When is a house a home?

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Even for billionaire playboys, rising at 3pm is pushing it. Well, what the hell. The Batman was up until dawn collaring a group he thinks is tied to Black Mask - one way or the other, dope pushers need to be taken down - and for his trouble, he got a fresh set of bruises, a shallow gash in his forehead that bled like a son of a bitch, and a headache the side of Mars. He needed the sleep.

Hot shower done, jeans donned, Bruce trots downstairs to the kitchen for food and coffee, occasionally rubbing his hair with the towel tossed loosely around his neck.

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[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

He exhales, long and slow. "Knowing is one thing, Bruce. What someone feels is something else."

The package of crackers is set on the table.

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Bruce fills the biggest cup he can find with the toxic brew he prefers and begins to sip. Once a little coffee is in his system he continues, "What should I have done? I'm in a unique position to help Ollie."

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

He shakes his head, dismissing the idea that he's suggesting Bruce should have done any different. Hell, he's had this issue himself, a few years back, and he doesn't even want to think about the road that led him down. "Unique position, huh. That's the deal? She keeps her employee's mouth shut in exchange for you breaking it off with Selina? Does Talia seriously think she has a chance with you, still, after all this time, or is this more like her own personal power trip?" His gaze sweeps the room briefly. "You're not the type to pander, so I have to think you're just buying time."

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To that Bruce grunts and mumbles something about having said that a few times already, then he flops into a chair with the rest of his sandwich and coffee. "Green Arrow is the heart and soul of Star City. His identity gets out and the place goes to hell." Black and white in his world, as per the norm.

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

"And she probably realizes you are, too," he finishes. "I thought Star City already -was- hell," he notes ironically, not letting the fact the other questions weren't answered escape his notice. "What's the plan?"

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"Three step. One, hack into the system Merlyn used to track the DNA and mangle his data. Two, get J'onn to masquerade as the Green Arrow while Ollie and Mia are a long way away. Three, humiliate the hell out of him for making it look like Ollie Queen is the Green Arrow." Bruce sighs, staring into his coffee. "See about shaving off that damned beard sometime too. Too distinctive."

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

He snorts. "Good luck with that last one."

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The older man smirks and notes, "I should tear it off his face. He was flirting with Selina at his fundraiser."

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

Both eyebrows go up at that. "And she didn't claw his eyes out, considering this whole mess is his fault?"

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"Not that I've heard." There's a small hesitation before he adds, "And it's my fault. I could have let Ollie take care of it. Didn't think that was a good idea."

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

"She's either mellowing out as she gets older or she's planning to break in and castrate him in his sleep. And maybe you, too, when she's done." He reaches once more for the crackers, withdrawing a reserved handful. "Why, what was he planning on doing about it?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_darkknight_/]

"You know Ollie. Probably some idiot notion. Last time he had a problem like this, though, he and the others decided a mind wipe was justified."