What happened - no, now is not the time. Let me get you someplace safe, first.”
“Hey, I can take care of myself.” Kyle detached himself from Connor and stepped back, arms crossed over his chest. “I’ve been doing this longer than you have.”
“I… Right. Fine. Let me get me someplace safe, then, where we can talk.”
Kyle considered that for a moment. That made sense; it would be harder for Connor to concentrate while talking, and that could mean that bad guys would sneak up on him. “Yeah, okay.”
The safe place turned out to be an actual safehouse; during the very short time Kyle had spent as a Titan, Arsenal had once claimed that Nightwing said that Batman had them all over Gotham, but Kyle didn’t know of any in New York. He certainly hadn’t set any up. Upon closing the door, Connor stripped off his mask and set his quiver down. The bow followed, and Connor gestured to a pair of chairs. Kyle curled up in one, manifesting a blanket. It was bizarrely cold in Star City.
“So you, uh, what happened?”
“The J.S.A. got turned into little kids and the J.L.A. got turned into teenagers and Young Justice is all grown up and it has something to do with magic. And maybe technology. From some planet called Myrg. And there was a witchboy, except it was his magic, I think, maybe, and then the cops thought we were Young Justice and tried to put us in jail only we escaped and then Young Justice’s cave got trashed only we’re not supposed to tell Robin that Bats was in there and we’re not supposed to call him Bats and the Watchtower didn’t recognize any of us ‘cause our voices and stuff are all different and then Bats fixed it and then we went to see Captain Marvel’s wizard only he couldn’t help so here I am.”
“Captain Marvel’s wizard?” Connor’s mouth was hanging open so very slightly. Kyle swallowed and looked away. Right, he should explain the wizard. Connor probably didn’t know any wizards, either.
“He lives in a cave. Underground! And there were statues! Of the seven deadly sins! Except they weren’t because I don’t remember one of the sins being Injustice and that’s the one that Bats got and he was pissed about it but I got laziness and I am totally not lazy, I follow through on lots of stuff it’s just that I don’t have the time to -“
“Did you say that everyone’s ages got switched?” Connor interrupted, voice just slightly higher-pitched than it usually was.
“Uh huh.” Kyle nodded. “Except Nightwing. And some of the Titans. But they went back to wherever they hide out to see if they could figure it out from that angle and most of the rest of the J.L.A. is trying to figure stuff out and pretend that everything is normal and -“
“Okay,” Connor interrupted again, actually holding up a hand. “So what are you doing here?”
“Oh. That.” There were suddenly butterflies the size of small cats in his stomach. Kyle twisted his hands together under the blanket. What if Connor didn’t want him now? No, that was ridiculous. He grinned. “I never get to see you, so I’m making up for lost time!” The blanket dissolved and Kyle bounded across the floor to land in Connor’s lap.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” Connor reached up and gently but firmly pulled Kyle’s arms from around his neck. “Not while you’re all of thirteen.”
“But I’m still grown up in my head!” It made perfect sense until he actually said it.
“Kyle.” That was the stern face, the I’m-not-compromising-my-principles face. Kyle had seen it several times, and various bits and pieces of commentary led him to believe Connor had learned it from Ollie. It didn’t mean he had to like it.
“I miss you,” he tried again, tilting his face up hopefully.
Connor’s arms suddenly tightened around him, and the other man dropped a kiss on his forehead. “We’ll spend some time together when this all gets resolved.” He paused, a horrified expression suddenly spreading across his face. “You’re not stuck like this, are you?”
“I don’t think so.” Kyle sighed. The part of his brain that was still adult - the part of him that remembered what it was like to grow up - knew that of course Connor couldn’t touch him the way he wanted. The rest of him just wanted Connor. He told his hormones to shut up, but it didn’t do much good. “I’d better go.”
“Where?”
“Warrior’s. See if maybe Guy or John can help.” He scooted off Connor’s lap and re-manifested his standard uniform. “I mean, they might remember something. About magic. Maybe.”
Connor blinked, suddenly looking nonplussed. “And where were you coming from?”
“Uh, Washington D.C. Ish.”
