Post by adrini on Jul 11, 2013 14:48:24 GMT -5
“It’s rude to keep an old man waiting you know,” said a gruff voice from the living room.
He looked up and Dinah slowly opened her eyes, as she had been dozing in and out from the pain killers, before mumbling something. Ollie slowly turned in confusion to the source of the voice.
As he turned he felt Dinah also turn to see the visitor. She suddenly started fighting the fog and trying to get down. His grip, and his paranoia, did not let go.
She looked at him and beamed. “It’s Uncle Ted, Ollie. My Uncle Ted came.”
Uncle Ted was a very muscled man, bald with a pattern of fine scars on his visible skin. He wore simple street clothing and was leaning against a pillar. On the table behind him there was a half drunk bottle and a glass.
Oliver wasn’t sure what he thought about the man, but Dinah was using her weight to move the couple to him quickly. Oliver shook his head and carried her to the sofa, after she gave the man an excited hug. The doctor had been very clear she was to walk and stand as little as possible for the next week. As he put her down and make sure she was comfortable the skirt opened somewhat showing the first nine or so of the life saving staples that were currently holding her leg together. Ted eyed the wound and looked at him.
“The other guy better be worse or I’m taking you back to the ring again, good leg or not.” He told Dinah, Oliver could see that he was unhappy she had been hurt. It was mutual.
Oliver sat down next to her on the sofa, carefully placing the leg over his for the best support. “The gentleman is no longer with us.” He said calmly, Dinah leaned on the pillows in such a way that she could see both of them. “He isn’t much of anything now, in fact.”
This was the first time he had spoken of the man’s fate. If Dinah minded the fact that he had killed for her she had a poor way or showing it. Glancing over he saw her beam at him through slightly slitted eyes while a smile danced on her lips. She couldn’t approve, morally, but in at the same time she obviously was fine with it. Any apology he would have made would have been forced, as it didn’t bother him either. He was glad it wouldn’t be an issue.
“Calling a man who does that a gentleman is a fancy way of putting it.” Ted remarked, crossing his arms after looking at them for a moment. “Makes it sound like you slapped him with a glove and challenged him to a duel.”
Oliver didn’t know how to react and looked at his other half. Despite the excitement she was out cold. He smiled at the peaceful look on her face. “I assume we need to talk?” He said looking at the man.
Mr. Grant folded his arms and nodded. “She knows better than to take enough drugs to lay herself out like that.” Despite his crustiness and words Oliver could see the gruff man cared for Dinah dearly, it was enough to trust him. “Taught her better. Leaves you soft, unsuspecting.”
“It’s not just drugs, she had a lot of blood loss.” Oliver explained as he carefully picked up Dinah’s sleeping form, he smiled as she mumbled his name. He would keep her safe, from enemies and from the sheer agony she had been in post surgery before the nurse had administered the medication. He made sure he was supporting her weight correctly. “I’ll be down in a minute. Just getting her settled.”
The man wasn’t yet aware of him approaching and was pacing the room when he returned. Oliver had stopped by the cellar on his way back and grabbed a bottle of red with two glasses.
He walked in and put the open bottle on the table. “I hope you don’t mind but the last forty-eight hours have been hell.” He motioned to the bottle. Ted continued standing. “I see you’ve helped yourself to the stores while we were gone. Only Adrien and I really drink anymore, so it’s fine. I am impressed by how much you cleaned out, though.”
The two men slowly sat down, sizing each other up as Oliver poured the wine and served the glasses. Dinah had mentioned Ted was a fighting instructor in Blüdhaven, where he trained and worked with some of the best. The best being people she couldn’t mention by name though she did let slip he’d fought the legendary Richard Dragon to a standstill and Dig rarely stopped talking about that man when asked about the greatest fighters in the world. He was just the person he wanted to see.
In this time Ted eyed him as well, his thoughts to himself. Oliver knew he was on a fine line. His normal training of business charm would backfire but if he seemed too callus that would cause problems to. There were three people Dinah loved as much as him, her parents and this man. The parents would have been an easier option. Parents he knew how to charm.
