Free Time

[vic-stone.livejournal.com]

Vic was in his "garage", his private work space in Titans Tower where he could build and engineer as he as pleased. He was looking over some schematics, and idly bobbing his head to the music playing in the background. This in itself wasn't unusual.

What was unusual was that, for once, the door was open. Normally he kept it locked, since he didn't like being disturbed when he really into a project. Plus he didn't want the "kids" to just barge in and wreck his stuff.

But he figured he could stand to be a touch more sociable. Plus most of the important projects had been completed, and he was mostly tinkering with a few designs to keep him busy.

Comments

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

A shrug -- she can't disagree with that.

"So are you going to tell her that it's suspension without pay?"

[vic-stone.livejournal.com]

"Nope." And he was perfectly fine with that.

"And neither are you."

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

This garners a laugh.

"Oh, I'm not? I really don't think you could stop me if I wanted to go find her."

[vic-stone.livejournal.com]

"I have... my ways," he stated, in a mockingly menacing tone.

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I'd like to see you try." Said with a laugh and a mock-fierce expression, which then relaxes into a smile, as she leans back in the chair.

"Don't worry, I won't tell her a thing. I wouldn't want to overstep my bounds anyways -- this is something for you and Kory to deal with."

[vic-stone.livejournal.com]

"I bet you would," he teased.

"It'll all clear itself up soon. I just need to make sure she learns a thing or two along the way."

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

"So aside from scaring the crap out of the younger Titans, what have you been up to? You've been quiet." She's still fiddling with one of the pens, tapping it at near-blurry speed on her palm.

[vic-stone.livejournal.com]

"The usual; working like a madman to make the impossible possible. In this case, I'm helping to bring cell phone service down to Sub Diego."

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

"Waterproof cell phones and everything? Let me know if you need some legal help on getting a patent submitted."

Useful to have her own company, sometimes.

[vic-stone.livejournal.com]

"Something like that," he chuckled.

"I'll be fine with the patents. I've submitted so many that I know the process inside and out by now."

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

"So have you spoken with Bette recently?"

An abrupt change of subject, and Jesse's very much not looking directly at Vic when she asks it. That pen, quite fascinating.

[vic-stone.livejournal.com]

"Not really..." the change did catch his attention.

"Is there something I need to know about?"

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

A wave of her hand, and she shakes her head, cheeks flushing pink.

"No, not a thing. I'm sure she'd come and talk to you if there was."

Oh, well done, Jesse. Perhaps you can backpedal out of this one.

[vic-stone.livejournal.com]

"MmmHmm." Yeah, he's really buying that.

"Try again."

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

"You two were pretty close at one point, even without the dating part of it. Seems a little weird that you wouldn't be in contact with her."

[vic-stone.livejournal.com]

"We're just giving each other some space."

Or maybe walking in on her and Wally that time (http://community.livejournal.com/jla_watchtower/1278054.html), even if he and Bette weren't dating at the time, bothered him more than he was willing to admit. He hadn't really spoken to her since.

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

Jesse remains blissfully ignorant of that little detail.

"You really should call her. Want to call her now? I've got her number right here in my phone..." She's digging in her pockets looking for the phone.

[vic-stone.livejournal.com]

That seems... odd.

"Jesse?" There's a hand on her arm, stopping her for the moment. This a level of concern in his voice. "What aren't you telling me?"

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

At that note of concern she looks at him directly, a little surprised.

"Everything's OK, Vic, I promise! I just think that you need to talk to her, nothing more. She... she's not had the easiest of times in the past few months, which of course you know about."

Her hand covers his for a second.

"And you could use some getting out of the garage. As usual."

[vic-stone.livejournal.com]

He gave her a somewhat scrutinizing look. He still had a feeling that there was something that was being left out right now.

He wouldn't push it, though.

"I've heard things," though what he meant by that was up in the air. "I don't know, I guess a little extra fresh air wouldn't kill me."

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

"Oh, it might. Stay inside long enough, and the moment you step outside your metal will rust away."

[vic-stone.livejournal.com]

He rolled his eyes. Or eye, rather. "It'll take a lot more than a strong breeze to take me down.

"So what have you been up to?"

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

"Not spending enough time in the office, that's for sure."

Sleeping with your ex-girlfriend.

"Just trying to keep the Titans East up and running. Got kidnapped a bit ago, taken away by some flashy disco ball. That was a trip."

[vic-stone.livejournal.com]

"The flashy disco ball of a thousand futures?"