“You went three thousand miles out of your way for a booty call?” It was hard to tell whether Connor was more pleased or horrified. Kyle hoped it was the former.
“You know what the words ‘booty call’ mean?” he returned.
Connor ruffled his hair and then pulled him into a quick hug. “Want company?”
He did, but Connor would slow him down, and he should probably get to New York as quickly as possible. “I’d better go alone. I’ll be fine.”
“Let me know,” Connor said simply.
The trip back to the East Coast seemed to take much longer than going towards Connor, and it was still cold. Kyle manifested a fuzzy jacket, but it didn’t help much. He landed outside the back of Guy’s bar as inconspicuously as he could; given that it was several hours past full dark and most of the people who were around were either exhausted or inebriated, it wasn’t too hard. He couldn’t get the back door open without breaking something, though, so he went around front.
“Get lost, kid,” growled a familiar voice as soon as he stepped inside.
“But -“ he started.
“No one under twenty-one. Bugger off.” The bar wasn’t that crowded, and Kyle could see Guy behind the bar if he stood on tiptoe.
“But it’s me!” he said, suddenly tired and upset and definitely not about to cry.
“Who-“ Guy’s voice broke off abruptly and he threaded his way through the crowd that wasn’t really there until he stood directly in front of Kyle, one strong hand gripping Kyle’s chin. Guy turned his face back and forth, peering at him. “Kyle?” he said, finally, expression just as surprised as Connor’s. It was still pretty funny, even if Connor’s reaction had been better.
“Who else?” Kyle manifested his regular costume again. “See?”
“You’re… what the hell happened to you?”
“Magic. And some guy from Myrg. Where’s Myrg? I don’t remember any planet called Myrg. And -“ This time, Kyle was cut off by his stomach, growling audibly. “…and I’m hungry,” he finished plaintively. Guy was laughing at him.
“Okay, kid.” Guy motioned for him to follow and started picking his way through the tables again.
“Don’t call me that,” Kyle complained, but he went willingly enough. He was even less inclined to complain in the face of whatever it was in the bowl Guy gave him at the back of the bar. He had no idea what was in it, but it was really good. It was so good that he finished a second bowl, and then a third.
“Good god, kid, how did your mother manage to keep you fed?” Guy muttered. Kyle grinned. And then yawned. Guy looked at him for a moment, and then turned to the rest of the bar. “Everybody out! We’re closin’!”
There were some minimal complaints, but the patrons left without much incident. Kyle started clearing the tables of the stacked glasses and other dishes, carrying them to the kitchen with only a little help from the ring. He was elbow-deep in soapy water and had made a pretty good dent in the stack by the time Guy poked his head into the kitchen. “There you are. What are you doing?”
“Helping?”
“Out.” Guy tossed a dishtowel at him. Kyle caught it, wiping his hands dry, and followed Guy back into the front and to a now-empty and much cleaner table. “You said something about magic?”
“Oh, yeah.” He’d completely forgotten why he’d come to see Guy in the first place, and explained the situation again. Guy asked a few questions, among them whether or not his ring had been able to make heads or tails of the magic-tech mix, which it hadn’t.
“I wish I could help you, kiddo,” he said. “But this ain’t like anything I ever seen with the Corps. Might be that John knows something I don’t, but it’s too late to call him now and--”
“I’ll go ask him in the morning.” Kyle yawned again.
“-and he’s out of town for the rest of the week, somewhere up in Canada without a phone,” Guy finished.
“Oh.”
“I’ll ask him when he gets back, but with the entire Justice League an’ everyone else on this, it’ll probably be sorted out by then.”
“Damn,” Kyle said softly. “Okay. Thanks, Guy.” He stood and headed towards the door.
“Now where are you going?”
“Home?” He did have an apartment in the city, not that far from here. It would only take a few minutes with the ring. He realized he was cold again and manifested another fuzzy jacket.
“You can’t stay by yourself like that.” Guy had that same obstinate look that Connor had had; maybe it was just a grown-up thing.
“I can and I will,” Kyle said. Besides, he just needed some sleep before heading back to meet everyone else in the morning.