Oliver sat in the arm chair, Ted choose to stand. That was all right. He needed to catch his breath for a moment and take in being home. “I’ve looked into Blüdhaven and Gotham. I’m sorry. I know Mr. Wayne, and I think he’ll look after Gotham. Blüdhaven, to the best of my knowledge, will need more help. Doctor Elliot,” Ted’s face betrayed an expression of rage for an instant, making Oliver pause a second before continuing “is only one man despite being the mayor and the Kanes are torn between both cities. We’re looking for ways to help out as we can, any ideas would be welcome.”
Ted gave a hollow laugh, noting how much Dinah had told him. “Place is a goddamn mess, always has been.” He said. “More than you’ll live to know if you keep that naïve attitude.”
After a moments silence Oliver spoke again. “We are not without enemies, we never will be. To the best of my knowledge never have been. But I refuse to let Dinah, or anyone else here, be hurt like that again if I can help it. Thea, Roy, and myself have trained since I was seven or so, the best trainers money could buy, but we still almost lost someone.” He swallowed, then downed the glass. It was hard to admit to himself how close he had come to never seeing those sky blue eyes again. “I’m told you can help with that.”
“Do you know what you’re asking?” Ted asked, downing another shot.
“Yes, I’m asking for help training my family like Dinah and her friends.” Oliver said, he never intended to be that close again. “I won’t say we’ll go out at night in pajamas and fight crime with bank robberies and such. I’ve see how that ends. But I’m done waiting for threats to grow until something like this happens. We knew about the camp we were at years ago but we waited. While we waited they trained, worked and grew. We almost lost Dinah, and I cannot live with that.”
The bald man shook his head more and more as Oliver spoke. “You understand even with training, chances are you’ll still get yourself killed.”
“We almost get killed either way it seems. We’ll have to play the odds, but I am going to keep my family safe.” Oliver’s voice hardened.
“There is only more death, pointless deaths, because you THINK you can do more. That you’re capable of more so that it means you’re responsible for more.”
Oliver laughed somewhat manicly, the story of his life from another tounge. What region to send water to, which one to cut off from aide, which one to make a focus, and which one to allow to fade. “Believe it or not I actually know that feeling already. It’s a daily part of aid work.”
Ted sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. When he looked at Oliver, the man knew he wasn’t the face being seen. Sometimes Dinah had that look. It was the life they lived. The life he was asking to be part of.
After some time, Ted cursed silently. “I’ll need a gym.”
“I have one.”
“No. Not that pampered baby’s bottom,” there was almost a feral grin on Ted’s lips. “A real one. Dirty. Grimey. A dump. A place where it’s not a matter if you’ll get mugged but when. If you want to learn, that’s the best place to start.”
“Done.” Oliver accepted quickly.
Both men stood. Oliver held out his hand. That grin was still there. So was a maniac glint in Ted’s eyes. Too quick for Oliver to see, a right hook connected with his jaw. It was like a jackhammer to the face. Stars swam about his head as he stumbled back. Ted hit him again, this time faster, stronger. Oliver tried to bring his hands up as he felt his back pressed against the wall.
“Okay… Impressive,” chuckled Ted. “Didn’t think you could manage one let alone two.”
Oliver didn’t lower his guard.
“Good. Good. But not enough.”
Oliver didn’t know where the third blow came from. He couldn’t tell the direction. Couldn’t react. This man couldn’t be human. Too… too fast. All he knew was his body fell forward, crashing hard on the floor.
He could only see Ted’s feet as his vision blackened.
“I lied. Best place to start is now, when you’re not expecting it. When you’re already tired and hurt and feel like you can’t go on.”
The last thing Oliver remembered before losing consciousness was Ted walking away with a biting goodbye. “I’ll let your manny know where to pick you up. Sweet dreams, kid. They’re the last you’ll ever have.”