Somewhere in Metropolis

[the-ambush-bug.livejournal.com]

POP!

A green man appears with a rush of air, grasping at the two orange antennae that protrude from his head. "C'mon, you meshuggeneh suit, I..."

Cut off in mid-rant, Ambush Bug pauses to look around him. He's standing in an alleyway, and a few of the passers-by on the sidewalk have stopped to raise eyebrows at the strange green man talking to himself. His eyes light up, and he rushes forward, grabbing the nearest person he can lay hands on, a gent in a business suit.

"What universe is this? Quickly, man!"

The bewildered citizen blinks. "I.. What the hell do you mean, what universe is this? How many do you think there are?"

Growing agitated quickly, Ambush Bug shouts, "I don't know.. At least five! I lost count when I visited the Zoo Crew. Just tell me .. is this Metropolis?"

The hapless businessman relaxes a little.. he knows the answer to that question well enough. He smiles, slowly raising his finger to point out the clearly visible icon atop the Daily Planet building nearby. "Does that answer your question?"

Following the line of the man's index finger, the Bug does a classic double-take at the golden globe of the major metropolitan newspaper. "I made it!" He releases the citizen, letting him pass on his way. "I made it back!"

He dances a brief giddy jig, and begins to gush. "Oh, I was in this awful place, there were these horrible midgets, and they wanted me to follow this yellow metallic road.. " He begins hugging random passers-by. "And you were there, and you.. Oh, Auntie Em, there's no place like home!"

Ignoring the stir his antics are creating amongst the crowd, he grows suddenly serious, placing his finger on his chin thoughtfully. "First, I've got to check in on Cheeks - who knows how long I've been gone? Poor little guy, all alone in the apartment. Then - I've got to warn Superman! I just hope he hasn't ended up as a male stripper yet.."

He takes off at a run, heading towards Suicide Slum, and his apartment. "Feets, don't fail me now!"

3 E-mails

[blonde-techie.livejournal.com]

( To Hawkman )

( To Kip )

( To Guy )

It still hurts.

[midnite-md.livejournal.com]

He's spent the last few hours tending to arrow wounds. It's given him a lot of time to THINK about arrow wounds. It's not something he wants to think about.

The day was a bit of a disaster, although the goal was accomplished - if only barely. FAR too close a call for his comfort - they had time to plan a trap, although unfortunately no way to know for sure HOW Lois was being tracked, so she had to be present, just in case - not something he would've wished for.

Nite-Lite's crew is gracious enough, and Lord knows they've all been through worse, but he never likes it when this operation he's organized results in this much bloodshed. He should've been better. It should NEVER have been that close.

Now, he's cleaned his own sizable shoulder wound properly and freshly rebandaged himself, heading back to his quarters here. It's been a long day, and he's still too tense about it.

Breathe, Pieter. Find your center.

The Clocktower, Blüdhaven

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

Dick's participation in Barbara's therapy sessions has been curtailed thanks to his recent knee and shoulder blowout. He's had to content himself with verbal encouragement and the occasional hand; entertaining Mary on the mats if she's awake. He's trying to restrict his prowling, putting his restless energy into the crime lab down in the Clocktower's basement.

It's a long and hard road of therapy for Barbara, even after the surgery. They both knew it would be; he knew she was up to the task.

That's what he's doing today, spotting for her on the parallel bars while Mary burbles and coos, fascinating herself with her feet on the blanket.

"Just one more round, and you're done."