“Wait there for a minute.” Guy vanished into the back, and Kyle sat down. He didn’t really mean to put his head down, but it was heavy, and his eyes just slid shut, and the next thing he knew the sun was creeping across the floor and he was covered in a warm blanket. Further exploration told him he was in a guest room above the bar, and on the bar itself was something resembling breakfast and a note. Guy was off running errands. Kyle ate the breakfast, did the dishes, and tried to leave things cleaner than they had been when he woke up. Guy still wasn’t back, so he scrawled a note of his own in thanks and headed out.
Hopefully one of the others had had more luck.
FINIS
Fandom: Green Lantern Corps
Characters: Kyle Rayner, Connor Hawke, Guy Gardner
Prompt: 028 - Children
Word Count: 2330
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The JLA have been reduced to teenagers and yet everyone has a mission but Kyle. Slashy. (Connor/Kyle)
Author's Notes: Set during Sins of Youth. Sequel to 53: Earth, 60: Drink, 34: Not Enough, 59: Food, 92: Christmas, 56: Breakfast, 39: Taste, and 65: Passing.
“Let’s get going, people. We have a lot to do.”
The J.L.A. and the J.S.A. charged forward, scattering in a maneuver that might have looked impressive if half of them weren’t adolescent and the other half could only be described as very much pre-pubescent. The very few adults in the bunch - formerly the allegedly irresponsible teenagers - shepherded their charges in their respective directions, each of them with a mission to accomplish. An unholy mix of magic and technology might have switched the ages of nearly every superhero operating in North America, but it was really all in a day’s work.
No one seemed to remember Kyle; he didn’t have a teenaged sidekick and was therefore now without a mentor and without a mission. Faking confidence was nothing he wasn’t used to already; he’d been doing that since he’d gotten the ring, and it usually worked out okay. This time, he headed in the first direction that came to mind until he could come up with a better plan.
Star City was already visible on the horizon before Kyle realized that he should have gone to ask Guy and John if either of them had had any experience with magic during their time in the Corps. The Corps had, after all, policed the entire universe, and there must have been some magic in there somewhere. Maybe Guy or John would remember something about it.
On the other hand, Kyle was already here, and having traversed the continent (not that it took him very long, because he was just that good), he wasn’t going to leave without at least saying hello to Connor.
Tracking down the current Green Arrow was a little harder than Kyle thought it would be. For one thing, he had no idea where in Star City Connor lived, and his name wasn’t in the phone book. His mother’s wasn’t either, but that was probably because she lived in New York. Kyle perched on a rooftop and tried to think like an Arrow.
Twenty agonizingly slow minutes later, he still had nothing, and had resorted to flying random search patterns that weren’t particularly patterned. Just as he was about to give into Fate’s punishment for what was turning out to be a harebrained scheme, a moving shadow below him sprouted a sharp feathery projectile.
“CONNOR!” He thought he knew exactly where the arrow had come from, and launched himself at its point of origin. A very human body was right where it should have been and he wrapped his arms around it in a warm and enthusiastic hug.
“So the baby Arrow is picking up a baby sidekick,” said a sneering voice. Without even looking, Kyle zipped the source up in a mesh construct and dangled him from the nearest flagpole.
“I do not have-“ Connor was saying, inexplicably trying to pull himself out of Kyle’s grip. The sight of the construct stopped him, and he peered downwards. “Kyle?”
With the biggest grin he could muster, Kyle took advantage of Connor’s lack of concentration to cling harder. The fact that he pinned Connor’s arms to his sides in the process was coincidental. “Hi!”
The look on Connor’s face was a memory Kyle would treasure for the rest of his life - equal parts of shock, surprise, horror, and what Kyle liked to think was delight. “What happened - no, now is not the time. Let me get you someplace safe, first.”
“Hey, I can take care of myself.” Kyle detached himself from Connor and stepped back, arms crossed over his chest. “I’ve been doing this longer than you have.”
“I… Right. Fine. Let me get me someplace safe, then, where we can talk.”
Kyle considered that for a moment. That made sense; it would be harder for Connor to concentrate while talking, and that could mean that bad guys would sneak up on him. “Yeah, okay.”
The safe place turned out to be an actual safehouse; during the very short time Kyle had spent as a Titan, Arsenal had once claimed that Nightwing said that Batman had them all over Gotham, but Kyle didn’t know of any in New York. He certainly hadn’t set any up. Upon closing the door, Connor stripped off his mask and set his quiver down. The bow followed, and Connor gestured to a pair of chairs. Kyle curled up in one, manifesting a blanket. It was bizarrely cold in Star City.
“So you, uh, what happened?”
“The J.S.A. got turned into little kids and the J.L.A. got turned into teenagers and Young Justice is all grown up and it has something to do with magic. And maybe technology. From some planet called Myrg. And there was a witchboy, except it was his magic, I think, maybe, and then the cops thought we were Young Justice and tried to put us in jail only we escaped and then Young Justice’s cave got trashed only we’re not supposed to tell Robin that Bats was in there and we’re not supposed to call him Bats and the Watchtower didn’t recognize any of us ‘cause our voices and stuff are all different and then Bats fixed it and then we went to see Captain Marvel’s wizard only he couldn’t help so here I am.”
“Captain Marvel’s wizard?” Connor’s mouth was hanging open so very slightly. Kyle swallowed and looked away. Right, he should explain the wizard. Connor probably didn’t know any wizards, either.
“He lives in a cave. Underground! And there were statues! Of the seven deadly sins! Except they weren’t because I don’t remember one of the sins being Injustice and that’s the one that Bats got and he was pissed about it but I got laziness and I am totally not lazy, I follow through on lots of stuff it’s just that I don’t have the time to -“
“Did you say that everyone’s ages got switched?” Connor interrupted, voice just slightly higher-pitched than it usually was.
“Uh huh.” Kyle nodded. “Except Nightwing. And some of the Titans. But they went back to wherever they hide out to see if they could figure it out from that angle and most of the rest of the J.L.A. is trying to figure stuff out and pretend that everything is normal and -“
“Okay,” Connor interrupted again, actually holding up a hand. “So what are you doing here?”
“Oh. That.” There were suddenly butterflies the size of small cats in his stomach. Kyle twisted his hands together under the blanket. What if Connor didn’t want him now? No, that was ridiculous. He grinned. “I never get to see you, so I’m making up for lost time!” The blanket dissolved and Kyle bounded across the floor to land in Connor’s lap.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” Connor reached up and gently but firmly pulled Kyle’s arms from around his neck. “Not while you’re all of thirteen.”
“But I’m still grown up in my head!” It made perfect sense until he actually said it.
“Kyle.” That was the stern face, the I’m-not-compromising-my-principles face. Kyle had seen it several times, and various bits and pieces of commentary led him to believe Connor had learned it from Ollie. It didn’t mean he had to like it.
“I miss you,” he tried again, tilting his face up hopefully.
Connor’s arms suddenly tightened around him, and the other man dropped a kiss on his forehead. “We’ll spend some time together when this all gets resolved.” He paused, a horrified expression suddenly spreading across his face. “You’re not stuck like this, are you?”
“I don’t think so.” Kyle sighed. The part of his brain that was still adult - the part of him that remembered what it was like to grow up - knew that of course Connor couldn’t touch him the way he wanted. The rest of him just wanted Connor. He told his hormones to shut up, but it didn’t do much good. “I’d better go.”
“Where?”
“Warrior’s. See if maybe Guy or John can help.” He scooted off Connor’s lap and re-manifested his standard uniform. “I mean, they might remember something. About magic. Maybe.”
Connor blinked, suddenly looking nonplussed. “And where were you coming from?”
“Uh, Washington D.C. Ish.”
“You went three thousand miles out of your way for a booty call?” It was hard to tell whether Connor was more pleased or horrified. Kyle hoped it was the former.
“You know what the words ‘booty call’ mean?” he returned.
Connor ruffled his hair and then pulled him into a quick hug. “Want company?”
He did, but Connor would slow him down, and he should probably get to New York as quickly as possible. “I’d better go alone. I’ll be fine.”
“Let me know,” Connor said simply.
The trip back to the East Coast seemed to take much longer than going towards Connor, and it was still cold. Kyle manifested a fuzzy jacket, but it didn’t help much. He landed outside the back of Guy’s bar as inconspicuously as he could; given that it was several hours past full dark and most of the people who were around were either exhausted or inebriated, it wasn’t too hard. He couldn’t get the back door open without breaking something, though, so he went around front.
“Get lost, kid,” growled a familiar voice as soon as he stepped inside.
“But -“ he started.
“No one under twenty-one. Bugger off.” The bar wasn’t that crowded, and Kyle could see Guy behind the bar if he stood on tiptoe.
“But it’s me!” he said, suddenly tired and upset and definitely not about to cry.
“Who-“ Guy’s voice broke off abruptly and he threaded his way through the crowd that wasn’t really there until he stood directly in front of Kyle, one strong hand gripping Kyle’s chin. Guy turned his face back and forth, peering at him. “Kyle?” he said, finally, expression just as surprised as Connor’s. It was still pretty funny, even if Connor’s reaction had been better.
“Who else?” Kyle manifested his regular costume again. “See?”
“You’re… what the hell happened to you?”
“Magic. And some guy from Myrg. Where’s Myrg? I don’t remember any planet called Myrg. And -“ This time, Kyle was cut off by his stomach, growling audibly. “…and I’m hungry,” he finished plaintively. Guy was laughing at him.
“Okay, kid.” Guy motioned for him to follow and started picking his way through the tables again.
“Don’t call me that,” Kyle complained, but he went willingly enough. He was even less inclined to complain in the face of whatever it was in the bowl Guy gave him at the back of the bar. He had no idea what was in it, but it was really good. It was so good that he finished a second bowl, and then a third.
“Good god, kid, how did your mother manage to keep you fed?” Guy muttered. Kyle grinned. And then yawned. Guy looked at him for a moment, and then turned to the rest of the bar. “Everybody out! We’re closin’!”
There were some minimal complaints, but the patrons left without much incident. Kyle started clearing the tables of the stacked glasses and other dishes, carrying them to the kitchen with only a little help from the ring. He was elbow-deep in soapy water and had made a pretty good dent in the stack by the time Guy poked his head into the kitchen. “There you are. What are you doing?”
“Helping?”
“Out.” Guy tossed a dishtowel at him. Kyle caught it, wiping his hands dry, and followed Guy back into the front and to a now-empty and much cleaner table. “You said something about magic?”
“Oh, yeah.” He’d completely forgotten why he’d come to see Guy in the first place, and explained the situation again. Guy asked a few questions, among them whether or not his ring had been able to make heads or tails of the magic-tech mix, which it hadn’t.
“I wish I could help you, kiddo,” he said. “But this ain’t like anything I ever seen with the Corps. Might be that John knows something I don’t, but it’s too late to call him now and--”
“I’ll go ask him in the morning.” Kyle yawned again.
“-and he’s out of town for the rest of the week, somewhere up in Canada without a phone,” Guy finished.
“Oh.”
“I’ll ask him when he gets back, but with the entire Justice League an’ everyone else on this, it’ll probably be sorted out by then.”
“Damn,” Kyle said softly. “Okay. Thanks, Guy.” He stood and headed towards the door.
“Now where are you going?”
“Home?” He did have an apartment in the city, not that far from here. It would only take a few minutes with the ring. He realized he was cold again and manifested another fuzzy jacket.
“You can’t stay by yourself like that.” Guy had that same obstinate look that Connor had had; maybe it was just a grown-up thing.
“I can and I will,” Kyle said. Besides, he just needed some sleep before heading back to meet everyone else in the morning.
“Wait there for a minute.” Guy vanished into the back, and Kyle sat down. He didn’t really mean to put his head down, but it was heavy, and his eyes just slid shut, and the next thing he knew the sun was creeping across the floor and he was covered in a warm blanket. Further exploration told him he was in a guest room above the bar, and on the bar itself was something resembling breakfast and a note. Guy was off running errands. Kyle ate the breakfast, did the dishes, and tried to leave things cleaner than they had been when he woke up. Guy still wasn’t back, so he scrawled a note of his own in thanks and headed out.
Hopefully one of the others had had more luck.
FINIS